Highly Recommended Reading
Our favourite books on a whole range of different subjects including General Business, Personal Development, Coaching and Just for Fun! Click on the section that most interests you, or scroll down the page….
If you want to purchase any of the books, simply click the book cover and link straight through to Amazon.
Alternatively, if you want to meet with one of our Outstanding Business Coaches book your free Business Coaching consultation now
General Business
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No BS Business Success (No B.S.) If you can cope with Dan's straight talking attitude this book contains a wealth of business tips and do's & don'ts for improving your business success
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The Greatest Salesman in the World A short and easy 100 page read written in 1968 highlighting 10 simple 'habits' that will transform your success - assuming you take ACTION of course!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The 4-hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich Tim Ferriss takes the E-myth principles and work life balance into the 21st century. Whether you want to go the whole hog and live Tim's dream or just bag the time leverage ideas, this is a must read for entrepreneurs. There's plenty of value too for employees, on escaping the wage-slave-retirement spiral
Recommended by Carol McLachlan |
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E-myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work An excellent book for all owner managers. It’s easy to read and filled with good advice about how to turn your current business into a scalable machine…start working on those processes NOW!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The E-myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work (Audiobook)
No time to read? Listen to this instead on the way into work!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Essential Manager's Manual A huge resource for those managers who have little time to get into a subject in depth. It is very clearly laid out and the language is precise and subject specific
Recommended by Pete Mackechnie |
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Pour Your Heart into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Howard Schultz (Paperback - 31 Dec 1998)
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Brand Sense A real authority on how to build your brand
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Open Minds: 21st Century Business Lessons and Innovations from St.Luke's A reminder that there is more than one way to run a business, that you don’t have to be big to be good, and our favourite, that passion for what you do can drive so much energy, creativity and success.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The Brand You 50: Reinventing Work A small and simple format that takes you through 200 things you can do to create your own unique brand across 50 sections
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Bringing Out the Best in People A classic motivational approach using positive reinforcement
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Customer Care Management Easy to follow ideas - have a pencil ready there is lots to underline
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Maverick! by Ricardo Semler (Paperback - 6 Sep 2001) One of my favourite Business Books. Ricardo Semler turns traditional business techniques on their heads and leads an outstanding organisation to huge successes through a difficult economic climate. If you’ve never thought of yourself as a corporate type then read this and become a MAVERICK…start trying some of his ideas in your organisation. Be amazed at the results.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The Richer Way by Julian Richer (Paperback - 24 Sep 2001) When you realise what he achieved it makes sense to read how he did it
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee (Hardcover - 1 Mar 2002) A valuable read for everyone in a position of leadership.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Primal Leadership (audiobook) by Richard E Boyatzis (Audio CD - 1 Jan 2005) Time starved or just don’t enjoy reading? No excuse… here is the above book in audio!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Influence: Science and Practice by Robert B. Cialdini (Paperback - 3 Aug 2000) A classic influencing skills book. Not such an easy read (slightly more academic than a lot of other books here) yet filled with excellent information to help you influence others and also to avoid being overly influenced yourself!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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SPIN-selling by Neil Rackham (Paperback - 23 Nov 1995) The classic ‘selling’ book for those of us who sell higher value services or products. Rackham’s methods provides you with a set of tools and techniques that are tried and tested. If you are interested in increasing your sales you should read this book.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Spin Selling (audiobook) by Neil Rackham and et al (Audio CD - 26 May 2000) The audio version of the above book – listen and increase your sales!
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The Psychology of Selling: The Art of Closing the Sale by Brian Tracy (Nightingale Conant)
by Brian Tracy (Audio CD - 1 Jan 1995) Another recommended audio programme on selling. A 6 CD set covering all areas of the selling process including: what makes people buy, creative approaches, handling objections and closing techniques. Full of antidotes and practical advice. An easy listen.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins (Hardcover - 4 Oct 2001) A follow on from his earlier book “Built to Last”, Jim Collins looks at a variety of organisations and examines what are the defining factors between average or good companies and those that make the breakthrough to becoming GREAT ones. Full of ideas that you can implement in your company.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Good to Great (audiobook) by Jim Collins (Audio CD - 1 Sep 2005) The audio version of the above book – listen and become GREAT!
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Personal Development & Coaching
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Words That Change Minds: Mastering the Language of Influence
by Shelle Rose Charvet (Paperback - April 1997 A fantastic read for anybody who communicates with people. I couldn't put it down. It has helped me communicate with people on their terms
Recommended by Stephanie Greasley |
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7 Habits of Highly Effective People A classic that should be on everybody’s bookshelf (after you’ve read it that is)! Do these 7 simple things and watch yourself improve, including win- win techniques and classic time management ideas.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey (Audio CD - 3 Jan 2005) The audio version of the above book. Listen and action.
