Recommended Books
A short list from the many thousands of books that have helped shape my life:
The one book that I recommend reading before any other is any modern version of the Bible, it is the most powerful book in the world and contains some of the greatest insights into personal success and happiness that have ever been written. All the rest pale into insignificance. But here is the list anyway.
Seven Habits of Highly effective people - Stephen Covey (Simon Schuster) ISBN 0671708635
(USA guru’s bible on making changes in your life and work.)
Life Coaching - Eileen Mulligan (Piatkus)
(an easy to read overview by a British life coach)
Coaching by The Book – Ruth Ledesma with members of the Christian Coaches Network. Published Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 073886601.
(This is one of the best books written on Christian coaching. I was honoured by being invited to write an endorsement for it.)
The Leadership Principles of Jesus: Modern Parables of Achievement and Motivation – Joe Batten, Gail Batten & Warren Howard, published College Press. ISBN 0899007821
(This is a must read by anyone who wants to become the very best that they can be.)
The Sales Slump Doctor Is In! The First-Ever Scientifically Tested Method For Ending Your Sales Slump! - Mickey M. Greenfield, J.D., Ph.D. (Lexington House Press) ISBN 0910882037.
(was delighted to have been invited to write the introduction to this very down to earth practical book on ensuring sales success.)
What It Takes To Make You Great Profiling America’s Three Greatest ® Sakes & Success Motivators And Their Timeless Wisdom For You - Forrest Wallace Cato (Lexington House Press) ISBN 0910882002.
(This is an excellent introduction to understanding three of America’s greatest motivators, W. Clements Stone, Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller. I can’t understand why I was asked by the author to write the introduction to this best selling inspirational book, but it is was a great pleasure to do it.)
Bruce: Patience Please, I think I’m Melting - Sally Simpson (New Millennium Press) ISBN 1858451280.
(This is a very powerful read about a young man who courageously fought cancer along with many other huge life challenges. As one of his counsellors I was very humbled to have been able to write chapter 4 of this book.)
The Divine Yes E. Stanley Jones (Abingdon Press) ISBN 0-687-10990-6.
(This is one of the most challenging books that I have ever read in my life. E. Stanley Jones wrote it at the age of 87 after suffering a paralysing stroke. So many people allow defeat to destroy their life purpose but here is an example of someone who even triumphed over what would have been the end of many. )
Care of The Soul – How to Add Depth and Meaning to Your Everyday Life Thomas Moore (Piatkus) ISBN 0749911689.
(This is an excellent modern book for personal growth and for exploring spirituality.)
Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without selling Your Soul (John D. Beckett) (Inter-Varsity Press) ISBN 0830819266.
(Instead of grinding it out until Friday and living for weekends, a successful Ohio manufacturing executive has seen how his work can be filled with meaning and purpose. The key is integrating his work and his beliefs. As a results, both grow – along with a love for Mondays. The lessons learned by John Beckett apply whether you work at a deli or head a Fortune 500 company. Here is a book for everyone who wants to succeed in business without selling out.)
Born To Win James & Jongeward (Addison–Wesley) ISBN 0201033194.
(This is a book that will help you to increase the awareness that you have to direct your own life.)
Talk And Grow Rich: How To Create Wealth Without Capital Ron Holland (Thorsons) ISBN 0722519559.
(This book is the handbook for all apprentice millionaires!)
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude Napoleon Hill & W. Clement Stone (Thorsons) ISBN 0722511582
(Here is proof that dynamic thinking can awaken a sleeping giant within you and help you make your dreams come true.)
See You At The Top Zig Ziglar (Pelican Publishing Co.) ISBN 088289126X.
(This is one of the very best, easy read books that I have yet to discover on building positive attitudes.)
Top Performance: How To Develop Excellence In Yourself and Others Zig Ziglar (Fleming H. Revell Co.) ISBN 080071475X.
(Did you know that 85% of the reasons for job security, achievement, and promotion is determined by how well you deal with people? In this book Zig Ziglar offers you a resourceful guide to maximising your leadership abilities and management skills. His dynamic principles and effective procedures are applicable to the office, home, sports, church and other organisations.)
The Power of Servant Leadership Robert K. Greenleaf, Edited by Larry C. Spears (Berrett-Koehler Publishers) ISBN 1576750353.
(This is one of the most inspiring books on leadership that I have ever read.)
