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.
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.
16 Reading Tips From Naval Ravikant
I thought I knew a lot about reading, then I discovered Naval Ravikant.
If you’re on Twitter you’ve probably heard of Naval, but for those unfamiliar with him, here’s a bit of background:
Naval Ravikant is one of the most respected and successful angel investors in Silicon Valley. He is the founder and CEO of AngelList, and has invested in over 100 startups including several “unicorn” companies such as Uber and Twitter.
Shane Parrish, host of the podcast The Knowledge Project, has called Naval an “angel philosopher” and “one of the most voracious readers” he knows. And this is coming from a guy who reads 100+ books a year.
So what can we learn about reading from Naval?
A lot.
I listened to Naval’s podcast with Tim Ferriss, Shane Parrish, and Joe Rogan, and made a master list of all his reading advice.
Let’s dive in.
16 Reading Tips from Naval Ravikant
1) Read What You Love Until You Love To Read
Naval fell in love with reading as a kid because he was free to read whatever he wanted. He read comic books, mystery books, and anything else that piqued his interest. By reading what he loved, he developed a love for reading.
““When I was young nobody forced me on what to read...I was lucky that there was no one around when I was seven years old or six years old saying, ‘You shouldn’t read that. You should read this instead.’”
2) Eventually You’ll Start Reading The “Healthy” Books
A lot of the books Naval read would, by today’s standard, be considered “mental junk food.” But that’s okay. Eventually, he got tired of consuming junk books and moved on to “healthy” books. First he read comic books, then he read mystery books, then he got into science fiction, and then graduated to math and philosophy books.
““The reality is I just read a lot that, by today’s standards, would be considered mental junk food. Eventually you just get to, like reading, you run out of junk food and then you start eating the healthy food.””
3) Books Are An Investment, Not An Expense
Naval doesn’t believe in saving money on books. Why? A $10 or $20 book can easily change his life in a meaningful way, that’s a fantastic deal. Even when Naval was broke, he still spent money on books.
““Even back when I was broke and I had no money. I always spent money on books. I never viewed that as an expense. That’s an investment to me.””
4) Buy Multiple Copies of Amazing Books
If Naval comes across a great book while reading it on his Kindle, he’ll order a physical copy for himself and extra copies to give away to friends or guests.
““If I read a book and that I know it’s amazing, I’ll buy multiple copies, partially to give away, partially because I have them lying around the house.””
5) Spend More Time Reading Great Books
Naval doesn’t want to read every single book in the world, he’d rather spend his time rereading the 100 best books.
““I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books.””
6) Most Books Could Be Shorter
A lot of books, especially those in the business and self-help category, are just long books wrapped around a simple idea. They don’t need to be as long as they are so feel free to drop them once you understand the main idea.
““That’s why I avoid the whole business and self-help category because you generally have one good idea and it’s buried in hundreds or thousands of pages and lots of anecdotes.””
7) Treat Books Like A Blog Archive
When you come across a blog, you don’t read every single article. Instead, you find the articles that interest you and read those. Treat books the same way. Skim through the book for interesting ideas, skip boring chapters, and read only what you need.
““I just view it as a blog archive. A blog might have 300 posts on it and you could read just the two, three, five that you need right now. I think you can think of a book the same way. Then that opens the world wide web of books back open to us instead of it being buried somewhere.””
8) It’s Okay To Skip Through A Book
Just to emphasize the last point, don’t feel guilty about skipping through a book.
““Feel free to skip around; it’s your book. There are books that I’ve literally started in the middle. I’ve read near to the end and then I’ve put it down...That liberation, that freedom just allows me to read.””
9) Give Yourself Permission To Quit Bad Books
In school, students are taught to finish the books. However, this is a bad habit. Lots of people come across a bad book and end up quitting reading overall, instead of simply quitting that one bad book. This happened to Naval. Fortunately, he got back into reading later in life and now quits any book he doesn’t enjoy.
““We’re taught from a young age that books are something you finish. Books are sacred. When you go to school and you’re assigned to read a book, you have to finish the book. So…we get this contradiction where everyone I know is stuck on some book. So what do you do? You give up on reading books for a while.””
10) You Don’t Have To Read One Book At A Time
At any given time, Naval is reading between 10-20 books. He selects what to read based on his mood and interests at the moment.
