Books

I love to read, but I’m not always great (O.K. I’m not usually great) about putting together a full-on review post, so I’m putting this page together as a quick scroll-through for any readers who are interested in knowing what I’m reading, what I’ve read, and possibly even what’s on my night stand, now, to be read sooner rather than later. (WOW, I ROCK run-on sentences!)

AND, rather than go back and review every book I’ve ever read, I believe it’s just best to start with my current readings and go from there. Here ya go:

#ASKGARYVEE: ONE ENTREPRENEUR’S TAKE ON LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SELF-AWARENESS by Gary Vaynerchuk. I’m a huge Gary Vee fan, so this is one that I’m currently soaking up. (Also, see “My Celebrity Crush“)
EXTREME OWNERSHIP: HOW U.S. NAVY SEALS LEAD AND WIN by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin. This is an incredible book that I really recommend to anyone ages 15 to 115, across all living situations, all work and study situations. The authors take military strategies of leadership, and apply them to the “real world;” to business, to home life, to work with organizations, you name it. Powerful, powerful stuff! I also created a video for my YouTube Channel about this book, which you can enjoy here: BOOK REVIEW: Extreme Ownership.{Mari!yn Rating: 5 out of 5 Rock Stars!}
HOW TO GET FILTHY RICH IN RISING ASIA by Mohsin Hamid. I really wanted to love this book. I did enjoy the basic premise and structure of the book so much, but for me…and this sounds strange for a book…it was a little bit TMI. The book is written in second-person, which is a nice twist, written as a self- self-help book. It’s a great take, and I will likely read this book, again, in the future to see if I like it better the second time. You know how sometimes there are books you like or dislike and you can’t quite put your finger on the “why?”…this is one of those times. It’s like I am completely neutral. Read it and see if you fall on one side of the fence or the other. I’d love to know. For now: {Mari!yn Rating: 3 out of 5 Rock Stars}
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks. This book has me wishing I were still a member of a book club! Between the story of the beautiful journey through the mysterious history of a specific book, and the fact that it’s beautifully written and woven together, this would be a terrific selection for a reading group to enjoy together. I also, now, want to read more from Geraldine Brooks. {Mari!yn Rating: 5 out of 5 Rock Stars!}
SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME: A MODERN-DAY SLAVE, AN INTERNATIONAL ART DEALER, AND THE UNLIKELY WOMAN WHO BOUND THEM TOGETHER by Ron Hall & Denver Moore. First off, let me admit that this book opened my eyes wide! Between the truth of this modern-day slave and the calling of working with the homeless and stretching oneself to such a great degree, everything about this true story is so meaningful. I listened to this book on CD, as I was travelling, and I can’t imagine “reading” it any other way. Hearing each of the two parts (one part Ron, one part Denver), in similar voices make this book even more powerful. My own reading voice didn’t get in the way of the story. Great read that I definitely recommend! {Mari!yn Rating: 5 out of 5 Rock Stars!}
START WITH WHY: HOW GREAT LEADERS INSPIRE EVERYONE TO TAKE ACTION by Simon Sinek. If you’re following me on Twitter, you know I’ve been pouring over this book and sharing quotes like crazy! So much good information packed into this relatively small book. Still reading…but already recommending to friends.
THE COLLAPSE OF PARENTING: HOW WE HURT OUR KIDS WHEN WE TREAT THEM LIKE GROWN-UPS by Leonard Sax, MD, PhD. This one’s intense and I’m still working through it. So much excellent advice!
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman. This book combines two things I typically steer clear of: Juvenile and Fiction. However, I heard this book recommended by too many adults who’s opinions I trusted to ignore it any longer. In fact, you can also check out my book review HERE. The concept of this book intrigues me so much; a human boy raised in a graveyard by the inhabitants of the graveyard, and all of the adventures that kind of life takes him on. Neil Gaiman is the author who also brought us Coraline, so this eerie, mysterious writing is definitely his strong-suit, and he does it so well, so cleanly, so not gory or cheesy. This is an excellent, quick read, even for the more serious non-fiction readers like myself. I recommend! {Mari!yn Rating: 4 out of 5 Rock Stars}
THE POWER OF NICE: HOW TO CONQUER THE BUSINESS WORLD WITH KINDNESS by Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval. This one was a great airplane read when I travelled to and from Wisconsin over Spring Break. It’s a small little gem of a book essentially laying out proof that being genuinely kind to others–personally and in business–really does pay off. {Mari!yn Rating: 4 out of 5 Rock Stars}
THE SHACK by Wm. Paul Young. I’m one of those people who wants to own a book so that I have the option of returning to it again and again, but I very rarely actually do so. This book, however, if an exception for me. I have reread this book several times, and actually crave re-reading it when too much time has passed since I last picked it up. There’s something for me that is so painful and so beautiful at the same time. It’s a book that reminds me that I am not alone and that I am a small yet far from insignificant part of the grand scheme of life. {Mari!yn Rating: 5 out of 5 Rock Stars!}
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: AN OLD MAN, A YOUNG MAN, AND LIFE’S GREATEST LESSON by Mitch Albom. This book made me cry and made me want to reread it immediately! It made me feel. Deep, real feelings like I was sitting with my own grandparents and those who have gone before who were so deeply wise. Sitting there with Morrie and soaking in those lessons of life can’t help but make an impact on the reader. Read it. {Mari!yn Rating: 5 out of 5 Rock Stars!}

My Books Wish List:

5 SECOND RULE by Mel Robbins
10% HAPPIER by Dan Harris
22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING by Ries & Trout
AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN by Tony Robbins
BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lammott
BLOOD MERIDIAN by Cormac McCarthy
DISAPPEARING INK by Dana Gioia
HOUSE OF LEAVES by Mark Danielewski
INTERROGATIONS AT NOON by Dana Gioia
JUST KIDS by Patti Smith
MINDFULNESS by Mark Williams
MISTAKES WERE MADE BUT NOT BY ME by Tavris & Aronson
MEDITATIONS by Marcus Aurelius
NOT FADE AWAY by Rebecca Alexander
ON WRITING WELL by William Zinsser
PURPLE COW: TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS BY BEING REMARKABLE by Seth Godin
RADICAL ACCEPTANCE by Tara Brach
SMALL GIANTS by Bo Burlingham
SUPER BETTER by Jane McGonigal
THE ART OF POSSIBILITY: TRANSFORMING PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE by Zander & Zander
THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown
THE GUTSY GIRL by Caroline Paul
THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT by Oliver Sacks
THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY by Rachel Joyce
THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield
THE YELLOW WALLPAPER by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
TRIBES: WE NEED YOU TO LEAD US by Seth Godin
VAGABONDING by Ralph Potts
VANISHING GIRLS by Lauren Oliver
ZERO TO ONE by Masters & Thiel