Great Books We Read in 2018

Here are some of the best books we read in 2018. The criteria for being included on the list: we read it in 2018 and there was something in it that we found useful, fascinating or transformative.

• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
  Don’t miss this book. Read this book! It’s a brilliant combination of Brene’s research and everything you need to know to be a successful leader in 2019 and beyond. The old paradigms don’t work – Transformational, Transactional, and Charismatic leadership are relics of the past. Brene says, “One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable.” Read the book and then practice what you read – you’ll make the world a better place because of your improved leadership skills.
• Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results
  This is a great companion book to Dare to Lead. We have been studying with Judith over the last few months and love her connections between simple behaviors and neuroscience. We appreciate the simplicity of the approach (simple but not easy!) and have used this in our work of helping leaders transform cultures. It’s an excellent book and Judith’s last. We are grieving the world’s loss of this curious, graceful mind. Don’t miss out on her brilliance.
• When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
  Timing is everything, or so they say. Who knew an entire book about the timing of things could capture our attention – but it did! This was a fascinating look into the science of when to do things. Dan Pink synthesizes research from psychology, biology and economics to create fascinating recommendations on how best to live, work, and succeed.
• The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
  We’ve mentioned this book quite a bit during 2018, so it obviously made an impact. We love all Dan and Chip Heath’s books – from Made to Stick, to Switch (fabulous book on change) to Decisive, they have a knack for creative, compelling storytelling that makes a difference. As Adam Grant said about this book, it’s “the most interesting, immediately actionable book I’ve read in quite a while”. Read this book and make many magical moments in 2019.
• How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job
  What Got You Here was a book from Marshall Goldsmith helping leaders “eliminate their dysfunctions and move to where they want to go.” This is an update that catalogs specific behaviors that keep women from realizing their full potential, no matter what stage they are at in their career. There were so many insights that resonated, both personally and with many of the leaders that we coach. Once we read the book, we began to notice these behaviors in our coaching clients and saw the effects. This book got recommended to many people because it’s not just about what not to do. There are detailed instructions on how to update your skills and habits to those that produce successful outcomes.

Last year we shared 5 ways to increase your reading. Check out the post on How to Read More.