Your guide to the best books to buy anyone this year
hello
Hi
It's November (how? what? I don't know). This means three things;
1) lots of new books are coming out
2) it's time to start shopping and planning for you-know-what
3) it's my birthday month (no, that's not the thing you need to start shopping for)
The first one is particularly exciting - below you'll find four books I'm looking forward to getting my mitts on this month.
As for the second one, I know gift shopping isn't everyone's idea of a good time, which is why I've done some of the hard work for you.
If you keep scrolling, you'll find your very own copy of a handy book gifting guide. Featuring non-fiction recommendations for people starting their own business, getting started in the workplace, simply looking for a good read, stepping into leadership, wanting to be more productive or going through a tough time. There's something in there for (almost) everyone.
And I certainly won't judge you if the only person you buy a gift for from the guide, is yourself.
Here's what else you'll find in this email:
- what's new in November
- your end of the year gift book-giving guide
- ear food (aka podcast recommendations)
- ICYMI: over on the bookshelf
Let's get started.
Yours in organised book shopping
Steph
what to read in November - new releases
Productivity - Seth Godin's new book 'The Practice' is all about ignoring the 'myth' of writers block and embracing consistency as the answer to putting out your best creative work. (Out 3 November)
Behaviour / psychology - Lives of the Stoics is the new book from Ryan Holiday (I swear he puts out a new book every six months). This latest instalment of Ryan's stoicism books shares short biographies of some of the notable stoics and the details of how they lived, their struggles and their insights, that still live on after millennia. (Out 17 November)
Leadership - Barack Obama's much-anticipated presidential memoir 'A Promised Land', about his time in office, comes out later this month. (Out 18 November)
Auto/biography - Matthew McConaughey has sifted through decades of diaries to pull out the stories, poems, life lessons and principles he's lived by. These are published in his new book 'Greenlights'. (Out now)
your book gifting guide
Here it is. Your exclusive, bookmark subscriber only copy of the 2020 book buying guide.
Looking for other suggestions? Drop me a note on LinkedIn or hit reply to this email- I love to chat books.
PS. don't forget, if you'd like a 15% discount on your copy of the Archley's Book of Books book journal to make your own book notes and lessons in, click here^.
ear food
Dare to Lead - Brené Brown's new podcast 'Dare to Lead' launched two weeks ago and her first guest is decorated athlete, Abby Wambach. Abby and Brené talk about the new rules for leadership, Abby's lessons from on and off the pitch, and her book 'Wolfpack'. I'm looking forward to reading the book after hearing this conversation. (Spotify)
Murder Ballads - My latest obsession is this new podcast from Gimlet which explores the grizzly stories behind dark songs. This episode featuring the song 'In the Pines / Where Did You Sleep Last Night' (most famously covered by Nirvana in their MTV Unplugged gig shortly before Kurt's death) will send chills down your spine. It may also make you listen to that version on repeat for a week afterwards. (Spotify)
Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond - On a lighter note(!) this podcast is a delight to immerse yourself into. In-depth interviews with musicians and those connected to them, by people who seriously know music. I thoroughly enjoyed the episodes with Adria Petty (daughter of Tom Petty). (Spotify)
meanwhile, on the bookshelf
Recent Steph's Business Bookshelf podcast episodes, in case you missed them...
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
(Spotify / Apple)
Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller
(Spotify / Apple)