List: Books read in 2016

This post is written for the Day 2 exercise of the blogging course Writing: Finding Everyday Inspiration. The topic is List. The exercise was to write a list on any of these four topics – Things I like, Things I’ve learned, Things I wish and Things You’re good at. Since the main idea is about list, I am ditching these four topics and writing about the books that I read this year which I was planning to write about anyway.

As I had mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I had set myself a challenge of reading at least 12 books in 2016. The previous year I had set a lofty goal of reading 18 books and failed miserably. So this year, I set myself a realistic goal of 12 books. By writing about the books I read, with the kindle that my wife gifted on my birthday and through some smart selection of smaller books (wink wink), I completed the challenge this year. Here is the list of the books that I read and one or two lines about them.

1. The Secret of the Mantle by Harini Chakrapani
2.  The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
3. Delivering Happiness – A path to profits, passion and purpose by Tony Hseih
4. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

I had already written my view about these books here. I will have to remind you that I have an ability to completely surprise you. There is this comedy scene in one of the Tamil movies where the comedian will boast that he will switch the right indicator on, give the hand signal for turning left and confuse the cops by going straight. Similarly, I had given the list of next books to read in the above link for 2016. I read none of them and chose a completely different set of books.

5. How to live 24 hours a day by Arnold Bennet

This is one of those smart selections. A quick read. I had posted about this book already here.

6. The Professional by Subroto Bagchi

This book is written by a senior IT business professional and most of the advices and examples are related to IT field. Cleverly organized as well. I felt like I have read this book already but through different words. If you know, what I mean.

7. One small step can change your life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer

This is one of the best books that I read this year. This book talks about the Japanese practice of continuous improvement called Kaizen and how small changes can eventually help you in moving mountains. I would recommend this book.

8. The Leadership Sutra by Devdutt Patnaik

This is the best book that I have read this year. This talks about leadership and management using the Indian mythology. The best thing I like about this book is that it does not tell you what to do or how to do. Instead, it tells a story from the mythology and a relevant story from the corporate world. It leaves it there so that you can chew on that thought later rather than forcing the author’s opinion down the throat. I highly recommend this book. I learnt that this is an excerpt from the book Business Sutra by the same author. I am currently reading that book and it is quite gripping and brings fresh perspective about management.

9. Work Smarter not Harder by Timo Kiander

This is again one of those smart moves to complete the challenge ;-). This is a quick read. Most of the points, you would have come across already. Neverthless, a quick refresher.

10. Mastery Manual by Robin Sharma

I am not a big fan of Robin Sharma’s style of story telling. I have read his books The monk who sold his Ferrari and The leader who had no title earlier. I was skeptical about reading this book. I don’t remember anything about this book now. The only thing that I remember is that this book was not as bad as the first two.

11.Who will cry when you die by Robin Sharma

Okay. I chose this book just because I learnt that this is not in a story form but a collection of individual chapters. I felt that only a few chapters were good and rest all were the points that are etched in the stone tablets. Few of the chapters were total BS. They were either a book recommendation, a movie recommendation or a marketing gig for his lecture. The good thing is you can choose which chapter you want to read and omit the others.

12.Ennadudaia Iyarkaiyey Potri by K.Nammazhvaar

This is the only Tamil language book I read this year. There is something about reading in your mother tongue. Mother tongue can always get the point across easily and deeply. The author is a renowned Organic Farming evangelist. This book gives good points about organic farming and crop rotation that would keep the land fertile and our coming generation healthy.

Other than these I have a read good portion of the following books

1. Business Sutra by Devdutt Patnaik
2. Faster, Smarter, Higher: Managing your career by Utkarsh Rai

I am tempted to give you the list of books that I am planning to complete in 2017. But, you and me, both know that I am not going to follow that list. So why waste your time?

What books have you read this year? Please leave some recommendations in the comment section.

Merry Christmas! Cheers.