Books I've Based My Life On
My thoughts, actions, and overall approach to life are built upon the books I’ve read. All the books contributed in some small way, but a few of them contributed in a big way.
This is a list of the big ones. They all carry foundational principles and timeless stories we can apply to our lives.
The tagline of my newsletter is Borrowed wisdom for a better life. The best ideas I’ve borrowed came from these books.
Tactical
These are the books with actionable insights I’ve applied directly to my life.
Extreme Ownership - The best book I’ve read on leadership. It applies to every level from assistant to executive, and you can use the tactics at work, at home, at school, or anywhere else you interact with people.
Never Split the Difference - We all negotiate almost every day. It’s a valuable life skill. This book teaches you how to be a better negotiator and get what you want, more often.
Thinking, Fast and Slow - A comprehensive explanation of how your brain processes information, makes decisions, and plays tricks on you. Reading this book will make you a better thinker. It will make you more aware of your unconscious biases. And it will probably make you a better negotiator. This one pairs well with Never Split the Difference.
Obstacle, Ego, Stillness Series - The Obstacle helped me build a resilient mindset that is immune to adversity. Ego taught me to question why I do things, which resulted in fewer ego-driven decisions. Stillness shifted my approach to life—technology, sleep, quiet, nature, routines—all for the better. I truly believe this series is one of the most useful guides to living a better life.
The Comfort Crisis - The most interesting and applicable explanation of why too much comfort is a bad thing. This is one of the books where I’ve actually applied numerous tactics and suggestions to my life.
Atomic Habits - The best framework for building better habits. This is one of those books with a lot of bang for your buck. You’ll apply the tactics again and again, every time you want to add a positive habit to your life.
The Five Love Languages - This book taught me to give love specific to how a person receives love. Or at least it made me aware that this is necessary. Reading this book and applying the information will improve your closest relationships.
Philosophical
These are the books that have shifted my perception of the world.
The Wright Brothers - This book taught me how regular people can drastically alter the course of history when they apply persistence and resilience.
Robert Caro’s LBJ Series, Books 1 & 2 - These books taught me a lot about American history. They also opened my eyes to the machinations of the American political system (politics is almost entirely based on gaining power through making deals). I’m sure the rest of the books in this series will make the list. I just haven’t read them yet.
Wooden - My high school football coach used to read us excerpts from this book before practice. My great aunt and uncle gave me a copy at my high school graduation. As my uncle inscribed, “There is much food for thought in this book—and it comes in snacks. I hope you keep it with you wherever you go, pick it up often, open to a page and think about what he has to say…”
This book has been on my shelf, wherever I’ve lived, for the last 12 years. It’s essentially a handbook for living a good life—one I return to often.
The Last Lecture - Books written by people with terminal illnesses open a window into the things that truly matter in life. Randy Pausch shared timeless life lessons I’ve revisited consistently and will continue to revisit for decades to come.
Being Mortal - We will all face death at some point. This book is a how-to guide on approaching death gracefully and with dignity. It applies to our own death and to the deaths of the people closest to us. For more of my thoughts on Being Mortal, check out this piece.
Tribe - This book taught me that modern society isn’t conducive to the way humans were designed to live and interact with each other. It influenced the way I think about relationships and how I want to design my life going forward. This book pairs well with The Comfort Crisis.
Steve Jobs - I own a Macbook, iPhone, iPad, Airpods, and several other Apple accessories. Apple’s technology is inextricably intertwined with my life, and it has influenced our culture in a way that’s hard to overstate. Understanding the man behind the company helped me understand who we are as a society. Plus Walter Isaacson is an absolute delight to read.
Shoe Dog - This book is to Nike what the Steve Jobs bio is to Apple. It’s amazing for the same reasons. I appreciated that Shoe Dog didn’t skimp on the business details. Like The Wright Brothers, it’s a great reminder about how ordinary people can build extraordinary things.
Sapiens - This is the best high level view of human history. It’s packed with information but still an enjoyable read for the average person. Harari helped me understand where we are today by explaining where we came from in centuries past. For more of my thoughts on Sapiens, check out this piece.
Photo by Kamyab Lotfollahyan on Unsplash
