Hey, I’m Charelle and welcome to my book blog ‘Charelle Reads’.
What type of books do I review
My book blog is strictly non-fiction. As a Marketing Strategist with a passion for personal development the books I read are usually within the following genres: marketing, business, entrepreneurship, personal development, self-improvement. I’m also the founder of PropelHer’s Book Club (a book club for ambitious women) so there will also be a number of female-focused titles for career and business success.
Why I decided to start a book blog
In 2016, I decided to challenge myself to read a book every week and blog about it. Since then I have been a bit more relaxed with my reading habit, but usually read 2-3 books a month and blog about them here.
Happy Reading!
Book Reviews by Genre
Recent Book Reviews
The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
Thinking about reading The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett?? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well, keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find inside as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you should read The Diary of a…
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
Thinking about reading We Should All Be Millionaires: Change Your Thinking, Build Bank, and Claim Your Independence: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself?Well, keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find inside as well as sharing my thoughts on the…
Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall
Thinking about reading Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business by Kindra Hall? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well, keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find inside as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you should read Stories that…
Fascinate by Sally Hogshead
Thinking about reading Fascinate: How to Make Your Brand Impossible to Resist? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well, keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find inside as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you should read Fascinate for yourself. This page includes affiliate links, which…
Company of One by Paul Jarvis
Thinking about reading Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well, keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find inside as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you should read Company of One…
Chill and Prosper by Denise Duffield-Thomas
Thinking about reading Chill and Prosper: The New Way to Grow Your Business, Make Millions, and Change the World by Denise-Duffield Thomas? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well, keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find inside as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you should read…
24 Assets by Daniel Priestley
Thinking about reading 24 Assets: Create a digital, scalable, valuable and fun business that will thrive in a fast changing world by Daniel Priestley? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find insider as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you…
Superfans by Pat Flynn
Thinking about reading Superfans: The Easy Way to Stand Out, Grow Your Tribe, and Build a Successful Business by Pat Flynn? Want to know a bit more about the book before you read a copy for yourself? Well keep on reading as I’m going to let you know what you’ll find insider as well as sharing my thoughts on the book to help you decide whether you should read Superfans…
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Thinking about reading Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz? Have you heard people business owners talking about Profit First and want to know a bit more about the book before buying a copy for yourself. If so, you are in the right place! Keep on reading to find out more about what you can expect to find inside Profit First,…
Linked Inbound by Sam Rathling
Heard about Linked Inbound: 8 Social Selling Strategies to Generate Leads on Linkedin by Sam Rathling and want to find out a bit more about the book? If so, you are in the right place. I’ll be sharing what you can expect to find inside of Linked Inbound so you can work out if it is the book for you. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you…
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Thinking about reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? If so, you are in the right place. Keep on reading to find out what you can expect to find inside the book, as well as my thoughts on the book and who I believe would get the most out of the book. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn…
The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin
Thinking about reading The Prosperous Coach: Increase Income and Impact for You and Your Clients by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin? Did you see the book mentioned someone or did a friend recommend it and you want to check it out before you buy this more expensive than the average book? (Last time I checked it was over £35). If so, you are in the right place as I’ll be…
Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Thinking about reading Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant: Guide to Financial Freedom? Want to know more about Robert Kiyosaki’s follow up to Rich Dad Poor Dad? If so, you are in the right place. Keep on reading to find out more about what you can expect to find inside Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant, as well as hearing my thoughts on the book. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if…
The Money Is Coming by Sarah Akwisombe
Heard about The Money Is Coming: Your Guide To Manifesting More Money by Sarah Akwisombe and want to find out a bit more about the book? If so, you are in the right place. I’ll be sharing what you can expect to find inside of The Money Is Coming so you can work out if it is the right money manifestation book for you This page includes affiliate links, which…
The Meaningful Money Handbook by Pete Matthew
Want to take control of your personal finances? Trying to find a book to help you out? If so The Meaningful Money Handbook: Everything You Need to Know, and Everything You Need to do, to Secure Your Financial Future by Pete Matthew might be a book to consider. Keep on reading to find out what you can expect to find inside the book, as well as my thoughts on the…
Do Less Be More by Susan Pearse and Martina Sheehan
Thinking about reading Do Less Be More: How To Slow Down And Make Space For What Really Matters by Susan Pearse and Martina Sheehan? Want to find out a bit more about the book before you commit to reading it yourself? If so, you are in the right place as I’ll be sharing a bit about what you can expect to find out inside, as well as telling you my…
Purpose by Jessica Huie
