Books Archives

The Things They Carried: Questions for Thoughtful Discussion

How do you handle stress? Do you stick to your principles when the going gets tough? What effect do stories have on you? The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien tells the stories of a small company of American soldiers serving in the Vietnam War. Through the narrative, the book blurs the line between autobiography and fiction, leaving the reader unsure as to what is fact and what is myth. Continue reading to see several The Things They Carried questions that you can use to get more out of your reading.

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn: Overview

What is Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn about? What are the main takeaways of the book? Many people struggle to get started with mindfulness or need a new routine. In Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn provides a guide for anyone who’s interested in exploring mindfulness further, from the tentative beginner to the seasoned practitioner. Read below for a brief overview of Kabat-Zinn’s book.

Six Thinking Hats: Exercises to Help You Put Your Thinking Caps On

Would you like to make decisions faster? Is your internal critic way too loud? In Six Thinking Hats, Edward de Bono takes the phrase “put your thinking cap on” to a new level. Our normal thinking process is a hopeless tangle of six types of thinking. We can improve the quality and efficiency of our decisions by untangling these six types and deploying them more consciously. Continue reading for Six Thinking Hats exercises that will help you implement the ideas in the book.

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

Are we individual beings, or is that a false sense of identity? Is everything relative? What’s wrong with reductive science? Many Westerners internalize the idea that each of us is an individual—separate from others and our surroundings. However, in The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, British philosopher Alan Watts argues that the concept of humans as separate beings is an illusion: the ego trick. Read more for an overview of this thought-provoking book.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Study Guide

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Do you want to change the world? To do anything meaningful, you’re going to have to work with people. And, if you’re working with people, you need to know how to lead them. Leadership guru John C. Maxwell shares 21 laws that you should follow if you want to be a leader of true influence and impact. Continue reading for The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership study guide we’ve put together to help you apply the laws to your leadership.

Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore: Overview

Want an overview of Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore? What does a performance coach do? In Coaching for Performance, Sir John Whitmore explores the ins and outs of performance coaching in business, the coaching session structure, and ways to measure organizational culture. The book models the “we’re in it together” mindset to show how leaders can maximize coachees’ performance. Read on for an overview of the main advice in Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore.

Freakonomics: Book Club Exercises for a Thoughtful Discussion

Would you like to understand your fellow humans better? When is conventional wisdom wrong? What if you thought like an economist? Authored by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything applies the tools of economics to explain real-world phenomena that aren’t conventionally thought of as “economic.” The book contains fascinating implications and applications. Continue reading for discussion questions and a quiz that you can use with your Freakonomics book club.

The Four Agreements Exercises: 21 Discussion Questions

Do you tend to take things personally? Are you always making assumptions? Are you a gossip? The world today is full of suffering and cruelty. From birth, we are trained to accept society’s rules as “the way it is.” But, agreeing to these rules stops us from becoming our true selves. The good news is that there’s a different way to live. Use these The Four Agreements exercises to help you implement a new approach to life.

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff: Book Overview & Takeaways

What is Soundtracks by Jon Acuff about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In Soundtracks, Jon Acuff gives readers a set of tools to help them stop overthinking and start chasing their goals. Acuff says that the best way to overcome negative thoughts is to replace them with positive, motivating ones. Read below for an overview of Soundtracks by Jon Acuff.

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: An Overview of a Classic

What’s so great about the free market? Does self-interest benefit everyone? How should taxes be used? Many economists consider The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith to be one of the major foundational texts of their discipline. Writing in 1776, Smith argues that free markets are the best institution for cultivating a nation’s wealth. Continue reading for an overview of this important classic work.