5 Books You NEED to Add to Your TBR Pile for a Better 2018

Just in case you’ve never heard of the acronym TBR before (me – about 30minutes before publishing this post) it stands for “to be read”.

If you’re searching for inspiration and greater insight in 2018, below are my recommendations of 5 books that will transform the way you think, act, work, communicate, lead, plan, eat, move, sleep and so much more.

I can confidently say that these books have done this for me.

Whatever You Think Think The Opposite | Paul Ardin

There have been many books written on good business practice. All remarkably sensible. All based on logic, common sense and good manners. However, in this short, sharp and easily consumable read by Paul Arden, logic and common sense is turned on its head, whilst giving the reader confidence to take bigger risks and, as he puts it, “enjoy your work more than you could imagine”.

If you’re looking for a new way of thinking, a new way of approaching problem solving, or you’re just searching for a bit more ammunition to totally rock being your own completely unique and brilliant self, Whatever You Think Think The Opposite is definitely worth a read.

My favourite double page from the Whatever You Think Think The Opposite:

 The 4-Hour Work Week | Tim Ferriss

The brilliance of this book by Tim Ferriss is that it teaches you real and tangible strategies for improving your productivity, time management, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The idea behind the 4-Hour Work Week is to eventually setup systems and processes (often automated) in your working routine, so that you can eventually spend less time working and more time doing the things you’re truly passionate about.

Ferriss believes that in life, ‘time’ is one of the most valuable commodities there is, and that the ‘new rich’ place just as much (if not more) emphasis on earning time, rather than earning money. In the perfect 4-Hour Week Scenario, you’ll earn huge amounts of both.

Whether you’re looking to create your own high-incoming-earning 4-hour work week, or you’re just looking for some effective strategies to improve your productivity and time management, Ferriss’ real life examples, strategies and intriguing case studies will be sure to inspire you, as it has me!

One of many thought provoking tales told throughout The 4-Hour Work Week:

 How To Win Friends & Influence People | Dale Carnegie

Building rapport and developing great relationships with others is essential, not only for progressing in your career, but also for just enjoying life in general.

With this one, the clue is in the title; How to Win Friends & Influence People breaks down the fundamentals of communicating with others and provides a clear, easy to follow set of guidelines, backed up with some riveting real-world examples on how to do just that – win friends and influence people.

Regardless of whether or not you feel you have great communication skills, I firmly believe that Carnegie’s book is a MUST READ for anyone that wants to have a positive outcome from any kind of human interaction at some point in their life… so pretty much everyone.

HubSpot.com created a quick snapshot of all 30 principles covered in the book:

Getting There: A Book of Mentors | Gillian Zoe Segal

There’s no rule that you have to personally know someone, or that you have to meet up with someone on a regular basis to classify them as a mentor. In fact, you may never get the chance meet your most inspiring idol, but there’s nothing to say you can’t learn from them (ESPECIALLY in this day and age).

The fact is, the path to success is rarely easy or direct, and good mentors are hard to find. In Getting There, thirty leaders in diverse fields share their secrets to navigating the rocky road to the top.

In an honest, direct, and engaging way, these role models describe the obstacles they faced, the setbacks they endured, and the vital lessons they learned. They dispense not only essential and practical career advice, but also priceless wisdom applicable to life in general.

Getting There is for everyone—from students contemplating their futures, to the vast majority of us facing challenges and seeking to reach our potential.

Mentor Warren Buffett offers a few valuable insights as a part of his featured chapter in Getting There: 

Eat Move Sleep | Tom Rath

Without our health, we have nothing. We can’t be a good leader, partner, parent, friend, or anything else.

Personally, whenever I revise my goals, my health goals will always be done first because I know if I don’t look after my health, none of my other goals will be achievable, career-related or not.

Eat Move Sleep by Tom Rath is a quick read and it breaks healthy living down into these three, easily understood, interconnected areas (eating, moving and sleeping).

Written through a brilliant conversational style, Rath covers a range of proven research and practical ideas, with the aim of encouraging you to make good health decisions automatic.

If you’re looking to boost your health this year, and you’re not sure where to start – just keep it simple. Read this book, eat good food, move that body regularly and get to bed on time!

Smashing the misconception that ‘lack of sleep’ should be worn as a badge of honour:

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash