Contagious: Why Things Catch On  by Jonah Berger

This book was curiously interesting.  I loved hearing about several notable companies and their contagious ideas and how they caught on.  You can build remark-ability into any product, even a boring one such as a blender.  There are six principles that cause something to be ‘contagious’.  Aren’t you curious?

“Word of mouth is the primary factor behind 20 percent to 50 percent of all purchasing decisions.”  Jonah Berger

Harry Potter Series Books 1 -7 by J.K.Rowling

Getting through all 7 books took almost a year.  I love that I now get all the Harry Potter jokes my kids tell, the Potter song they sing, and the many references to these books that occur in normal conversations.  I didn’t even realize this until I read them all.  When my kids were younger, I would not let them read these books, primarily due to fear and the backlash from the Christian community.  I am glad they have had the experience now, myself included, as it is good writing, and really, a phenomenon.

We studied the composer, John Williams, and watched the movies as well.  As many ‘book to movies’ I have seen, I feel like the movies were well done.  Below is a Harry Potter tribute which, if you haven’t read the books, will not illicit the same sentiments.  I listened to all of these on CD.  Never have I enjoyed the voices of a reader more than Jim Dale.

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.”  Albus Dumbledore

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

I loved this book and have many take aways for becoming an Essentialist in my own right. You have always heard to focus on what is important and forget the rest.  This book tells how to do that.  It is a discipline, not just a one time decision.  And a decision you must make every day.  It is just as important to say “no” as it is to say “yes”.  I recommend this one!  It would be good to read annually.

“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.”  Greg McKeown

“Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life someone else will.”  Greg McKeown

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference  By Malcolm Gladwell

This is an interesting read and I enjoyed it, as well as 2 other books he wrote, Blink and The Outliers.  This one was a little dry but I hung on until the end.  It made me rethink epidemics.

Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon

This is a quick and fun read. It is his “manifesto for creativity in the digital age”.  I loved the images.  I learned that you can share something small and worthwhile everyday.  Mr. Kleown is spot on.  I want to read his other book, Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being An Artist.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. By Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne

This book was an eye opener.  It discussed many reasons why we have blocks that never occurred to me.  He talks about Resistance with a capital R.  Gotta read this one!

“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.” Steven Pressfield

I ended up buying this online so I could mark up my own copy and I also wanted to go through it slowly lest I miss something.  I wasn’t able to renew it at the library because of the demand.  The nuggets of wisdom inside this book are truly fantastic.  And they apply to everyone.  We are all artists, made in the image of our Artistic Creator, and we were all designed to create.  I feel like I have just been re introduced to myself and have gotten to know me better.  This one, I highly recommend.

“Each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is. And the faith to trust our own admission. The admitting is often very difficult.” Julia Cameron

“I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow.” Julia Cameron

This is a good quick read and helps you simply, think outside the box.

“Workaholics aren’t heroes. They don’t save the day, they just use it up. The real hero is home because she figured out a faster way” Jason Fried

I confess, I didn’t finish this one.  It was due at the library and I wasn’t able to renew it.

The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World By Chris Guillebeau

Same author as above.  This book answers the question of how to make your life your own.  I loved his information of how he travels the world.  Inspiring & a good read.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action By Simon Sinek