What book are you reading? Right now. Post up!

[stmorand]

There’s a lot to be learned about business from Ayn Rand. She’s a big time libertarian which is roughly in line with the views of this forum.

(Some people might deny that, but that’s definitely true)

And from what I understand Bioshock was a critique of Atlas Shrugged. More so painting a caricature of it rather than something the original author would agree with.

For some reasons, I didn't see your answers, sorry for the delay.

I don't know much about Bioshock but I read there are several books somehow answering to "Atlas Shrugged". In France, the book known as the french translation of "Atlas Shrugged" is actually the translation of another book called "The strike". This confusion is part of what gave me the will to read this book!

Anyway, I didn't finish it but it is still part of my morning readings

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Xeon]

Just finished reading Kevin O Leary's "Cold Hard Truth On Men, Women, and Money: 50 Common Money Mistakes and How to Fix Them".

Overall decent book. The book is all about saving and scrimping, and Kevin discourages you from buying certain things like cars. He also talks about whether one should waste the $ to go college, and how you should invest only in stocks that pay you a dividend monthly, how to avoid gold diggers, teaching kids the importance of saving money, and overall, do not spend on unnecessary crap, and a big section on not buying things on credit because the interest will kill you over time (ie. if you can't afford it, don't buy it. Just don't buy on credit)

It also has a section which runs along the same tune as one part in Unscripted , which is do not spend more just because you're making more (ie: making $4 million a year and blowing $3 million on trash just because "you can").
He also talks about why one should not mix $ with emotions.

From the book, I can see that Kevin is a scrooge, miser and penny-pincher, but here's the thing : I love his beliefs towards money and I aspire to scrimp like him. To be the Ultimate Miser.
The book complements Unscripted very well : scrimp and save, then funnel all the $ to your business to make even more money, then scrimp and save more, repeat, and occasionally pamper yourself to something you like once in a while.

Currently reading The Luxury Strategy after reading about it in the Luxury thread here.

 

[ChrisV]

Currently reading The Luxury Strategy

@smark

 

[bilkar1985]

I'm reading UNSCRIPTED by you know who..

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Aunt Clyde]

Started "Atlas Shrugged" from Ayn Rand a few days ago ... I've been told it is a must but I must say I will take some time to get to the end

I read it a long time ago. It changed my life. But it's no quick read.

 

[Kyle T]

Ultimate Sales Machine

Enjoying it so far!

The emphasis seems to be an expecting the unexpected and so that you (and all of your employees) have systems in place to handle any selling or customer service situation.

Will update once I am finished.

 

[BrunoRastablasta]

Currently at Unscripted .

Btw, do you guys have any systems for readings books or any major obstacles when it comes to reading (like no time for it, the book gets boring, can't read daily etc.)

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[ChrisV]

Currently at Unscripted .

Btw, do you guys have any systems for readings books or any major obstacles when it comes to reading (like no time for it, the book gets boring, can't read daily etc.)

I posted this a while ago, which I think you’ll find helpful.

How to read 1-2 full books per day. No, seriously.

I probably should have totaled it differently because while you could read 1-2 books a day with the method it’s really really unlikely. More like 3 per week depending on how much time you have.

I’ve settled on an app called Voice Dream Reader in which you load your text and the app converts it to audio and reads it.

 

[BrunoRastablasta]

I posted this a while ago, which I think you’ll find helpful.

How to read 1-2 full books per day. No, seriously.

I probably should have totaled it differently because while you could read 1-2 books a day with the method it’s really really unlikely. More like 3 per week depending on how much time you have.

I’ve settled on an app called Voice Dream Reader in which you load your text and the app converts it to audio and reads it.

Tried audio and even video format books once (guy narrating while I see him on Youtube) - just doesn't work for me.

So I am back to original reading (like sit down and read ). So really curious what kind of problems people have with this because I have a system for reading which I use and it helped me read 47 books in a year by reading only 20 pages a day.

Thinking of monetizing this...

 

[ChrisV]

Tried audio and even video format books once (guy narrating while I see him on Youtube) - just doesn't work for me.

So I am back to original reading (like sit down and read ). So really curious what kind of problems people have with this because I have a system for reading which I use and it helped me read 47 books in a year by reading only 20 pages a day.

Thinking of monetizing this...

