Send To Printer
April 19, 2004
Essential
Books for the Versatile Man
By
Josh Lewis
In a society saturated with choices, sometimes it’s nice to receive some knowledgeable recommendations.
---------
Much has been made of the pressure society places on women, but you can’t ignore the expectations put on men. We must be effective, assertive leaders, while at the same time getting in touch with our sensitive side. We have to make wise financial choices, be able to knowledgeably discuss politics and world events, while at the same time maintain our six-pack and be able to bench-press our weight. If you feel overwhelmed by this plethora of demands, join the crowd. Before you go crying in your root beer, grab one of these books and increase your knowledge.
Leading
Change
by John Kotter
As the title implies,
this book from the Harvard Business School is about change from a leader’s
perspective. Kotter outlines an 8-step process for change that is applicable
for church or secular situations. If you lead any group or organization and are
interested in implementing change, this is a must-have resource.
The Prize:
The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power by Daniel Yergin
At 928 pages, this is
not a comic book, but the interesting characters and relevancy to current events
make it easy to read. It begins with the oil booms in Pennsylvania and Texas in
the 1800s and continues through the first Gulf War, outlining the political
struggles and financial maneuvers that have constantly surrounded this “black
gold.” A good book on the history of oil with nice-to-know information about
the financial background of the Middle East.
The Five
Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman
This book is invaluable
for helping guys with the less macho side of life. Chapman lays out five ways
(physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, giving
gifts) that we can express love. Each of us has one or two that we prefer and
are most meaningful to us. My wife is a great example. She is delighted by the
smallest, most innocuous gift, for which I may be thankful but not overly
impressed. I found the ideas in the book helpful in understanding my spouse’s
needs and being better able to respond properly. (He also has editions relating
to children and teens.)
Golf for
Dummies by Gary McCord
This book has everything a
beginning golfer needs to get started on the links. McCord uses humor and lots
of pictures, so it’s an easy read. I don’t expect to go pro anytime soon, but
this book helped me develop a respectable (on some days) golf game.
Fitness
for Life by Matt Roberts
If you’re too cheap to spring for a personal trainer, this is the next best
thing. It is a comprehensive guide to fitness. Topics include nutrition,
flexibility, exercises for specific body parts, tailored fitness programs, and a
review of fitness classes. I’ve used some of the particular programs as my
personal fitness regimen, as well as incorporating his ideas into my own
program. I particularly like the fact that Roberts uses “real” people for his
case studies, which results in more realistic expectations. The book is a good
resource for women also.
The Good
Samaritan Strikes Again (or any of his 10 titles) By Patrick McManus
Long-time readers of
Outdoor Life, a magazine for hunters and anglers, should recognize this
name, since McManus was a regular columnist for years. He uses the great
outdoors as the backdrop for his collection of humorous anecdotes, which often
leave me in tears from laughing so hard (especially if read late at night).
Warning: for some inexplicable reason, women don’t find these stories funny. My
wife just enjoys watching me read it.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2004, Josh Lewis
---------
Josh Lewis is a Copy Editor at ninetyandnine.com. He is striving to know a little about everything and a lot about nothing. He is succeeding in the latter.