Quick Book Reviews from 22 Books I read in 2021 that you should consider in 2022.
As a 2x-Emmy-Nominated Reality TV Producer, Executive Performance Coach, and Author, I find it extremely important to learn and read as much as possible. I hope you will find this list helpful for you on your journey.
This was a great year of reading about Celebrity, War, Business, Humanity, History, Entertainment, Marketing, Coaching, Religion, Transgender Issues, Spirituality, Recovery / Mental Health, Psychology, and much much more.
Here is a list of all the books I read in in 2021, and I recommend many of them for you for 2022:
For the Start Up Entrepreneur
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Date Completed: January 21, 2021
Quick Review: First book of 2021. The Lean Startup by @ericries
Solid business book surrounding Startup Advice and Culture.
Tough Read about Vietnam War
Kill Anything that Moves by Nick Turse
Date Completed: January 26, 2021
Quick Review: This was a powerful book to read about first hand accounts and in-depth reporting about the events of the Vietnam War.
I know I am guilty of watching movies thinking I understand history...but it is a whole different ballgame when you read historical books with facts and experience vs. Entertainment that is “based on real events”
Maybe it isn’t the Vietnam War you are interested in; however, I encourage everyone to read more historical nonfiction because understanding our past greatly improves our ability to make decisions for the future.
And yes @mykeclarkson I printed this cover out on my computer that is running out of ink. Audible is great. My printer is not. Deal with it buddy. Hahah
Comedy, History, and Personal Philosophiy
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Date Completed: January 31st, 2021
Quick Review: I wasn’t really the biggest fan of Trevor prior to reading this book, but after several recommendations I jumped in and Im glad I did.
📖
Learning of Trevor’s life as well as life growing up in South Africa was fascination and eye opening. Definitely recommend this book.
.
As you can tell, my printer needs new ink...haha... I listened to this one on @audible which is cool because Trevor narrates it... very enjoyable. Thanks to @kevinbartel for the recommendation.
In-Depth History of the Human
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Date Completed: February 2, 2021
Quick Review: “Is there anything more dangerous than dissatisfied and irresponsible gods who don’t know what they what?” - @yuval_noah_harari
📚
This was a recommendation from @rexmorgen and I enjoyed it very much.
It’s a big ass book with a lot of great but tense information, so I recommend listening on @audible and then following along with a highlighter in the actual book.
📚
This is definitely going to be a TOP BOOK for me this year!
.
.
Leadership from an Icon
Where Have All The Leaders Gone? by Lee Iacocca
Date Completed: Feruary 15, 2021
Quick Review: Lee Iacocca is an absolute legend in American Automotive history and titan for both Ford and Chrysler. Also helped to raise millions of $$$ to restore the Statue of Liberty back in the 80s.
🗽
While this book did feel a little “get off my lawn you damn kids”... I still found a lot of value in it and am glad I dove in.
.
.
For the Entertainment Industry Lover
Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency (CAA) by James Andrew Miller
Date Completed: March 25, 2021
Quick Review: Great book for anyone who loves Hollywood, Business, Brokering Deals, etc... about the history of @creativeartistsagency from @jamesandrewmiller@jimmiller#hollywood#televisionentertainment#losangeles
Old School Marketing Wisdom
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries + Jack Trout
Date Completed: April 16, 2021
Quick Review: Great book from some legends of Marketing and Business. In the same way that Warren Buffet is said to read 30 year old copies of Wall Street Journal to find the reoccurring trends, I love reading books that may be considered "Out of Date" for today's world. The truth is, details change, but principles often start the same. This was a solid read.
From Spies to Lies with Football Ties
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Date Completed: May 4, 2021
Quick Review: So you think you are a good judge or character or have great instincts about people ... guess again. Malcolm Gladwell has another great book that turns everything you think you know upside down.
🔈
The audiobook is actually produced like a podcast with music and news clips and interviews... makes for an interesting listen and lots of great case studies. Definitely check it out.
.
.
.
Toltec Wisdom for the Modern World
The Five Levels of Attachment by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
Date Completed: May 19, 2021
Quick Review: Always learning, always growing.
.
Ruiz explores the five levels of attachment that cause suffering in our lives. The levels are:
Authentic Self
Preference
Identification
Internalization
Fanaticism
.
Book pick from @xox_karli
.
A Book That Will Make You Flex
Relentless by Tim Grover
Date Completed: May 26, 2021
Quick Review: Tim has coached some of the greatest athletes in the world like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade. He is definitely an intense personality, and provides some nice counter arguments to the “just do whatever feels right “self-help world.
