Summer Reading List

Jim Smith’s 12th Annual

Summer Reading List

Is now online!

It’s the first full day of summer… and aren’t you excited about the long, warm summer evenings ahead, where the evenings are long and breezy and you can sit on your porch with some cool lemonade and a good book?  (or in my case, iced coffee or dark beer, and my iPad!)

To help you focus on some great reads, I’m sharing my 12th annual compilation. (the past few years are there, too, if you want to catch up).  Read the books, or maybe just read the list, so you’ll know what other people are talking about!

Have you noticed how books, in just the past 12 months, have become almost quaint? Borders is closing stores right and left. Libraries are migrating to new platforms for sharing e-books. A gadzillion reading devices (Nook, Kindle, Kobe, iPad…) are in the hands of people who, until last summer, read ACTUAL BOOKS. And Amazon announced that e-books now officially outsell hard copy.

The fragmentation of readership is doing to bestseller lists what cable did to the networks. It’s tough to find a book that LOTS of people recommend, because there were a million new titles published last year, each with a readership of about 500 people. Yikes!

Since the world of reading’s gone all weird on us, I decided that this year is as good as any for changing the format of my Summer Reading List. This year I mix a bit of new with some classic old. Some titles come up year after year as new readers discover great works from past years, so I dug into my archives for the best of the past 11 years. Then I added in a few new entries, and I offer the list for your consideration.

To view the list, click on the icon above or on this URL:

http://www.theexecutivehappinesscoach.com/resources/2011_Books.cfm

Happy Summer!

Summer Reading List: In Search of “Must Reads”

The 2011 Summer Reading List
Nominations NOW OPEN

That’s right; it’s time for my TWELFTH ANNUAL Summer Reading List (SRL). Each year before I head to the Atlantic shore I solicit ideas for great new reads that you’ve discovered.  I’m looking for titles on COACHING, HAPPINESS, and LEADERSHIP topics as well as great NOVELS and frothy little BEACH BOOKS.  I’m especially interested in new genres, etc, as my reading tastes are eclectic.** I make my selections from your input, and then share the compiled list with all of you, so you can make your own Summer Selections at the bookstore.

If you’d like to participate, please note the following four points:

1. What are the MUST READS you’ve encountered this year? Please share your discoveries.
2. I need your ideas by May 31 – the Tuesday following Memorial Day – in order to give me time to research and get the list published along with the June 22 edition of my newsletter.
3. Please help me manage my Inbox!  Use this link to make your Subject Line, Summer Reading List 2011
4. Include in the text three items: Title (including subtitle if you have it), Author, and a paragraph telling me why you like/recommend the book.

**If you are new to my SRL or want to get started early on your summer reading, you can find the past three years on my Archives Page (’08, ’09, & ’10).

I can’t wait to hear your recommendations!  In anticipation, Jim

Summer Reading List: In Search of New Titles

The 2010 Summer Reading List
Nominations NOW OPEN

That’s right; it’s almost time for my ELEVENTH ANNUAL Summer Reading List (SRL).  Each year before I take my two-week vacation on the Atlantic shore I solicit ideas for great new reads that you’ve discovered over the past year.  I’m looking for titles on COACHING, HAPPINESS, and LEADERSHIP topics as well as great NOVELS and frothy little BEACH BOOKS.  I’m especially interested in new genres, etc, as my reading tastes are eclectic.** I will check them out, make my selections, and then share the compiled list with all of you, so you can make your own Summer Selections at the bookstore.

If you’d like to participate, please note the following four points:

1. While I welcome the new business titles, I do so much of that all year, so I am STARVING for some great new titles that will help me escape from reality.  Please share what you’ve discovered!
2. I need your ideas by Monday, June 1 — the Tuesday following Memorial Day – in order to give me time to research and get the list published along with the June 23 edition of my newsletter.
3. Please help me manage my Inbox!  Use this link to make your Subject Line, Summer Reading List 2010.
4. Include in the text three items: Full Book Title (including subtitle if you have it), Author, and a full paragraph explaining why you liked/recommend the book.

**If you are new to my SRL or want to get started early on your summer reading, you can find the past three years (’07, ’08, and my 10th annual, ’09) on my Archives Page.

I can’t wait to hear your recommendations!  In anticipation, Jim