““At any given time I’m reading somewhere between ten and twenty books. I’m flipping through them. If the book is getting a little boring I’ll skip ahead. Sometimes I’ll start reading a book in the middle because some paragraph caught my eye and I’ll just continue from there.””
11) Anytime Is A Good Time To Read
Naval reads after he works out in the morning, when he’s in an Uber, before he goes to bed, when he is on vacation, or anytime he’s bored.
““I don’t really set these hard and fast rules for myself. The good news is I just love to read. Because I love to read, whenever I’m bored and I have time, I just do it.””
12) Reading Increases Your Chances of Becoming Successful
The reality is that very few people actually read books. If you read books, even if it’s only for an hour a day, it will put you miles ahead of your competition.
““The reality is I don’t actually read that much compared to what people think. I probably read one to two hours a day. That puts me in the top .00001%. I think that alone accounts for any material success that I’ve had in my life and any intelligence that I might have.””
13) Developing A Reading Habit Is Important, How You Do It Is Not
Naval says reading is like exercise. It doesn’t make a huge difference whether you’re playing tennis or doing pilates, the important part is that you’re doing a workout you enjoy. If you enjoy it, you’re more likely to do it every day. The same is true of reading, it doesn’t matter what you read as long as you’re enjoying it and developing a reading habit.
““Just like the best workout for you is the one that you’re excited enough to do every day, the same way I would say the books...to read are the ones that you’re excited about reading all the time.”
14) Start Lots of Books But Only Read The Ones You Love
Start lots of books but only keep reading ones that deeply resonate with you. Drop mediocre books, there are a lot of better options out there.
““I think the most important way to read is to pick up a lot of books, start reading them all. Put down any book instantly that doesn’t grab you and you don’t have reading and just keep going until you find something that does speak to you. There are so many choices out there.””
15) Books Understood > Books Read
Naval doesn’t keep track of how many books he reads because it can become a vanity metric. His end goal with reading isn’t to read a ton of books and impress other people, it’s to read only great books and understand the concepts within those books to become wiser.
““I got over this idea of reading a large number of books...It’s a show-off thing, it’s a signaling thing...I no longer track books read or even care about books read, it’s about understanding concepts.” ”
16) Reading Is The Ultimate Meta-Skill
Reading is a powerful skill because it allows you to learn anything you want. You can read books about fitness to become physically fit, books about finance to become financially independent, and so on. You can trade reading for any other skill.
““The great thing about reading is you can use that to pick up any new skill. So if you learn how to learn, it’s the ultimate meta skill and I believe you can learn how to be healthy, you can learn how to be fit, you can learn how to be happy, you can learn how to have good relationships, you can learn how to be successful….You can trade it for any other skill. And that all begins with reading.””
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.
If you’re interested in learning more about 100 Books That Changed The World, you can get a copy here.
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.””
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.””
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.” ”
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. ”
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.””
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.” ”
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.” ”
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.””
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.””
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.””
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.
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.
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.
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.
Top 10 Favorite Books of 2019
I read a total of 45 books In 2019.
Here are my top 10 favorite books.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My 10 favorite books of 2019!
Want more book recommendations?
My Top 10 Favorite Books of 2018
My Top 10 Favorite Books of 2017
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How a Bike Crash Led Me to Create a Book Blog With 600k+ Page Views
Read about how a traumatic bike crash led me to create a book blog with 600K+ pageviews.
A Dark Beginning:
Why did I start a book blog?
Simple, I got into a mountain biking accident and separated my shoulder.
Smiling and enjoying the day, an hour or so later things went south.
It was the last bike run of the day and I could see the end of the trail. What I didn’t see, was a ditch that sent me flying only to be brought down by gravity and have my body tumble down the hill. The helmet I was wearing protected my head, but I didn’t have much protection for the rest of my body.
After blacking out for a few seconds, I looked at my arms and legs and noticed only a few small cuts. “Sweet, just a couple of small scratches,” I thought to myself. However, when I walked over to my bike and tried to pick it up, I couldn’t even lift it halfway.
I knew something was off but I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. So, I hobbled down the mountain to the emergency medical room.
The worker there didn’t do much. He put my arm in a makeshift sling and told me to head to the hospital. “This can’t be good,” I remember saying to myself.
A few hours later and some x-rays later, I would learn that I had suffered an acromioclavicular joint separation or AC separation.
