“People could become better than they are right now by doing one thing: reading! This neglected activity is a pathway to greatness. By reading, people open their minds to be mentored by others whom they may not have the pleasure to meet due to time and space differences. C.S. Lewis, Socrates and Billy Graham are all available to talk when I open a book to listen.”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived by the maxim, “Readers are leaders.” As corny as that might sound, it is absolutely true. Reading widely has helped me grow as a leader and as a person. In honor of International Literacy Day, here is a look back at the books I read this past summer.
The Power of Mentoring – Martin Sanders
I first read this book my first year in seminary when I was 22 almost, 7 years ago! At the time I really enjoyed the book, but was not in a place to start implementing what I read. Now that I find myself engaging more intentionally in mentoring relationships, I knew this was the perfect book to go back to especially since Martin Sanders has impacted my personal life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to mentor or be mentored.
Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am an Apple user. So I had to read this book just to find out what made Steve Jobs who he was and what drove him to build a company like Apple. I must say that Jobs is quite the peculiar man, but I found myself at the same time being motivated and inspired to innovate and build something that outlasts me. Definitely a fun, intriguing read about a difficult man, who literally changed the world in more ways than one.
The Road to Character – David Brooks
Here was another book that instantly grabbed my attention because of my lifelong pursuit of developing character. This book was a NY Times Bestseller, and rightfully so. 
True Love Dates – Debra Fileta
I first came across this book after reading an article written by this author on RELEVANT. As a single man as well as someone who works with young adults who are obviously interested in relationships, I had to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. If I were to recommend a good book on dating and relationships for Christians, this would be it. The reason why is that the author, who is a Christian counselor, brings up a lot of important topics to the table such as being assertive, family of origin issues, etc. Not an in-depth book on those important topics, but definitely a good 101 starter.
Start with Why – Simon Sinek
After watching Simon Sinek’s TED talk on this subject, I knew I had to get this book. Many companies, leaders, and organizations can answer what they do and maybe even how they do it. But only those who can answer “why” are able to bring about change and sustain success. To watch his presentation, you can on YouTube here.
* Purchasing these books with the above links help support the ministry of Pursuit NYC *
