Book Reviews: Raise the Roof

NOW, No Opportunity Wasted

Phil Keoghan

At 19, tv adventurer (and host of The Amazing Race) Phil Keoghan nearly drowned during a dive to a ship wreck. He survived but the near miss got him thinking about all the things he wanted to do before he died - there were so many he began a list, checking off #1 straight away, when he returned to the scene of his diving emergency the very same day. Back on dry land Phil set about fulfilling his wish list, embarking on a series of adventures ranging from enjoying a gourmet meal on top of an erupting volcano, to renewing his marriage vows under water. Drawing on Phil's own amazing adventure as well as some stores of ordinary people who have taken up his challenge, this book is an urgent call to action that will inspire you to achieve all you want to achieve before you leave this planet. Phil takes you through an 8 step process to build the list. If you've ever thought you want more, and desire to do all you want to achieve before you finish, then grab this book, it's a terrific read.

The Power of Full Engagement

Dr Jim Loehr

This is a terrific book by a sports psychologist that is guaranteed to produce high energy and top performance in today's high stress, high speed world. Jim Loehr has worked for over 25 years to help some of the world's greatest athletes perform at their best. In this book he presents a compelling case that the way we manage our energy has far more impact on our ability to achieve superior performance, than how we manage our time. By applying the same principals you can make great changes in your life and become more fully engaged in your relationships and day to day living. This book will help you be physically energised, emotionally connected and mentally focussed on your life. Although it sounds a bit airy-fairy, it is full of good, practical concepts, ideas, quotes and methods. Definitely worth a read. 

Now, Discover Your Strengths

Marcus Buckingham

Essentially this book talks about the fact that generally when we manage or work with people and/or ourselves, we tend to accept our strengths and try to improve our weaknesses. Unfortunately most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead, guided by our parents, our teachers or our managers at work, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these faults while our strengths lie dormant and neglected. I found this book and his approach to building people's strengths to be terrific. I love the premise of looking at where people's strengths are and using them to enable them to be more, achieve more and get more. As an organisation, when you highlight people's strengths and build upon them, you can add enormous power to the productivity, imagination, creativity and drive of your business. Its an interesting read and well worth your time, and it will really change the way you think.

Mind Gym

Mack & Casstevens

Although this book is written by a sports psychologist, the lessons and techniques within it will help you regardless of what fields you work or play in. As golfing great Bobby Jones said ‘competition is won or lost in the six inch playing fields between the ears'. So how do the best gain an advantage on that playing field? In the mind gym, noted sports psychologist and consultant Gary Mack.

In this book he teaches the lessons he's learned about how the mind influences performance as much as the physical skill does. If not more so. Through 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes from prominent athletes and business people, many of whom have worked with Mack, he shares the same techniques and exercises he uses to keep elite athletes building mental muscle. If you're a sports person you'll love it, but even if you're not, you'll know the names, enjoy the stories and definitely gain something from this book.

The Juice Master

Jason Vale

In this highly motivational, hard hitting and extremely effective book, best selling author Jason Vale shatters all of the usual excuses we come up with to justify why we cannot get slim and healthy. When you read this book, you will find it impossible not to feel juiced and inspired to act on the information. You will reshape your body, your mind, your health, and your life forever. There is an enormous amount of text on health, fitness and food out there, and I must say I thought this book was one of the best. Get it, read it, live it and feel the difference. Highly recommended.

The Power of Story

Dr Jim Loehr

Those of you who know me or have heard me speak will know that I make reference to Dr Jim Loehr's work in many of my speeches. His first book 'The Power of Full Engagement' was excellent!  I was given his new book 'The Power of Story' recently and read it with great anticipation. This book examines the way we tell stories about ourselves to ourselves, and most importantly the way we can change these stories to transform our business and personal lives.

