Changed My Mind

It should come of no surprise that one of the founders of Pixar would be able to craft an amazing story with the book Creativity Inc. in collaboration with Amy Wallace. Halfway through, I knew this book would are my all-time favorites list. What stands out in this book compared to other business books is the…

In The One Thing, you learn the art of prioritization and how to train your mind to connect one goal with the next over time until you know the most important thing to do right now. If you don't have a goal in mind, great questions are a way to get you closer, by leading you to an excellent answer. The question you…

The book critiques how societal policies are often crafted by intellectual elites lacking direct experience in the areas they legislate. This can lead to decisions that negatively impact those they're meant to help, without accountability or real-world feedback loops. There's a focus on self-serving moral narratives…

"Grit is that mix of passion, perseverance, and self-discipline that keeps us moving forward in spite of obstacles." If you want to get better at getting better, The Little Book of Talent is a good start. This was a very fun read. I felt so excited to implement a good portion of the tips from the book of talent. It's…

One of the few books I've been able to read completely through in one sitting, being on a 5-hour flight helps I guess. Even though this is a novel, Patrick paints a picture that makes you believe this is attainable today and uses the narrative to communicate his insights in what it means to be a true trusted advisor.…

The lessons of history are your tools to use today. There are many forms of power and it is your responsibility to understand them, as to not fall victim to abuse or manipulation of power. When I was done, I felt like I now acquired 48 shields. The insights from this book are practical and will aid you in your freedom…

Pragmatic Thinking and Learning was an insightful journey into better understanding how the brain works and then using that knowledge to extend and get the most out of our minds. Although, the book it marketed towards programmers and uses some technical analogies, it still is a very engaging read for a wide range of…

A potent book of some hard truths people don't like to talk about in public. Taraban removes the romantic idealism around relationships and presents them as value exchanges where perception shapes reality. Taraban uses the metaphor of a dock with ships to illustrate dating dynamics, there are captains (those who lead…

Deep Work is a very powerful concept and skill. It is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. This book gets bonus points for the concept, even if the book didn't meet my…

Every important decision you make is influenced by an important cognitive factor many people seem to overlook, perception of time, your internal and personal time zone. In The Time Paradox, Drs. Zimbardo and Boyd draw on over thirty years of research, teaching you about the psychology of time and how you individual…

Pink's central premise is that we all sell in some shape or form, which he differentiates as non-sales selling that includes persuading, influencing and convincing others in ways that don't have to involve a purchase. He expands on some points from his book Drive, in how to motivate others, "One of the most effective…

A great follow up to Collin's other book Good to Great. Well Researched! Not like those other business books that just speak from the gut or only local experience. Great by Choice looks at the fundamentals of successful companies and the individuals that lead them. The knowledge shared in this book can not only help…

I'll gladly take Cal Newport's kind of career advice over Peter Drucker's any day of the week. Whereas I felt like I was positioning myself to be an optimal cog in the machine while reading Peter Drucker's writing, reading Newport's So Good They Can't Ignore You, felt so empowering and liberating. He provides a…

The core message of turning adversity into strength was something that truly resonated with me as I grew up in disadvantaged circumstances. David & Goliath is a very well written book, although I can see how people can get with Gladwell's style of writing as his books seem to rhyme with each other. Regardless, the…

Writing is a craft that can be improved; you aren't born with superb writing abilities. This book is a good start to improving your writing. One central point of the book is that good writing comes from a desire to write well, with repeated effort and careful editing. Your writing should not be to overly detailed or…

Emotional Intelligence contains multiple areas that include Knowing one's emotions: self-awareness, Managing emotions, Motivating oneself, Recognizing emotions in others: Empathy, and Handling Relationships. Goldman focuses on the evolution of certain parts of the brain that regulate emotional and rational behavior,…

One profound idea is that true perception transcends mere eyesight. When we embrace experiences without the clutter of mental judgments, physical discomfort often diminishes. Viewing perception as an active practice reshapes our reality and our internal lens defines either our suffering or our liberation. We construct…

