First Friday Book Synopsis

There are book readers and there are non book readers.
Book readers read a lot of books.
Non book readers don’t read many books.

Generally, book readers learn more, and change more (for the better), than non book readers.

So, which are you?

There is little doubt that book readers generally surpass non book readers in a number of capabilities. Book readers come closer to the ideal of life-long learning.  They read; they learn. Then they read more; and they learn even more.

People who do not keep reading really do fall behind those that do keep reading.

But, here’s an interesting reality:  both book readers and non book readers wish they read more books.  In other words, there is no way to read every book.  The greatest speed-reader is always still way behind; actually, always falling further behind.

(And, yes, there are other paths to life-long learning.  Some/many people learn new things by working with their hands,  That represents a different approach to life-long learning).

But, for most of us “knowledge workers” in the modern economy, being a reader is almost a survival skill.  A regular reader.  An all-the-time reader.

Read, or fall behind. Keep up, or watch the crowd go by.

So, whatever else you decide to tackle, tackle this – read more books.  A lot more books.  Starting now.

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A “commercial”:  For the business books that you don’t have time to read – or, even, to be reminded of what is in the books you have read – consider checking out our synopses.  Each synopsis comes with a comprehensive multi-page handout, and the audio recording of the presentations (delivered at the monthly First Friday Book Synopsis in Dallas).

Note:  Karl Krayer presented one book a month, and I (Randy Mayeux) the other, until November, 2017, when Karl was no longer able to present due to health challenges. Beginning in November, 2017, I presented each book each month (except for a guest presenter one month).

For all of our synopses available, click on the “buy synopses” tab at the top of this web page. Here are the book synopses currently up on our “newest additions” page.  The dates listed are for the months at which the synopses were presented.

September, 2017
1. Hustle: The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning, and Momentum by Neil Patel, Patrick Vlaskovits, Jonas Koffler. Rodale Books (2016).
2. Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts by Ryan Holiday. Portfolio (2017).

October, 2017
1. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven (Grand Central Publishing, 2017)
2. You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a “Useless” Liberal Arts Education by George Anders.Little, Brown and Company (2017).

November, 2017
1. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek. Portfolio. 2011
2. The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything by Bob Johansen. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.  (2017)

December, 2017
1. Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio. Simon and Schuster. 2017.
2.  Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. Penguin, 2009.

January, 2018
1. Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone by Satya Nadella (Author), Greg Shaw  (Author), Jill Tracie Nichols  (Author), Bill Gates (Foreword).HarperBusiness (September 26, 2017)
2. Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss (Author).Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (November 21, 2017)

February, 2018
1. The Anticipatory Organization: Turn Disruption and Change into Opportunity and Advantage by Daniel Burris. Greenleaf Book Group Press (October 10, 2017) – Guest Presenter Ed Savage
2. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink Riverhead Books (January 9, 2018)

March, 2018
1. Great at Work: How Top Performers Do Less, Work Better, and Achieve Moreby Morten Hanson – Simon & Schuster (January 30, 2018)
2. Crossing the Chasm, 3rd Edition: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers (Collins Business Essentials) by Geoffrey A, Moore. HarperBusiness; 3 edition (January 28, 2014)

April, 2018
1. Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Random House (February 27, 2018)
2. Mindset by Carol Dweck Ballantine Books; Updated edition (December 26, 2007).

May, 2018
1. The Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work That Wows and Jobs That Last by Tom Peters.Vintage (April 3, 2018).
2. How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job – April 10, 2018 by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith. Hachette Books (April 10, 2018).

June, 2018
1. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling, and Ola Rosling. Flatiron Books (April 3, 2018)
2. The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World’s Greatest Teamsby Sam Walker. Random House; (May 16, 2017).

July, 2018
1.Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs by John Doerr; Larry Page, (Foreword). Portfolio (April 24, 2018).
2. Political Risk: How Businesses and Organizations Can Anticipate Global Insecurity by Condoleezza Rice and Amy B. Zegart. Twelve (May 1, 2018).