The Ultimate Reading List

 

ART & Creativity

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles – by Steven Pressfield.

I suggest any writer or creative person read this book before they begin a major project. It’s a book I’ll re read for the rest of my life. The author teaches you how to overcome the “Resistance,” which is the evil voice of self-doubt that keeps you from reaching your creative potential.

Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work – by Steven Pressfield.

Before you find true creative success, you have to take your work seriously. You have to “turn pro.” This book teaches you how to take your work to the next level and become the professional you aspire to be. You can’t go wrong reading anything by Pressfield. Read this book for the kick in the ass you need to build your creative career.

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative – by Austin Kleon

This book is built around the premise “good artists copy, great artists steal.” The author claims trying to be original is a fool’s game, instead you should “steal,” from many and remix their ideas into something unique to you. It’s filled with memorable quotes and interesting pictures — a creative book in it’s own right.

Personal Development

Meditations – by Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He wanted to learn how to live, so he kept a journal with notes on the proper way to live life. His notes were discovered and turned into a book. You must read this book. It addresses and provides wise answers to every single problem you have in your life. Aurelius set out to create a manual for living and he was successful.

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results – by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan

I’ve read this book three times now. It’s the best book on goal setting. Period. Instead of “multitasking,” and becoming a “jack of all trades,” the authors suggest we focus on one major goal at a time. It’s better to be great at one thing than mediocre at many things. My one thing is writing, and this book has helped motivate me in my career like no other book has.

The Magic of Thinking Big – Dr. Barry Schwartz

This book is the gold standard for self-help books. Read it and apply the lessons.

Bounce – Matthew Syed

Practice makes perfect, according to the author. He cites research and tells stories about the way coaching, practice, and the environment we’re involved in has a disproportionate impact to our skill level. He became a table tennis champion. He happened to grow up in a neighborhood with one of the greatest table tennis coaches and practiced relentlessly under his tutelage. He claims to not have much natural talent in the game, but says he succeeded because of the environment he was in and the 10,000 hours of practice he went through. Read this book if you want to become a master at your craft.

Business & Marketing

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! – By Robert Kiyosaki

I wish they’d make kids read this book when they start middle school. The book is about the education the author received by his “poor,” dad who was a schoolteacher, and his  “rich dad” who was his best friend’s father and a business owner. The author says most people are taught to think “poor,” by relying solely on their incomes from jobs to make a living. The “rich,” on the other hand, build assets that put money in their pockets over and over again after they’re set up. Read this book if you want to learn how to make money work for you, and not the other way around.

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future – by Peter Thiel

This is one of the best business books I’ve ever read. Thiel, a co-founder of pay pal and early investor in Facebook, was teaching a class on business and entrepreneurship. One of his students took the notes from his class and worked with Thiel to create a book. This book contains eye opening business insights from someone who clearly knows what they’re talking about. I was floored by the ideas in the book, so much so that I listened to the audio version two times in a row. Read this book.

Think and Grow Rich – by Napoleon Hill

The author interviewed hundreds of wealthy people to find out what they had in common. He compiled the notes and created definitive principles on how to get rich. While I don’t agree with all of them, the one that stood out most was “having a strong desire and definite purpose.” It’s considered a classic and you should read it if you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur. 

Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Expanded Third Edition – by Charlie Munger

This book provides advice on life and business you won’t find anywhere else. I labeled it as a business book, but it includes important information about our psychology and it teaches us how to live a good life. My key take away from the book — become a learning machine and you will outshine people more talented than you. 500 pages of the best advice I’ve ever heard.

Purple Cow Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable – by Seth Godin

Make a remarkable product as the first step of your marketing effort. The author says in order to stand out in sea of noise you need to create something people talk about. The title comes from this idea: if drove past a cow you wouldn’t notice it, but if you drove past a purple cow you would surely tell someone about it. Read this book to find out how to become the purple cow that’s impossible to ignore.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

What makes something go viral? That’s the question this book sought to answer, and the author did a wonderful job. He spent years researching the science behind the way ideas spread and came up with a framework called S.T.E.P.P.S to explain the idea. Social Currency (make people look smart by sharing) Trigger (Create something that’s top of mind and tip of tongue) Emotion (Create high arousal emotions in people to get them to share) Practical (Make it useful) Public (Make sure it can be seen) Story (Humans learn through and love stories). Read this book to learn how to create an “idea virus,” that spreads far and wide.

Science & Psychology

Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect – by Matthew Lieberman

Human beings evolved to become social animals. According to the author, understanding the importance of social interaction is key to understanding our species. He backs up his words with research and it’s a fascinating look into the way our brains work. The most interesting thing I learned was the fact that social and physical pain are registered in the same part of your brain. Read this book if you want to go deep and read above your normal level.