Well, I did catch up on my backlog of books for the year. In terms of reading goals, I am a little behind but I expect to get caught up before the year ends. Overall, I am happy with my pace for the year. I am looking forward to what the second half of the year brings.  This is what I have planned for July.

My July reading is a little of everything. I picked up an Ellery Queen mystery at a library book sale. Two other books focus on productivity. Finally, Bernadette brought me back a book from Holland that provides more information about Operation Market Garden. I am really looking forward to this month’s reading list.

Here is what is on my reading list for July 2019:

The Siamese Twin Mystery by Ellery Queen

I picked this book up at a local library book sale. I am a huge fan of Ellery Queen. I recently watched the entire series on Amazon Prime. 

Via Amazon:

Ellery Queen takes refuge from a wildfire at a remote mountain house ― and arrives just before the owner is murdered…

When Ellery Queen and his father encounter a raging forest fire during a mountain drive, the only direction to go is up ― up a winding dirt road that leads to an isolated hillside manor, inhabited by a secretive surgeon and his diverse cast of guests. Trapped by the fire, the Queens settle into the uneasy atmosphere of their surroundings. Things become even more tense the following morning when the doctor is discovered dead, apparently shot down while playing solitaire the night before.

The only clue is a torn six of spades. The suspects include a society beauty, a suspicious valet, and a pair of conjoined twins. When another murder follows, the killer inside the house becomes as threatening as the mortal flames outside its walls. Faced with a complex set of alibis, motives, and evidence, Ellery Queen must rely on his powers of deduction and logic to uncover the murderer’s identity ― but can he solve this whodunnit before the fire devours its subjects?

Featuring bizarre circumstances, eerie atmosphere, and a dazzling solution, The Siamese Twin Mystery is a fair play mystery in which the reader has all the necessary information needed to solve the puzzle. The seventh Ellery Queen novel (which can be read in any order), it finds the legendary sleuth facing one of the most memorable cases of his career.

Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt has been making the podcasting circuit promoting his book. He has a series of books out and this seemed to be a logical place to start the conversation. 

Via Amazon:

THE REVOLUTIONARY PRODUCTIVITY SYSTEM TRUSTED BY OVER 25,000+ PROFESSIONALS.
Get more done and get your life back.

Many professionals work as much as 70 hours a week, leaving little time for rest, exercise, family, and friends. Work is invading their personal life.

The common understanding of productivity has failed these professionals. Most think productivity is just about getting more done at a faster speed. But it’s not.

Productivity is about getting the right things done.

New York Times Bestselling author, Michael Hyatt, has created a total productivity system that’s much more than endless box checking. Proven by over 25,000 professionals, this system helps overwhelmed leaders achieve what matters most so they can succeed at both work and life.

In his latest book, Free to Focus, you’ll discover how to …

• Redefine your work so it works for you
• Filter your tasks and commitments
• Cut out the nonessentials
• Eliminate interruptions and distractions
• Set boundaries that protect your focus and drive results
• Leverage your time and energy for maximum productivity
• Build momentum for a lifetime of success

In Free to Focus, you’ll learn the 3-step system to achieve more while doing less.

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

This is another book working its way around the podcasting circuits. After reading Newport’s Deep Work, I knew that I had to learn more. 

Via Amazon:

Minimalism is the art of knowing how much is just enough. Digital minimalism applies this idea to our personal technology. It’s the key to living a focused life in an increasingly noisy world.

In this timely and enlightening book, the bestselling author of Deep Work introduces a philosophy for technology use that has already improved countless lives.

Digital minimalists are all around us. They’re the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones. They can get lost in a good book, a woodworking project, or a leisurely morning run. They can have fun with friends and family without the obsessive urge to document the experience. They stay informed about the news of the day, but don’t feel overwhelmed by it. They don’t experience “fear of missing out” because they already know which activities provide them meaning and satisfaction.

Now, Newport gives us a name for this quiet movement, and makes a persuasive case for its urgency in our tech-saturated world. Common sense tips, like turning off notifications, or occasional rituals like observing a digital sabbath, don’t go far enough in helping us take back control of our technological lives, and attempts to unplug completely are complicated by the demands of family, friends and work. What we need instead is a thoughtful method to decide what tools to use, for what purposes, and under what conditions.

Drawing on a diverse array of real-life examples, from Amish farmers to harried parents to Silicon Valley programmers, Newport identifies the common practices of digital minimalists and the ideas that underpin them. He shows how digital minimalists are rethinking their relationship to social media, rediscovering the pleasures of the offline world, and reconnecting with their inner selves through regular periods of solitude. He then shares strategies for integrating these practices into your life, starting with a thirty-day “digital declutter” process that has already helped thousands feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

Technology is intrinsically neither good nor bad. The key is using it to support your goals and values, rather than letting it use you. This book shows the way.

Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944 by Anthony Beevor

Last month, I finished reading Pamela Wilson’s book, Master Content Strategy, and it was wonderful. Since the strategy book was the second in the series, I knew that I had to rush out and grab Master Content Marketing. 

Via Amazon:

Content marketing is how marketing happens today. You know you want to use it, but you’re unsure about where to start. You may not feel confident about your writing abilities, either. Master Content Marketing is a step-by-step guide through the content marketing process. Pamela Wilson’s 30 years of marketing experience infuse the guidance in the book.

“Scores of people profess to be content marketing experts. Who can you trust? You can trust Pamela Wilson.” – Brian Clark, CEO Rainmaker Digital and founder of Copyblogger (from the Foreword)

This book breaks down the content marketing process so you have what you need to create consistently excellent content that’s effective and fun to put together. This system works for both B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) content. Read Master Content Marketing and you’ll come away with:

• Clear content marketing goals so you know what to aim for
• Step-by-step guidance for creating your content: you’ll never get stuck again!
• A content marketing strategy that builds your audience with every piece of content you create
• Content marketing examples that will show you what to aim for
• Ideas and templates for headlines, subheads, first sentences, and more
• The encouragement, resources, and guidance you need as you build your online presence with content marketing.

During her award-winning 30-year marketing career, Pamela Wilson has helped local, national, and international clients communicate their messages effectively. Her passion is teaching — and she has a gift for making complex topics simple and easy to understand. She wrote Master Content Marketing to provide step-by-step help to empower people (even non-writers) to create effective content marketing in a stress-free, fun, and repeatable way. What will happen to your online presence when you lose your fear of hitting publish? Read Master Content Marketing and find out.

That’s it for this month — I want to hear what good books YOU’VE read lately! Please share in the comments below.

If you missed previous months in 2019, you can still check them out:

January | February | March | April | May 

My Reviews for This Reading List

• Book Review: The Siamese Twin Mystery (An Ellery Queen Mystery)
• Book Review: Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less
• Book Review: Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944
• Book Review: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

Keep on reading!

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