Since I started reading a book per week in 2015, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I ended up getting through quite a few more than last year.
But despite the fact that I read a larger number of books, there were still only a handful that I would consider impacting.
This might be because I’m already well-read on a variety of subjects, but it could also be because of the quality of the books themselves.
Anyway, towards the beginning of 2015, I shared with you five impacting books I read, so I thought I would continue this tradition into 2016.
Here, in no particular order, are five impacting books I read in 2015.
1. Beyond Positive Thinking: A No-Nonsense Formula for Getting the Results You Want by Robert Anthony and Joe Vitale
Ever since reading The Ultimate Secrets of Total Self-Confidence (affiliate link), Robert Anthony’s work has stuck with me.
When I really think about it, I simply can’t underestimate the ways in which this book changed my life, and continues to have influence over how I live.
I first heard about Beyond Positive Thinking because of YouTube. There’s an audiobook version as read by Joe Vitale, and it’s fantastic.
So you’re probably wondering how this read was. Honestly, I think it might be the best book on personal development I’ve ever read, and the plain text version is just as good as the audiobook.
Every sentence resonates with truth. Every paragraph inspires the reader to believe in their own capacity, and to take action on their dreams.
And the best part is that Anthony is not unrealistic. He tells you exactly the kind of hardships and challenges you can expect to encounter on your way to achieving your goals.
Anthony’s work doesn’t just hold up. It continues to be just as relevant as it ever was.
Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)
2. The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
I first heard the audiobook version of The Power of Intention several years back when a friend lent it to me. I remembered liking it, and I promised myself that I would buy my own copy.
Then, a couple of years ago, I picked up the book. It sat on my shelf for a while, but I finally got around to reading it last year.
This wasn’t the only book by Wayne Dyer I read in 2015. I also got into Excuses Begone!: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits (affiliate link), and it was quite good.
But The Power of Intention may very well be one of his best works, and it is now one of my all-time favorite spiritual books.
It is an instruction manual on life – the one you never got when you were born but maybe wish you had.
Dyer helps us understand how the universe operates, how to interpret our surroundings and present circumstances, and how to grow in our spirituality. A must-read.
Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)
3. Double Double: How to Double Your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years or Less by Cameron Herold
This is actually my second read-through of Double Double, but what they say about books connecting with you in different ways at different times is absolutely true.
This book has been on my recommend book list for a long time, and for good reason. For me, it only becomes more relevant as I continue to grow as an entrepreneur.
I’ve talked about how I’ve been achieving more clarity around my long-term goals in life, and I feel that I owe a great deal to this book.
After reading it, I came away with the feeling that I definitely needed to do a better job of creating boundaries in my life, getting more rest, and taking two or three weeks off every single year.
I don’t necessarily believe in vacations, or vacating from your life to go to some tropical island so you can worry about what’s waiting for you back at home. But it is a convenient word to describe what I mean. I know me, and I know I need more downtime.
So whether you’re looking to double your business in the next three years or less or not, if you’re in business at all, this book has something to offer.
Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)
4. Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle by Michael Port
I read this book for the same reason everyone else does – I wanted to be booked solid!
And you know what? The steps and suggestions outlined within are awesome. I don’t think you can go wrong implementing Port’s system for getting more clients.
Shortly after reading it, I was already calling it my Business Bible. I wish it had a little more on the topic of product launches, but at least Port tells you where you can go to learn more about that.
And you know what? As I was beginning to put my new knowledge to use, I suddenly came to realize how booked solid I already was!
This doesn’t mean that I won’t go back and study this book more. But for the time being, I already have plenty on my plate.
I don’t know of a more practical guide to getting the kind of clients you want, so whether you’re a freelancer or an entrepreneur, this one is worth your time.
Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)
5. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Producitvity by David Allen and James Fallows
Your brain is a horrible capturing and storage device. This is just one nugget of wisdom from this 294-page epic on personal productivity.
As per Allen’s suggestion, you don’t necessarily need to implement everything that’s in the book to benefit from it. Simply taking bits and pieces and applying them to your life will go a long way towards boosting your overall effectiveness.
I’m kind of a crazy person, and ideas come to me at all hours of the day. So one of the things I’ve started doing as result of reading this book is writing everything down. If ideas start coming to me as I’m trying to wind down for the day, there’s no way I’m going to get to sleep, so it’s better to get everything down on paper before my mind is saturated with ideas and to-do items.
Thanks to this book, I’ve also created a low-energy list, a someday/maybe list, as well as a new goal list.
When I thought about books that impacted me last year, this wasn’t the first one that came to mind, but the more I think about the way I do things now, the more I realize how much I owe to the GTD system.
Purchase this book on Amazon (affiliate link)
Conclusion
Do you know what you will be reading in 2016? I’ve already made a comprehensive list of every book I intend to finish this year, and I’m off to a pretty good start.
I think it’s important to determine in advance what you hope to get out of your reading, and this is something I’m still working on.
But on a personal level, I know that I’m always searching for deeper truths. This goes hand-in-hand with the work I do with The Question.
On a career level, I’m always looking for tools and systems that will help me to streamline, automate, and become more efficient.
And in terms of serving people, I’m always looking for little tidbits that can help me help you.
Insights can come from a variety of different places – even unexpected places – which is why I think you need to identify open loops in your life, and then seek out answers in the material you take to.
Any thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment below!
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