“Read. Read anything. Read the things they say are good for you, and the things they claim are junk. You’ll find what you need to find. Just read.”
– Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s words perfectly sum up the lives of us bibliophiles. Reading is like an addiction for us. We aspire to read all the books that are there in this world. However, we all know that is not feasible. There are millions of books out there. In fact, with the recent popularity of self-publishing, hundreds of thousands of books are published every year. From getting recommendations from friends and family to exploring book blogs and reviews, our reading lists keep on growing. With so many choices in front of us, many of us often find ourselves in a dilemma when it comes to selecting our next read.
As avid book lovers, we have all built a system to combat our anxiety about what to read next. Some follow recommendations while others like to explore various genres. There are some who stick to bestsellers while others who prefer digging up an unknown piece of literature. Despite this, we all find ourselves in a reading slump at one point or another.
Let us look to our experts as they share their methods of choosing their next read.
Editor’s Note: Contributors share personal and professional experiences related to reading, mindset, and work practices. Any references to mental health, therapy, or clinical practices are for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice.
Table of Contents
Work-Relevant Reading Delivers Immediate Clinical Results
I tend to read about teen mental health or new therapy approaches because it relates directly to my day-to-day work. I just read a book on trauma-informed education, tried a few techniques with my team, and our client conversations got way more productive almost immediately. Honestly? Just find something that helps with a problem you’re dealing with right now. Those new ideas will stick better.
Aja Chavez, Executive Director, Mission Prep Healthcare
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Industry Conversations Spark Transformative Reading Choices
My next read usually comes from what people in my media and tech circles are talking about. A teammate once threw out a wild idea, so I picked up a book on visual storytelling. It completely changed my approach for a Magic Hour project, and the Mavericks team really loved it. Recommendations are great, but sometimes exploring a genre you don’t know leads to the best unexpected ideas.
Runbo Li, CEO, Magic Hour
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Cross-Cultural Reading Enhances Client Market Strategy
My work involves business, SEO, and different cultures, so my reading list is weird. I’ll dig into what’s popular in the French or Japanese markets, then read it myself to figure out why. After doing this for a few years across a couple of agencies, I noticed reading with my clients’ goals in mind helps me spot patterns faster. It makes my suggestions much more practical.
David Cornado, Partner, French Teachers Association of Hong Kong
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Problem-Based Reading Drives Real Business Solutions
I pick books based on whatever problem we’re having at Dirty Dough. If we’re about to change operations, I’ll read a few on franchise culture. But the trick is talking through what I read with other founders. They keep me honest and tell me if an idea actually works in the real world. Tie your reading to a real problem and find people to discuss it with. That’s when it sticks.
Bennett Maxwell, CEO, Franchise KI
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Targeted Reading Solves Immediate Business Challenges
When Tutorbase was expanding, I had no idea how to manage a remote team. I grabbed some books on SaaS efficiency and remote work, and we learned a few tricks that made things run smoother. Now I only read what helps with the problem right in front of me. Random browsing is fun, but a book that helps with my current project is worth more. It saves me the guesswork.
Sandro Kratz, Founder, Tutorbase
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Colleague Recommendations Transform Cultural Marketing Approach
Last quarter a colleague handed me a book on multilingual marketing and it totally changed how I handle our German Cultural Association campaigns. I find the best stuff comes from a mix of people saying “you should read this” and my own random exploring. It leads to good ideas without feeling like we’re all reading from the same industry playbook.
Yoan Amselem, Managing Director, German Cultural Association of Hong Kong
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Student Needs Guide Educational Reading Selection
I design curricula and choose books based on what my students and teachers are actually experiencing. When we introduced film lessons for Spanish learners in Asia, I read movie scripts and teaching materials from both places to catch the cultural details. Follow your curiosity, but also think about what will support the people you work with. That keeps reading useful and fun at the same time.
Carmen Jordan Fernandez, Academic Director, The Spanish Council of Singapore
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Project-Focused Reading Sparks Practical Innovation
I usually pick my next book based on a project I’m working on. If we’re building a new platform feature, I might spend a week just reading about creator management. It gets my brain going and often gives me directly useful ideas for the newsletter or product. If you’re swamped by options, try this: pick a single theme for the next couple weeks and see what happens. Focus makes it easier to choose.
Brandon Brown, CEO, Search Party
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Expert Reading Lists Yield Critical Time Savings
I mostly stick to curated reading lists from mentors and the SuperScaling group, especially on SaaS and CRM topics. I once grabbed a workflow tip from a book they all talked about, and it cut the time we spend on sales data down significantly. When time is tight, there’s nothing better than just following the experts’ picks. It’s how I keep up.
Alvin Poh, Chairman, CLDY.com Pte Ltd
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Clinical and Personal Narratives Enhance Therapy Practice
I choose my books thinking about my clients. I’ll read new trauma research, but then I’ll also pick up a memoir about mental illness. Textbooks only tell you so much. Hearing it from someone who actually lived it makes a topic like grief feel less abstract and more manageable in our sessions. That mix of clinical knowledge and human stories helps both of us.
Amy Mosset, CEO, Interactive Counselling
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Balanced Reading Approach Combines Purpose With Discovery
Choosing my next read involves balancing suggestions with my own adventurous spirit, in which case I first choose books recommended by my friends, professionals, or prescribed reading lists, which work as useful filters for finding quality content that matches my interests and objectives. This way, I also keep an eye on emerging ideas and trends relevant in my field.
In addition, I appreciate the unexpected, for example, reading fiction or biographies or books outside my professional realm, which tends to fuel my creative thinking. I try to ensure that my purposeful learning and open curiosity work in harmony for my reading.
James Allsopp, CEO, iNet Ventures
About ‘What Experts Read’
In our unique series, ‘What Experts Read,’ discover the literary inspirations and must-reads of thought leaders and industry experts. Each article highlights the books that have impacted the viewpoints, tactics, and success of successful entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders in their respective areas.
Discover a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare, and more, as professionals share their best book suggestions and talk about the significant influence these reads have had on their careers. Discover priceless information, expand your horizons, and gain insightful knowledge from experts at the forefront of their fields.
‘What Experts Read’ is an insightful look at the relationship between knowledge, experience, and the written word, and it may be of interest to anybody looking for motivation, strategic advice, or just to learn more about the reading preferences of prominent industry figures. Join us for this insightful tour of the most important leaders’ bookshelves of today.
General Site Disclaimer: The Chrysalis BREW Project does not provide professional advice. All views and opinions expressed in each post are the contributor’s own. Whereas we implement editorial policies and aim for content accuracy, the details shared on our platforms are intended for informational purposes only. We recommend evaluating each third party site independently, as we cannot be held responsible for any results from their use. In all cases and with no exceptions, you are expected to conduct your own research and seek professional assistance as necessary prior to making any financial, medical, personal, business, or life-changing decisions arising from any content published on this site. All brands and trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. For more about our content terms and conditions, refer to the links below.
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