Here, in no particular order, are my top five recommendations from my reading in 2005.
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The Art of Living: The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness, by Epictetus, translation by Sharon Lebell.
find out more at amazon
"simple old wisdom that redefines what you understand of stoicism"
Seeing Systems: Unlocking the mysteries of organizational life, by Barry Oshry. find out more at amazon
"a research based view of how we operate within organizations"
The Greek for Love, by James Chatto.
read my full review, find out more at random house
"more than travelogue, an invitation to become immersed in island life"
The New Business Road Test: What entrepreneurs and executives should do before writing a business plan, by John Mullins.
find out more at amazon
"a primer on what makes some business ideas good and others bad"
Candide: (Or Optimism), by Voltaire.
read online at literature.org, find out more at amazon
"a fantastic fable for the realist in us all"
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The top 5 list is dominated by non-fiction, Candide was one of only five works of fiction I read last year as compared to 30 non-fiction works.
Eight of the non-fiction were business books giving rise to Seeing Systems and the New Business Road Test making the list. Both books are very much not in the usual boring business book mold.
Five of the 30 non-fiction were travelogues and The Greek for Love stands out as the best mostly because it is more than a travelogue. It does not convey a litany of detail but rather a real and subtle sense of time, place and people.
Fourteen of the non-fiction works were philosophical, psychological or religious in nature and the simplicity of Epictetus stands out as the best. The remaining three works of non-fiction covered the area of language and writing and yielded no recommendations.
So what will be the reading focus for 2006?
Firstly, I would like to write more and read less. Secondly, I hope to read more fiction. Thirdly, I think I have read more than enough work that is philosophical, psychological or religious in nature, I should loosen up and read some more fun stuff!
Three of my top five recommendations came recommended to me by others so hopefully there is something in my list that might interest you to pick up a book and turn that first page.
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6 comments:
"Three of my top five recommendations came recommended to me by others "
Which three?
Seeing Systems from a colleague, The New Business Road Test from a friend and The Greek for Love from my wife.
i like your style i thought you might like mine, i would say im a poet but i guess im twenty.
www.1210fullcircle.blogspot.com
thanks for the comment, I will check your blog out.
Interesting that you classify the business books as non fiction...I suggest that the plethora of books about business, mascarading as fact (non fiction) is almost up there with the nazi party propaganda machine. "Who moved My cheese?" "Zapp" ?!?! More sense can be gleaned from the dilbert cartoons.....hell from the simpson cartoons, what am I saying from Wanderly Wagon!. I know, I know there are some notable exceptions, some of which may indeed feature in your list and I have a few personal faves of my own but generally lets face it: Business reading is a triumph of style over substance, marketing over content, and of course homes in on the well heeled but slightly unsure executive (obviously not you or I. Well, I say reading I mean publishing.
Is philosophy fact or conjecture? For conjecture read fiction (an old but reliable term) I agree with you about Epictetus, however the philosophy of yesteryear is the common (tho' not too common) sense of today. The Enchiridion is interesting alone for the different tone in the various translations if nothing else. Seems like I am critical , it is not so Epictetus is indeed my fave read of last year, (you introduced me) short sharp inciteful and sensible, fact? conjecture? well thats up to the reader. Hell I wish it were faxct tho' in reality it is advice or obsevation at best. none the less it is brillaint in it's simplicity and insightfulness.
I'd love to hear/see ( or whatever it is you sense in a blog (now there a blog topic)) a slightly more in depth commment on the Oshry book as my background lends towards an interest in it.More please
John Mullins: (didn't he play centre forward for Dublin with Heffos Army in the 1970's ??)I am a little middle aged (read: cynical) about business planning, Oh i agreee it is vital. We all love it dearly,(SWOT analysis was the fulcrum of my MBA) it is up there with the mission statement (don't start me!! ) but sometimes so much time is spent plannig that the real everything passes us by (paraphrasing "life is what happens when you are busy making plans" JL) Sometimes you gotta go out and listen to the music rather than composing the soundtrack (Maybe Jack Walsh did that).
Voltaire: good link, got to read it first, then of course I can dismiss it (feeble attempt at humour)
Jeez am I being critical?? not intentionally just enjoying the discourse!!
Great list keep it up, love to hear more recommendations and MORE regularly. Have a quarterly discousre on that site you often visit (Random xcess)
What was the worst read all year?
and of course what about your best music (there I am signed as anonymous but you know who it is now).
keep on rockin in the free world
Well done on the list
I agree with your comments on business books, the vast majority are a waste of trees. It surprised me that 2 made my top 5 list.
Seeing System is perhaps more in the realm of sociology or group dynamics rather than business. It conatins the results of over 30 years of experimental research by Barry Oshry. Essentially this guy has set up a little village and he tries with groups to create a small society. He and his helpers then observe. I liked the fact that his ideas were research based rather than just hypothetical (as many buisness books are). He also presents the results in a very easy, fun and engaging way.
Will have to think about the music list. Have been listening mostly to classical on the radio
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