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Glenn Brooke | January 21, 2015 | 4 Comments

How to Build Your Library of Books Without Spending a Fortune – Glenn Brooke

 

People hear the maxim “Leaders are readers” but may be put off by the thought of spending a fortune on buying books, but you can build your library of books without spending a fortune.

But first, you need to understand that a book is an investment. Let’s say that you spend $12 or $20 and get one great idea from the book. How much is that idea worth to you? It’s an idea that no one can take away from you, and you can share the idea and the book with others.

You can often find physical books inexpensively online, at used bookstores, and in garage sales.  Modern paperbacks hold up well if treated respectfully.

You don’t need to purchase books to read them. Leverage your local public library. Many churches and social clubs have libraries as well.

Digital books create even more options!  Project Gutenberg has put thousands of books online to download for free. There are E-lending library services like Lendle and Overdrive. Amazon Prime members have unlimited Kindle loan rights to more than 60,000 titles.

One strategy I encourage leaders to use is to arrange for sharing books with people in your organization. I have participated in group ownership of great books. We set up a bookshelf in a common area and left books there for anyone to borrow. I have a pastor friend in Ghana who finds good religious books and shares them with other pastors in his region.  Others have begun the same practice and now there are hundreds of books available to the group rather than just a handful per person.

Be creative and wise with your funds. Cost should never be a limiting factor for you to read more books.

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Filed Under: Leadership

Glenn Brooke

Glenn considers leadership a craft which requires dedicated pursuit. The apprentice model (instruction + practice + associating with other craftsmen) is the time-tested way to foster the next generation of leaders. Real leaders never stop working on their craft; there are only new levels of mastery ahead. Learn more at leadershipcraft.com.

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Comments

  1. Adam Smith says

    January 21, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Great post. Kindle is the way to go if you do digital. Call me crazy, but I love an old fashioned book and a highlighter, though.

    Reply
    • Glenn Brooke says

      January 21, 2015 at 9:15 am

      I often read a book first on a Kindle, and if I really want to get into it, I get a physical book and mark it up. Plus, it’s still more difficult to “loan” a marked-up digital book than I’d like it to be.

      Reply
  2. Linda Reese says

    January 21, 2015 at 8:17 am

    Have found great used business books at Half Price Books’ e-comm site (www.hpb.com). Just purchased three copies at 99 cents -$10 each, and all originally retailed for $75 or more.

    Reply
    • Glenn Brooke says

      January 21, 2015 at 9:12 am

      Fantastic! I will check that out! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

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Hi, my name is Adam Smith and welcome to asmithblog.com. I am the author of the book, The Bravest You. Because of my work as an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and speaker, I have been named a top industry influencer by American Genius. I live with my wife, Jasmine, and three children in Shenandoah, IA.

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