Author Sebastian Junger (of A Perfect Storm) lays out his personal experiences with PTSD and his efforts to overcome it but while in so doing learning a great deal about war, psychology, belonging to a group and society, and political viewpoints in our country. This book was an eye opening example of the usefulness of evolutionary psychology, transitions theory, and applied journalism to a VERY important challenge our country faces with 2 lengthy and on-going wars and many of our war fighters returning home with inadequate supports and systems to get them transitioned back into society in a healthy way. This book was informative for me and some of my own personal experiences and I have shared it as a resource for fire fighters, police officers, as well as leaders in organizations seeking to understand how individuals operate and don’t operate in a larger organization, especially during and after largescale disruptions and adversity like wars and natural disasters. I recommend this book for leaders and managers, change agents, and people interested in evolutionary psychology and how to cultivate and maintain a strong, tightly knit group or organization for an improved sense of belonging.
How Will You Measure Your Life?
Clayton Christensen, more well known for his book Innovators Dilemma, writes clearly and with personal passion, about how he transferred his knowledge of what’s been successful in the business world into how he could be more successful and impactful in his personal and professional endeavors. He translates concepts like vision, mission, strategy, and tactics into how to envision, pursue, and adjust ones pursuits according to what one really wants out of life and work. This book played an important part in my own life, transitioning out of the Boeing Company, as well as pursuing the consulting model of “Life & Business Transitions” at Next Callings. I recommend this book for people of all disciplines and positions as well as mindsets.
Making Sense of People: Decoding the Mysteries of Personality
Author and researcher Samuel Barondes does an amazing job in this seminal work on personality and psychology. After much research, analysis, and collaboration, he and his colleagues formulated the OCEAN model for personality traits - Openness, Conscientiousness, Empathy, Agreeableness, Neuroticism. This model is widely used in ways you may not even be aware of. I found it a great addition to my readings on psychology, personality, leadership, and self-development. With useful examples of well known people as well as historical events, Barondes helps the reader to grasp not only their own various traits but also explore how this model can help them understand to better interact with others with a different mixture of traits. While I personally believe “All Models Are Wrong, Some Are Useful” (George Box), this model is incredibly useful with a vast research base and empirical evidence to support its formulation. I’d recommend this book for any Manager, Change Agent, Team Member, or anyone else interested in a useful model to understand themselves a little more.
Principles: Life and Work
Ray Dalio is the founder and long time CEO (now Co-Chairman) of his hedge fund Bridgewater. The first 3rd of the book describes his journey through writing and refining these principles over 30 years of operating his company. He had systematized and computerized the analysis and management of their financial portfolio and eventually, Ray figured out that he MUST systematize (and in some ways computerize!) the management system of Bridgewater. Principles is the public version of those principles. Ray does a splendid job in describing varying methods of using the book, reading the book, and integrating the methods into your work and life. It’s approachable to all readers, of all ages, of any discipline or career path. It’s clear, concise, organized, and very pragmatic. This book is now in my Top 10 books, for ANYTHING, and I’ll be sure to share these principles (and as he suggested, the ones modified to fit your personal and professional life) with my children. I recommend this book for essentially anyone in their personal and professional lives who want exposure to what principles are at a minimum but at the other end, for those who want a systematized practice for life and work.