(I swear this story is related to starting Alex & Books, just bear with me for a bit longer.)
At the emergency medical room a few minutes after my crash.
This injury proved to be one of the most painful events of my life, both physically and mentally.
Physically, I was temporarily handicapped. I couldn’t put on my socks by myself (try putting on a sock with one hand, it’s harder than it sounds), had major pain anytime I sneezed or moved my arm to put on clothing, and basically needed help with everyday simple tasks.
The real challenge, however, came from the mental pain. I started to feel depressed because I couldn’t do many of the activities that I loved. Basketball, lifting weights, snowboarding, swimming, and practically every other sport were out of the question.
Since I couldn’t do much of what I loved, I spent most of my time at home. For the first couple of weeks, I played a ton of video games, watched movies, and spent hours on Reddit. These activities brought me pleasure, but not fulfillment. After about three weeks of these indulgences, I started to feel empty inside–as if I was wasting my life.
A Passion for Books:
Prior to the biking incident, I rekindled my passion for reading books.
I had always loved reading in elementary and middle school, but the passion almost burned out from a series of bad English teachers in high school, and, let’s be honest here, like most teenage boys, I spent most of my time focusing on sports, video games, and girls.
However, once in college, I came to the realization that every professor taught their respective subject with, you guessed it, a book.
Whether the professor had 5 years of experience in a subject or 25, they still assigned books for students to read. Some professors even assigned their own books as reading material. “Why make students read books?” I thought to myself.
The answer: Books summarize decades of knowledge from one or more experts into a few hundred pages. In other words, someone in the world may have dedicated 30+ years of their life researching a particular domain and becoming an expert in it, and then decided to condense all of the most valuable lessons they’ve learned into a book that is available for anyone to buy and read.
This notion of books containing decades of wisdom from experts sparked my fascination with reading. It didn’t matter what subject I was interested in, be it psychology, entrepreneurship, writing, dating, productivity, etc, there was a book out there written by an expert in that area and I could learn almost everything they knew for about $10 and a few hours of my time.
When I wanted to understand body language, I read What Every BODY Is Saying by Joe Navarro
When I wanted to learn about startups, I read Zero To One by Peter Thiel
When I needed some life advice, I read The Emperor’s Handbook by Marcus Aurelius
This combination of having a ton of free time and a rediscovered passion for books is what finally pushed me to take the leap and do something I had never done before–create a book blog website.
I spent roughly two months learning how to use Squarespace and wrote a few articles for the site. You can read my first three articles here (warning: it isn’t my finest writing):
Launching A&B:
After about three months of work, I officially launched the site on March 13, 2017. I also created a few social media accounts.
Alex & Books website traffic and Instagram account (thank you for your support everyone!).
Since starting Alex & Books, I’ve read 200+ books, written nearly 100 articles, and received over 600K+ page views on the site. I’ve also been fortunate to meet several of my favorite authors along the journey.
Clockwise starting from top right: Ryan Holiday, Jocko Willink, and Simon Sinek.
The Story continues:
This journey is far from over.
Almost three years later, my passion for books is burning brighter than ever before. I have more books in my library that I haven’t read than I do books that I’ve completed. I even sold my Xbox and got rid of my TV to read more books.
Books have changed my life for the better in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined. Who would have thought that some words printed on pieces of paper would make me more productive and less distracted, better at socializing and dating, elevate my communication and writing skills, and give me a more valuable education than any educational institution I attended.
Now, my mission is to share the lessons learned from these incredible books and encourage as many people as I can to read more.
Although I’m not certain where this mission will take me, it’s still only the beginning and I hope you will join me on this journey. Just like many of the great books out there, the best part is often in the middle.
Read on!
Sincerely,
Alex Wieckowski
My Favorite Books from August & September
A list of my favorite books from August and September.
A few notable reads: “When” by Daniel Pink, “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman, and “Trillion Dollar Coach.” by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, And Alan Eagle.
My favorite books from August & September:
When by Daniel Pink
In this book, Pink explores the scientific secrets of good timing and provides tips to help readers succeed in work, school, and life. He looks at dozens of neuroscience and psychology experiments to reveal that perfect timing is more science than just plain luck.
A few interesting lessons:
The most productive naps are 10-20 minutes long. Anything under 10 minutes doesn’t really restore energy and napping over 20 minutes will have you feeling sleepy when you wake up.
