Books I’ve Read

Ego is the Enemy – Ryan Holiday

Rating: 9/10

I originally listened to the audiobook first and found it so euphoric. I learned a lot about the ego and how to keep it in check as you gain more success or just have moments of weakness. I also purchased the book as well because there are lots of great pieces of wisdom in it. Ryan Holiday also did a wonderful job of going through many real-life examples of famous figures who wrestled with their own ego.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Rating: 8.5/10

I had a great time reading this book and understanding the key differences of a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. It’s helped me understand my own mind and address when I’m in a fixed mindset vs. growth. It’s also helped me understand my work environment and if it fosters growth vs. fixed mindset culture. I would highly recommend checking this one out.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution – Chris McChesney

Rating: 8.5/10

This book is a great book when it comes to giving you a framework for making sure you’re moving the right needle. It goes into numerous examples of how the authors applied the 4 disciplines of execution. It shows it’s not as simple as it sounds, but once implemented properly it can really move a business forward. I will be going back to this book again as it’s one worth having in your toolkit.

I Will Teach You to be Rich – Ramit Sethi

Rating: 8.5/10

Ramit Sethi is a captivating speaker and writer who is rough around the edges. I learned how to set up my financial system properly and make my money work more for me. They were very simple actions that are great for anyone who wants to learn more about it or just wants to tune theirs a little more. I would suggest checking out his audiobook as well.

Start with Why – Simon Sinek

Rating: 8/10

I am a big fan of Simon Sinek and his ideas. This book taught me about the importance of starting with “why.” He shows how many businesses either prevail or lose their way once their why becomes more or less clear. There are thought-provoking examples in this book.

Total Recall My Unbelievably True Life Story – Arnold Schwarzenegger

Rating: 8.5/10

Arnold has lived a life like no other. From being successful as a bodybuilder to a movie star and a politician there are tons of great life lessons here. I learned a lot about the kind of mindset it takes to be successful as well as the motivation and drive. The storytelling is so great that I didn’t want to stop reading. It was truly inspiring and I recommend getting the audiobook. One note on the audiobook is it isn’t read mostly by Arnold but another person who sounds very close to Arnold.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson

Rating: 8/10

I really enjoyed reading this book and found myself laughing throughout. It has a lot of great life lessons and helps you realize what things you should care about and what things you shouldn’t. It’s great for anyone who has anxiety or just wants some clarity on the bigger picture.

Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World – Peter H. Diamandis & Steven Kotler

Rating: 8/10

Bold is a book I had on my reading list ever since I heard about Peter Diamandis on the Tim Ferriss show. Peter is an interesting entrepreneur who has created the X Prize, Planetary Resources, and Space Adventures to name a few. His book goes into big thinkers like Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos. I enjoyed getting a better understanding of what it takes to be a big thinker as well as trying to think more long-term on creating wealth and value. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in how to think big or wondered how these multi-billionaires go about creating a scalable business.

So Good They Can’t Ignore You – Cal Newport

Rating: 8/10

I really like the message the book pushes on this idea about being a craftsman. It taught me a lot about having more power than I realize as well as striving to be even better in my craft as a digital marketer.

Ogilvy on Advertising – David Ogilvy

Rating: 7/10

A book that has been recommended to me by many. I really enjoyed a look at traditional advertising as well as evergreen advice that will still work today. A few things that stuck out were the importance of copywriting and how the skills of a great copywriter are hard to find and master. It gives you a great appreciation but didn’t feel I had to read this before the others on my list.

The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done – Peter F. Drucker

Rating: 7/10

This book has a lot of lessons on how an executive should think. It gave me a lot of insight and taught me the power of delegating and thinking at a more high level. However, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style and found it could be slow at times. I wasn’t able to act on some of these lessons but it did give me some food for thought.