I'm coming to believe that The Power of Story is going to be a more and more prevalent trend in business to do with brands, marketing, and consumer's attachment to why they purchase a product or service. As human beings we're constantly telling ourselves stories of our success and/or failure - stories that can endure for a day or some that may endure for a lifetime. We create stories in our minds about work, family, business, relationships, health, what we're capable of achieving and why we're capable of failing. By changing these stories you can have a dramatic impact on what you get out of life.

This book talks about the stories, how to change the structure of your story and to give yourself more direction in every aspect of your life. Whether its as a mum or dad, a son, a business leader or a person who's part of a community group, this book will help you get clarity on your own story and give you a full understanding of how powerful this can be. I highly recommend it. Its easy to read and got loads of great examples, and if you take heed of what Jim talks about it could quite well change your destiny.

Who Stole My Mojo?

Gary Bertwistle

Mojo - it's your magic, verve, pizzazz, oomph, get up and go, your zip, your spark. It's that little bit of extra energy we all need to get the most out of life. It's the difference between having a good day and having a GREAT day.

Lose your Mojo and you know it. You're not firing on all cylinders and life has a tendency to be bland and mediocre. If you're asking 'Who Stole My Mojo?', this book will give you the essential keys to get it back and get it working again in your life.

What it Takes to be No. 1

Vince Lombardi Jnr

Legendary American football coach, Vince Lombardi, loved by some, feared by others, but respected by all, was first and foremost a winner. His unparalleled ability to inspire greatness and mould disparate groups of individuals into dominating championship teams made Lombardi an icon both on and off the playing field.

Written by his son, Vince Lombardi Jnr, this book explores the fundamental qualities that Lombardi considered essential to gain success. This is by far one of the best and most motivating books I have read for quite a while. It covers the philosophies, rules and motivation of an inspiring leader as covered by the person who knew him best, his son. This book makes great reading for anybody who aspires to be their best.

The Omega RX Zone

Dr Barry Sears

Dr Barry Sears is one of the world's most trusted voices on health, diet and nutrition. Over the last ten years, millions of people worldwide have followed his prescriptions for healthy living through his best selling books. You would know this guy through Jennifer Anniston who was a great believer in The Zone diet (he wrote that book). In the Omega RX Zone, Dr Sears reveals a revolutionary new technological advance that can help treat chronic disease, improve performance plus much more. Pharmaceutical grade fish oil has the potential to make you a more emotionally stable, healthier person by allowing your brain to work at peak efficiency. This book paints a great picture about the power of fish oil in conjunction with the right diet. I've read it, done it and have noted the effects. Its worth a read and presents a very strong case for including fish oil into your diet and changing some of your eating patterns. As a research experiment of one, I can say I've noticed the difference.

The Element

Sir Ken Robinson

The Element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the Element, they feel most like  themselves, most inspired and achieve at their highest levels. The thing I like about this book is that the Element shows the vital need to enhance creativity and innovation by thinking differently about human resources and your own imagination. It's told with a dry wit, obviously a great deal of experience and knowledge and some great examples drawn from people like Sir Paul McCartney, the creators of the Simpsons, Meg Ryan and renowned physicist Richard Feynman. In addition he draws on real examples from business and community leaders. The sad thing is that most people will never find the Element but if you don't want to be one of those people and you're keen to find out how to identify it and how to do it, grab this book, it's a great read.

You Inc.

John McGrath

John McGrath started his business in his living room in 1989. His self taught business strategies have made McGrath Real Estate one of Australia's fastest growing private companies. John believes that living a fulfilling life is about maximising the potential of your life and business. This inspirational young business leader gives you his perspectives on having everything you want in your life. From questioning more, building new goals, dealing with obstacles, avoiding the most prevalent of business mistakes, to building a world-class culture, John McGrath has an easy-going writing style that I'm sure you'll enjoy. Whether you are a business and want to take your company higher, a sales person ready to go to the next level or you just want to get ahead in life, You Inc. is a great book to get you going.