On your Bookshelf
TEN BOOKS THAT EVERY LAWYER AND LAW STUDENT SHOULD READ
There are thousands of books that can add something or the other of value to a lawyer. There are a number of different reasons why lawyers prefer to read certain books. For one, in order to understand the experiences of successful lawyers so that one can learn from their wisdom and incorporate that in their own life and practice and also for learning specific skills and techniques from non-law disciplines. Depending on where you are in your life and at what developmental stage of your practice, your reading list should change. However, there are some books that are of eternal value at any given stage of your career.
HOW TO ARGUE AND WIN EVERY TIME
The book is not so much about law as it is about communication. The author teaches you about compassion, understanding the perspective of any person in front of you, and how to shape your communication like a master for maximum effectiveness. He goes into subjects like how to listen, the power of credibility, understanding prejudice and how to prime someone to hear your arguments. Reading this book can be a turning point in any lawyer’s life.
DEEP WORK
Being a lawyer is not easy. You spend the day in the court, in client meetings, and come back at night to the chambers to do the real work for the next day. Lawyers almost always burn the midnight oil. They also have to be fast learners, quick adapters and need to be updated about the latest laws. How are you going to create powerful impact on the legal industry with the quality of your analysis, legal theory, or writing? Deep Work talks exactly about that. It is a must read for the most ambitious lawyers and law students.
INFLUENCE: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSUASION
This is a book that crystalises the eternal laws of persuasion, and does a great job of explaining the intricacies. It is written by Robert Cialdini, a marketing professor who taught at Stanford and University of Arizona. Although it is not written for lawyers, it is useful for every lawyer. Whether you are persuading the other side across a negotiation table or persuading the judge to see the merit in your case, what lawyers offer is persuasion.
NEVER EAT ALONE
Lawyers keep talking about how important it is to network, but most struggle to do it right. This book is written by Keith Ferrazzi, a former CIO of Mckinsey & Company, and currently a consultant to CXOs of Fortune 500 companies. He tells you how to elevate networking to an art form, and eventually a way of life. Ferrazzi argues that we are not employed by any specific companies or not engaged by specific clients anymore. In today’s world, we are all working for our networks, and we must strive to add value to our networks. When our networks grow powerful and successful, so do we. Whether you are a novice at networking or someone intending to become a “super connector” (in Ferrazzi’s terms), this is a read you cannot miss.
THE ONE THING
How can you aim for huge, outsized, massive achievements that sound like fantasy? You have to aim for the domino effect. That’s what this book is all about. The mantra here is that you can achieve many things by focussing on one right thing at a time. The writer, a real estate maven and success coach, tells you how to build habits for success, how to set goals that get achieved, how to achieve more by doing less, how to set priority, and how to aim for mastery and make yourself accountable.
MADE TO STICK
How can you make arguments that not only hit home but are remembered long after they were made? You got to read this book to learn that trick. Made to Stick:
Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die is a book by brothers Chip and Dan Heath, and it takes on the idea of “stickiness” popularised by Malcolm Gladwell in
The Tipping Point, seeking to explain what makes an idea or concept memorable or interesting. The book is full of stories and case studies followed by principles that stick to you. Having trouble making sure that your complex arguments are actually understood and properly appreciated? This will help.
THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON
Lawyers are supposed to be rich. However, most lawyers you know are probably not. Yes, they charge a lot of fees and perhaps even earn a lot, but what are they worth all their assets put together? Personal finance is not always the forte of lawyers. This book can change that forever. Babylon was the richest city in the world that stood for thousands of years. The wisdom of the Babylonians regarding money and gold stand the test of time. If you learn the secrets of Babylon, and apply them to your life, you will be rich.
THE WAYS OF THE SUPERIOR MAN
The most successful lawyer at the bar might be a train wreck in family life. David Deida’s book is going to change that. It is a book that will make you think again about your role in the world if you are a man, and it will make you relate to the men around you in a whole new way if you are a woman. It is the wisdom of the ages distilled for a quick read that you will never forget. I dare say it will have a great impact on your lawyering, social life and workplace.
PITCH ANYTHING
It is a revolutionary book on how to pitch any idea with success. It is not a book on presentation. It is a book that combines neuroscience with evolutionary biology to tell you how you can get heard where the other person is not even interested beyond hello. The book also presents an innovative method for presenting, persuading, and winning a deal.
THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK
It is a self-help book by Timothy Ferriss, an American writer, educational activist, and entrepreneur. The book has spent more than four years on The New York Times Best Seller List, has been translated into 35 languages and has sold more than 1.35 lakh copies worldwide. Lawyers need this book the most because they are infamous for spending too much time working and too little time having fun. Learning the lessons of this book and applying them can change that forever. Also, if you are a rich lawyer but have not yet begun to really enjoy your life, this book may change your outlook.