A goldmine of wisdom that has stood the test of time. Marcus Auerlius writes a series of personal notes to himself as reminders on how to live a good line. A man of great values and character, it was necessary to use logic and rational to solve life's challenging problems and not be broken down by temptation. He…

In the United States and many other western cultures, society is built to favor the extrovert. When it comes to the education system or even making career gains, extroverted personalities seem to be put on a pedestal. Quiet describes how introverts are undervalued, but behind the scenes, many of the world's greatest…

Never Eat Alone is about the power of relationships. Ferrazzi's philosophy on life is that you can't succeed without the help of others. Ferrazzi's main tool is generosity to connect with the world around him, which includes helping friends connect with other friends. The title of the book comes from the image of…

An engaging read on how to learn complex topics. Dr. Oakley's used to struggle in math and science and say how her lack of math and technical skills limited her options to rise in the military when she made a career change, as well as exploring other careers. Dr. Oakley goes into the psychology behind focusing and…

Nutrition is KEY to making gains in the gym. It took me far too long to realize this, but once I did I went in search of books to help unlock my potential and Nutrient Timing was one of those books that taught me a lot about how the muscles work and the underlying chemical processes that occur before, during and after…

Hyrum W. Smith is one of the early time management gurus. Many of the productivity books today reference some of his early work in some way. He founded the Franklin Day Planner and co-founded a company with Stephen Covey, author of How to win friends and influence people. The first part of the book focuses on five…

Zen in the Art of Archery recounts Eugen Herrigel's experience training in Japan with a Zen Archery Master. As Eugen faces challenges learning Archery, his master teaches him the art through Zen, in which both areas are affected. I found Zen in the Art of Archery, very therapeutic and easy to understand coming from a…

When you read a book, it's like you're having a conversation in your mind with the author. Sometimes it can be difficult to comprehend fully what the author is trying to communicate. How to Read a Book, by Adler and Van Doren is a timeless classic on reading comprehension. This is a very practical book that…

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Despite some repetitive elements in the 50th Law, which would of made more sense if the book was much longer and needed a big recap, which it doesn't, the book focuses heavily on conquering fear, incorporating episodes from the rapper 50 cent's life. Some of the key themes…

On a personal note, this was an important book for me to read. Mullainathan and Shafir show that scarcity creates a similar psychology for everyone struggling to manage with less than they need. Growing up in a single-parent household right along with poverty line, I witnessed firsthand the "Scarcity Trap", that…

Don't Make Me Think is a classic book on Web User Experience. Steve Krug distills his years of experience and observation into clear, practical common sense advice for the people working in technology or that design product. The principles in this book are clearly explained, practical and, for the most part, have…

Basic over of bitcoin and blockchain technology. Andreas focuses more on the vision of bitcoin and tries to open up your mind to the significance of bitcoins and the potential opportunities. Bitcoin is one of the first and largest mathematical currencies, that is also a protocol, similar to the internet, which other…

An insightful look into how we've lost some core aspects of living in a tribal society, living in an individualistic western culture. The tribal way means willing to make a substantive sacrifice for your community, holding a shared burden, loyalty, selflessness, and a sense of belonging to something larger than…

Applying lessons and learnings from the theory of the human endeavor to help you prioritize and cultivate purpose based on personal metrics that actually matter. The author leaves you with deep questions that seem, like homework, in the form of lifework. The examples were framed around business situations to help…

If Ego is the Enemy, then we're in for an endless war. At any point in our life, we are between the three cycles of Aspire, Success, & Failure. This book was born out of the need for a guide in facing the many obstacles that await through the pendulum of life's journey between these states. The thesis is that your ego…

A great example of customer-focused business building. Derek's selflessness was very Zen-Like and his ability to focus and execute is admirable. His passion for music, led him to work to build the craft across multiple verticals from singing, songwriting, and even production. When he needed a way to get his music to…

A vulnerable, empathetic and powerfully revealing book by Tara Brach. She presented a painful and triumphant story at the beginning of the book about what sparked her awakening and drove her towards Radical Acceptance towards herself and others. Stories of overcoming fear, pain, insecurity and finding strength in…

