2013 Has Been a Banner Reading Year

Repeatedly, I have stressed the importance of reading to your lifelong learning. In a blog post, I quoted the U.S. Labor Department, ”According to the U.S. Labor Department, business people who read at least seven business books per year earn over 230 percent more than people who read just one book per year.“ I have taken this to heart and increased the reading have done. In 2012, I wrote 12 book reviews; this year I am pleased to report that I wrote 21 book reviews.

Over the past year, I have written  book reviews spanning four major topics: Evernote, Google+, leadership, and learning.

Evernote

As you well may know, I am a huge fan of Evernote. Evernote is a power tool that I use on a regular basis. Here are some books that will help you understand and use Evernote.

The Complete Guide to Evernote in Education – Nicholas Provenzano released a book called The Complete Guide to Evernote in Education*. If you are an educator, you will want to read this book for not only ideas for leveraging Evernote in the classroom but also for his justification.

Work Smarter with Evernote Work Smarter with Evernote* by Alexandra Samuel is a book I read in an effort to better unlock the secrets of Evernote. I was not disappointed.Samuel writes about how to use Evernote to get ahead in life. How to focus on priorities and tasks key to personal and professional development. She focuses on three primary concepts: How to capture notes How to organize notes How to share notes

A Mom’s Guide to Evernote A Mom’s Guide to Evernote* written by Lauren Rothlisberger is a great little book on Evernote that takes a look from a different perspective. Rothlisberger is a military spouse who is used to moving on a regular basis. She discovered the power of Evernote as she tried to become better organized and ended up becoming a better mom.

The 2-hour guide to mastering Evernote The 2-Hour Guide to Mastering Evernote Always looking for information on how to better leverage Evernote, I recently picked up Brandon Collins’ book, The 2-Hour Guide to Mastering Evernote*.  While this book certainly covers the basics of Evernote, it is not a basic book. Collins drills down to a deeper level and provides tips and tricks only an experienced user would appreciate.

My Evernote This book, My Evernote*, was written by Katherine Murray, and I would classify it as a very detailed beginner’s book. Murray does a great job of detailing the use of Evernote in a step-by-step manner.

Google+

These couple of books have helped peel another layer of the onion back in terms of understanding Google+.

What the Plus! Google+ for the rest of us I just finished Guy Kawasaki’s book, What the Plus!: Google+ for the Rest of Us*. I picked up the book because I am interested in Google+, and I recently got newly excited about using it after watching a learn.extension.orgpresentation Google+ Quickstart with Stephen Judd.

Google Plus marketing made easy: The complete guide to getting more traffic, more customers and building your brand with Google+ In an effort to learn more about Google+, I had picked up Ryan Bush’s book, Google Plus Marketing Made Easy: The Complete Guide to Getting More Traffic, More Customers and Building your Brand with Google+*. The book is a very quick read; each section is only a couple of pages. The information Bush provided is useful but not really unique.

Leadership

These books have provided me with more insight into running an organization and getting things done while working with others.

The Flat Army While at the American Society for Training Development 2013 conference in Dallas, the book Flat Army: Creating a Connected and Engaged Organization* was a hot topic for discussion. It was highly recommended across the organization.

Here comes everybody: The power of organizing without organizations Clay Shirky’s book, Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations* should be on everyone’s shelf. Through countless stories, Shirky explains how various technologies have disrupted the status quo.

Learning in a Digital Age

These books discuss the importance of learning and the use of technology to learn.

The one world schoolhouse: A new approach to teaching and learning During my vacation in the Netherlands, I finished reading The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined* by Salman Khan. This is the same Salman Khan who invented Khan Academy, which has taken the education world by storm. I personally enjoyed the book and found myself vigorously nodding my head up and down about many aspects of the book.

Why school?: How education must change when learning and information are everywhere As Will Richardson explains in his book, Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere*, he often struggled to get his son to do school work but watched in amazement as his son became a learning machine when introduced to Minecraft. His son not only learned how to use the program on his own but also tapped into an online network that supported his learning.

A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change Dr. Cliff Harbour, Associate Professor at the University of Wyoming College of Education, recommended that I read Thomas and Brown’s book, A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change*. He knew I was constantly questioning the role of education and learning, and he thought this would be an interesting read for me. This book is one of many taking a hard look at education and learning, and finding they are not one in the same.

Out of Our Minds In a complex world, we need creative solutions more than ever. Yet, the very systems that are “designed” to prepare us for the real world, the working world, instead are stripping us from or denying us access to our creative capabilities. This is the message that Sir Ken Robinson outlines in detail in his book, Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative*.

Cultivating your personal learning network In Cultivating Your Personal Learning Network*, Warlick tied the idea of a personal learning network (PLN) to a food ecosystem. He began by noting that until recently information was prepackaged for us just like fast food. Due to technology, individuals can build their own learning that is more organic.  Warlick encouraged cultivating your own learning garden.

The Theory and Practice of Online Learning The Theory and Practice of Online Learning In The Theory and Practice of Online Learning, Anderson collected eighteen articles focusing on different aspects on online teaching. These articles were arranged into four major groupings: Role and Function of Theory in Online Education Development and Delivery Infrastructure and Support for Content Development Design and Development of Online Courses Delivery, Quality Control, and Student Support of Online Courses

Emerging Technologies in Distance Education Emerging Technologies in Distance Education – Emerging Technologies in Distance Education by George Veletsianos. This was the other book that I believe had a positive impact on the threaded discussions in the class. As Veletsianos explained, the purpose of this book was to “amalgamate work in the use of emerging technologies to conceptualize, design, enhance, and foster distance education” (Veletsianos, 2010, p. ix).

Informal learning at work: How to boost performance in tough times As the title indicates, Paul Matthews‘ book, Informal Learning at Work: How to Boost Performance in Tough Times* is looking at informal learning from the perspective of the workplace.

Other Books

Here are some other books I read that I would like to share.

Mastering the CPLP Trish Uhl, a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) coach, released her new book Mastering the CPLP: How to Successfully Prepare for – and Pass! – the CPLP Knowledge Exam*. With the CPLP exam as another milestone in my career, I have been looking for tips and guidance to help me successfully complete the exam. This book did not disappoint.

APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur – How to Publish a Book One of the things I have been interested in doing is writing and publishing a book. Until now, I always thought that publishing a book was just out of my grasp. After reading Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch’s book, APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur-How to Publish a Book*, I believe it is something I can do.  In fact, they have made the process so clear, I have already set out on my journey.

The Webinar Manifesto The propose of The Webinar Manifesto* written by Matt Murdoch and Treion Muller is to encourage people to not create Webinars that suck. Or in their words, “We’re against Zombie webinars.”

MOOC yourself – Set up your own MOOC for business, non-profits, and informal communities I personally participated in three MOOCs and completed one, I wanted to understand more so I could improve my completion rate. I found Ignatia Inge deWaard‘s book, MOOC YourSelf – Set up your own MOOC for Business, Non-Profits, and Informal Communities*. I found this book to be highly informative as well as a pleasant read. deWaard certainly did her homework in preparing the book.

What have you been reading? What recommendations do you have for me?

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