Read 30 books in 2007

I’ve abandoned 43things a long, long time ago and thought I’d just update my goals for 2008 – a way to keep myself focused and not be distracted by life-destructing behaviours. :p

Okaaayy… Let’s see… I’ve read:
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
2. My Sister’s Keeper
3. Blink
4. How To Kill Your Husband (and Get Away With It)
5. His Dark Materials (considered as 3 books, haha)
6.
7.
8. The Quickie
9. Double Cross
10. Cross

.......

I can’t think of more books that I’ve read at this point. Will update this later tonight. :p

I started reading this some time last December, so I’m going to include it here anyhow. Yes, as I said before, I’m all about technical loopholes.

I enjoyed reading this though it felt like a much longer version of text book from my Corporate Strategy course. Still, very entertaining and provoked a few thoughts here and there. The business cases quoted are fresh and timely, so I was able to relate to the events described adequately.

Highly recommended for those wanting to learn about how success seduces businesses into a false sense of security or permanent greatness.

At the least few pages of this book, I had to fight the urge to cry. It felt oddly cathartic reading this book as it describes some of my worst fears where love and longing is concerned. Very vivid and descriptive, verbose and rich in imagery and wonderful detail. If only all of us could have the endings like the one penned for Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza.

Didn’t seem to have the motivation

I’ve been busy with tons of other things lately, too. I am going to have to try again this year. Instead of reaching a quota, I think that I will just try to keep track of all of the books that I do read each year. I enjoy looking back and remembering.

This book was written in parable form. Essentially it teaches the key concepts of Engaged Leadership which consist of the following:

• Directional Leadership
• Organisational Leadership
• Motivational Leadership
• Character Core

I found this very relevant since I’m encountering some challenges related to employee engagement. Am hoping to see how I can convert the key learning points into action items which can be practised and facilitated amongst the managers. All in all, a timely read and hopefully this leads to a feasible and effective implementation.

16. Impariamo l’italiano
15. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
14. Il Castelo dei Destini Incrociati
13. L’Italiano Essenziale
12. Le Cosmicomiche
11. A Semente da Vitória
10. Pai Rico, Pai Pobre
9. O Poderoso Chefão
8. 1000 lugares para conhecer antes de morrer (EUROPA)
7. Mel para os ursos
6. O Diário de Anne Frank
5. O dia do Curinga
4. Você tem muito que aprender, Charlie Brown!
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. O livro de ouro da mitologia
1. Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix

Only 50% of what I wanted. Shame.

I did read a lot, but forgot to count. Time’s up.

19 – The Secret – Rhonda Byrne
20 – A New Kind Of Christian – McLaren
21 – Real Ultimate Power – Robert Hamburger
22 – Mixed Martial Arts – BJ Penn

Well, after reading or finishing up reading four books in last two days of 2007, I did reach my goal of 30 books. Not all of them were great, but most of them were good. As a capper, I want to list my top five reads of 2007, as suggestions for anyone who needs reading and because I love making lists. So, in no particular order, they are:

1. The Brothers K by David James Duncan
2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Pere)
3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
4. Monster of God by David Quammen
5. Neuromancer by William Gibson