Books I've Read.
“Do not let schooling interfere with your education” – Mark Twain
How to Properly Read a Book
Do you ever find yourself reading a book and thinking you are understanding everything you are reading only to find out that you are unable to recall or explain the important points the author alludes to at a later time? This may not be an issue for some people, but this was an issue I used to always find myself reliving. What did I do to fix it? I did research on the topic, and the video below highlights much of what I learned about how to remember everything you learn or at least much more than I could remember prior to watching this video. This skill has helped me maintain a near 4.0 GPA in college, and it is a skill that must be developed and practiced in order to reach a level of mastery. If this is an issue someone reading this struggles with, I highly recommend watching the video below.
MY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Top 5 Books I've Read
- Personal Rating: 9.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 8/10
- Intellectual: 10/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: Jordan Peterson is a clinical psychologist and a professor at the University of Toronto. Many people have mixed opinions about him, but in my eyes, he is one of the most awe-inspiring influencers for constantly telling what he believes to be the truth, his openness towards dialogue, and his deep complexity of thought. While rules are a touchy subject, he lays out an honest foundation for how to live based on what he has learned in his life experience.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 8.5/10
- Intellectual: 9.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: For anyone wondering how to treat money and the various causes of financial havoc and financial success, this is the book for you. While many finance books can be boring, I found this book to be extremely engaging. Rather than discuss strictly how to invest your money and other nitty-gritty money tricks, the book discusses the psychology behind financial behavior. It is a must-read in my opinion, especially for those curious about money and the psychology behind it.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 6.5/10
- Intellectual: 9/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: This is a book written in the 30s that is still relevant in today’s time. Dale Carnegie uses many real-world situations to teach any reader how to make friends, how to keep friends, and how to make an impact. This book uses many old examples which I did not find particularly relevant to modern day and it was not a quick read, but the importance of the topic was the main reason this is one of my top 5 books. I apply material I have learned from this book each and every day, and it is a worthwhile read.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 5/10
- Who Should Read It: Teenagers
Personal Thoughts: H.I.V.E., which stands for Higher Institute of Villainous Education, is a fictional series that revolves around a center character named Otto Malpense. He is born with incredible intellectual capability, but his ingeniousness as a child gets noticed by a particular set of uncanny eyes. The headmaster of a school that doesn’t seem to exist takes a keen interest in the boy, and soon, Otto finds the world he once knew to be changed completely. This book series is an action-thriller that I could not set down, and while anyone can read it, I feel it would resonate the most with teenagers, especially males.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 6/10
- Who Should Read It: Teenagers
Personal Thoughts: The Legend Trilogy is another series that kept me on the edge of my seat. Similar to the hunger games in my mind, these fictional books follow a young rebellious boy and his actions against a seemingly evil government. I think book series would be particularly interesting for teenagers, but anyone looking for an new series could read them. The main character, Day, and a young girl, June, find themselves on opposing sides of a frivolous society. The book switches between perspectives throughout as the plot unfolds, leaving the reader enticed and choosing between the two sides.
Non-Fiction.
“A non-fiction writer is a story-teller who has taken an oath to tell the truth” – Russel Freedman
- Personal Rating: 9.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 8/10
- Intellectual: 10/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: Jordan Peterson is a clinical psychologist and a professor at the University of Toronto. Many people have mixed opinions about him, but in my eyes, he is one of the most awe-inspiring influencers for constantly telling what he believes to be the truth, his openness towards dialogue, and his deep complexity of thought. While rules are a touchy subject, he lays out an honest foundation for how to live based on what he has learned in his life experience.
