Q4 Reading List
This one is all about personal growth.
Learning is a lifetime event. If you ever stop reading books, I will hunt you down and give you a stern talking-to. I am just kidding. This year’s reading list is a little wonky. Half was professional development, and the other half was soul-searching mystic quest reading.
Here’s my Q4 Reading List:
Marketing Made Simple - Donald Miller; This is a great short read on StoryBrand and its evolution. I am a fan.
The Second Mountian - David Brooks; This book gutted me, filled me with hope, and gave insight into some of my deepest wounds and relationships. Warning this book is not fun but necessary for relational development.
On The Shortness of Life - Seneca; Highly relatable and esoteric all at the same time. The book comprises three letters that share the theme of making the most of time. Great kick in the pants.
Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport; I deleted all my social media because of this Flippin book! Great insights on how to recover time, recover purpose and live life to the fullest without a phone in your face. Someone, please tell my wife about this book.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Peter Scazzero; I met Pete once while working at the 12th largest church in America. My boss at the time was helping him improve his social media presence. This was my second readthrough, and it’s just as impactful as the first. In my humble opinion, every church leader in America should read this.
The Gift of Being Yourself - David Brenner; I thought this book was too “woo-woo” until I realized that’s probably a trauma response. That’s a bad joke, but I believe the ability to be authentic is sorely misplaced in our modern culture. If you want to feel bad about feeling bad about not being honest, this book is for you.
Quiet - Susan Cain; This book made me realize I am the loudest introvert on the planet. If you feel the need to always “be on” and do the song and dance of extroversion for the pleasure of others for your own social survival, Susan Cain has a message for you. The extroverts I work with are so quiet…
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant - Eric Jorgenson; Naval thinks like no one else. His book recommendations at the end of the book are worth the price of the book. Naval is probably the Einstein of our generation.
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho; A friend named “Boofy” recommended I read this in 2003. I wonder, if I had read it, would life have still played out the same way? The storytelling is superb, mystic, and strangely speaks to us all.
Discourses and Select Writings - Epictetus; I love how spicy Epictetus gets. Compared to his contemporaries, He rants and has passionate discourse with himself, and it’s a bit funny. I am trying to get him as a guest on my next podcast.
Discipline is Destiny - Ryan Holiday; I visited Ryan’s bookshop in Bastrop, Texas, and picked up a few books. I enjoyed Courage is calling and wanted to dive deeper into the Stoic philosophy; this book doesn’t disappoint. What’s great about Ryan’s writing is his ability to take a historical look at the stoic philosophies across generations. The stories are inspirational, and the wisdom practical. Smash.
Classics of Western Philosophy Third Edition - Steven M. Cahn: I was in San Clemente and visited the used bookstore and found this gem. It has excerpts from Plato, Epictetus, Augustine, Hobbes, Thomas Aquinas, Descartes, and Kant. I started with Immanuel Kant’s “Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics.’ Sounds like a Fallout Boy Song Title. 20% of the time, I am translating English to English, but it’s fun to hear Kant’s rant about what can be intellectually trusted and what should be discarded in the name of progress. Kant is an idealist windbag but in a fun, “how’d you become my 4th-period gym teacher” kind of way.
What are you reading right now? Drop some recommendations in the comments.