<\/span><\/h3>\nWe all know the one and only Casper Christensen. I remember T\u00e6skeholdet<\/em>, and of course Klovn<\/em>. A fantastic actor and intriguing personality with highs and lows, something the author Martin portrays brilliantly in this story. It\u2019s about Casper being challenged on his journey through life, filled with madness and later a more peaceful chapter. Worth reading \u2013 not least to understand that the road to a wild life also comes with a price.<\/p>\n<\/span>2020 – The black cat in Mosul – Puk Damsg\u00e5rd<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nAfter reading Puk\u2019s book about Daniel Rye, I had to get more from her. That\u2019s when I found The Black Cat in Mosul<\/em>. A fantastic account of life in Iraq, showing what it\u2019s like living on the front lines. Not just for Puk, but also for everyday Iraqis. You get immersed in the personal stories she tells throughout. It also gives a humble insight into the fear and trauma many refugees experience. Puk remains one of my favorite authors \u2013 and this wasn\u2019t the last book I read by her.<\/p>\n<\/span>2020 – I ran towards the Nile – Alaa al-Aswany<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nAfter my Puk Damsg\u00e5rd binge, this book came highly recommended. And what a book. I devoured it in under 10 days \u2013 and it’s 500 pages long. A stunning portrayal of the Egyptian revolution in Cairo. The people demand the president step down, but he clings to power. A powerful story of courage, grief, and helplessness. The way religion and prejudice intertwine, and how the author keeps a coherent thread across so many characters, is remarkable.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2020 – Supertrends – Lars Tvede<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nI\u2019ve always been fascinated by Lars Tvede \u2013 and his daughter, who built a hair-tie empire. Supertrends<\/em> is about future trends. Even though I\u2019m deeply involved in tech and love digital innovation, I was surprised at how much humanity has accomplished. Our ability to innovate outpaces even our darkest fears. While doomsday predictions often claim we\u2019ll run out of resources, we somehow keep adapting. Lars captures this paradox with excellent examples. A must-read if you want to understand where industries are headed.<\/p>\n<\/span>2020 – Open – Andre Agassi<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nOne of the best autobiographies I\u2019ve ever read. An incredible story from one of the greatest tennis players of all time. A battle against a father who pushed him beyond the limit, a hatred for tennis, his hairstyle, and the pressure to perform. A raw story about celebrity life, ups and downs, choosing between friends and money. Truly honest and captivating \u2013 amazing to hear from a star like Andre.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2020 – Data strategy – Bernard Marr<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nA friend who works with geo-data recommended Bernard Marr\u2019s approach to data. No regrets there. Sharp observations on where we\u2019re heading with the information we constantly gather. How things around us change rapidly and how data optimizes daily life. His use of real cases and observations brings life to what could otherwise be dry content.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – Rich dad poor dad – Robert T. Kiyosaki<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe title grabs attention, but this is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand personal finance. Some of it is very American, but the thinking is sound. Instead of buying things we don\u2019t need, we should invest in assets. Buy stocks instead of the latest iPhone \u2013 then let those investments buy you the phone later. Or invest in knowledge that pays off tenfold. I\u2019ve taken that mindset with me and always ask myself if a purchase brings me closer to my goals or is just noise.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – Both sides – Nicklas Bendtner<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nAs a kid, I dreamed of becoming a pro footballer. It always frustrated me to see players not using their chance 110%. With time, I\u2019ve realized there can be many reasons for that. Nicklas\u2019s book shows that we all wrestle with demons \u2013 just on different levels. It\u2019s easy to judge from the outside. This is a raw, honest story about a talented boy who lacked discipline and the right people around him. He realized it too late \u2013 maybe.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – Why we sleep – Matthew Walker<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nAfter my friend Armin, a neuroscientist, told me about the importance of sleep (and wrote a blog post about it), I got curious. Add to that, Bill Gates recommending Matthew\u2019s book, and I couldn\u2019t resist. What a read. I\u2019ve read tons of self-help, but this one stands out. We know surprisingly little about sleep, which is why it\u2019s been neglected for so long. It\u2019s only recently that we\u2019ve understood just how crucial sleep is. Struggling to sleep? Read this.