Summary:

In 2019, I managed to read 45 books.

I surpassed my 2018 record of 38 books and my 2017 record of 35 books.

A lot of books this year were fantastic, but a handful of them were all-stars. These books either changed the way I look at the world or taught me something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

The 10 books listed below deserve special recognition for being awesome and I would highly recommend reading them. Here they are (in no particular order):

10) “The Millionaire Fastlane” by MJ DeMarco

This book completely changed the way I viewed business and personal finance.

Anyone who is young AND rich (and didn’t inherit their money), has used the millionaire fast lane strategy to get to where they are. This book isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but rather it shares a formula for creating and maintaining wealth.

The book also sheds light on the problems of getting rich through jobs, 401(k)s, and mutual funds. In additional to financial advice, part of the book covers self-development and the mindset needed to become wealthy.

If you’re looking for a book that will teach you how people got rich while they were young, read this book.

Get the book here.

9) “Mars and Venus on a Date” by John Gray

Dating is an incredibly complex process, fortunately, this book will help you navigate the dating maze.

The book explains the five stages of dating: attraction, uncertainty, exclusivity, intimacy, and engagement–and common mistakes men and women make throughout the dating process.

Filled with practical guidelines, thoughtful techniques, and witty insight, author John Gray does a fantastic job of explaining why men and women act the way they do throughout the courtship ritual.

If you’re single (or a in a current relationship that’s having some trouble), this book is a must-read.

Get the book here.

8) "The Essential Marcus Aurelius” by Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who carried a journal with him and over the years, filled it with lessons about what it meant to live a good and just life. He was a true philosopher-king.

Here is a quote from the book: “While you are still living, while you still exist on this Earth, strive to become a genuinely good man.”

Although he was an emperor, Aurelius never let greed or power corrupt him. He stayed true to living a proper life and shares advice on how others can do the same.

The book is short (144 pages), easy to read, and packed with gems of wisdom. If you’re into stoicism or philosophy, I highly recommend this book (I personally own three copies).

Get the book here.

7) “What Women Want” by Tucker Max & Geoffrey Miller

Figuring out what women want is both is an art and a science, which is why Tucker Max and Geoffrey Miller make the perfect team. Max is a former womanizer while Miller is an evolutionary psychologist.

By combining their respective skills, they created a fantastic book that serves as a guidebook for men who can’t seem to understand what women want.

This book is more than just a dating book, it’s a self-development book. Why? The better version of yourself that you can become, the more women you’ll be able to attract.

And if you think this is a cringey-PUA book, think again. It’s an honest, straightforward, and ethical book (backed with a ton of scientific research from evolutionary biology and psychology) that will truly help you understand what women want.

Get the book here.

6) “Letters of Note” by Shaun Usher

This book is a collection of 125+ letters that offer a never-before-seen glimpse of people of history—including some of the best and brightest, and the most notorious individuals.

The book contains letters from: Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ray Bradbury, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ludwig van Beethoven, and many more.

It is colorfully illustrated with photographs, portraits, and relevant artworks, making it an excellent coffee table book and conversational piece. If you love history or want to learn about the intimate moments of several iconic figures, grab a copy of this book.

Get the book here.

5) "Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari

This may be the most interesting history book I’ve ever read. Yuval Noah Harari does an excellent job of guiding readers along a historical timeline that explains why Homo Sapiens became the world’s most dominant species.

After seeing Bill Gates and President Obama recommend this book, I had a feeling it would be good but I wasn’t expecting it to be as amazing as it was.

This book shifted my perspective on the way we look at history and the world we live in today. For example, one of the most power weapons humans have is the ability to tell stories. Money, brands, religion, and nations, for instance, don’t exist, these are actually all just stories that are told to unite people to cooperate together.

If you enjoy history or philosophy, this book will open your mind to a new perspective and you’ll view the world in a new light.

Get the book here.

4) “The Man’s Guide to Women” by John & Julie Gottman

Another dating and relationship book? Yes, and here’s why.

Relationships are complicated, you can’t expect to read one book on the subject and became an expert on it. Fortunately for us, the authors of this book are legitimate relationship experts. John and Julie Gottman (both have Ph.Ds) run the famous ‘love lab’ and this book is based on 40 years of research.

Together, they have written this definitive guide for men, providing answers on everything from how to approach a woman and build a connection with her to how to truly satisfy her in bed and know when the relationship is on the right track.

Every man should own a copy of this book.

Get the book here.

3) “The Creative Curve” by Allen Gannett

Most people believe that creativity is an innate skill–something you’re born with–but this book proves otherwise.

Author Allen Gannett argues that everyone has the potential to come up with ingenious ideas because creativity is a skill that can be developed.

Through his research and interviews , Gannett reveals the four laws of creative success and identifies the common patterns behind their achievements. More importantly, he shows how these methods can enable you to achieve your own moments of creative genius.

If you work in any creative field (art, writing, music, film, etc.) reading this book will help you develop your next big idea.

Get the book here.

2) “A Calendar of Wisdom” by Leo Tolstoy

It took Tolstoy nearly 15-years to complete this book and he considered it to be his most important contribution to humanity.

The book is a day-by-day guide that illuminates the path of a life worth living. Each day Tolstoy reflects on a different idea by sharing his personal thoughts along with quotes from religious texts, ancient philosophers, and contemporary thinkers.

There’s no need to rush through this book, it’s meant to be read slowly, one page at a time. Take your time while reading and reflect on each idea. The text runs short but the wisdom runs deep.

If you enjoy learning about philosophy, stoicism, or are a fan of The Daily Stoic or Meditations, you’ll love this book.

Get the book here.

1) “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins

Every now and then you read a book that literally changes your life, for me, this is that book.

Goggins’s story is incredible. As a child, he grew up poor, had an abusive father, earned horrible grades in school, and was bullied because of his skin color. As an adult, he was overweight, and was stuck in a dead-end job working as a bug-exterminator. I won’t spoil how he transformed his life but he eventually became a Navy SEAL–one of the most elite special forces group in the military–and became an ultra-endurance athlete–he’s run several 100+ mile races, broke the world record for pull-ups, and is still out there running races today (check out a few of Goggins’s killer workouts here).

Goggins teaches readers that humans have so much untapped potential it’s frightening. This book is the ultimate underdog story. Simply reading this book inspired me to start running 5 miles every weekend and I ended running two 10K races in one month. Whenever I don’t feel like working out, I think back to this book and I immediately find the motivation to get moving.

Read this book and you’ll never find an excuse to slack off again.