10 Book Reviews of Books That Made An Impact in My Life 2020

Hi, it’s Phil Eastwood here. And I have 1o book reviews that you will thank me for when you read the book for yourself!

This is our 36th edition of our Living Leadership series! We have made it our focus to highlight things you can do right now to grow your influence and impact those around you (no doubt your family thanks us :-).  In all honesty, the focus is on how to grow yourself into Yourself, a bigger and more rich version of you.

I’m going to let you in again, and again it seems, on a personal growth secret that has taught me some important and valuable lessons in my life. Reading.

I set myself a target of reading at least one book every two weeks.  I often find myself reading more efficiently and manage a book or two.  Do I remember everything I read in every book?  Absolutely not. But there is always gold within the books that I pick up, and that is the treasure I am after.

The Nuggets Make For a Mine of Gold

The small gold nuggets, which, when assembled, add to my library of knowledge.  

I love this Mark Twain quote:

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.

I hope you are an avid reader. When I ask that question in our workshops, I rarely see more than a handful of hands raised. 

Reading matters, and here’s why:

  • The most important investment you can make is in your knowledge bank. It’s necessary to expand your leadership capacity, stay current with world changes, and learn best practices for your life and career. 
  • Reading increases your vocabulary.  
  • The more you read, the more you know – about a lot of different subjects. Your perspective broadens, and it changes the way you think and interacts with the world around you.  
  • Reading increases verbal intelligence, which makes you a more adept and articulate communicator.  
  • By nature, reading slows you down and requires your focus in a way that reduces stress and increases resilience.

Reading Isn’t Just A Good Idea

Over the next two weeks, I will share the nuggets that I have mined from ten of the books that I have read this past year. Each book contained a treasure trove of learning, but I thought that I would give you just one message from each. 

I highly recommend every one of these books to you. That is why I offer these 10 Book Reviews. What you read will multiply in your cognitive resources. You will begin to synthesize information into your own unique understanding, enabling you to communicate valuable concepts to your team in your way.

I will share more of that next week’s post (where I share nuggets from five other books from this past year). But for now, I’ll admit, I have come to appreciate the cumulative value of reading when I chat with my 95-year-old father. He still does Sudoku Puzzles from 2 newspapers each day (after reading the newspapers) and reading a book every two weeks from the local library. I come by my love of reading honestly.

10 Book Reviews – The First Five ( In no particular order of preference)

Golden Stripes: Leadership On The High Seas by Captain VS Parani 

The author uses all of history to share lessons learned on the high seas about leadership. The Titanic, Costa Concordia, Exxon Valdez, and El Faro are all highlighted and used to remind us about leadership’s importance. We look at how leaders lead their crews and how they make decisions. Growing up on the coast in England, I absolutely loved the stories behind these seafaring tales. The author insists that leadership is how you energize yourself and your team to ensure the ship keeps sailing safely.  Captains demonstrating the highest standards of seamanship, day after day. It is about making the right critical decisions at every turn. It is the start and the end of everything you do. Sound words Captain Parani. 

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss 

This is a great book written by a retired FBI Hostage Negotiator with lots of take-aways. The author talks about the importance of using ‘tactical empathy’ in conflict conversations to connect with the person or team. However, my ah-ha hit when he shared that sometimes, there would be as many as 5 FBI (yes, five) agents listening in on a conversation. Each agent is tasked with a specific element of listening.  The one thing we ALL can be much better at – it’s listening. There are many more excellent points.

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson 

The author wrote parables that reveal profound truths. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in life – whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money or possessions, health, or spiritual peace of mind. And the maze is where you look for what you want. Maybe it is the organization you work in, your family, or the community where you live. In an easy-to-read format, Johnson reminds us how to Anticipate Change, Adapt To Change Quickly, Enjoy Change, and Be Ready To Change Quickly, Again And Again. Written and first published in 1998, its relevance has never been more highlighted than in 2020. 

Under The Influence by Peter Legge 

I have had the privilege of knowing Peter Legge for many years. He and I would meet for breakfast at a local White Spot restaurant in Burnaby, British Columbia, on a Friday morning, and he would listen and share with me. After each meal, I would come away with my head swimming in creative energy and targeted focus to grow myself and my business. He thought differently from just about everyone else I knew.  I loved his passion, drive, and his humanity. He gave me a copy of this, his latest book, earlier this year, and I devoured it immediately. (Other books had to move over for this one!) I loved the stories of those people in his life and career that had influenced him (hence the title). He certainly influenced me.

Even though I loved every chapter, Chapter 9, If You Could Make It In London, is definitely my favorite. It is Peter’s story creating a massive break for himself by using creativity, relationships, and then seizing an opportunity with a BBC producer, which resulted in his first national television show. His life has been defined by moments like that and is a life full of lessons for Phil.  

The Art of Performance by Jeroen De Flander 

I loved this book. It is divided into 3 parts. Each part a critical one of what the author calls: The Engine of Greatness: The Power of Purpose, The Hidden Logic of Mastery, and The Necessity of Grit. The first one covers what you WANT to do, the second what you CAN do, and the third what you WILL do. Each engine, the author says, is useful on its own, but it is the combination that is the key to superior performance. Remove one, and progress slows. Combine them, and your performance skyrockets. I loved the research and the stories that back up the assertions throughout. 

My call to action for you this week? Grow yourself a little.

I want you to think about which of the books I have just highlighted piqued your interest the most. Then take action. Go and buy a copy, rent it from the library or download the audible version, and read or listen to it.  

Well, I hope that you enjoyed this week’s Living Leadership. 

Look for us next week, and in the meantime, please stay healthy and safe. 

Phil