Exactly one year ago today, I read Arik Hanson’s blog post on the 26 books that he planned to read over the course of the year. It inspired me to give it a whirl and see if I could read that many. When the dust and grime from the books settled, wound up reading 31 over the course of the year. You might ask yourself why anyone would devote their time to finishing a book and start a new one every two weeks and it is a perfectly good question. For me, it was a number of things starting with the fact that I just like to read and as a former English major reading that much did not seem too daunting. Reading 31 books helped me think more clearly and get to sleep that much easier as I wasn’t distracted looking at every blog post, Facebook status or Tweet while killing brain cells staring at the TV. Heading into 2012, I am hoping to read 35 books and hope that you’ll challenge yourself to read more than you normally would. I also welcome any suggestions for books that you think I should read this year as well in the comments below.
Below is my list of fiction, non-fiction and business books that I read in 2011 along with reviews that I did on many of them. Each book is also linked with an Amazon affiliate link that will save you some coin if you decide to pick up a copy while earning me a few cents towards some cold refreshing adult sodas.
2011 Reading List
Business Books
- Content Rules – Chapman/Handley – Review
- Social Media Case Studies – Fine – Review
- Enchantment – Kawasaki – Review
- Evil Plans – MacLeod – Review
- Social Media ROI – Blanchard – Review
- Thank You Economy – Vaynerchuck – Review
- Brewing up a Business – Calagione – Review
- Enterprise Social Technology – Klososky – Review
- Killing Giants – Denny – Review
- Likeable Social Media – Kerpen – Review
- Welcome to the Fifth Estate – Livingston – Review
- Launch – Stelzner – Review
- ROI of Social Media – Powell – Review
- Super Mario – Ryan – Review
- Smart Business, Social Business – Brito – Review
- Humanize – Notter/Grant – Review
- Find your Next – Kates – Review forthcoming
Non-Fiction
- Life Inc. – Rushkoff – Review
- Assholeology, the cheat sheet – Illuminati – Review
- The Perfect Storm – Junger
- The Expectant Father – Brott
- Medium Raw – Bourdain
- On Becoming Baby Wise – Ezzo (Thank you Stephanie Wonderlin for putting me onto this for Baby Espo along with some entertaining Twitter trolls)
- The Power of Positive Thinking – Peale
Fiction
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Rowling
Happy reading and be sure to offer some books that you think I should peep out below.
Image – Artotem
@jeffespo Be your own boss. Make your own hours. Make 4k a month in as little as 3 months time. mymoneyjournalsite .com
@jeffespo I read 146. BOW BEFORE MY GREATNESS. 🙂 (You get extra points for the Potters, though.) #reading
Jeff, if you had to pick three of the Business books that you read in 2011 that you felt were the best, what would they be? Happy 2012 to you.
@danperezfilms that’s allot of reading! Happy new year buddy
@John_Trader1 Depends on what you are looking to get out of it. If you are looking for two awesome books on social, read Oliver’s Social Media ROI and Geoff’s 5th Estate (both have a permanent spot on my desk). Killing Giants and Super Mario were pure business hooks and ways to win. For a perspective changer peep out Evil Plans. So I know that is more than two but I tried to frame it for you pal. Let me know what you are looking for and can guide you in a better direction bud 🙂
@jeffespo Thanks for the feedback Jeff. I was looking for your opinion on impactful social books so you answered my question. I hadn’t heard of Super Mario or Evil Plans but they sound interesting and will try and squeeze them in for the first quarter of 2012. You did a great job of framing without me even asking!
@John_Trader1 No worries, in the case that you are looking for Geoff and Oliver are the two to read hands down best two I have read from a bigger level and they don’t rely on fluff and old info and offer real-tangible things you can do to improve.
[…] Why I read 31 books in 2011 (jeffesposito.com) […]
@jamienotter I must say that yours was one of the better ones sir
@jeffespo Too kind! Thanks again for your review.
That is an excellent list. I didn’t read as many, but I did make my way through 13 Elmore Leonard novels. He sure knows how to write dialogue. I did write 3 books in the last year, however, so that counts for something…I hope.
@ExtremelyAvg thanks mate. 3 books? What are they on?
@jeffespo I’ve finished the 2nd and 3rd installments in the Henry Wood Detective series and just completed a non-fiction book about the 1986-87 Iowa Hawkeye Men’s basketball team. We launch in about 9 hours at the Iowa vs. Penn State game. I’m too excited to sleep.
@ExtremelyAvg Awesome sir 🙂