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The Power of Impossible Thinking: Transform the Business of Your Life and the Life of Your Business
by Yoram (Jerry) Wind and Colin Cook (Paperback - 9 Mar 2006) How to deal with perceptions that are masking reality and make better decisions
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Do it Tomorrow and other Secrets of Time Management
by Mark Forster (Paperback - 20 Jul 2006) An entirely new approach to Time Management. Practical and realistic, these books pioneer a plethora of innovative tips and techniques. You'll find some really quite radical ideas here, blasting through some of the sacred cows of the conventional wisdom on Time Management
Recommended by Carol McLachlan |
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What Got You Here Won't Get You There Because successful people can still improve performance and Marshall explains how to do this
Recommended by Sue Stockdale |
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Ask the Headhunter: Reinventing the Interview to Win the Job by Nicholas Corcodilos and Nicholas Cordilos (Paperback - Aug 1997) This is the only way to approach, and to be successful, in interviews. Prepare thoroughly so you go to the interview with credible evidence of why you can do the job, show that you understand the job that needs to be done, and demonstrate that you would fit in. Do all that, and the job will be yours
Recommended by Peter Bernard |
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The Right Brain Manager Useful book for those who wish they could problem solve more effectively. It provides a clear understanding of the Right and Left Brain ways of working and helps individuals to understand how they 'do it'. Although an older book the subject matter is still very relevant today.
Recommended by Pete Mackechnie |
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Conversation the Power of Persuasion by Peter Thomson (Nightingale Conant) If you are interested in improving your communication skills then this is a fantastic Audio programme. I have recommended this to so many clients who all enjoy it and find it easy to implement at least a few of Thomson’s many ideas.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Giant Steps: Small Changes to Make a Big Difference
by Anthony Robbins (Paperback - 2 Jan 2001) No personal development list would be complete without at least one book by Anthony Robbins (one of the highest profile Coaches in the US). This book is filled with lots of small and achievable changes you can make that will have a huge impact on your subsequent success.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Giant Steps: Small Changes to Make a Big Difference For the drivers amongst you here is the Audio version of the above book. Keep taking those baby steps!
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Achieving Emotional Literacy
by Claude Steiner and Paul Perry (Paperback - 14 Jan 1999) As the name implies, it is useful for people who want to achieve emotional literacy. It is an easy read, enjoyed by some of my most senior clients
Recommended by Karen Skehel |
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Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind
by Nancy Kline (Paperback - 4 Dec 1998) Described as listening to ignite the human mind. We all think we listen well, but do we really? This book helps us to help people improve the way they think, work and live
Recommended by Stephanie Greasley |
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Change your Thinking Change your Life
by Brian Tracy (Paperback - 2 Sep 2005) Classic ideas from one of the best selling authors of all time in this subject
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Rich Dad, Poor Dad
by Robert T. Kiyosaki (Paperback - 3 Jan 2002) A simply written book explaining the benefits of developing residual incomes and changing our traditional relationship to money and wealth. In a world where job security is something only found in antique shops, this is an essential read.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Conversation: How Talk Can Change Our Lives We have had the pleasure of hearing Theodore Zeldin speak at a British Design conference – he was inspirational and was able to run circles around his fellow speakers. This short book is focused on how you can improve your conversations in all areas of your life.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
by Adele Faber and Elaine Malzish (Paperback - Jul 1998) I love this book! A unique look at how we communicate with our children and how they talk to us. Filled with cartoon style examples it is an easy and enjoyable read. Every parent would benefit from owning this book – but don’t stop there…so many of its ideas can be implemented in the work place too. Originally written in 1980 it is still so fresh, relevant and valuable – ‘Super Nanny’ eat your heart out!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk The audio version of this fabulous book on communication skills.
