I’ve always read, voraciously. Many hours of my childhood were spent reading everything from the Charlie Brown Cyclopedia to Mad Magazine to Hardy Boys novels – and I still spent a great deal of time reading what others have written, either for knowledge or entertainment purposes. And sometimes, I read something I’ve read before – for inspiration.
We all need inspiration at various seasons in our lives, especially when things aren’t going as well as we’d expected. Sometime we just need to separate ourselves from what we have to do and be reminded that others have “been there” and emerged as successes.
All of us also need instruction (or advice) as we search for success. Most of us don’t have a “mentor” who can actually guide us and assist us in the pursuit of our dreams – but fortunately there is a wealth of counseling and instruction in the form of books!
So where can you and I find inspiration and advice, as entrepreneurs, telecommuters, office workers, or dreamers – who are aiming for “something” better in the future? Here is a list of (most of) the best books I’ve found for people like you and I…
How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis – This is both entertaining and full of very good advice on many aspects of business and wealth. Felix Dennis founded Maxim magazine (among others) and tells his story here.
Failing Forward by John Maxwell – The anecdotes in this book will come to mind long after you read this book. It contains stories of many people who failed (some repeatedly) yet persevered and became successful in the end.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – If you’ve never read this, you need to. This is a classic text and useful on so many levels – not just for “business”.
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason – Many people were never taught how to handle money, by their school nor by their parents. This little book will make up for many of the lessons you need to know. This is another classic.
Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell – A purely inspirational text that you’ll remember long after you’ve read it. Another classic text (actually it was a speech that was given many many times). [Read it for free]
Anyone Can Do It by Richard Bannatyne – A success story that will inspire anyone who has the entrepreneurial spirit within them.
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss – This is a great book that not only has some humor but has tons of practical advice to help you become more productive. I think some of the ideas found here are essential.
The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class by Keith Cameron Smith – This is a very easy read, but the author packs a lot of good stuff into his few points. You can read this in a couple hours, and will probably want to re-visit it many times after.
A Million Bucks by 30 by Alan Corey – This is a fun story to read. Alan Corey had the goal of becoming a millionaire within eight years and this is how he did it!
The Secrets of Wealth by Fabio Marciano
– A great read; again, this will educate you on how to handle money (and accumulate it).
There are a few more books in this vein that I’ve read and benefited from, but the books listed above are probably my top ten.
Here are also a couple of helpful links:
10 Pearls of Wisdom Taken From My Reading and Experience as an Entrepreneur
Top 5 Movies for a Young Entrepreneur
If you have any other recommendations (your personal favorites), please share them in the comments!
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