Part 2 of 2
Here’s the rest of my curated summer reading (and watching or listening) list. As with the previous blog post featuring the first five recommendations, these are some of my favorite books. Others are highly recommended by people whose opinions I value and trust. They all offer great—and smart—ways to spend some downtime.
This summer likely will look different from last summer, but it’s always a good time to devote to Family (and friends), Fitness and Fun (three of our 7 F’s of True Success). It’s important also to make time for yourself—to be entertained and to learn something new. These suggestions will do that for you.
Corsini’s Top Read, Watch or Listen List (especially for leaders and listed by topic):
- The pandemic. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria. Bestselling author and CNN host Fareed Zakaria helps readers to understand the nature of a post-pandemic world and its political, social, technological and economic consequences. His ten lessons cover topics ranging from natural and biological risks to the rise of “digital life” to an emerging and different world order. All this makes for a timely book that will help readers begin thinking beyond the immediate effects of COVID-19 to what comes next for all of us.
- Feedback / being coached. Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen (the co-authors of Difficult Conversations). There’s a Scouting leadership program called Wood Badge that has the motto, “Feedback is a gift.” I agree; I love to say, “You polish gold through friction.” But I also know this: It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, feedback is hard to give and it’s especially hard to receive! Most of us find it difficult to accept advice, criticism and coaching without getting defensive. That’s because receiving feedback sits at the junction of two conflicting human desires. We want to learn and grow, and we also want to be accepted just as we are right now. This book offers usable suggestions on how to better receive constructive feedback and how to turn evaluations, criticism and coaching into listening and learning opportunities.
- Stoicism. The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday. This bestselling author makes our list for the second year in a row. (Last year I shared Stillness is Key—a book I still read regularly.) The Obstacle is the Way is based on stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring adversity with perseverance. Marcus Aurelius put it this way nearly 2000 years ago: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” Holiday gives example after example of how some of the most successful people in history have turned their obstacles into opportunities. The idea is that we shouldn’t see obstacles as stopping points but instead view them as launching points for success. If you find yourself stuck in a rut, this is the book for you.
- Reducing stress. The Cost of Work Stress—and How to Reduce It by Rob Cooke. In this TED Talk Rob Cooke, a wellness advocate and relationship manager for high-net-worth individuals, explores the high cost of stress in the global economy and in our personal lives. By some estimates, stress in the workplace saps the U.S. economy of some $300 billion a year. Closer to home, it can ruin our health and relationships. In this presentation, Cooke shows how to be your own advocate and put your mental, physical and emotional health first.
- Overcoming adversity. The Noticer: Sometimes, All a Person Needs is a Little Perspective by Andy Andrews. This short, easy- to-read book is set in Orange Beach, Alabama. It’s a parable, really, that is peopled with a cast of characters who are down on their luck, on the brink of divorce or bankruptcy or about to actually give up on life. Then a mysterious man named Jones enters the picture. Jones has a knack for noticing things—important things—that others have overlooked. The lesson is that a fresh, new perspective can help people see the world differently and help them find strength and courage to move beyond their problems.
Here’s a bonus book if you’re looking for pure escapism:
Entertainment (and it’s supposedly true). Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies and the Mob by Gianni Russo. I think this book is best in audio form, because it’s read by the author and he sounds the gangster part. In his over-the-top memoir, Russo, a mobster-turned-actor, recounts how—with no acting experience—he walked onto the set of The Godfather and began to make Hollywood history. Apparently, he already knew how to play this part; Russo grew up in Little Italy where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing. Russo also writes about his affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli and many others and his near-death experience with Joaquín Guzmán, aka “El Chapo.” In a Hollywood career that spanned decades, he became a producer and starred in The Godfather: Parts I and II, Seabiscuit and Rush Hour 2, among other films. It’s a fun read.
Finally, if you want even more reading (and watching or listening) suggestions, take a look at our 2020 Corsini’s Top “Read, Watch or Listen” lists Part 1: here and Part 2: here.
Have a safe and happy summer! Stay well. And thank you for allowing us to help you do what you do better.