an entrepreneur's book guide for 2022
Images: Courtesy publishers // Illustration: Inc. Magazine
finding a good book is one of my most time-consuming (yet rewarding) activities. in the spirit of saving you time and contributing to your growth, Ffriend, i’ve whittled down my 45 reads from 2021 into my top 16 suggestions for you in 2022!
*if you want to keep up to date with what i’m reading (and my reviews), follow me on instagram where i share them in my stories in real-time.
here are my top picks, in no particular order:
a radical awakening (dr. shefali)
a must-read! this one will trigger and challenge you: it's for your own good and growth. i was immediately drawn in by how dr. shefali goes there and goes deep. step-by-step she unwinds so much of our conditioning, particularly as women, to help us awaken to our truth and true selves.
tao te ching (lao tzu)
this is on my shortlist of books i reread from time to time. why? because it's a short but deeply meaningful handbook on life. but don't let its seeming simplicity fool you. these are lessons we learn and grow into over and over each day, and a few, if any, truly master. worth a read, without question.
will (will smith)
oprah called will smith's memoir “the best she's ever read" and i get it, i loved it, too. so much so that after five hundred pages, i still wanted more. candor, strong storytelling, salient life lessons, humility, and humor all wrapped into one. definitely worth reading.
burnout (emily nagoski)
a feminist lens and science-back approach to understanding and unlocking the stress cycle. i truly think every human in modern society would benefit from reading this and implementing at least one tip into their lives. it's written in a unique way that doesn't feel pedantic or cliche. if you're ready to move away from toxic states of burnout, read this.
you got anything stronger? (gabrielle union)
this will have you going from tears to laughs and back again and is a really great (and important) read, traversing so many critical topics like fertility, marriage, racial inequity, sexual assault, and more. highly recommend.
i’m still here (austin channing brown)
a must-read for non-Black americans, in particular. author austin channing brown offers deep insights into how “intentions” for racial equity are falling short across our institutions and communities and shares her lived experiences in a society built for whiteness. no matter where you are in your anti-racist journey, this book should be a part of it.
maybe you should talk to someone (dr lori gottlieb)
lori gottlieb's quippy writing style, the behind-the-scenes of sitting in a therapist’s chair, and what it looks like when a therapist gets therapy because her world begins to crumble. as a coach, i’m often asked about the line between therapy and coaching and this is a really unique vantage point to see and to add to my (or your) understanding. i'm also a huge fan of adding tools to your tool belt, whether it be to grow one's empathy, self-knowledge, or having different dimensions to bring to client work. whether this book meant to do all of that, i don’t know, but it was a really enjoyable read.
think again (adam grant)
if you've ever heard me a podcast, there's an 80% chance you've heard me reference adam grant. his latest book is now my favorite of his work. and as is fitting with its theme of rethinking, i reserve the right to change my mind when he publishes again. this book couldn't be more timely: an evidence-backed approach to the benefits of rethinking our beliefs and being wrong. of how to disagree and persuade effectively. and how to build time into our lives, families, and businesses to think again. a must-read!
how to change (katy milkman)
the title says it all and who among us doesn't have at least one pesky goal to reach that feels elusive? author and professor katy milkman beautifully blends scientific evidence with anecdotes to help you overcome hurdles like favoring short over long-term gain, forgetfulness, and procrastination to see lasting change. this book is well worth the read.
four thousand weeks (oliver burkeman)
this book builds on the premise that the average lifespan is about 4,000 weeks and by using that as a framework, helps you to be rigorous when you're choosing how to spend them. it up-ends much of the common conversation around time management, productivity, “hacks”, and tips. it's certainly worth a read .
beyond entrepreneurship (be 2.0) (jim collings and bill lazier)
this is a great read for a. those who are scaling a company, growing their team, and their offerings, and/or b. those who coach or consult for such companies. it's full of well-researched, thoughtful, and applicable advice.
atomic habits (james clear)
plain and simple: read this book. anything you desire to do (or stop doing) boils down at some level to your habits. and when you don't clearly understand the contributing factors to make (and keep), or break (and truly stop) habits that are moving you toward or away from what you ultimately desire, you'll stay stuck.
building a story brand (donald miller)
if you have a business and have ever struggled with your brand messaging, read this book. reading it was like taking a course because it's broken into simple steps and is paired with a digital platform to compile your messaging framework, then put it into action for all of your marketing materials.
a new earth: awakening to your life’s purpose (eckhart tolle)
if you loved the power of now, this one is a great follow-up by tolle. he approaches the idea of awakening to one’s purpose in a way that’s unlike others. if you’re looking to better understand the relationship between your ego and reality, want to connect with your purpose, and/or want some more reminders of how to be and exist with greater presence, check this out.
come as you are (emily nagoski)
i've studied a fair bit about human sexuality, and this book did an incredible job of not only tying so much of the science together, but basically creating a freedom manual for women around their sexuality. thanks to author emily nagoski for this book- it's upending generations of wrong messages women have been fed about their bodies and sex. highly recommend you read it.
predictably irrational (dan ariely)
a great read to understand why you make the choices you do, and why your customers, team, and family, do, too. consider it a manual to better understand your (predictably) irrational self, and everyone else around you, too.