Last updated on April 29, 2018
My list of books from 2015 to 2018 (most recent on top):
*Disclaimer: I read a TON of books at any given time. I get bored reading only one title at a time. Thusly, this listing also includes what I am currently reading:
2018
Currently reading Mastery by Robert Greene.
Currently reading The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough.
Currently reading Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss. Making a ton of marginalia whilst going through this book…
Currently reading Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue by Ryan Holiday. This is really a book about conspiracies, and why we might need more of them. Fasincating.
Currently reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. I read one poem each day.
Currently reading Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio.
Currently (re)reading Predatory Thinking: A Masterclass in Out-Thinking the Competition by Dave Trott.
5. Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual by Jocko Willink. This is a great kick in the ass. Will reread this one often.
4. One Plus One Equals Three: A Masterclass in Creative Thinking by Dave Trott. You can pretty much ditch most marketing, PR, and strategy titles out there, and just read Dave Trott books.
3. Crushing It: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence, and How You Can Too by Gary Vaynerchuk.
2. The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse by Rich Cohen. Cohen is one of my favorite writers. I’ve have loved everything I have read of his. His book on the ’85 Bears is next…
1. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. There’s more to F.S.F. than just Gatsby…
2017
20. Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss.
19. The Warrior Ethos by Steven Pressfield.
18. Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday.
17. The 4-Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss.
16. Dangerous by Milo Yiannopoulos. Well, this was interesting…
15. Change Starts Within You by Cortney McDermott. Coming soon (my recent interview with her).
14. The ONE Thing by Gary Keller. I will recommend this book to all those looking to sharpen their tools on how to tackle life. If you want to learn how to focus, this is your book…
13. What To Do When It’s Your Turn (and it’s always your turn) by Seth Godin.
12. Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger. If you have any interest in America’s space program, this is a wonderful book about one of our most important and significant missions.
11. The Innovation Book by Max Mckeown.
10. Anything You Want by Derek Sivers.
9. Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products by Leander Kahney.
8. Do The Work by Steven Pressfield.
7. The 48 Laws Of Power by Robert Greene. An intense read, and what I believe is the modern guide book for those in business and politics. A 21st Century version of The Prince.
6. Open Up and Say AAAH: Discover…Who You Are Now Shape…Who You Are Becoming Create…What You Want to Experience by Erica Peitler.
5. Open by Andre Agassi. If you are a sports fan, you don’t want to miss this book. If you are a tennis fan, you’ll be over the Moon and will wonder why you waited this long to read this memoir.
4. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F_ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson. I can only recommend this book to….pretty much everyone on the planet. As the author would tell you, you are giving too many fucks about too many (insignificant) things…
3. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. I thought I knew the story of Nike, but I didn’t. This book is amazing. Rarely have I been more inspired. They always say a book might just possibly change a life. It might have just happened to me…
2. Reinvent Yourself by James Altucher.
1. Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Dr. Henry Lodge. A friend recommended this to me, not because I needed it (but I did), but because she wanted me to interview the authors. The best book I’ve read on how to slow (and almost stop) aging, and live a productive happy life well into your senior years.
2015-2016
64. The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday. If you see life as full of roadblocks, you desperately need this book.
63. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. My all-time favorite book. I lost my old beaten up copy from high school in the move, so I bought a new copy from a cool, local independent bookstore in the Chicago Loop.
62. Alone on the Wall by Alex Honnold.
61. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. My favorite business book, which I try to read at least once per year.
60. I, Sniper by Stephen Hunter. I interviewed this Pulitzer Prize winning writer a while back. I do enjoy his Swagger novels.
59. What Would Keith Richards Do? by Jessica Pallington West. If you don’t like all the usual writers of philosophy, you might look to Keef as your new source of how to survive and live life. What a fascinating read. A gift from my friend Bill Wooditch.
58. Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon. I try to read this book once per year. My all-time favorite read on being more creative. It’s a must read. In the book, he shares this simple manifesto: Draw the art you want to see, start the business you want to run, play the music you want to hear, write the books you want to read, build the products you want to use – do the work you want to see done.
57. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway.
56. The Prince by Nicollo Machiavelli. The classic read on achieving and holding power, and one I haven’t read since my early days in politics. “It’s better to be feared, than loved.”
55. A Stranger To Myself by Willy Peter Reese. A German soldier shares his journal of life from the Eastern front of WWII. This is a horrifying account of war, and for me, an eye-opening understanding of a part of the war I knew very little about…Hitler’s invasion into Russia. A gift from my friend, Bill Wooditch.
54. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More + Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier.
53. The Sun + The Moon + And The Rolling Stones by Rich Cohen.
52. Leading With GRIT by Laurie Sudbrink. And Laurie and I did a complete audio series around GRIT, which you can find here!
51. Washington’s Spymaster, the Revolutionary War memoirs of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge.
50. Thumbs Up: 5 Steps To Create the Life of Your Dreams by Joey Reiman.
49. Always Forward by William Wooditch. A great read to help kickstart your sales…and life. And Bill and I have recorded a new series that will launch late May 2016. Get a preview here – Be A Game Changer!
48. One+One Equals Three by Dave Trott. If you are in marketing, you need to read EVERY book by Dave as soon as possible. Will change your thinking instantly.
47. Life
46. The Call of the Wild
45. The Time Machine
44. And the Good News Is: Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side
43. Not Taught: What It Takes to be Successful in the 21st Century that Nobody’s Teaching You
42. The Red Badge of Courage
41. The Crack-Up
40. When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man
39. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Everyday Life
38. Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
37. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
36. Think Round: How To Own The Future By Focusing 100% Of Your Company On Customers & Consumers 100% Of The Time
35. Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It
34. We Learn Nothing: Essays and Cartoons
33. Letters from a Stoic (Hardcover Classics)
32. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
31. Obvious Adams: The Story of a Successful Businessman (Classic Reprint)
30. The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood
29. Thumbs Up!: Five Steps to Create the Life of Your Dreams
28. Just Add Water
27. The Sales and Marketing Nexus: A Quick Hit Guide On How to Grow Your Business and Increase Revenue
26. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story
25. Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity
24. The Effective Executive (Harperbusiness Essentials)
23. Zombie Loyalists: Using Great Service to Create Rabid Fans
22. Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work
21. Prolific: The Art & Science of Collecting, Creating and Communicating Your Ideas
20. Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way
19. Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered
18. The Third Bullet (Bob Lee Swagger Novels)
17. The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere
16. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
15. Ogilvy on Advertising
14. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
13. Introverts in Business: Being Quietly Successful
12. Gates of Fire
11. Advertising with Balls by David Bonner. This book used to be available as a free download, but I can no longer find the website. Email me if you want me to send you the PDF.
10. Man 2.0 Engineering the Alpha: A Real World Guide to an Unreal Life: Build More Muscle. Burn More Fat. Have More Sex
9. The Warrior Ethos
8. V Is for Vulnerable: Life Outside the Comfort Zone
7. Civil War Stories (Dover Thrift Editions)
6. Poke the Box
5. The Flinch
4. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
3. The Power of No: Because One Little Word Can Bring Health, Abundance, and Happiness
2. The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
1. Marketing the Moon: The Selling of the Apollo Lunar Program
- Tom Peters: The Excellence Dividend: The Interview! - May 21, 2018
- Simon Sinek: Playing the infinite game - April 6, 2018
- 10 alternatives to thinking outside the box - March 15, 2018