A typical way to develop perspective is to consider issues from different vantage points. A less common – but perhaps more valuable – way to develop perspective is to expose yourself to different ideas. One way to do this is to read books that are at the fringes of your “typical” interest area – and then apply those concepts in your area of expertise and in your dealings with others. Here are some of my favorites, along with the interesting lessons that they taught:

Working the Room (Nick Morgan): If it is important enough to get up in front of a group and say something, then it is important enough to rehearse, and this book looks at rehearsal from a completely different perspective.  It also provides fundamental insights into the connection of “story” to engagement.  The book has been re-released as Give your Speech, Change the World.

The Trusted Advisor (David Maister): Personal credibility and relationships are what develop long-term relationships with clients – not price.

Chaos (James Gleick): The seminal book on the origins and uses of Chaos theory; The biggest advances in science are often discovered by those whose training started in a different field. Conventional wisdom sometimes prevents progress.

Freakonomics (Steven Levitt/Stephen Dubner): Personal motivation and incentive are often at the heart of behavior.  And of course, if you enjoyed this book, there are a number of sequels.

Growing an Engaged Church (Albert Winseman): The connection between personal engagement and the development of a community of interest.

Getting to Yes (Roger Fisher /William Ury): Wear the other person’s shoes: helping others get what they want is the first step to getting what you want. A classic.

Linked (Albert-Laszlo Barabasi): It’s not the “nodes”, but the connections between them that make the network.

Carpe Diem: How to become a latin lover (Harry Mount): This book is a description and primer on Latin; it illustrates what can be learned from a culture from it’s language. (And conversely, how hard it is to learn about a culture if you don’t know its language.)

Death Sentences (Don Watson): This book rails against the use of weasel words and management-speak.  While hard to get find, a great book that speaks to the importance of clarity and authenticity.

Godel Escher Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid (Douglas Hofstadter): The intimate, and sometimes surprising, connection between philosophy, art, and music.  This book is my all-time favorite.

Personal Balance Sheet, Online PR and Social Media, Social Media for Business, The Everything Guide to Starting an Online Business, and others (me): More so than reading, writing about a subject in depth forces you to think deeply about it.

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