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – Do you see the moon, Daniel? – Puk Damsg\u00e5rd<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nMy sister insisted I read this book. I finished it in five days. Wow. Just WOW. Beautifully written by Puk. You feel like you’re right there with Daniel, feeling his pain and thoughts. It shows how fleeting life is, how quickly it can end, and how lucky we are in Denmark. Thank you to Daniel and Puk for creating such a powerful read \u2013 my top book of 2019, just ahead of Unbroken<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/span>2019 – Can’t Hurt Me – David Goggins<\/span><\/h3>\nDavid Goggins might be one of the most impressive people I\u2019ve read about recently. From nothing, he transformed his life by running headfirst into the fire. From Navy SEAL to ultra-marathon runner. When I\u2019m under pressure, I watch one of his videos. He restores my belief. His book is phenomenal \u2013 his emotions leap off the page. Easily one of the best autobiographies I read that year.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – The price of freedom – Peter Lund Madsen<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nPeter Lund Madsen and his brother Anders have always inspired me. Their view of the world and understanding of the brain is remarkable. This book takes you through the mind, with examples of how our brain works. Why we don\u2019t always say what we think, why childhood love is crucial, and why we know less about the brain than we think. I was hooked from chapter one \u2013 a great vacation read.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – Unbroken – Laura Hillenbrand<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe best book I read in 2019, hands down. A true story about Louis Zamperini, an airman shot down in WWII, who survives on the ocean and then endures torture in a Japanese prison camp. A moving story that gave me chills and deep insight into human cruelty and resilience. Based on his diaries, this is a uniquely inspiring transformation.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2019 – Becoming – Michelle Obama<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nOne of the best and most honest biographies I\u2019ve read in years. Deeply emotional and gives real insight into her life with and without Barack. Her reflections on a tough childhood, doubts about her law career, and personal losses lead to dramatic life changes. Also, an intimate look into the profound love between her and Barack \u2013 no wonder they became one of the most admired couples in modern US history.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – 12 rules for life – Jordan Peterson<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nIf I had to read only one author in 2018, it was Jordan Peterson. I discovered his Harvard lectures on YouTube and got hooked. While I don\u2019t always agree with his views, his ability to include everyone in his psychological insights is remarkable. The book presents 12 distilled rules from 60 original answers he posted on Quora. It\u2019s an amazing reflection on how to keep life from turning tragic, no matter what we go through.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – One life, one time, one human – Morten Alb\u00e6k<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nI\u2019ve followed Morten Alb\u00e6k for years and admire his ability to captivate audiences at conferences. This book is timely in our performance-driven culture, where we\u2019re more stressed than ever despite our wealth. With sharp insights grounded in evidence and personal stories, Morten explains why we must demand meaning in every part of our lives.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – Under the beam<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nUnder the Beam<\/em> tells the story of Denmark\u2019s Crown Prince. Through interviews with family members, author Jens Andersen paints a vivid picture of his upbringing. Life isn\u2019t always easy when your mother is the Queen. Despite many opportunities, there are also sacrifices. The human side of the Crown Prince shows the importance of believing in yourself \u2013 even with a future unlike most.<\/p>\n<\/span>2018 – The online evangelists<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nA collection of 100 top marketing minds in Denmark. I even got to contribute. I\u2019m not sure if my tip is useful, but many of the others offer valuable ideas for anyone starting in online marketing. It\u2019s an easy read and also helps you connect with the brightest minds in the field.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – The mask of masculinity – Lewis Howes<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nLewis Howes is one of my online heroes. He shares a tough childhood that left emotional scars. In a world of football and male toughness, he explores how we hide behind masks. As a man, many parts of the book had me nodding in agreement. Very readable and recommended for both men and women.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – Principles – Ray Dalio<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nRay is one of the most successful investors and hedge fund managers of our time. A billionaire, but honest about the principles and failures that shaped his success. He admits he once thought he knew everything, only to lose it all. The book is an amazing story of building from scratch with only knowledge and ideas. His principles can benefit anyone.