BMWK’s Ultimate 2016 Summer Listening List… We’ve Got the Whole Family Covered

Readers are leaders!  And yes I am a reader… and a listener.

Let me explain. I love books and the ability they have to make me better…better in my business, better in my marriage, even better in my life.

My wife, Ronnie, reads to escape into other worlds. Our kids are different, they read to learn and laugh.

But, no matter why you read, you have to admit that reading today is just more convenient.

Over the years we’ve seen more people transition from physical books to digital books and the latest adjustment to our busy lifestyles are digital audio books.

Audio books give you the ability to catch up on your reading during that busy commute to work or while you’re on the treadmill.

I love audio books while we’re taking long road trips because they give me the chance to crush that book that’s been on my nightstand for months!

If you haven’t tried out digital audio books here’s your chance!  You can get a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon’s AUDIBLE service that’s full of your favorite titles.

To inspire you to get started I’ve created a must-read list to dive into. It’s broken down into categories based on interest, so I hope you enjoy.

CLASSICS FOR THE KIDS

Peter Pan

There are few characters in literature more iconic than J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. Originally introduced in 1902 in another Barrie novel (The Little White Bird), Peter’s story was expanded as a standalone novel in 1911 and since then has been memorably adapted for the movies, for television, and for stage.

Now, actress Lily Collins (The Blind Side, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones) brings new, youthful energy to Peter’s magical adventures – her performance capturing the innocence and wonder of Barrie’s original tale. Through Collins’ voice you’ll rediscover your favorite characters: Captain Hook, the Darlings, Tinker Bell, The Lost Boys, and a tick-tocking crocodile. And you’ll fly along with Peter through Neverland – a place full of magic and adventure; a place where no one gets old.

Winnie-the-Pooh: A.A. Milne’s Pooh Classics, Volume 1

Come with us to an Enchanted Place, a forest where Winnie-the-Pooh lived with Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga, and Little Roo. The stories are about Christopher Robin and these good companions having wonderful times getting in and out of trouble. It is all very exciting and, really, quite thrilling no matter how young or old you may be. It is painful to try and imagine what the world would be like without them.

SAY YES! AND THEN LOL

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the ubertalented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say no when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side benefit of saying no for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: Just for one year, try to say yes to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed – and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life – and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.

I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual

Comedian, activist, and hugely popular culture blogger at AwesomelyLuvvie.com, Luvvie Ajayi, serves up necessary advice for the masses in this hilarious book of essays.

With over 500,000 readers a month at her enormously popular blog, AwesomelyLuvvie.com, Luvvie Ajayi is a go-to source for smart takes on pop culture. I’m Judging You is her debut book of humorous essays that dissects our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives – from the importance of the newest Shonda Rhimes television drama to serious discussions of race and media representation to what to do about your fool cousin sharing casket pictures from Grandma’s wake on Facebook.

With a lighthearted, razor-sharp wit and a unique perspective, I’m Judging You is the audiobook the world needs, doling out the hard truths and a road map for bringing some “act right” into our lives, social media, and popular culture. It is the Do-Better Manual.

THE WEALTH CHOICE

Succeeding Against the Odds: The Autobiography of a Great American Businessman

John H. Johnson, the remarkable entrepreneur who founded the Ebony publishing empire, tells the story of his success. The wealthiest African-American in the US today, Johnson shares his rags to riches saga, from the many obstacles that confronted him to his ultimate triumph.

 

 

 

 

Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire

A.G. Gaston, the poor grandson of slaves, was born in the Deep South in 1892. Over the course of his extraordinary life, he amassed a fortune of over $130 million and a vast business empire. The story of his remarkable life is written with eloquence and grace by his niece, an Emmy¿ Award-winning journalist and her daughter, who holds degrees from Yale and Harvard.

LOVE BETTER

The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mate’s love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return. Skillful communication is within your grasp!

BMWK FAMILY – start your summer off right by taking advantage of AUDIBLE’s FREE 30-day trial!  Please let us know which books to add to this reading list. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Audible. The opinions and text are all mine.