Bill's Book List
Growing up as I did without television until well into junior high school, ours was a family of readers. Among my fondest memories was traipsing down to the Olympia Public Library every Tuesday evening after dinner. Upon our return, the only sound you'd hear was the turning of pages and the ticking of the grandfather clock.
Lacking a formal education, I still continue to do a lot of reading. Most of my library contains books on marketing, communications, the Internet, spirituality, health and of course my favorite chiropractic books.
I'm only recently moving from actual books to electronic versions on my iPad. There's just something about the feel of holding an actual book (and being in bookstores) that I find pleasing. But physical books have become a storage problem.
Here are some of the books I've been reading recently.
Unwinding Want by Thomas Asacker. This is a little book with a mere 137 pages. But it tackles the foundation of who we are and what we believe. Discover how our self-hypnosis traps us in cycles of overthinking and dissatisfaction. The subtitle to the book: “Using your mind to escape your thoughts” gives you a clue that this is deep. And while I read it in two sittings, I can assure you that it will take many more to fully grasp his insights. His promise? By seeing through the illusions of our thinking mind, we can live true to your deepest wants—relaxing without guilt, playing without fear, and being yourself without anxiety. Yikes! Is that even possible? August 2024
Live Long, Die Short by Dr. Roger Landry. Here’s a transformative guide for achieving authentic health and better aging. Using a friendly, conversational tone, he introduces his “Lifestyle Inventory” to evaluate current health and his Ten Tips for successful aging, supported by recent research, personal stories, and his extensive experience as a former Air Force surgeon and preventive medicine physician. This book challenges the many stereotypes about aging and shows that lifestyle choices significantly impact how we age, offering practical steps for a long, healthy life. July 2024
Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means. What if depression, anxiety, infertility, insomnia, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer and many other health conditions that torture and shorten our lives actually have the same root cause? It’s not subluxation, although I bet it’s involved too. This is a fascinating exploration of mitochondria health, the electron transport chain, insulin intolerance, and the fundamentals of metabolic health and cellular energy. She makes the assertion that the various lifestyle diseases listed above are merely different manifestations of poor energy production. May 2024
The Six Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni. No other business book has caused me to tear up in recognition of powerful truths like this one. He explains how he uncovered the six different skill sets: Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity. It explains why certain aspects of our work life enliven us and others are a dispiriting energy suck. Two of the above is where we shine, another two in which we are competent, and the other two which are cause of frustration. The $25 assessment confirmed my geniuses as being Invention and Discernment. Test yourself and your team. Uncover powerful insights. April 2024
Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick. Envision a future where humans and AI collaborate as equals, unlocking unprecedented potential. Discover the transformative power of this partnership across business, education, and creativity. Through real-world examples, he illustrates how AI can augment our abilities, leading to remarkable innovations and efficiencies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding both the strengths and limitations of AI, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches to education and problem-solving. This is a beacon of optimism, offering a roadmap for navigating the evolving landscape of AI. (Written by ChatGTP) April 2024
MoneyZen by Manisha Thakor. Here’s a candid exploration of the potentially toxic relationship between career, money, and self-worth. Obtaining our sense of identity through our work invites comparison, the “Busy Badge,” and success that's never enough. She reveals her experience as a workaholic and life-threatening experience of seeking more. Rather than minimalism, her recommendations offer a fresh path to a life filled with joy and emotional wealth. Ever felt an emptiness upon reaching a goal? You too may have the erroneous belief that “possessions, symbols, accomplishments, numbers, experiences, or credentials” give life meaning. April 2024
Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg. From the writers’ room of The Big Bang Theory and the couches of leading marriage counselors to a starkly divided jury and a young CIA officer attempts to recruit a reluctant foreign agent, effective communication principles emerge. First, make sure you know which of three conversations you’re having: practical (What’s this really about?), emotional (How do we feel?), and social (Who are we?). Know what kind of conversation you’re having if you want to connect. His trademark storytelling skills show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation. April 2024
You Will Own Nothing by Carol Roth. This explores the disturbing future envisioned by the World Economic Forum: a world where we will own nothing. From inflated currency, declining ownership of homes and cars, Roth exposes how elites aim to consolidate power and make everyone dependent. She connects the dots between Wall Street, governments, multinational corporations, and activist agendas, revealing a coordinated effort to diminish personal wealth and freedom. Roth emphasizes the importance of ownership, urging readers to resist this agenda and safeguard their financial future. Her first recommendation: get out of debt. Good advice. March 2024
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. This bearded, barefoot American record executive is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings. These 400-odd pages are a distillation of the wisdom he has accrued over decades working with musicians of many genres. He insists that creativity is not a rare ability but rather a fundamental aspect of being human. I was delighted to read about some of the techniques I’ve used to test my work, get unstuck, and generally navigate the process of creating something new from a fleeting idea. He has distilled the wisdom from a lifetime of work, concluding that art is more than doing, but a way of being. February 2024
The 12-Hour Walk by Colin O’Brady is a one-day prescription for purging yourself of limiting beliefs and proving that you have the power to shift to a mindset of limitless possibilities. Colin O’Brady is a ten-time world record-breaking explorer, New York Times bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur, and expert on mindset. What he’s asking you to do is simple: spend 12 hours outside, unplugged, walking alone. It’ll be a walking meditation for training your mind. No training necessary. No cost. Use this book to help ignite a fire in your soul to step out of your comfort zone into a "possible mindset." (I've scheduled my walk for Thursday, June 20) February 2024
Meganets by David Auerbach. Our digital world encompasses giants like Facebook, Amazon, and Google: meganets. Auerbach explores how these massive online networks, along with the emerging metaverse and government systems like China's Social Credit System, have morphed into uncontrollable behemoths. He debunks the myth of tight corporate control, explains why reform efforts falter, and warns about the uncontrollable nature of cryptocurrencies. Interestingly, AI is made possible by these very sets of large data—but seems impotent to control these digital giants. January 2024
Hidden Potential by Adam Grant, who is known for his previous work Think Again, is a captivating journey into the world of unlocking our true potential. As an organizational psychologist, Grant delves into a multitude of intriguing case studies that shed light on the barriers and opportunities we encounter. Rather than attributing everything to genetics and environment, he champions the idea that our growth primarily hinges on how we learn. In fact, he suggests that embracing proactive imperfectionism can be helpful strategy. January 2024