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The Life Audit
by Caroline Righton (Paperback - 28 Dec 2006) Great advice on how to focus and where to act
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Co-active Coaching: New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and Life
by Laura Whitworth, Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, and Phil Sandahl (Paperback - 15 Feb 2007) A book owned by most coaches. A good read for those wanting to develop their own coaching skills – perhaps to try new ways to help support and develop your team.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
by Depak Chopra (Hardcover - 1 Jun 2007) Can be read through the lens of how to bring a spiritual dimension into business success
Recommended by Karen Skehel |
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Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart
by Mary Beth A. ONeill (Hardcover - 24 Aug 2007) All to do with the process of coaching senior executives. This book helps the coach to be tough in tough situations - to coach with both backbone and heart
Recommended by Stephanie Greasley |
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Get Everything Done and Still Have Time to Play
by Mark Forster (Paperback - 7 Sep 2000) An entirely new approach to Time Management. Practical and realistic, these books pioneer a plethora of innovative tips and techniques. You'll find some really quite radical ideas here, blasting through some of the sacred cows of the conventional wisdom on Time Management
Recommended by Carol McLachlan |
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Manage Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide Many useful strategies for dealing with anxiety and fear
Recommended by Karen Skehel |
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How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (Paperback - 5 April 2007) Sold out in 1936 and still selling. He must have said something important
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Performance Coaching: The Handbook for Managers, HR Professionals and Coaches A professional book on Coaching in organisations – written more for coaches than clients it goes through and builds on lots of coaching models. A practical book full of tips and tools.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Your Relationships A classic that has been converted onto Broadway and the West End Stage with the “Defending the Caveman” show…a humorous and insightful look at the difference between the sexes and the way we communicate. Every man and woman should read this to improve their understanding of, and communication with, the opposite sex!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Hidden Power
by James K.Van Fleet (Paperback - Sep 1988) Easy to read guide to making better use of your subconscious
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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As a Man Thinketh
by James Allen (Paperback - 1 Jul 2005) A tiny book on positive thinking
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Embracing your Potential
by Terry Orlick (Paperback - April 1998) A classic adaptation of sports psychology into every day life
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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The Portable Coach: 28 Sure-fire Strategies for Business and Personal Success The late Thomas Leonard was one of the most proactive and high profile coaches. This book is full of his practical ideas to accelerate your success – from becoming more selfish (!) to over delivering.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
Just for Fun
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Where did it all go right? Growing up Normal in the 70s Subtitled 'growing up normal in the 70s', Andrew Collin's funny, self-deprecating autobiographies are must-reads for 40-somethings looking for a escape from ubiquitous dysfunctional 'blame the parents' culture. This is the 1970s I remember; happy, funny and really rather nice, shot through with quirky memories of a simpler-era
Recommended by Carol McLachlan |
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Heaven knows I'm miserable now: My Difficult Student 80s His sequel 'my difficult 80s' tells of the classic student experience when grants were grants and fees were free at the point of learning, set against the back drop of Thatcher's Britain
Recommended by Carol McLachlan |
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Hip Hotels City (Hip Hotels) For those of you fed up with boring business hotels here is one in a series of books focused more on the unique, boutique hotels around the world. Full of great design and creative inspiration – book that romantic weekend away now – or just spice up your next business trip with a great environment.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives Just awesome. Guaranteed to make you think
Recommended by Bill Sanderson |
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Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die There is no time like the present. If you are struggling to think of some new goals buy this book and chose an exceptional place to visit over the next year. See how many you can visit whilst you are fit and healthy enough to enjoy them! What are you waiting for?
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Passing Time in the Loo: Volume 1 If you are not a big reading fan but like information and for some reason (that I will never understand) love spending ages in the loo, then this is a great book. It takes all the classics – novels through to business books - and summaries them into a few short pages! You can effectively ‘read a book’ every time you go to the loo….who says men can’t multitask!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories That Restore Your Faith in Human Nature One of the hugely successful Chicken Soup series. Full of short stories that are great examples to us all. Easy to pick up and browse when we need a boost. Alternatively make a big bowl of chicken soup with dumplings and noodles…. it has a similar warming effect and can be enjoyed by the whole family!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Kitchen Heaven: Over 100 Brand-new Recipes Big fans of Gordon Ramsey for his food (so yummy when we make it down to London), his recipes (they almost look like the picture when we follow them) and his TV shows (especially Kitchen Nightmares) we are recommending this book because it combines at least two of the above. Great recipes sprinkled with good business advice. Food for thought!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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Gordon Ramsay's Playing with Fire A follow up to his autobiography 'Humble Pie' this is a direct book, in typical 'Ramsay' language, about how the man built his international business and leveraged himself as a 'brand'.
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The New Contented Little Baby Book: The Secret to Calm and Confident Parenting A classic book for all new mums – you will love it or hate it. I always recommend it for its feeding and sleep routines – I swear by them. The rest is even too anal for me so take it with a pinch of salt and don’t feel compelled to have that biscuit at 10.15am unless you really fancy it! Great for routine lovers or for those of us that want to have happy babies and a life!
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions Good old-fashioned office humour. Don’t laugh too hard though as there is some great ideas hidden in these cartoons… do you recognise yourself perhaps?
Recommended by Laura Ashley-Timms |
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