Books

This page contains the resources that I have found useful in my personal and professional life. Admittedly, it is an eclectic list. It contains everything from quotes and books that I like to podcasts, videos, and slideshows.

If you don’t want to scroll through the entire list, you can click on one of the links below and filter the resources by specific category.

I will update this list as I discover new resources. If you have a resource you think I should add, please email me.

Life. The Struggle Within by Egypt McKee (AuthorHouse, July 2007)

Has there ever been a time when you simply wanted to get off the high-speed train of life and take a much-needed break? Maybe you find yourself running on life’s performance treadmill more than you can possibly bear, yet relief always seems to be an arm’s length away from reality.

Everyone struggles with life, and no matter who you are or where you come from, this book is sure to reveal genuine hope to you regardless of your race, gender, culture, creed or religion. Are you willing to be honest with yourself, even if you can’t be honest with others?

Life often seems to be as much a struggle as it is a gift, while pressure to answer the one question every human soul desires to understand continues to hang over your head-what is the purpose of my life? Do opinions matter when it comes to climbing out of the lonely hole of despair? Are there lessons to be learned from generational mistakes, selfish choices, or a determined mind?

Many people have motivated us for a moment through big smiles and charisma, however genuine hope has not been found in them. Have you found yourself listening to yet another lullaby of pleasantries, good ideas or trendy rhetoric? Life. The Struggle Within chronicles the daily struggles of both men and women alike. Finally, someone said it out loud, and it’s no mistake that you are holding this book right now.

Be encouraged!

Life Book_READ IT

One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America’s Future by Dr. Ben Carson (Sentinel HC, 2014)

Dear Reader,In February 2013 I gave a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. Standing a few feet from President Obama, I warned my fellow citizens of the dangers facing our country and called for a return to the principles that made America great.Many Americans heard and responded, but our nation’s decline has continued. Today the danger is greater than ever before, and I have never shared a more urgent message than I do now.Our growing debt and deteriorating morals have driven us far from the founders’ intent. We’ve made very little progress in basic education. Obamacare threatens our health, liberty, and financial future. Media elitism and political correctness are out of control.

Worst of all, we seem to have lost our ability to discuss important issues calmly and respectfully regardless of party affiliation or other differences. As a doctor rather than a politician, I care about what works, not whether someone has an (R) or a (D) after his or her name. We have to come together to solve our problems.

Knowing that the future of my grandchildren is in jeopardy because of reckless spending, godless government, and mean-spirited attempts to silence critics left me no choice but to write this book. I have endeavored to propose a road out of our decline, appealing to every American’s decency and common sense.

If each of us sits back and expects someone else to take action, it will soon be too late. But with your help, I firmly believe that America may once again be “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Sincerely,

Ben Carson

Tribes. We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin (Portfolio Hardcover; 1 Edition, 2008)

A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes, be they religious, ethnic, economic, political, or even musical (think of the Deadheads). It’s our nature.Now the Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time. All those blogs and social networking sites are helping existing tribes get bigger. But more important, they’re enabling countless new tribes to be born—groups of ten or ten thousand or ten million who care about their iPhones, or a political campaign, or a new way to fight global warming.
And so the key question: Who is going to lead us?
The Web can do amazing things, but it can’t provide leadership. That still has to come from individuals—people just like you who have passion about something. The explosion in tribes means that anyone who wants to make a difference now has the tools at her fingertips.
If you think leadership is for other people, think again—leaders come in surprising packages. Consider Joel Spolsky and his international tribe of scary-smart software engineers. Or Gary Vaynerhuck, a wine expert with a devoted following of enthusiasts. Chris Sharma leads a tribe of rock climbers up impossible cliff faces, while Mich Mathews, a VP at Microsoft, runs her internal tribe of marketers from her cube in Seattle. All they have in common is the desire to change things, the ability to connect a tribe, and the willingness to lead.
If you ignore this opportunity, you risk turning into a “sheepwalker”—someone who fights to protect the status quo at all costs, never asking if obedience is doing you (or your organization) any good. Sheepwalkers don’t do very well these days.
Tribes will make you think (really think) about the opportunities in leading your fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, or readers. . . . It’s not easy, but it’s easier than you think.