In 2021, I bought 66 books, read 24, started 25, and haven’t even opened 17. I’ve gotten into the habit of not hesitating to buy a book if I’m interested and putting it aside if I’m bored.
I’ve also zoomed to learn on the following topics:
- Writing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- And Chess
I’ve listed the 8 books that impacted me the most in 2021. Let’s clarify what I mean by “impacted me”. It doesn’t mean that it’s super well written (it’s better when it is😀 ) but rather that it changed my thinking and sometimes my actions. It’s often also related to the time it comes into my life.
You’ve all experienced a book that a friend recommended, and in the end, it didn’t work for you. Why? Timing maybe.
Or maybe a book you read and felt nothing. You reread it by chance a few years later and it’s a revelation.
In the hope that some of these books will come along at the right time for you.
Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash
In the end, 8 books really impacted me.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant. A book that improved the quality of my thinking. And this idea follows me in my everyday life. Am I sure? Why do I think like this? What is the argument on the other side? I am less sure about many things, and I am happy about that. (My summary here)
The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential by Wim Hof. Breathing exercises and cold showers were already part of my routine, but the author convinced me even more. My exercises and showers are longer and more intense. And when I don’t feel like turning the switch to cold, I think about Wim and execute. And by the way, it works for me 😀.
Skip the Line: The 10,000 Experiments Rule and Other Surprising Advice for Reaching Your Goals by James Altucher. I remember reading an article about “the 10 ideas,” a creativity technique pushed by James years ago and it stuck with me. So when the book came out, I didn’t hesitate. James experiments with dozens of ideas in different fields to learn faster and stand out. And you can feel his own experience behind it. I love it and use some of these concepts regularly. (my summary here)
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William Braxton Irvine: I feel close to Stoic thinking. I have always wanted to study it. This book gave me a practical approach to Stoicism and made me reflect regularly. (my summary here)
How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking by Sönke Ahrens. The method of Niklas Luhmann, a German civil servant who developed a “Workflow” that allowed him to write more than 60 books on philosophy, organization theory and sociology. So I don’t pretend to use his method exactly, but it helped me better exploit my 11 000 Evernote notes. And being able to keep, reflect and link ideas together is a fabulous tool for organization and creativity.
The Minimalist Entrepreneur: How Great Founders Do More with Less by Sahil Lavingia. A different approach to creating a business, far from the dogmas of the corporate world, but also more surprising, that moves away from the new start-up models. And if creating a business was possible for everyone? One of the author’s messages. (my summary here)
Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins For those who follow me, you know that I have been attracted to financial independence since I was young. And in general, but perhaps more specifically in the Financial Independence (FI) world, the question is often “do I have enough to last me.” Bill turns the question around and says, “how do I make sure I spend it all before I die?”. An interesting paradigm shift. (my summary here)
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, by Morgan Hou.
Money is more a matter of habits and soft skills than technicity—a delightful book, which reminds you of the pitfalls to be avoided with powerful stories.
Conclusion
My readings are like personal mentors. I grow with them.
With the launch of this blog, I’ve taken a step up in my reading and note-taking. I spend more time on books after reading them, which brings me a lot. I love this time of reflection.
I wish you a happy holiday season with lots of books as gifts.
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