Guiding Thoughts 🌱

Let’s face it. Sometimes technical & business books are boring. I’m usually at a coffee shop and wondering why nobody else is reading algorithms for fun. 🥴

For me, progress is often:

  • one chapter at a time
  • writing notes in the margins
  • highlighting sections
  • deeply questioning the why
  • learning to disagree and move on (I’ve resorted to drawing frowny faces in my books)

That said, these books have helped me grow. Even if it’s just one tiny concept out of a large book.

I hope this list helps start your reading journey. I’ve marked my favorite (👍) and least favorite (👎) in each section. YMMV. Take it with a grain of salt. Some books are in progress (📖). If you have read one of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Business / Leadership

Quick thoughts:

  • Dare to Lead & Extreme Ownership pair well together. Similar concepts with different perspectives.
  • I’ve tried to read The First 90 Days twice. I haven’t made it past 20% either time.
  • Five Dysfunctions is a quick read. However, I would not recommend telling other people how they are dysfunctional unless you’ve built trust and it’s a safe space. I talked about this book in therapy for weeks.

Habits / Growth

Quick Thoughts:

We often joked that the Atomic Habits, Deep Work, and Ultralearning authors are probably BFFs. Atomic Habits is the most approachable and realistic.

Technology / Product

Quick Thoughts:

  • 99 Bottles fundamentally changed the way I look at code. Well worth the read.
  • If you’re in the product world, Inspired is a thoughtful read. I’ve learned how to ask better questions because of this book.
  • Transparently, I haven’t finished Design Patterns or Clean Code. I had mixed feelings about Clean Code, so it gets a 👎 until/if I finish.
  • You Don’t Know JS made me question everything I know about JS. Proceed with caution.

Miscellaneous

Recommended by my therapist, these have helped me feel more at peace with myself.

TBR (To Be Read)

These are on my radar. 😬

  • The Mythical Man Month: Essays on Software Engineering
  • Secret Service: Hidden Systems That Deliver Unforgettable Customer Service
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
  • Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
  • Turn the Ship Around!: A Trust Story of Turning Followers into Leaders
  • EMPOWERED: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products
  • The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery
  • Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World
  • Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less
  • The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
  • Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
  • Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
  • The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead-End Work
  • No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work
  • Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle