This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
4 Good Reads to Kick Off 2016
A book discussing the power of habit and one on recognizing novel ideas are two books business owners could use to begin 2016 in the right direction.

New York--A book discussing the power of habit and one on recognizing novel ideas are two books business owners could use to begin 2016 in the right direction.
In Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin emphasizes how people can build happier, stronger and more productive lives by creating habits. A New York Times bestselling author, Rubin also was the keynote speaker at the Women’s Jewelry Association’s In the Know conference last year.
Adam Grant’s Originals looks at how being truly original can change the world, from choosing to champion novel values that go against the grain to fighting group-think to building cultures that welcome dissent.
The following list includes two additional books that are potentially good reads for business owners for the month of January.
1. Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits
Gretchen Rubin
Rubin’s Better Than Before follows an earlier book of hers by the same name, with this one focusing on the power of people understanding and changing their habits to accomplish goals such as finishing projects and procrastinating less. This book is 304 pages.
2. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
Adam Grant
In this Amazon bestseller, Grant addresses the challenge of improving the world from the perspective of becoming original, exploring how to recognize a novel idea, speak up without being silenced, build a coalition of allies and manage doubt. His real-life examples in the story range from an Apple employee who stood up to Steve Jobs to an analyst who overturned the rule of secrecy at the CIA. This book is 336 pages.
3. The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley
Eric Weiner
A travel writer, Weiner examines the connection between surroundings and innovative ideas in this read, exploring the history of places to show how certain urban settings are conducive to ingenuity. This book is 368 pages.
4. How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide
Jane Bryant Quinn
Quinn’s guide teaches readers how to turn retirement savings into a steady paycheck that will last for life, using tricks to squeeze higher payments from assets like Social Security accounts to pensions and home equity. This book is 384 pages.
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