HELP ME: Stuff Great Leaders Think About In September: What's My Funky Holiday Book for Customers/Friends/Prospects Going To Be?

Here's a picture of the books that I have two copies of that I'm taking to the library at Kinetix on Wednesday.  Dont' judge, but join me after the jump because I need your help.

 

That stack begs the question - what's the Kinetix Holiday Book going to be this year?

Background - every year since I joined Kinetix as a partner - we do a holiday book.  But not just any holiday book... Our holiday book tends to be something that we hope stands out in a long line of corporate Christmas gifts, something that makes you think about things on the professional or the personal side - and hopefully a mixture of both.

Two years ago, we gave away Fahrenheit 451.  Last year it was The Alchemist.  Because let's face it - nothing says Christmas like a book about firemen of the future who START fires, not put them out.

Word.

Of course, F451 was about more than fires and who gets to start them.  I would have sent a coffe table book about Fire Marshall Bill (video clip!!!) if that's all we wanted to do.

Which brings me to the question I need your help on.  What book would you recommend we give to our select list of customers, friends and prospects this holiday season?  What's made you say "hmmm" this year in a professional and personal way?  What thought provoking book can you give me that seems like it fits our brand at Kinetix?

Help KD out - hit me in the comments with your suggestions, or if you're shy, just email me.

The audience always has the best ideas.  Help me lock in on the perfect Christmas book for our company based on the description of what we're looking for above.

I'll owe you one...

Comments

[Darcy]

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Best book I've read in a long time.

[Tasinquefield]

I personally liked "How Will You Measure Your Life?" by Clayton Christensen.

[Ashley]

I thought about not mentioning this because it's religious, but if this for Christmas, why not. Heaven is for Real is AMAZING. It's uplifting, inspiring, and thought provoking. In a personal way it helps you get in touch with your own faithfulness and spiritualism. Professional and personally it also encourages you not to give up and have faith that things will work out. It's also entertaining.

[Don]

I enjoyed "Leadersh*t: Rethinking the True Path to Great Leading" by Foster Mobley so much I purchased copies for my sons.

[scottinaustin]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Postmortal-Novel-Drew-Magary/dp/0143119826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348083336&sr=8-1&keywords=the+postmortal

This has a stupid ending and there are a couple of sex scenes that may make it inappropriate for the wrong customer. But it's pop-cultury in a Kinetix kinda way and it is an interesting read on the "be careful what you ask for" subject. If you want to inspire someone to think, and you don't necessarily want to send a non-fiction/business book it's a good read.

For business books, you can't go wrong with this:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Leadership-Pipeline-ISBN-9780787951726/dp/B001G428W2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1348083633&sr=8-5&keywords=the+leadership+pipeline

[MattL]

For those business process types who often have to deal with folks "too smart" for checklists, I think The Checklist Manifesto is an easy and informative read

http://www.amazon.com/The-Checklist-Manifesto-Things-ebook/dp/B0030V0PEW/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

How about buying everyone a Kindle with some books pre-loaded? Now that would be cool. Under $100, nicely appointed.

[Craig Broome]

I would have to say "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand or "Go the Fok to Sleep" by Adam Mansbach.

Joy to the world,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3UwbpUKCTo

[Reader]

Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

[Reader]

The Book of Proverbs...good nuggets for life and business.

[Deb Marshall]

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking - by Susan Cain. Outstanding insights!
http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352145/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348152620&sr=8-1&keywords=quiet+-+the+power+of+introverts+in+a+world+that+can%27t+stop+talking

[Brian D]

The Halo Effect - Phil Rosenzweig

[Diana]

The Hobbit. For those who pretend to read, Peter Jackson's movie version opens Dec 14th.

[Chris]

A good one I'm in the middle of right now:

How Music Works, by David Byrne (yes, of Talking heads fame). A chance to see an artist contemplate his art and the factors that shape it. I'm almost halfway through, and it has all the makings of a great business strategy book, without any of the MBA jargon.

You can't beat a book full of business lessons that was not intended to be a business book (see also: the Magary reference above).