On my bookshelf
Reading has been a habit since childhood. I remember spending all my allowance on books and my parents indulging me by installing more bookshelves in my room. That habit hasn't stopped.
Sharing a few of my favourite books here. More to come as I chip away at the to-be-read stack.
Talent
NOW, DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS
by Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton
We excel when we are able to put our talents to use. But what if you don't know what you're good at? This book is a guide to how to discover and develop your unique strengths - and those of the people you manage - to find fulfillment in your work.
One takeaway: focus on strengths, not weaknesses
GRIT: THE POWER OF PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE
by Angela Duckworth
A fascinating look at what makes us succeed. Duckworth presents a well researched hypothesis that the secret to outstanding achievement is not genius but a combination of passion and long-term perseverance.
One takeaway: effort is a powerful multiplier
ATOMIC HABITS
by James Clear
We expect new habits to stick just because we set ourselves a goal. Not so. But here, you learn how to remove obstacles when pursuing a new habit and get 1% better ever day.
One takeaway: practice and repetition are more powerful than we think
TALENT IS OVERRATED: WHAT REALLY SEPARATES WORLD-CLASS PERFORMERS FROM EVERYBODY ELSE
by Geoff Colvin
The source of great performance is no longer a mystery. Bringing together scientific research, the author shows what makes world-class performers so remarkable and how each of us can improve our craft.
One takeaway: we get better with deliberate practice
THE POWER OF WHY
by Amanda Lang
We lose so much of our kid powers over the years. Lang argues we should retain our curiosity above all else: it fuels innovation and inspires change.
One takeaway: the more places you've lived, the better you're able to solve problems
Leadership
SAY IT WELL: FIND YOUR VOICE, SPEAK YOUR MIND, INSPIRE ANY AUDIENCE
by Terry Szuplat
Terry was a White House speechwriter during President Obama's tenure and the lessons he shares here will inspire you to believe the power of your convictions, memorable presentations and your ability to create action. An absolute favourite on my bookshelf. I recommend it for anyone who wants to speak their story with clarity and purpose.
One takeaway: there's a story in you that only you can tell
TURN THE SHIP AROUND
by L. David Marquet
Having toured warships with my son, the operations of those beasts fascinate me. Captain Marquet uses that parallel to explain how to turn followers into leaders at every level of the organization.
One takeaway: you don't have to be the smartest person in your organization to be a great leader
LEADERSHIP: 50 POINTS OF WISDOM FOR TODAY'S LEADERS
by General Rick Hillier
I saw Gen Hillier speak at an event years ago. He showed tremendous respect to his soldiers and their job and I never forgot that. The business world is not like the army but lessons he shares are universal.
One takeaway: technology is not always the answer
Psychology
WHY WE BUY: THE SCIENCE OF SHOPPING
by Paco Underhill
The most memorable retail book I've read. Mr Underhill pioneered the field of retail research and the findings he shares here are full of real retail examples. If you study consumer behaviour, you have to read this book.
One takeaway: where to place shopping baskets for maximum impact
THE BLACK SWAN
by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The term "black swan" is a common part of business vernacular and now I know why. Humans rely on past events (and lots of psychological shortcuts) when thinking about the future and are unprepared for the unpredictable.
One takeaway: black swans really exist in Australia
NUDGE
by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sustein
As a marketer and communications leader, this book reinforced my long held belief that we humans are busy and out of necessity, look for easy paths, decisions, answers. Lots of real life examples here.
One takeaway: find or create the path of least resistance
Biographies
MY BRIEF HISTORY
by Stephen Hawking
On days you're doubting your ability to conquer the future, pick up this book and read a chapter or two. Inspiring way to look at the world through Stephen Hawking's eyes.
One takeaway: math is very, very cool
FOR YOUR TOMORROW: THE WAY OF AN UNLIKELY SOLDIER
by Melanie Murray
If you ever wondered why on earth someone would choose to become a soldier and risk dying for others, this book gets at the answer. Written by the subject's aunt, loving and incredibly moving.
