Books Recommended by Kevin Lamping

I've read many, many great business books out there; each building upon the others to provide a valuable sense of direction.

If I had to pick one to recommend above all overs, it would have to be Creativity, Inc.

Not only is it an engaging story about the cherished Animated Movie studio, it holds several valuable lessons about creativity in the workplace, and the natural human tendencies that squash that creativity.

What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard to uncover these problems, even if doing so means making ourselves uncomfortable; and that, when we come across a problem, we marshal all of our energies to solve it.

Even if you have no interest in management, this book holds valuable lessons in understanding how creative teams work together and how important critical feedback is in producing great works.

Any book authored by Ayn Rand is sure to draw up controversy, and *The Fountainhead* is no different. The main character is an unapologetic spirit who shows no interest in compromising his work for the sake of humoring others. That uncompromising attitude, even when it gets him kicked out of school and jobs, is an inspiration when facing the tough career decisions. Do you take the cushy job that will slowly suck the soul out of you, or do you shoot for the moon? Do you make endless small compromises that ultimately degrade the value of the work you do? Or do you stand up for your ideals, even when it draws negative attention? *The Fountainhead* gives a definitive answer to this and a wonderful illustration of the struggles (and rewards) of such a lifestyle.

It's difficult to pick a single moment, as the best lessons are learned over time, hearing the same idea from different points of view. Taking time to digest the information to truly understand and begin to live it. There are some sentences you read that really hit home. Here's one of my favorites from the book *Joy at Work*: “In Western democracies, people are free almost everywhere except at work.” Doesn't that line just eat at your heart? How could a manager with even the slightest bit of soul not be heartbroken at that idea?

Not a business book, but *The Book* is one that I can say shines out among the other stars. It's hard to pick a book that's had the most impact on me, because they always have some effect. But there was something so calming, so reassuring about *The Book* that really helped me in a time of lots of self-doubt. I know this is supposed to focus on less "spiritual" books, and I'm not a religious guy, but I really enjoyed the notions put forth by *The Book*. Watts, the author, has some really profound thinking, and his writing guides you through Eastern thought for Western thinkers. I highly recommend this book for anyone searching for answers to the unknown.