- Personal Rating: 6/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 6/10
- Intellectual: 6.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: Dave Ramsey is a most widely known to me as a talk show host on the radio. After listening to his various suggestions over the years, I thought I should start my financial literacy journey by reading his book. While he lays out rules that have worked and still work, I feel that some of his recommendations are slightly outdated and not viable options in my life. I definitely still recommend reading his book, but anyone should use their best judgement to compare his ideas to others.Ā
- Personal Rating: 7/10
- Amazon Rating: /5
- Engaging: 5/10
- Intellectual: 8.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: This book by The Crazy Man in the Pink Wig is his second book focusing specifically on financial freedom through a method similar to that first thought of by John Bogle;:index funds. He is an advocate for investing in long-term low-cost funds, and this book explains how to put aside the noise of Wall Street and focus on what matters, which is the ability to let your money grow over time and let compound interest do its magical. After all, compound interest is the eighth miracle of the world.
- Personal Rating: 7/10
- Amazon Rating: /5
- Engaging: 6/10
- Intellectual: 6.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially to create better goals for success
Personal Thoughts: The premise behind the 10x Rule by Grant Cardone, a real-estate guru and multi-millionaire, is how to set proper goals and to push yourself to blow the goals out of the water. This is a concept I have set for myself in my own life, and I personally know others who have reaped the benefits of the wisdom this book shares. Anyone looking to set goals for themselves should add this book to their reading list as it has proven results around achieving 10X success.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 3/10
- Intellectual: 8/10
- Who Should Read It: Those interested in history, religion, and behavior
Personal Thoughts: A concept that has always intrigued me is the moral concept and how it is developed. The ability to understand perception and where it comes from is a fundamental question of human life that is still questionable to this day. This book follows the journey of police battalions in Nazi Germany and how ordinary men can become monsters. This book can be a slow read, but it offers some astounding insights into behavior and the how the Holocaust came to be.
- Personal Rating: 6.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 6/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially those with self-doubt or seeking change
Personal Thoughts: The relation between what is known about the brain and how it can be trained is a subject of extreme importance. This book highlights the unconscious mind and training it to create the desired outcomes in life through affirmations. The all-encompassing book has self talk for various desired outcomes, including escaping depression, self-doubt, increasing self-worth, and how to increase positivity in one’s life.
- Personal Rating: 6.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 4/10
- Intellectual: 8/10
- Who Should Read It: Job applicants and Salesmen
Personal Thoughts: Similar to “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” this book has survived the test of time. Frank Bettger, a salesmen of early 20th century, was a failed salesman in his late 20s and became one of the most successful in his industry by his 40s. He highlights his rules for selling, how to overcome fear, how to act, how to treat clients. Some of these suggestions are common sense, but I often overlooked them.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 8.5/10
- Intellectual: 9/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: For anyone wondering how to treat money and the various causes of financial havoc and financial success, this is the book for you. While many finance books can be boring, I found this book to be extremely engaging. Rather than discuss strictly how to invest your money and other nitty-gritty money tricks, the book discusses the psychology behind financial behavior. It is a must-read in my opinion, especially for those curious about money and the psychology behind it.
- Personal Rating: 8/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 7/10
- Intellectual: 8.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: As a book that has taken the self-development genre by storm, James Clear is a mastermind to the tune of daily habits creating a life of success. While self-development books can be difficult to get through, the logic and insight he offers about success through habits is regarded by most as the single best modern book on habits, both breaking bad habits and the formation of good habits. Tiny changes can create remarkable results if given the chance to multiply with time.
- Personal Rating: 7.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 6/10
- Intellectual: 8/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: The Crazy Man in the Pink Wig is someone I first heard of through my schooling at the University of Northern Iowa. He is someone who helps college students and other people get educated about their finances. He has written four books detailing the various financial choices one should make, especially in the early years of life. He started out in the military with a negative net worth at 25 years old, and now he is a millionaire in early retirement teaching others to do the same.
