10 best books of 2019 (out of 356)
Some years ago, I heard that Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet’s enigmatic, life long business partner, would read 300 books a year. That both inspired me and also felt out of reach. At the time, I was making it through about 100 books a year. But that knowledge, was a bit like Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile, suddenly reading that much became a possibility in my mind. I set a goal of 100 books a year, reached it and then 200 next year; but after that the pattern was set. I have not since set any goals in this area of my life. Still, it was those early goals that set in place habits that serve as a virtuous circle. In other words, I didn’t set out to surpass Charlie Munger, only to surpass myself and now I find myself passing 300 books a year naturally. In fact, at the end of this year, I had to consciously stop reading as much. I sought out longer books to slow down the count.
I ended with what is very close to a book a day. It should be said that Charlie Munger probably doesn’t listen to audiobooks, so, I am still in awe of his accomplishment. But my own pattern suits me. I find that reading in the morning and at night, and having an audiobook in my ear (3x speed) whenever I am running, driving alone, working with my hands, or on an errand, has enriched my mind and life. People ask me how I can remember that much content. And of course the answer is, I can’t. I don’t remember any more of the content of a good book than you probably do. But I do tend to remember the best ideas from each book and I do work to integrate the best ideas from the best books into my own thought life and practice. I am a treasure hunter, always looking for killer ideas, metaphors that open up the world I perceive and points of view that challenge my own.
I am deeper because of it. Because my rate of consumption is so high, I can also take on big topics, not because I think I can become an expert but simply to try to understand something better, and from more than one point of view.
And of course the other gift of covering so much ground is perspective about what books are out there and which ones are worth reading at all. So, I write a version of this article every year to pass on the gems from my journey. It should be said that many of the books I made it through are truly awful. Most are decent and have something meaningful to offer. Some are very good but just don’t make the very short list.
So there are lots of good books from the overall list which won’t make my top 10, only because I am sharing what moved me (at the time). More and more I am lookijg for books that surprise me. In other words, the list is an about aesthetic and not just an appraisal of value.
Here is the list for 2019: (in no particular order)
New Power: How Anyone Can Persuade, Mobilize, and Succeed in Our Chaotic, Connected Age
Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms
Probably my most recommended book this year. Because I do a lot of work in the field of change management, I found this work full of revelations. It’s the book I wish I had written, as it reinforces so much of what I see, teach and predict about the future.
This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See
Seth Godin
Godin dispenses his typical pithy, contrarian wisdom in this short, readable book. Marketing has become so ubiquitous that everyone is trying it (promoting something) but so few of us really understand the pitfalls and joys that await us there. I found his take as refreshing as it is important.
How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery
Kevin Ashton
One of the best books on creativity I have read in the last few years. A playful history of creativity and innovation, which is the currency of our time. Learning to create is not just an essential skill it can be a source of great joy and fulfillment.
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness
Ingrid Fetell Lee
Partly because this was an especially trying year for me and for our team, I found these ideas to be a salve for our wounds and even a call to my deepest Christian commitment. I really found this book beautiful. It made me think of Chesterton, “Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Matthew Walker
I heard Tom Yorke (frontman for Radiohead) say in an interview recently that he was obsessed with this book. I totally agree. A thorough and fascinating look at how we spend ⅓ of our lives this book is practical in a way that is riveting. It delivers lots of new discoveries as well as its share of pure wonder around this common experience.
The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
David Brooks
There are questions I am only now, in the second half of my life asking. A deep personal reflection on the second half of life the humility and wisdom it brings. There are new opportunities for an honest and moral life. I found this book to be genuine and at key points powerful.
Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice
Bill Browder
I could not put this book down, it was completely engrossing, in the same vein as Bad Blood (that made my list last year). It is both a cautionary tale and an expose on the human condition (at so many levels). And simply made me think deeply about success, wealth, human depravity and the quest for unreachable justice.
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
David Epstein
Anyone who works in the field of human development should consider the contrarian perspective Epstien offers here. Maybe because I so admire polymaths like Michaelangello and da Vinci, and because I think our binary (us/them) sickness has left us intellectually poorer than ever; I find this invitation to generalism so compelling.
A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy
Sue Klebold
A stunningly sad reflection on the Columbine High School shootings from the shattered experience of the mother of Dylan Klabold (one of the shooters). As a parent, this was a powerfully vulnerable, humble journey into memory, regret and our inescapable entanglement with our children’s choices.
Simon Sinek
A brilliant popularization of James Carse’s book Finite and Infinite Games. We are forever choosing to play a finite game when we should be playing an infinite one. While it is not a christian book, it should be essential reading for anyone who aspires to or is currently doing ministry.
Honorable Mentions: (in order of how close they came to making the top 10 list)
Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity
A deep and probing look at discipleship over the course of a lifetime.
Digital Minimalism: On Living Better with Less Technology
A companion to his book Deep Work, a call we likely all need to bear.
The Business of Platforms: Strategy in the Age of Digital Competition, Innovation, and Power
I am totally facinated by what is a whole new way of thinking about enterprise.
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Both this time period and the people it created are endlessly interesting.
A kind of detox for your leadership soul. He succeeded in a way that is almost unheard of, kindness, loyalty, playfulness and generosity.
And for posterity, here is the full book list for the year.
