Comment by Lorne Alan Riley on July 18, 2014 at 11:55pm

Hi Amanda, to be honest I have all but stopped reading (other than the 9 hours per day I typically do on and off at work). And what little I do read outside of work is escapist/fiction. The only self-help books I have read in past were tied to corporate courses and I found them interesting but can't say that I've applied the learning. Although there are those around me that may agree with the need for me to do so!!

Comment by Brian Ritchie on July 20, 2014 at 10:23am

Good question Amanda. Like Lorne, I'm currently reading a novel (Gone Girl) for fun. However, I am a fan of self-help and I usually have one of these going at all times. Just finishing my second Osho book which I've commented on a couple of times. 

Maybe I can comment on a non-traditional one that I've read recently. Its called "The Social Animal" by David Brooks. Its delivered as a story about a couple who come from very different backgrounds but its really a study of the human condition. The idea from Brooks is that if we understand what drives us physiologically and socially, we have a better understanding on how and why we do things ourselves and possibly condition ourselves to act in a better way to meet our own objectives.

One of the key findings that I found amazing is that decision making, something we attribute to logic, knowledge etc. is actually HIGHLY emotional. Brooks comments on two examples of brain injury patients who lost their ability to feel emotions; the surprise was that while they were quite able to function in most areas, even simple decision making, like 'which day should I accept an appointment' was very challenging.

This is only one of many keys in the book which I highly recommend as a read to anyone who wants to dig deeper into personal interaction for work or relationships.

Great topic Amanda!

Comment by Charles Dimov on July 23, 2014 at 7:41am

I love reading - although my reading includes some self-help, I usually read thought leadership titles in Marketing, Leadership, Investing and Psychology. A little variety is a good thing.

On reading in general - it brings new ideas to bear on either my profession or on my leisure/family activities (destressing for example). Tips, tricks and techniques are usually what I seek in the books I am reading, and enjoy.

Of the books I have read recently, my favourite and the most powerful ideas I have come across are captured in "Leaders Eat Last". This is not a self-help book - but my favourite none-the-less. What I loved about it is that the author cleanly addresses leadership, and shows what true strength in leadership looks like, compared to some examples of disasterous leadership. It was so refreshing to read about good leadership after seeing the term thrown around so much in the management realms.

If you are looking for a refreshing view on leadership - and what it can accomplish among the followership - then pick up Leaders Eat Last... take a read, and reflect on the world or your own organisation.  

Super question, Amanda.

Comment by Martin James on August 16, 2014 at 1:47pm

Just came across this one Amanda. Good post and good topic. I'm not really one for investing a lot of time in this area but I do read a lot. Definitely one of my favorites was 7 Habits which I've seen commented on often. One that's more a little deeper into personal psychology that I read a while back is "The Social Animal" by David Brooks.  You can review it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/The-Social-Animal-Character-Achievement/dp/08.... It goes quite deep but its told from the standpoint of a fictional story of two people who get together but have different social drives. It talks about many things like, for example, that the biggest benefit of education is learning how to get along with and work with others, as opposed to the traditional view of learning subject matter.

It also talks about 2 subject with brain injuries, who have lost the ability to feel emotions, but still had their knowledge, ability to process information an logic, were unable to make the simplest of decision pointing to the fact that decision-making is largely emotional, again opposed to a traditional view, that decision-making is a logical process.

Anyway, thanks for the post and for making me look at my library for my favorite self-help book!

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