Recommended Book List

Terri here, I wanted to share with you some of my favourite books that have helped me grow immensely in my professional and personal life.  Some of these books I have read only in the last 1-2 years, others have been permanently on my shelf since the mid 1990’s!

Here are the titles…and also a short description about the benefits of each of these books.

1. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
2. Atomic Habits – James Clear
3. The Karpman Drama Triangle Explained – Chris West
4. Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman
5. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth – Chris Hadfield
6. Who Dares, Runs – Gerry Duffy
7. Brilliant Coaching – Julie Starr
8. Third Culture Kids – David C Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken
9. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John Maxwell
10. Now, Discovery your Strengths – Marcus Buckingham
    

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey:

A timeless guide to personal and professional effectiveness, Covey's book empowers readers with practical habits for success, fostering both effectiveness and fulfilment in every aspect of life.

My favourite habit:  Begin with the End in Mind.  Visualise where you want to go….and then go!

Atomic Habits – James Clear:

This book delves into the science of habit formation, providing actionable insights to cultivate positive behaviours and break free from destructive patterns, making it a popular read for anyone seeking lasting change.

My favourite habit (sense a theme?):  Temptation bundling.  Do a think you WANT to do with a thing you NEED to do!  Listening to an audio book and ironing clothes!  Listening to an audio book and driving from Cork to Dublin!  You can guess which ones are the WANTS and the NEEDS!

The Karpman Drama Triangle Explained – Chris West:

A deep exploration of the Karpman Drama Triangle offers valuable insights into interpersonal dynamics, helping readers break free from toxic roles and foster healthier relationships both personally and professionally.

The opposite of the Drama Triangle:  The Empowerment Dynamic.  Become the CREATOR of your intended future…and not a victim of your current circumstances!

Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman:

Goleman's groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence unveils the power of understanding and managing emotions, offering a roadmap for improved self-awareness and social connections, essential for personal and professional success.

This is a heavy read, but it’s the science behind Emotional Intelligence – one of the features of effective leadership.  It’s not just about managing processes anymore, it’s about understanding people!

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth – Chris Hadfield:

Hadfield's captivating memoir combines space exploration with life lessons, inspiring readers to adopt an astronaut's mindset to approach challenges with resilience, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Chris Hadfield explains how he overcame his “fear of something going wrong” – they practiced what to do when 1,000 things went wrong…so they could stay calm when it DID go wrong!

Who Dares, Runs – Gerry Duffy:

Duffy's motivational journey from an average runner to completing 32 marathons in 32 counties across the entire island of Ireland encourages readers to push their limits, embracing challenges as opportunities for personal growth and achievement.

His story is incredibly inspiring…and when I want to throw in the towel or stop working hard, I think about Gerry and his friend Ken’s story….day 10, 11, 12 and 13….when things were really bleak and success was elusive!  

Brilliant Coaching – Julie Starr:

Starr's guide to coaching excellence equips readers with practical tools and strategies, making it an essential resource for aspiring coaches or anyone looking to enhance their leadership and communication skills.

This book has given me so much training and coaching material for business leaders and managers, to bring coaching practices into the real world.  Ideal for anyone who does not want to get a certification in coaching but would like to adopt the principles in their leadership practice.

Third Culture Kids – David C Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken:

Exploring the unique experiences of individuals raised in multiple cultures, this book fosters understanding and empathy, making it invaluable for parents, educators, and anyone interacting with or part of a multicultural community.

This book changed my perspective completely about how my children – as Third Culture Kids – might engage with the world around them…in Ireland, in the USA, or anywhere else.  Insightful and interesting to help any family understand those they meet every day!

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John Maxwell:

Maxwell's leadership principles provide a roadmap for aspiring leaders, offering timeless wisdom and actionable insights to develop essential qualities and skills, making it a go-to guide for leadership development.

John Maxwell has many many books, but this is a good place to start.  We are not born being effective leaders!

Now, Discover Your Strengths – Marcus Buckingham:

Buckingham's emphasis on leveraging individual strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses makes this book a powerful tool for personal and professional development, guiding readers to optimize their talents for success.

This book completely changed my perspective…I used to work really hard on improving my weaknesses.  Now I give much more time to leveraging my strengths and celebrating what I am good at….while still tackling those challenges when time permits!

I hope that you consider purchasing, renting, getting from the library, or asking for one of these books for Christmas.  Every one of these is on my bookshelf (with many more than I should admit!) and I can highly recommend every one of them!

Happy Reading!