I Published My First Book!

Learn To Love Reading is now available on Amazon!

All of us know reading is good for us and something we should do more often, but for whatever reason, it's never our top priority. This book will change that.

Learn To Love Reading is a collection of quotes that will help you develop a passion for books. It's a pick-me-up for those days when you need a little extra motivation to grab a book instead of your phone. Inside this book, you'll find 365 amazing quotes that will remind you of the wonderful treasures books hold, show you the magical places books can take you, teach you why books are the key to success in any domain, and inspire you to become a lifelong reader.

You'll discover quotes from:

• Wise philosophers like Cicero and Socrates

• Billionaire entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Bill Gates

• World leaders like Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama

• Brilliant investors like Naval Ravikant and Warren Buffett

• Bestselling authors like Jordan Peterson and James Clear

• Legendary writers like Ernest Hemingway and Victor Hugo

And many more extraordinary people.


Here are a few quotes from the book:

“How can we better employ our time than by reading books?”

–A. EDWARD NEWTON

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” 

–JIM ROHN

“Read what you love until you love to read.” 

–NAVAL RAVIKANT


“If you love to read, or learn to love reading, you will have an amazing life. Period.” 

–ANNE LAMOTT

PS: If you want to learn more about my book, listen to this podcast.

So if you want to develop a love for reading, want to start reading more books, or are already a bibliophile, this book is for you.

5 Favorite Books of 2020 (so far)

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.

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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.

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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.

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100 Books That Changed the World

I recently finished reading 100 Books That Changed the World by Scott Christianson and Colin Salter. It’s a beautifully illustrated book that informs and entertains readers about 100 books that shaped, changed, and even revolutionized the world.

The book includes scriptures that founded religions, manifestos that sparked revolutions, scientific treatises that challenged ingrained beliefs, and novels that kick-started new literary movements.

Reading this book is similar to having a time machine as you travel around the globe through time from the I Chang written in 2800 BC to modern-day books such as Harry Potter and This Changes Everything.

This is an excellent book for literature lovers, history buffs, or anyone who wants a fascinating coffee table book that will get your guests talking about books.

Here are the 100 books and a short description of each. Enjoy!

1) I Ching (2800 BC)

• An ancient Chinese philosophy text that stresses the importance of caution, humility, and patience in one’s daily living.

2) The Epic of Gilgamesh (2100 BC)

• A 4,000-year-old tale that is the oldest work of literature ever recorded and shares classic themes such as friendship, a voyage of self-discovery, and a pursuit for eternal life.

3) Torah (1280 BC)

• The guide to daily life that provides the basis for Jewish law and practice.

4) The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer (750 BC)

• Two of the greatest epic poems written by a blind man in ancient Greece. It tells heroic stories of characters caught up in a city’s brutal siege and a warrior’s long journey home.

5) Aesop’s Fables (620 BC)

• One of the earliest and greatest collections of fables ever written, it includes classic stories such as: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg, and The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

6) The Art of War by Sun Tzu (512 BC)

• An ancient Chinese treatise with wise advice about warfare tactics that can also be applied to modern-day business strategies.

7) The Analects of Confucius (475 BC)

• A collection of ancient sayings that offer ethical principles to regulate the 5 relationships of life: the relationships of prince and subject, parent and child, brother and brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend.

8) Kama Sutra by Vatsyayana (400 BC)

• An explicit and highly literary sex manual written between 400 BC and 200 AD which makes it one of the oldest surviving texts of ancient Indian history.

9) The Republic by Plato (380 BC)

• A masterpiece of philosophy and political thought which covers the nature of justice and the rights and responsibilities of the state and citizens.

10) Elements of Geometry by Euclid (300 BC)

• One of the first textbooks in history, it shared the foundational work in mathematics and logic.

11) De Architectura by Vitruvius (20 BC)

• A ten-volume treatise that illustrated architectural projects throughout the Roman Empire and the history of ancient engineering.

12) Naturalis Historia by Pliny the Elder (AD 79)

• The world’s first scientific encyclopedia which contained everything that the Romans knew about the natural world.

13) The Quran (609)

• A religious text that provides Muslims with rules to guide their faith and conduct.

14) Arabian Nights (800)

• The first-ever collection of bedtime stories featuring the famous One Thousand and One Nights story.

15) The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (1021)

• An early masterpiece of Japanese literature with an overarching theme on “the sorrow of human existence.”

16) The Divine Comedy by Dante (1308)

• The greatest literary creation of the Middle Ages. It envisions a trip through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, guided by the Roman poet Virgil.

