The Reading List 🤓
Think reading is for geeks? Wrong, it's for achievers.
Warren Buffett estimates that he spends 80 percent of his working day reading and thinking, "I just sit in my office and read all day." When asked about the key to success, Buffett pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, "Read 500 pages like this every day. That's how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it."
His infamous business partner and fellow billionaire, Charlie Munger, is famous for saying, “Go to bed smarter than you woke up.” About his partnership with Warren Buffet, he comments, "You could hardly find a partnership in which two people settle on reading more hours of the day than in ours."
Oprah Winfrey supposedly started reading as a toddler and never stopped. She once mentioned, "Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi."
Bill Gates reads more than 50 books a year and credits his success at least partly to books: “I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.”
Elon Musk, when asked how he learned to build rockets, answered, “I read books.”
As you can tell, we are big readers here at NJlifehacks, and we both read well over 50 books every year.
Below you'll find our top recommendations.
Enjoy, and get reading! 🙂
OUR TOP RECOMMENDATIONS
Mindset by Carol Dweck
If you're operating from a fixed mindset (rather than a growth mindset) you are destined for failure. This is a must-read simply because the growth mindset is a must-mindset.
Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl
Written by a holocaust survivor, this book teaches you to put things in perspective, to keep your ego at bay, and most importantly, to make use of the last of human freedoms: to choose one's attitude in any situation.
Awareness by Anthony De Mello
A spiritual book with powerful wisdom about being at ease with yourself, being carefree, and not being at the mercy of our thoughts, emotions, and circumstances
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
We love Mark Manson around here. This guy knows how to write fuckworthy texts. Short summary of the book: Prioritize your fucks wisely.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Very likely the #1 book on the ancient philosophy of Stoicism. And very likely one of the most impactful books you’ll ever come across. It will teach you about becoming a man of virtue, being part of the whole, not caring what other people think, and focusing on your development as a human being.
Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
This monster of a book is full of value. Teaches you everything you ever wanted to know about the most successful people in the world.
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
We love all of Tolle's books, but this is our favorite. It teaches you about the inner workings of your mind and the minds of the people around you. You’ll come to understand your thought patterns, your actions, and your emotions a lot better. And you’ll suddenly get why you’re behaving in certain ways or why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling.
The Way of The Superior Man by David Deida
A book every man should read. It teaches you the differences between the masculine and the feminine. In the process, it shows you how to become a real man.
The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal
Stress is inevitable in life. Instead of trying to eliminate it, read this book and learn how to change your mindset and use stress to improve your life and performance. The book will show you why stress is actually good for you (and how to get good at it).
Letting Go by David R. Hawkins
Another spiritual book, this one is definitely not for everyone. It’s long, hard to read, and hard to understand. However, if you’re into mindfulness, meditation, awareness, spirituality, and that kind of stuff, then check it out.
Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman
Learning to become happier is an essential life skill. Not only does happiness feel great, but it makes you a lot more successful in life. This book teaches you all the basics of the science of happiness.
The Obstacle is The Way by Ryan Holiday
This book is packed with strategies to deal with whatever life throws at you. The main idea stems from Marcus Aurelius’ quote, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Living On Your Own Terms by OSHO
We love OSHO's teachings. If you've never heard of him, he was a spiritual guru who split the opinions of people like nobody else. This little book is a great introduction to OSHO's worldview and way of thinking.
Give and Take by Adam Grant
What makes people successful? Hard work, passion, and talent. But did you know that there’s another factor – your reciprocity style – that is just as important, if not more important? This book will show you how being a kind and genuine person can make you more successful.
Mastery by George Leonard
People are successful because they work/train/learn their asses off each and every day. You only get to the top when you’re good enough, when you’re a master in what you do. This little book holds the keys to understanding what it needs to get to the top.
The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
This is a great read for anyone just starting out on their journey of self-growth. The premise of the book is simple: Think big to live big. To achieve big things we need to think big things. Though a bit outdated, it's still a personal development classic.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
People will love you when you apply the principles of this book. They will enjoy being around you and spending time with you. Why? Because you will be one of very few people who actually know how to deal with people in a nice, genuine, and understanding way.