This is the blog I promised you about Five Books That Changed My Life. Here you go……in random order.
In the past twenty years I have read nearly 4000 books. That’s a lot of books by anyone’s standards. I have read thousands of books that cover thousands of years of information. I read for pleasure, for education, out of boredom and out of need for information. I read everything from trashy throwaway fiction (what I call beach books), to detailed business books and thoughtful books on spirituality. When I read a book, I want to learn one thing. It doesn’t take a hundred ideas for a book to be any good for me. I just need one little thing for any book to be worthwhile. After all, one idea is all it takes to change your life and your results. These are a few of my all-time favorite books and the one thing they taught me.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Because of the title, this book gets confused with the much better known book, The Art of War by Sun-Tzu, but believe me, that is where the similarity ends. This terrific little book is about dealing with resistance in your life and your business. Once you know how to get past resistance, you can do about anything: lose weight, write a book, run a marathon, sell more, or lead better. The thing I learned from this book is that amateurs love their jobs, but true professionals love their jobs enough to become experts at their jobs. Big difference. There are many amateurs but very few professionals. Few people who will spend the effort and time it takes to move past amateur to professional.
The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes
This book was written as a guide to living a more successful life by understanding the power of spirituality in every area of life. This book became the basis for an entire religion but was never intended to be used in that way. This book is about harnessing the creative power of your thoughts. While this book taught me about how to achieve success more than any other, my one big lesson was this: Thoughts are creative. When you change your thoughts, you change your results. Knowing that you can create the life you dreamed of by thinking differently and then taking action on your thinking is a powerful thing to realize.
Real Magic by Dr. Wayne Dyer
While all of Dyer’s books have made a huge impact on my life, this one stands above the rest. Real Magic goes beyond the theory of positive thinking and moves you into the realm of actually realizing your desires. It is based on the concept that thoughts are things and by directing your focus and your intent toward what you want to achieve, you will make it happen. It helped me develop my own philosophy of “What you think about, talk about and do something about, comes about.” Dyer goes into great detail about to how to change your thinking in order to change your life. He gives step-by-step programs for improving your finances, your relationships, your career and more.
On Writing by Stephen King
Stephen King, the master of horror is also a master at teaching how to tell a great story. It should be required reading for anyone who is ever going to tell a story, whether that story is to be written or spoken. King says that a story should move the reader by creating an emotion–whether that emotion is fear, sadness, anger or humor. King explains the exact process he goes through to write a book and create emotion through his stories. I found his methods fascinating. This book changed everything about my writing and my speaking. No book had a more profound influence on my personal style.
First You Have To Row A Little Boat by Richard Bode
Do you ever get so busy that you feel like life is rushing past you and you are missing it? I do. And this short little book that uses sailing as a metaphor for life was just the ticket for me. I don’t sail and will never sail, but the book still spoke to me. This book reminded me that life moves fast and sometimes you should metaphorically (and literally) just sit in the sand and let life slow down and float slowly by. Great treasures sometimes float right past you and you need to know how to recognize them and pick them up. Enjoyment doesn’t always come from doing, but it sometimes comes from not doing. I often need a reminder to sit calmly in the midst of my crazy life, and this book taught me the importance of doing that.
“The thing I learned from this book is that amateurs love their jobs, but true professionals love their jobs enough to become experts at their jobs.”
Such a true statement! This can actually be used as the “pinpoint” when the decision is made to turn a hobby into a means of making a living.
wow!!…Thanks…Ive read Stephen King’s book,and I agree..that book impressed me more than all his others…he is a Worker.!!..I’m getting the others ASAP!!
Thanks Larry.
Most speakers really talk about wanting others to be more successful but really don’t.
You on the other hand really do want others to succeed.
The War of Art has jolted something in my brain loose and I am moving forward with what I want to do.
Thanks for sharing, I appreciate what you do.
Paul
Hi Larry, I really appreciate your no-nonsense approach to Budget and especially to debt! I have watching “Big Spender” and I recognize myself in some of those people. As a result I have done the work of doing a budget, making a debt reduction plan (with my husband) and looking at ways to bring in more cash to get the “snowball” rolling! I am so frustrated with the first credit card company I called about reducing the interest rate…29%. Chase sent me to 7 different people who all told me that they couldn’t reduce my rate because I had too much debt. Have you run into this in your debt reduction process? I am stressed now and wondering if it is worthwhile to call the other companies. Most of our cards are above 25%. Any help from anyone is appreciated! AND thanks so much for the work you do on this topic and life success!
Helen
Hi Larry,
Thank you for this blog. I haven’t read these books yet. I will check them out the next time I am in Barnes and Noble (several times a week usually) or on Amazon.com. I read alot. Fiction, not fiction, magazines, blogs on the web by those I think have something to say to me. I listen to audiobooks in my car. I seldom turn the radio on anymore. I won’t go on a driving trip without them or fly with out my Ipod which is loaded with podcasts and audiobooks as well as music. Hayhouseradio.com, YEAH!!!!! Lots of talks by Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer to name my favorites.
This I morning finished reading “Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life”. I liked it very much. Even when what you said was hard to hear, I knew it was essentially true. Since the many of the authors in your acknowledgements are some of my favorites as well I think that we have much in common and are much different too. These differences make life interesting don’t you think?
I do have one comment on the Balance chapter. I think if you are broke and need money or fat and need to get healthy you are those things because your life is out of balance. And yes, you have to work harder at that aspect of your life to get it into balance.
I keep running into quotes and observation from “Conversations With God” by Neale Donald Walsch. I think I am suppose to bump these books up higher on my reading list. I bought the books several years ago for my son (off his Christmas wishlist) but haven’t read them myself. I will buy the first one this weekend.
