Reading List Index

Favorite Reads All Time (No Particular Order)

-The Winner Within by Pat Riley

Any sports enthusiast should read Pat Riley’s book on the leadership lessons extrapolated from his time coaching the Showtime Lakers of the 80s. He focuses on team building and leadership strategies for achieving peak performance, emphasizing mental toughness, clear communication, and a commitment to excellence that can be applied to both business and life, as well as sports.

-The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I am not an avid fiction enthusiast; however, I found this book to be entertaining and enjoyed the underlying theme and message. This philosophical novel follows a shepherd boy as he journeys to fulfill his life’s purpose, emphasizing the importance of listening to your heart, following your dreams, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all things.

-Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

This book really resonated with me due to the emphasis Matthew McConaughey puts on seeking adventure and going against the grain. This memoir by Matthew McConaughey shares personal anecdotes and philosophical insights, offering lessons on life, success, failure, and navigating challenges with resilience and authenticity. The experiences he shares are incredibly unique and interesting, to say the least!

-The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd

Encourages individuals to reject conventional career paths and pursue meaningful work aligned with their values and passions, emphasizing the importance of experimentation, flexibility, and continuous learning. This was probably the single most significant factor that led me to jump into content creation.

-Die with Zero by Bill Perkins

Challenges the traditional approach to retirement planning by advocating for prioritizing experiences and creating a life filled with memorable moments, emphasizing the importance of living fully in the present. This book was inspirational for me to consider the timing in participating in the experiences I want to have in life and deferring to the future that is not guaranteed.

-I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Offers practical advice on personal finance, budgeting, saving, investing, and automating financial systems to achieve long-term financial security and freedom. This was super critical in forming my financial strategy for my sabbatical.

-4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Provides strategies for maximizing productivity, automating tasks, and designing a lifestyle that allows for more freedom and flexibility, encouraging individuals to escape the 9-to-5 grind and pursue their passions.

-From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want by Arthur Brooks

I love Arthur Brooks’ insights. From Strength to Strength offers a guide for personal growth and finding fulfillment in the second half of life, based on principles of positive psychology, neuroscience, and social science. Build the Life You Want helps provide practical tips for cultivating genuine, strong relationships, developing spiritual practices, and redefining purposeful work, regardless of one's stage in life.

-Wanting by Luke Burgis

Explores the concept of mimetic desire and how our wants are shaped by the desires of others, providing insights into human behavior and offering strategies for cultivating more authentic and fulfilling desires.

-Anything by Brene Brown

Brene Brown covers various aspects of vulnerability, shame, courage, and empathy, offering guidance on cultivating self-compassion, building authentic relationships, and living a wholehearted life. She also packages a number of her teachings into a comprehensive leadership guide called Dare to Lead, which I would strongly recommend to any leader seeking to cultivate a more authentic and accountable leadership style. I have probably read 6 or 7 of her books, and none have disappointed.

-Ego Is the Enemy and Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday

Offers a practical guide to achieving success and finding fulfillment by conquering the ego, cultivating humility, and embracing stillness as a source of strength and wisdom. Ryan does a great job of distilling Stoic philosophical principles into easily digestible insights that make it easy to apply to daily life.

-The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Four Agreements is a super-easy read. Don Miguel presents four profound yet straightforward agreements for living a life of freedom, happiness, and love, emphasizing the importance of being impeccable with your word, not taking anything personally, not making assumptions, and always doing your best. This book has helped me become aware of the moments when I let my mind wander and provided an easy framework to check back in with what is essential in life.

-Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Explores the importance of finding and articulating your “why” or purpose, emphasizing that people are more likely to be inspired by organizations that communicate their core values and beliefs. I believe this principle is equally important to consider in one’s personal life as it is in business.

-The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday (continuously reading)

Provides daily meditations and practical wisdom based on the principles of Stoicism, offering guidance on cultivating resilience, managing emotions, and living a virtuous and meaningful life.

-Bible in a Year: English Standard Version Catholic Edition by Augustine Institute (continuously reading)

A structured reading plan for covering the entire Bible in one year, providing a comprehensive understanding of scripture and its spiritual teachings. The readings only amount to 3-4 pages a day with an insightful reflection. I find this much easier to digest then traditional full version bibles.