I was recently listening to Michael Hyatt’s podcast, “How to Read a Non-Fiction Book.” I was really intrigued by the topic as I try to read daily a non-fiction book that will help me in my leadership.
He shared two tips that were really helpful to me.
The first was that he doesn’t feel the need to retain all the information he learned from reading a book. He said that the process of reading itself allows the mind to think and change in different ways. It’s good to retain the big nuggets that are helpful, but he freed me from the idea that I need to spit out verbatim the key points or messages in the book.
The second tip he shared that helped me was about how he selects books to read. The best way to find a good non-fiction book is to listen to the recommendations of his friends and family. The most quality books I’ve read have come in the form of recommendations.
With that said, I’d like to hear from you what books you are reading or have read that have transformed your leadership and ministry.
I recently did a whole blog series on the book, Forming Intentional Disciples, by Sherry Weddell. This was a ministry changing book for me!
The other books that I have read lately are these:
- The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
- 10 Building Blocks for a Solid Family by Jim Burns
- Start by Jon Acuff
- Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
- The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell
You’ll notice that not all of the books are necessarily ministry oriented, yet, they have all helped me in my ministry in some way, shape, or form. I recommend each of them as they have served interesting purposes in my life right now.
Question: What books have you read that have helped transform your leadership and ministry?
I suppose I have two related ministries: 6th grade catechist, and lecturer in my KofC council. I read a ton of non-fiction to expand my teaching abilities. For example, I read FID last fall; Evangelical Catholicism after that; just finished Consuming the Word by Scott Hahn; am currently browsing History of the Catholic Church by James Hitchcock. I generally find books about how to be a catechist or have an effective ministry to be ineffective. The only exception to this is FID, but it mostly confirmed what I have already been doing.
Speaking of FID, this may be of interest: http://catholicmom.com/2013/05/24/lawn-chair-catechism-a-summer-online-study/
Thanks, Christian! Interesting books that are worth looking in to.
“He said that the process of reading itself allows the mind to think and change in different ways.”
Yeah…. great observation. I read books, and within a month 95% of the info is just more water in the pool, and I can only recall a few specific bits.
Totally! His podcast gave me the freedom to be okay with not retaining everything I read. I desperately needed to hear that.
I love to read books on leadership, youth ministry, and Catholicism. I am gobbling it up more than I ever have in my entire life. The books I’ve read recently have been some recommended on this site and others ones I’ve stumbled upon in other circles, but all have been extremely helpful.
Start- Jon Acuff
Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic- Matthew Kelly
Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor- Allen Hunt
Nine Words- Allen Hunt
21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader- John Maxwell
Charity In Truth- Pope Benedict XVI
Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry- Doug Fields
Multiply the Ministry- Sean Reynolds
HELP! I’m a Small Church Youth Worker- Youth Specialties
Blessed are the Bored in Spirit- Mark Hart
I have ordered, Sherry Weddell’s book, Sticky Faith, and ReBuilt. I also plan on getting my hands on Engaging a New Generation by Frank Mercadante.
Reading has without question has energized me and continues to equip me to be a better leader and faithful servant.
Oh man, Nathan! You just added another 5 books to my reading list. Thanks!
I appreciate you sharing those and I look forward to browsing through the ones I’m not familiar with.