Thinking about reading Purpose: Find Your Truth and Embrace Your Calling by Jessica Hue? Want to know a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself? Keep on reading as I’ll be sharing what you can expect to be discussed in the book, as well as sharing my personal thoughts on the book. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to…
Success Habits by Napoleon Hill
Thinking about reading Success Habits: Proven Principles for Greater Wealth, Health and Happiness by Napoleon Hill. Want to find out a bit more about the book and what you can expect to read before buying your own copy. Well, keep on reading as I’ll be sharing what you can expect to find inside the book, as well as a few of my thoughts on Success Habits. This page includes…
The best business books for solopreneurs
Are you an aspiring or current solopreneurs looking for the best business books to read? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I’m a marketing strategist that specialising in working with solopreneurs and I’ve been a book blogger for years. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to write this blog post. When it comes to business books there are millions published and more released every day…
The Urban Monk by Pedram Shojai, OMD
Thinking about reading The Urban Monk by Pedram Shojai, but want to know a little bit more about the book before you by a copy? Struggling with modern day life and looking for some advice on how to create more time, success, happiness and peace? If so, check out my review where I’ll be sharing a bit about what to expect inside The Urban Monk: Eastern Wisdom and Modern…
The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
Thinking about reading The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris? Want to know a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself. In this review of The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich I’ll let you know what you can expect to find inside the book, as well as sharing my own thoughts to help you decide whether it…
Go Fund Yourself by Alice Tapper
Thinking about reading Go Fund Yourself by Alice Tapper? Want to know a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself. In this review of Go Fund Yourself I’ll let you know what you can expect to find inside the book, as well as sharing my own thoughts to help you decide whether it is the right book for you to read. This page includes affiliate…
The Power of Small by Aisling and Trish Leonard-Curtin
Thinking about reading The Power of Small: How to Make Tiny But Powerful Changes When Everything Feels Too Much by Aisling and Trish Leonard-Curtin? Do you want to change your life but a time-poor? If so then this might be the right book for you. I’m going to give you an idea of what to expect inside The Power of Small so you can make an informed decision about whether…
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Thinking about reading Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne? Want to find out a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself? Keep on reading as I’ll be sharing what you can expect to find inside the book, as well as sharing my thoughts on the book. This page includes affiliate…
Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven
Thinking about reading Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven? Want to find out a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself? Keeping on reading as I’ll share what you can expect to find inside Make Your Bed, as well as my thoughts on the book. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a…
Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi
Thinking about reading Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth and Prosperity by Dean Graziosi? Maybe you’ve seen Dean’s free book + shipping adverts? Maybe you’ve set the goal of becoming a millionaire and are hunting out the best books on creating and building wealth? Maybe you saw someone else raving about the book and wanted to find out a bit more about the book before buying a copy for…
Simplify Your Life: Waste Less, Value More, Go Minimalist by Mary Conway
Thinking about reading Simplify your Life: Waste Less, Value More, Go Minimalist by Mary Conway? Maybe someone recommended the book to you or maybe you want to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle and whilst researching minimalism you discover Simplify Your Life? Well, keep on reading as I’ll be telling you a bit about what you can expect to find inside of Simplify Your Life, as well as sharing my own…
But I’m Not An Expert by Meera Kothand
Considering reading But I'm Not An Expert!: Go from newbie to expert and radically skyrocket your influence without feeling like a fraud by Meera Kothand? Want to find out a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself? Keep reading as I’ll share a bit more about But I’m Not An Expert, as well as let you know my thoughts on the book so you can…
Oversubscribed by Daniel Priestley
Thinking about reading Oversubscribed by Daniel Priestley and want to know a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself? In this review I'm going to be sharing what you can expect to find inside of Oversubscribed: How to Get People Lining Up to Do Business with You, as well as letting you know my opinion of the book and who I think would find the…
Ask by Ryan Levesque
Thinking about reading Ask: The Counterintuitive Online Method to Discover Exactly What Your Customers Want to Buy...Create a Mass of Raving Fans...and Take Any Business to the Next Level? Would you like to find out a bit more about the book before buying a copy for yourself? If so, keep reading as I’ll be sharing a bit about what you can expect to find inside Ask by Ryan Levesque and…
I Heart My Life by Emily Williams
Heard about the book I Heart My Life by Emily Williams and want to find out a bit more about the book so you can work out whether you should grab a copy for yourself? If so, keep on reading because I’ll be sharing a bit about what you’ll find inside the book, as well as my thoughts on the book so you can decide whether to read it for…
Lean Out by Dawn Foster
Thinking about reading Lean Out by Dawn Foster, but want to know a little bit more about the book before you by a copy? If so, check out my review where I’ll be sharing a bit about what to expect inside the book and my own thoughts on it. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission…
Choose by Ryan Levesque
Thinking about reading Choose: The Single Most Importance Decision Before Starting Your Business by Ryan Levesque but want to know a bit more about the book before buying a copy for yourself? If so, you are in the right place as I’ll be sharing a bit about what you can expect to find inside and sharing some of my own thoughts to help you decide whether it is the right…
Be A Free Range Human by Marianne Cantwell
Thinking about reading Be A Free Range Human by Marianne Cantwell? Want to make money doing what you love? Marianne Cantwell absolutely believes that is possible for you to quit your job and live a wonderful life as a Free Range Human. As a Free Range Human, you get to lead a life where you are able to do work that you love, in a way that suits the lifestyle…
100 Things Millionaires Do: Little Lessons in Creating Wealth by Nigel Cumberland
Do you want to be a millionaire? They say that you should learn from people who have already achieved what you hope to achieve and in 100 Things Millionaires Do: Little Lessons in Creating Wealth, Nigel Cumberland will be sharing 100 lessons that he has used or seen others use on their journey to becoming a millionaire. Check out my full review below and make a decision about whether to…
Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
Thinking about reading Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez? Want to find out a bit more about the book so you can make an informed decision about whether to buy a copy for yourself? If so, keep on reading as I will be sharing what you will find inside, as well as a…
Chillpreneur by Denise Duffield-Thomas
Thinking about reading Chillpreneur: The New Rules for Creating Success, Freedom, and Abundance on Your Terms by Denise Duffield-Thomas and want to know more about the book? Keep on reading to hear my thoughts on the book. Nowadays it seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. Whether you’ve always had the burning desire to make money on your own terms and run your business or you are just…
Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
Thinking about reading Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness by Vex King? Check out my review to find out what is inside of the book and make a decision about whether it is a book you should buy and read. Why I picked up this book? I bought this book as part of my HayHouse shopping spree on Black Friday. I don’t…
How To Make It Happen by Maria Hatzistefanis
Thinking about reading How To Make It Happen: Turning Failure Into Success by Maria Hatzistefanis? Check out my review to find out what is inside of the book and make a decision about whether it is a book you should buy and read. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional…
Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl by Louann Lofton
Thinking about reading Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl: And Why You Should, Too by Louann Lofton? Check out my review to find out what is inside of the book and make a decision about whether it is a book you should buy and read for yourself. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This commission…
Hype Yourself: A No-Nonsense PR Toolkit for Small Business by Lucy Werner
Thinking about reading Hype Yourself: A No-Nonsense PR Toolkit for Small Business by Lucy Werner and want to find out whether it is the right book for you to buy. Keep on reading to find out more about the book. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Thank…
Book a week challenge: Why I’ve decided to read and review 52 books in 52 weeks in 2020
For 2020 I have decided to take on the 'Book A Week' challenge read and review a book every single week. You read that right. My plan is to read and review 52 books across the year. Now I know some people think I’m going crazy, so I wanted to explain why I have made this decision. The first time I attempted the book a week challenge was in…
Little Black Book by Otegha Uwagba
Thinking about reading Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women by Otegha Uwagba and would love to find out a bit more about the book before you buy a copy for yourself. If so, keep on reading. This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Thank you…
Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
Thinking about reading Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt? In this review, you’ll find out the key points of Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals so you can decide whether you should read the whole book for yourself. For years Michael Hyatt has run a highly successful online course entitled ‘5 Days To Your Best Year Ever’ with the aim of…
How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith
Want to achieve more success in your career? Worried that your current actions and habits might be holding you back from achieving the success you deserve? If so, How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith might just be the book for you. How Women Rise is broken down into three parts: Part 1: On Being Stuck Part II: The Habits…
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Do you know the new habits you want to create but struggle with making them stick? Have you spent years unsuccessfully trying to break old habits? If so then Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear then might just be the book for you. At the beginning of the book, James talks about how a sports injury and…
How To Own The Room by Viv Groskop
Do you wish you could speak in public confidently? Do you have to give presentations as part of your job and dread it? Do you dream of being a public speaker and delivering a speech to thousands? Or do you simply not want to have a panic attack next time someone asks you to say anything in front of a group of people? No matter what stage of ‘public speaking’…
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight
Have you ever wanted to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Nike was created? In his book, Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE, Phil Knight talks about how he turned his ‘Crazy Idea’ into a multi-million global business. PART ONE Phil’s memoir starts in 1962. He has a ‘Crazy Idea’. The ‘Crazy Idea’ was to import running shoes from Japan. He had noticed how the…
The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
Have you ever wished that you were more charismatic? Do you think you can learn how to be more charismatic? Well according to Olivia Fox Cabane you can learn how to be charismatic and she wants to teach you how to be more charismatic through her book The Charisma Myth: Master the Art of Personal Magnetism. Olivia is passionate about the topic of charisma and for good reasons. At the…
The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington
How would you describe your relationship with sleep? For many, it is a touchy subject with lots of people admitting they don’t get enough sleep or sleep as well as they would like to. Well in The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time, Arianna Huffington is on a mission to help everyone transform their relationship with sleep and get a good night’s sleep. Arianna…
Heart and Hustle by Patricia Bright
Ever wanted to be a YouTube sensation? Well, Patricia Bright has been there, done it and now written a book. With one of the fastest growing lifestyle YouTube channels in the UK, Patricia Bright has just released her first book Heart and Hustle: Use your passion. Build your brand. Achieve your dreams. In the introduction, Patricia states “I’m going to show you how to hustle like I do, using…
The Disease to Please by Harriet B. Braiker, Ph.D.
Would you class yourself as a people-pleaser? I wouldn’t, but I know it is a problem many struggle with so I decided to give The Disease To Please: Curing the People-Pleasing Syndrome by Harriet B. Braiker, Ph.D. a read. Right at the beginning of the book, there is a Do You Have the Disease to Please? Quiz. Not only does this help reveal whether you are a people-pleaser or…
The Discomfort Zone by Farrah Storr
Want to know how to embrace feeling uncomfortable? You have probably heard that you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable to be successful, but maybe you struggle with putting it into practice. If so, then The Discomfort Zone: How to Get What You Want by Living Fearlessly might just be the book for you. In The Discomfort Zone, Farrah is on a mission to change the way we think about…
Money: Know More, Make More, Give Moore by Rob More
Want to learn more about money in order to make more money? If so, then Money: Know More, Make More, Give More Rob Moore might be the book for you as Rob share how knowing more about money will help you to make more and be able to give more. Money: Know More, Make More, Give More is separated into seven sections: Introduction The ‘disruptive entrepreneur’ Major money myths…
Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday
Whether you want to admit it or not, it is likely that at times in your life your ego shows up. Whilst it is absolutely natural, learning to recognise and manage your ego is key for long-term success as Ryan Holiday explores in Ego Is The Enemy: The Fight to Master Our Greatest Opponent. Keep on reading to find out why Ryan believes the ego is our greatest opponent and…
Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson – Book Review
Do you dream of being seen as an expert in your industry? Do you want to build a business where people pay you for your advice? If so, then Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Creating a Mass Movement of People Who Will Pay You For Your Advice by Russell Brunson might be the book for you. Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links,…
Thrive by Arianna Huffington
Have you ever thought that there was more to success than money and power? If so, then you should carry on reading this review of Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life by Arianna Huffington. Arianna Huffington was the co-founder and Editor in Chief of Huffington Post and is now the founder and CEO of Thrive Global. Thrive starts with Arianna sharing a story of her…
DotCom Secrets by Russell Brunson – Book Review
Do you dream of running an online business? Heard of people building their business online and want a piece of the action for yourself? If so, then check out my book review of DotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online by Russell Brunson to see if it is a book for you. Please note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you…
Winners: And How They Succeed by Alastair Campbell
Do you love reading about successful people and finding out how they achieved their success? If so, then Winners: And How They Succeed by Alastair Campbell might be a book for you. Keep on reading to see my review of the book. In Winners: And How They Succeed, Alastair Campbells set out to get to the heart of success by analysing the best athletes, political leaders and global business…
The Little Book of Yes by Noah Goldstein, Steve Martin and Robert Cialdini
Have you ever wished that you could get people to say ‘yes’ more often? If so, then The Little Book of Yes: How to Win Friends, Boost your Confidence and Persuade Others might be the perfect book for you. The Little Book of Yes: How to Win Friends, Boost your Confidence and Persuade Others by Noah Goldstein, Steve Martin and Robert Cialdini is a described as a “travel-sized handbook”…
Like She Owns The Place by Cara Alwill Leyba
Like She Owns The Place: Unlock the Secret of Last Confidence is Cara Alwill Leyba’s seventh book. In case you aren’t familiar with Cara Alwill Leyba, Cara is a Master Life Coach, Author, Public Speaker and creator of Champagne Diet blog. I think I first came across Cara Alwill Leyba by her book Girl Code. I am not the biggest fan of Girl Code, but I could see how…
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks (Book Review)
How often have you been told that you need to take a big leap? It is a phrase I have heard numerous times so when I came across The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks I thought it would be worth a read. Early on in the book, Gay outlines 4 different zones: The Zone of Incompetence The Zone…
2017 Reading Wrap Up (Charelle Reads)
I can’t believe we are on the final day of 2017. Back in July 2016 I decided to read and blog about a book every week until the end of the year. It was a great experience, but reading and blogging about a book every week is hard work so for 2017 I decided to go a little bit easier and only read and blog about a book a fortnight…
Braving The Wilderness by Brené Brown (Book Review)
Sometimes there are books that you keep on hearing back and know you need to read. In this case, it wasn’t a book, but an author, Brené Brown, who kept on popping people. I have heard numerous people raved about Daring Greatly and Rising Strong so when I heard that Brené was bringing out a new book, Braving The Wilderness, I thought it would be the perfect read for end PropelHer’s Book Club 2017…
The Universe Has Got Your Back By Gabrielle Bernstein (Book Review)
Every now and again there is a book that keeps popping up. That is how I felt about The Universe Has Your Back: How to Feel Safe and Trust Your Life No Matter What by Gabrielle Bernstein. Between Amazon constantly showing it as a recommended read and women constantly sharing how this book had changed their life I thought it was finally time to check it out. With a title…
