Reading IS still a thing.

Growing up, I loved reading. The past few years though, my rate of reading typically sat around five or so books a year. A few friends of mine told me they had joined book clubs or set a specific number of books to hit in the upcoming year. It seemed like a great way to continue my passion for stories and immediately piqued my interest.

With this in mind, I made a great and terrible decision to start 2018. My goal - read twenty books. Little did I know we would move twice, change jobs and start a new business. Rapidly, my time for reading dwindled. However, every great CEO or founder I listen to mentions how they make time for reading. It didn’t hurt that there was plenty I needed to learn, relearn or be inspired by.

So I went for it. Being the imperfect man I am, I may have needed some help in the form of audiobooks. I may have even left book 19 on an airplane December 28th and had to reorder it December 30th, finishing it on my phone. This mishap led to a quick read of book 20 on December 31st. Yet, I finished in time.

The experience has helped spark my creativity, reminding me of some fantastic principles and even allowing me to be a better husband, business owner, and marketer. Below are some of my recommendations. You’ll find my full list at the bottom of the page.

Best business read:

While The Four offers an incredible look at four of the FAANG companies, The $100 Startup slightly edged it out. This book gave us a number of pointers for how to start the company and ideas we are currently using. If you are a small business owner, it’s a must read.

Best sports read:

This was a tough one. Despite being a diehard Yankees fan, Astroball was a fantastic read. The way Ben Reiter provides details about Houston’s journey to a World Series win makes you feel like you know the full story, warts and all. It slightly edged out my other favorite, Ned Colletti’s The Big Chair. The Big Chair gives an in-depth look at what life is like for a MLB General Manger, something that has always deeply intrigued me.

Most enjoyable read:

Billy Crystal took the cake. Crystal’s book on getting older somehow struck a chord with my inner senior citizen, despite my youthful appearance. His wit and humility shines through, telling the story of his successes while remaining incredibly relatable.

Most disappointing read:

There are few people in this world who draw my attention like Simon Sinek. Sinek’s book Start With Why has been on my mind since college and eventually guided us to start White Hound. I was thrilled to hear about the release of Leaders Eat Last. Unfortunately, it was repetitive and more focused on biology than business, lacking his usual brevity and clearness. There are certainly valuable chapters, but overall I was disappointed.

Greatest book for personal growth:

Date Your Wife. Justin Buzzard outlines why it’s so important to keep dating your spouse once married and then provides an easy to understand, tangible method of making it happen. I highly recommend it, whether you’ve been married 30 years or recently said your vows.

For 2019, my goal is to hit 20 books again. This time, I will cut out the audiobooks, though I know the year will be no less busy. A few already on my list include This is Marketing by Seth Godin and Impact Player, Bobby Richardson’s memoir.

What was your favorite read of 2018? I’d love to hear your recommendations.

My List:

1. The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google by Scott Galloway

2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

3. The $100 startup by Chris Guillebeau

4. 31 creative ways to love & encourage her by Jefferson Bethke

5. The Big Chair by Ned Colletti

6. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

7. Fantasy Life by Matthew Berry

8. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

9. The Yankee Years by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci

10. Still Foolin’ ‘Em by Billy Crystal