If you’ve been around for a while, you know Lauryn and Michael are avid readers. It’s such a good habit to get into. It keeps you both interested and interesting. That’s why they always make time to read, whether it’s a quick five minutes with our Kindles or curled up with a hardcover.
There are a lot of different reasons why you might enjoy reading books: some read to be entertained, some want to be motivated, while some want to be educated and informed. No matter what you’ve got on your reading lists, reading can benefit you in a lot of ways. It keeps your mind sharp as well as receptive.
In fact, reading is one of the secrets of highly successful people. But these highly successful people tend to be picky with what they read. They want to ensure those books are going to feed and grow their mind. They read books that expand their perspective, challenge their ways of being, and bring something new to the table. So today, we’re sharing a round-up of those life-changing book recommendations from successful people.
*You can also check out our roundup of the best books to read to get to know yourself & books on business!
7 Books Successful People Read
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
From a nightmare childhood riddled with poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse to being named “The Fittest (Real) Man in America,” David Goggins knows what it’s like to have to work hard. He’s the only man to have ever completed elite training as an Army Ranger, a Navy SEAL, AND an Air Force Tactical Controller, but he didn’t begin with a privileged background. Instead, through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins tapped into his unused capabilities to become one of the world’s top endurance athletes. This book shares his journey and his secrets to success.
The Third Door: The Mindset of Success by Alex Banayan
The Third Door takes lessons from a number of interviews with Bill Gates, Maya Angelou, Steve Wozniak, Jane Goodall, Larry King, Jessica Alba, Pitbull, Tim Ferriss, Quincy Jones, and many more. Through these interviews, Banayan found the key to success that each interviewee had in common: they took the third door. The concept uses three doors the first door (the main entrance), the second door (the VIP entrance), and… the third door. Read more to find out how to take that third door.
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates
Recommended by Warren Buffett, Barack Obama, Malala Yousafzai, and more, this book answers the question: “How can we summon a moment of lift for humanity?” The answer Melinda Gates found is to uplift women. Melinda Gates wrote this book to share the inspiring stories of hope where women lift up the community, and to bring urgency to the movement to stop bringing women down. She backs this notion up with data of pressing problems and how the power of connection can solve them.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishigiro
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and recommended by Jeff Bezos, this book was called “an intricate and dazzling novel” by The New York Times. The novel details the life of a butler, Stevens, who served the late Lord Darlington. As Stevens embarks on a countryside drive, he also embarks on a journey to the past to discover if Lord Darlington really was as “great” as Stevens remembers or if there might be some horror lurking in the truth.
The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukherjee
This book comes recommended by Bill Gates, The Economist, Oprah Daily, BookPage, Book Riot, the New York Public Library, and more. It tells the story of the cell, from its discovery to what we know and understand today. Now, we understand illnesses to be more than just illnesses, but also parts of a cellular ecosystem that are not functioning properly. This understanding brought us as humans to a new understanding of science and it’s told in a manner that is as captivating as it is informative.
The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley
This book, recommended by Mark Zuckerberg, provides an alternative to the economics of despair that is currently popular. It argues that despite the popular discourse that things are about to get much worse, life is actually getting better at an accelerating rate. The goal of this book is to change your way of thinking about the world for the better.
Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck-Why Some Thrive Despite Them All by Jim Collins
Jim Collins, author of the bestselling book Good to Great, returns to answer the question, “why do some companies thrive despite uncertainty and chaos?” Based on nine years of research, Collins dives into the question, as well as providing insight on how to be a company that thrives in tumultuous times. He infuses the lessons with engaging anecdotes, making for an all-around great read.
If you want to be successful, try doing what successful people do.
And successful people are READING. Fill your brain with knowledge, keys to success, inspiring stories and interesting viewpoints. Lauryn and Michael read far and wide. Anything they can get their hands on really, and both say they’ve learned most of what they know regarding business from reading.
You can find more of Lauryn’s favorite books here and be sure to follow Lauryn on Goodreads. Be sure to pick kup her book GTFOOTS too.
Finally, while you’re sitting back and relaxing with a book, take a moment to habit stack with The Skinny Confidential Ice Roller and a cold sheet mask. Sounds like the perfect evening to us.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ find out the best books to get to know yourself.
++ Kindle unlimited books you need to read.
THE BOOKS:
