“The man who doesn't read has no advantage over the man who can't read” – Mark Twain
I could sit here and list all the benefits from reading….
Like an increase in your vocabulary.
Or to improve your imagination.
But the truth is there is only one reason that really matters to me.
To make you a better man.
Books are a storehouse of knowledge. They offer the best education a man can receive.
These books have nothing to do with style, but have everything to do with making you better.
Books that go deep, not just for entertainment. This material challenges and inspires you to grow.
Here’s a list of 10 books I’ve read in the past couple of years that I would recommend for men.
1. Deep Work – Cal Newport
This is a book worth getting distracted over.
Cal Newport's deep book on battling distractions and interruptions contains rules, strategies, disciplines, techniques, and philosophies that will inspire you to sharpen your focus.
DEEP WORK represents a shift in work practices to foster a practice of distraction-free productivity.
A state that is rare in our constantly shifting and noise-driven society. Applicable to every modern man, the systems in the book teach you how to get more done in less time.
Read this book to learn how to have a greater impact in any field by cutting out distractions.
2. If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy? – Raj Raghunathan
My friend, Raj, developed the content in this book about happiness over a course of 8 years.
It is well-researched and brings together a lot of findings to ask a seriously important and relevant question – you have so much success, why are you still unhappy?
The book explores the mystifying non-correlation between academic success and career success.
As it turns out, the things that make you happy are not necessarily the factors we associate with success. In fact, success (as modern society defines it), can have detrimental impact on your happiness levels.
Two of the suggested factors that contribute to happiness are: generosity and an appreciation for uncertainty.
This book will challenge your current perception of work, relationships, personal goals and success.
3. Essentialism: The Discipined Pursuit Of Less – Greg McKeown & Margin: Restoring Physical, Financial & Time Reserves Overloaded Lives – Richard Swenson
Both these books focus on zoning in on what matters.
Essentialism helped me to focus on what matters while ignoring the aspect of life that lead to busyness.
The Essentialist focuses on getting the right things done in less time. This is not a book on time management or productivity techniques, it is a systematic discipline that will help you separate the wheat from the chaff.
Read this book to help you understand how to eliminate everything that is stopping you from having the biggest impact you can make on this planet.
Margin taught me to how to deal with and avoid overload. How did we get so busy that we stopped appreciating the simple things in life? Margin is the space that allows us to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon (in a hammock), watch a movie in the middle of the week or take a spontaneous weekend trip.
Overload is “hurry”. Margin is calm.
Read either of these books to understand the impact of focus and the danger of things that will overload you and cause stress.
4. Manvotionals – Brett & Kate McKay
A book about living a life of virtue and excellence.
Brett and Kate created a book that challenges men to live authentic lives. It contains excerpts, a collection of some of the best writing in the world.
This book motivates me every time I pick it up to read small sections randomly. Each chapter covers one of the seven virtues and is packed with the best classic advice ever written down for men.
From the philosophy of Aristotle to the speeches and essays of Theodore Roosevelt, these pages contain the manly wisdom of the ages—poems, quotes, and essays that will inspire you to live life to the fullest and realize your complete potential.
A book you can read again and again.
5. The Magic Of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz
Belief, strong belief, triggers the mind into big action.
Most people think too small. They shy away from challenging themselves or set pitiful goals to avoid disappointment.
We need to think beyond our narrow focus and open our mind to the possibilities that require BIG THINKING.
This book provides simple actionable tips to improve your marriage, family life, your job, and your community. David Schwartz's classic book is one of the all-time best proactive books on success.
Read this book if you want to be a changed person – it's that incredible and challenging.
6. Influence – Robert Cialdini
Understand the influence you have on others and the influence they have on you.
This classic book explains the art of persuasion and how to get people to say ‘yes.' Based on over 35 years of research and experience, the book offers six universal principles on how to become a skilled persuader.
And more importantly, it outlines (through case studies, evidence-based research, and anecdotes) how to defend yourself against the manipulative influence of others against you.
Read this book if you want to understand how you can affect others and have a positive impact.
7. The Law Of Success – Napolean Hill
This book has been changing and shaping lives for nearly 100 years!
A classic title, Hill goes much deeper into the 17 principles in The Law of Success.
The content is broken up into sections that can be read separately, making this a bedside reference book for anyone who wants to improve their productivity.
Read this book for the fundamentals of success and philosophies that will fuel your growth.
8. The 50th Law – 50 Cent & Robert Greene
Fear nothing!
This book might take you by surprise, it is outside of your normal reading fare. The authors present a non-conventional approach in an industry I know nothing about.
Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent) along with Robert Greene (author of The 48 Laws Of Power), presents a gritty, no-holds-barred account of his rise to fame.
Whatever your field, you will relate to the story of this rapper who, despite the lack of opportunities, manages to turn every setback and challenge into a huge positive.
Read this book to understand the importance of hustle in breaking through obstacles.
9. The Mind & Heart Of The Negotiator – Leigh Thompson
We are always negotiating in life.
Whether you are seeking a compromise in a personal relationship, a multi-million dollar business contract or in a conflict situation, understanding how to negotiate can save relationships, lives, money, and time.
This classic textbook will teach you how to get more out of life simply by asking. The book lays out the mechanics of negotiation in a methodical, clear and concise manner.
Just don’t try the techniques from this book on your wife, she’ll be on to you in no time!
10. The Writing System – Daniel O. Graham & Judith H. Graham
The science of writing?
The Writing System teaches 13 steps and 51 practical techniques to working your way from draft to final copy, in producing quality documents every single time.
Each technique is accompanied with tutorials, exercises, and answers, with special instructions to assist non-native English speakers.
Use the system to create authentic proposals, content, emails, and reports that will grab people's attention.
Read this book to understand the importance of structured writing.
Bonus Book Recommendations
The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferriss
This book describes a lifestyle that is rapidly gaining popularity around the globe.
The author experiments with various lifestyle designs to find ideal solutions for creating an automated workweek.
The result is a lot of free time to pursue the lifestyle that you desire. The book gives step-by-step instructions on how to create such a lifestyle while also offering the reader a chance to ask the most important questions about what really matters to them.
Antifragile – Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This is a must read for anyone who loves philosophy.
Taleb has a rather direct and practical approach to life.
The book is a riveting account of Taleb's experiences as a trader and risk analyst, student of philosophy, and then a flâneur.
What you will get out of this book is a series of heuristics to live a life that is designed to gain from disorder, chaos, and uncertainty.
The Slight Edge – Jeff Olson
What is that “one” thing that is going to propel you into a life of fulfillment?
Olson shows you how to get powerful results from the mundane activities of your daily life, by using tools that are already within your reach.
Find out what SLIGHT EDGE successful people have over those who simply dream but fail to achieve their goals.
Don't just read these books for the pure enjoyment of reading. Act on the material for the best results. These books will give you the framework that you need to take action.
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