More than 10 years ago, I learned that President George W. Bush was an avid reader, consuming up to almost 100 books in one year. I was shocked — how did he find the time, energy and focus given the demands of his role as president? While considering my reading habits, I realized that I would occasionally pick up a book without committing too much focused attention to reading. Inspired by President Bush’s reading habit, I set a goal to read 150 books in 2016. If he could read close to 100, I could certainly surpass that. What started as a personal goal quickly became a transformative habit, greatly influencing my roles as CEO, husband, father and mentor.
My reading process involves reading two books at a time: one primary book followed by an hour spent reading a biography of a U.S. president. I have found listening to audiobooks allows me to finish more books annually. This personal system is designed to maintain focus and prevent boredom as I progress through my lengthy reading list.
I have developed a comprehensive grading system for each book I select and document what I refer to as “my A+ book recommendations,” shared with family, friends and colleagues. During NRP’s internal communications townhall, I am frequently asked about my reading list and if I have any noteworthy recommendations to share. I keep a small number of these A+ books in my office ready to distribute as needed.
Here are the top books I find myself recommending time and time again for leaders, both emerging and veteran, looking to grow in their roles at work, in their communities and at home by becoming more thoughtful, resilient, focused and curious.
- “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck. This book explores how adopting a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset, or the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort, can unlock personal and professional potential. I often refer to these two distinct mindsets when I’m mentoring others who are navigating through challenges.
Lessons in leadership: Continuous learning, resilience and cultivating a culture of development over perfection - “The Diversity Bonus: How Great Teams Pay Off in the Knowledge Economy” by Scott E. Page. This book cites real-world examples and leverages data storytelling to show that cognitively diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones in solving complex problems.
Lessons in leadership: Strategic value of inclusion and diversity in driving smarter decisions and innovation - “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World — and Why Things Are Better Than You Think” by Hans Rosling. A compelling breakdown of the myths we believe about global trends, supported by data that reveals a more hopeful reality.
Lessons in leadership: Critical thinking, evidence-based decision making - “The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection” by Michael A. Singer. The author shares his journey of letting go of personal control and allowing life to unfold, resulting in unexpected success and fulfillment.
Lessons in leadership: Humility, adaptability, and trust in the process — key traits for navigating uncertain times both professionally and personally - “Touch the Top of the World” by Erik Weihenmayer. The inspiring true story of a blind man who defied all odds to become the first to summit Mount Everest. His story inspired my journey to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with University of Michigan students in 2018 as part of an intense leadership development course.
Lessons in leadership: The power of perseverance, purpose and redefining what’s possible through mindset and grit. ●
J. David Heller is President, CEO and Co-founder of The NRP Group
