“Being rich isn’t about money. Being rich is a state of mind.” Harvey Mackay
There are a million quotes that allude to this idea, but this one is the most blunt and direct (which is why I like it).
Being rich isn’t about money, it’s about having the time to do the things you love without being concerned about money. The methods I teach aren’t intended to make you fabulously wealthy, they are intended to give you passive income streams that give you true freedom. Once your passive income level matches your ideal lifestyle, that is when you are truly rich.
I’ve been a bookworm my entire life (not a nerd though!) and I am still astonished by people that never read at all. Reading has brought me more financial success, perspective on life, and personal happiness than I could ever have hoped to achieve on my own: why not learn from the greatest minds in human history, directly from their lips?
Here are some of my most highly recommended books ever, for financial success, personal philosophy, and good ol’ pleasure reading. It’s really hard to not keep adding books, so I narrowed it down to my absolute favorites.
Entrepreneurship
The E Myth Revisited – Michael Gerber – Another excellent book on entrepreneurship and how to avoid the usual pitfalls when starting your own business. You must focus on running the business from the outside, not get sucked into becoming an integral part of it and letting it take over your life.
Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki – His philosophy mainly revolves around generating passive income through investments in things that are already making money (i.e. don’t follow the conventional wisdom that things like houses and cars are investments). Great insight into how to think about investments.
Self Improvement
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey – This book is a classic that focuses on being more effective in your personal and professional life, thus improving your happiness and levels of success. I’m also a fan of “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” but I wanted to add a different author to this list!
Who Moved my Cheese? – Spencer Johnson – This book is really cool because instead of being a traditional self improvement book with direct advice, it shows us our human follies through a parable. A very fun read that demonstrates the importance of being able to deal with change.
Economics
Freakonomics – Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner – These two authors use massive amounts of statistical data to make astonishing discoveries about the world that go against the usual conventional wisdom.
The World is Flat – Thomas Friedman – Explains several of the economic forces moving the world today, as well as the steady progression toward a more interconnected world, and the ever increasing availability of outsourcing.
Fitness
Born to Run – Chris McDougall – I know I said the 4-Hour Body was the only fitness book you’ll ever need, but after reading this, I had to add it to the list! A must read if you are a regular runner (which I am) in terms of fixing your form, but also a great story on top of it.
Classics
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut
Narcissus and Goldmund – Hermann Hesse
Other Favorites
The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams – The premise of this book series is that in a universe that is indefinite in length and endless in time, nothing is ever impossible, just improbable. These books are hysterical.
A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking – By one of the leading scientists of our generation, but written in terms that us regular humans can understand (at least somewhat anyway!), we learn about the wonders and immensity of the universe we live in. Not only is it fascinating, but it also keeps our egos in check and is a good reminder that we probably shouldn’t take ourselves so seriously!
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes – Bill Watterson – I’ve read and reread these comics since I was a kid and I’m continually amazed by how insightful about life they are. I consider these comics to be the ultimate source of all wisdom.