4 Books I’m Reading Right Now
How much reading do you do?
What books are you reading right now that are making a difference for you?
As with Ryan Holiday and Ayodeji Awosika, I take the stance that reading is important work. It’s like a job. A non-negotiable. Something you must do as a creative or creator, whether it’s to find inspiration, improve your writing, generate ideas, or discover worthy and applicable strategies and tactics for life and business.
I don’t think it’s necessary to read one book at a time, or even finish a book you’ve started (though I generally do). If a book isn’t quite what I expected, I skim most of it instead of trying to comb through it word by word. There are some books I almost gave up on that got good in the middle or towards the end, though, contrary to what I’ve heard some gurus say.
Reading is where – more than anything else – inspiration happens for me. And that makes it a worthy addition to my life. Some say they don’t read, and I think that’s fine too. What I do know is that reading develops the tenacity and persistence required to be successful in any area of life, just as learning an instrument does.
Here’s what I’m reading right now:
1. The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham
Ever notice how the quality of questions you ask guide your life?
This is obviously true in every area of life, but where The Road Less Stupid shines is specifically in entrepreneurship. And there isn’t a shortage of powerful questions here.
And just in case you’re tempted to go and buy books by the likes of Tony Robbins and Peter Drucker (because they are masters at self-diagnosis), it’s clear Cunningham took inspiration from the greats while forming the many, many questions posed in this book.
Even if you’ve been reading about entrepreneurship for a long time, you’re bound to have some “aha” moments while digging into this resource.
If there’s a downside, it’s the sheer length of the book. This is an advantage as much as it is a disadvantage, I suppose, but if I’m looking to apply what I learn from a book, its length does make a difference.
By the end of a book like Launch by Jeff Walker, my head was swimming. I lost the steps to the method by the time I had made it through the word salad that was supposed to offer more clarity and direction for the reader.
I have been keeping notes on The Road Less Stupid, and I’m nearly 50% of the way through, but I’m afraid it will be one of those books that will only ever be applied piecemeal by me – never holistically.
Check out this book (affiliate link)
2. Reality Transurfing. Steps I-V by Vadim Zeland
Okay, so is there any merit to the Law of Attraction? We’ve all heard about Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, maybe even took it a step further with Abraham-Hicks. But is Law of Attraction real? How does it work anyway?
Well, turns out The Secret is kind of like the watered down, easy to understand, kindergarten version of the Law of Attraction. Reality Transurfing is a detailed guide to the nuances and subtleties that make it work. And it is heavily intellectual.
Reader be forewarned – this is a tome if there ever was one. It’s not some rehash of The Secret, or any of its bandwagon proponents. It’s the advanced, bootcamp guide to reality and how you can shift to different lifelines (thus transurfing).
Whether you read it, believe it, or apply it is entirely up to you. It struck me as interesting after watching numerous Quazi Johir videos, which is why I picked it up for myself.
Check out this book (affiliate link)
3. Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck? by Seth Godin
Seth Godin’s Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck? is a compilation of some of his best blog posts from 2006 to 2012. And again, it’s a tome if there ever was one.
For me, it’s essential reading because I’ve been thinking about compiling my blog posts and turning them into a book as well. My book wouldn’t be quite as cogent as Godin’s book, I think, because sometimes I talk specifically to musicians rather than more broadly to creatives and creators. But I don’t necessarily think that should stop me.
Anyway, for me, this is like going to school on how to craft a book that, in a way, is all over the place.
What I like about Whatcha Gonna Do is that many of the blog posts are short and easy to consume. They are all self-contained thoughts that fit nicely into the broader theme of the book.
Of course, every thought has the potential to be life-changing, which is one of the things many people have found to be so challenging about reading Godin’s blog.
Check out this book (affiliate link)
4. Magnetic Micro-Books by Nate Fancher
I got connected to Nate Fancher on Twitter, and I couldn’t possibly call that an accident. Here’s someone who obviously had a direct line to my current struggles in entrepreneurship and life (because he’s been there), and his book, Magnetic Micro-Books expresses it well.
The idea immediately resonated with me, because I have produced a few of my own micro-books and they have sold reasonably well, while helping me gain broader access to my target audience.
But I can see that Magnetic Micro-Books would be taking it a few big steps forward. Just from reading the opening chapters, I’m clear that I have some serious soul searching to do, and some deeper questions to gain clarity on.
I don’t have any feedback on whether the method works, as I’m just getting started. But suffice it to say, I’m looking for an open block in my schedule to work through the key questions presented.
Final Thoughts
Do you have any book recommendations? What books have you read that have made a difference for you?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
