Our Travel Therapy Reading List to End All Reading Lists
As many of our long time readers know, I am a recently became what could be called a “reader.” After struggling to get through even the most interesting text, at the age of 31 I discovered a book (found below) that would change my entire outlook on obtaining new knowledge. Armed with a new found ability to finally be able to swiftly read a book and absorb the information, I have been trying to make up some lost time. Here is Our Travel Therapy Reading List to End All Reading Lists. Broken into topics, we have everything from raising kids to contract negotiation skills included in this list (I have diverse interests).
One thing you will notice is an obvious neglect for fiction. I have included a few titles, but quite honestly, I struggle to get pulled into the plot lines enough to see it all of the way through.
Let us know what you think or if there are any books you would recommend.
Personal Development
So Good They Can’t Ignore You – Why skills trump passion in the quest for work you love by Cal Newport
Taking the title from Steve Martin’s advice to newcomer comedians, Newport dives deep into skill development and why “following your passion” is not always the best advice.
Deep Work – Rules for focused success in a distracted world by Cal Newport
Plunging into the research behind our ever increasingly distracted society Cal Newport makes the convincing case for honing your concentration skills and becoming a master of your craft…before the robots corrupt our minds (or something like that).
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
An illuminating book on the science behind what we think makes us happy – and what actually makes us happy – and the gaps in between. A fun read. Also a National Bestseller.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
There is a reason why everyone has heard of this book! A true classic, Carnegie was decades before his time and developed effective techniques that wouldn’t be proven until years later. Another staple to read for sure.
Train Your Brain for Success – read smarter, remember more, and break your own records by Roger Seip
I blame this book for all of the other books on this list. If you only read this book for the speed reading section it is worth every penny! Prior to reading this book I was reading a graduate school comprehension but a 5th grade level speed!!! Reading was painfully slow and tedious, requiring me to “hear” every word in my head before I figured it out. Now reading is fun and less taxing (both on my time and energy). As I said, well worth it!
Daring Greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead by Brene Brown PhD, LMSW
Making the uncool topic of vulnerability cool, Brene Brown does a fantastic job of unpacking dense clinical research to uncover surprising truths that we are all too often eager to hide away.
The Rise of Superman – Decoding the science of ultimate human performance by Steven Kotler
While not entirely pertinent to our current topic it is a fascinating dive into improving performance in life. Many of the techniques in this book have been coopted by Fortune 500 companies to improve worker satisfaction and production. Neat stuff.
The Happiness Advantage: How a positive brain fuels success in work and life by Shawn Achor
Utilizing the science based approach Achor takes in this book helps to tip the scales a few notches in the direction of overall happiness and satisfaction. Another book that is useful for helping you to discover what really matters in your life vs what you thought really matters.
Leadership/Negotiation
Invisible Influence – The hidden forced that shape behavior by Jonah Berger
This book honestly blew my mind the first time I read it! It is to blame for opening the flood gates of my interest into this topic. Ive read it a few times now and am shocked at how many different factors all come together to sway each and every decision we make. One of my absolute favorites!
Drive – The surprising truth about what motivates us by Daniel H. Pink
This is the book that began to open my eyes to the fact that maybe there is a better way of doing things in the world of PT employment. Whether it is in the capacity as a leader/clinic owner or as an employee negotiating a contract, taking into account this books insights leads to some very satisfying results.
Getting Past NO – Negotiating in Difficult Situations by William Ury
Especially helpful for dealing with the more cantankerous opposition, Getting Past NO spells out some simple real-world advice from one of the world leaders in negotiation and mediation.
Influence – The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B Cialdini PhD
Written by the preeminent scholar on the topic, Influence is largely considered the cornerstone of the literary body on the topic of persuasion. A national best seller for a reason.
The Power of Persuasion – how we’re bought and sold by Robert Levine
Another incredible book on how insidious the powers of persuasion are in our lives. Shockingly entertaining this was a quick and stimulating read.
Leaders Eat Last: Why some teams pull together and others don’t by Simon Sinek
This book is an essential read for anyone who plans to lead in any capacity. Lessons can be applied to many life situations, not just work. A NYT Bestseller for a reason. Great Author!
Start With Why – How great leaders inspire everyone to take action by Simon Sinek
Super powerful stuff that has immensely impacted my personal perspective on work vs vocation (derived from Latin meaning
“to call”). Likely even more powerful than his biggest hit Leaders Eat Last, Start With Why is a paradigm shift for any clinic director or business owner.
