12 Books I Try To Read Or Skim Every Year + A List Of Other Authors Of Wisdom And Truth

I have come to realize that reading and reflecting are truly foundational for becoming successful both in business and life. I have written on LinkedIn and elsewhere of the importance of reading on a consistent basis with a goal to reading two or three books a month, perhaps even a book a week. These goals are quite challenging but they are achievable with a structured approach to reading and time management.

Strive to become a lifelong learner and read books that will challenge your thinking and prompt you to think outside the box. I have come to understand in the later years of my life, that much of what we think we know or believe is simply not true or is, at best, often incomplete or biased.

Here is a list of books and authors I try to read or skim on a yearly basis. Each time I read any of these books, I find something I missed in previous readings or I come to understand the content at a much deeper level.

The List Of 12

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius. There are many versions and translations of Meditations. The one I prefer is the Phoenix Paperback published in London, English. I believe it is still available on the British Amazon website.

The Lessons of History, Will Durant. This short book represents a distillation of the 11- volume "The Story of Civilization" written by Will and Ariel Durant.

Ideas Have Consequences, Richard M. Weaver. Mr. Weaver was an astute observer of American culture and wrote most perceptively of our cultural and political crises.

The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene. A comprehensive review of human nature in which the author explains human nature by recounting brief stories of individuals in history who ran the gamut from heroes to villains.

The Roots of Wisdom, Hong Yingming. A little known classic of Chinese philosophy in cartoon story format. A veritable "rules of the road" for life.

The Elements of Style, Strunk and White. This little gem should be in everyone's library. The quintessential guide for how to write well with clarity and precision.

The Confessions of an Advertising Man, David Ogilvy. A wise and quite profound guide to leadership, management, and communications.

Follow Your Heart and How Life Works, Andrew Matthews. Mr Matthews is a cartoonist, but has written several illustrated books on living a purposeful and happy life. These two books are at the top of the list of the books he has written. Simple but quite profound.

Guide for the Perplexed, E.F. Schumacher. A wonderful explanation of what our world and life are all about.

Thinking for a Living, Joey Reiman. The best book I have ever read on creativity and thinking outside the box.

Essays, Michel de Montaigne. Montaigne wrote essays on almost every aspect of life. Something for everyone.

Some Other Recommended Authors Of Wisdom And Truth

In addition to the above short list, I recommend any and all books by the following authors: Mortimer Adler, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Haanel, Eric Hoffer, Vernon Howard, Fr. Stanley L. Jaki, C.S. Lewis, Albert Jay Nock, and Fr. James Schall. Their books are all in print. Lots of heavy sleddng here but worth the effort.

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Happy reading to one and all!

Cordially,

Andrew J Guinosso