2020 is halfway over (and thank goodness).
I’ve managed to read 33 books so far this year and wanted to share some of the amazing books I’ve come across (you can follow my reading journey on Goodreads).
Without further ado, here are my 5 favorite books (in no particular order):
5) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
This book is a memoir that captures Frederick Douglass’s time as a slave and how he escaped. It’s an eye-opening book about the inhumanity of slavery. The book also teaches readers the importance of reading.
At the time, it was illegal for anyone to teach a slave how to read. However, that didn’t stop Douglass. Here’s how he did it:
His master’s wife taught him the alphabet but once his master found out, he prohibited her from teaching anything else because he said if you teach a slave “how to read, there would be no keeping him.”
Once Douglass realized how much his master disapproved of him learning how to read, Douglass understood reading would be his path to freedom.
Douglass made friends with young white boys and would ask them to give him reading lessons and would often give them bread in exchange. Douglass then got his hands on a book and read it over and over again until he could read with ease.
Learning how to read would alter Douglass’s life forever. He read about how cruel the system of slavery was and was determined to change it. “The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness,” he said.
Douglass would go on to teach other slaves how to read, teach himself how to write, and escape to the North where he would be free. He later became a national leader of the abolitionist movement, a respected American diplomat, and a counselor to four presidents.
If you’re looking for an inspiring read, this book is for you.
Get the book here.
4) Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
This book is an inspiring guide to creativity that helps readers discover and free their artistic side. Stealing can have a negative connotation, but Kleon teaches readers that there is an ethical way to steal (study the work of the greats, remix their work, and build what they didn’t).
There’s a lot of pressure to be original, but this book will show you that originality is overrated. The greatest of the greats all “stole” work. It’s okay to do the same, as long as it’s done properly.
In total, Kleon provides 10 short lessons that each present a different principle for developing creativity. The book is both artistic and pragmatic, which makes it an enjoyable read.
Here are a few key lessons from the book:
Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.
Write the book you want to read.
The secret: do good work and share it with people.
Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)
If you’re facing a creative block or are afraid to start your creative journey, grab a copy of this book.
Get the book here.
3) Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life by Jim Kwik
Our brain is one of the most complex tools in the world and no one really tells us how to use it, until now.
Jim Kwik is a brain coach and has written the owner’s manual for mental expansion and brain fitness. In his book, Kwik reveals science-based practices and field-tested tips to improve your memory, focus, and reading ability.
A few lessons from the book:
Healthy brain foods: Avocados, blueberries, broccoli, eggs, green leafy vegetables, salmon, and walnuts.
Sleep is crucial for brain health: It helps remove neurotoxins and distribute components that enhance cellular repairs.
IQ may be fixed but intelligence levels aren’t. If you’re constantly learning, you can get smarter.
If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.
In the book, Kwik also dispels common brain myths, teaches readers how to study better, and provides strategies to become a speed reader (stay tuned for an article about it). If you want to be a better learner then this is a great book to read.
Get the book here.
2) The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann
You’ve heard of the term Go-Getter but have you heard of the Go-Giver?
The Go-Giver tells a story of an ambitious young man who yearns for success. He turns to a legendary consultant who mentors him & teaches him the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success.
The Law of Value
Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
The Law of Compensation
Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
The Law of Influence
Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.
The Law of Authenticity
The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
The Law of Receptivity
The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.
The book shares a simple yet important message: “Give and you shall receive. ”If you enjoy business fables such as The Alchemist or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari you’ll like this book.
Get the book here.
Honorable Mentions
The Professor in the Cage: Why Men Fight and Why We Like to Watch by Jonathan Gottschall
Have you ever been curious as to why men fight or like to watch fights? I was, and so was Jonathan Gottschall–an English professor who decided to join an MMA club and research the history and science behind violence. If you’re interested in learning about the history of duels, why people enjoy watching violence, and the reasons why men and women fight, this book is for you.
How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be by Josh Kaufman
Productivity expert Josh Kaufman uses the tale of a knight on a mission to defeat a hydra as an analogy to conquering a creative project. The book shares implicit and explicit lessons of courage, determination, perseverance; planning and practice; the value of showing up; and knowing when not to embark on a journey.
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
This book doesn’t really teach anything new, but it does teach you four simple lessons, that if followed, will significantly improve your life. If you’re looking for a light, self-development book with simple but deep lessons that will improve your life, grab this book.
1) Nobody Wants To Read Your Sh*t by Steven Pressfield
If you’re a writer, this book is a must-read.
Pressfield has experience in every area of writing (advertising, fiction, self-help, screenplays, and more) and in this book he shares countless of valuable lessons he’s learned from over four decades as a writer.
Here are a few tips I picked up from the book:
Streamline your message: Trim it down to the simplest, clearest, and easiest-to-understand form.
Understand that no one wants to read your writing unless it’s valuable and the readers feels they’re gaining something from the transaction.
Start at the end of the story, then write the climax, and then the beginning.
What idea should you write about? The one that scares you the most.
Think in multiple drafts: You can’t fix everything in one draft and thinking in multiple drafts helps take the pressure off.
If you enjoyed The War of Art or are looking for a writing book that’s both entertaining and educating, grab a copy today.
Get the book here.