Originals: How Non-Conformists Change The World By Adam Grant (Book Review)
When it comes to choosing books I like to do my research. Time is precious and I am really not very good at not finishing a book I start. So when I decided to let the PropelHer community make suggestions for PropelHer’s Book of the Month I was nervous about what would be suggested and then eventually win the vote. Luckily for me the winning book was Originals: How Non-Conformists…
Launch by Jeff Walker (Book Review)
If you run an online marketer or entrepreneur you will have probably heard of Jeff Walker, Founder of the Product Launch Formula. Back in September Jeff opened the doors to Product Launch Formula and after being bombarded with emails and facebook adverts I decided I should finally check out his book Launch: An Internet Millionaire’s Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The…
Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant (Book Review)
When I heard Sheryl Sandberg had written a new book (entitled Option B) I was so excited! I am a massive fan of Sheryl Sandberg’s first book Lean In. I first read the book back in 2015 and it really resonated for me. After reading the book I joined a Lean In Circle and I doubt my life would look like it was today if I hadn’t read that book…
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – Book Review
When it comes to success, I am a big believer that your habits play a major role in how successful you become. With that in mind, I decided for October PropelHer’s Book Club would discuss The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. The Power of Habit claims to help you understand how habits work and with that knowledge you should be able to work out how you can change your…
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth – Book Review
As a book blogger and a book club leader it is inevitable that people will ask me “Have you read xxx?”. Now a book I had been asked a number of times about was Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth and I would have to sheepily respond saying I hadn’t. After reading Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo as part of PropelHer’s Book Club (read the…
Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich by Lois P. Frankel, PhD – Book Review
Last year PropelHer’s Book Club read Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office by Lois P. Frankel, PhD. At the time I was obsessed with achieving success in my career and even though the idea of the “corner office” doesn’t really exist in the performing arts I thought it would be a perfect book to read. It turned out to be a good choice with many women resonating with at…
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight
I remember back in December 2015 buying The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. I am a massive hoarder and decided in 2016 I was finally going to change that. So when I came across The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k I was very intrigued. At first, I thought it was by the same author, but then I realised it was actually by Sarah Knight and by no…
The One Thing by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan
If you are familiar with my blog you will know I spend a lot of time reading books about personal development and success. I am obsessed with understanding how others achieve extraordinary results in their life and business. So when I came across The One Thing, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, I was instantly drawn to the subtitle The surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results. It doesn’t take…
You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero
Early on in my journey of researching money making books I came across You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero. I read Jen Sincero’s first book, You Are A Badass, on holiday in 2016 and was so disappointed. Lots of people had been raving about the book so I finally gave in and it just didn’t have the transformational effect it had on others. So I…
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Would you like to be rich? If you are like most people then the answer will be YES. With that in mind I have been reading the most popular money focused, money-making and how to become a millionaire books and in this post, I will be sharing my thoughts on I Will Teach You To Be Rich: No guilt, no excuses - just a 6-week programme that works. I…
Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo
If there is one thing I believe that drastically excels your professional success it is public speaking. With that in mind, I decided that PropelHer’s Book Club would read Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo. TED Talks are watched my millions are considered the leaders when it comes to presentations so a book that analyses the best of the…
Key Person of Influence by Daniel Priestley
I’m not quite sure about how I came across Daniel Priestley’s Key Person of Influence , but the title automatically interested me. Influence plays an important role in professional success, so I am always trying to learn more about how people increase their influence. Daniel states that “Key People of Influence enjoy a special status in their chosen field because they are well-connected, well known, well regarded and highly valued”…
Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter (Book Review)
Anne-Marie Slaughter wrote Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family after publishing her article “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All”. When Anne-Marie was approached by Secretary Clinton to be the first woman director of policy planning at the State Department it was as she described “a foreign policy dream job”. However, after two years working away from her family, Anne-Marie really began to question women, work and family and whether…
