I am changing the format in which I write book reviews. Instead of providing individual book reviews, I’ll review quarterly what I’ve been reading. For past book reviews, go here: http://dougsmithlive.com/book-reviews/

As a side note, a lot of you have asked me how I read so many books. The truth is, I read a lot of books at the same time and I read a chapter a day in each book. I try to read for 45 minutes to an hour each day. It’s a discipline I believe is worth the effort and sacrifice. Schedule time to grow! If you don’t schedule it, it won’t happen!

Also, I believe I can learn from anyone, but that does not mean that I agree with and endorse everything that is said in every book I read. In Bible School, one professor taught me to always “be as smart as a cow . . . eat the hay and spit the sticks.” If I don’t agree with something someone says, I “spit it out” and forget about it. If it’s good and I agree, I try to apply it to my life. I’d recommend you do the same when consuming information.

I have been consuming a ton of Tim Keller’s content lately. This book is a must read for any believer or any skeptic of Christianity. Tim Keller seems to be this generations C.S. Lewis.

The Reason for God by Tim Keller

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I just started reading this book. It’s focused on social justice through the eyes of scripture. If you have a passion for social justice, this is a must read.

Generous Justice by Tim Keller

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This is the second time I’ve read this book. It will definitely challenge you in your commitment to God. You can read what I wrote about this when book the last time I reviewed it here.

Radical by David Platt

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This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The tag line says it all “Pursuing growth through trials, challenges, and disappointments” If you’re a Christian leader, this is a must read.

Sifted by Wayne Cordeiro

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This is another must read. Once again, the tag-line says it all: “The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward” I wish I would have read this book ten years ago! If Dr. Henry Cloud writes it, you need to read it!

Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud

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This is a leadership classic. I’ve heard a lot of speakers talk about Warren Bennis and his influence on the subject of leadership. That is why I decided to pick this one up. It didn’t disappoint. I found it very challenging compared to most leadership books. It’s worth the read!

On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis

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This is a Christian classic. This book is challenging to the core! When you read this and look at Christianity in our culture today, you will think we are a bunch of whiny babies. This book will challenge you to fully commit your life to Christ, regardless of the cost. A must read for every believer.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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This was the first Drucker book I’ve read. Now I know why he was so influential. This book was full of great content. This helped me learn what it takes to lead at an 80,000 foot level in a non-profit organization. It changed the way I show up to work and lead in my own non-profit organization. I’d encourage any leader in the non-profit sector to read this book.

Managing the Non-profit Organization by Peter Drucker

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This is a Christian Leadership classic. You absolutely HAVE TO read this book. I’ve read it several times now. Every time I read it i am challenged to my core in several areas of my life. I would recommend every leader have this book in reach at all times. It’s a great road-map for leadership. If you have not read this book, do yourself a favor and read it now!

Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Chambers

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This was my first C.S. Lewis book. I’ve always stayed away from this book because to be honest with you, I thought it would be way over my head. It wasn’t. This is another Christian classic that will challenge the believer and the skeptic. It’s a must read.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

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I am changing the format in which I write book reviews. Instead of providing individual book reviews, I’ll review quarterly what I’ve been reading. For past book reviews, go here: http://dougsmithlive.com/book-reviews/

As a side note, a lot of you have asked me how I read so many books. The truth is, I read a lot of books at the same time and I read a chapter a day in each book. I try to read for 45 minutes to an hour each day. It’s a discipline I believe is worth the effort and sacrifice. Schedule time to grow! If you don’t schedule it, it won’t happen!

Also, I believe I can learn from anyone, but that does not mean that I agree with and endorse everything that is said in every book I read. In Bible School, one professor taught me to always “be as smart as a cow . . . eat the hay and spit the sticks.” If I don’t agree with something someone says, I “spit it out” and forget about it. If it’s good and I agree, I try to apply it to my life. I’d recommend you do the same when consuming information.

Here is a list of my fall reading:

(more…)

This book was required reading for the Serving Leaders Collaborative I am going through. One benefit of going through this program is being exposed to books that I would have probably never read on my own. From Values to Action is a book by Harry M. Jansen Kraemer Jr. You can read his long list of accomplishments  here.Harry is the former chairman and CEO of Baxter International Inc., a multibillion-dollar global health care company.

In the book, Harry shares his journey from starting off in a cube and working his way up to CEO. It helped me realize that I can lead wherever I am at and that become a values based leader is what will ultimately set me apart from my peers.

This book reminded me a lot of one of my favorite books that I have read this year, Love Works. The first half of the book focuses on becoming a values based leader in your personal life. The second half of the book is devoted to teaching you to become a values based leader in your organization. Learning to lead through your values is extremely important and often overlooked in our world.  I’d recommend this book to anyone starting off their careers in a cube to a CEO of a large company.

My biggest takeaway: Perhaps there is no greater benefit of becoming a values based leader than setting the standard for the rest of the organization so that it, too, focuses on what matters most.

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Some Highlights:

• The four principles of values-based leadership is self-reflection, balance, true self-confidence, and genuine humility.

• No matter how far you have risen, you should never forget where you started.

• Perhaps there is no greater benefit of becoming a values based leader than setting the standard for the rest of the organization so that it, too, focuses on what matters most.

• One of the biggest benefits of self-reflection is identifying what comes first and what comes last.

• Once you’ve established your priorities then making decisions based on what matters most becomes easy.

• Until you measure how you spend your time, you cannot make meaningful changes that will positively impact the quality of your life, and, by extension, your leadership.

• You will not be a good leader unless you are also a good manager. How can you possibly be effective as a leader if you don’t have a track record of executing and implementing?

• If we have 40 percent of the information we need, we will probably choose the right direction. However, if it turns out that we are headed in the wrong direction, we will adjust.

• Your reaction to change has a direct impact on how you lead and your effectiveness as a leader.

• Unless you make social responsibility a priority early in your career, you will find it difficult to focus on it in a significant way later on.