Book and Podcast Recommendations

These are some of the more recent books I have enjoyed.

I highly recommend this book. Not just for retail junkies like me who got their start in the grocery business and spent some time in the trucking industry (which this book also touches on), but for anyone because it is wonderfully written and a thought provoking look at the food chain. As the author states, we spend 2% of our waking lives in the supermarket, so it is interesting to learn more about some of the out of sight out of mind aspects. It was also fun to read about the history of the business and I especially enjoyed learning more about “Trader Joe” Coulombe – he was a fascinating man and true trailblazer. This book also made me an instant fan of Slawsa after hearing founder Julie Busha’s story of perseverance.

I read this a few years ago, but recently read it again. I am a firm believer in the power of recognition and Novak is the best at this. Great story!

Powerful book about one of the many heroes of 911.

On my target list:

  • Breaking Through. Milton Katz. About legendary trailblazing African American coach John McLendon.

  • Leave out the tragic parts. Dave Kindred. Saw a piece on 60 Minutes about him and peaked my interest.

  • Our Team. Luke Eplin. About 4 icons from the '40's era Cleveland Indians.

  • Find Your Yellow Tux. Jessie Cole. Just listened to a podcast on him. He owns the Savannah Bananas baseball team. This is a business book.

I am a rust belt guy who enjoys history and sports so this was a natural. Plus it took place in the city that my father grew up (Braddock, PA) and the principal of the school featured is my Great Uncle. They are making this into a movie starring Josh Jackson as Coach Klausing.

Here are some of my all time favorites


I am old school and prefer reading real books and real papers, but like everything else I have learned to adapt and read all of my news digitally and now read about half of my books via my Kindle (much easier for plane trips). This picture includes some of my favorites. The books can generally be grouped into three genres: Business, Sports, and Motivational/Story Telling/General Non Fiction.

Business Books

  • Good to Great. Jim Collins

  • Great by Choice. Jim Collins

  • The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Stephen Covey

  • First, Break all the Rules. Marcus Buckingham

  • All of the Malcolm Gladwell Books

  • Drive. Daniel Pink

  • Contagious. Jonah Berger

  • The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Lencioni

  • Who Moved My Cheese. Spencer Johnson

  • Mavericks at Work. William Taylor

  • Now, Discover Your Strengths. Marcus Buckingham

  • The Education of an Accidental CEO. David Novak

Sports

Way too many to list, but here are some of the more recent.

  • We Will Rise - Steve Beaven

  • League Park 1891-1946. Fritz and Krsolovic

  • Coach Wooden and Me. Kareem Abdul Jabaar

  • You're Welcome Cleveland. Scott Raab

  • Return of the King. Windhorst

  • All of the John Feinstein books. I have read a dozen.

  • The League. Eisenberg

  • Lebron, Inc. Brian Windhorst

  • The Pitch that Killed. Sowell

  • Last of the Small Town Heroes. Plump

Motivational/Story Telling/Non Fiction

  • The Utimate Gift. Jim Stovall

  • What Made Maddy Run. Kate Fagan

  • Dude Making a Difference. Rob Greenfield

  • Crazy White Man. Morenus

  • All of the Mitch Albom Books

  • Devoted. Dick Hoyt

  • Big Russ and Me. Tim Russert

  • Bill Bryson - multiple books, especially A Walk in the Woods

  • American Moonshot. Douglas Brinkley

  • Lone Survivor. Marcus Luttrell