The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles
When it comes to the topic of making money, becoming rich and creating wealth, The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles is one of the oldest still regularly read. Originally written in 1910, The Science of Getting Rich has inspired lots of other money books including Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret. THOUGHT The central theme of the book is that “getting rich is the result of doing things…
Start With Why by Simon Sinek (Book Review)
Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, has received over 30 million views on the TED Talk website. Leadership is a topic I am very curious about and after watching the talk I decided that Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action, would be a great book for myself and the PropelHer community. Simon believes that “There are only two ways…
Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny
For 2017, I decided to mix reading books for PropelHer’s Book Club with money-focused books. I wanted to demystify the good ones from the not-so-good ones. In the world of coaching the idea of being a six-figure woman is discussed often, so I thought I would give Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life a read. Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings…
The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
For 2017, I decided to mix reading books for PropelHer’s Book Club with money-focused books. I wanted to demystify the good ones from the not-so-good ones, which led to me reading The Automatic Millionaire. The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach comes highly recommended (#1 New York Times, Business Week, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller, as well as having sold over 1.5…
The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone
I spend a lot of my time reading about success, so when I came across The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone I immediately added the book to my to-read pile. It is quite a confident statement to say that a rule is the ONLY difference between success and failure, but Grant is definitely a confident man and the title sets the tone for…
The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
Wouldn’t it be nice to be a millionaire? Well I thought so and as a result, I decided to start reading some of the most recommended money making books, which included The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime! by M.J. DeMarco. DeMarco claims that "The Millionaire Fastlane is a complete psychological and mathematical formula that cracks the code to wealth and unlocks the…
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
I decided that Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time should be read as part of PropelHer’s Book Club because I was continually being reminded that your network is so important. In virtually every other book I was reading it mentioned how important it was to have a network of successful people around you and I felt that myself, and PropelHer’s Book Club, would…
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
In the spirit of re-reading books, a book that was top of the list for a re-read was Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Originally written in 1937, this book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. I would say that makes it either a great book or just shows that there are a lot of people interested in making money. I originally read the book because it is THE most recommended…
The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz
It is no secret that I am a big believer in the role the mindset plays in success. So I decided it was time to re-read The Magic of Thinking Big. Originally written in 1959, The Magic of Thinking Big has stood the test of time and supported millions to develop a winning mindset. David wants you to think big because “Think Big and you’ll live big”. David states that…
On Becoming Fearless … In Love, Work, and Life by Arianna Huffington
I was introduced to Arianna Huffington through the book Thrive and what a book. I have recommended it to a lot of people. So I was very happy to finally get to read On Becoming Fearless Very early on Arianna provides her own stance on fearlessness. She states that “Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. Rather, it’s the mastery of fear”. She continues saying “Fear is universal. It touches…
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
The Miracle Morning Revisited 2017 is here and I couldn't be happier. After the madness of reading and blogging about a book every week for the last 6 months, I am delighted to be changing to a more relaxed schedule. My plan to blog once a fortnight and the focus is going to be on really APPLYING the new knowledge I'm gaining. This also means that some great books will…
The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
As 2016 draws to an end it was time for relaxation and reflection. 2016 has been a great year for me and I am excited for 2017 to be even more productive and fun-filled. With productivity on the mind I decided to read the New York Times bestseller The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Monthsby Brian P Moran and Michael Lennington…
Successful Brand Management In A Week
After reading Big Magic focusing on my creative side I thought it would be great to get my head back into marketing. One of my favourite parts of marketing is branding so I thought Brand Management In A Week would be worth a read. Brand Management In A Week: How To Be A Successful Brand Manager In Seven Simple Steps suggests that…
BIG MAGIC BY ELIZABETH GILBERT