I always enjoy reading different perspectives on performance; this was definitely worth the read (or in my car, listen)
... photo on iPad because I didn’t want to print all my black ink. Haha @chrisphelpsacs
.
Also...I finished the audiobook for my “All the Reasons I Hate My 28-Year-Old Boss” so for those of you who hate reading, your excuses will soon be irrelevant. Haha
.
.
.
Self-Promotion // Ageism in the Workplace
All the Reasons I Hate My 28-Year Old Boss -- Audiobook Release read by me: Phillip Andrew Barbb
https://www.amazon.com/Reasons-Hate-28-Year-Old-Boss-Youth-Focused/dp/B096G3DPG1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=176XZDS5SVW3Q&keywords=phillip+andrew+barbb&qid=1642480205&sprefix=phillip+andrew+barbb%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1
Date Completed: May 2021
Quick Review: All the Reasons I Hate My 28-Year-Old Boss from 2x Emmy-nominated TV producer Phillip Andrew Barbb is an entertaining, comedic, and motivational business/personal development book that tackles some of the common frustrations, annoyances, and mental hang-ups of being a member of today's youth-driven workplace.
Whether you're a corporate leader, a human resource professional focused on bridging the generation gap, a blue-collar worker trying to decode ridiculous orders from your millennial boss, or you're somewhere in between, it's time to reclaim your power in the workplace and fight back against an age-obsessed society.
History and Slavery
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
Date Completed: May 30, 2021
Quick Review: Listening to the reality of slavery in the first hand account is powerful. Not just in understanding the physical impact on people but also for all the emotional and mental impact. Whether it is Douglass speaking on slavery, and Frankl speaking on concentration camps, we have so much to learn from and grow with response to the horrors of history.
.
His Appendix, which was aimed at explaining his connection to religion was DEEPLY MOVING. Shining a light on the difference between “the Christianity of the land” and “the Christianity of Christ” is something all people should read.
.
Rat Pack... Enough Said. Old Hollywood Baby
Rat Pack Confidential by Shawn Levy
Date Completed: August 3, 2021
Quick Review: The Rat Pack is so iconic, I dove into this excited to learn about the wild stories and men behind the personas…had no idea it would kind of make me walk away with a little bit of a letdown.
😬
Still a good and enjoyable read though. A good entertainment book fo sure.
.
For My Recovery Friends // AA Recovery Literature
Drop the Rock by Bill P., Todd W., and Sara S.
Date Completed: August 27. 2021
Quick Review: “Drop the Rock” is a phrase I’ve heard a lot over the years but it wasn’t until recently that it really took a huge importance for me. 🪨
So when I saw this book, I knew it would be a great read, especially since I was going on the road and wouldn’t be able to get to my 12-step meetings.
❤️
What specific “ROCK” (secret, shame, guilt, anger) from your past are you afraid to let go of?
❓
Get yourself some healing and FREEDOM by doing the work and DROP THE ROCK.
.
Love you all.
.
.
Wisdom of the Sword
The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
Date Completed: September 2, 2021
Quick Review: A classic text on the Japanese Way of the Sword. 🗡
📕
Now, its been a long time since I’ve read something which talked about killing and stabbing and attacking your enemy so brutal and tactical…however, I do love reading ancient (using term loosely) books to gain different perspectives.
📖
The big thing out of this book is just the level of detail and preparation that went into being a samurai… being any warrior to be honest. So when we want to attack our own “enemies”, perhaps we should give a little more respect to the task at hand. 🤚
Not everything in life is a battle…but there is still much we can learn from strategy, dedication, and discipline from warriors of the past.
.
I definitely enjoyed it while I was out on my 4-5 mile runs. 🏃♂️
.
When You Need to Cry
The Shake by WM. Paul Young
Date Completed: September 28, 2021
Quick Review: I had the privilege of meeting Paul back in 2017 at the @lamensgroup annual retreat and was able to connect with him on the boat ride back from Catalina Island ... (no, not the wine mixer) but it took me another 4 years to finally read the book. 📕 however, it was the right time in my life and I got a lot of this treasure of a novel.
It is definitely a heavy book at times, but it certainly puts you in the middle of the story and brought up a lot of powerful insight for me.
🙏
I highly recommend the book.
.
.
When You Can't Afford an MBA Degree
The Ten Day MBA by Steven Silbiger
Date Completed: October 6, 2021
Quick Review: Ok, these 400 pages took way longer than 10 days to read…however, the lessons were great. Some of it was review and some new. Always feels good to learn and study and grow.
