Book Recommendations

People often ask me what to read on business, leadership, personal growth, money and faith. These are books from my own shelf, each with a quick note on why it is worth your time.

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Business

Beyond Disruption, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
The Blue Ocean Strategy authors on creating new markets without destroying existing ones.
My take: For business owners who want to create a new market instead of fighting for one.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On, Jonah Berger
Jonah Berger's research on why some ideas spread and others don't. Useful for planning any content or campaign.
My take: If you make content or market anything, read this to understand why things spread.

Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies, Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer
How local currencies can help strengthen community economies.
My take: For anyone interested in strengthening their local economy.

Creativity, Inc., Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull on protecting creativity as a company grows. Pairs well with the Steve Jobs biography.
My take: If you liked the Steve Jobs book, read this next.

Crucial Conversations (3rd Edition), Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory
How to handle high-stakes conversations without blowing up or shutting down. Useful at work and at home.
My take: I recommend it for any conversation you're dreading, at work or at home.

Everybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAX, Phil Harkins and Keith Hollihan
The story behind RE/MAX and the business model that made it work.
My take: For agents curious about how RE/MAX grew.

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Two Navy SEAL officers on taking full responsibility for results. A cornerstone leadership book.
My take: If you lead anyone, I tell you to start here. Owning the result changes everything.

First, Break All the Rules, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
Gallup's research on what great managers do differently. Essential reading for anyone building a team.
My take: I recommend this to anyone who manages people, before they read anything else on teams.

Freakonomics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Economics applied to everyday life in surprising ways. A fun read that teaches you to question assumptions.
My take: A fun read I recommend to anyone who likes questioning the obvious.

Great by Choice, Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen
Jim Collins on why some companies thrive in chaos. Pairs well with How the Mighty Fall.
My take: Read it with How the Mighty Fall for the full picture.

House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street, William D. Cohan
The inside story of Bear Stearns' collapse. A sharp lesson in what happens when ego outruns risk management.
My take: I point people here when they want to see how fast overconfidence can sink a firm.

How the Mighty Fall, Jim Collins
Jim Collins on the five stages companies go through on the way down, and how to spot them early.
My take: I recommend it to business owners so they can spot the warning signs early.

Inside the Magic Kingdom, Tom Connellan
Customer service lessons drawn from Disney's approach to guest experience. Pairs well with Raving Fans.
My take: I pair it with Raving Fans for anyone who serves customers.

Integrity, Dr. Henry Cloud
Dr. Henry Cloud on the character traits that determine long-term success. A bridge between faith and business.
My take: Where character and business meet. A good faith-and-business bridge.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk on telling your story on social media. Some platforms are dated, but the principles hold.
My take: Some platforms are dated, but I still recommend it for the storytelling principles.

Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek on why great leaders put their people first. The title comes from a Marine Corps tradition.
My take: I recommend it to any leader who wants their team to feel safe.

Leadership Courage, David Cottrell and Eric Harvey
A short book on the courage leaders need to make tough calls.
My take: For leaders facing a tough call.

Leadership: Achieving Life-Changing Success from Within, Sgt. Maj. Alford L. McMichael
A former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on leadership built from the inside out.
My take: Leadership lessons from the top enlisted Marine. Great around Veterans Day.

Leading with the Heart, Mike Krzyzewski with Donald T. Phillips
Coach K on leading with trust, honesty and care. Leadership lessons from the court that apply anywhere.
My take: I recommend it to coaches and leaders who lead with heart.

Little Red Book of Selling, Jeffrey Gitomer
Jeffrey Gitomer's straightforward principles of selling. Short, punchy and practical.
My take: The quick sales book I recommend to anyone new to selling.

Masters of Networking, Ivan R. Misner and Don Morgan
Ivan Misner and Don Morgan collect insights from top networkers.
My take: Collected wisdom from top networkers.

Money on the Table, Ivan Misner and Lee Abraham
Ivan Misner on the referral opportunities most businesses leave on the table.
My take: I recommend it to anyone who suspects they're missing referrals.

