Managementboek.nl, a Dutch online book seller for management books that sends me books to review, asked if I could make a list of favourite books. It was much harder than I thought. I actually want to make two lists: one of books that I often go back to and another with knowledge management (related) books. Here is list number 1, the books that are most useful to me. It's not a 2021 reading list, as most of the books are much older and I only read one of them this year.
Even though I read a lot of books, there are not many books that I keep on my bookshelf (due to lack of space) and even fewer books that stay with me. Those are the books I keep going back to, even if sometimes just in my mind. The books that I have been able to get something out of, that I can relate to. It doesn't even have to be a method, but it can just be a realization, a thought that lingers and helps me every now and then. It probably won't surprise you if many of those books are in the psychology, time management, and self-help category. What did surprise me though, is that all these books are English (no Dutch authors).
Seven habits of highly effective people, by Stephen Covey
It should come as no surprise that this book is also on my list - after all, it has been high on many lists for so many years. The great thing about 'Seven habits' is that people get different things out of it. I also noticed that when I read the book a second time, completely different things struck me. Whether it has to do with the questions of the day that made something different stand out, I don't know, but at the time I wondered if I had really read the book (yes).
Drive, by Daniel Pink
What motivates people? Many people may think that money is the most important. Daniel Pink investigates and describes it in the book Drive. Daniel Pink is a real storyteller and he knows how to make (scientific) research interesting. By the way, there is also a nice animated video summary of this book on YouTube. I like to refer to Drive (or the video for the lazy reader) in a training I deliver.
The culture map, by Erin Meyer
I wish I had read The culture map in the years I lived abroad. Nowhere did I feel more Dutch than abroad. When we think of cultural differences, it is often the 'obvious' differences. But much more often, differences in culture are subtle and sometimes I felt like I was walking into a suddenly closed door, wondering what I had done wrong (again).
Eat that frog, by Bryan Tracy
It is the frog that stayed with me from this book. The frog you have to eat, but which you (understandably) dread. That frog represents a task that you just postpone. Now when I notice that I have such a task, which just stays put, I recognize it as a frog. It is then an encouragement to “Eat that frog!” and that helps.
Six thinking hats, by Edward De Bono
De Bono's Six thinking hats was a real eye-opener for me. I often got annoyed by discussions, where I had the feeling that someone had to come out as the winner, but that didn't help anyone else. If a discussion stalls or gets too much of one-side, I'll use one of the other hats to see what happens.
Getting things done, by David Allen
Another book that most people know and that I still use to record and organize my tasks. I don't follow GTD to the letter, but it is one of the time management books that has stuck with me the most and that I have recommended regularly since then.
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