Books For Everyone On Your Christmas List

From Randy Lane:

Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds

You’ll never do a boring PowerPoint presentation again after reading this book! Reynolds demonstrates and illustrates how to communicate effectively in the boardroom, the conference room or on stage. You’ll learn to ditch the bullet points and communicate naturally with your personality and with clean slides.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

World renowned Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck explains why it’s not just our abilities and talent that bring us success-but whether we approach life with a fixed or growth mindset. Dweck reveals how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning or be the basis of great accomplishment. Several of the top rated schools are now requiring all their teachers to read this book. You’ll benefit from this book whether you’re parent, a manager or a coach who works with air personalities or with a sales team.

From Angela Perelli:

Not Taco Bell Material by Adam Carolla

Authors like Adam Carolla and Mindy Kaling (below) endear us to them with their honesty and self-deprecation. They are walking proof that we (readers and listeners) like people who are imperfect. We feel connected to those who are willing to share the embarrassing, the regretful, the “tragedy+time=comedy” aspect of their own upbringing so that we may feel less alone.

This is just page 8: “The perfect storm of poor meets atheist — with an unhealthy dose of ‘What’s in it for me?’ — formed the holy trinity of pathetic Carolla Christmases.”

No dig against Ryan Seacrest but I just can’t imagine him writing a book like this one. Having a perfect upbringing isn’t just unrelatable; it’s kind of annoying.

Not only a funny, entertaining read, Carolla is inspiring because he isn’t afraid to lay it all out there. And there’s a lesson in that for all of creative people.

From Stephanie Winans:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

So this book is as deep as the title suggests, but it’s a great example of how storytelling and revealing self-deprecating experiences can make your audience love you. While I should have been laughing at Mindy, I was laughing with her, feeling sorry for her, rooting for her, and ultimately wanting to “be her best friend.”

Renegades Write The Rules: How The Digital Royalty Use Social Media To Innovate by Amy Jo Martin

Whether you’re running the whole station’s social media presence or looking to enhance your personal brand through social media, this book will both educate and entertain you. Amy Jo Martin is a pro who has had great success in social media for a variety of clients (she started with Shaq!), and has a knack for telling a good story.

From Cliff Dumas:

The Thinker’s Way by John Chaffee

The book claims we are all artists creating our life portrait, and our paints and brushstrokes are the choices we make each day. An inspiring book which gives perspective on some of the choices we make in both our personal and professional life. The book takes you through 8 steps toward transforming your thought process as it relates to virtually everything in your life- from self-transformation to problem solving in the work place.

Take away quote from George Eliot: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”