People make major life changes after their (x)9th birthday (29, 39, etc) because they realize they are entering a new decade and reflect on their lives more than they would on any other birthday. For instance, people are more likely to run their first marathon at age 29 than any other age.
Get the book here.
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Simply put, there are 5 languages that partners use to communicate their love.
Words of Affirmation: This includes compliments, words of appreciation and encouragement.
Quality Time: Focusing on your partner and giving them your undivided attention while doing activities together.
Receiving Gifts: Visual symbols of love and giving objects of deep emotional significance (gifts can be free, hand-made or store-bought).
Acts of Service: Doing things you know your spouse would appreciate (cleaning the dishes, cooking dinner, picking up the kids, etc).
Physical Touch: Holding hands, kissing, hugging, etc.
People usually have two love languages (there’s a quiz in the back of the book that you can take to find out your languages), and it’s important to remember that your two languages can be different from your partner’s love languages. Try to channel the language of your partner and ask them to do the same for you.
Get the book here.
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray, Ph.D.
Although many people view dating books as a waste of time, when an author has sold 50+ million copies I say it’s worth giving them a chance, and I’m glad I did. Gray does an excellent job of explaining the different styles of communication between men and women.
For instance, men try to fix every problem that they hear and rather spend less time talking about the issue, but women love to talk about their problems because it helps them think through the situation. Sometimes just listening to a woman talk about her problems is the solution!
This book dives into how men and women argue differently, how each side seeks a separate form of apology, and the unique emotional needs of each gender.
Get the book here.
Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle
This book shares coaching and leadership advice from the legendary Bill Campbell–the man who mentored Steve Jobs, Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, and many more visionaries. The book is filled with tons of great lessons such as:
Value people and make people feel valued
Give people room to debate
Build trust with everyone you work with
Your title makes you a manager but your people make you a leader
Be generous to those you fire
People who want to be coached seek criticism and feedback
And many more helpful lessons. I love this quote from Bill: “I don’t take cash, I don’t take stock, and I don’t take shi*t.”
Get the book here.
More book recaps from from August & September:
One Million Followers by Brandon Kane
Author Brandon Kane shares his story of how he got one million followers on Facebook and the strategies he used to get there. The book also covers tips on how to gain followers on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, as well as how to use social media ads as a growth hacking technique.
A few tips on how to grow your Instagram following:
If high-profile accounts (verified accounts or those with large followings) like or comment on your post, it will be shown to more people.
You need to have a good caption and relevant hashtags, but the most important part is to have a high-quality image.
Instagram favors accounts that engage with their audience and other people’s content.
Be consistent with your posts and try to provide value to your followers.
Lots of great advice in this book, if you’re building a social media following or want to advertise of a social media platform, give this book a read.
Get the book here.
Dataclysm by Christian Rudder
The author of this book is also the cofounder of OkCupid. He looked at the online dating profiles of millions of OkCupid users to identify how people truly act on the internet.
A few interesting takeaways:
Women usually desire men who is 1-3 years older than them while men, regardless of age, most desire women who are between the ages of 20-24.
“Women want men to age with them. And men always head towards youth.”
Women rarely message men, even the most attractive men only get about 2-3 messages a week while the most attractive women get 25+ messages a week.
Research shows that the more mutual friends two people share, the stronger their relationship will be.
Mutual friends = more time spent together with common interests and people.
Although this book did have a few eye-opening facts, when it comes to understanding men and women, I’d recommend reading Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.
Get the book here.
The Heart To Start by David Kadavy
David Kadavy wrote this book to show readers how to overcome fear, self-doubt, and distractions to stop procrastinating on their creative projects and start their art. Through a combination of stories from famous artists and personal experiences, Kadavy provides readers with dozens of pieces of wisdom to guide them on their creative journey.
This book has a similar vibe to The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. If you enjoyed Pressfield’s work, consider reading this book.
Get the book here.
The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine
If you’ve ever wondered how the brains of guys differ from girls, this is the book for you. Author Louann Brizendine, M.D. shares scientific research that examines the changes in the male brain during infancy, childhood, adulthood, and beyond.
A few interesting takeaways:
The dorsal premammillary nucleus contains the circuits for territorial defense and aggression and is larger in male brains.
The amygdala is the alarm system for threats and danger and is larger in men than women.
