2020 Summer Reading List: Yours.
Fellow book lovers, there are two times each year that we get our time to shine. One is those is the end-of-year “top reads” list which everyone else views as braggadocious, but we all geek out because we really want to know.
The other is the onset of beach read season. Which we’re in now, I think. With the ‘rona, it’s hard to tell, because I’m not really sure what month it is.
Regardless, here are ten books I want to wholeheartedly recommend to you this summer. Later this week, I’ll tell you what I plan to tackle over the next few months.
The Customer Service Revolution: Overthrow Conventional Business, Inspire Employees, and Change the World (John R. DiJulius) I’ve been a fan of DiJulius since reading his Secret Service book. This one didn’t disappoint.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World (Cal Newport) Oh, how I needed this read. And oh, how I still need to implement so much from what I read.
Developing Female Leaders: Navigate the Minefields and Release the Potential of Women in Your Church (Kadi Cole) If you are a leader of any stripe within the church and you haven’t read this excellent book from 2019, there’s grace. Order it today. (See my Top Ten Quotes post)
Leveling the Church: Multiplying Your Ministry by Giving It Away (Micah Fries and Jeremy Maxfield) Micah and Jeremy expertly walk the reader through our call to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
Ponder Anew: Rethinking Ordinary Events Through the Lens of Faith (Wes Gardner) If you’re looking for a devotional read this summer, I’d recommend this book by my friend Wes Gardner. Convicting, encouraging, and compelling.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking (Susan Cain) One of my favorite books of last year, Quiet helps introverts – and those who love them – see the intrinsic value they hold. (See my Top Ten Quotes post)
TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking (Chris Anderson) I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. Eminently practical and very readable, Anderson gives us the very best of thousands of TED talks, and helps us all become better communicators.
Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better (Brant Hansen) Probably no other book title serves as the antithesis for our modern day outrage culture. With disarming humor and charm, Hansen will help you defuse your anger switch.
Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen. (Dan Heath) It’s Dan Heath…one half of the Heath Brothers duo (Think Power of Moments, Switch, etc.). Come on, y’all. You know it’s going to be good. (See my Top Ten Quotes post)
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing (Daniel Pink) Another favorite read from the last year. Pink takes you on a deep dive in understanding your clock, your calendar, and your chemistry. (See my Top Ten Quotes post)
The good folks over at the FTC want me to tell you the following: if you order a resource from a link on this page, I may receive a small affiliate commission from Amazon. If that bugs you, feel free to bypass my link and buy from a vendor of your choice. But still: buy it. I only promote items that have benefitted me and that I believe will benefit you.