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – The subtle art of not giving a f**k – Mark Manson<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nMark Manson has been one of my favorite bloggers for years. His writing gave me the courage to move forward, especially after a tough breakup. His post about \u201cwhat I wish I\u2019d known at 20\u201d even inspired me to write more myself. He tackles life\u2019s biggest questions with honesty and relatability.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – No more Mr. Nice Guy – Robert Glover<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nI\u2019ve been a people pleaser for years. I wanted everyone to like me \u2013 until I read this book. No More Mr. Nice Guy<\/em> is fantastic. Prioritizing yourself doesn\u2019t make you selfish. Quite the opposite. I\u2019ve learned so much about setting boundaries. If you often say yes when you mean no, this book will sharpen your ability to choose yourself.<\/p>\n<\/span>2018 – Brendon Buchard: High performance habits<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nOne of the performance coaches I\u2019ve followed the most over the past five years is Brendon Burchard. He\u2019s an incredible communicator. You should always be skeptical of self-proclaimed experts in human psychology, which is why I appreciate that Brendon bases his work on years of testing and research. They’ve analyzed thousands of people and identified the habits that make successful people truly exceptional. His psychological approach to people is genuinely inspiring, and as someone who\u2019s very interested in neuroscience, I\u2019m fascinated by how people think in different situations. Read it!<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – Amy Morin: 13 things mentally strong people don’t do<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nAt the beginning of 2018, I actually stepped away from reading a lot of self-help and personal development books\u2014not because I didn\u2019t find them useful, but because it\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed by all the life optimization tips and tricks. However, this book came highly recommended, and it\u2019s truly sharp. Again: it focuses on the good habits that many high performers live by. Stop blaming others in your life\u2014focus on what you can do instead. The world doesn\u2019t owe you anything. You need an open mind to read it, but I feel I evolve when I try to implement these tips in my own life.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2018 – Jakob Scharf: Seven years for PET<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nI\u2019ve always been fascinated by investigative work within the police and their methods. Their ability to stay calm when everyone else is panicking is admirable. That\u2019s why, on a trip to Spain in 2017, I chose to read the controversial book Seven Years for PET<\/em> by Jakob Scharf. He shares incredibly detailed stories from the Danish intelligence service, which is eye-opening\u2014it shows that serious things can happen even in small Denmark. You also get a sense of how lucky we are to have such skilled people working behind the scenes, even if they rarely receive recognition because much of their work remains secret. A fantastic and thrilling book that leaders can learn a lot from.<\/p>\n<\/span>Elon Musk: Shaping our future<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nElon has always been a huge icon to me because he thinks differently and on a massive scale. It\u2019s difficult to grasp the scope of his ideas because they\u2019re so big. In his book, he vividly describes how close some of his billion-dollar ventures came to failing. He also talks about watching rockets explode, taking $100 million with them in flames. The book also reflects the life of a man who travels more than 200 days a year, making it hard to balance other values like family.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Walter Isaacson – Steve Jobs<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nI think everyone has some kind of opinion about Steve Jobs\u2014and Apple for that matter. For me, this book was a major turning point when I was younger. He wasn\u2019t perfect. His relationship with his first daughter wasn\u2019t either\u2014far from it. He also had a unique connection to LSD and strange eating habits. A powerful story about a genius who sought perfection at work but made many mistakes in life\u2014just like many others. A genius who tested boundaries in search of himself.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Alex Ferguson – Leading<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nI\u2019ve always been a Manchester United fan, so reading Alex Ferguson\u2019s book on leadership felt very natural. I didn\u2019t realize how much work and presence is required of a manager. His book talks about 16-20 hour workdays and traveling the world to scout players, keeping track of their drinking habits and gambling. An amazing journey into the crazy world of football with agents, rising stars, and millions of dollars. A truly educational book about leadership, in my opinion.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Christian Stadil – Personal karma<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n