Sharing the books I've read each year since 2017 has been an exciting experience for me. It's been a great way to connect with people who share my passion for reading. This has been my most popular email and social media post every year.
This experience has taught me two things. Firstly, business people are aware that continuous learning is essential. Secondly, they need a gentle push in the right direction. Without further ado, here's my 2023 List of Books.
These three books are all part of an arc that can really clarify how to think about what you are doing, what you have done, and what you want to do. Benjamin Hardy, working with Dan Sullivan, has put together a set of books I will reread and rely on for the rest of my business and personal life.
1. 10x Is Easier than 2x By: Dan Sullivan, Dr. Benjamin Hardy https://amzn.to/3sNfI9h
2. The Gap and the Gain By: Dan Sullivan, Dr. Benjamin Hardy https://amzn.to/3N2Ycoh
3. Be Your Future Self Now By: Dr. Benjamin Hardy https://amzn.to/3sNt2uh
4. The 80/20 Principle and 92 Other Powerful Laws of Nature By: Richard Koch https://amzn.to/3QZ4dDK
Understanding how to appropriately focus on a smaller area of opportunity to create a bigger result has been a theme for me in 2023. This is a handy guide to make that happen.
5. The Wright Brothers By: David McCullough https://amzn.to/40Wy7gr
Nobody thought it was possible. But the quarrelsome Wright Brothers became obsessed and then did the work to barely succeed. By the way, their competition failed even with government funding
6. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity By Peter Attia MD https://amzn.to/3uzhyet
This year I lost fifty pounds and got back into lifting some weights. Reading this book opened my eyes to my personal future.
7. The Second World War: The Grand Alliance By: Sir Winston Churchill https://amzn.to/40ZK5FZ
The stories and lessons from Churchill are valuable. What I really got out of this book is yet another confirmation of how good our lives are based on the sacrifices others have made.
8. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself By: Joe Dispenza https://amzn.to/3RfQU2R
Another book about framing your future by managing what you think about your past.
9. Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive By: Robert B. Cialdini https://amzn.to/3GfdMJw
Dr. Cialdini gives great functional examples of ethical ways to stack the deck in your favor. Each of the examples gives a 1% edge to you but those small edges add up.
10. Acres of Diamonds By: Russell H. Conwell https://amzn.to/3RfCD6i
Russell Conwell gave this presentation more than 6,000 times. He did it without slides or microphones and he changed people's lives.
11. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life By: Admiral William H. McRaven https://amzn.to/3RhSykS
Too often we want to change the world without getting our own house in order. Well, the best place to start making changes is right at home. First thing in the morning.
12. Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics By: Dan Harris https://amzn.to/3N1zDYG
In January of 2024, I will hit my goal of starting 1,000 days in a row by spending 5 minutes meditating. I would not have done it without reading this book. To say I am a fan is an understatement.
Other great books
Recently, I started a podcast called Default Profitable. You can listen to episodes here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/default-profitable/id1690644282 As part of the podcast I interview business owners and ask them for book recommendations. Here is the list they came up with.
Books by Pete the Planner https://amzn.to/44cSyqf
You’re Always Being Interviewed by Ron Brumbarger https://amzn.to/3qAR8ak
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson https://amzn.to/3OsQqUE
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore https://amzn.to/3QzsgdP
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries https://amzn.to/45s9lWr
Radical Candor by Kim Scott https://amzn.to/3s3JKok
Good to Great by Jim Collins https://amzn.to/3KI3J2i
Emotional Intelligence by Travis Bradbury https://amzn.to/3s6LFbH
Start with Why by Simon Sinek https://amzn.to/3KI1Pim
Atomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/3KHmD9x
Lead From the Start Here https://amzn.to/3qPNeuo
Taipan by James Clavell https://amzn.to/3L0Ut9V
Blood and Treasure by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin https://amzn.to/3OO9DQQ
Traction by Gino Wickman. https://amzn.to/3OZjGlY
Building a StoryBrand, by Donald Miller https://amzn.to/3PywIZr
Alchemy by Rory Sutherland https://amzn.to/3sT25Fi
Brainfluence by Roger Dooley https://amzn.to/466RXag
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman https://amzn.to/3sJJqvf
Everybody Writes by Ann Handley https://amzn.to/3PA87Ua
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahnman https://amzn.to/48viccq
Nudge by Richard Thaler https://amzn.to/3EJcqGs
Scaling Up – Verne Harnish https://amzn.to/3Pq2qH1
Obviously Awesome – April Dunford https://amzn.to/3Pq2syD
An Effective Life – Stephen Covey https://amzn.to/3PjPbHP
You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar by David H. Sandler https://amzn.to/46kXGJy
Patrick Lencioni Books https://amzn.to/462HQUh
Inspired by Marty Cagan https://amzn.to/461drFV
Sales Fusion https://amzn.to/3Mk9Ri3
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie https://amzn.to/45ZBeVz
Who Moved My Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson https://amzn.to/3u0Q298
Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles https://amzn.to/3MlNY1O
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing https://amzn.to/3MjIgOg
Yes You Can Do It by Claudia Reuter https://amzn.to/3SvXq6H
What the Heck is EOS by Gino Wickman & Tom Bouwer https://amzn.to/3MwO6vt
Start With Why by Simon Sinek https://amzn.to/3SK3CrU
Leadership & Self Deception by Arbinger Institute https://amzn.to/3SNq0kl
Radical Candor by Kim Scott https://amzn.to/49KzmmU
Traction by Gino Wickman https://amzn.to/47t1JEz
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