Honestly, if a book is boring me, i just put it down. A boring book is my unconscious mind telling me ‘this info isn’t useful to you'

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Aldous Acker]

I am at present perusing "Think and Grow Rich. By Napoleon Hill.This book spur me how to gain cash and wind up rich.

 

[SRathwell]

I am currently reading (listening) to Quiet by Susan Cain.

This book is an eye opener for me. I always knew that I was an introvert but always thought of it as something was wrong with me. This book has changed my outlook on introversion, now I see that it is normal and can even an advantageous in many critical situations.

The book teaches how to be effective as introvert in a world that is dominated by extroverts. I recommend this book for everyone, but especially for someone who thinks they are an introvert and want to learn how to leverage it in business and in life.

 

[Kris Eire]

Hi,
I'm currently reading "Dollars flow to me easily" by Richard Dotts. I have to say that this book changed me a bit.
It is not a book about money but more about your attitude to money, life. Basically, if you keep experiencing lack of money, you focus all the time on it. In the end, you still have nothing.
Your subconscious mind gives you what you are looking for. The idea is that you already have everything you ever wanted, but you can't see it now.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[EarlOfChina]

Just about to start reading two books:

Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
&
YouTube Secrets by Sean Cannell and Benji Travis

 

[jpanarra]

100$ Entrepreneur, Reading this again (i've read several books regarding entrepreunership and the more i continue on my journey, i find that I find new nuggets by revisiting books)

 

[jon.a]

How To Be Rich, J. Paul Getty

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[LPPC]

Some interesting books mentioned here.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. Got to balance the stress from entrepreneurship out with some inner work!

 

[Guest3722A]

Principles

 

[George Appiah]

I'm currently reading MJ's second book, UNSCRIPTED .

I suppose there's no need to post a description here... that would be preaching to the choir!

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[idit]

How this thread works... when you start reading a new book, you update it here. It’s nice to have a log of what everyone on the forum is reading and i’m sure it will spark discussions and recommendations.

I’m also creating the Fastlane Bookclub on Goodreads where you can share what you’re reading, add your favorites, and talk about books. I haven’t explored all the features, but I’m sure there’s a bunch of stuff we’ll benefit from. Join the group!

So, Currently I’m reading

View attachment 21438

Persuasive Advertising: Evidence-based Principles by J. Scott Armstrong

This book translates knowledge about persuasion into evidence-based principles. Useful knowledge about persuasion has been obtained over the last 100 years from the experience of advertising experts and from empirical studies in advertising and other fields including psychology, consumer behavior, law, mass communication, politics, and propaganda.

The principles in Persuasive Advertising provide understandable and easy-to-access guidance for all types of advertising. Including still media such as print and Internet, and motion media such as TV, streaming video, Internet, and radio. They also apply to other types of persuasive communications such as management reports, speeches, and press releases.

Wharton School Professor J. Scott Armstrong spent over 16 years on this book. In recent years, he was assisted by Gerry Lukeman, Chairman Emeritus of Ipsos-ASI and Sandeep Patnaik, Research Director at Gallup and Robinson. Altogether, more than 80 people contributed to Persuasive Advertising by obtaining relevant studies, analyzing data, editing and reviewing, and surveying researchers to ensure that the book correctly summarizes their findings.


Persuasive Advertising summarizes findings from about 3,000 empirical studies and 50 books. It also presents new findings from previously unpublished studies. .

Along with the AdPrin Audit software on AdPrin.com, Persuasive Advertising enables advertisers as well as agencies to quickly and inexpensively identify ways to improve ads – or to determine which of a set of ads will be most effective. For example, it typically requires about an hour for an experienced user to obtain a persuasiveness index for a print ad along with a list of ways to improve the ad.,

By using these principles, advertisers can improve their creativity and effectiveness.​

And

View attachment 21439

Hack Your Motivation: Over 50 Science-Based Strategies to Improve Performance by Bobby Hoffman

Finally!!!! Evidence-based research on motivation that's written in an engaging, humorous, easy-to-read style!"--Karen, Performance & Leadership Consultant

Bobby masterfully bridges the gap between research and practice by applying high quality motivational research to everyday life."--David, Master Educator **"This book is not easy to put down. You will find yourself often referring back to its pages. The a-ha moments will cascade in."--Glenn, Team Leader & Operations Manager

Hack Your Motivation gives you the latest and most reliable performance tools and tips to help you reach your personal or profession goals. Written by motivational scientist and leadership consultant Dr. Bobby Hoffman, this book converts hard-core research from psychology, business, athletics, neuroscience, and education into easy-to-read and simple-to-master strategies. Hoffman includes unorthodox examples from his own life and the lives of others to enlighten, inspire, and amuse ---so anyone can learn to maximize their untapped potential. If achieving glory, feeling good about your accomplishments, or understanding why you do what you do (or don't do) is important to you, then look no further.
​

What are you reading?