The mirror-neuron system or the emotional empathy system is larger and more active in women. This helps explain why women tend to be better at reading emotions and understanding how other people feel than men.
Although I did learn several new facts from this book, I’d recommend reading The Female Brain instead. It’s a more engaging read and is by the same author.
Get the book here.
Do The Work by Steven Pressfield
In this book, the great Steven Pressfield identifies the predictable resistance points artists encounter on their creative journey and provides words of advice on how to overcome them.
A few interesting takeaways:
Start before you’re ready. If you wait for the perfect time, you’ll never start. Begin right now.
Do not judge the first draft. The first version of anything (book, app, song, etc) will always suck. It’s about getting it done, not getting it perfect. Editing will come later.
Keep working! Resistance, self-doubt, and procrastination will al try to stop you. Show them no mercy.
Failure equals growth. Perhaps you failed, but you’re still alive. Learn from your mistakes, find areas for improvement, and keep working towards your goal.
I did enjoy this book, but if you haven’t read any of Pressfield’s work you should definitely start with The War of Art.
Get the book here.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
This book is a no-BS guide that teaches people how to control their finances in order to live a rich life. The book provides proven get-rich-slow tactics instead of the ridiculous get-rich-fast schemes people try to sell.
Lessons from the book:
Find credit cards that reward you for your purchases and pay your bills on time to avoid interest payments.
Set up a no-fee, high-interest bank account and open a Roth IRA or 401(k).
Create a conscious spending plan that puts 50-60% of your paycheck towards fixed costs, 10% towards long-term investments, 5-10% towards savings, and 20-35% towards guilt-free purchases.
Instead of picking stocks, find target-date funds that diversified and will provide a steady return. The market gains about 8% per year so the earlier you start investing, the longer you keep your money there, the more time it will have to grow.
Lots of practical advice in this book, I’d recommend reading this book if you’ve never read any personal finance books. Also, check out Rich Dad Poor Dad.
If you’re interested in learning about personal finance or get out of debt and start investing, this is a great book for you.
Read more about the book here. | Get the book here.
Read on everyone! -Alex W.
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7 Awesome Products That Will Improve Your Life
A list of 7 awesome products that have improved my life (and will hopefully do the same for you).
Life can be hard, there is no debating that. But we can do something about it .
There are many things we can’t control, such as the weather, traffic or other people. As the famous stoic philosopher Seneca said, “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”
The only thing that we do have power over is ourselves. It is up to us to make our lives better, in fact, I would say it is our responsibility to do so.
Here are 7 awesome products that have improved my life, and will hopefully do the same for you.
1) The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
This short, 172-page book changed my life by introducing me to the compound effect. The compound effect is the principle that small, smart choices compound over time and lead to huge results. For example, spending $4 on coffee every day may not seem like much, but over 20 years, that tiny habit will cost you over $51,000!
Even a 1% difference can make a huge change. Imagine a plane going from LA to NYC, if the plane is off by 1 degree, it will end up 150 miles off course and land in Delaware! That is why making small, positive changes is so important. It may not make a difference in one day or one week, but over time it can have an enormous impact on your life. The compound effect is always working, make sure you use it to your benefit.
2) Atomic Habits by James Clear
Since the compound effect is always active, it is vital that you change your habits for the better. I’ve read several books about habits, but this one is the truly the best of the best. The author tackles habits from both sides, he gives readers clear, actionable advice for implementing good habits and removing bad ones. The author will also introduce you to the importance of focusing on systems instead of goals and how changing your environment will dramatically improve your life. This book is worth its weight in gold.
3) Adjustable Laptop Table Stand Up with Ergonomic Design
This laptop stand has been a game-changer for me. Since I work on a laptop for several hours every day, I started to feel neck pain from always bending my neck downwards (commonly known as text neck). This laptop stand can be adjusted to different levels so I can use it on my desk where I have my laptop at eye-level or raise it so it turns into a standing-desk. It is made from aluminum which is sturdy yet lightweight, and also has fans to provide ventilation for your laptop.