When I first started reading Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. I felt let down. I had heard such great things about the book and it had been on my to-read list for a while. For the first couple of chapters I though Elizabeth had lost the plot as she talked about ideas existing in their own right and they are travelling around looking for a human…
Feminist Fight Club by Jessica Bennett
For PropelHer's Books Club I had always left the December slot empty so we could read a 2016 publication. The 2016 reading list included a number of classics so having something hot of the press would help balance that and hopefully have a fresh, totally relevant perspective. When I came across Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual (For a Sexist Workplace) I thought a manual for…
Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us by Seth Godin
This week I felt drawn to re-read Tribes: We need you to lead us. I originally read the back in 2015 and I didn’t enjoy it. There is something about the word TRIBE that doesn’t sit well with me. I would often come across the idea of ‘find your tribe’ and ‘your vibe attracts your tribe’, but I didn’t feel as if I wanted to create a tribe. However, as…
The Glass Wall by Sue Unerman and Kathryn Jacob: Book Review
I was ecstatic when Profile Books contacted me about a book they were publishing called The Glass Wall: Success strategies for women at work - and businesses that mean business by Sue Unerman and Kathryn Jacob. I had heard a lot about the glass ceiling, and am a big advocate of smashing it, but the glass wall wasn’t a term I had heard before. The book claims that "Even when there is no glass…
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
I chose to add Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman to the reading list PropelHer’s Book Club because I was drawn to the idea of exploring the different way your brain works. Thinking, Fast and Slow explores the idea that the brain works in two ways (they are described as System 1 and System 2. System 1 is quick and jumps to conclusions, whereas System 2 is more cautious…
Shine: How To Survive and Thrive at Work by Chris Baréz-Brown
When I came across Shine: How To Survive And Thrive At Work on the bookshelf it wasn’t a book I had ever heard of before and I hadn’t heard of the author either. However, the combination of thriving at work and the music reference ‘Upping your ‘Elvis factor’! made me think it would be a book I would enjoy. From the begin Chris is forceful in his message that everyone…
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
The New York Times Bestseller, You are a Badass by Jen Sincero has been popping up all over Instagram. So many women were telling me how much they loved the book that I had to read it. With it’s bright yellow cover and a catchy title, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, I can see why it appealed to people…
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, was one of those books I was continually seeing recommended so I knew in my read a week challenge I had to read it. Susan believes that fear can be categorised into three different types. There is the "surface story" fear, those that relate to "inner states of mind" and those you believe “you can't handle”. Regardless of the type of fear…
The 10% Entrepreneur
When I glanced across The 10% Entrepreneur by Patrick J. McGinnis in the bookshop I knew it was a book I had to read. The subtitle of the book is Living your dream without quitting your day job. For the whole of my career I have worked on something else outside of my day job. I started off as an arts manager (very closely connected to my day job) and then as my skill-based…
Remote
From the moment I saw this book I knew I was going to love it. REMOTE: Office Not Required by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson argues for remote working. The back of the book reads "The most talented people in the world don't all live in one place. The best place to live depends on who are you and what you like. The modern office has become an interruption factory…
The Miracle Morning
As a woman who preaches about investing in yourself, this Autumn I am investing in myself and am part of The Clique Academy (a 12-week programme to develop an online business). As part of this training we were encouraged to try the MIRACLE MORNING so obviously I went out and bought the book. Written by Hal Elrod, the book claims to teach you "the 6 habits that will transform your life before 8am". As a…
The Unwritten Laws of Business
As I was wandering through the business section of the library my eyes were drawn to a little black book with gold letter on the spine reading THE UNWRITTEN LAWS OF BUSINESS by W.J.King with revisions and additions by James Skeakoon . I picked the book up straight away. Originally written in 1944 as The Unwritten Law of Engineering by W.J.King, James Skeakoon noted the laws were applicable to business in…
The Success Code
The Success Code: How to Stand Out and Get Noticed by John Lees. The Success Code is all about standing out and getting noticed, but not in the normal sense. It claims to show "you how to find an authentic voice even if your style is naturally self-effacing". I was particularly drawn to the book as it said it "Getting noticed doesn't have to mean over-selling". So often in…
Get Rich, Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas
Written by Denise Duffield-Thomas, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch! is the follow up to her first self-published book Lucky Bitch. The book claims to help you “break through your money blocks and finally make the money you deserve?”. Surely that is something everyone wants? At the beginning I was a bit sceptical. Denise focuses on Law of Attraction principles, which I am sure about. However, I thought what have I got…
The Happiness Project
