Craft & Practice logo

Craft & Practice

Books that have shaped my practice

2024-08-06

If you’ve ever met me, talked with me at any length, or have seen my tsundoku, scattered piles of books that I’ll read someday.

In these conversations, I typically will:

I’ve had the longest desire to create a /lists/books page on my website, full of direction-guiding, impactfully-shaping books. It’d be a repository of my often—and not so often—recommendations: curated, described, tagged, and categorized.

I tend to complicate things.

Easier, less complex: create a list of books here that I can send people back to and reference.

That’s this post.

Photograph of the reading table in the inner courtyard of the Libreria Aacqua Alta—the bookstore in Venice, Italy that’s resigned itself to constant flooding by keeping its books in bathtubs and boats. The foreground rests a book atop a green table, beside a green wire chair, in front of a green large-leafed plant. The background are stacks and stacks of yellow-tinged, water-damaged books—so much so the books form the wall on either side. Taken February, 19 2019.
Photograph of the reading table in the inner courtyard of the Libreria Aacqua Alta—the bookstore in Venice, Italy that’s resigned itself to constant flooding by keeping its books in bathtubs and boats. Taken February, 19 2019.

Overview

This is a list of books I’ve found guidance in over the years. While I’ve read more than these that have been impactful, these are the ones I return to.

As I compiled the titles, authors, and links, I found that you can understand the context of how I’m thinking about. Where my head’s at, my mindset; my approach.

These are the that books actively shape various practices in craftwork, leadership, business, and writing. These are the books I’d be recommending to people I’m consulting, advising, coaching, and mentoring.

Then, it wouldn’t be me without some culture, history, and philosophy thrown in.

On craft

On leadership

On business

On writing

On culture, history, and philosophy

Don't miss what's next. Subscribe to Craft & Practice:

Powered by Buttondown, the easiest way to start and grow your newsletter.