Back in the summer, I asked the following LinkedIn question:

What eye-opening, game-changing business book would you recommend I read while on vacation next week?

Of course, a few old farts scolded me for reading business books on vacation. (It was a driving vacation and I wanted compelling audio book material to pass the hours.) But I also got a lot of good suggestions. Here is the list in the order that I am working my way through them:

1. Trust Agents (Brogan and Smith) – This is a must read for anyone wishing to get into the social media space. Whether you are a practice professional, consultant, writer, etc. – whatever you are – if you want to build influence online, this is the book for you. (Thanks, Penelope.)

2. What the Dog Saw (Gladwell) – A collection of essays and articles covering a wide range of topics, Gladwell is an exceptionally entertaining and though-provoking writer – if you like to think about things and why they are as they are. While his insights tend to be presented in particular social and economic context, he is fascinated with disruptive, category-changing ideas and the complex processes that give rise to them. In many ways, this is a business book in disguise.

3. Think and Grow Rich (Hill) – Back in the 1930s, Napolean Hill wrote this classic of business thinking and, in a way, gave birth to the modern motivational speaker/guru movement. The book reads like it was written last year which is such an incredible accomplishment in itself. Yet, it also contains nuggets of wisdom that are universal in their truth. Think of “growing rich” in the broadest possible sense when you read this one. (Thanks, Anne.)

Basically, this is all I got through so far this summer. But the list recommendations continues and I’ll be working through some of these others over the coming months:

• The Game Changer by Al Lafley, recently retired CEO of P&G.
• Re-Imagine by Tom Peters. (I have to admit, my first reaction to this one was to wonder whether Peters still has it. I guess I’ll have to read it to see.)
• If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss. (I never under-estimate the wisdom of the doctor.)
• Bounce by Matthew Syed.
• Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel. (Already read it and it’s really good.)
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
• Linchpin by Seth Godin.

My eyes have definitely been opened. Now, on to changing the game.

So, what have you been reading lately that has shaken your world?