“the man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read” – mark twain
I could sit here and list all the benefits of reading…
You are reading: Books to be a better man
as an increase in your vocabulary.
or to improve your imagination.
but the truth is that there is only one reason that really matters to me.
to make you a better man.
Books are a repository of knowledge. they offer the best education a man can receive.
These books have nothing to do with style, but everything to do with making you better.
books that go deep, not just for entertainment. this material challenges you and inspires you to grow.
Here’s a list of 10 books I’ve read in the last two years that I would recommend for men.
1. Deep Work – Cal Newport
1. Deep Work – Cal NewportThis is a book worth getting distracted by.
Cal Newport’s insightful book on combating distractions and interruptions contains rules, strategies, disciplines, techniques, and philosophies that will inspire you to sharpen your focus.
Deep work represents a change in work practices to encourage a practice of distraction-free productivity.
a state that is rare in our constantly changing and noisy society. Applicable to all modern men, the systems in the book teach you how to do more in less time.
Read this book to learn how to have a greater impact in any field by eliminating distractions.
2. If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy? – Raj Raghunathan
2. If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy? – Raj Raghunathanmy friend, raj, developed the content of this book on happiness over 8 years.
is well researched and brings together many findings to ask a very important and relevant question: you are so successful, why are you still dissatisfied?
The book explores the puzzling lack of correlation between academic success and professional success.
It turns out that the things that make you happy aren’t necessarily the factors we associate with success. in fact, success (as defined by modern society) can have a detrimental impact on your happiness levels.
two of the suggested factors that contribute to happiness are: generosity and appreciation for uncertainty.
This book will test your current perception of work, relationships, personal goals, and success.
3. essentialism: the disciplined pursuit of less – greg mckeown & margin: physical, financial & time reserves overloaded lives – richard swenson
Both these books focus on zoning in on what matters.
essentialism helped me focus on what matters while ignoring the aspect of life that leads to busyness.
The essentialist focuses on doing the right things in less time. This is not a book on time management or productivity techniques, it is a systematic discipline that will help you separate the wheat from the chaff.
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read this book to help you understand how to remove everything that is stopping you from having the biggest impact you can have on this planet.
margin taught me how to handle and avoid overloading. How come we get so busy that we stop appreciating the simple things in life? margin is the space that allows us to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon (in a hammock), watch a movie in the middle of the week or take a spontaneous weekend trip.
overload is “haste”. the margin is calm.
Read any of these books to understand the impact of focus and the danger of things that will overwhelm you and cause you stress.
4. Manvotionals – Brett & Kate McKay
a book about living a life of virtue and excellence.
brett and kate created a book that challenges men to live authentic lives. contains excerpts, a collection of some of the world’s best writing.
This book motivates me every time I pick it up to read random little sections. each chapter covers one of the seven virtues and is packed with the best classic advice ever written for men.
From the philosophy of Aristotle to the speeches and essays of Theodore Roosevelt, these pages contain the manly wisdom of all time: poems, quotes, and essays that will inspire you to live life to the fullest and realize your full potential.
a book you can read over and over again.
5. The Magic Of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz
belief, strong belief, triggers the mind into great action.
most people think it’s too small. they avoid challenging themselves or set pitiful goals to avoid disappointment.
we need to think beyond our narrow focus and open our minds to possibilities that require big thinking.
This book provides simple, practical advice to improve your marriage, family life, work, and community. David Schwartz’s classic book is one of the best proactive books of all time on success.
read this book if you want to be a different person; it’s that amazing and challenging.
6. Influence – Robert Cialdini
Understand the influence you have on others and the influence they have on you.
This classic book explains the art of persuasion and how to get people to say ‘yes’. Based on more than 35 years of research and experience, the book offers six universal principles on how to become a skillful persuader.
and, most importantly, describes (through case studies, evidence-based research, and anecdotes) how to defend yourself against the manipulative influence of others against you.
Read this book if you want to understand how you can affect others and have a positive impact.
7. The Law Of Success – Napolean Hill
This book has changed and shaped lives for nearly 100 years!
a classic title, hill goes much deeper into the 17 principles of the law of success.
The content is divided into sections that can be read separately, making it a reference book for anyone looking to improve their productivity.
Read this book to learn the fundamentals of success and the philosophies that will fuel your growth.
8. The 50th Law – 50 Cent & Robert Greene
8. The 50th Law – 50 Cent & Robert Greenefear nothing!
This book may surprise you, it is outside your normal reading fare. the authors present an unconventional approach to an industry I know nothing about.
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curtis jackson (also known as 50 cent) along with robert greene (author of the 48 laws of power), presents a raw and unrestrained account of his rise to fame.
Whatever your field, you’ll relate to the story of this rapper who, despite the lack of opportunities, manages to turn every setback and challenge into something very positive.
read this book to understand the importance of hustle to overcome obstacles.
9. The Mind & Heart Of The Negotiator – Leigh Thompson
We are always negotiating in life.
Whether you’re seeking compromise in a personal relationship, a multi-million dollar business contract, or in a conflict situation, understanding how negotiating can save relationships, lives, money, and time.
This classic textbook will teach you how to get more out of life just by asking. the book exposes the mechanics of negotiation in a methodical, clear and concise way.
Just don’t try the techniques in this book on your wife, she’ll figure you out in no time!
10. The Writing System – Daniel O. Graham & Judith H. Graham
The science of writing?
The writing system teaches 13 steps and 51 practical techniques to progress from draft to final copy, producing quality documents every time.
Each technique is accompanied by tutorials, exercises, and answers, with special instructions to help non-native English speakers.
Use the system to create authentic proposals, content, emails, and reports that grab people’s attention.
Read this book to understand the importance of structured writing.
additional book recommendations
The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferriss
This book describes a lifestyle that is rapidly gaining popularity around the world.
The author experiments with various lifestyle designs to find ideal solutions for creating an automated workweek.
The result is a lot of free time to follow the lifestyle you want. The book provides step-by-step instructions on how to create that lifestyle while giving the reader the opportunity to ask the most important questions about what really matters to them.
Antifragile – Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This is a must read for anyone who loves philosophy.
taleb has a rather direct and practical approach to life.
The book is a fascinating account of Taleb’s experiences as a trader and risk analyst, philosophy student, and then flâneur.
What you’ll get from this book is a series of heuristics for living a life designed to capitalize on disorder, chaos, and uncertainty.
The Slight Edge – Jeff Olson
What is that “only” element that will propel you towards a life of fulfillment?
olson shows you how to get powerful results from the mundane activities of your daily life, using tools that are already at your fingertips.
Find out what a slight advantage successful people have over those who simply dream but fail to achieve their goals.
Don’t read these books just for the sheer joy of reading. act on the material to obtain the best results. these books will give you the framework you need to take action.
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