In the company of amazing people

I read.  A lot.  I read because I love it.  I love words and how they transport me to different places and put me in the company of amazing people.  I am in awe of the human capacity to formulate words that transcend time and communicate over centuries.  I think it is one of God’s greatest gifts to us.

My standard daily reading is my bible.  I keep two versions on my bedside table:

• The New King James Version - my bible college lecturers told me that it is the version that Jesus used and I had no reason to disbelieve them, so it has become my ‘old faithful’.
• I also keep a copy of The Message.  I love this version because it is so different from the one I learnt from at college.  I often find myself reading The Message and saying “I didn’t know that was in the bible.”  I then go and check it out in ‘old faithful’ and, yes it is in the bible but I had become so familiar with the  NKJV that it lost it’s meaning.

In any given week I am typically reading 3 books. One will be a book that challenges my spiritual growth, one will be a book that helps me in my leadership role and one will be for the pure pleasure of it.Apart from the books I read, I also read magazines like Harvard Business Review as well as online newspapers and carefully selected blogs.Like I said, I read – a lot.  I probably spend 2-3 hours a day reading.  I also travel a lot which then gives me extra time to read.   I am ever thankful to God for Amazon that brought us the Kindle and the ability to download any book, anywhere, any time.  I carry my favorite books with me wherever I go, all in a tiny device that slides into my bag.I’d like to share with you some of what I’ve been reading.For fun :  Jesus, My Father, The Cia and Me: A Memoir of Sorts. I laughed out loud several times (on a plane and had to endure stares from strangers) but it was worth it.  I also cried.  A beautiful book.  Thank you Ian Morgan Con for writing it.  You have brightened my life.For spiritual growth: Mere Christianity.  I love this book and read it at least once a year.  Each time I learn something new.  My beloved paper version has dog ears and scribbles all over it.  I now have the Kindle version and am trying hard not to highlight every second sentence.  C.S. Lewis (or may I call you Jack?) I’m booking my day in heaven with you now already because I’m sure your schedule is filling up rapidly.Leadership: The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable is a delightful read.   There is true gold in this story – just laying there for the picking.  Patrick Lencioni, you are one of my heroes.  To write a business leadership book that is a true page-turner is no easy feat.I have a page on this site with other books that I highly recommend.  But, more than anything else, I recommend that you read.  It is a gift from God.Question: What effect do you think it will have on people if they cut out 1 hour of television a day and replace it with a good book? Click here to give me your thoughts.