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Starting Out
“The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason
A powerful message about earning money and making it grow. Told as an engaging, easy to read delightful parable with a powerful message.
Mindset
“Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki
My view is that the main message from this first book in the “Rich Dad” series is the importance of your thinking and attitude when it comes to creating wealth. Since your mindset is the critical foundation, Kiyosaki’s book is very useful through its parable style.
Earning: Pursuing Your Passion
“The Element” by Sir Ken Robinson
Investing
The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Investors and Managers
by Lawrence A. Cunningham
Warren Buffett is regarded by many as the greatest investor of our time. Each year he writes a lengthy, detailed letter to shareholders of his company Bershire Hathaway. These letters are a great insight into Buffett’s philosophy of investing and being a manager. This book contains extracts from his letters organised into categories. I recommend you read this book before the many other books about investing like Buffett.
The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
The only book about Warren Buffett for which Buffett has contributed. It is an authorised biography of his life. Don’t read this book expecting to get fantastic insights about how to invest like Buffett. It is a personal biography so what you get is an insight into Buffett’s life and him as a person. To invest like Buffett are you prepared for the life impact it may have?
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
This book is an eye opener that challenges many of the conventionally held views about investing. The research is robust and arguments persuasive. This is an essential book for anyone serious about successfully investing directly or trading their own investments, be it shares, property, commodities or other. It’s not an easy read, but neither is being a successful investor. Read it with an open mind and you’ll hopefully love it as much as I did.
Business
Starting Your Own Business
E-myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
Many people I meet express a desire to start their own business. Gerber’s book is essential reading for anyone contemplating self employment. Read it well in advance of quitting your job and before you are caught in what Gerber calls ‘The Entrepreneurial Seizure”. Read my full book review of The E-myth Revisited here.
Building Your Relationship Networks
“Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time”
by Keith Ferrazzi.
The byline says the most “How to Build a Lifelong Community of Colleagues, Contacts, Friends and Mentors”. As author Keith Ferrazzi says “you can’t get there alone”. To achieve your goals you will need great people around you with whom you have genuine relationships. This is a fantastic book on building your network that is the best I have read. Networking is an action word, something you must continue doing every day, not just when you attend a “networking function.”