I enjoyed watching you and the others on the NBC Millionaire Inside series and will drop them an email and let them know. I taped them all on my DVR so that I can watch them again. I haven’t heard of “The Big Spender” before but will check it out, if it is still available.
Blessings, KarenJ
thanks to all for your comments. Karen, Big Spender is alive and well – Saturday’s on A&E.
Lots of new stuff coming up so keep watching for exciting new announcements about TV and books and more!
Hi Larry,
I have finished reading “The War of Art” and enjoyed it very much and recommended it to several friends. I just listened to “Why We Want You to Be Rich” by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki. Very good I recommend it if you haven’t read it yet.
The book I am currently reading from your list is “First You Have to Row A Little Boat”. I love the way this guy uses words. I feel like I am reading poetry. Richard Bode’s insights in to life and how in getting to where you want to go it is not the destination that matters so much as the journey getting there and how everything you learn (the good and the bad) builds upon what has gone before.
I bought the first book from the “Conversations With God” series and Wayne Dyer’s “Real Magic” they are on my nightstand waiting for me to finish the books I am currently reading. I didn’t buy the “Science of Mind” but I did buy “365 Science of Mind”. It has short insightful messages for each day of the year. I have started reading one each morning. Kind of like a cup of coffee for my brain it jump starts the thinking process. I am liking it so much I will probably spring for the big book soon.
I am always looking for good books to read so if you have more recommendations to pass along I would love to hear them I promise I won’t get angry or tell you off if I don’t like a book you recommend.
Blessings, Karen
Karen……glad you liked these books. Again, they are my favorites. Tho I have many favorites. I will be posting more as time goes on.
thanks for your support and comments!
Larry
Og Mandino’s University of Success is a great book! It’s written in small chapters that should be read one a day. I don’t even know if it’s still in print. All the chapters are written by different authors.
There is a chapter about keeping 10% of all you earn. The way it’s presented was so well written I’ve never missed keeping 10% per paycheck since the 80s.
Many people write about saving 10% and for years that went in one ear and out the other for me. I wish I could be more articulate about the shift of presentation in this book of saving vs. keeping. For me, it was consciousness changing.
Every chapter addresses a different area of the human condition. It’s not only financial. Great read and very inspiring.
Earnest Holmes is one of the best too!
Lynn R
Hi Larry,
first of all, I gotta say that I really like your blog and your books as well. I started (and finished, btw…) reading “Shut up….” two years ago, when I had an emotional crisis, I was stressed by my job at that time and was afraid of finishing my diploma thesis. So I tried to push myself with motivational books, and that way I stumbled across yours. It was the best by far! It didn`t help me that much, though, so I went to see a doctor and the diagnosis was a depression along with panic attacks. I had to take some light pills for 6 months, I quit my job and focused on my thesis. Things soon went up for me, now I have finished university and found a job I really like, and finally I can apply most of the things you tought me through your book. And the ones you recommend here! I have read “war of art” (great, I read it once a month or so…), “on writing” (since I read it I started writing short stories myself) and “real magic” (since then I meditate every day).
Let me get to the point: When will you show us more books? I really trust your advice and I`m such a bookworm.
Best wishes from Germany,
Christian
Larry, I am a recent fan of yours and on my second book (success is your own damn fault) , I love it. Anyways, to make a long story short, I have been with my employeer for 16 years, started as 3rd employee, now I am VP of one of the largest industrial packaging companies in US at age 36, no college.
Question: My employer has agreed to offer me ownership oppertunities in this privately held company that I have helped create and he wants to know what my ideas are with that and what I would entertain. Who do I discuss this with prior to submitting my ideas to him? This could really define things and a huge oppertunity if it’s layed out right. I value your hard nose -true logic- approach, but obviously Im sure you don’t have time to discuss with me? Where do I start?
hey larry! i got no problem w/ your style of letting your readers know what u know. hell,i appreciate your concern and look forward 2 every book you write. it helps me. keep doing your thang!! happy 2010!! nice shirts!! c-ya!!
i download one of your audio book and it is very awesome thank you too. the audio book on shut up and stop whiming i love the book awesome. it make sense totally
I recently read your book, It’s Called Work for a Reason. I found it eye-opening and true, and it was nice that it didn’t contain useless business jargon or irrelevant parables. Larry really delivers the short, to-the-point practical advice he promises on the cover, and it works! I have applied some of the ideas not only in work, but in my life in general and have taken more responsibility for my actions. It feels good, and the book’s honest approach actually helps. It’s not really irritating, but it is honest and somehow, gives me hope. Success is simple, but not easy.
Larry,
Huge fan! I’d be curious on your thoughts on paying off a mortgage early if you have the means to do so. I have taken your advice and eliminated all credit card debt and any other debt that I had out there. I’m now in a situation where I will soon have the means to pay off a $350K mortgage after the sale of my business and was curious as to your thoughts on if you think this is a good idea or not? Hope to hear from you…if not thanks for everything you have done for me! Sincerely, Mike Angello
Hey Larry- Just wanted to say thank you for what you do.
Dear Larry,
just finished reading your book about the Idiots.
Ralphie is my favourite character in all the book. His words are golden. You should listen to him more often.
In the end, it is not a bad book. I found at least an ideea that I can use.
Since I am happy, healthy, fiancially stable and full of life, I think the book helps me a lot to keep what is mine. I’m too idiot to do it by myself (that’s why I keep reading this kind of books).
The biggest benefit of all, my wife read it. She follows your advice. That’s great.
As I see your face, and I know how you are thinking, there are chances for you to get in jail in Mexico, but I am sure you need nobody to get out of it. It’s nice to have friends, just in case.
take care, DC