Wise lessons from many of histories greatest thinkers. Great for lovers of learning and multidisciplinary exploration. Thinking is a skill and Beveling goes on a quest to weave together learnings about attaining wisdom. The book is separating into four parts, Part One is about what influences our thinking, Part two is…

Influence, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say "yes"—and how to apply these understandings. Influence describes the six categories of techniques that have the potential to influence us without our conscious awareness. These are called the 'Weapons of influence', which are:…

Nicholas gives us great context and a timeline of change and innovation on the many technologies that have had a profound impact on society and how it has increased human capabilities. The change that takes place on an individual level is the digital world reshaping out mind to adapt better to the newly rich and fast…

The debunked myths that stood out to me from Scott's book are the myth of the epiphany, how such flashes of insights rarely happen and often the long and hard work is often forgotten or left out of an innovators story. The myth that the best idea wins, sometimes execution and timing can make a not so great idea go…

An eloquent and principles focused dissection of what makes a truly effective engineer. The core message is, 'Time is our most finite asset, and level — the value we produce per unit time — allows us to direct our time toward what matters most. Edmond first helps you develop the right mindset, understanding what…

Hooked is well structured and made good use of visual aides. Although, having read the Power of Habit and some other Behavioral Science related books, I felt I learned very little from Hooked. I don't feel it helped push the boundaries of produce development. It was effective in showing how existing habit principles…

The Obstacle is the way, leans a little towards the motivational / self-help area instead of a more technical and specific approach. The book has a lot of anecdotes and references to core stoic messages that help set the narrative for getting into a mindset where the obstacle is part of the course and not something…

The Unwritten Laws of Engineering felt like having a conversation with a mentor. Packed with honest and direct advice for early engineers to help guide them through working in a professional setting. A valuable book for anyone working in a technical field as well as more experienced individuals to brush up on some…

I enjoyed reading this book, although, I think my expectations were a little too high, and I didn't finish feeling like a had a lot of practical knowledge to implement. This makes sense after the fact as the books reads like a memoir, following the journey of Josha Foer a science journalist, who has the audacious goal…

Herman's addiction takes an alternative look at the view of addiction being more like a chronic disease, which tends to give people with addictions less burden for their situation, painting it as something not totally in their control. Herman's takes a more scientific and academic approach finding that a segment of…

The elements of style is a guide to set your writing voice free by removing obstacles, like bad grammar, misuse of words, and guiding you with a set of fundamental rules and writing reminders to make it easier for the reader to hear you through your words. This small and opinionated book can serve as a good reference,…

The War of Art is a war against resistance. Resistance comes from within, it's you sabotaging yourself from getting the work done. It's you holding your creativity hostage from the world. There are a number of activities that bring about resistance, but most fall under rejecting immediate gratification. Steven…

The growth mindset is a simple yet powerful idea, understanding your capacity and opportunity to grow through consistent effort and learning. A critical concept to understand, yet I don't think it was deep enough to require a whole book. Dweck used some anecdotes and case studies to illustrate it's uses in business,…

In the Start-up of You, Hoffman argues that having an entrepreneurial perspective and mindset is important now more than ever as the days of a steady career path are going away. Hoffman provides practical examples on how to network effectively and helps you understand the give first mentality. He says we should think…

Beautiful illustrations unnecessarily constrained by oversimplified vocabulary. I enjoyed What If? much more than Thing Explainer because What If didn't lower the bar but brought you up to it. Thing Explainer explains various inventions, biological and astronomical occurrences in simple words, limited to a vocabulary…

Managing Oneself identifies the essential questions you need to ask yourself to take charge of your career: What are my strengths? How do I perform? How do I learn? What are my values? Where do I belong? What should I contribute? Drucker writes a short book with a lot of punch. There are some great gems in this, but I…

Short book of Food Eating Principles. The kind of rules your grandma would tell ya. Food Rules is separated into three parts, What should I eat? (Eat food), What kind of food should I eat? (Mostly plants) and How should I eat? (Not too much). The book gives a rule and a short paragraph explaining it, a handy reference…