Books I've Read in 2008

2008 is winding down and I am looking ahead to 2009. I put some thoughts into career and personal goals over the weekend - one of those goals includes reading. For today's blog post, I thought I would make some suggestions for your 2009 reading list from my 2008 list. These are in no particular order and I enjoyed all of them. After re-reading the list, 2008 seemed to be about globalization, motivation, and autobiograhies for me!

1. The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman - one of my favorites this year. I realize that most people read this several years ago. This book expanded my thinking beyond the world that I live in.

2. Rivals by Bill Emmott - Good discussion on the power struggles between China, India and Japan and how that can affect the world in the coming years.

3. Globaility by Harold L. Sirkin, James W. Hemerling, and Arindam K. Bhattacharya - Another good book on the affects of globalism

4. Obama - From Promise to Power by David Mendell - I decided to read books on both Presidential candidates and am glad I did.

5. Faith of My Fathers by John McCain - Part of my reading up on Presidential candidates. I admire John McCain and really enjoyed this book.

6. Be All You Can Be by John C. Maxwell - I had never read anything by John C. Maxwell even though he is a respected leadership author. Good motivational book.

7. China, Inc by Ted Fishman - Again, another book on how other countries are shaping the economic future of the world.

8. The 28 Laws of Attraction by Thomas J. Leonard - Motivational type book

9. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle - This was given to me by Carol O. and, of course, Oprah was a big fan!

10. Basic Black by Cathie Black - I really enjoyed this book written by Cathie Black, President of Hearst Magazines and a force in the publishing community. A good mix of leadership and management discussion mixed with personal experience - very down to earth and applicable to the masses. She is now on my list of people I'd love to meet.

11. Who's Your City by Richard Florida - The book gives you a different perspective on how your location affects you both personally and professionally.

12. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - I just finished this last night. When I first started reading it, I didn't like it. I thought he was saying that you had to have the right circumstances to be successful and if you didn't, you wouldn't - that is only part of it. The real message I take away is that average ability coupled with a tremendous amount of hours dedicated plus a few "lucky breaks" are what make most people.

13. The First Billion is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America's Energy Future by T. Boone Pickens - Good book. If nothing else, this is a great story of second, third, and fourth acts in one's life.

14. Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepeneur by Richard Branson - The Virgin brand is unmistakable. I even noticed a Virgin bottle of wine on Black Friday. In this book, Richard talks about what makes the brand, "the brand" - their focus on the customer and their culture. Good lessons for business people.

What were some of your favorite books in 2008?