The following is a running list of the books that helped me make some changes in my mind by either gaining a deeper understanding of its workings or providing a new paradigm of thinking that rung true and stuck.
Last Updated: 20190102
Books that have literally changed my life
For those who want a quick overview of its points I found a good review video, but I highly recommend the audiobook:
A great overview video for those interested, but I feel every man needs a hard copy to regularly review:
I didn’t realize it until writing a recent article, but this book is what got me started on most of the successful physical changes I have made over the last 18 months, from Intermittent fasting, to gut health, mitochondrial health, brain health, inflammation, how foods interact with my system, and preventing pre-diabetes. This book helped me rethink about my how to improve my health in all kinds of new ways. As someone who kept having issues that the doctors found no definite cause for, and a decades long weight struggle, this provided the insight to find new tools and directions for finally achieving success. It simply did not stand out in my mind as a life-changer as most of those subjects required follow up research and other books, but upon reflection it all got started with this one.
Books that provided a paradigm shift
The following are books that if nothing else provided a few lessons that stuck and continue to influence me for the better.
The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure, by Grant Cardone:
This one has several inspiring points, but the two lessons that stick are all endeavors require more work than you think and the more important that all successful people take responsibility for everything that happens to them.
“Look, you need to take responsibility for all results. High performance, highly successful people take total responsibility for every outcome in their life. They never make excuses. They look to themselves for being the cause of situations—they don’t blame other people or other things.” – Grant Cardone
This has helped tremendously to shift mindsets towards recognizing what can be improved on and don’t allow blame and excuse making to rob you of results you can make happen.
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting, by Dr. Laura Markham:
Fantastic book that not only helped me be a better parent, but gave me a powerful tool for all interactions with everyone. The deceptively simply advice of “Connect Before Correct“. It means to ensure you have established an emotionally supportive connection with the other person before giving them the correction they need. This works fantastically for children, but indeed is great advice for anyone you are trying to get through to.
With the Netflix series just released I am reminded of the lessons this book provided, especially the lesson of “If it does not spark joy, why are you keeping it?” It us help cut away the chaff of junk from our home and indeed lives later on, but that deserves its own article.
While all the books on flow state by Kolter have been fascinating reads, this one completely changed my mind on the value of group relationships and the possible value of mind-altering substances to expand the mind and achieve new personal growth. Those who have known me for long time would know that is a drastic shift from the straight-edge introvert I was for decades.
What Doesn’t kill Us, by Scott Carney
This was my follow up to Head Strong to get more information on the validity of the Wim Hof Method. While it doesn’t focus exclusively on Wim, it provided enough insight to make me realize much was missing in our modern lives that weaken us physically and convinced me to consider extreme environmental challenges, like the MD Plunge.
