List of Influential Books

blureach

Head
Jun 1, 2011
750
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Louisiana
In light of the Millionaire Fast Lane (which I have not read yet) I decided to compile my influential reads and get more suggestions from you all.

Here is my list in-order of influence:

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Significantly impacted my view of criticism and helped me become less much condescending and critical. Contains other great principals to follow in life

Intelligent Investor - Taught me the difference between a speculator and an expert. After reading I pulled all of my money out of the stock-market within a month.

Atlas Shrugged - Helped me define my own moral code

4-Hour Work Week - Thoroughly explained and showed me the concept of "work to live, not live to work".

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Improved my logical analysis of business strategy X10 (Game Theory Book)

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Influenced my definitions of assets vs. liabilities. I also consider this book the sole reason I rent as opposed to own.

The Art of War - Helped me understand the true costs of "winning" and this combined with rock,paper,scissors = pro strategy.

Black Swan - Great lessons on risk, luck, and what life's game changers are really composed of (including disruptive technology)

Little Red Book Of Selling - Great book to build your sales processes from

Blink - Affirmed my confidence in my "gut" feelings and to always listen to red flags.

The Elusive Quest for Growth - Showed me the answer to fixing poverty; incentive

Lawrence Of Arabia (Only skimmed through after watching the movie) - Shows me what perseverance + standing for what you believe can do


Please add more and explain how they were influential. Need more books to read.
 


+1 for Benjamin Graham's intelligent investor. This book completely changed the way I look at the stock market. A lot of great history in there, too. When you read his take on the economic situation in the 70's, you get the eerie feeling that he could just as well be talking about 2008.
 
+1 for sending me books during my first deployment, and writing gay man-notes inside the book covers.

Edit: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-Tipping-Point-Little-Difference/dp/0316346624"]The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference: Malcolm Gladwell: 9780316346627: Amazon.com: Books[/ame] is a great book for social awareness of behavioral epidemics, which may be a small bit of insight on how things go viral. It's entertaining nonetheless.
 
Crush It : Gary Vaynerchuk

The Thank You Economy : Gary Vaynerchuk

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcqCAqZtedI]Gary Vaynerchuk - Keynote Speech at Inc 500 Seminar 2011 - YouTube[/ame]

This guy is nostradamus of business online ... watch and learn no bs
 
Take notes boys and girls, you're never selling a product, you're always selling a story/emotion. The dude's a masterful story teller and success has followed him.

i got a chance to meet him last week in Vancouver ... hes the real deal...

certified:BEST MAN

another gem , best rant ever

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDgLEio-YL0]A rant from the heart, hip and head - YouTube[/ame]
 
The Startup Owner's Manual: Steve Blank is the guy who taught Eric Ries (The Lean Startup author) what he knows. The Lean Startup is fluffy, SOM is fucking tits.

The Prince by Machiavelli: #1 manual for negotation in my opinion

Influence By Cialdini: All marketer's need to read this
 
The Startup Owner's Manual: Steve Blank is the guy who taught Eric Ries (The Lean Startup author) what he knows. The Lean Startup is fluffy, SOM is fucking tits.

The Prince by Machiavelli: #1 manual for negotation in my opinion

Influence By Cialdini: All marketer's need to read this
Nice, I'll check those out. Read The prince when I was younger and didn't fully understand. Will need to take another whack
 
Add all these to my wishlist at Amazon. Only a few I have read in this list so far but the majority of those listed I haven't got to yet.

I'll add some:

How to be invisible - j.j. luna

covert persuasion

talent is overrated

buyology

beat the forex dealer

blue ocean strategy
 
Not influential, but for professional development & fulfillment:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Keys-Success-Long-Term-Fulfillment/dp/0452267560]Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment: George Leonard: 9780452267565: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]

(Mastery)