My book reads during this 2023!

Reading is one of those activities I try to prioritize throughout the year, and the truth is, I find it quite easy to get comfortable with it. In winter, having coffee, a cozy blanket, and a good book is a pretty enjoyable experience for me. In summer, reading at the beach is also very satisfying. So, I'm delighted to spend some time every day reading!

While it's true that I'll never reach the reading voracity of Bill Gates or Warren Buffet (check their recommended business books here), I usually manage to read about a dozen books by the end of the year. It helps a lot that King, the company I work for, provides an annual budget for our personal development plan. This plan can include various resources, like a subscription to MasterClass or Blinkist, meaning it doesn't necessarily have to be a book.; however, I usually invest most of that budget in books. As this year comes to a close, I wanted to dedicate this final post to summarizing the books I've enjoyed in 2023. Here's the list of my reads for this year!

View fullsize

1.- Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living by Linnea Dunne

Lagom, the latest Scandinavian lifestyle trend, is explored in this illustrated book, highlighting its transformative impact on Sweden's happiness ranking. With its unique meaning of 'not too little, not too much, just right,' Lagom promotes balance, selflessness, and a core belief in responsibility and the common good. Embracing lagom can lead to a happier, more balanced life, reduced environmental impact, improved work-life balance, clutter-free living, a focus on sustainable practices, and nurturing meaningful relationships.

2.- The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google by Scott Galloway

Scott Galloway challenges popular myths about Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, asserting their pervasive influence stems from a deep understanding of human emotions rather than conventional success strategies. Galloway questions how these companies have seamlessly infiltrated daily life and explores why they receive leniency in the stock market for transgressions that would cripple other firms. In his irreverent style, he deconstructs their tactics, emphasizing the importance of comprehending their strategies for anyone seeking to compete, collaborate, or navigate a world dominated by these tech giants.

3.- Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Malone Scott

A practical guide to those bewildered or exhausted by management, written for bosses and those who manage bosses. Drawing on years of first-hand experience, Radical Candor shows us how to be successful while retaining your integrity and humanity. From Kim Scott, a former manager at Google and Apple and CEO coach to Silicon Valley.

4.- HBR's 10 Must Reads on Emotional Intelligence (with featured article "What Makes a Leader?" by Daniel Goleman) HBR's 10 Must Reads

A very nice recompilation of readings in the area of emotional intelligence. Short articles but very well-curated and helpful.

5.- Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo

Communications coach and bestselling author of The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, Carmine Gallo, has broken down the top TED Talks and interviewed the most popular TED presenters to uncover the nine secrets of all successful TED presentationsGallo provides a step-by-step method that makes it possible for anyone to create, design, and deliver a TED-style presentation that is engaging, persuasive, and memorable.

6.- Nudge: The Final Edition by Richard H. Thaler (Author), Cass R. Sunstein

It's a book that avoids economic jargon, using numerous examples and studies to support its claims. The book explains how humans aren't entirely rational and often make decisions against their interests. This can happen due to laziness, a lack of understanding of our choices, or a failure to grasp the effects of our decisions. The book also advises how a government can use gentle "nudges" without restricting citizens' freedoms to help us live better.

7.- The Little Book of Fika: The Uplifting Daily Ritual of the Swedish Coffee Break by Lynda Balslev

A little book on the Swedish tradition of fika―the twice-daily coffee break―including facts, quotes, tips, and 20 sweet and savory recipes.

8.- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - International Edition: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 16 million books. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership gives us a summary of his main learnings during his career

9.- Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins

Following a five-year research project, Collins asserts that transitioning from a good to a great organization is possible and unveils the underlying factors driving this transformation. Supported by rigorous evidence, his findings challenge conventional thinking and present surprising insights into the process. Widely acclaimed as one of the most important business books, "Good to Great" not only provides vital management ideas but also captivates readers with a narrative style that rivals a fast-paced novel

9.- The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

Although this book was supposed to be for tennis players, the truth is that it is also very helpful in teaching us how to manage our inner dialogue

10.- Chatter: The Voice in Our Head and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross

Turn your inner voice from critic to coach by understanding its power in shaping our thoughts and emotions. Award-winning neuroscientist Ethan Kross explores the hidden tools within our language, habits, and relationships that allow us to harness and control this internal dialogue. In "Chatter," Kross provides fascinating insights and practical tips, promising to transform the way we talk to ourselves and ultimately lead to a happier and more productive life

11.- The Obstacle Is The Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage by Ryan Holiday

The book is inspired by stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy advocating endurance in the face of adversity and focusing on what can be controlled. Ryan Holiday explores how historical figures like John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs applied stoic principles to triumph over challenging situations, emphasizing that these principles often outweighed natural intelligence or luck. The book serves as a guide for turning obstacles into opportunities, offering inspiration through real-life stories of individuals who applied stoicism throughout history

12.- TED LASSO RULES FOR LIVING: Ted Lasso Rules for Living Notebook by Maxwell Robertson

I loved this TV Show so much that getting a notebook summarizing quotes was a nice, easy read, interesting leadership style, Ted’s way

13.- Take Your Company Global: The New Rules of International Expansion by Nataly Kelly

Companies aiming for global expansion should shift their focus to market intensification rather than merely entering international markets, according to Nataly Kelly. Kelly introduces the MARACA model, emphasizing three key measurement areas—Market Availability (MA), Real-time Analytics (RA), and Customer Addressability (CA)—to help companies assess their potential for growth in specific markets. Drawing from her experiences at HubSpot and as a consultant, the book provides strategic insights backed by examples from successful global companies like Airbnb, Netflix, and Zoom, covering aspects such as market opportunities, current performance, and addressing diverse customer bases.

14.- The Brompton: Engineering for Change by Will Butler-Adams

I love my Brompton is my favorite way to move around the city, and I love how convenient it is. This excellent book covers Brompton's founder's vision of creating a magic way of transport, a bicycle that disappears when you don’t need it. There are many leadership lessons as well in this book.

15.- Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss Tahl Raz

Never Split the Difference" delves into Chris Voss's experiences as an FBI kidnapping negotiator, sharing nine key principles derived from high-stakes negotiations with bank robbers, gang leaders, and terrorists. Drawing on real-life situations where lives were on the line, the book provides insights into Voss's effective negotiation strategies. Rooted in the experiences of a top-tier intelligence professional, it offers a competitive edge in various discussions and negotiations.

Conclusion

There are very good books on this list that I enjoyed throughout the year, but if I had to pick just one, my number 1 would be "The Obstacle Is the Way." This excellent book teaches us how to distinguish between what is within our circle of influence and what is not. It provides many helpful tools to help us reframe our thinking. So, in any obstacle we face during our lives, we find a learning and something positive that can help us navigate through life

And without further ado, I take the opportunity to wish you a happy 2024, full of good books, of course! :)