12 Books for Life
Books are, and always have been, my favorite things. I have more books than shelves, and I like it that way. People who meet me don’t know me for long before I inevitably make a book recommendation.
Though I shun the constant fear-mongering of 2020, now that I’m a father, I do wonder what my son will make of my library after I’m gone. He’s too young now for me to truly share the books that have changed my life, but I’ve been relying largely on the hope that a combination of prominence on my shelves (my top 227 books of all time site behind my desk) and the number of bookmarks and notes in each would help my friends and family guide him if I meet an untimely demise.
Books aren’t just decoration — they become a part of us as we read and apply them to our lives. From the hundreds of books I’ve read over my admittedly short lifetime, I tried to pick the books that have become most integral to who I am.
In an effort to actually pick the 12 most important books, I did not allow myself to add runners up — and I tried to avoid referencing other books in my recommendations.
So, to kick of 2021, here are 12 books you need in your life…
January — The Four Hour Chef by Tim Ferris
While cookbooks are frequently omitted from people’s top books, I’ve included The Four Hour Chef for a few key reasons:
- I’m 90% sure the recipes are the main reason Lauren kept dating me long enough to like me.
- The book also has Slow Carb Diet guidance and friendly recipes for your doomed New Year’s Resolution.
- It’s not really a cookbook as much as it is a manual on meta-learning.
The Four Hour Chef taught me some of my favorite recipes (Sexy-Time Steak and Osso Buko), cooking methods (Sous Vide), and learning methods that should be taught in school. Working through the recipes won’t just make you a better cook, it will make you more prepared to learn from the rest of the books on the list.
February — Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink
February is a short month, so I picked a short read. It’s also a great time to quit your resolution, so I picked a book to get you back in gear before the garbage candy of Valentine’s day sends you to an early grave.
Jocko Willink is a former SEAL commander, BJJ blackbelt, entrepreneur, and all around badass. Of his many books, Discipline Equals Freedom is my favorite because it sums up his philosophy in an absolutely beautiful format. Though Oglivy is definitely rolling in his grave over the reverse-set type I’m fawning over, it’s a visually stunning addition to your desk, and if you follow the recommendations of the book, it will permanently change your life.
March — The Obstacle is The Way by Ryan Holiday
Life is hard, then you die. Stoic philosophy has helped me immensely since I first picked up Ryan Holiday’s books. Some of the greatest leaders in history have followed a simple path of loving your fate and only worrying about what you can control.
Now, that’s easier said than done, and I still fail at it constantly, but it is a state of being worth striving for. “The obstacle in the path becomes the path” is a simple, but effective mantra for overcoming adversity.
April — Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Showing my failures at stoicism — I want to beat people over the head with this book on an almost daily basis. The average American has no understanding of money and it is accelerating the downfall of this nation.
Your house is not an asset, your car is not an asset, and no, Dave Ramsey, not all debt is evil. Learning how the Cashflow Quadrant works and how the wealth is actually created should be part of our education system, but until then, Rich Dad Poor Dad will have to do.
May — Hard Times Create Strong Men by Stefan Aarnio
This is the only book I read in 2020 that managed to make the list. We are indeed in hard times created by weak men, and it’s now time for hard times to create strong men. Beyond simply adhering to the ruthless discipline I admire in authors, Stefan Aarnio manages to outline the history and sources behind the crumbling fabric of society — and he provides a simple, stoic answer. Be a strong man.
Including this book might be cheating a tad because it frequently references books that would have been on the runner-up list — but with the exception of his exalting of a plant-based diet, the lessons in this book should be taken to heart by every man who still believes in American exceptionalism.
June — Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff
I’ve read dozens of sales and marketing books, but nothing is as effective as Oren Klaff’s methods. His writing has single-handedly helped me close more deals than any other technique for a very simple reason — he actually based his work on cognitive science. Though Pitch Anything is more of a psychology book than a sales book, it is an essential primer to life’s greatest skill — influence.
July — Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
If I was going to cull this list down to a single book, it would be Atlas Shrugged. While I’m sure this is no surprise to anyone who knows me, it is the closest thing I know of to a complete summation of my worldviews. The money and sex speeches by Francisco d’Anconia forever altered the way I look at the world and live my life.
Reading Atlas Shrugged is not for the faint of heart, which is why I put it in a long summer month, but it is the most worthwhile reading I have ever done. Pro-tip, skip “This is John Galt Speaking”. I’ve read the book four times, and skipped that speech three of them — d’Anconia’s speeches are far superior.
August — Every Man A Leader by Sam Falsafi
If I find myself in an early grave, someone please send my sons to Sam Falsafi and Garret J. White for training when they’re old enough. The three days I spent with them in Laguna were some of the most powerful days of my life and working through Every Man A Leader was the closest thing to a home study version possible.
Men have been taught, trained, and educated to be weak, sedated, liars. The Wake Up Warrior Movement is out to change that. It takes 21 days to work through Sam’s book, but it is worth the time and effort. Stop Fucking Lying and get the results you deserve.
September — The Like Switch by Jack Shaefer
The Like Switch was a hard choice, it feels slightly redundant in the shadow of Pitch Anything. I decided to include it because it covers something essential to living, which is interacting with people in person.
I fear that the art of non-verbal communication is being lost in the age of COVID — but I’m sure it will remain important and grow exponentially in value as an entire generation loses this essential skill.
October — 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
As the inspiration for the title of this post (and my company’s name), I gave 12 Rules for Life the honored slot of my birth month. Jordan Peterson’s writing has changed countless lives in my generation with simple, but effective advice.
Clean your room. Stand up straight. Tell the truth. The world would be a better place if people could just follow the 12 Rules in this book, but until then, I hope to set a good example of living by these guidelines.
November — Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
This book also felt a bit redundant after Rich Dad Poor Dad, but the lessons of Napoleon Hill have impacted me so deeply I had to include it. Regardless of the way his writing has been perverted by certain authors who claim that merely thinking is enough to grow rich, Hill’s writing covers essential core beliefs for anyone who wants to succeed in this life — regardless of what their definition of success is.
“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” -Napoleon Hill
December — 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Last, but certainly not least is my annual December reading, 48 Laws of Power. I have read this book every year for the past seven years and I still learn something new every time I pick it up. 48 Laws of Power is so effective that it has been banned by most prisons and is a favorite book of both hip-hop stars and Fortune 500 CEOs.
Most of my failures have stemmed from transgressions of these laws, most of my successes have come from my adherence to them. Avoid this book at your own risk.
…..
I want to raise my children so they think interior decorating consists mainly of building enough bookshelves. Though these books are far too advanced for my one year old — they are the books I most want to share with him as he grows.
Now it’s your turn — what 12 books would best sum up your life?
