2015 Reading Review

Wow, 2015 was wild. I launched a podcast and blog. I did more reading than any previous year of my life. I read A LOT of online articles/blog posts, but I also read a lot of books. Here's a list of all the books I read in 2015 and a one sentence summary of the experience.

Letter to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens
Brazen intellectual refuses to conform, give directions for how to follow his lead.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
In search of zen and self-actualization, a young man is distracted by family and a young woman.

This Book Will Make You Think by Alain Stephen
There has been a lot of philosophizing over the years, a brief overview of the major players.

To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink. Most jobs are evolving to include a larger sales component, adjust accordingly.

On Advertising by David Ogilvy
Advertising icon got ahead through clear communication and strong ethics.

Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
There has never been a better time to build a personal brand

The Game of Numbers by Nick Murray
Every business is built piece by piece and a strong ethical code and willingness to ask hard questions will get you far.

Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Mass marketing is over, the best products and services are there own marketing machine.

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
KV points directly into the face of America's worst traits and areas of denial.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
A young boy takes the adventure of a lifetime, propelled by belief in himself and the help of friends he makes along the way.

Smart People Should Build Things by Andrew Yang
We need more smart entrepreneurs and less lawyers.

ReWork by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
Don't overthink work, keep it simple and don't waste anyone's time.

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Pastor starts a church in Brooklyn through a well-reasoned explanation for belief in his religion.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Beautiful narrative on the history of our species.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis
A few people saw the 2008 crash coming and profited greatly.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
You have to give before you ask for something.

The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson
Entrepreneurial skills are at a premium right now and you should nurture them as soon as possible.

The Shift by Theresa Brown
A nurse battles through a workday and rides a roller coaster along with her patients.


Recommendations
For College Students & Job Hunters
The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson
A dose of reality for anyone entering the job market.

Best Gift
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
A beautiful book that I've already gifted multiple times.

Extreme Intellectual Stimulation
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Anyone with a curiosity for where we came from and who we are will love it.


2016
I'm always looking for suggestions for future reading, drop me a line if you have any recommendations. Here are my starting five for the beginning of 2016 (aiming to read 30 books total).

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
$100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why by Laurence Gonzales

What will you be reading in 2016?