5 Books for 2022 (Professional Edition)
For 2022 I gathered a list of books I’ve read and recommended. From HR to powerful stories, these books all influenced my life and profession in some way. What would your list look like? Drop a comment below!
#1 – Sacrifice: A Gold Star Widow’s Fight for the Truth by Michelle Black
ODA 3212 was ambushed in Niger on a mission in 2017 that was littered with issues. Leadership up the chain of command failed on many levels, and the Department of Defense attempted to cover it up.
Unfortunately that day, 4 Green Berets lost their lives. Families were changed forever, and left with asking the Pentagon “What really happened?”
Michelle Black, the widow of Bryan Black one of the Green Berets lost that day, tells the story of the ambush, the men involved, and her heartfelt story of navigating it all. Michelle is an inspiring individual who has bravely told the story that nobody else has told.
I personally interviewed her for my podcast for a future episode and it was incredible. She handles this story and her grief with grace and bravery, something missing in Washington DC. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this today.
#2 – Brooklyn to Baghdad by Christopher Strom
Chris Strom, a retired NYPD Intel Cop takes us on a ride like no other. After retiring from the NYPD and moving out of the big city, he’s recruited to join an elite unit focused on extracting intel from the most dangerous people on earth.
Chris provides an honest and insightful story about how he went from a cop in Brooklyn to standing face-to-face with terrorists in the middle east. It’s smart, entertaining, and eye-opening. I interviewed Chris for a future episode of my podcast, and he was an excellent guest!
#3 – Quiet Voice, Fearless Leader by Terrance Lee
Forget the subtitle about introverts. This book is about leadership, plain and simple. It doesn’t matter if you are an introvert or extrovert, you need to read this. Terrance provides not just expertise, but excellent stories and examples behind his points, proving how leadership is a dynamic subject that applies to everyone in unique ways.
You have to check him out on his Leadership Mondays on Instagram Live.
He was also a guest on my podcast, and we had a great talk on leadership. Check it out here –> Course of Action on Spotify
As more of an extrovert, and leadership expert myself, this book still taught me so much. Every leader needs to read this.
#4 – The Talent War by Mike Sarraille & George Randle
From the men who founded the Talent War Group, an organization focused on selecting and developing high-performance teams, The Talent War dives deep into talent management and what goes on behind the Human Resources curtain.
As a business professional, this opened my eyes. The knowledge drops Mike and George provide are never-ending, and every business professional, entrepreneur, and HR specialist should read this. It’s a game-changer.
George was also a guest on my podcast for a future episode. Go follow the podcast here (Course of Action).
#5 – Alone At Dawn by Dan Schilling & Lori Chapman Longfritz
A pedal to the floor story about John Chapman and one of the world’s most deadly special forces units. John Chapman received the Medal Of Honor for his bravery in the line of duty, and is a hero. The story behind it is powerful, and a constant reminder of what our military endures every day, and what is asked of them.
This book is a must-read. It will inspire and make you appreciate your life, even in the darkest of times. I keep it on my bookshelf behind my desk as a constant reminder that when things are bad, I need to be more John Chapman instead of feeling sorry for myself.