- Personal Rating: 8/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.6/5
- Engaging: 6/10
- Intellectual: 8/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially business owners and entrepreneurs
Personal Thoughts: As someone who is intrigued by owning a business and creating companies and revenue streams, this book provides a perfect starting point for the foundation of a story behind a business. Outside of strictly business, it provides the forefront for the development of any idea. With the preconditions people often have, a new perspective that Simon Sinek offers gives the reader a chance to rediscover an idea and the ultimate “why” behind it that people will listen to.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 5/10
- Intellectual: 9.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially those that deal with people on a daily basis
Personal Thoughts: The short book is a simple read for anyone, especially those looking to understand people. If one’s significant other is driving them crazy and their thought process seems foreign, this book is a weekly read to instill how to handle people. Everyone has an ego, and the ability to balance dealing with emotions while presenting facts is a fine art. This book is one that should be read over and over again and put into practice, regardless of who someone is.
- Personal Rating: 5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
- Engaging: 4/10
- Intellectual: 9/10
- Who Should Read It: Finance Majors, especially CFPs, and those interest in what success actually looks like in America
Personal Thoughts: This book was written by two authors with doctorates in finance, and the book is written like a research paper to observe what millionaires actually look like in America compared to the presuppositions imposed on them. The answer is not what it seems, and the book has a plethora of different examples of how millionaires spend their money and what they did to earn it.
- Personal Rating: 8/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 9/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: Greenlights is the first audiobook I ever listened to, and I have to say it is hard to beat Matthew McConaughey’s soothing voice. This book is an autobiography of his life where he recalls his various encounters and the existential truths he has discovered to be true in his life. He has been a motivational speaker and well-known actor for a number of years now, but the background of his life and how he gets into character is truly an amazing tale to recreate in itself. This book is a great guide for living life to the fullest.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 6.5/10
- Intellectual: 9/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: This is a book written in the 30s that is still relevant in today’s time. Dale Carnegie uses many real-world situations to teach any reader how to make friends, how to keep friends, and how to make an impact. This book uses many old examples which I did not find particularly relevant to modern day and it was not a quick read, but the importance of the topic was the main reason this is one of my top 5 books. I apply material I have learned from this book each and every day, and it is a worthwhile read.
- Personal Rating: 8/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 7.5/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: Admiral William McRaven gave my favorite commencement speech I have ever listened to at the University of Texas. His speech goes into great detail about what he learned as a Navy Seal and how those lessons apply to life. The speech received such a colossal audience that he decided to right a book about it. The speech can be listened to on YouTube, but the premise of the speech lies around the theme of daily accomplishments, starting with making your bed.Ā
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 9/10
- Intellectual: 9/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone
Personal Thoughts: This is a must-read book for anyone interested in becoming successful. It is a book that made waves when it was originally published, and it continues to make waves to this day. This book redefines the presuppositions that were once drilled in what people thought of and continue to think of when they hear the word asset, cash-flow, debt, and other major financial terms. This iconic book is the #1 best selling finance book of all time, and it can help anyone get a jumpstart on life.
- Personal Rating: 7.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 7/10
- Intellectual: 6.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially those looking for positive career change
Personal Thoughts: This book landed in my lap after a surplus of recommendations from friends and colleagues, and it most certainly did not disappoint. Tired of the monotonous day-to-day work life? This book follows a fictional story of a man whose life is going downhill, and he is given an ultimatum about his potential future becoming potentially gloom as he may be fired from his company. When everywhere he turns seems hopeless, he meets a bus driver and he finds the answer he has been looking for.
- Personal Rating: 4/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 2/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Those interested in being successful
Personal Thoughts: This book has a variety of different versions, and I personally did not enjoy this book much. The reason I still recommend it is because it is a classic, but I would skip over it if I were to be presented with it again. This book requires action in the form of training the subconscious and forming habits, but I think the material is outdated. People have varying opinions as it is one of the most read books on success out there but be careful which version is chosen.
- Personal Rating: 7.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 5.5/10
- Intellectual: 9/10
- Who Should Read It: Finance Majors & Investors
Personal Thoughts: John Bogle is the founder of Vanguard and the creator of the index fund. An index fund is buying a small part of each company in the entire stock market and holding it forever rather than trading it. Bogle argues why index funds are the proper way to invest rather than trying to beat the market, and it is a book that has extensive logic that speaks for itself with proven results. It is a lower level finance book that helps to explain concepts.
