What to Read Vol. 1: Self Improvement
I f%cking love reading.
I’ve been an avid reader since…pretty much forever. My dad was a big literary guy so he passed that on to me.
I remember as a kid instead of reading “Goodnight Moon” to us he’d read classics like “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Ever since then I’ve read non-stop. I started college as an english major and thought I’d end up being a novelist one day.
A blog is pretty close to a novel, right? No? Ok, whatever.
I’m always reading at least 2 books. One fiction book for enjoyment and 1 non-fiction book for self improvement or business related matters. I don’t even recall the last time I wasn’t reading something, it’s just a part of what I do.
I’m always giving clients book recommendations to help them with a habit reset, a mindset problem or even for entertainment.
I’ve never formally written any of them down. That’s about to change. Here are some books that will help you improve yourself.
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
This is not a fitness or nutrition book, but it’s the best fitness and nutrition book ever written.
No matter what your problem is in life, redeveloping your habits is the key to overcoming that problem. Through anecdotal and scholarly sources James Clear creates the clearest (pun intended) path to revamping your life I’ve ever read.
It’s as close to a “can’t put this down” book I’ve ever encountered in the non-fiction realm.
This book has value for anyone, regardless of their problem or goal. No matter who you are, how great or how terrible, this book will help you in some way.
As far as I’m concerned this is a must read for anyone looking to change anything about their lives.
2. The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
Lessons are learnt best through stories, and this book teaches the basic tenets of stoicism by relaying historical stories.
Varying historical figures from Julius Caesar, to Barack Obama to Rubin “Hurricane” Carter are covered in this book. On the surface these people have nothing in common, but once you dig below you see they have a similar trait- the ability to persevere despite what physical or mental turmoil is thrown in their path, whether it be just or unjust.
Stoicism is an ancient greek philosophy made famous by the likes of Epictetus and especially the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The basic of Stoicism is to control your mind and emotions so you can logically deal with an illogical world.
This mindset is present in nearly every successful individual. They are able to exert control over their own mind, so they can create order out of the chaos that surrounds them.
3. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
Jordan Peterson is quite possibly the most unfairly maligned person on planet earth. His common sense, dad-like advice is somehow purposely twisted into politic speak by internet denizens with too much time on their hands.
He says very controversial things like “make your bed first thing in the morning.” I’m sorry if that offends you.
But I guess that’s how everything is in 2019. Seemingly well meaning and innocent comments get twisted to fit or rival the current toxic political climate.
Rules like “Stand up with your shoulders back” and “compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today” seem like they may be common sense and simple but they hide the true purpose of the book: to help you create order in your life out of the chaos of life.
Peterson is basically the old school, common sense father figure that is lacking in the media today. All of his writings are geared towards helping people create meaning, purpose and order in their life so that they can lead a happier, more fulfilling life.
Those are my 3 go to books for self improvement. All of them will help you create the right mindset and framework for accomplishing your goal.