One takeaway: don't take peace for granted
OPEN
by Andre Agassi
I grew up during the years of Agassi - Sampras rivalry so seeing behind the scenes is especially interesting: what it takes to get to champion level and how to remain true to yourself.
One takeaway: you can love and hate your craft at the same time
A LONG WAY GONE: MEMOIRS OF A BOY SOLDIER
by Ishmael Beah
An unforgettable story of a young boy fleeing rebels then being forced to become a soldier in Sierra Leone. Unimaginable horrors and equally unimaginable escape from a certain death.
One takeaway: political conflicts have individual consequences
THE LAST MAN ON THE MOON
by Eugene Cernan & Don Davis
This book makes the space race of the 20th century - a time when astronauts were celebrities - come to life in vivid stories. And you get a front row seat view into the work it took to put a man on the moon.
One takeaway: I'll never look at "test and learn" the same way again
Nature
FINDING THE MOTHER TREE: DISCOVERING THE WISDOM OF THE FOREST
by Suzanne Simard
When Simard was still a student, she began studying trees and her findings revolutionized how we view just about everything about forests. Learn how trees communicate, adapt, warn each other, and protect their young.
One takeaway: Suzanne Simard is a Canadian badass
THE POWER OF TREES: HOW ANCIENT FORESTS CAN SAVE US IF WE LET THEM
by Peter Wohlleben
Trees protect from draughts, over-heating, pollution. They cure ailments, improve our mental health, and protect animal habitats. You won't be able to not appreciate what they do for us once you read this book.
One takeaway: forests will save us if we just let them
INTELLIGENCE IN NATURE: AN INQUIRY INTO KNOWLEDGE
by Jeremy Narby
Narby seems the kind of anthropologist I imagine ancient explorers were. In this book, he visits researchers and tribes across the world to debate what makes life forms intelligent. This book could turn you into a philosopher.
One takeaway: nature is simply mind-blowing
On Canada
BEYOND THE TREES: A JOURNEY ALONE ACROSS CANADA'S ARCTIC
by Adam Shoalts
4,000 km, 4 months, one incredible journey across Canada all the way to the Arctic. Adam Shoalts is Canada's modern day explorer. Every adventure makes me gasp at his wilderness skill and the forces of nature.
One takeaway: this is a fierce, beautiful country we live in
CHOP SUEY NATION
by Ann Hui
Ann Hui drives across Canada to visit Chinese restaurants and learn their owners' stories. It's a history of immigration and perseverance that quite literally sustained communities coast to coast. A treasure of a book.
One takeaway: need to try Chinese pierogi (I'm half Ukrainian)
DENISON AVENUE
by Christina Wong
You will never look at grandparents (of any age or nationality) or at the old shops across the city the same way. Set in the real streets of Toronto, beautifully told and beautifully illustrated by Daniel Innes.
One takeaway: community means more than we know
WE THE OTHERS
by Toula Drimonis
An homage to the writer's Greek parents and the life they build here. An informative view on immigrant life in Quebec (where Drimonis lives) and Canada. A beautiful book. As a first generation immigrant, I found many truisms in its pages.
One takeaway: it's astonishing how much can change in our fortunes in a single generation
Other Curiosities
HUMANIZE: A MAKER'S GUIDE TO DESIGNING OUR CITIES
by Thomas Heatherwick
From the first chapter, I felt like I found a like-minded, city loving soul. A look at history of architecture, how buildings can heal us, and a call to arms to notice - and influence - beauty all around us.
One takeaway: Le Corbusier was so, so wrong about Paris
THE BIG OYSTER: A HISTORY ON THE HALF SHELL
by Mark Kurlansky
If you love oysters and New York - as I do - you'll absolutely love walking through their history in the pages of this superbly researched book. Who knew New York was built on shells!
One takeaway: oysters used to be the size of your hand
DEFENSIVE DESIGN FOR THE WEB
by Matthew Linderman & Jason Fried
How to improve web forms and pain points - so quite geeky unless you're in the web design space. I am and this book makes me cringe and laugh at the same time. My copy is old but I still come across websites that break the design rules - and not in a good way.
One takeaway: design improves when we think of .com as a physical experience