Read these 12 books every year to maximize your Return on Life

Summary

The video script details a personal journey of self-improvement through reading, emphasizing the importance of reading quality books over quantity. It outlines a four-step process for effective reading: read, reflect, integrate, and repeat. The speaker shares a list of 12 impactful books, including 'Meditations by Marcus Aurelius' and 'Thinking Fast and Slow,' that offer wisdom applicable to life and business, advocating for rereading them annually to foster personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

• 📚 The idea that CEOs read 52 books a year may be a myth, but it inspired the speaker to read more and improve their life.
• 🔄 Reading more books doesn't necessarily make you better; it's about reading better books and understanding them deeply.
• 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of reflection through writing to connect the dots from what you read.
• 💭 Reading is not enough; integration of knowledge into action is crucial for personal and business growth.
• 🔄 The value of repeating the process of reading, reflecting, integrating, and repeating for continuous learning.
• 📘 The speaker recommends rereading the best books that have a significant impact on life rather than constantly seeking new ones.
• 👑 'Meditations by Marcus Aurelius' is highlighted as a timeless book offering wisdom on living a life of value.
• 🧘 Naval Ravikant's 'The Almanack of Naval Ravikant' is praised for its practical wisdom that can be applied to improve life and business.
• 💪 'Anti-Fragile' by Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains how to build systems that not only withstand but thrive in chaos.
• 🤝 'Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion' by Robert Cialdini provides tools for effective communication and understanding human behavior.
• 🧠 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman explores the two systems that drive our thinking and the importance of making deliberate decisions.
• 🎯 'The One Thing' by Gary Keller encourages focusing on the most important task to achieve goals more effectively.
• 💼 Howard Marks' 'The Most Important Thing' offers insights into the psychology and principles of successful investing.
• 🎲 'Fooled by Randomness' by Nassim Nicholas Taleb discusses the role of chance in life and how to navigate it.
• 🛠️ 'The Great Mental Models' by Farnam Street provides a variety of mental models to approach problem-solving from different angles.
• 🌀 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle teaches the importance of living in the present moment and the illusion of time.
• 🎨 'Show Your Work' by Austin Kleon motivates creators to share their work with the world despite fears of rejection.
• 🌟 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl argues that finding meaning in life, regardless of circumstances, is the ultimate test for each individual.

Q & A

What was the initial motivation for the speaker to start reading more books?

The speaker was motivated to read more books after seeing an ad claiming that the average CEO reads 52 books a year. They believed that by reading more, they could emulate the success of CEOs and turn their life around.

How did the speaker's approach to reading evolve over the years?

Initially, the speaker read over 100 books a year, aiming to be twice as good as the average CEO. However, they later realized that reading more doesn't necessarily make you better. Instead, they learned the importance of reading better, which involves reading deeply, reflecting, integrating, and repeating the process with fewer but impactful books.

What are the four steps the speaker suggests for reading better?

The four steps for reading better are: 1) Read and understand deeply, 2) Reflect on what you're reading, 3) Integrate what you've read into action, and 4) Repeat the process with the best books that have a significant impact.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of reflecting on what you read?

Reflecting on what you read is crucial because it helps you to collect and connect the 'dots' of knowledge. It allows you to think deeply about the material and apply it in a meaningful way, rather than just passively consuming information.

What is the significance of the book 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius according to the speaker?

The significance of 'Meditations' is that it provides personal insights from a powerful historical figure, Marcus Aurelius, who wrote about his internal struggles and reflections on life. The book is eloquently written and offers wisdom that can inspire new insights with each reading.

What is the main idea behind the book 'Anti-Fragile' by Nassim Nicholas Taleb?

The main idea behind 'Anti-Fragile' is that systems can be categorized as fragile, robust, resilient, or anti-fragile. An anti-fragile system is one that not only withstands stress and adversity but actually becomes stronger as a result.

How does the book 'Influence' by Robert Cialdini help readers understand human behavior?

'Influence' provides readers with an understanding of the six weapons of influence: reciprocity, commitment, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. These concepts help readers to recognize and navigate the ways in which people are persuaded and influenced.

What is the core lesson of 'The One Thing' by Gary Keller?

The core lesson of 'The One Thing' is to identify and focus on the single most important task or goal that, once accomplished, makes everything else easier or unnecessary. It emphasizes the importance of prioritization and focus in achieving success.

Why does the speaker recommend rereading certain books every year?

The speaker recommends rereading certain books every year because they believe that these books offer profound lessons and insights that can be revisited and applied to personal and professional growth over time.

What is the central message of 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl?

The central message of 'Man's Search for Meaning' is that finding meaning and purpose in life, regardless of circumstances, is the ultimate test for each individual. It emphasizes the importance of our response to life's challenges and the freedom that comes from choosing our response.

How does the speaker describe the book 'Show Your Work' by Austin Kleon?

The speaker describes 'Show Your Work' as a short but powerful book that encourages creators, artists, and entrepreneurs to share their work with the world despite any internal resistance or fear of being ignored. It provides strategies to overcome these barriers and to embrace the value of sharing one's work.