Every quarter I release my reading list as well as other books I feel should be read by all leaders. This may be the finest collection of books I have ever suggested for you.
- The three Christian books by Rusty George, Tim Keller, and Phillip Keller are transformative writings. Some of the best I’ve ever read.
- Two of the sports books (Jeff Benedict and Jeff Pearlman) will become the definitive works on the Patriots and Lakers dynasties.
- The three business books are all high-quality as well and have significant application to anyone in leadership, regardless of your industry.
Check out this these resources. These are listed in alphabetical order by author except for the first one.
- After Amen: What to Do While You’re Waiting on God by Rusty George – This is a special book for me as I am one of its endorsers. I don’t feel there is a more appropriate book for these times because of the many disappointments and disillusionment in our world. Though none of us pray enough, we all pray some. There eventually comes a moment when we get desperate enough to cry out to God. We pour out our prayers, making confessions, promises, and deals, then we say
Amen.
And we wait. And wait. Sometimes the silence is deafening, and we question whether God hears us or not. We wonder if our prayers ever got past the ceiling, if he’s even there, or if he is waiting on us to do something. So what do we do while we wait for God to answer our prayers? As a pastor with decades of experience, Rusty George offers a new way to help you connect with God and get answers while you wait. For a free download of the first chapter of this book, head to pastorrustygeorge.com and subscribe to his leadership email. You’ll receive weekly podcasts, blogs, and a free download. I cannot recommend this enough!!! - Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David – Both successful entrepreneurs and chess grandmasters have the vision to look at the pieces in front of them and anticipate their next five moves. In this book, Patrick Bet-David translates this skill into a valuable methodology that applies to high performers at all levels of business. Whether you feel like you’ve hit a wall, lost your fire, or are looking for innovative strategies to take your business to the next level, Your Next Five Moves has the answers.
- The Dynasty by Jeff Benedict – How was the Patriots dynasty built? And how did it last for two decades? In The Dynasty, acclaimed journalist Jeff Benedict provides richly reported answers in a sweeping account based on exclusive interviews with more than two hundred insiders—including team executives, coaches, players, players’ wives, team doctors, lawyers, and more—as well as never-before-seen recordings, documents, and electronic communications.By tracing the team’s epic run through the perspectives of Kraft, Belichick, and Brady—each of whom was interviewed for the book—the author provides a wealth of new insight into the complex human beings most responsible for the Patriots’ success. We watch the NFL’s savviest owner treat Brady like a son, empower Belichick to cut and trade beloved players, and spend sleepless nights figuring out diplomatic ways to keep Brady and Belichick together for two decades. We come to understand how a genius head coach keeps his players at an emotional distance and blocks out anything that gets in the way of winning. And we experience the relentless drive, ferocious competitive nature, and emotional sensitivity that allows Brady to continue playing football into his forties.
- The Q Factor: The Elusive Search for the Next Great NFL Quarterback by Brian Billick – n THE Q FACTOR, former NFL coach Brian Billick takes the highly promising 2018 NFL quarterback Draft class — the most touted class since 2004 (Manning, Roethlisberger, Rivers) and 1983 (Elway, Kelly, Marino) — and measures the top five quarterback picks to gauge how, why, and if they succeed. They are all first rounders, all with sterling college credentials, all talented athletes, all taken by teams betting their futures. One or maybe two could go on to greatness. But which ones, and why? Could the prediction process be better? Are the “experts” looking at the wrong factors? How do we find the best of the best? That’s what THE Q FACTOR explores…and finally explains.
- Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric by Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann – GE electrified America, powering everything from lightbulbs to turbines, and became fully integrated into the American societal mindset as few companies ever had. And after two decades of leadership under legendary CEO Jack Welch, GE entered the twenty-first century as America’s most valuable corporation. Yet, fewer than two decades later, the GE of old was gone. Lights Out examines how Welch’s handpicked successor, Jeff Immelt, tried to fix flaws in Welch’s profit machine, while stumbling headlong into mistakes of his own. In the end, GE’s traditional win-at-all-costs driven culture seemed to lose its direction, which ultimately caused the company’s decline on both a personal and organizational scale. Lights Out details how one of America’s all-time great companies has been reduced to a cautionary tale for our times.
- A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller – I absolutely LOVE this little book. Keller is an actual shepherd so his insights are amazing. Travel the Shepherd’s path to the green pastures and cool, refreshing waters of Psalm 23. As a shepherd, W. Phillip Keller shares his insights into the life and character of sheep–and of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 will give new meaning to the ageless Shepherd Psalm, enriching your trust in and love for the Lord who watches closely over you.
- Jesus the King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God by Tim Keller – This incredible resource made the Book of Mark come alive like no other study I’ve ever read!!! Timothy Keller, New York Times bestselling author of The Prodigal Prophet and the man Newsweek called a “C. S. Lewis for the twenty-first century,” unlocks new insights into the life of Jesus Christ as he explores how Jesus came as a king, but a king who had to bear the greatest burden anyone ever has. Jesus the King is Keller’s revelatory look at the life of Christ as told in the Gospel of Mark. In it, Keller shows how the story of Jesus is at once cosmic, historical, and personal, calling each of us to look anew at our relationship with God. It is an unforgettable look at Jesus Christ, and one that will leave an indelible imprint on every reader.
- Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty by Jeff Pearlman – In the history of modern sport, there have never been two high-level teammates who loathed each other the way Shaquille O’Neal loathed Kobe Bryant, and Kobe Bryant loathed Shaquille O’Neal. From public sniping and sparring, to physical altercations and the repeated threats of trade, it was warfare. And yet, despite eight years of infighting and hostility, by turns mediated and encouraged by coach Phil Jackson, the Shaq-Kobe duo resulted in one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Together, the two led the Lakers to three straight championships and returned glory and excitement to Los Angeles. Pearlman has written a classic!
- Game Changer: How to Be 10x in the Talent Economy by Michael Solomon and Rishon Blumberg – Whether you’re an employer, an employee, a freelancer, or part of a management team, it’s important to understand how—now, more than ever—highly skilled 10x talent who can deliver exponential value is radically shifting the dynamics of corporations large and small. Use this groundbreaking book to learn how to identify, attract, vet, employ, manage, and retain—or become—the game-changing talent that will make a difference in the work world of tomorrow. In these pages, you will:
- See how highly skilled talent is transforming companies of all sizes and industries through real world stories and first-hand testimonies from top execs, entrepreneurs, and players;
- Get an inside glimpse into the unconventional methods that smart companies use to attract, retain, and manage top talent;
- Recognize the roadblocks that are inherent in the traditional employer-employee model and learn how they can be overcome for unlimited success;
- Kingdom: How Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs Returned to Super Bowl Glory by Adam Teicher – After 50 years of waiting, Kansas City Chiefs fans were hungry for a return to Super Bowl glory. In 2020, their patience was rewarded in dramatic, exuberant fashion with a second-half comeback for the ages against the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN’s Adam Teicher expertly retraces the team’s unforgettable championship season as well as the moves and moments that made it all possible—the hiring of head coach Andy Reid in 2013, drafting future-MVP Patrick Mahomes, the heart-wrenching AFC Championship loss to the Patriots in 2019 that lingered in the mind of every player, and more. Teicher captures the mood of the team week by week, every step of the way, profiling numerous players, coaches, and key figures.
#CommissionsEarned
Also, my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.