Have you read any of these, my top five favourite reads from 2020?

Learning lifts.  It lifts us out of poverty, ignorance, misunderstanding and narrow world views.  Learning lands us in richness, intelligence, understanding and expanded world views. If you want to know more about what learning can do you, then scroll down to take a look at my top reads from 2020 including my top overall five favorite reads.

There are lots of ways that learning happens of course, but one of the most accessible ways is by reading.  My goal is to read a minimum of one professional development book a month … and then share the learnings with you dear reader.

Here are all the books I read in 2020, starting with my top five favs.  Dive in, learn and be lifted.

Top five

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

• Need some inspiration to build a life that makes the most of your gifts? Run, don’t walk and grab a copy.  This book is meaningful, magical and a must have. It’s chockablock full of easy to use tools that will truly make a difference to your life.

You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero and Get Rich, Lucky Bitch! Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First Class Life by Denise Duffield Thomas

• I knew I wanted to dive into mindset work this past year and oh wow, what a voyage it was.  If you’re new to the concept of mindset, it’s all the stuff you tell yourself without realizing it – the (often) fiction you write and your brain believes.  It’s a fascinating world to enter.  In addition to general mindset work I wanted to dive into money mindset specifically.  So I posted on a couple of sites to ask for people’s recommendations.  These two books delivered.

The Indispensable Community: Why Some Brand Communities Thrive When Others Perish and Buzzing Communities: How to Build Bigger, Better, and More Active Online Communities, both by Richard Millington

• Another theme I wanted to dive into for 2020 was learning more about online communities.  These two books didn’t disappoint.  Well researched, tons of examples and easy to read, they’re both winners.

Motivational

The Courage Map: 13 Principles for Living Boldly. By Franziska Iselin

• A simple, easy read about harnessing more courage in your life from the author who weaves in examples from her epic, multi country motorcycle trip. (Disclosure: I was given this book to review)

Learning and learning culture

Teach Your Gift: How Coaches, Consultants, Authors, Speakers, and Experts Create Online Course Business Success in 2020 and Beyond by Danny Iny

• As I drove 9 hours to work from the gorgeous Kenyan coast for a week (thank you Covid) I listened to this audiobook and loved it.  Full of super well-researched information and tons of practical tips, it’s a winner.
• Speaking of gifts, check out Emmanuel Jal, what a former child soldier has to teach us all about teamwork and humanity

The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators by Jeff Dyer

• I’d been meaning to read this book for ages and finally got to it.  I love the notion of innovation being disruptive.  Can I get a high five?1
• Innovation’s cousin creativity is so important, it was one of my wishes for you in 2020

Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business by Mike Michalowicz

• This was another audio book I queued up for the long drive back to Nairobi from the coast.  I love how the author makes the many paths in business development easy to digest and prioritize.  A helpful handy book if you’re growing your business/your work and need some support around which path to go down next.

Change

Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by angel Kyodo Rev. Williams

• A powerful book written mostly conversation style that seeps into your soul. 
• It inspired this post To my white friends and colleagues

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

• Again, another book I listened to while the kilometers sped by.  Lots to learn, lots to reflect on, leading to lots to change.
• It inspired this post: To my white friends and colleagues part 2

Personal development and leadership

The Mindfulness Journal: Daily Practices, Writing Prompts, and Reflections for Living in the Present Moment, Barrie Davenport and S.J. Scott

• If you like to write but need some prompting, this book has your back.

Circle of Stones: Woman’s Journey to Herself by Judith Duerk

• I squeaked this one into 2020, as it was a gift from my sister at Christmas.  A quick read and a reminder about the power of women.  Amen!

NutriGlamorous: How to Feel Beautiful Inside and Out. By Halle Eavelyn

• An easy read that takes a holistic look to all facets of life and gives some good tips.  (Disclosure: I was given this book to review)

And there you have it, my non-fiction reads from 2020.  Bring on new books for 2021.  I’ve already started.  Have you?

Now go on and learn, laugh and lead

Learn

• Click on the blog posts above for the books that call to you to find out more.
• Check out last year’s list of my favourite reads and the year before that

Laugh

• Soak up the learning and laughter with your reading, like this young girl who finds a whole other use for a doggie bag.

Lead

• Create your own list from the books you read last year and then celebrate your learning!
• Plan for what books you’ll read this year
• Need some help? Join my Learning and Development Roundtable on January 22nd for “Planning a meaningful, custom 2021 for you and your team”
• That Roundtable will set us up for February’s (Feb 18) where I’ll host a workshop on how to create a learning plan for yourself for 2021.

P.S. Want to receive invitations to my monthly online Learning and Development Roundtables? Easy peasy. Sign up here.