Lessons from the Authors Who’ve Been There, Done That and Written the Book About It. There’s something magical about books. Whether you prefer flipping through pages in the morning sun or listening to audiobooks during a commute, today is your day. Happy National Book Lovers Day 2025! But instead of just recommending what to read, let’s take a peek behind the pages and hear from the authors themselves – those who’ve turned ideas into inspiration and words into wisdom…
Chapter One: The Productivity Rebel
📘 Claus Raasted – Claus Raasted’s Little Book of Getting Sh*t Done
Claus Raasted isn’t just a productivity pro; he’s a doer with 46 books under his belt. And yet, the hardest one to write? The one about actually getting things done.
“The most challenging part was taking my own medicine… I never finished the original 288-page version and did a complete rethink. Ironically enough, this has been one of the hardest books for me to write – it’s easy to fall into the trap of procrastination-through-perfectionism.”
You don’t always need more pages. You need clarity and the courage to hit delete.
Chapter Two: The Visual Thinker
📘 Todd Cherches – Visual Leadership
Before Todd Cherches was teaching CEOs how to lead with impact, he was an English Lit major navigating the wild world of Hollywood. Today, he’s a master of using visuals to spark understanding.
“As a highly visual person, I always found that using visually-oriented techniques helped me to understand, learn, and remember things more effectively than words or numbers alone. This included picturing abstract concepts in my “mind’s eye,” sketching out ideas, drawing diagrams, mind-mapping, creating mental models and frameworks, colour-coding, and translating intangible ideas into metaphors, analogies, and stories so as to wrap my head around them.
The term “mind’s eye” by the way, was coined by Shakespeare in Hamlet, when the title character did not know if the ghost of his father was an actual apparition… or a figment of his imagination!
So, as a poet and master storyteller, Shakespeare was most definitely one of the great visual thinkers, visual communicators, and visual leaders of all-time. And, as a former English Literature major who worked in Hollywood developing tv shows early in my career, my background in the arts and humanities – including my study of Shakespeare – has had a tremendous impact on my work. So, in terms of what inspired me to write my book, it was my desire to teach others how they, too, can leverage the power of visual thinking in their work.”
Todd’s book, Visual Leadership, proves that some of the best business strategies start as sketches on a napkin.
Chapter Three: The Teammate Whisperer
📘 Lance Loya – The WE Gear
His book, The WE Gear, isn’t about rah-rah team spirit. It’s about intentional connection.
“It simplifies a complex issue. People want to be part of something bigger – and my book reassures them that it’s possible.”
Because being a great teammate isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s how things really get done.
Chapter Four: The Tech Humanist
📘 Mark van Rijmenam – Blockchain: Transforming Your Business and Our World
Mark could’ve written another jargon-packed tech book. Instead, he chose a different route – how technology can be used for good.
“My new book – called Blockchain: Transforming Your Business and Our World – discusses how blockchain can be used for social good and it is the first book that goes beyond cryptocurrencies and the financial services industry.
In the book, we discuss how blockchain can contribute to solving some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and solve wicked problems such as identity fraud, poverty, climate change, fraud, censorship, democracy and fair trade.
I co-authored it with Dr Philippa Ryan and the book provides an educational snapshot into what a more decentralised future could look like.”
If you think tech books can’t inspire hope, Mark’s writing will prove you wrong.
Chapter Five: The Job Hunt Mento
📘 Madeline Mann – Fill in the Blank Job Hunt
Searching for a job can be an emotional rollercoaster. Madeline Mann knows and she’s created a roadmap to get you off the ride.
“What would that do for your anxiety levels – constantly wondering, am I coming off right? What would that do for your procrastination – staring at a blank screen, ultimately not sending the message because you don’t want to mess it all up.”
Her book is part pep talk, part toolkit for every professional who’s ever overthought a cover letter.
Final Chapter: What Will You Read Next?
Visual thinker? Ambitious doer? Bold innovator? Dedicated teammate? There’s a book out there ready to change the way you see the world!
Here’s your National Book Lovers Day challenge:
📚 Pick one book that’s outside your usual genre.
🖋️ Reflect on what you learn.
💬 Share it – maybe even recommend it to a friend.
Fun Fact! Our CEO & Founder Rachael Manning’s inspirational quote is featured in the book ‘One Golden Nugget’, which shares nuggets of wisdom from successful industry professionals!
