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4 essential 2011 books for the too-busy manager

This is the time of year when Lists Get Made. And one type of list I’m always interested in   is the top business books of the year.

I was thrilled that Mitch Joel nominated End Malaria as one of his top 5 books that shaped the year. (You can see the other four he nominated here.)

Here’s my list of the 2011 books I’d be thrusting at managers to read. In fact, what you have here in the way I’ve cunningly arranged the four titles is a diagnosis and recipe for the challenges of working in 2012.

1. Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance by Jonathan Fields

Uncertainty’s bottom line: The capacity to endure uncertainty is the door way to Great Work breakthroughs.

You can listen to an interview I did with Jonathan here.

2. Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity by Josh Linkner

Disciplined Dreaming’s bottom line: As Steven Pressfield said way back when in The War of Art, structure and discipline (rather than an “artist inclination) is the way to build creativity into the way things get one

3. Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work by Dan Roam

Blah Blah Blah’s bottom line. Stop talking so much! Here’s how.

You can listen to an interview I did with Dan here.

4. Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions by Guy Kawasaki

Enchantment‘s bottom line: It takes something special to engage with people. Average won’t cut it.

You can listen to an interview I did with Guy here.

(If you’re looking for a lovely summary of the various nominees and winners from other arbiters of taste, check these blog posts from the great people at 800-CEO-Reads.)

And for a real kickstart into 2012…

And you could always add Do More Great Work to the pile. It gives you 15 structured exercises to put some of the insights above into action.

And for the perfect boost into 2012, take a peak at this four-part teleseminar series I’m running in January: Get Your Great Work Groove On. Creative (i.e. this isn’t an excuse for not attending) pricing available.

If you enjoyed this post, you'll also like:

1. Simple Acts of Everyday Rebellion for the Too-Busy Manager
2. 6 Twists on the Usual “Productivity Tips for the Busy Manager”
3. 11 ways to get focus for 2011
4. Hear the winners of the 2011 Business Book Awards