Mr. Shmooze, Richard Abraham
Richard Abraham on building relationships that turn into sales.
My take: For people who want relationships, not pitches, to drive their sales.

Networking Like a Pro (2nd Edition), Ivan Misner and Brian Hilliard
Ivan Misner's practical guide to networking that generates referrals. The best place to start with his books.
My take: The first networking book I'd recommend.

No B.S. Wealth Attraction in the New Economy, Dan S. Kennedy
Dan Kennedy's blunt take on positioning yourself and your business to attract wealth.
My take: For business owners who want a blunt take on positioning.

Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton
Marcus Buckingham on building around your strengths instead of fixing weaknesses. For the assessment, get StrengthsFinder 2.0 new.
My take: Pair it with StrengthsFinder 2.0 if you want to take the assessment.

Pendulum, Roy H. Williams and Michael R. Drew
Roy H. Williams on the 40-year cycles of cultural values and what they mean for marketing and messaging.
My take: For marketers who want to understand why messages land differently over time.

People Over Profit, Dale Partridge
Dale Partridge on building a business that puts people ahead of profit.
My take: For owners who want people to come before profit.

Raving Fans, Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles
Ken Blanchard's quick parable on turning customers into enthusiastic fans.
My take: A quick read I recommend to anyone who serves customers.

Scaling Up, Verne Harnish
Verne Harnish's tools for growing a company without losing control. Good alongside Traction.
My take: For owners growing past the startup stage. Good alongside Traction.

Switch, Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Chip and Dan Heath on how to make change happen when change is hard.
My take: For anyone trying to change a habit or a team.

The 29% Solution, Ivan R. Misner and Michelle R. Donovan
Ivan Misner's 52 weekly lessons for building a referral-based business. Practical networking, one week at a time.
My take: A networking tip a week. Good for BNI members who want a steady habit.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution, Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling
A simple system for executing on your most important goals while the day-to-day keeps coming. Great for January planning.
My take: The book I recommend for turning January goals into weekly action.

The 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss
Tim Ferriss on automating work and designing your lifestyle first. Challenges a lot of assumptions.
My take: For people who want to rethink how they work.

The 8th Habit, Stephen R. Covey
Stephen Covey on moving from effectiveness to greatness by finding your voice and helping others find theirs.
My take: For people who've read the 7 Habits and want the next step.

The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber
Michael Gerber on working on your business, not just in it. Every small-business owner should read this.
My take: The first book I'd hand any small-business owner.

The Ideal Team Player, Patrick Lencioni
Patrick Lencioni on hiring and developing people who are humble, hungry and smart.
My take: I recommend it to anyone hiring.

The Lords of Easy Money, Christopher Leonard
How the Federal Reserve's low-rate era reshaped the economy. Pairs well with Too Big to Fail.
My take: For anyone curious about how the Fed shapes the economy.

The Millionaire Mortgage Planner, Steven Marshall
Practical guidance for loan officers and mortgage professionals on building a referral-based business.
My take: For loan officers who want to build a referral-based business.

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, Gary Keller with Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan
Gary Keller's playbook for building a real estate business on systems, not hustle. A must for new agents.
My take: The first book I'd hand anyone getting into real estate.

The Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey with Rebecca R. Merrill
Stephen M.R. Covey on why trust speeds everything up and lowers cost. Referral businesses run on it.
My take: I recommend it to anyone in a referral business. Trust is the whole game.

The World's Best Known Marketing Secret (4th Edition), Ivan Misner and Mike Macedonio
Ivan Misner on why word-of-mouth is the most effective and least-managed form of marketing.
My take: Why word of mouth works and how to stop leaving it to chance.

To Sell Is Human, Daniel H. Pink
Daniel Pink on why we're all in sales now, and how to move people ethically.
My take: For anyone who thinks they're not in sales. You are.

Too Big to Fail (10th Anniversary Edition), Andrew Ross Sorkin
Andrew Ross Sorkin's moment-by-moment account of the 2008 financial crisis. Reads like a thriller.
My take: For anyone who wants to understand what happened in 2008.

