50 Books & No Signs of Stopping: My Journey So Far

The world is full of books I have not had an opportunity to read or have even heard of. But you must start somewhere.

By Lee Boyd

I set goals. I don’t always achieve the results I am looking for, but I always set goals. New Year’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year. It’s a day to look back on a year to see what I’ve accomplished; and it's a day to look forward, seeing what lies ahead in the new year. 

One of the goals I set for myself for 2020 was to read 50 books. Yes, 50 books. As I have mentioned in my previous post, reading for pleasure is somewhat of a new concept to me. In the past, picking up a book and read it was no problem, but the time between books would vary greatly.

I’ve enjoyed reading so much this year. I’ve even found myself flying through some of the best books out there. I have traveled around the world, learning about different countries and cultures. I have learned how the brain works and the importance of sleep. I have taken a step back in history and learned how civilizations spread thought the world in ancient times. I have read books to promote a healthy marriage and a healthy parenting style. I have read classics like “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “1984,” and “Catcher In The Rye.” I have read novels that will teleport you to a different time and teach out about past cultures and histories. I read books written by presidents, philosophers, holocaust survivors, religious leaders, journalists, radicals, athletes, and Nobel prize winners, CEOs, and Navy Seals. 

Through this journey through literature, I’ve hit my goal of reading 50 books. I am ahead of schedule, which is very exciting! Who knows how many I’ll have read at the end of the year! I often tell my friends that I get overwhelmed with the world of reading. The world is full of books I have not had an opportunity to read or have even heard of. But you must start somewhere. And having read 50 books is not a bad start. The world of reading offers such deep learning and potential. I’d recommend this journey to anyone who wants to awaken their mind to an undiscovered world of knowledge.

Below is a list of books I recommend from my first 50 books of 2020 (including some I have reviewed in previous posts):

• Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by  Jared Diamond

• The Nightingale by  Kristin Hannah

• Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy

• Outliers: The Story of Success by  Malcolm Gladwell

• Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by  Matthew Walker

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by  Daniel Kahneman

• Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by  Hans Rosling

• The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy J. Keller

• Educated by Tara Westover

• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

• Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio

Lee Boyd co-hosts the FNO: InsureTech Podcast, a podcast that interviews leaders from insuretech and insurance to get up-to-date ideas and perspectives on how technology is disrupting and transforming the industry. Lee is also the Vice President of Product Innovation at Fourseventy Claim Management. Lee creates innovative processes to transform the traditional methods of insurance claims adjusting. He focuses on the newest technologies and processes, and combines them with custom workflows to serve the needs of 470’s customers. He also heads up data analytics and reporting.