"Think and grow rich" / Napoleon Hill , the #2 time already... Full of inspiration.

 

[Xeon]

Just finished reading 2 books in the past few weeks and about to finish the 3rd one tomorrow.

1) StoryBrand : This is the book to get if you're heavily into branding. The concepts taught in the book are very similar to the kind of abstract and philosophical "hard-to-get" concepts written by rpeck90 here. The book is very highly actionable; they've "worksheets" for you to fill in with your branding concepts for your company. By the end of the book, you'll basically have a very streamlined and clear branding direction for your business and where you want to take it etc.

2) Visual Hammer : This book talks about the concept of the Visual Hammer and Verbal Nail in marketing. I will definitely be going back to read this one again next week. The idea is that marketing in the world focuses too much on the written word even though humans can remember images way better.
Basically, a Verbal Nail (what you intend your brand to be about and what it stands for) + Visual Hammer (the type of imagery customers associate with your brand) = Extremely powerful brand almost invulnerable to competition.
On every single page, the author throws about 1 - 4 different companies as examples. So choke full of examples that my mind is in a mess now. F*ck. I've never seen a book like this. It exposes a lot of new concepts which I've never thought of. The best thing is : the author boldly criticizes a whole ton of companies, what they did right and what they did wrong. This is rather unusual for a book as most authors usually refrain from talking about the bad points of how Company A did X amt of things wrong and what they could have done better.
Note, the term "Visual Hammer" doesn't necessarily refer to logos or icons in the book.

3) The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing : Another really good book. Written by Al Ries (Visual Hammer is written by his daughter) in the same style : critiquing a ton of companies in the world and how we can learn from them. I feel if one takes the lessons in the book to heart, one can really go far with branding. One section about quality vs branding makes me realize that quality is not everything.

IMO, I would rate all 3 books 5 stars.
I've now become a fan of Al Ries and will be reading more of his and his daughter's books.

 

[RayAndré]

"Delivering Happiness"
* I recommend it

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Xeon]

Finished with 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing.

Currently reading "Lifestyle Brands - A Guide to Aspirational Marketing".
The book is very good but the writing style is very very dry and very academic aka
textbook-like.

Also, if anyone has any good recommendations on lifestyle marketing/branding type of books, please post the titles here so I can gobble them up.

 

[njord]

Unscripted before that iv read 50th law, the 1 thing, no excuses and the milonar fastlane.

 

[Ray Richardson]

The miracle morning. Keeping an open mind and giving the 30 day challenge a shot. I'm on day 4 and have felt more energy throughout the day, but still not feeling like it's Christmas morning everytime I open my eyes at 4:30 a.m. lol.

The motivation to stick it all out is the respect of the recommendation by many of you.

Next up is think and grow rich.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[struka]

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss.

 

[The Abundant Man]

Just finished Milk The Pigeon: A Field Guide For People Lost In Their 20's by Alex Haynes. It's a great book about a guy who travelled to China to learn Gung Fu for a year after quitting his job then when he came back to the States fell into a massive depression. Some key tips were:

• Just do s**t to find your passion
• Travelling won't make you happy
• Purpose/meaning makes people happy
• Build your personal brand( Justin Beieber got his first gig through YouTube)
• Sell yourself by adding value(If you want that job/career)

 

[ShamanKing]

Unscripted .

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Shirkahn]

Busy reading Unscripted on the way to any from work. Clive Cusslers - Emperor‘s revenge while mowing the lawn or folding the washing and the 80 / 20 rule by Richard Koch before bed.

Generally I am always busy with 3 books at a time.

 

[Fastlane Liam]

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. Very interesting and useful for sales and marketing