Traction (Expanded Edition), Gino Wickman
Gino Wickman's Entrepreneurial Operating System. A clear, practical framework for running a small business.
My take: If you run a small business, this is the system I'd start with.

Truth or Delusion?, Ivan Misner, Mike Macedonio, Mike Garrison
Ivan Misner and co-authors take on common networking myths.
My take: I recommend it to networkers who want to check their assumptions.

Twelve and a Half, Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk on the emotional ingredients of leadership, like kindness, empathy and accountability.
My take: For leaders who want to work on kindness, empathy and accountability.

Who: Solve Your #1 Problem, Geoff Smart and Randy Street
Geoff Smart and Randy Street's method for hiring the right people.
My take: I recommend it to anyone hiring for a key role.

Winning Through Intimidation, Robert J. Ringer
Robert Ringer's classic on negotiation and protecting your interests in business deals.
My take: For people who want to stop getting the short end of business deals.

Personal Development

Can't Hurt Me, David Goggins
David Goggins on building mental toughness through discomfort. Raw, intense and hard to put down.
My take: When someone tells me they want to get tougher mentally, I send them this.

Connected to Goodness (Revised Edition), David Meltzer with Harrison Lebowitz
David Meltzer on gratitude, empathy and how they shape success.
My take: For anyone who wants gratitude to be part of how they work.

Crystal Clear Mindset, Crystal Lynn Privett
Crystal Lynn Privett on shifting your mindset and the daily habits behind it.
My take: A quick read on mindset and the habits that support it.

Deep Work, Cal Newport
Cal Newport's case for protecting long blocks of focused time. Essential if your calendar runs your day.
My take: When my calendar starts running me, this is the book I recommend.

Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope, Mark Manson
Mark Manson on hope and meaning in an age of anxiety.
My take: A follow-up to The Subtle Art about finding hope.

Getting Things Done, David Allen
David Allen's system for getting tasks out of your head and into a process you trust.
My take: For anyone whose to-do list lives in their head.

Grit, Angela Duckworth
Angela Duckworth's research on why passion and perseverance beat talent.
My take: For anyone who thinks talent is everything.

How to Win Friends & Influence People, Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie's classic on relationships and persuasion. Still the best book on dealing with people.
My take: Still the book I'd hand anyone who works with people.

It All Matters, Paul Cummings
Short, practical ideas for doing the small things well in business and life. Easy to read one idea a day.
My take: Small ideas you can use the same day. I like reading one at a time.

Mastery, George Leonard
George Leonard on the long, patient path to getting truly good at anything.
My take: For anyone frustrated by slow progress. Mastery takes patience.

Peaks and Valleys, Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Spencer Johnson's short parable on handling life's good and bad times. You can read it in an hour.
My take: The one-hour read I give people going through ups and downs.

Raise Your Game, Alan Stein Jr. with Jon Sternfeld
Alan Stein Jr. on applying elite-athlete habits to leadership and performance. Great for coaches and managers.
My take: For coaches and managers who want to lead like an athlete trains.

Relentless, Tim S. Grover
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan's trainer on the mindset of relentless performers.
My take: For people who want to understand the mindset of the greats.

Remember the Ice, Bob Nicoll
Bob Nicoll on simple principles for living and leading well.
My take: Simple principles for living and leading well.

StrengthsFinder 2.0, Tom Rath / Gallup
Take the online assessment included with new copies to find your top five strengths. Buy new, since used codes are often spent.
My take: Take the assessment with a new copy. I recommend it to every team.

Sustain Your Game, Alan Stein Jr. with Jon Sternfeld
Alan Stein Jr.'s follow-up on staying motivated and avoiding burnout over the long haul.
My take: Read after Raise Your Game, especially if you're feeling burned out.

The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People, David Niven, Ph.D.
Short, research-backed habits of successful people. Easy to pick up and put down.
My take: Short, easy reading you can pick up anytime.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
Stephen Covey's timeless framework for personal and professional effectiveness.
My take: The classic I recommend to everyone at least once.

