2010 Book List

In 2009, I accomplished the ambitious goal of reading 50 books in one calendar year (http://blog.strongerteam.com/post/2009/12/09/Mission-Accomplished.aspx).

While I didn’t set a specific goal for 2010, I am proud to announce I still managed to read 40 books.  Not bad for someone who had twin sons born in March!

I tried to read a wide variety of books and did my best to choose books I believed would help me become a better coach, a better businessman, or most importantly – a better person. 

I rated each book on a scale from 1 to 10 as well as marked which domain I found the book most beneficial – coaching, business, or personal. Anything marked for “coaching” would be beneficial for players as well.

So, without further delay…

1. Everyone Hates A Ball Hog But They All Love a Scorer by Koran Godwin
   
   6 – Coaching – quick and easy read with insight from a former college player
   
   
2. Last Words by Tony Hendra
   
   8 – Personal – the final chapter in the life of my all-time favorite comic, George Carlin
   
   
3. The Social Media Marketing Book by Dan Zarella
   
   8 – Business – helpful resource for anyone utilizing social media
   
   
4. YouTube for Business by Michael Miller
   
   5 – Business – average resource for anyone who uses YouTube for business
   
   
5. Young, Black, Rich and Famous by Todd Boyd
   
   8 – Coaching – controversial look at today’s NBA players
   
   
6. Personal Foul by Tim Donaghy
   
   10 – Coaching/Personal – Fascinating account of the infamous referee gambling scandal
   
   
7. Viral Loop by Adam Penenberg
   
   7 – Business – average resource for anyone using social media
   
   
8. Strengths Finders 2.0 by Tom Rath
   
   10 – Business/Personal/Coaching – Brilliant book on personal development (*MUST READ)
   
   
9. Assess and Correct by Eric Cressey
   
   8 – Business/Coaching – a very in-depth look at correcting human movement & posture
   
   
10. Effortless Success (A) by Michael Neill
    
    8 – Business/Personal – great concepts on self development
    
    
11. You Can Have What You Want by Michael Neill
    
    8 – Business/Personal – carbon copy of ‘Effortless Success’
    
    
12. Playing for Knight by Steve Alford
    
    9 – Coaching – incredible insight told through the eyes of an Indiana legend
    
    
13. My Story by Bob Knight
    
    10 – Coaching – Straight from Bob Knight’s mouth. Enough said. (*MUST READ)
    
    
14. Season on the Brink by John Feinstein
    
    9 – Coaching – A behind the scenes look at a tumultuous Indiana season
    
    
15. Purple Cow (A) by Seth Godin
    
    9 – Business – A fundamental concept for anyone who owns their own business
    
    
16. The Nordstrom Way by Robert Spector
    
    9 – Business – Specifically outlines why customer service is so vital to business’ success
    
    
17. Hard 2 Guard Newsletter Volume 1 by Brian McCormick
18. Hard 2 Guard Newsletter Volume 2 by Brian McCormick
19. Hard 2 Guard Newsletter Volume 3 by Brian McCormick
    
    10 – Coaching – Tremendous insight from someone who knows basketball (*MUST READ)
    
    
20. Drive (A) by Daniel Pink
    
    7 – Coaching/Personal – Makes some great points; a little drawn out and dry
    
    
21. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
    
    10 – Business – Explains what makes Zappos.com so successful (*MUST READ)
    
    
22. Basketball Training by STACK
    
    9 – Coaching – Fantastic training resource for basketball players and coaches
    
    
23. Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
    
    9 – Business – Another fundamental concept for anyone who owns their own business
    
    
24. Good to Great by Jim Collins
    
    6 – Business – Decent concept; a bit out-dated and not very entertaining
    
    
25. $#^! My Dad Says (A) by Justin Halpern
    
    5 – Personal – The Tweets are funny; this book was not
    
    
26. Go-Givers Sell More (A) by Bob Burg and John David Mann
    
    10 – Business – Should be the foundation of EVERY business (*MUST READ)
    
    
27. The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
    
    10 – Business/Personal – A must read for every human on the planet (*MUST READ)
    
    
28. The Strangest Secret (A) by Earl Nightengale
    
    5 – Personal – Here is a secret… don’t bother listening to this 
    
    
29. 50 Powerful Ideas to Help You Keep Your Customers by Paul Timm
    
    7 – Business – Good concepts; just out-dated
    
    
30. Getting Your Way by Jeffrey Gitomer
    
    10 – Business/Personal – Excellent book on being influential (*MUST READ)
    
    
31. Free Prize Inside (A) by Seth Godin
    
    8 – Business – Similar to ‘Purple Cow’ – valuable resource for anyone running a business
    
    
32. What the Dog Saw (A) by Malcolm Gladwell
    
    9 – Personal – Captivating stories; very entertaining
    
    
33. UnMarketing by Scott Stratten
    
    10 – Business – a must read for anyone who owns their own business (*MUST READ)
    
    
34. Guerrilla Social Media Marketing by Shane Gibson
    
    10 – Business – a must read for anyone who uses social media for business (*MUST READ)
    
    
35. Play Their Hearts Out by George Dohrmann
    
    10 – Coaching – an eye opening view of the pitfalls of elite youth basketball (*MUST READ)
    
    
36. Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel
    
    10 – Personal – you are your own brand; crucial concept for all young people (*MUST READ)
    
    
37. How Lucky You Can Be by Buster Olney
    
    10 – Coaching/Personal – an inspiring and emotional story of a legend (*MUST READ)
    
    
38. How To Do It Standing Up: The Friars Club Guide to Being a Comic by Barry Dougherty
    
    5 – Personal – a few funny excerpts; longer than War & Peace
    
    
39. How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath
    
    10 – Personal – should be mandatory reading for every high school student (*MUST READ)
    
    
40. The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh
    
    9 – Coaching – useable advice from a coaching icon

I would love your feedback and thoughts on my list as well as hear about any books you recommend I read in 2011.

I also challenge each of you to read 50 books in 2011. Don’t think you can find the time? You are right. You will never find the time to read 50 books… you have to make the time to do it!  If something is important, you have to make it a priority.

Are you up for the challenge?

Also, if you are looking for some last minute holiday gifts for the coach or player in your life, in addition to picking up a few of the books mentioned above, check out some of the basketball specific training equipment featured in my newest video:

http://TinyUrl.com/BasketballMetabolicWorkout3

Email me directly at Alan@StrongerTeam.com if you want info on the equipment featured.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

www.YouTube.com/StrongerTeamDotCom  

PS: In addition to the books on my list, I have subscriptions and read the following periodicals every month: Fast Company (Business), Basketball Times (Coaching), Men’s Health (Personal), SLAM (Coaching/Personal), Training & Conditioning (Coaching), Dime (Coaching/Personal), Money (Business), and CopyBlogger’s Daily Blog (Business).

PSS: Six of the books on my list are Audiobooks (they are marked with an “A”). I enjoy listening to Audiobooks on my iPod during long car drives and plane rides.