- Personal Rating: 6.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
- Engaging: 7/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Anyone interested in avoiding Taxes
Personal Thoughts: Tax-Free Wealth was a great book for people looking to establish businesses, invest in real estate, or start any side gigs to legally avoid taxes. There are lots of strategies to avoid taxes, but this book mostly touches on starting a business or investing in real estate to create write offs and other various tax information. It isn’t super exciting information, but it will help any reader to understand how the rich help make the tax code work in their advantage.
Fiction.
“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 5/10
- Who Should Read It: Teenagers
Personal Thoughts: H.I.V.E., which stands for Higher Institute of Villainous Education, is a fictional series that revolves around a center character named Otto Malpense. He is born with incredible intellectual capability, but his ingeniousness as a child gets noticed by a particular set of uncanny eyes. The headmaster of a school that doesn’t seem to exist takes a keen interest in the boy, and soon, Otto finds the world he once knew to be changed completely. This book series is an action-thriller that I could not set down, and while anyone can read it, I feel it would resonate the most with teenagers, especially males.
- Personal Rating: 6.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 6.5/10
- Intellectual: 5/10
- Who Should Read It: Sales Professionals or those looking to develop more confidence
Personal Thoughts: This is a professional development book that uses a fictional story to explain sales. It is a rather engaging book which I think can be rare for a self-help type of book. The book is less than 100 pages and can be finished in a night, and the principles the fictional story shares can be applied to nearly anything that requires a consistent outcome, even relationships. It is a simple fact in life that controversy and “no” will be encountered quite frequently. The question is, “will the negative outcome be a deterrent?”
- Personal Rating: 8/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.2/5
- Engaging: 8.5/10
- Intellectual: 5.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Teenagers
Personal Thoughts: This series I found to be remarkably similar to what I picture as James Bond crossed with John Wick in my head. Fraternizing with the ladies and disconnecting emotion from the job are all part of the life of being a stone-cold killer. The book follows Zak Darke and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his life leading him to SAS training and mission readiness. For adults, these books may not be as exciting and slightly far-fetched, but for a teenager, this reading experience is highly engaging and full of excitement. It was not my favorite series, but I did get through it.
- Personal Rating: 7.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.7/5
- Engaging: 8/10
- Intellectual: 4/10
- Who Should Read It: Teens & Young Adults
Personal Thoughts: After watching all of the James Bond movies as a kid, I felt the need to read the books to complete the “James Bond experience.” I have often wondered the origin of James Bond, and the Young Bond Series highlight many of his years as a school boy. I did not find this series as exciting as the movies which is a rare thing for me to say, but I was happy I read them. I was able to get more of an incite into the character I have come to know and love, and as anyone reading this should be able to tell by now, I love the action and thriller genres most of all compared to others.
- Personal Rating: 8.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 9/10
- Intellectual: 4/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially teenagers
Personal Thoughts: This is one of the first series I can remember reading as a young boy, and I flew through these books. I remember checking out the first book at the library in elementary school, and my dad said he would buy me a skateboard if I finished it within a week. I finished it in two days! I went on to read the whole series, and I would highly recommend it for those who like spy thrillers. It is most relatable for a teenager, but similar to Harry Potter, these are books that can be read throughout a lifetime. There is a tv series and a movie based on the books as well.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 6/10
- Who Should Read It: Anyone & Everyone
Personal Thoughts: The Legend Trilogy is another series that kept me on the edge of my seat. Similar to the hunger games in my mind, these fictional books follow a young rebellious boy and his actions against a seemingly evil government. I think book series would be particularly interesting for teenagers, but anyone looking for an new series could read them. The main character, Day, and a young girl, June, find themselves on opposing sides of a frivolous society. The book switches between perspectives throughout as the plot unfolds, leaving the reader enticed and choosing between the two sides.