17) The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (1390)

• A royal clerk’s path-breaking collection of tales in verse and prose about a motley group of characters on a religious pilgrimage.

18) Gutenberg Bible (1450)

• The first major book to be printed using moveable type. It took 3 years to print 180 copies of this Bible.

19) The Prince by Machiavelli (1532)

• A book focused on getting and keeping power based on Machiavelli’s own observations of kings, princes, and popes.

20) On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres by Nicolaus Copernicus (1543)

• Copernicus shared his famous heliocentric theory and the book is now credited with starting the Scientific Revolution in Western culture.

21) Lives of the Artists by Vasari (1550)

• The first book to examine the history of art.

22) The Prophecies by Nostradamus (1557)

• Nostradamus was a French mystic who was outlawed by the Inquisition and went into hiding and began publishing grim prophecies that made him famous as history’s greatest seer.

23) Don Quixote by Cervantes (1605)

• A famous novel about a thin man on a skinny horse and his fat servant on a tubby donkey, that go on a series of tragicomic episodes.

24) King James Bible (1611)

• The finest expression of Christian faith and one of the most influential books of all time.

25) Shakespeare’s First Folio by William Shakespeare (1623)

• Published seven years after his death, this book contained some of Shakespeare’s most iconic works including Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Henry VI, and many more.

26) Micrographia by Robert Hooke (1665)

• An astonishing book showing huge magnified images of tiny organisms that illustrated a miniature world most readers had never imagined.

27) Paradise Lost by John Milton (1667)

• Milton’s retelling of the story of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden is considered to be among the greatest poetry ever written in the English language.

28) Samuel Pepys’s Diary by Samuel Pepys (1669)

• For ten years, Pepys recorded details of his daily life which later became one of history’s finest eyewitness accounts of many important events including the Great Plague of London.

29) Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematic by Isaac Newton (1687)

• One of the greatest contributions in the history of science, the book is a three-volume theoretical work applying mathematics to understanding the laws of nature and the universe.

30) Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (1726)

• A masterpieces tale of misadventures through imaginary countries that has entertained both children and adults for centuries.

31) Species Plantarum by Carl Linnaeus (1753)

• Linnaeus is considered the father of taxonomy and ecology for putting together a simplified binomial taxonomic ranking system to identify every known plant by its specific name (species), classified into its genus.

32) Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary by Samuel Johnson (1755)

• Johnson spent 8 years putting together a highly literary dictionary of more than 42,000 words that captured all of the richness and complexities of the English language.

33) The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (1764)

• Walpole’s book created a new genre of literature known as Gothic stories and would inspire future authors to write Dracula, Hound of the Baskervilles, and many more Gothic culture pieces.

34) The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1766)

• This book is regarded as the first modern historical work for its groundbreaking description of the economic, cultural, and political collapse of ancient Rome.

35) The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith (1776)

• Smith’s book provided a detailed rationale for a new approach to a political economy based on labor and natural liberty that would later become known as capitalism.

36) Rights of Man by Thomas Paine (1791)

• Paine’s book shook the world by opposing capital punishment and slavery and raising the idea of independence and natural rights for all men everywhere.

37) A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft (1792)

• Written as a manifesto to feminism, Wollstonecraft challenged the traditional roles of men and women, and was an advocate of women becoming more educated.

38) Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm (1812)

• A collection of folklorist fairy tales that would become, despite their dark and brutal themes, the standard children’s book and one of the most controversial literary works in Western culture.

39) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

• A classic love-conquers-all novel about a middle-class woman and an upper-class man who overcome their pride and prejudice.

40) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)

• A classic Gothic horror novel that discusses nature, responsibility, isolation, and the dangers of using powerful knowledge.

41) Procedure for Writing Words, Music and Plainsong in Dots by Louis Braille (1829)

• Louis Braille invented the ingenious code of touch reading with this book brought literacy to the blind.

42) Murray’s Handbook for Travellers by John Murray (1836)

• One of the first practical resources for travelers that shared local transportation and shops, detailed maps of cities, and helpful information for people traveling to a new town.

43) The Pencil of Nature by William Talbot (1844)

• The first commercially produced book of photography, this book become a landmark in the world of illustrated book publishing.

44) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass (1845)

• Born a slave, Douglass taught himself how to read and write, later escaped to the North where he wrote a memoir about his life which became one of the most important tracts of the antislavery movement.

45) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

• A vivid story of love, belonging, and class, this far-from-smooth course of true love tale rings true for each new generation that reads it.

46) David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850)

• A fictionalized autobiography that shares a coming-of-age tale that follows a character’s journey from oppressive childhood to adult happiness.

47) Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

• An epic tale about a captain’s pursuit of a ferocious white whale, the book shares deep lessons about social status, good and evil, and the existence of God.

48) Roget’s Thesaurus by Peter Roget (1852)

• Roget, a brilliant polymath, invented the modern-day thesaurus when he compiled lists of synonyms which became an indispensable reference work for all kinds of writers.

49) Walden by Henry Thoreau (1854)

• After spending two years in the wilderness and reflecting on life, Thoreau shares the lessons he learned about the environment, religion, politics, and philosophy in this book.

50) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (1857)

• A tragic story that is considered by many to be the first great novel of literary realism.

51) Gray’s Anatomy by Henry Gray & Henry Carter (1858)

• A beautifully illustrated anatomy textbook that presented students with an exact map of human geography.

52) On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (1859)

• The book where Darwin introduced his new theory of evolutionary biology, considered to be the most important academic book ever published.

53) Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton (1861)

• A bestselling book that was designed to improve the home lives of women by providing cooking recipes, first aid, social etiquette, and more helpful advice.

54) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1862)

• A tragic tale of compassion, hidden identities, and redemption that later became hugely successful on musical stages around the world.

55) Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864)

• Verne is often considered the grandfather of science fiction since he combined cutting-edge scientific discoveries and added extraordinary, but fictionalized, adventures to them.

56) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)

• A strange fantasy tale about a 10-year-old girl that became one of the most popular works of Victorian children’s literature.

57) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1867)

• Considered to be one of the best novels in modern literature, the book tells a haunting tale about a tormented murderer and his attempt to receive redemption.

58) Das Kapital by Karl Marx (1867)

• This book laid the theoretical foundation for all subsequent communist philosophy, economics, and politics.

59) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1869)

• A lengthy, but amazing, historical fiction novel that changed literature and captured the Russian soul.

60) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)

• A fictional narrative that’s regarded as the great American novel and a classic study of Southern antebellum race relationships.

61) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1891)

• Wilde’s first and only novel which told a complex story of morality and duality, poorly received at first but it later became recognized as a masterpiece.

62) The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895)

• H.G. Wells was the first author to play with the idea of time travel and established his reputation as the father of science fiction.

63) The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud (1899)

• In this book, Freud argued that dreams were a form of wish fulfillment and outlined a new framework for interpreting dreams.

64) Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust (1913)

• An unnamed narrator describes his uneventful life in minute detail. IT may sound dull but this book is considered one of the most important works of fiction of the early 20th century.

65) The Origin of Continents and Oceans by Alfred Wegener (1915)

• Wegener came up with the theory that there was originally one supercontinent called Pangaea. His idea forever changed the way geologists and people as a whole saw the planet.

66) Relativity: The Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein (1917)

• After a decade of calculations and writing, Einstein published this book which many scholars have since called “the biggest leap of the scientific imagination.” Einstein’s relativity theory introduced a new framework for all of physics.

67) Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

• Modeled on Homer’s epi,c Ulysses is regarded as one of the richest books ever written. It’s filled with tragicomedy, puns, parodies and literary allusions, all of which add up to a passionate affirmation of life.

68) The Trial by Franz Kafka (1925)

• This haunting classic of existentialism offers a bleak but compelling vision of what it is to be human and the unavoidable fate of death

69) The Tibetan Book of the Dead by Walter Evans-Wentz (1927)

• A collection of writings that describe the process of dying as a natural transition according to Tibetan Buddhist concepts of death and rebirth.

70) Lady Chatterley’s Love by D.H. Lawrence (1928)

• A highly charged tale of class, intellect, and sex. Lawrence’s novel is known for pushing the boundaries of publishing as well as exploring social and intellectual divisions.

71) All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque (1929)

• A brutal story of the effects of war on young soldiers at the front lines. Whereas traditional war novels glorified heroism snd patriotism, Remarque presents the grim reality of warfare where death is constant.

72) The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Keynes (1936)

• In this book, Keynes offers a bold new theory: the government needed to take on more public works and deficit spending. He argued that it was wrong to assume that competitive markets would produce full employment and that governments needed to take more action.

73) How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (1936)

• The original self-help book. Written over 80 years ago, this book still sells 300,000 copies every year.

74) Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care by Benjamin Spock (1946)

• A common sense manual for baby and child care that became one of the best-selling books in American history.

75) The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947)

• Forced to go into hiding during World War II, Frank poured out her most intimate thoughts in a personal diary that was later recovered and read by millions.

76) Kinsey Reports by Alfred Kinsey (1948)

• Kinsey spent years asking strangers about their sex habits and published two empirical reports detailing the results. The books challenged conventional notions of male and female sexuality and contributed to America’s sexual revolution.

77) 1984 by George Orwell (1949)

• The book tells a story of life in a totalitarian society in which “Big Brother” is always watching, lies are decreed as truth, and individuals are micromanaged and crushed by the state.

78) The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir (1949)

• Beauvoir’s book examined and rejected the traditional roles of women and argued. that women have been oppressed, degraded, and devalued throughout history.

79) A Book of Mediterranean Food by Elizabeth David (1950)

• A book about food, fresh ingredients, and seasonal flavors, written in such beautiful prose that is was borderline poetic.

80) The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley (1954)

• In the book, Huxley describes his hallucinogenic experience in detail and shares the drug’s' good and bad effects. The book influenced the rising drug culture of the 1950s and ‘60s.

81) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

• A sexually explicit and controversial tale of tragedy, lust, and love. Nabokov’s book balances on a thin line between pornography and literary merit.

82) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1955)

• Tolkien spent 12-years writing this epic high-fantasy trilogy about brutal armies in a mythical medieval land known as Middle-Earth. His iconic creation went on to become one of the best-selling novels of all time and the model for a huge genre of world-building fantasy books.

83) On the Road by Jack Kerouac (1957)

• The defining novel of the Beat Generation. Kerouac’s almost-autobiographical voyage of discovery tells of the limits of friendship, of broken dreams, and plans gone awry in postwar America.

84) The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (1957)

• This book broke the mold in young children’s literature. In just 236 different words, Dr. Seuss created a children’s book that would become loved by millions.

85) Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958)

• Often called the first great African novel, the book shares the story about how colonizers destroy one local institution after another in order to extinguish the native culture.

86) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

• Lee’s first and most successful novel which told a story about race and injustice in a small Alabama town in the 1930s. The book helped inspire the civil rights movement.

87) Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)

• In this book, Carson revealed the shocking truth about how pesticides were poisoning the environment. Her book inspired a new environmental protection movement that led to sweeping reforms.

88) One day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1962)

• The first-ever book that publicly acknowledged the existence of the Soviet gulags. Solzhenitsyn based the book on his experience in a forced labor camp. Attempts were made to discredit Solzhenitsyn, and even poison him, but he survived and awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970 for his book.

89) The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (1963)

• This book is often credited with starting the second wave of feminism which addressed women’s rights at home, in the workplace, and over their bodies.

90) Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung by Mao Tse-tung (1964)

• A sacred text that complied over 400 quotes from the chairman of the Communist Party of China. It’s estimated that between 2-6 billion copies of this book have been printed.

91) One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1967)

• A masterpiece of magic realism, Marquez’s history of a fictional South American town with a universal message about progress and decay. The book won the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature.

92) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (1969)

• The first of seven volumes of Angelou’s autobiography takes her from infancy to young motherhood. Its frank retelling of incidents of racism and abuse has made it an essential element of many reading lists.

93) Ways of Seeing by John Berger (1972)

• The book is a series of philosophical discussions about how we view fine art and is still an essential read for students of both art and political studies.

94) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (1974)

• A semi-autobiographical novel that examines the different approaches to enlightenment from the back of a Honda motorcycle during a country road trip.

95) A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking (1988)

• Hawking’s attempt to explain the universe and everything in it to nonscientists has been hugely successful and sold over 20 million copies to date.

96) The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (1988)

• Considered the most controversial novel of modern times for it's perceived offenses against Islam. As a response to the offense, Iran’s spiritual leader issued a fatwa–a call for Muslims everywhere to kill the author.

97) Maus by Art Spiegelman (1991)

• A modern masterpiece, Spiegelman’s used interviews with his father (who survived Auschwitz) to create a graphic novel that captured the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

98) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997)

• The book that got children reading again and created a magical new world. To date, over 400 million copies of the book and its sequels have been sold.

99) Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty (2013)

• Piketty argues that slow economic growth leads to wealth inequality in which a minority of people contain most of the capital and power and have no incentive to change the system. His solution to the problem: A worldwide tax, not just on income but on wealth itself as a solution.