Gretchen Ruben asked herself "How could I discipline myself to feel grateful for my ordinary day". This result in a one-year project focusing on happiness. People thought she was crazy as she wasn't unhappy. However, Gretchen felt that "You don't have to be unhappy to want to be happier". We are all striving to be happy and I love that Gretchen decided to actively go for it! Each month Gretchen focused on…
Money Magnet Mindset
I have had money on my mind at the moment because PropelHer's Book Club is reading Get Rich, Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas. It's all about the law of attraction and making money. So when I walked past Money Magnet Mindset I thought I would see what Marie-Claire Carlyle had to say about attracting money and I was not disappointed. The book was split into three sections: Focus, Taking Action!…
It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be
I was very shocked when I finally had It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be in my hands. This best-selling book by Paul Arden is a lot smaller than I imagined. I thought how could a book so small be so influential? The reason I think so many people enjoy the book is that it is an easy read (therefore accessible) and it had lots…
The Start-up of You
The Start-up of You wasn't on my 2016 reading list, but during a trip to the library it caught my eye. Written by Reid Hoffman (Chairman and Co-Founder of LinkedIn) and Ben Casnocha I was intrigued by the tagline Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career. I am passionate about professional development, careers and having a fulfilling work life so the book seemed right up my street. From…
How To Win Friends and Influence People
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen Dale Carnegie’s ‘How To Win Friends and Influence People’ mentioned in interviews, articles and books. As my book cover so proudly stated ‘Over 16 million copies sold”. Now that is what I call impressive! Originally written in 1936 this is a book that has stood the test of time and I was eager to find out why. As a result,…
What if it DOES work out?
What if it DOES work out? by Susie Moore claims to help you “turn your passion into cash, make an impact and live the life you were born to.” Susie is very passionate about having a side hustle and in the beginning of the book explains how she went from being a Sales Director to a Life Coach. Over time her side hustle became her own business, but for…
Mrs Moneypenny’s Career Advice for Ambitious Women
Well when you run a book club for ambitious women you have to read any other book with ambitious women in the title. Surely it's compulsory! The book starts of with 'What You Know'. Mrs Moneypenny is hot on qualifications. She believes "you can (almost) wipe out the past by investing in the future". Basically, there is still time to gain a qualification in later life to support your career ambitions. Just…
The 80/20 Principle
**PROPELHER'S BOOK CLUB READ** Richard Koch's The 80/20 Principle is is based on the Italian economists Pareto’s theory. in essence, it examines the considerable imbalance between Input and Output, Cause and Consequence and Effort and Results. Richard applies that theory to how it works in business and then in your personal life. For corporate success Richard suggests focusing on the small line of products and/or customers that generate the most profit…
Outliers: The Story of Success
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell follows the story of successful individuals and then indentifies why they are successful. Gladwell claims “it’s as much about where we’re from and what we do, as we who are”. Very early on Gladwell states that “it makes a difference where and when you grew up”. Then throughout the book he looks at a range of successful people in music, tech, business,…
Eat, Love, Pray, Made Me Do It.
Now I have to admit I have never read Eat, Pray, Love. Now this is slightly surprising, but I think it would be due to the book being so popular that I thought it couldn't possibly interest me. So when I got copies Eat, Pray, Love, Made Me Do It for PropelHer's Book Club, courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing, I quickly watched the film. I know, I know, it is cheating, but my…
The Confidence Code
I was kindly asked by my Lean In Circle leader to run a session for the circle. I was honoured and put together a list of books for the group to vote on and the winner was The Confidence Code. Written by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, The Confidence Code sets out to discover whether people are born with confidence or it is something you can acquire. The reason behind…
Awaken The Giant Within
Now I won't lie when the book arrived I was terrified by the size of it. How was I ever going to read this book (and plan a session on it)? However, I am so glad I persevered and read the whole book. This is a book where you need to commit and be ready to ask yourself some difficult questions. I loved the idea that "there is virtually nothing…
The Compound Effect
The core message in The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy is simple. If you want to change your life, you have to change something you do daily. The idea is that small steps consistently will change your life. Very similar to the way compound interest works. Mathematicians are always explaining with pensions start young and put away consistently. By starting young and being consistent you will make your money work…
Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office
Now when I came across this title, Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office: Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers, I just knew I was going to love it! I mean The Corner Office isn't that what we are all dreaming of? Written by Lois P. Frankel, PhD, Frankel states the books explores the 'unconscious mistakes women make that sabotage their careers'. Scary Stuff! Overall, Frankel describes 133…