- Personal Rating: 7/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 7.5/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Faithful People in Business
Personal Thoughts: This book is a book I will be coming back to read another time. It features a fictional story about a successful business man and a beggar and how they form a friendship through their love of life experience and stories. I will not spoil the book, but it contains societally-antiquated ideas to use when reading the daily affirmations. The main character, OG Mandino, uses fiction to focus on certain truths that reality obscures. I highly recommend this book to people of faith, those struggling, and those searching for meaning.
- Personal Rating: 10/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.6/5
- Engaging: 9.5/10
- Intellectual: 5/10
- Who Should Read It: Anyone & Everyone
Personal Thoughts: I am Number Four is another series in my top 5 series of all time. This book series follows a group of individuals with enhanced capabilities called legacies to protect the world from grave danger. The group of 9 children and their 9 caretakers from the planet Lorien have been on Earth for many years, but their unnoticed intermingling comes to a close as the Mogadorians begin to find them. There is also a movie about the first book, but the books are much better than the movie in my opinion. I hope to get the time to re-read this series at some point in the future.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.9/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 7/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone!
Personal Thoughts: Regardless of person opinion, the Harry Potter series is one that I consider crucial to get through. This series is an easy topic to discuss, and there are many places that celebrate Harry Potter fans. Most people know that these books follow a young boy named Harry Potter who finds out that he is a wizard, but the books offer more detail than the movies. The movies are nothing to push off in my opinion though and if anyone out there is not an avid reader, the movies do a supreme job of following the story. I definitely have found and will always have a certain admiration for the series.
- Personal Rating: 9/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 6/10
- Who Should Read It: Teenagers
Personal Thoughts: The Cherub Series begins with a teenage boy named James Choke. James is a rather mischievous young boy, constantly getting into trouble. When James’s mom suddenly passes away, he goes to an orphanage and is soon drugged and kidnapped. He wakes up to find himself inĀ a mysterious organization who identifies themselves as Cherub, an organization that trains kids as spies. As the series goes on, there are countless thrilling moments that keep the pages flying by, and I found myself on the edge of my seat with my teenage angst waiting to see what happened next.
- Personal Rating: 8/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
- Engaging: 7/10
- Intellectual: 6/10
- Who Should Read It: Everyone, especially business owners and managers
Personal Thoughts: One of my favorite things to do is give someone something special, whether it cost a fortune or a mere penny. The ideal of selflessness is a part of human nature, and the ability to exercise that ideal makes me happier than any gift I could ever receive. After reading this book, I definitely had a shift in how I approach both business and life. Instead of keeping score, I focused on what I could give unconditionally. This book highlights a story about business and it is a quick read, but the central principle should be applied in all areas of life.
- Personal Rating: 9.5/10
- Amazon Rating: 4.9/5
- Engaging: 9.5/10
- Intellectual: 4.5/10
- Who Should Read It: Anyone & Everyone
Personal Thoughts: Michael Vey is an electric series, both literally and figuratively. This series focuses on a boy named Michael, and to the outside world, Michael Vey is nothing special, just an ordinary kid who has Tourette’s syndrome. Little do they know, Michael is extremely special and he has electric powers. He soon finds out he is not the only one either! This book series is another one of my favorites. It is a page turner to the nth degree, and it is within my top 5 series I have ever read. It may be more attributed towards younger kids, but anyone should read it nonetheless.
- Personal Rating: /10
- Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
- Engaging: 10/10
- Intellectual: 4/10
- Who Should Read It: Teenagers
Personal Thoughts: Jason Steed is another series similar to Alex Rider, Agent 21, H.I.V.E., and the Cherub series. For any teenager looking for an action-packed high-paced thriller, these books are the books worth reading. Jason Steed is a small kid with a single parent after his mom passed away, and he became shy and reserved after her loss. With his dad in the military, he stays with a nanny. After an altercation outside of a dojo for martial arts, Jason is in awe of fighting and begins training to help control his anger issues. Jason becomes extremely talented at fighting, and he soon finds himself fighting for his life in scenarios he could’ve never dreamed of.
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