100) This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate by Naomi Klein (2014)

• In her book, Klein argues that profits have taken precedence over survival, and that collective action needs to be taken to protect the environment.

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If you’re interested in learning more about 100 Books That Changed The World, you can get a copy here.

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The Incredible Story of How Fredrick Douglass Learned To Read & Write

The book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an eloquent memoir written by Frederick Douglass. In it, Douglass shares the hardships he endured as a slave and his heroic escape to the free state of Massachusetts. One part of his story that I found especially fascinating was how he taught himself how to read and write, and how he used those two skills to impact the lives of millions.

Let’s start from the beginning

Frederick Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland around 1818 and had a life that was anything but easy.

Douglass was separated from his mother before he was a year old (a common practice by slave owners during those times). She was moved to a farm that was 12-miles away and Douglass only saw her four or five times before she got ill and passed away.

As a slave, Douglass was treated poorly. He was often overworked and underfed. He was given almost no clothing and slept in a sack to stay warm, “In the hottest summer and coldest winter, I was kept almost naked...I had no bed,” Douglass wrote in his memoir.

One would think growing up in an unjust world would break a person, but Douglass survived, and would soon thrive. 

When Douglass was eight-years-old, he was sent to live with another master in Baltimore. 

His new master’s wife had never had a slave before and taught Douglass the alphabet before the master found out and told his wife that such an activity was illegal. Not only was it unlawful, but the master added that if a slave learned to read, “It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master.” 

That moment was an inflection point in Douglass’s life and those words would change his destiny forever. “These words sank deep into my heart...and called into existence an entirely new train of thought,” Douglass wrote.

““From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom.””

— Frederick Douglass

Learning How To Read

Douglass knew that reading would lead to his freedom, and although he had lost his teacher, he was determined to learn how to read: “I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read.”

So how did he do it?

Douglass carried a book with him anytime he was sent out for errands, and if he had extra time, would make friends with young white boys and ask them for lessons.

““The plan which I adopted, and the one by which I was most successful, was that of making friends of all the little white boys whom I met in the street. As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers.””

— Frederick Douglass

Sometimes the boys would offer lessons for free, and other times Douglass would pay them for lessons with bread.

““This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give me that more valuable bread of knowledge.” ”

— Frederick Douglass

After learning how to read, Douglass came across a book containing speeches by Richard Sheridan. Sheridan’s work produced in Douglass a deep love of liberty and hatred of oppression. He read them over and over again, and became inspired to get involved in human rights.

““I read them over and over again with unabated interest...What I got from Sheridan was a bold denunciation of slavery, and a powerful vindication of human rights. ”

— Frederick Douglass

Learning How To Write

Once Douglass learned to read, he set out on to acquire another valuable skill, writing.

He first learned how to write while working at a ship-yard. He watched carpenters write on timber the part of the ship the piece was intended for, and copied it down.

• “L.” was for larboard.

• “S.” for starboard.

• “A.” for aft.

• “F.” for forward.

“I immediately commenced copying them, and in a short time was able to make the four letters named,” Douglass wrote. After learning those four letters, Douglass once again sought out white boys for lessons, this time for writing.

Douglass told white boys that he could write as well as them, however, they wouldn’t believe him and told Douglass to prove it. Douglass would then write the letters he knew and tell the white boys to write letters that they knew. Thus learning new letters every time he played the game.

““In this way I got a good many lessons in writing, which it is quite possible I should never have gotten in any other way.””

— Frederick Douglass

Not only was Douglass clever, he was also resourceful.

“ “During this time, my copy-book was the board fence, brick wall, and pavement; my pen and ink was a lump chalk. With these, I learned mainly how to write.” ”

— Frederick Douglass

He also waited until everyone had left the house to practice writing in his master’s son’s old spelling books.

““When left thus, I used to spend the time in writing in the spaces left in Master Thomas’s copy-book, copying what he had written. I continued to do this until I could write a hand very similar to that of Master Thomas.” ”

— Frederick Douglass

All in all, it took Douglass seven-years to teach himself how to read and write.

““I lived in Master Hugh’s family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning how to read and write.””

— Frederick Douglass

Teaching Others How To Read

But it wasn’t enough that Douglass had taught himself these valuable skills, he wanted others to have the power of reading as well. He created a strong desire in his fellow slaves to learn how to read and taught lessons every Sunday.

““Instead of spending the Sabbath in wrestling, boxing, and drinking whiskey, we were trying to learn how to read.””

