7 books I wish I could download into my brain

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

by John Gottman

Gottman is the famed researcher who’s able to predict with 91% accuracy if a couple will divorce after observing them for a mere 5 minutes. Gottman fleshes out what successful relationships have in common, and shows you how to view your own relationship through a marriage counselor’s eyes. Investing in your marriage is easier than you might think.

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

by Parker Palmer

I read Parker Palmer in college, but never this one. Now this is his book I can't get away from: everyone I know keeps recommending this book to me. I'm taking the hint.

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

This story-driven business book teaches you how to make better decisions, drawing on case studies on everything from whether or not to fire an employee to whether or not to undergo a risky bone marrow transplant. The Heath brothers are whip-smart and really funny, making Decisive a million times better than your typical business book. Everyone will find a useful takeaway.

This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live

by Melody Warnick

The premise of this great research-based and story-driven nonfiction read is that when it comes to loving the place you live, YOU have a lot more power than you probably realize. People who love their communities don't just live in great places, they're also extremely proactive about the ways they engage in their communities—and I wish I could rattle off every single one by memory! Practical, actionable, and bound to make a difference in your everyday life.

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood

by Lisa Damour

Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code said: "This is the book parents have been waiting, hoping, and praying for, because it’s far more than a book. It’s a map, flashlight, and GPS device for navigating the landscape of adolescent girlhood. Dr. Lisa Damour proves to be the perfect guide and companion: wise, whip-smart, and relentlessly practical on every page. As the father of three teenage girls, I wish I’d had this book years ago—and I hope that it is read by every parent, teacher, coach, administrator, and human being who wants to help girls grow and thrive in today’s world."

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

by Chris Voss

Daniel H. Pink calls this fascinating and practical: "From the pen of a former hostage negotiator—someone who couldn't take no for an answer—which makes it fascinating reading. But it's also eminently practical. In these pages, you will find the techniques for getting the deal you want."

The Talent Code

by Daniel Coyle

This book is all about how to get better at getting better—at anything, whether it's sports, music, math, or business. Coyle delves into the science of how the brain acquires skill, then shows dozens of ways top performers are putting those theories into practice every day. This book has changed how I work, and how I talk to my kids about their work and play.

7 books I wish I could download into my brain

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

The Talent Code

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summer reading starts May 16th