Books I've Read
Game Changers: What Leaders, Innovators, and Mavericks Do to Win at Life – by Dave Asprey
I liked reading this book out of order. Pick a chapters that intrigues you, flip towards the end that list the takeaways, and if it sounds interesting, then read read that chapter. It’s about biohacking your mental, physical, and spiritual performance.
Read: June 17, 2019
Version: Physical
Anything You Want – by Derek Sivers
This is definitely one of my favorite business books that I know I’ll keep referring to. You won’t find any tactical business advice here. Rather, Sivers gives us timeless lessons you can appreciate at any stage. My takeaway: spend more time doing the things that actually make you happy and less of what we think others expect from us.
Read: June 2, 2019
Version: Kindle
One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way – by Robert Maurer
The ideas in this book are simple yet powerful. Do a little bit everyday–even for just 5 minutes–and eventually you’ll get into a habit that will create big changes down the line. I like to incorporate this principle into our product by improving the user experience by at least 5% every week.
Read: May 30, 2019
Version: Kindle
Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time – by Jeff Sutherland
I picked up this book after experiencing a few product launch hiccups that left me frustrated. We missed deadlines, miscommunicated specifications, and often had different ideas of what “done” meant. This book offers a good introduction to the agile framework, it’s history, and interesting use cases of it beyond software development (like home improvement projects). It’s an easy read and will learn how to implement scrum in your organization.
Read: May 21, 2019
Version: Kindle
Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope – by Mark Manson
This book is about values, philosophy, and happiness. Despite the misleading title, it’s a book about cultivating an optimistic mental framework for dealing with our unpredictable world. He rehashes some topics I already learned about like stoicism, Neiteche, Kant, Anti-fragility, and Plato. But it’s still a fun read/listen because of his witty explanations. I particularly enjoyed his bit about Isaac Newton and self worth.
Read: May 17, 2019
Version: Audible
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, and Transcendence – by Michael Pollan
I picked up this book after listening to him on the Tim Ferris podcast. There’s a lot going on but Michael Pollan makes the case that psychedelics (LSD and magic mushrooms) can play an important role in fighting mental illness and actually make us better human beings. You’ll learn about the history of psychedelic therapy and read about what he experienced after taking the drugs.
Read: May 8, 2019
Version: Audible
The War of Art – by Steven Pressfield
If you ever struggled to create something, this is the book to pick up. It’s short, easy-to-digest, and useful. According to Pressman, every day you either win or lose to “resistance”.
Read: February, 6 2019
Version: Kindle
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow – by Yuval Noah Harari
Probably one of the most thought provoking books I’ve read. It’s philosophy intertwined with current technology trends and the future of humanity. Harari makes us wonder whether intelligent algorithms and a genetically upgraded superhuman will make regular humans obsolete in a couple of decades.
Read: March 28, 2018
Version: Audible
Principles: Life and Work – by Ray Dalio
Be radically transparent, be humble, know yourself, find the truth, don’t delude yourself, and fire people that suck. This book provides a useful framework for making better decisions in life.
Read: January 28, 2018
Version: Physical
The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Reach for a Lifetime – by M.J. DeMarco
Don’t be fooled by the title and discredit it as another get rich quick book. M.J. provides a pseudo-mathematical formula for creating a scaleable business that generates *wealth* (make money while you sleep). I read this in law school and it forever changed the way I thought of business.
Read: June 18, 2012
Version: PDF
Good to Great: Why Some Companies make the Leap and Others Don’t – by Jim Collins
This is one management book I wish I read before starting LawTrades. He starts with 1,435 good companies. Examines their performance over 40 years. Finds 11 companies that became great. Then tells you how you can do it too. I still refer to it from time to time during pivotal moments in the business.
Read: May 24, 2018
Version: Audible / Physical
1Q84 – by Haruki Murakami
You’ll probably read nothing like 1Q84. It’s my favorite fiction book that tells the story of how love can transcend dimensions. It’s strange, surreal, hilarious, and contains weird sex scenes that question reality. Murakami is a literary genius with words.
Read: August 29, 2018
Version: Physical
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less – by Greg McKeown
A system to apply more selective criteria to get the right things done. Some key takeaways: only pursue opportunities in your agenda; it’s okay to be unavailable; people work better when there’s one clear quantifiable purpose; take time for yourself to reflect.
Read: July 28, 2018
Version: Audible
Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader – by Brent Schlender
I enjoyed this biography of Steve Jobs better than the one by Walter Isaacson. It’s more balanced and gives you a deeper insight into how he was as a regular human being instead of only the neurotic CEO the media always focuses on. It’s emotional, inspiriting, and a great tribute to the legend.
Read: December 23, 2018.
Version: Apple Books
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion – by Sam Harris
Whether or not you agree with Sam’s view, he makes a compelling philosophical and scientific argument for the benefits on meditation and consciousness. It’s about dissolving the “self” and noticing the thing that thinks our thoughts.
Read: January 1, 2019
Version: Audible
When Breath Becomes Air – by Paul Kalanithi
A profoundly moving memoir about a young neurosurgeon faced with terminal cancer while asking himself the question of what makes a life worth living? His descriptions about life, death, meaning, suffering, and pleasure are almost poetic in nature, and will leave you thinking.
Read: May 19, 2018
Version: Kindle
It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work – by Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
I met Jason and David in NYC, and got my copy signed by them. They’re brilliant entrepreneurs to learn from. This book reads like a manifesto that rejects the notion that long hours, lack of sleep, and “hustling” is the only way to create a successful business. The book is refreshing, contrarian, and will change the way you think about your work culture.
Read: October 11, 2018
Version: Physical