The written word has the power to change your mindset… and the world. If you’re lucky, certain books will appear in your life to inspire you and in some cases, affect you so deeply they force you to change your mindset.
Here are five of the books that inspired me to view my life, and life in general, from a completely different angle. You might find them inspiring, too.
Included are links to my favorite online bookseller: Book Depository. Always great prices and free shipping wherever you are – no membership fees required. [NOTE – Smart Money, Simple Life is an affiliate of Book Depository]
Table of Contents
Your Money or Your Life (Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez)
Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez took book their lives by gaining control of their money. They both gave up successful – and stressful – careers in order to live more deliberately and meaningfully.
I first read this book about 10 years ago and it had a profound affect on the way I viewed the value of my work and my time. Not surprisingly, I began looking for ways to fulfill the enough side of the equation so I could begin spending my time doing what brings me happiness. This book completely changed my outlook on life and my view of how life could be. After reading Your Money Or Your Life, I believed I could escape the rat race – on my terms.
Affluenza (Clive Hamilton)
Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough
Our houses are bigger than ever but our families are smaller. Our kids go to the best schools we can afford, but we hardly see them. We’ve got more money to spend yet we’re further in debt than ever before. What is going on?
The Western world is in the grip of a consumption binge that is unique in human history…
I admit it, before reading this book, I wanted the bigger shinier refrigerator with the chilled water and ice cube dispenser. The type I lovingly referred to as a Brady Brunch fridge. After reading this book, I had a change of heart. Reading Affluenza made me more aware of ‘aspirational‘ marketing and how it actively confuses our definitions of need and want. Affluenza is one of those books that deserves a re-read every few years.
The Last Oil Shock (David Strahan)
The Last Oil Shock: A Survival Guide to the Imminent Extinction of Petroleum Man
For every barrel of oil we discover,we now consume three. Oil production is already falling in 60 countries. At some point, probably in the next decade, global oil production will start to fall – forever.
Peak Oil has seemingly been off the radar of late but it doesn’t change the fact that crude oil is a finite resource. One we’re burning through much quicker than we’re discovering new reserves. David Strahan’s research is thorough and troubling. One wonders when the currently very low price of oil will bounce back to it’s $100+ per barrel price of a few years ago? This is a very thought provoking read.
Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill)
The secret was brought to my attention by Andrew Carnegie more than half a century ago. The canny, lovable old Scotsman carelessly tossed it into my mind when I was but a boy. The he sat back in his chair with a merry twinkle in his eyes and watched carefully to see if I had brains enough to understand the full significance of what he said to me.
Think and Grow Rich is probably the first and best book on motivation, success and the laws you need to be aware of and utilise in order to attain success and riches for yourself. This really is the ultimate must read book. If you haven’t read it yet… Why not?!
Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Robert Kiyosaki)
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
From the back cover:
I was first introduced to Robert Kiyosaki in the late 80’s when he was running workshops called “Money and You”. Love him or not. His approach to money fascinated me and was the instigating factor behind my decision to start a side hustle business many years ago.
Plus One More…
From the back cover:
It would all be so easy if you had a map to the maze. If the same old routines worked. If they’d just stop moving “The Cheese”. But things keep changing.
When I was loaned this book, I just skimmed it really quickly (it’s a very quick read anyway). It turns out that if I’d paid more attention to the lessons in this book I might have spotted that someone had moved the cheese on the selling platform I used, and I would have made changes to my business a lot earlier than I did.
Some of us learn our lessons best the hard way!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
Can you recommend others?
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