Recommended Books

Every once in a while, I may refer to a book in one of my posts or comments.

Some background is in order here.

I am a BIG fan of reading. Always have been, always will be. To me, the written word is the best way to consume information (hence I write this blog!)

Over time (read: once we’ve had kids), I have started to read much less than I would like to. That being said, I still manage to work my way through about one book a month.

Some are great, in which case I will add them to the list below.

Some others – not so much, which means I won’t even bother to finish them… life is too short!

If you come across a great book on (or in addition to) any of the topics below, I would welcome a suggestion.

My reading list is getting pretty long, but I don’t give up hope!

PS: I use a Kindle – it’s cheaper, better, AND environmentally friendly. Talk about a win-win-win!

I find the Paperwhite model to be the best value for money as far as Amazon’s reader devices go (and yes, I go for the cheaper version with ads).

Also, make sure to check out the disclaimer at the bottom.

General Self-Improvement

Atomic Habits by James Clear

If there’s one book on this page that has the potential to change your life, this is it.

Power: Why Some People Have It – And Others Don’t by Jeffrey Pfeffer

This is the book I will buy for my children and nephews once they are old enough to enter any kind of paid employment.

It doesn’t matter whether you are working for a corporate, self-employed, run a startup, or are unemployed – this book will teach you how to become more successful, make more money – and reduce your stress levels at the same time.

You’ve got to give it to the author – he doesn’t pull any punches. I even did a dedicated post on this book here.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – A Guide To Wealth And Happiness – collated by Eric Jorgenson

This book has the absolute highest concentration of amazing advice per written word.  Pick it up and you won’t regret it.

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Please read this book if you have ever been tempted to cut back on your sleep as a way to “elevate your life”

Personal Finance

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

An incredibly easy, yet highly insightful read.

Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money – and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.

The Simple Path To Wealth by JL Collins

JL Collins is amazing at guiding people through the intricacies of building wealth – in a simple, highly digestible way.  One of my favourite personal finance books.

Reset: How To Restart Your Life And Get F.U. Money by David Sawyer

I have seen this book recommended on multiple FIRE forums, blogs, and Facebook groups and I couldn’t agree more.

In what is probably the first FIRE book tailored to the UK community, David does a really good job laying out the basic principles (and then some) of reaching financial independence.

How To Get Rich by Felix Dennis

Candid advice on getting rich from the man who’s done it all by himself.

Investing

The Man Who Solved The Stock Market by Gregory Zuckerman

In the world of personal finance, there’s an eternal argument between active and passive investors. Each group likes to think they’ve found the right approach and anyone who disagrees with them is basically a bozo.

Unfortunately, the really successful active investors aren’t the people that spring to mind. Instead, the people who beat the market are a secretive group and avoid the limelight like the plague.

This book lifts a veil on a fascinating industry full of exotic characters.

Skin In The Game: Hidden Asymmetries In Daily Life – Nassim Taleb

A great read for those looking to elevate their investing chops.

Flash Boys by Michael Lewis

The story of billionaires and whizz kids who scammed the banking system – and the rest of us along the way.

Real Estate Investing

What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow… And 36 Other Key Financial Measures by Frank Gallinelli.

As I evaluate deals for a living, I was never really in the market for real estate books.

That being said, this is a phenomenal book.  The way Frank presents the concepts has led me to see multiple things from new, unexpected angles.

Unlike many of the other books written by “pros”, Frank is the real deal. He is a successful property investor, a proven entrepreneur, and a Columbia University professor to boot.

Life

How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big – Scott Adams

A highly entertaining guide to life from the creator of Dilbert (and, as it turns out, many other businesses)

Not Fade Away: A Short Life Well Lived by Peter Barton and Lawrence Shames.

Life has a habit of throwing curveballs at you. Sometimes, those curveballs are impossible to catch – but we must try anyway.

A poignant, thought-provoking read that helps separate out what’s important and critical in life – and leave everything else aside.

Here’s a post inspired by the book, along with some quotes that struck me as particularly thought-provoking.

The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After MidLife by Jonathan Rauch

A great read for anyone fighting the middle-age blues.

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

If you ever considered writing (or blogging) for a living, you may want to give this book a good read.

Entertainment

Bad Blood: Lies And Secrets In A Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

In December 2018, my wife, our daughter, and I spent Christmas with the in-laws. Instead of taking the opportunity to catch up on my sleep (courtesy of a very supportive set of grandparents!), I repeatedly found myself in the living room at 2 am, consuming yet another chapter of this modern-day, real-life detective story.

The book is about the rise and fall of Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes.

The woman who was at one point called the “next Steve Jobs”. A star-studded cast of characters, including the likes of Kissinger and Clinton. A scam of the century. This one is a treat.

Fiction

Finally, here are some of my favorite fiction books:

Dark Matter: A Mind-Blowing Twisted Thriller by Blake Crouch

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger

Animal Farm by George Orwell

A Time To Kill by John Grisham

Strangers On A Train by Patricia Highsmith

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James Cain

The Firm by John Grisham

*Note: some of the links above may be affiliate links. This means that should you choose to buy the book, I may get a (small) commission – at no cost to you.

The money will be used to offset some of the expenses associated with running this blog.

You can rest assured that I never recommend any products or services that I do not or am not prepared to use myself.