— Frederick Douglass

Slaves from neighboring farms found out about the lessons and Douglass’s class grew from a handful of individuals to nearly 40 people.

““I had at one time over forty scholars, and those of the right sort, ardently desiring to learn....They were great days to my soul. The work of instructing my dear fellow-slaves was the sweetest engagement with which I was ever blessed.””

— Frederick Douglass

Douglass was making a positive influence on his local community, but he had bigger dreams in mind.

Life as a free man

He planned an escape and successfully made it to New York, and then up to Massachusetts. As a literate, free man living in the North, Douglass continued to educate himself and networked with others working for the abolition of slavery.

He read The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper, and became more acquainted with the anti-slavery movement. He attended speeches by William Lloyd Garrison, publisher of The Liberator, and eventually Garrison became a mentor to Douglass.

Douglass would go on to become a national leader of the abolitionist movement, a respected American diplomat, a counselor to four presidents, a highly regarded orator, and an influential writer. He accomplished all of these feats without any formal education.

In 1845, Douglass published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, which became a bestseller. Douglass stood as a living counter-example to slaveholders' arguments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens. Even many Northerners at the time found it hard to believe that such a great orator had once been a slave.

Douglass ends his book by saying, “Sincerely and earnestly hoping that this little book may do something toward throwing light on the America slave system, and hastening the glad day of deliverance to the millions of my brethren in bonds.”

And by teaching himself how to read and write, Douglass was able to write his “little book” and impact of the lives of millions and steer America towards a better society.

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I highly recommend reading Douglass’s book to get the full story.

You can get a copy here: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

5 Amazing books I’ve Read In 2020 (so far)

5 Amazing books I’ve Read In 2020 (so far)

It seems 2020 is flying by, the year is already 33% over.

I’ve managed to read 23 books so far this year and wanted to share some of the fantastic books I’ve come across (you can follow my reading journey on Goodreads).

Without further ado, here are my 5 favorite books:

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 by practicing spelling exercises in his master’s son’s notebooks, and escape to the North where he would be free.

If you’re looking for an inspiring read, this book is for you.

Get the book here.

4) 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.

Here are a few interesting takeaways from the book:

• Men fight to protect their honor, respect, and climb the social hierarchy (which helps them increase their chances of getting a mate).

• Men fight physically while women fight verbally (usually about spreading rumors that a woman is promiscuous).

• In many cultures, fighting is a rite of passage or a chance to prove that you’re a man.

• Humans have always loved violence: from public executions to horror films and graphic video games, violence is everywhere.

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.

Get the book here.

3) 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.

Here are the four agreements from Ruiz’s book:

• 1) Be impeccable with your word

  • Say what you mean and tell the truth. As cliche as it may sound, the truth will, for the most part, set you free.

• 2) Don’t take anything personally

  • Don’t let the opinions or words of others affect you. When you’re immune to words, you’ll be free of needless suffering.

• 3) Don’t make assumptions

  • Making assumptions often lead to misunderstandings and drama. Communicate as clearly as you can with others.

• 4) Always do your best

  • You can’t always do the best, but you can always do your best. When you do your best, you avoid any self-judgment, self-criticism, or regret.

If you’re looking for a light, self-development book with simple but deep lessons that will improve your life, grab this book.

Get the book here.

2) How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be by Josh Kaufman

Pursuing a creative project can feel like fighting a hydra, you cut one head off and two more grow in its place. It can be an overwhelming and intimidating experience. That’s where this book comes in to help.

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.

If you enjoyed The War of Art or need some motivation to pursue a new project, this book is for you.

Get the book here.

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Honorable Mentions

• The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman

  • This book teaches you how to develop an alter ego to reach a new level of performance in business, entertainment, or sports. Many successful individuals have alter egos. For example, Kobe Bryant had the Black Mamba and Beyonce had Sasha Fierce. If you’re into psychology or high-performance, this is for you.

• The Reading Life by C.S. Lewis

  • This book is a collection of Lewis’s thoughts on books and reading. He shares lessons about what makes a good reader and provides helpful reading advice such as, it’s okay to skip boring parts of a book and that you don’t have to love a book just because it’s popular. If you’re a fan of Lewis or have a strong love for books, pick up a copy.

• Write Your Book On The Side by Hassan Osman

  • If you plan on writing a nonfiction book, you should get this book ASAP. Osman has written several books while working a full-time job and shares how he did it. He also shares a ton of helpful advice on how to write a great book. It’s a short read and incredibly practical.

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1) 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:

• Steal like an artist.

• 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.