Reading list
Teddy Boyd’s Reading List
Curated. Structured. Obsessively Organized.
Welcome to my reading list—a living, evolving document that reflects how I learn, grow, and lead.
Each year, I read between 200–300 books across a wide range of topics. But this isn’t just about volume—it’s about creating a system of learning. This list isn’t a shelf of random titles; it’s a structured archive built around what I value, how I think, and how I develop leaders.
This page will walk you through what the list is, how it works,
and how to make sense of it.
What the Reading List Is
This is not a blog of book reviews. It’s a personally curated and meticulously organized spreadsheet that reflects how I process knowledge over time. Think of it as a hybrid of a tracker, rating system, and personal library—designed not just for me to grow, but for others to benefit too.
Each year gets its own tab (see the “2025” tab for the current year’s list), and every book I read is logged and scored. But the real value is in how I categorize, rate, and tag each title, so I can easily recall what mattered—and recommend the right book for the right person at the right time.
How to Navigate It (Legend)
Let’s be honest: it can feel overwhelming at first glance. Here’s how to read it:
Color Codes
Grey = Book completed
Bold = Book purchased but not yet read
Green = Book completed and highlighted in a physical copy
Red = One of the best books I read that year
Blue = Required reading for graduate coursework
Symbols
* = Reread (I’ve read this book before)
Rating (0–5) = My personal evaluation of the book
5 = Absolutely outstanding, foundational, must-read
0 = I regret reading this; not worth your time
How It’s Organized
I divide my reading into 17 categories, all based on my priorities, leadership philosophy, and intellectual curiosity:
Faith
Family & Marriage
Childrearing
Leading Self & Personal Development
Leadership 101
Leadership Skills – Influence, Communication
Leading Teams
Leading Organizations
Brain – Psychology – Thinking
History – Military
History – General
Strategic Thinking
Foreign Policy – International Relations
Domestic Policy – Politics
Biography
Leisure
Recurring Reading
Each book gets logged in the annual tab first, then sorted into its relevant category tab. This way, if I want to recommend or revisit a book on negotiation, influence, or Cold War history, I can instantly pull it up by theme and rating.
Special Tabs to Check Out
Recurring Reading
Some books aren’t just good—they’re fundamental. These are the ones I revisit every year, every two years, or every five years, depending on how deeply they shape my thinking. I dedicate every January to rereading these cornerstone books to ground myself for the year ahead.
List of 5s
This is the greatest hits collection. Every book I’ve ever rated a 5 out of 5, plus hand-picked clusters of books I recommend for specific topics (e.g., influence, team building, national strategy, resilience). If you're looking for a place to start—start here.
How I Use It (And How You Can Too)
This spreadsheet exists because my mind moves in a lot of directions—and I need structure to get the most out of what I read. The reading list helps me:
Organize my learning goals across time and topic
Share meaningful recommendations with others
Avoid wasting time on books that don’t deliver
Revisit the right ideas at the right moment
If you're someone who wants more than a stack of bestsellers and wants to develop yourself or your team with targeted, thoughtful resources, this list is for you.
Want a Recommendation? Just Ask.
Not sure where to start? Looking for something to help with a specific leadership challenge, topic, or season of life?
Shoot me a message. I’d be glad to help point you to something that matters.
In the meantime, feel free to explore the list, browse the Recurring tab, or check out the List of 5s.
I hope it challenges, encourages, and stretches you—just like it does me.