The Greatness Guide, Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma's short, actionable ideas for doing your best work.
My take: Short ideas for doing your best work.

The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor
Shawn Achor's research showing happiness fuels success, not the other way around.
My take: For anyone who thinks they'll be happy once they succeed. It argues the opposite.

The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod
Hal Elrod's morning routine framework for starting each day with intention.
My take: I recommend it to anyone who wants a better start to their day.

The Obstacle Is the Way, Ryan Holiday
Ryan Holiday on turning obstacles into opportunities with Stoic philosophy.
My take: For anyone facing an obstacle right now.

The Slight Edge (Revised Edition), Jeff Olson
Jeff Olson on how small daily disciplines compound over time.
My take: I recommend it to anyone who wants small daily habits to add up.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson
Mark Manson on choosing what's actually worth caring about. Blunt and funny.
My take: For anyone overwhelmed by caring about everything. Blunt and funny.

Who Moved My Cheese?, Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Spencer Johnson's short parable about adapting to change. A quick read for teams.
My take: I give this to teams going through change.

Who's in Your Room? (BNI Edition), Stewart Emery, Ivan Misner, Rick Sapio
Who you let into your life shapes everything. A short, useful read on choosing your inner circle.
My take: I recommend it to anyone deciding who to keep close.

Your Brain at Work, David Rock
How your brain handles focus, distraction and stress, and how to work with it. Pairs well with Deep Work.
My take: I pair this with Deep Work for anyone fighting distraction.

Personal Finance

These books are shared for education and ideas. Nothing here is financial or investment advice.

A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Burton G. Malkiel
Burton Malkiel's classic case for low-cost index investing. Educational reading, not investment advice.
My take: For anyone curious about investing. Read it to learn, not as investment advice.

How to Create Wealth Investing in Real Estate, Grant Cardone
Grant Cardone on building wealth through real estate. Educational reading, not financial advice.

How to Get All the Money You Need to Buy Property, Alan Cowgill
Alan Cowgill on ways to finance property purchases. Educational reading, not financial advice.

How to Leave a Legacy Now!, Frank Cueva
Frank Cueva on planning a meaningful legacy for your family.
My take: For families thinking about the legacy they leave.

Making Big Money Investing in Real Estate, Peter Conti and David Finkel
Strategies for real estate investing from two experienced investors. Educational reading, not financial advice.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth, Ric Edelman
Ric Edelman's interviews with everyday people who built wealth through steady habits. Read it for the habits, not the specifics.
My take: Read it for the habits of people who built wealth slowly, not the specifics.

Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter
Robert Kiyosaki's classic on how the wealthy think about money and assets. A mindset book, not financial advice.
My take: I recommend it for the mindset shift about assets, not as financial advice.

Rich Dad's Guide to Investing, Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter
Robert Kiyosaki's follow-up on how investors think. Educational reading, not investment advice.
My take: The follow-up to Rich Dad Poor Dad for people curious about how investors think.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker
T. Harv Eker on the money beliefs we pick up early and how they shape our results.
My take: For anyone who wants to look at the money beliefs they grew up with.

The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner, David Bach
David Bach on using homeownership as a long-term wealth-building tool. Educational reading, not financial advice.

The Last Chance Millionaire, Douglas R. Andrew
Douglas Andrew on rethinking retirement planning. Strategies are debated among planners, so read it for the questions it raises, not as advice.
My take: I recommend it for the questions it makes you ask about retirement, not as a plan to follow.

The New Market Wizards, Jack D. Schwager
Interviews with top traders on their methods and mindset. Educational reading, not investment advice.

The Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey's step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Read it for the discipline, not as personal financial advice.
My take: The book I recommend to anyone who wants a clear plan to get out of debt.

Unintended Consequences, Leonard A. Renier
Leonard Renier on the hidden costs in common financial decisions. Educational reading, not financial advice.

Faith

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller
Donald Miller on living a better story with your life. Honest, funny and faith-centered.
My take: For anyone who wants their life to tell a better story.

Business Secrets from the Bible, Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Rabbi Daniel Lapin on timeless business principles drawn from Scripture.
My take: For faith-driven entrepreneurs who want biblical business principles.

