Bill's Reading List 2019
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday. After getting two recommendations for this one, and having read his previous book, Obstacle Is the Way, I thought I better dig in. And was delightful. This is a collection of short essays about the different aspects (mind, body and spirit) of stillness. You’ll be reminded of the importance of sleep, having a clear purpose, timing, a relationship with a higher power and the other metaphysics of creating the best opportunity for healing. There will be countless Monday Morning Motivations based on the inspiration of this little gem! December 2019
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. I’ve read every one of his books, so when I saw this one I bought it without cracking it open. There are few authors who I will take such a risk, but Gladwell is one of them. And he doesn’t disappoint. You’ll discover the concept of “coupling,” defaulting to the truth and the illusion of transparency. You’ll appreciate the challenges facing the police, the ambiguity of what constitutes consent when you’ve been drinking and the many other conundrums of talking to strangers. It’s more complicated than you probably think. December 2019
Principles by Ray Dalio. Weighing in at a massive 584 pages this truly is the “Definitive Guide” to the Green Books. Ray provided the leadership for over four decades for Bridgewater, a hedge fund with over $150 billion under management. Possessing legendary personal discipline and an analytical mind, he was among the first to harness the power of computer-assisted decision making. His principles for life and work capture his wisdom and mindfulness. Insights into the company culture of radical transparency were the greatest take away. While his emphasis on evolution was a bit misplaced, it wasn’t off-putting enough to put it down. December 2019
Palmer Chiropractic Green Books by Timothy Faulkner, Joseph Foley and Simon Senzon. Weighing in at a massive 584 pages this truly is the “Definitive Guide” to the Green Books. Whether you’re a collector, or never exposed to this aspect of chiropractic’s history or like me, simply curious about the early days, you’ll enjoy this thoughtful exploration. The countless anecdotes and cross references bring the colorful history of chiropractic to life. The photographs and illustrations alone are worth the purchase price. They offer a special insight into the excitement felt by these pioneers. Both revered and reviled, you’ll get a new appreciation for B.J. Palmer and how he brought the scientific method to chiropractic. November 2019
Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall. We’re wired for stories and the stories the authors shares are amazing. I dare you to read the opening story about the cologne and not want to devour the rest of her book. It’s a real reminder of the power of stories and a reminder that I should be sharing more examples in my speaking and writing. You might want to consider telling stories during your consultation and report of findings to inspire hope and create possibilities. The suggestion to create a list of possible stories was helpful, along with the formula of what makes a good story: normal → explosion → new normal. November 2019
They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan. Google has completely reversed the roles of buyers and sellers. When we want something, we go to our favorite search engine. The days of interrupting people with your message has lost much of its power. The result is a new type of marketing called “inbound” marketing. This is where you have an information-rich website and show up as a trusted teacher and collaborator. I originally became familiar with this type of marketing from Mike Lieberman’s work back in 2015. Probably one of the most powerful insights was the importance of publishing your prices (pages 39-42). October 2019
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss. I was introduced to Ferriss by listening to The 4 Hour Work Week as an audio book. Since then I’ve read his Tools For Titans and subscribed to his podcast. This book includes observations from more than 100 high performance experts in a wide variety of fields. Weighing in at 596 pages, his interviews uncover success skills, morning rituals, stress hacks and other tidbits in a highly readable format. The list of most frequently recommended or gifted books reveals some treasures I would have never known about. September 2019