It's that time of the year for those of us on the south side.

The days are longer.

The drinks are cold.

The sun is hot.

And there's just a little more time to spend doing your favourite things.

One of my favourite things is reading. And if it's yours too, then you'll love this post.

Coming to you from holiday mode, it's my top five reads* from 2023, that I think should make your list in 2024.

**1. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey**

If you haven't read this treat of a biography yet, make sure it's on your list for this year.

Equal parts memoir and guidebook, Matthew shares the greenlights he's caught during the past 50 years of his life that have helped him get to where he is now.

There's a lot to learn here - and it's a story that's told with McConaughey's trademark warmth, intelligence and humour.

It will definitely make you reflect on the patience it can take to get what you really want, how the right risks are worth taking and the lens with which you view the challenges you face in life and business.

And while I don't really do audiobooks myself, I've heard from reliable sources that it's a treat to listen to him read it to you.

Buy Greenlights here.

**2. 10x is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr Benjamin Hardy**

Want to know how world-class entrepreneurs achieve more by doing less?

This is exactly what you'll discover with Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy in their latest book - 10x is easier than 2x.

It's easy to be sceptical going into this read. How can levelling up 10 times be easier than taking things up just a notch?

But I guarantee you'll see the wisdom come to life from the very first chapter.

This is one of the BEST business books I've read in a really long time. You'll come away thinking completely differently about how you do business - whether your goal is to be enormous, or you just want to run a successful small venture without losing what you love about it in the process.

You'll get hard truths, eye opening case studies, and a step-by-step guide to the mindset and practice you'll need to commit to in order to make the big leaps you will need to make to have the business you really want.

I've started implementing just a few of the suggestions and I'm already seeing a pay-off.

Don't leave reading this a minute longer.

Buy 10x is easier than 2x here

**3. The One Thing by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan**

With ideas running in parallel to my last recommendation, this book gets you thinking more deeply about what the more you want to achieve actually is.

In The One Thing, Gary Keller and Jay Papasan want to help you work out what the one thing is YOU should be doing right now, that will help you get what you really want the most.

Now while I loved this book, and highly recommend it, I also found it interesting to read as a woman.

Because to be able to focus on your one thing, you have to eliminate lots of other things. And while this is possible to an extent, I think it's less possible for women in a world where we still manage most of the family obligations. So, I'm not gonna lie - there's a real male perspective to this one, that wasn't at all evident with Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy's approach in 10x is Easier Than 2x.

But that doesn't mean that it's not full of gems, particularly around time management, AND how to work out what your ONE THING should be.

Definitely give it your time.

buy the one thing here

**4. Six Figures in School Hours by Kate Toon**

If you're a business owner AND a parent, then you NEED this book.

Six Figures in School Hours is written by the fabulous Kate Toon - business owner, entrepreneur extraordinaire, SEO superstar and MUM.

It's an honest look at what it's like to be in business and raise good quality tiny humans.

Full of stories, anecdotes and plain-speaking wisdom, Kate shares everything she's learned about being in the shoes that you're in.

And I've never felt so seen. Or felt better about the juggle that I do on a daily basis with my business baby and my human babies.

It also gives me the best vibes to be able to share a brilliant business book from an Aussie writer on my list this year.

buy six figures in school hours here

**5. Mr Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly**

My summer reading list wouldn't be complete, without me sharing a great fiction title.

This year, my choice 100% shows how eclectic I am when it comes to books (and music - but that's a conversation for another time).

If you haven't heard of Matthew Reilly, then you're well past time to jump on the bandwagon.

This incredible Australian author is pretty prolific, having written more than 20 novels, selling more than 8 million copies and translated into more than 20 languages.

The best way to describe his style? Think action movie, but written as a novel. His characters are lovable. The story moves quickly. And there's action and mystery around every page.

Reading a Matthew Reilly book is FUN.

And it's no surprise that I'm loving his latest contribution - Mr Einstein's Secretary. Set across 40 years, it's an epic novel with flashbacks and flashfowards, multiple points of view and the usual exciting pace I've come to expect from Reilly as a storyteller.

It's a lovely refreshing break from business - and you might just enjoy it too!

buy Mr Einstein's Secretary Here

Happy reading!!

Authors’ Note

* While I’ve given you links to purchase the books should you wish to, please know that these recommendations are my own – there’s no arrangement with any of the authors and where possible, I chose to link you to Booktopia and direct to Kate for her book, because I love to support other Australian businesses.