My January book list got off to a hot start, primarily due to traveling for both our wedding and honeymoon.
Although I read four books, I have loftier reading goals this year so I’ll need to keep up the pace.
Without further adieu, here are the books that I read in January and my thoughts on each one.
January Book List
Deep Work
This was my second time reading Deep Work and I came away with even more takeaways this go around.
In Deep Work, Newport makes the case that solo-tasking, aka the ability go deep, will become a rare skill. The world is full of distractions and so he argues that if you can focus on one task, you’ll become valuable.
Similar to my comments below on So Good They Can’t Ignore You, the only negative I have is that I wish the book was longer.
Recommend: Yes
Sapiens
I kept seeing this book by historian Yuval Noah Harari pop up on Amazon and for whatever reason kept putting it off.
What makes Sapiens interesting is that Harari takes you back 100,000 years to the start of our species, Homo Sapiens. From there, he guides you through our history and what shaped us to become what we are today.
The downside with this book is that it doesn’t get going until roughly the 100 page mark. But once it does, it packs a punch and I couldn’t put the book down!
To sum up, Sapiens is a fascinating read if you’re interested in learning more about how the Homo Sapien species has evolved.
Recommend: Yes
The First 90 Days
The First 90 Days caught my attention because I recently transitioned into a role at a new company.
Watkins, a leadership expert, lays out exactly how best to perform in your job in The First 90 Days. He uses examples to state his case from those starting a new position, receiving a promotion, or being asked to lead for the first time.
The book has a mountain of material to absorb, so that’s the one drawback that I have for an otherwise insightful book.
Recommend: Yes
So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Cal Newport has slowly become one of my new favorite authors after I recently re-read his book Deep Work.
In So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Newport makes the case why following your passion is bad advice. He counters that by arguing that you should become a master in your craft. Only then will you be able to find work that you love.
It’s difficult for me to find any faults with this book other than I wish it was longer. Is that a negative?!?
Recommend: Yes
What’s In My Cart?
Here are the books that I’ll be tackling in February after closing out my January book list:
- The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney
- Start With Why by Simon Sinek
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- Manage Your Day-to-Day by 99U
Credit Cards to Use
If you’re to unlock the most value, transferable point programs are the way to go.
Both American Express and Chase have a ton of personal and business credit card products that I’d recommend checking out.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card to use for your Amazon purchases as it earns 1.5x Chase points on every transaction. When paired with the Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred, there’s huge upside.
At 2x Amex points per transaction, the Amex Blue Business Plus is the best business card to use for Amazon purchases. All of the Amex Blue Business Plus credit card details can be found here.
To sum up, spending on the right credit cards ensures you have a constant stream of transferable points to use.
Conclusion
Reading is a skill that I’ve continued to work on by focusing on books that peak my interest at the time.
Hopefully my January Book List includes books that you’ll find interesting and enjoy too.
If you have book recommendations, please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email pointswithq@gmail.com.
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