4) Wireless Keyboard for Macs & VicTsing Ergonomic Wireless Mouse
Once you have your laptop stand, it’s going to be uncomfortable to type with your hands floating in the air. That’s why you also need to get a wireless keyboard and mouse. If you have a MacBook, make sure you get a wireless keyboard that is similar to a Mac and not a PC. Also, make sure you get an ergonomic mouse. I bought a regular wireless mouse and my hand was cramping after two days. An ergonomic mouse has a resting place for your thumb and pinky finger, it’s a small feature but it makes a huge difference–trust me, your hands will thank you for it.
5) Philips Noise Cancellation Headphones
In terms of price and quality, these headphones give you the best bang for your buck. The headphones are slim which makes them easily portable, and are excellent are canceling noise which makes them ideal for listening to a podcast on the train or working on a project in a noisy coffee shop. Since these are over-the-ear headphones, they also double are earmuffs and keep your ears warm doing the winter.
6) Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker
The famous management professor, Peter Drucker, once said: "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it." Fortunately, the Fitbit helps you measure your health which gives you the opportunity to manage it. A Fitbit is essentially a smartwatch that tracks your steps, heart rate, sleep, minutes active and calories burned. It also reminds you to get up every hour and move around, which is an important feature for any desk worker since sitting for long periods of time can be harmful. Since Fitbit tracks your activity, you can’t lie to yourself and say you sleep 8 hours and worked out yesterday for 45 minutes when the app says otherwise. The device is affordable, waterproof, and lasts up to 7 days on one charge. This is a must for fitness enthusiasts.
7) Adjustable Dumbbells
Everyone knows that lifting weights is good for them, but sometimes it’s hard to find the time or motivation to go to the gym. By having dumbbells at home, you have nearly zero excuses to not work out. I’ve noticed that I went from exercising 3 times a week to 5 times a week ever since I got a pair of dumbbells.
Why lift weights at all? Weight lifting improves your metabolism, posture, sleep, mood, and confidence. If you aren’t exercising you’re missing out on a plethora of incredible health benefits. The good news is that it’s never too late to start, in fact, start today!
If you’re interested in getting any of these products, click the link below:
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Wireless Keyboard for Macs & VicTsing Ergonomic Wireless Mouse
For a full list of all of my favorite products, click here!
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The 50+ Books Mark Manson Recommends Reading
Mark Manson is a self-help author, personal development consultant, entrepreneur, and blogger.
He is best known for writing “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” and “Everything is F*cked.”
Here’s a list of books Manson recommends reading!
Mark Manson is a self-help author, personal development consultant, entrepreneur, and blogger. He blogs under his own name at MarkManson.net, and has authored three books:
Not only is Manson a successful author (“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” alone sold 3+ million copies), he is also an avid reader–he read 66 books in 2017 and 63 books in 2018.
I was curious to find out which books he loved the most, so I did some research and compiled together this list of all his book recommendations:
Author Mark Manson and myself.
TO UNDERSTAND LIFE:
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Republic by Plato
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn
The Denial of Death and Escape from Evil by Ernest Becker
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, and Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why Information Grows by Cesar Hidalgo
TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD:
The Origins of Political Order and Political Order and Decay by Francis Fukuyama
Lessons of History by William Durant and Ariel Durant
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches by Marvin Harris
Zealot by Reza Aslan
Debt: The First 5000 Years by David Graeber
On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche
Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud
Marriage: A History by Stephanie Coontz
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
The Dictator’s Handbook by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith
Race Against the Machines by Eric Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee
Democracy for Realists by Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels
Average is Over by Tyler Cowen
TO UNDERSTAND HUMAN NATURE:
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
The Red Queen by Matt Ridley
The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker
The Evolving Self by Robert Kegan
The True Believer by Eric Hoffer
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
This is Water by David Foster Wallace
FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2017:
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant
Why Information Grows by Cesar Hidalgo
Godel, Escher and Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter
The Sixth ExtinctionL An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2018:
I Am Dynamite!: A Life of Nietzsche by Sue Prideaux
The Evolving Self by Robert Kegan
The Three-Body Problem Trilogy by Cixin Liu
Democracy for Realists by Christopher Aachens and Larry Bartels
The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt
FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2019 (so far):
Circe by Madeline Miller
This Life: Secular Faith and Spiritual Freedom by Martin Hagglund
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The Second Mountain: A Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
How many books on Manson’s list have you read?
If there’s a book on here that you think is a must-read, let me know in the comments below!
You may also want to check out book recommendations from these great authors:
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This article was based on several articles. The sources can be found here, here and here.
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