Something to Read
I like to read. I like to share things. This is where I share what I read.
This is my start to my recommedations on things to read. The categories are:
Livin' - subcategories: living a life of discipleship, marriage, parenting, wholeness, leadership and more
Marketing and Psychology - talkin' shop
Prioritization and Productivity
Business Building
Fiction
Money
LIVIN':
Covenant Friendship, by Dr. Jim Jackson - Going to give our old pastor at Chapelwood, Jim Jackson, a hearty plug for this. Besides being one of the wisest people I know, Jim talks about a longing and need that we have as humans for not just close friends but covenant friends. Ones that we can share deep thoughts, fears and connections that go beyond other relationships -- or even what you thought was a close friendship. Probably a reason that therapists are so necessary is that we lack covenant friends. There's several Biblical examples including Jonathan/David and Ruth/Naomi -- both in Jesus's bloodline to boot. I read this over a Christmas break and wished I hadn't waited as long as I did. Add to List.
One Year Chronological Bible - The tl;dr version of this is that it's a Bible re-organized by chronology and portioned into daily segments so that if you were so willing, you could read each day and finish it in 365 days. The longer version is my personal story of why I think it's such a cool way to read the Bible, especially the Old Testament. Sometime in 2016, I finished reading all of the Game of Thrones books. I was looking for what my next book would be, and I realized that I had just finished reading 5000+ pages of a dragon-filled fantasy world, but I'd never read the whole Bible. :/ So I picked it up at the New Testament and read it straight through Matthew 1 to Revelations 22. I struggled though and took a break somewhere in the Pauline letters, but I did it. Then, I picked up the OT and approached it the same way, and oh, around Leviticus or Numbers, I said whoa, I need a different strategy. I started the One Year version around Joshua, which in hindsight was perfect. Sheepishly, I've realized that I never actually knew the main story arc of the Old Testament. I didn't realize where the conquest, Kings and Prophets fit into the timeline of that millenium, you know the time period of 1400 to 400 BC. I knew of Saul, David and Solomon, but I didn't know how they fit into the fabric of the whole history. And I take ownership of that 30+ years of ignorance. My bad. In the past. So now with our kids, I feel like it gives me a whole lot more confidence actually teaching what happened in the Bible rather than knowing the high points well. Reading in chronological order for the win.
Rising Strong - Be vulnerable. Be human. Act as if everyone is doing the best job they possibly can.
MARKETING AND PSYCHOLOGY:
PRIORITIZATION AND PRODUCTIVITY:
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss - A lot of great advice in here. The good stuff centers around efficiency, automation, outsourcing, optimizing your life for happiness, and changing the paradigm to trying to live a "new rich" lifestyle where spending your time how you want with whom you want is the ultimate goal. And yes, he works more than four hours a week. If you're unfamiliar with Tim, don't dismiss the book on account of its hyperbole. Take the good with the bad. P.S. His followers are a total cult.
BUSINESS BUILDING
Purple Cow - Be remarkable
.E-Myth - This book is a no brainer for entrepreneurs or aspiring business starters (read it well before you think of starting a business - wish I had). It's very straightforward advice: Know what you sell, setup an organization that runs in an intentional way, write processes, align your products, people and processes with the vision of your business and execute violently. For those who have read the book, you think that everyone on Earth has read it too. Surprise: they haven't (I hadn't), so here you go.
Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink
FICTION:
A Song of Ice and Fire - If you're not a reader, try this on audio book. For you "Unsullied," this is the book Game of Thrones. As show watchers can attest, the author creates amazing characters and story lines (and even entire languages). They are so intricate and rich with detail in the books, that it is truly mind-boggling. Genius stuff. And it's a great way to unplug.
MONEY:
(Updated 9-8-17)