For 2022 my goal was to read 1 book per month.
I’m happy to say I exceeded that and read 15 books this year – all of which were great reads.
Here’s what I learned from each one and who I would recommend them to. This list is in the order I read them, not necessarily in the order I would recommend them.
The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing
by Al Ries & Jack Trout
Recommended to: Newer or younger marketers
This is a must-read for businesses trying to learn from the historic marketing tactics that captured the world – tactics you can even apply to your small business. It outlines valuable advice that will save you energy, money and time if utilized correctly.
Here are three key tips from the book:
- Be top of mind with your customers – even when competitors have the first mover advantage.
- Define yourself clearly as different so you aren’t competing with others who offer similar products or services.
- Consider what else could be impacted by investing into one particular product more than another.
The Power of Now
by Eckhart Tolle
Recommended to: Someone feeling ‘stuck’ in general
This book is a great reminder to get the most out of every minute. It teaches us to embrace and appreciate this moment instead of fretting over our past or worrying about the future.
Here are some reminders from it that’ll help you stay in touch with reality:
- Life is what happens NOW.
- All pain comes from trying to resist things we can’t control.
- Don’t judge your thoughts – observe them without attachment!
Zero To One
by Peter Thiel
Recommended to: People starting a business from scratch
If strategy and planning aren’t your thing, then you’re in luck! Peter Thiel is here to show us how playing by his own rules can get extraordinary results. With a chess master title under 21, a PhD at 25, and selling one of the biggest companies for $1.5 billion when he was 35 — it’s safe to say that this guy knows what he’s talking about when it comes to building something amazing from almost nothing. Zero To One will not only teach readers his secrets but also inspire them on their path towards changing the world with their business ideas – all while having fun doing so (or breaking some rules along the way!)
From the book, I realized some learning points that gave me a new perspective:
- Vertical progress is necessary for meaningful advancement – it’s not just about going sideways!
- Monopolies can be beneficial both to business and society at large if done thoughtfully.
- Founders need more than luck to get their company off its feet; they must know where they’re aiming before taking the first step.
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
Recommended to: Anyone who struggles with consistency
This book provides a powerful wake-up call to artists, entrepreneurs and anyone with grand ambitions. It acknowledges that we all face the same universal obstacles – Resistance – but urges us on by reminding us how much is at stake: our dreams can change lives if only we commit 100% to tackling them head-on.
Here are three key lessons it teaches along the way:
- You’re not alone in your struggles.
- Give serious respect to your dream like you would any other job.
- Commit 100% to your craft & you might change the world.
High Output Management
by Andrew Grove
Recommended to: Anyone who manages a team of people
Andrew Grove was a master at juggling multiple responsibilities as CEO of Intel, and his journey offers invaluable insight into leading with both precision and motivation. His book is like having an experienced mentor in your corner; it’ll guide you through the intricacies of supervising people while still keeping productivity humming along nicely – measuring performance, making decisions that count, motivating employees to reach their potential… no matter what area you’re managing! It’s a must-read for all business owners who want successful teams working together efficiently.
- The output of a manager is the sum of the output of his or her team.
- Meetings get work done for managers – but it takes away work from the team.
- Cultivate an environment where motivated people can excel.
- The workplace is a professional playing field. Your team are the athletes.
- Training is one of the highest leverage activities anyone can perform.
How to Talk to Anyone
by Leil Lowndes
Recommended to: Introverts and shy people who want to improve communication
Never fear awkward conversations or first impressions again! Leil was a former shy school teacher who went on to be an actress and host of her own talk show. She shares 92 practical, actionable tips on how to talk to anyone… and they actually work!
From strategies for making people feel comfortable around you to the seemingly small details that have huge impacts – this book covers it all so less-confident communicators don’t need to worry about how to have positive conversations with new people.
Building A StoryBrand
by Donald Miller
Recommended to: Business owners and marketers that want more effective branding
Beyond simply providing guidance on how to better design your sales pages and products, this book is an invitation for you to craft a thrilling journey for your clients. This guide will show you the 7 steps needed to create captivating stories that engage customers in understanding and wanting what it is you offer them!
Every success story is a hero’s journey, and the key to providing great service lies in being your customer’s sidekick. Recognize their mission and identify where they’re stuck or what evil forces are at play – then show them how purchasing from you will help slay those dragons! Give them a vision of future glory – with YOU as their trusty ally along for the ride!
