Lately, I’ve been thinking about the things that shape us. While much of my time and probably much of yours (if you are reading this) is spent online, I don’t think we always get to experience our true selves there. And while social media provides inumerable benefits for most of the folks involved, there are entire subjects out there that are just as interesting as social media. Chris Brogan recently called reading “a superpower”. I happily agree. And while this post is not flashy or attractive and it won’t make you $1k in 30 days, it might give you a little glimpse into the people that contributed to it and it might encourage you to sit down with one of these great reads. Did you know that 58% of us never read another book after high school? (The Slight Edge via a twitter user). Let’s bring that number down a smidge eh?
All I did was ask some people what their fave book of 2008 was. Here goes:
@billbarhydt -Predictably Irrational is a breakthrough book. It was a TED choice in 2008 and I have read it twice. You should read it!
@AmitaiGivertz -On Paradise Drive by David Brooks but not because I I’ve read it!
@wabbitoid -It hasn’t come out yet, but “Yankee Invasion” by Ignatio Solares blew me away. Out in May from Scarletta Press.
@Mamtower -Oh and The Da Vinci Method by Garret LoPorto and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
@randallkane I read this early in the year and it is a superb book on business strategy and ideas
@kimmance Do you mean this year as in the last 6 days? If so, I get to be one of the three Guy Kawasaki book fans (1st one this year 
@highonbeingdave The Four-Hour Workweek is hands-down the best book I read all year. Second place goes to “Good to Great” by Jim Collins.
@guykawasaki Yes! by Robert Cialdini et al
@joegerstandt Leadership and Self Deception, Theory U, Lucifer Effect, Halo Effect, Mistakes Were Made, Wisdom of Crowds
@tmonhollon The War of Art! Already changed my year just a few days in
@joegerstandt The Answer to How is Yes, The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, Watchmen, Deep Survival, Sources of Power, The Watercourse Way, Crossing the Unknown Sea
@StaceyHylen I like the War of ART, great for marketers and content creation also Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet holmes I could list a bunch
@David Gosse Smart Startups by David Silver (total user-based model evaluation), Moral Intelligence by Doug Lennick
@TalentSynch Re books – Can I have two 
. A Whole New Mind by Pink & Yoga Sutras by Heathman
@megbear ok joking aside, I’d suggest Presentation Zen for 2008, it made me realize an obligation to have presentations not suck
@jshihadeh will absolutely nominate “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann
@BeckyMetcalf I just finished Twilight, but I didn’t really think that’s what you were looking for… ;P
@uberbabyboomer outliers – fascinating and def. life changing for me
@john_bacon Into the Wild
@andreasmiling Twilight was my fave and I’m not afraid to say it!
@sassy001 I know its cheesy but the Twilight series were my favorite books of ’08
@Mark_Salinas In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan
@CincyRecruiter – Best Book Ever – Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets For Networking Your Way to RICH Relationships
@joemescher Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is my favorite book of 2008. I enjoyed learning about successful people through a new lens.
@nickashley I don’t read much, but I did read “Predictably Irrational” last year and loved it.
@HealthBeautyDr “Go-Giver”
@pamclaughton Hey Maren! Best book I read in 08 was, The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale. Also, Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
@sgordon70 groundswell…hands down!
@DavidGosse Smart Startups by David Silver (total user-based model evaluation), Moral Intelligence by Doug Lennick.
@FandangoChica I’m reading “Three Cups of Tea” and LOVE it. http://www.threecupsoftea.com/
@JonathanGoodman Fav book was “Tuned In” by Stull, Myers and Scott. Also “The Speed of Trust” by Stephen M.R. Covey. So many more though!
@stelzner “Orbiting The Hairball” by Gordon MacKenzie of Hallmark fame. Original, funny, dead on and a good guide to survivability.
@kg4now The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama.
@socalgirl Simplicity Lessons A 12 Step Guide to Living Simply by Linda Breen Pierce–I’ll all about taking it down a level…:)
@Seiden best book I read in 2008 was _Charlotte’s Web_. Good reminder of what loyalty is all about.
@dennissmith did i meet the deadline? Leadership and Self-Deception (The Arbinger Institute) and Love is the Killer App (Tim Sanders)
@CoolHandNuke If you haven’t gone there already, it should be your first read of the year Freakonomics…it’ll change you’re life as well
@sharlyn_lauby Thanks for the nudge…Meant to answer all day. “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi and, “Born Standing Up” by Steve Martin.
@lisarosendahl If I am not too late. . “Healthy Sleep habits, Happy Child!” and “A Big Splash in A Small Pond” by R. Linda Resnick
@StevenGilbert The book that seems to stick with me from 2008 was Cialdini’s INFLUENCE. If you deal with humans it is a good read.
@MNHeadhunter A good business read “Twitter Means Business” http://yourtech.typepad.com…
@xylem Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink : The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. C’mon, it’s Malcolm.
@jimhandi the little golden book of YES! atttitude jeff gitomer
@ramhatter A great book I read last year was Ted Kooser’s “Local Wonders”, but it came out in ’04. Doesn’t really help you out I think. 
What I love about this list is that each person remembers the most impactful book of the year (in Joe Gerstandt’s case, there were um. . .more) Many people chose a current book, while others went with old classics. I enjoyed seeing what sparked creativity in my friends and what helped them through the year. What entertained them and swept them away. Which tomes lit a much needed fire under them. If you hadn’t already thought of it, these are all GREAT people to follow on Twitter as well.
Oh my favorite? I read Little Women and it was as great today as it was 15 years ago.
Hi Maren — What a great idea! And it’s so true: books have a huge impact.
I’m so tickled to see our book “The Go-Giver” listed here not once but twice; thanks, jshihadeh and HealthBeautyDr! And with you mentioning The Slight Edge in your post (I ghost-wrote that book for Jeff Olson), I feel positively at home here! — John
Oops. Should have used this email in posting, so’s to pull my Gravatar correctly. — JDM
Thanks for the mention. Lots of great reading here…I better go get a library card.