In my recent blogs, Tips for Microlearning and Current Podcast Recommendations, I talked about professional development. My new strategy is to microlearn by creating book summaries and listening to authors speak in podcasts, and I’ve really enjoyed it.
While I don’t plan to read as much this year, I will still read, and I want your help with recommendations.
This year, my reading focus is on biographies and memoirs. I really enjoy them; I love reading true stories about successful people—whether they’re in business, sports or some other walk of life. The stories really speak to me.
Over the years, I’ve read quite a few good ones:
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
- Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
- Living with a SEAL by Jesse Itzler
- Let Them Lead by John U Bacon
- Jack by Jack Welch
There were a lot of lessons in those books that helped me throughout my career.
I’ll also be mixing in some fun and interesting reading—both fiction and nonfiction. One book I want to give a shout-out to is from my friend John U. Bacon. It’s called The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It comes out on October 7, 2025. I can’t wait to read it!
Now, I’m looking for your help: What biographies or memoirs would you recommend? I want to build a reading list and dive into some new stories. I look forward to hearing your recommendations.
