My Annual Reading List

For editors (and writers), reading is both an occupational tool and a source of pleasure. I did some reading in each category. Here's a list of what I read in 2007. This is not exactly and annotated bibliography, but I've made a few notes on what I've read.

Homegrown Democrat by Garrison Keillor
Here's a convincing invitation to liberal politics. For those of us who grew up equating the Democratic party with whackos, nuts, and screwball causes, Keillor makes a compelling case for liberalism as a mainstream, family-values kind of political viewpoint.

Man without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
I'm a huge Vonnegut fan. This later writing was a bit of a rant, but I love(d) the guy.

The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama
What don't more politicians talk about what they are for and cast a positive vision for uniting the country? Way to go, Barak

Boomsday by Christopher Buckley
Hilarious! The son of legendary conservative William F. Buckley Jr. is a howling good political satirist.

Avenger by Fredrick Forsythe
Not as good as Day of the Jackal, but what is?

The Letter Killeth by Ralph McInerny
The author of the Father Dowling mysteries has written more books than I've edited. He has an expansive vocabulary and solidly nails the milieu in which he writes, in this case, the university culture at Notre Dame. Fun author.

Bethlehem Besieged: Stories of Hope in Times of Trouble by Mitri Raheb
It was my privilege to meet this author on a trip to the occupied Palestinian territory. Outstanding memoir of the 2002 Israeli invasion of Bethlehem, written by a Lutheran pastor who witnessed the events.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
For a number of years, I looked down my long nose at writings like these, believing the notion held by many of my peers that this material is shallow, obvious, borrowed, and more or less vapid. This year I gave Maxwell a serious chance to influence my thinking, and he did. Simple? Obvious? Maybe a little. But most good ideas are. This is helpful stuff for anyone leading an organization.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Fascinating, like the man himself. Like many B-movies, however, the premise is 80 percent of the book. There's not much plot.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
So I finally read it. Very good material, and it will change your approach to dealing with others.

Thinking for a Change by John C. Maxwell
Not as helpful as 21 Laws, but good for an idea or two.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Not bad, but the authors didn't make use of their own methodology. The book itself is boring.

Head Games by Thomas B. Cavanaugh
Outstanding new novelist here. This is a fun, not-quite-noir mystery by a writer I'm looking to read again.

How to Become a Great Boss by Jeffrey J. Fox
Again, so decent ideas. I'm hoping to get one of my authors to write a spin on this titled How to Become a Great Pastor.

Setting Goals by Zig Ziglar
If you would like to be motivated, read (or, better yet, listen to) anything by Ziglar. He'll never win a Nobel prize, but he does inspire to action.

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
I listened to this Newberry winner on a car trip with my daughter. We both enjoyed it.

25 Ways to Win with People by John C. Maxwell & Leslie Parrott
See above.

Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating by Brian S. Tracy
See above. I listened to this one, and it was fun because the author sounds Canadian (my wife is a Canuck).

360 Degree Leadership by John C. Maxwell
See above, only less so.

Developing the Leaders Around You by John C. Maxwell
Ditto.

Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey
Covey reminds me of Steinbeck in that he will forever be known for only one of his books. This is fine, but not nearly as helpful as 7 Habits.

The Prudence of the Flesh by Ralph McInerny
See comments on McInerny above. This one is a Father Dowling tale.

First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
This contains one good idea. It should have been an article, not a book.

Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
Here's the book that has spawned a legion of imitators--fictionalized business writing. Unlike most of his copyists, Lencioni can at least craft an interesting story. I implemented the ideas from the book with my team, and they has been mostly helpful.

I'm happy with the volume of reading I achieved this year, thanks in part to my liberal use of audio books. For next year, I'll be backing off on business writing a bit (but not completely), shifting the balance a bit toward spirituality. I'd also like to read some contemporary writing on ecclesiology. In the chute right now?

Print is Dead: Books in Our Digital Age by Jeff Gomez
Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen (I know what you think about him ... I'm going to see for myself)
The Rake by William F. Buckley Jr.
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.

After that, we'll see what I find while browsing.

So what did you read in 2007? And what are your plans for 2008?