Summer is well and truly in swing. I hope that for some of you this means there’s a holiday on the horizon. I don’t have anything planned but I’ll be making the most of my weekends and the good weather we’ve been having here in the UK. I’ve got my picnic blanket ready by the door, my favourite drinks are already stocked up in the fridge and of course, I have a selection of books I hope to get through during the summer months.
Last week I saw this blog over on Travel Republic about their book club and it made me think about my holiday reads. I’ve seen lots of people sharing their book suggestions for the summer but not many have covered the topic of business books. I know I’m not alone in my love for a good motivational, educational and inspiring book so I thought I’d share some of my favourites with you today.
To me, there are no rules when it comes to reading. Some people will only read books which they can feel in their hand and turn the pages of. Others stock up their Kindle or iPad to take on holiday and many are happy to sink into an audiobook every evening. It really doesn’t matter how you consume books, as long as you’re having fun. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I personally like a combo of the 3. If I’m travelling light I’ll download a few books on my iPad and if they are particularly big and heavy books that I want to read then they’ll be going on there too. I also have a good stack of books by my bed waiting to be read. These are usually gifts, highly illustrated or ones which have caught my eye in charity shops or Waterstones. Then finally we have audiobooks. I’ve been using Audible for well over and year now and I love it. I can listen to them while I’m at the gym, in the evening or while I’m walking into the town. I like to mix things up, it never gets boring then.
We all have different tastes when it comes to reading. For me, there are 3 niches I always always find myself drawn to; business, self-improvement and travel. I used to be a big fan of mysteries too but I haven’t had the chance to get back into reading them.
For today’s post I thought I’d talk you through some of my favourite business books from the last few years. There are way too many to pick from but hopefully some of these will be ideal for those of you looking for some new reads this summer.
#ASKGARYVEE – One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self Awareness
It’s no secret that I’m a big GaryVee fan and I was quick to hit download when his latest book launched. I’ve also read all of his other books, Crush It being another favourite. Gary is a real inspiration to me and his passion for encouraging self-awareness and not caring what others think is so important.
As you can probably tell from the title this is a Q&A style book. It’s taken from his YouTube show which is also well worth watching. Given the style of this book I suggest grabbing a copy of #ASKGARYVEE as an audiobook. It’s fast paced and packed full of information. Even though Gary speaks quickly it’s still clear and easy to follow. I actually find that this is the best way to consume Gary’s content, he’s always going off script and giving the most up-to-date information that he possibly can.
If you want to learn tips for business, life and personal development then you’re going to love this.
This was a book I purchased on a whim. I have a thing for discovering the origins of what are now, massive companies. It’s hard to believe that Walmart once started as one store in Arkansas and through long hours, learning from mistakes and treating people well Sam Walton grew his business.
Sam Walton’s story is inspirational. It’s a biography but with lots of business wisdom hidden inside. A truly fantastic businessman. The topic of what Walmart has turned into is a whole other story but to find out a little more about Sam Walton and the beginnings of Walmart this is a fab read.
If you enjoy a good, honest entrepreneurial story then this is the book for you. The Kindle addition of this is just 99p at the mo too.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
I don’t like labels but this book by Susan Cain is very interesting and one which I think is also very important. This book falls into both the psychology and business sections of reading.
“The loudest have taken over – even if they have nothing to say” – Something I think many of us will be familiar with within both the path of careers and social lives.
Susan talks about the difference between introverts and extroverts and how society misunderstands and undervalues them. Self-awareness is a big player within this book alongside making the most of one’s strengths.
If you think you may be even just a little introverted then this is well worth a read. You can also find out more on the topic and Susan Cain in this Ted Talk.
Mumpreneur: The complete guide to starting and running a successful business
I picked up a copy of Mumpreneur after I heard Annabel Karmel speak at MADE Festival in Sheffield a couple of years ago. I’m not a mum yet but I wanted to read the book after hearing her story and learning about her business (she has published around 37 books on nutrition and cooking for babies, children and families). I simply wanted to know more.
This book really is a practical guide to starting a business and covers everything from finding a niche, believing in yourself, growing your business and of course, the juggling act. You’ll even find steps on how to put together a business plan. Throughout the book we hear the stories of lots of women in business such as Chloe Macintosh, one of the founders of Made.com and Thomasina Miers, the founder of the Wahaca.
The book is ideal for anyone who plans to start their own business or for anyone who is in the swing of business but needs a few tips and a little support. I gifted my friend a copy of this just after she’d had her new baby. She’s now on the way to launching her own beauty biz.
So there you have it, a few reading recommendations for summer 2017. Let me know if you’d like to see another post or even a video like this. I have a lot of biz book recommendations. I’ve read all of the books I mentioned so I thought it would also be fun to share a few books which are on my reading wishlist at the moment – all of which are business based, of course:
– Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE
– Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie
– Jo Malone: My Story