The Choice Factory
by Richard Shotton
Recommended to: Business owners, marketers and salespeople
People might think they’re running their own show, but the reality is that outside influences often shape and direct our decision-making – even if we don’t realize it. This entertaining book looks at 25 such biases and provides savvy ways of using them to create persuasive marketing campaigns.
Some may consider this manipulation… The truth is, although the science of Behavioral Economics suggests that companies can “nudge” people into buying things, this power is limited. It’s more accurate to view it as providing insight on human nature and helping individuals make better informed decisions rather than simply manipulating them towards unwanted purchases.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
Recommended to: Business owners and CEOs
This book provides an honest, uncensored look at what goes on behind closed doors for today’s top-tier corporate CEOs. I learned that great leaders must be willing to shout during turbulence and learn to become comfortable with discomfort.
More importantly though, there are two distinct types of CEOs: Strategic and Practical. Every CEO is one or the other – no exceptions. For a company to truly shine, you need to have enough of both qualities, so if you’re Strategic, get some Practical skills and vice versa.
Break Through the Noise
by Tim Staples
Recommended to: Marketers and content creators
Try as you might, it’s not enough to just shout the loudest. It takes some real brain power to create content that makes a splash all over the world (or even in your own city).
They call Tim Staples the ‘algorithm whisperer’. He has a knack for finding the Youtube, Google, Facebook and Instagram secrets and how to make their systems work for your business. His company has had 25 videos appear on YouTube’s front page alone! In his book he reveals 9 steps you can use to take even the most modest product or service viral.
Get Different
by Mike Michalowicz
Recommended to: Marketers
It’s time to rise above the status quo. Our primitive brains have made us hardwired for change, primed and ready to identify opportunities rather than threats! Take advantage of this by shaking up your marketing approach so you can stand out instead of blending in.
This book goes over the DAD marketing framework: Differentiate, Attract, Direct.
Super simple and super effective!
$100M Offers
by Alex Hormozi
Recommended to: Business owners, marketers, new business owners
This book is like a personal masterclass in designing your products and offers.
A few things it covers:
- Setting just the right pricing for maximum profitability.
- Packaging and selling services that have real value
- Employing clever psychology tactics to make people feel silly passing up an offer.
This is one book that I’d recommend to every single person starting a new business.
Prospect the Sandler Way
by John Rosso
Recommended to: Beginners in sales/business
This book provides tips on mastering stress-free sales, from utilizing David H. Sandler’s pioneering selling system to honing in on foundational principles via phone and online interactions.
This is a book that people online have recommended so much that I just had to finally site down and read it… and to be honest, it was a little underwhelming for me. I’d recommend this book to beginners in sales. It didn’t provide me with any breakthrough points of view – more like a solid base of reminders for beginners or people that struggle aren’t “natural sales women/men”.
Fanatical Prospecting
by John Rosso
Recommended to: Beginners in sales/business
This book provides tips on mastering stress-free sales, from utilizing David H. Sandler’s pioneering selling system to honing in on foundational principles via phone and online interactions.
This is a book that people online have recommended so much that I just had to finally site down and read it… and to be honest, it was a little underwhelming for me. I’d recommend this book to beginners in sales. It didn’t provide me with any breakthrough points of view – more like a solid base of reminders for beginners or people that struggle aren’t “natural sales women/men”.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
by Eric Jorgenson
Recommended to: Everyone
In The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, readers have access to the unique and invaluable wisdom that can unlock the potential for long-term wealth and joy. This book allows you to dive into the brain of one of life’s great teachers as you learn how best to develop key skills while unveiling secrets behind an extraordinary lifestyle.
In a world ripe with possibilities, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd while trying to find our place. Fortunately, Naval Ravikant has devoted his life exploring what lies beyond that horizon and here we have been gifted The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – an anthology of pearls from this self-made entrepreneur & spiritual teacher who journeyed from India through America on his way towards financial success. Thanks to Eric Jorgenson for curating this priceless collection so you too can discover your path by knowing yourself better.
Here are some core lessons from this book. First, the compounding rule is an essential tool to achieve our dreams – no matter what they may be. Second, financial stability can provide us with crucial freedom and open up amazing possibilities that we didn’t know existed before. Finally, when it comes to our emotions: staying neutral and keeping quiet are two of the best responses for sustained contentment in life.