Visit Buckets Blog often and watch the progress on my Top 100 Books Countdown. Leaders Are Readers!
Here they are in no particular order, but stay tuned. We’ll add more titles from time to time. Some are out-of-print, but try www.Amazon.com or www.EBay.com to track down the titles.
100. Managing Our Work, John W. Alexander (InterVarsity Press)
I read this in 1974, just prior to interviewing for my first nonprofit CEO position. Alexander was president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and wrote this book for his IV staff. His goal: help them understand that management and planning were God-honoring practices useful in the ministry world. It’s still a classic—and I got the job.
99. Balancing Life’s Demands: A New Perspective on Priorities, J. Grant Howard (Multnomah Press)
Howard debunks the common misunderstanding that you should prioritize your life so God is #1, your family is #2, your church is #3, and your work is #4. It’s not biblical and it also doesn’t work.
98. A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie (Scribner)
Baillie was a seminary prof in Scotland (Lloyd Ogilvie was his student). His 30 morning prayers and 30 evening prayers (that’s it) are classic. His prayers are superb as are his insights into the challenges of daily life—and how our Gracious God enjoys intervening in all of our work and relationships. I treasure this book.
97. The Delicate Art of Dancing With Porcupines: Learning to Appreciate the Finer Points of Others, Bob Phillips (Regal Books)
Buy it! This stuff is transformational and affects all your relationships: family, work, church, donors, teaching/preaching, etc. You’re either a driver, an analytical, an amiable or an expressive—and 75 percent of the population doesn’t think or stress out like you do. This one definitely is on my Top 10 list. There are lots of systems out there, Myers-Briggs, etc.—but you can remember this one!
96. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, Michael E. Gerber
Lots of businesses and organizations fail—but the ones that make it have created systems and execute with intentionality.
95. Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King (LifeWay Press)
Wow! Every decade or so, God seems to anoint a book. This was the one for the 90s. It’s both basic and revolutionary. If you haven’t done the workbook on your own or with a group, you’re missing a lot of joy.
94. A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness, Gene Edwards
King Saul, King David and King Solomon make up this trio. God puts people in leadership—and whether the kings or the CEOs or department managers are God-honoring or not—he expects men and women to honor their leaders. In some cases, give this to a person you’re firing.
93. The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done, Peter Drucker
My long-time friend and mentor, George Duff, reads this book once a year. That’s a good discipline for all of us.
92. Halftime: Changing Your Game Plan From Success to Significance, Bob Buford (Zondervan)
Buford gave a name to this emerging “Halftime” movement with this book and he’s written several more since. If nonprofit organizations and churches could see the potential of his big ideas—and activate the latent energy in the pew, we could ride a revolution in Christendom. God would honor this. Check out Bob’s personal website at www.activeenergy.net.
91. Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job, Dennis Bakke (PVG)
Bakke’s book is radical—and you won’t agree with much. That’s why you should read it. His theology is really thoughtful and his basic belief is brilliant, but tough to implement. The main point: what your people want most is the fun of making their own decisions at work. More info at www.dennisbakke.com.
Contact JPA today! [email protected], T. 949.500.0334
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