Change your Brain Change your Body. Daniel Amen, M.D. 2010. ISBN 9780307463579. Dr Amen is often seen on PBS talking about the impact of your brain on the rest of you.  As I reflect on the various conflict type sports I played and my sons played, it gave me several things to think about, since head injuries can be caused in many ways in sport, and they are not all concussions.  Much of the self help business is built around “self talk” and Dr Amen shows how thoughts and self talk are reflected in brain scans.  The book is an easy read and I found myself quite enthralled with his science. At one point. I completely missed my train stop being so deep into this book.  if you have tried everything to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more, eat better then this just may be the book that provides you with the correct incentives.

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Bring Your Audience to Their Feet! Irene Brennick. 2010. ISBN 9781935254225.  A very short well written book that directly addresses many peoples fears about making a speech. (According to Seinfield more people prefer to be in the coffin than giving the eulogy) The author has a very moving personal story and shows how you can better connect with the audience by bringing your stories to the fore.  She addresses many situations a speaker can get into eg changed topic at the last minute, heckling, being vulnerable,  the list goes on. It is a tremendous confidence builder for any speaker.

Driven. Razi Imam. 2010 ISBN 9780470599334.  Razi explains Junoon, an obsessive state one gets into to achieve a goal. The book is an exploration of an almost unbelievable self help effort by Razi to rise from being a Kuwait dock yard worker to owning a  successful software company in the US. Along the way you learn much about Junoon and how to achieve it yourself.  Clearly written , it will grab you to finish the book.

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The Path. Find fulfillment through prosperity from Japan’s father of management. Konosuke Matsushita. 1968 ISBN 9780071739573.   The first entire printing in English. Founder of Panasonic, Matsushita is revered in Japan.

This tiny book is full of the simple but cosmic ideas.  A true compendium of wisdom and knowledge, you can rush through the book , but why would you. A serious leader will take this material to heart.  This is a treasure.

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The Shallows. What the internet is doing to our brain. Nicholas Carr. 2010. ISBN 9780393072228.  This is a provocative and very important book.  Its genesis was the author noticed his inability to focus and not be distracted as he used the Internet more and more.  As befits the author of Does It Matter?  and The Big Switch , he looked at the impact on many technologies on thinking/the brain  along with the commentators of the time. This included the advent of clocks, writing (clay to parchment) , printing press ,  telephone, phonograph and now the World Wide Web.  Along the way he talks about the evolution of the brain, using eBooks, how interruptions affect learning, how he unplugged to write this book, is Google good or evil,  and general comments about writers on these and many subjects,.  By the end the writing of the book seems to have allowed him to rationalize where the Web can and will fit and where we need to be careful.  He even notes that our attention deficits may be rooted in pre web learned behaviors and we will learn new ways of sorting information.  I read this almost in one sitting – it is very well done, thoroughly researched and annotated, with lots of further reading noted. Great four hour coast read.

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Mojo. How to get it, how to keep it, how to get it back if you lose it. Marshall Goldsmith. 2009. ISBN 978140132327.  Thank you MaryEllen for recommending this author. Famous as the coaches coach, Goldsmith certainly deserves the title.  I found this little book to be chock full of extremely useful immediately  applicable insights. His writing style is simple, concise and direct – yet he comes across as just so Da,,,mn useful.  For me the lighthouse point was his comment that there really is no use for you in getting upset at people being who they are. They can not help it.  Once you realize this you can forgive them for being who they are. And move on to change what you can.  Good read, great book, terrific summer recharger.  check out more including the smartphone app at  Mojothebook.com

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Winning Body Language. Control the conversation, command attention, & convey the right message without saying a word. Mark Bowden 2010. ISBN 9780071700573.  We spend a lot of time on writing the best content.  Yet, the author states, in communication the audience is paying attention in the following split; 7% the words, 38% the voice and 55% the body language.  Makes one think?  Now I know why I did not believe that CEO saying that everything is just fine, when his body betrayed him.  Bowden is an expert at on body language, having a strong background in performance and theatre. His anecdotes on projects he has taken on are fascinating. The core of the book is bang on the topic , finding a wide range of applicability. As we do many webinars, I found  his tips on those,  very useful, as he tells you exactly how to fight the talking head style.   I always wondered why Steven Coveys presentations were so “truthful”.  I also appreciated the comment on getting away from behind a lectern etc – as removing a barrier. Lots here, a good read and it is clearly written

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Superfreakonomics. Global cooling, patriotic prostitutes, and why suicide bombers should buy life insurance. Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner.  2010. ISBN 9781554686087.  This reads like a novel with twists, turns and surprises on every page.  A very easy to read fact filled and entertaining book.  If you have read Freakonomics you know what you are in for. If not you will find this a treat.  I really enjoyed the discussions form Intelligent Ventures in Seattle.  If you have heard about geoengineering, you will find out more about much simpler responses to global warming than we have head from others. And yes you will hear detractors. But such is the lot of people who debunk sacred cows – especially ones that have so much funding and lobbying attached.

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In The Company of Heroes. Michael J. Durant & Steven Hartov. 2004.ISBN 0451210603. The story of the US helicopter pilot captured in Mogadishu, Somalia which corresponded with the story of  Black Hawk Down.   This is a taut gripping real life story of special ops, top gun flyers and life among the elite of the US Armed Forces.  Durant was seriously injured when his helio was shot down. He endured incredible pain, and  expected the worst. He  received surprising care from some Somalis and eventually was released as a gesture from the warlord , Mohamed Aidid.   If you are curious to live the life of these elite forces and the view of being captured by a young hard nosed military type you will like this book.  I liked his quote from Colin Powell, ” The people in the front lines are right and those in the rear are wrong.”   Durant’s observations of the Clinton approach to this war are totally in line with those expressed in the Bin Laden book.

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Surviving Dreaded Conversations. Talk through any difficult situation at work. Donna Flagg. 2010 ISBN 9780071630252. Another very useful book from McGraw Hill.  Boy do I wish I had this book by my desk many times in my career.  Her opening paragraphs/exercises  on how to confront your own ego and recognize its impact are worth price of the book in itself.  By using real world real people examples Flagg is able to drive home,  how, what, when and where to get it done.  She even included scripts and tips on structure of conversations. Some of the uses of humour are just priceless!  Lesson learned, bite the bullet, pick the time and place and do the deed, the anxiety you feel beforehand is way larger than the work involved.  Great managers bookshelf book (but it is as useful for employees as well)  And its an easy read.