My Must-Read Book Picks for 2021

Last year I embarked on a quest — open up to new experiences and get out of my comfort zone as much as possible. It included the decision to read as many books as possible (but honestly, I always loved reading). I discovered the wonderful world of audible, which opened up many more opportunities to hear books — while jogging, driving, waiting for the train to arrive. I got into the habit of listening (while still reading paperback books at night). For me, meaningful reading involves notes I write down about the main takeaways, and today I want to share some of my lists with you.

1- The Meaning Revolution: The Power of Transcendent Leadership (by Fred Kofman) — This year, Im participating in Fred’s course to develop leaders into active exemplars of excellence. His book was introductory to the course, and he argues in the book that meaning is the primary motivating factor. I think it's an excellent read for every leader.

2- Never split the difference (by Chris Voss) — I learned so much from this book, and I can proudly say that now I can get my kids to do their baths on time! As kids are the biggest and hardest persons to negotiate with, this means the book works. Just read it, and stop splitting the difference :)

3- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (by Yuval Noah Harari) — I read all of his books, and I feel that I have such a better understanding of people. He writes about history in such a clear and captivating way that I can say that the books are solid gold.

4- Mathematical Mindsets (by Jo Boaler and Caril Dweck) — I was frustrated by my 9-year-old lack of understanding of his math chores. Searching for a guidebook on how to teach him and help him close his gaps, I got to this magical book. I can happily say that I implemented the system (mainly by showing my kid how to visualize each problem), and he has progressed a lot since then.

5- Dare to lead (by Brene Brown) — her work on vulnerability and shame is mandatory. I can't stress it enough. I read all of her books, saw her ted talks, and became a huge fan. So if you read one book this year, make it a Brene’s Brown work.

I would love your thoughts on my list and your recent books that left an impact.