15 Books to change your life
090: Arbitrage Andy's top book picks to better your life
I hope everyone had a great weekend and took some time out of their day yesterday on 9/11 to be thankful for all that you have. Life can change in an instant.
We’ve had overwhelming demand both through our instagram and twitter over the years to release a book list. I can’t tell you how many times I post a screenshot of a page of a book and I get immediately overwhelmed with DMs asking which book it is from.
You and I are not so different. I too woke up this dreary Monday morning wondering how I can achieve financial freedom, better myself, get more healthy, be happier, and accomplish more.
One thing I want to add to my schedule as we. move into Fall/Winter is more mandatory reading time. With instantaneous social media, 4/7 news, and constant stimulation, I feel we are growing further and further away from the ancient art of reading books.
I have always been an avid reader and I suppose that was one of the reasons and forces that ultimately led me to writing and trying to bring value to others. Books have the power to transform your life in positive ways and are one of the easiest ways to become a better person with a multitude of viewpoints, schoolings, and understandings of the world you exist in.
You’re able to read about people, events, and learnings that you may not normally have the chance to experience.
I have compiled a list of 25 books that I feel have the power to change the trajectory of your life and I sincerely mean that. The list includes books on self improvement, history, people skills, fitness, finance, and other areas of focus.
Comprehensively they represent some of the best information, education, and schooling in the world that one can get access to. Some of these are probably outside the realm of items you read in school or have been recommended to read by others before.
I’ve picked the list from my personal bookshelf at home, and filled it with titles that I’ve read and pieces that I feel represent my worldview, doctrine, and personal dogma for attacking my goals, getting better each week, and living life to the fullest all while acknowledging how raw this world we live in can be.
We provide a summary of each novel, what it contains, and why it can help you improve your life, arm you with valuable perspective and help you make better decisions. This is a comprehensive list that took hours to compile and vet.
If you’re looking to add titles or supplement your current collection of books, this list will undoubtedly have some titles you’re unfamiliar with that could help you become better today.
Moreover, if you’re tired of all the negativity and stress that has characterized the last two years these books will act as a guiding light for you, reinforcing principles everyone should live by, educating on concepts that will define the new age, and walking through how better people have dealt with curveballs life throws.
Best part is that you can order them after reading this morning and get on the road to becoming the sharper, better, and more fulfilled version of who you currently are. Invest in yourself this week, don’t just coast through hoping something magically happens to better your position or situation.
Hope you guys enjoy!
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.”
James Baldwin
1. The Book of Five Rings - Miyamoto Musashi
Number one is a bit of an unconventional read. Written in 1645 by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Many a business leader and corporate executives have the found the book’s discussion of conflict and advantage seeking to be incredibly useful.
You will sift through sword and weapon instruction, but if you look past the rudimentary intention, you will find gems similar to those to be gleamed from the more mainstream Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Specifically - The Book of Earth ends with nine basic principles that a Samurai must rely upon, which are useful for all people to take into consideration when living their daily lives, regardless of the discipline. The Book of Water pushes for you to possess the ability to change in accordance with one's own situation and the conflicts or obstacles that will inevitably arise in your life.
There are three more books of Wind and Fire but I won’t spoil their contents. Consider this an honest assessment of how to fight through life, with Samurai wisdom, self reflection, and grit that take into consideration where you stand vs. the world.
“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself”
-Miyamato Mushashi
2. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
The ultimate story of revenge, loss, and struggle. The Count of Monte Christo is an absolute classic. Completed in 1844, the novel is one of the more popular stories released by Dumas alongside the Three Musketeers.
Edmond Dantes, the novel’s main character is falsely accused of treason by a jealous colleague, arrested, and imprisoned without any trial in the infamous Château d'If, a grim island fortress off Marseille, France.
What follows is one of the world’s most prolific stories of redemption and revenge, leaving the reader wanting the main character to achieve all of his goals and much more.
While you’ve likely heard of this novel, I highly recommend reading it at your next chance if you haven’t. It is one of my all time favorites and for good reason. It includes all of the integral pieces of a riveting story: betrayal, despair, revenge, riches, and success.
“Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you”
-Alexandre Dumas