my reading list

I know a few other people that I read have posted their reading lists, all of which you should check out – here’s my own list of books that I would recommend to anyone. As with the Book Quotes page, this will be updated regularly. If you have any recommendations for me, email me or leave a comment below.

The 50th Law – 50 Cent and Robert Greene
Robert Greene looks at how 50 Cent went from the corners of New York to the top of the music industry, and stayed there. Greene describes how, in tons of different scenarios, it was Fifty’s ability to be utterly fearless that gave him the ability to get where he wanted to go.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Malcolm’s story is amazing. He started out hustling on the streets, getting high, gambling, drinking and stealing, before he got arrested. Then in prison he transformed himself, first through self-education and then through devotion to the Nation of Islam. His life was characterized by a constant struggle to improve himself and overcome his circumstances, and I really admire him.

The Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
Fantastic book written by the stoic emperor as his own personal manual for life. If you want to live a good life, be a person of humility, virtue and self-discipline, someone who others look up to, then read this book. Here’s a great series of videos on Marcus and stoic thought. When you understand the kind of life he led and the circumstances in which he did it, you just have to sit back in awe. Marcus is an ideal to try and live up to.

Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk
Like a lot of people who have read the book, I saw the film first. The book drives home the message of the film  – that sacrifice is necessary for progress, and that if we don’t do something with our lives, we might as well be dead. Im not sure whether I prefer the book or the film, but they’re both fantastic.

The Godfather – Mario Puzo
The brilliant story of the Corleone crime family. Another one that is also a great film, but in this case I love the book more than the movie. Don Corleone has many admirable qualities for a leader – he always sees things as they are, not as he wants them to be, and he keeps his emotions out of his decision-making process.

The Game – Neil Strauss
Strauss tells the story of how he went from being awkward and shy to being one of the best pickup artists in the world – and how it profoundly changed him as a person. Lessons to take away from this book: you should stop waiting for external events (if only X happened, I could get that girl!) and start looking at yourself. You can achieve more than you ever thought possible, if you work at it.

48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene
This book changed the way I look at the world. Power-play relationships are everywhere in life – if you can recognise them and understand them, you can go a long way. It doesn’t mean you have to be a cold, calculating Macchiavelli – you just need to recognise those that are.

Purple Cow – Seth Godin
The message here is basically that the era of mass media and easy advertising is over – if you want your business to get noticed, it had better be remarkable, and worth talking about. Although Godin is talking explicitly about businesses, the same could apply to a lot of areas of life – if you do the same as everyone else, no-one will take any notice. You need to do something extraordinary to stand out.

The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell
An amazingly easy read that takes a look at how and why ideas and products tip and spread through our culture. Fascinating, especially for anyone with an interest in marketing, psychology or sociology.