To Sell is Human – The surprising truth about moving others by Daniel H. Pink
Nudging PT’s into uncomfortable territory, Dan Pink presents an iron clad case for why selling and being able to influence people is ESSENTIAL in our society today. Another bestseller for a reason.
Raising a Lil Adventurer
Let Them Be Eaten By Bears – A Fearless Guid to Taking Our Kids into the Great Outdoors by Peter Brown Hoffmeister
If ever there could be a book that was written specifically for us it would be this one. Full of brilliance and humor. A quote we tray to live by – “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.”
The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD
Clutch is so many ways. Just when you think you are going to pull all of our hair out this book saves the day. Some great advice for raising a well adjusted little one.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, MD
This book saved my wife’s sanity. Just when we had worn too thin by sleepless nights we enacted the advice in this book and within a few nights were doubling Kinley’s nighttime snoozing hours.
What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff
For non-pediatric therapists this was/is a great refresher on developmental milestones. Every parent goes through some mental gymnastics and anxiety regarding their developing child. “Are they behind? Shouldn’t they be reciting Whitman by now?” Things like that. This book helps to assuage most fears and gives great practical advice along the way.
Random Good Reads
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M Sapolsky
This book has been a bit of an obsession of mine. I own it in hardcopy and audiobook. Mind Blowing! This book could easily be classified in any of our groupings as it is so wide ranging and impactful. If there were one book Id recommend above all others this would be it.
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
For anyone who has spent considerable time in the Moab, UT area of the Southwest this book with ring true to the core. Having explored many of the places Abbey describes in the book I found myself longing not only to be back there, but to be there back in his time as well. When the wild was still wild and the terrain had sharper teeth.
The Sports Gene – Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance by David Epstein
As a HUGE sports fan and someone who works with athletes frequently this book was incredibly eye-opening. Definitely one of my most recommended reads to anyone with interest in sports.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
Part 1 of 3 this book is by far one of the best written pieces in any genre. Painting such a magnificent character in a very tangible and relatable manner, I have frequently thought back to this book as various life circumstances arise. Not just for history buffs (Im not one).
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Engaging and humorous from the start this NYT Bestseller will be sure to inspire even the most casual hiker to explore new depths of the wilderness.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever by Marie Kondo
Not just for the travelers! Both of our mothers have read this book and put it to extensive use and with fantastic results. We have never felt so good giving away so much stuff!
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
How could we be self respecting travelers and have not read this book. Not fully applicable to our profession as healthcare providers, but the overarching message of challenging the conventional thought that we should slave away at a crappy job for 40yrs before we retire at 65yo and finally enjoy our time. Definitely an influential book.
Money Master the Game by Tony Robbins
A jam packed book full of sound financial advice from the greatest minds in the industry. Tony capitalized on his connections and landed some key interviews with some hard to reach experts in the field of finance. All of this advice is applicable for the traveler.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
A beautiful autobiographical story that should be read by every healthcare provider. The introspection and raw authenticity that Kalanithi wrote this book with are rarely found in an autobiography without being self aggrandizing.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Widely considered a classic. Campbell has the unique ability of linking commonalities between various myths and stories that are often separated by centuries and thousands of miles. It is incredible to realize that no matter how different cultures may be, our humanity runs deep and links us all – and it can be found in the stories we tell.
The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and in business by Charles Duhigg
Another incredible social psychology book that blew my bind when I first read it. Easily my most recommended book prior to finding Behave by Robert Sapolsky.
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
A fantastic bit of historical fiction and a gripping story. I found this before the TNT show was ever in production and was sorely disappointed by the TV adaptation.
Manthropology: The science of why the modern man is not the man he used to be by Peter McAllister
For the men in the audience this is a swift kick to the nuts. McAllister thoroughly demolishes his own previously held idea that man is now at the pinnacle of our existence. In nearly every conceivable metric the modern man does not measure up as one would expect.
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
As a former biology teacher the thought experiment that is presented in this book was irresistible. The impermanence of man on this planet is something we never really think about, and the lasting impact we have doesn’t always manifest its self in the way society would have us think… Very interesting read.
Anything by Maclolm Gladwell:
Whew! There you have it! Our Travel Therapy Reading List to End All Reading Lists! As I continue to read Ill do my best to update this list if anything is worth the addition.
If you all have any other books you would recommend please email us or give us a shout on the socials…
Written by: Stephen Stockhausen