Celebration of Discipline (Anniversary Edition), Richard J. Foster
Richard Foster's classic on spiritual practices like prayer, fasting and simplicity. A great Lent companion.
My take: I recommend it as a Lent companion or anytime you want deeper spiritual habits.

It's Not Complicated: Taking the Mystery out of Following Jesus, Josh Herrera
A plain-spoken guide to what following Jesus looks like day to day. A good first book for new believers.
My take: The book I'd give someone who is new to faith and wants it simple.

Shepherd Leadership, Blaine McCormick and David Davenport
Leadership lessons drawn from the shepherd imagery in Psalm 23. A gentler counterpoint to military leadership books.
My take: A gentler leadership book. I like contrasting it with the military ones.

The Eternal Now, Paul Tillich
Sermons by theologian Paul Tillich on time, presence and faith. Reflective reading.
My take: Short sermons for quiet reflection.

Your Money Map, Howard Dayton
Howard Dayton's biblical approach to budgeting, debt and giving. Great for small groups.
My take: I recommend it to small groups that want to talk about money and faith together.

Biography

A Mission Without Borders, Chad Robichaux with Craig Borlase
Chad Robichaux's story of military service, faith and rescue missions in Afghanistan.
My take: For anyone moved by stories of service and faith.

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, David W. Blight
David Blight's Pulitzer-winning biography of Frederick Douglass. A powerful portrait of courage and conviction.
My take: The biography I recommend for Black History Month and any time after.

In Full Flight, John Heminway
The true story of Kenya's first female bush pilot. Reads like a novel.
My take: A true story that reads like a novel. Great for adventure lovers.

Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson
Walter Isaacson's definitive biography of Steve Jobs. Required reading for anyone building something.
My take: The biography I recommend to anyone building something from scratch.

History

Countdown 1945, Chris Wallace with Mitch Weiss
The 116 days before Hiroshima, told like a thriller. A study in decision-making when every option is hard.
My take: I like it for how leaders decide when every option is bad. Great gift for a history-loving dad.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, Alfred Lansing
Shackleton's crew survives two years stranded in Antarctica. The ultimate leadership-under-pressure story.
My take: The best survival and leadership story I know. Great for anyone facing a hard season.

Ike's Bluff: President Eisenhower's Secret Battle to Save the World, Evan Thomas
How Eisenhower used calm and restraint to navigate the Cold War. Leadership through steadiness, not noise.
My take: A good reminder that steady and quiet can be the strongest kind of leadership.

Indianapolis, Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic
The sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the survivors' decades-long fight to clear their captain's name.
My take: An unforgettable true story. Great around Veterans Day.

Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes, Pete Hegseth
First-hand accounts from service members about courage, sacrifice and coming home. Pairs well with Extreme Ownership.
My take: Real stories from people who served. I pair it with Extreme Ownership.

Psychology

Blink, Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell on snap judgments, when to trust them and when not to.
My take: A fun read on trusting your gut, and when not to.

Factfulness, Hans Rosling
Hans Rosling shows the world is better than we think, and why our instincts get it wrong.
My take: I recommend it to anyone who thinks the world is getting worse.

The Denial of Death, Ernest Becker
Ernest Becker's Pulitzer-winning look at how fear of mortality drives human behavior. Dense but rewarding.
My take: Heavy but rewarding. For readers who like big ideas about why we do what we do.

Science

Immortality, Inc., Chip Walter
A journalist's look at the science and business of extending human life. Thought-provoking reading on where tech is headed.
My take: For the curious: where science and money are headed on longer lives.

Sports

#Uncommitted: College Baseball Recruiting Journeys, Joey Centanni and Jeffrey Klubeck
Real stories of college baseball recruiting. Useful for players and parents navigating the process.
My take: For baseball players and parents going through recruiting.

Fiction

The Overstory, Richard Powers
A Pulitzer-winning novel about trees and the people bound to them. A memorable, moving read.
My take: The novel I recommend when someone wants a story that stays with them.

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