I read a lot of books, and this page contains links to some of the best books I’ve come across. You won’t find any fluff here; this list contains only what I consider to be the most influential books I’ve ever read. These books have shaped the way I view the world, and I wholeheartedly recommend these books to anyone looking to grow and collect new ideas.
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
One of the best leadership books I’ve ever read. Written by two Navy SEALS, each chapter contains 3 components: 1) a story from their deployment in Iraq, 2) a discussion of the leadership principle, and 3) a story of how it relates to business. A very entertaining and enlightening read.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Phenomenal book on habits and habit formation. IMHO it’s the definitive work on the subject, and offers much more insight and application than The Power of Habit. James has a very straightforward yet entertaining writing style, and I learn a lot every time I go through it (I’ve re-read this one multiple times).
The One Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
The basic idea is pretty straightforward, but the application of the clarifying question (What is the ONE THING that by doing it will make everything else easier or unnecessary?) has yielded some pretty powerful results in my own life. Lots of visuals to support the ideas.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
This book will mess you up (in a good way). It’s impossible to read this book and not be inspired by the author’s attitude and simultaneously appalled by the evil of the Nazi concentration camps. Everyone should read this book at least once in their life.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Cal Newport is one seriously smart dude. In this book, he breaks down how focus works and makes a very compelling case for developing your focus muscle. There’s so much I love about this book. It forever changed the way that I approach “knowledge work” (the type of stuff I do every day) and I believe it’s a big reason why I’m able to do what I do.
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
More is not better. But in our society, we uphold busy-ness as a badge of honor. Greg taught me that in order to really make a difference, you have to say “no” to a lot of other things. You can be an inch deep and a mile wide, a mile deep and an inch wide. I prefer, as Greg puts it, “the disciplined pursuit of less.”
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
A leadership fable, this book is a quick and entertaining read that has forever changed the way I look at teamwork. The best teams don’t exist in the absence of conlfict, they embrace it and learn how to use it to their advantage. I’ve heard stories of people trying to implement these lessons in the wrong way, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable.
The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey
This book is a classic, and with good reason. Many of the productivity principles you read about on the web today can be traced back to this book. Some people may be put off by the title, but this book is a goldmine of information for anyone who wants to reach their full potential.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Another classic in the personal development genre, this is the original book on thinking bigger. The title doesn’t do this book justice as it’s about much more than just making money. And because it was written so long ago, you can find many places online where you can read it for free if you don’t want to buy it.
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
Looking back, this book has beed one of the most influential books I’ve evver read. It challenged me to develop my skills and puruse excellence in everything that I do. This perspective has opened up a lot of doors professionally for me over the years, but I credit this book with the push to get me started.
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
This is a straight-up productivity book, but it’s one of the best. The idea of doing the hardest thing first is so simple it’s easy to overlook, but don’t underestimate how powerful simple acctions can be. This book is the thing that inspired me to get up early and write for an hour every day, which led to me writing my own book and opening up a new career path I never anticipated.
The Obstacle is The Way by Ryan Holiday
We all face difficulties, but how we look them is important. This book taught me to view problems as opportunities, which has enabled me to accomplish goals I never dreamed were possible for me. If you’re feeling frustrated this book can help you get unstuck.
The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
One of the biggest struggles I have is thinking bigger, and that exactly what this book challenged me to do. Not a fan of some of the language he uses (I don’t think I’d like Grant Cardone if I met him in person), but the ideas he shares in this book have impacted me significantly.
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Overcoming a fixed mindset and developing a growth mindset is one of the most important mindset shifts you can make if you want to reach your full potential. This book showed me that failure wasn’t final and taught me to grow from my mistakes. Carol does an excellent job explaining what a growth mindset is and how to cultivate in yourself (and your kids).
Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey
This book is about a lot more than just doing deep work. Chris does a great job explaining both hyperfocus and scatterfocus and explaining how they work together. If you want an approachable, complete look at how focus works, I highly recommend this book.
12 Week Year by Brain Moran & Michael Lennington
This book changed the way I set my goals and is the framework upon which my Personal Retreat Course is built. The book is a little sensational, but if you can get past that there’s some great information here. If you’re looking for a more effective method for setting and achieving goals, definitely read this book.
Overlap by Sean McCabe
This is a great book about how to make sustainable money from your passion that challenges a lot of conventional thinking. If you’ve ever had a dream for a side hustle but can’t seem to make any progress, this book offers great advice and will help you make your dream a reality.