Lean In is still at #1 – Again! – Here’s the August, 2013 New York Times Hardcover Business Books Best Sellers List.

But first, let’s talk about such lists.

As I have written often, I am more of a fan of this list than any other.  A “month” check in sales is more reliable than the hourly updated check on the Amazon page, or weekly lists, such as the one published in the Wall Street Journal.  To make this list indicates that a book might have just a touch of more lasting value.

But, as our blogging colleague Bob Morris reminds me, there are great books that never make this list; and there are some pretty poor-to-mediocre books which do.  So, how do you actually find books worthy of your time?

You can read reviews, summaries, excerpts – but…, what makes a book worthy of your time?  Maybe it is a book that speaks to your life, and/or your current situation, in a way that leaves you with a sense of “I needed that.  It was helpful; useful; informative; educational; uplifting…”

You might say that I am a fan of reading.  And the more you read, the more you learn, the more you know,… the more you can move forward in your life, your family, your business.

A couple of observations about this month’s list.  First, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg sits atop the #1 spot again.  I have presented my synopsis of this book a number of times now, to nonprofits, organizations, businesses, associations.  It is a true “national conversation” starter — and that makes it such a valuable book/resource.  We really do need more women to “lean in,” because we need more women to fill in far more of the “upper spots” in our organizations.  This book is driving that conversation forward.  An important read!

Second, there is not much new on this list.  But the books that have staying power are quite valuable:  Steve Jobs; The Power of Habit; To Sell is Human; Decisive…

At the First Friday Book Synopsis in Dallas, Karl Krayer and I present synopses of two business books a month.  We are in our 16^th year of this monthly event.  So, we have presented synopses of a lot of business books!  On this month’s lists, we have presented 9 of the 15 hardcover titles, and 8 of the 10 paperback titles, at our First Friday Book Synopsis gatherings.

Here is the August, 2013 Hardcover list:

1	LEAN IN, by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell.
2	DUCK COMMANDERS, by Willie and Korie Robertson with Mark Schlabach.
3	ELEVEN RINGS, by Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty.
4	BREAKPOINT, by Jeff Stibel.
5	POWER OF HABIT, by Charles Duhigg.
6	ONE THING, by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan.
7	TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey.
8	4-HOUR WORKWEEK, by Timothy Ferriss.
9	STRENGTHS-BASED LEADERSHIP, by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie.
10	LEAN STARTUP, by Eric Ries.
11	TO SELL IS HUMAN, by Daniel H. Pink.
12	STEVE JOBS, by Walter Isaacson.
13	GIVE AND TAKE, by Adam M. Grant.
14	GREAT DEGENERATION, by Niall Ferguson.
15	DECISIVE, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

And here is the August, 2013 Paperback list.  These really are books that continue to demonstrate their value.  And, they are valuable!!!

1	OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell.
2	THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman.
3	TIPPING POINT, by Malcolm Gladwell.
4	FREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.
5	DRIVE, by Daniel H. Pink.
6	CHECKLIST MANIFESTO, by Atul Gawande.
7	NOTHING TO LOSE, EVERYTHING TO GAIN, by Ryan Blair with Don Yaeger.
8	TRIBAL LEADERSHIP, by Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright.
9	BOOMERANG, by Michael Lewis.
10	PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL, by Dan Ariely

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You can purchase my synopses of Lean In, and synopses of all of the books we have presented, at our companion web site.  Each synopsis comes with a multi-page comprehensive handout, and the audio of our presentations from the First Friday Book Synopsis.  You can order the synopses from: 15minutebusinessbooks.com.