🧮
If you are interested in keeping your business brain strong, I highly recommend it.
.
.
Breakdown of Classic Religious Text
The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox
Date Completed: October 19, 2021
Quick Review: Finished Emmet Fox’s “The Sermon on the Mount: The Keys to Success in Life” and genuinely enjoyed it.
.
One of my favorite lines was: “The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to make today all it should be.” As someone who often has issues being present, this was a way of seeing being present as a companion to being a future-thinking person, and not as a black/white … this or that thinking.
.
Going line by line of Jesus’s iconic sermon and gaining understanding in a new way was thought provoking and enjoyable. It also broken down “The Lord’s Prayer”, one I say daily, yet was still able to progress my understanding.
.
Anyone looking to dive into more religious studies literary work, I recommend it.
.
.
Controversial Literature
Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier
Date Completed: November 3, 2021
Quick Review: I stumbled onto a social media post where a ton of people were discussing, referencing, and debating this book.
Then seeing the reviews were so split as either 5/5 stars or 1/5 stars… seemed like a controversial book to dive into.
.
It was a very thought-provoking book, and I’ll just leave it at that. I would say if you are a parent of young kids, or specifically young daughters, it would be worth the read to then make up your own mind with how you feel about the conversation at hand.
.
.
Devious Men and Their Brilliant Minds
Intellectuals by Paul Johnson
Date Completed: December 4, 2021
Quick Review: This was a deep dive into not just the public philosophies of many “great” and well-known intellectual minds such Tolstoy, Bertrand Russell, Sartre, Karl Marx, Hemingway, Jean-Jacques Rousseau… but an in-depth uncovering of their personal lives…and it is a bit unsettling at times.
.
It’s fascinating to look at how much of the superficial details change throughout time but the character of man remains consistent. Some of these men, who were regarded as “brilliant” and offered much thought on morality and “good lives”, were terrible men with the awful character. Lying, cheating, stealing, debt, theft, addiction, misogyny, abusive, violent, dual lives, etc…
.
Perhaps the common thread was just how much they believed to be “voices of the people” (specifically the working class) yet not only weren’t working class, but had no experience with the working class and believed they were bette than those they supposedly support.
A dark elitist entitlement. Only time will tell who are today’s (2021) heroes who will be discovered to be tomorrow’s villains.
.
Fascinating read. This is my third book from Paul Johnson, really enough his work.
.
.
Realize You Know Nothing About History
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Date Completed: December 9, 2021
Quick Review: There is so much in this book…it’s a beast. But to be honest, and this might be a bit harsh, my main take away is:
— YOU PROBABLY DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
🤬
There is soooo much history out there, that unless we are studying all the time, we probably only know a very little…so we need to check ourselves with what we think we know and why thing happen and who caused what.
To quote the book: “Compressing 13,000 years of history on all continents into a 400-page book works out to an average of about one page per continent per 150 years making brevity and simplification inevitable.”
📰
So next time before you jump off “and start dropping facts”… maybe read some books instead of reading headlines.
.
Business Storytelling at its Finest
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Date Completed: December 14, 2021
Quick Review: First off, let me begin by saying yes I understand that I am not actually holding the cover of the book. Thank you @chrisphelpsacs I was being cheap and saving my Printer Ink.
📚 💰
The reason that I really enjoyed this book was because of the storytelling. I read a lot of business and non-fiction books. While all the information is amazing, it can often be bland and difficult to see how it applies in real life. But with this book, the reader is placed inside of a fictitious board room setting, making all of the concepts and lessons easier to see in action.
🏆
I definitely recommend this book to anyone in a leadership role or part of an executive team because it will show you areas that are needed for improvement. If you think you are doing everything correctly, then you’re probably the problem. Hahaha.
.
Thank you to @asapbenferg for the recommendation.
.
.
That is my Complete Nonfiction Reading List from 2021
I hope you will include some of these in your continued education in 2022.
PS...When you can, shop local like at Brooks Books in Wyandotte, Michigan. If you are (cheap) a deal hunter like me, check out Thrift Books.
What Books Should I read 2022?
What Books Should I Read About Self-Improvement
What Books Should I Read?
What Book Should I Read Next?
Which Books Should I Read Next?
Which Books Should I read as a Beginner?
How Many Books Should I Read in One Year?
How Many Books Should I read a Year?
What Books Should I Read in 2022?
What Book Should I read Next?