/JAN/ the wild robot, it’s not supposed to be this way, the want ad killer, origin story, the like switch, David and Goliath, the deepest well, the butchering art, the Celtic world, a universe from nothing, earth afire, the gift of fear, dare to lead, earth awakens, 168 hours, the last days of August, seeking Allah finding Jesus, being mortal, willpower doesn’t work, anxious for nothing, strange dogs, Leonardo da Vinci, how to be everything, the churn, meet the frugalwoods, conspiracy, holding, hero, 28
/FEB/ thinking in bets, year of yes, there there, the unearthed soul, nonviolent communication, this is marketing, Jesus Christ for today’s world, power moves, forever war, new family values, the black count, atomic habits, the defining decade, homicide, the read aloud family, the arc of love, the Icarus deception, neromancer, the undoing project, the good nurse, zealot, Gods of risk, Folsom untold, tailspin, educated, mining for gold, sovereign, 27
/MAR/ the dispossessed, handbook of Latina/o theologies, silence and beauty, the exploration of Christian theology, red Mars, I’ll be gone in the dark, how to be a good creature, brave New world, a mind of her own, babylons ashes, prism cloud, the dichotomy of leadership, leadership in turbulent times, a grief observed, the indignities of being a woman, humble inquiry, always look on the bright side of life, how to fly a horse, to Pixar and beyond, hit refresh, 48 days to the work you love, smartcuts, when to rob a bank, positive no, primal leadership, between breaths, scrum, 27
/APL/ my morning routine, American prometheus, flash points, decluttering at the speed of life, the wisdom of insecurity, so that happened, new power, thirst, the beautiful brain, gathering moss, a guide to the good life, head strong, Neil Patrick Harris, a mother’s reckoning, troublemaker, prominence, ten drugs, the right side of history, God if your not up there, becoming, autonomy, junk, Elizabeth II, nimona, the perfect you, human errors, song of Achilles, almost interesting, 28
/MAY/ gigged, the Challenger sale, Circe, life is a startup, siblings without rivalry, endurance, Stevie nicks, maid, digital minimalism, shortest way home, the quantum magician, rage becomes her, the mystery of Alice, the book of job when bad things happen, how’s your soul, between heaven and mirth, the spy and the traitor, art matters, more drops, growing up Amish, a praying life, the daily show, the new geography of jobs, Pandora’s lab, how God became king, scale, heavy, the coddling of the American mind, you are special, the storm before the storm, 30
/JUN/ happy, survival lessons, the king years, the hiding place, the prince, the pillars of earth, destiny of the Republic, the last arrow, killers of the flower moon, a sucky love story, the examined life, the influential mind, the knowledge of the holy, inspired, Zoe’s tale, how we learn, how to survive the apocalypse, the wisdom of psychopaths, self discipline, the library book, the wisdom of wolves, the cyber effect, the elephant in the brain, raising human beings, the weight brothers, the dead drink first, Anam Cara, the founder’s dilemmas, waiting for Godot, a fine balance, 30
/JUL/ joyfull, failure is an option, tiny leaps big changes, say nothing, leap, first Sandra day oconner, fierce kingdom, Advent, rivals, conscious capitalism, working stuff, legion versus the pharlanx, Tom stranger, doing harm, born to run, I might regret this, the case against sugar, thrive, late bloomers, good and mad, moment maker, the very worst missionary, how to publish, the art of nonconformity, this becoming free, the short and tragic life of Robert Peace, dream teams, originals, children of the fleet, the art of gathering, 30
/AUG/ when we were on fire, high growth handbook, the darkest star, the unwinding of a miracle, truth worth telling, only the heart knows how to find them, why we sleep, language a to z, dark matter, the second mountain, the collected schizophrenias, convenience store woman, age of war, it burns, liquid rules, red notice, the God who sees, my lovely wife in the psyche ward, the grand weaver, escape, furious hours, the moment of lift, I must say, the actors life, hardwiring happiness, the argonauts, treasure Island, if you only knew, range, the myth of Sisyphus, covering, good talk, nearing home, letters to the church, sisters first, broken places and outer spaces, masters of modern soccer, every good endeavor, emotional intelligence, the fool and the heretic, go ahead in the rain, 41
/SEP/ the magicians nephew, chaos core book 1, lightly, surprised by joy, the universal Christ, the history of the future, coders, two sisters, defying reality, shameless, what to do when there’s too much to do, the technology trap, the third door, the walkable city, thick, what’s the future, unfreedom of the press, ultralearning, gay girl good god, blueprint, senlin ascends, the rainbow comes and goes, marine, once more we saw stars, the heart led leader, wildflower, 26
/OCT/ River of fire, I’m afraid of men, from here to eternity, the business of platforms, reboot, a court of thorns and roses, unthinkable, developing female leaders, wishful drinking, Florida state of mind, the madness of crowds, the burnout generation, weird parenting skills, worried, the launch pad, nine lies about work, how to be an antiracist, when to jump, lamb, restless, what do we need me for, the age of living machines, in pieces, loonshots, 438 days, the beauty of intolerance, be the bridge, the making of a leader, 28
/NOV/ the culture of narcissism, talking to strangers, you can thank me later, raised in captivity, midnight son, nobodies victim, the tools, the storm before the storm, the optimism bias, high achiever, invisible women, chase darkness with me, our better angels, the scribbly man, frientimacy, hateful things, pep talks for writers, wasteland, good habits bad habits, the boys in the boat, seriously I’m kidding, art and fear, summer of 69, norco 80, things you can see only when you slow down, American prison, leaving the witness, doing justice, reappearing church, the strange death of Europe, the infinite game, do less, girl wash your face, I’ve been thinking, love over fear, 35
/DEC/ Jim Henson, an introduction to Christian theology, the 13th gift, future presence, let love have the last word, all that you leave behind, why we make mistakes, in the body of the world, American like me, the anatomy of hope, superman, life will be the death of me, the attention merchants, chasing Cosby, them, in order to live, coming apart, woke church, becoming Kareem, the opposite of hate, natural causes, treatment of dissociative identity disorder, the techwise family, blowout, knowing God, sacred fire, 26
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