Recommended Reading
There are lots of great books out there you could be reading, but we think these are particularly relevant if you’re joining us in the Gloom. Because we believe strongly in all 3 F’s, we think these books are best read in the context of Fellowship and Faith – so please don’t read these by yourself. Instead, consider asking at least one F3 brother to read it with you so you can build community. If you’re new to F3, it might require courage and initiative to ask another PAX to read with you. We get that, but we think it will be worth it. If you’ve been at F3 for a while, invite a newer guy into fellowship with you. Here are some books we recommend:
Freed to Lead by David Redding
This is the F3 manifesto, written by its co-founders. They break down how F3’s Three Fs – Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith – cure the “SadClown Syndrome” that plagues too many men and offer a solution to our society’s leadership vacuum.
Q Source by David Redding
This is the F3 Leadership manual. It has 52 chapters, which is convenient for a weekly study. The book is based on the quote, “A leader is followed when he/she is in the room. A goodleader is followed when he/she is out of the room. A virtuous leader is followed long after they are dead.” The outline progresses from foundational principles to anchoring relationships to accelerating virtuous habits.
The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by Timothy Gallwey
Sometimes there is a frustrating gap between our knowledge, effort, and execution of a task or relationship. We think, “I know better – why is so hard to do what I’ve learned?” This book provides practical insight into embracing on the moment and how to focus without over-trying.
The Second Mountain by David Brooks
Many of us get out of school, start a career, and begin climbing the mountain of success and personal happiness. But many of us end up “sad clowns” because we ultimately find that mountain unsatisfying. This book outlines the reason the first mountain leaves us longing a purpose greater than ourselves. The second mountain often leads us to an investment in a cause for the sake of our family, community, vocation, and faith.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller
We live in a world full of passive and aggressive distraction. How do you regain focus when it’s so easy to get off-track? By focusing their energy on one thing at a time people are living more rewarding lives by building their careers, strengthening their finances, losing weight and getting in shape, deepening their faith, and nurturing stronger marriages and personal relationships. This book will help you dial-in instead of spreading yourself thin.
