Felix Dennis. He owned Dennis Publishing which published various computer magazines (which at the time, no one gave any thought to, as personal computers were a niche item, not the everyday tool that we all use) and later created Maxim magazine and he made a fortune. I found his book How To Get Rich in the bargain bin (it cost me $3.00) at a Borders and it was the book that reawakened and reaffirmed what I had felt and believed since graduating high school and working job after job: that I didn't have to play the game like everyone else, that there was another way.
Granted, Felix's book was short on how-to, but it re-ignited the flame of wanting to not be a cog in the machine. I was curious to see if he had written anything else and I went to Amazon and typed in his name. How To Get Rich came back, along with The Narrow Road (which is a more condensed version of the lessons of How To Get Rich) and various poetry books that he had written. If you get the chance, read some of his poetry and listen to him read it, as he was an outstanding poet and wrote up until his death. Along with his books were other entrepreneurial books that Amazon thought I would like and there were some I was familiar with but there was one that piqued my curiosity. It had an orange Lamborghini on the cover and it was called The Millionaire Fastlane. For those who have the new cover, the old cover was a tad different, but the content was the same and just as profound.
I tried finding it at Borders, but they didn't stock it, so I had to order it. I still have it, albeit a bit dog-eared and it was autographed by MJ. I've since bought the newer version, as I want to keep the original put away and in good condition. If it hadn't been for Felix's book in that bargain bin, I don't know if I would have found MJ's book and I would be on a very different path with a very different mindset. I owe a debt of gratitude to Felix, who unfortunately passed away from throat cancer and someone I wanted to meet and thank. But I'm thankful I read both Felix's and MJ's books and when I do find my Fastlane, I'm going to meet MJ in person and thank him. I've thanked him on here, but it will be something to shake his hand and thank him for sharing his knowledge and wisdom.