What 61 Books Taught Me About Leadership, Sales, and Life

What happens when you stop drifting in your learning—and start paying attention on purpose?In this year-end review episode of The New Generation Leader Podcast, Aaron reflects on one simple but transformative habit: tracking what he read in 2025. What started as a sobering realization — he only read 6 books in all of 2024! — turned into an unexpected journey through 61 books, spanning leadership, sales, culture, memoirs, history, fiction, and everything in between.Read the full list > AaronLee.co/61-booksIn this episode, Aaron shares:Why he set a bold reading goal (and how it quietly reshaped his mindset)The themes that surprised him mostThe books that left a lasting imprintHow reading outside your comfort zone expands leadership perspectiveWhy slowing down, changing pace, and even reading fiction mattersWhether you’re a lifelong reader or someone trying to rediscover the habit, this episode is an invitation to keep learning, stay curious, and enter the new year with a wider lens.Show Outline00:00 – Year-End Reflection & the Reading Wake-Up Call03:30 – Setting an Audacious Goal: A Book a Week08:30 – The System That Made 61 Books Possible14:30 – Foundational Leadership & Mindset Reads21:00 – Expanding Perspective Through History & Memoir28:30 – Brand Stories, Culture & Long-Term Vision36:30 – The Unexpected Sales Theme of the Year44:30 – Fiction, Downshifting & Reading for Enjoyment51:30 – Final Reflections & Looking AheadTop 5 Books1. Slow Productivity — Cal Newport2. Shoe Dog — Phil Knight3. Love as a Business Strategy — Mohammad Anwar4. It Takes What It Takes — Trevor Moawad5. The Barn — Wright Thompson