Build Your Own Rainbow Barrie Hopson & Mike Scally (Open University) ISBN 0907042031.
(This is the best UK based workbook for career and life management that I have found.)
Even Eagles Need a Push - Learning to Soar in a Changing World David McNally (Thorons) ISBN 0722527594.
(Young eagles do not learn to fly until they are pushed out of their safe nest. Until they learn to soar, they do not discover the privilege it is to have born an eagle. This is a must read if you want to develop your own uniqueness as a human being.)
The Effective Leader James Dunn (Kingsway) ISBN 0854763546.
(This is a very practical view of leadership from a Christian perspective.)
Working With Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman (Bloomsbury) ISBN 0747539847.
(This a very important book to read if you are serious about reaching the top in your career.)
Empires of the Mind, Lessons to Lead and Succeed in a Knowledge-Based World Denis Waitley (Nicholas Brealey Publishing) ISBN 1857881206.
(This informative and inspiring book is a must read if you want to be up to date in your thinking in an ever changing world.)
Teaching the Elephant to Dance, Empowering Change in Your Organisation James A. Belasco (Century Business Books) ISBN 0712655395.
(The purpose of this book is to encourage and enable business organisation to change rapidly in a dynamic decade.)
Beyond Counterfeit Leadership: How You Can Become a More Authentic Leader Ken Shetlon (Executive Excellence Publishing) ISBN 1890009202.
(This is one of the most helpful as well as being one of the most readable books currently available to help you to become an authentic leader.)
Flight of the Buffalo: Soaring to Excellence, Learning to Let Employees Lead James A. Belasco & Ralph C. Stayer (Warner Books) ISBN 0446670081.
(A great book to read if you are serious about achieving excellence.)
Releasing Your Potential: Exposing the Hidden You Myles Munroe (Destiny Image) ISBN 15604300729.
(This is a very motivating and inspiring book.)
Understanding Your Potential: Discovering the Hidden You Myles Munroe (Destiny Image) ISBN 156043046X.
(This a must read if you really want to become all that you can be.)
Restoring Your Spiritual Passion Gordon MacDonald (Highland Books) ISBN 0946616329.
(We are working harder, play longer, buying more and yet we are enjoying life less. Why is there so much dissatisfaction with our lives? This book gives you the reasons and the answers to our dilemma.)
The Right Brain: A New Understanding of the Unconscious Mind and Its Creative Powers Thomas R. Blakeslee. (MacMillan Education Ltd.) ISBN 033329909
9One aspect of success is the ability to thinking creatively this is a very valuable guide book in helping you achieve this.)
The Age of Unreason Charles Handy (Arrow Books) ISBN 0099757400.
(A great book to get you thinking and being aware of current changes in our culture.)
The Life God Blesses: Weathering the Storms of Life That Threaten the Soul Gordon MacDonald (Nelson Word Ltd.) ISBN 1860240313.
(A very practical and down to earth book written by a man who has been there and walks the talk.)
Maximized Manhood: A Guide to Family Survival Edwin Louis Cole (Whitaker House) ISBN 0883681072.
(Many men are having problems understanding their male role, this is a first class guide to full manhood.)
Strategy of The Dolphin: Winning Elegantly By Coping Powerfully In a world Of Turbulent Change Dudley Lunch & Paul L. Kordis. (Arrow Business Books) ISBN 0099762102.
(This book is about what works, about what will get your goals met. It teaches new, exciting ways to help you see the big picture and vital details; to change ahead of the times; to find ingenious new solutions; to achieve more with less.)
Principle - Centered Leadership Stephen R. Covey (Simon & Schester) ISBN 0671711350.
(This is one of my favourite books, it provides a positive philosophy for life and success in business.)
Insights On Leadership: Service, Stewardship, Spirit, and Servant Leadership Edited by Larry C. Spears (John Wiley & Sons) ISBN 0471176346.
(The book includes articles from a formidable list of top names. I found it a very inspiring and thought provoking read.)
Rediscovering The Soul of Business: A Renaissance of Values Edited by Bill DeFoore & John Renesch (New Leaders Press) ISBN 0963039067.
(This book will challenge your traditional thinking.)
How To Win Friends and Influence People Dale Carnegie (Simon & Schuster) ISBN 067142517X.
(This book has been around for some time but it still is well worth reading.)