The Work of Staggering Genius
Recommended reading - Top 10
I've had a lot of requests for the "most influential" books I've read, so here's my list.
But first, a little background:
After I graduated high school in 2003, I took a year off from any real work to goof around and “work on myself.â€
All I did was eat, sleep, work out, and read. (What’s a social life?)
I went through more than 50 psychology, business, fiction, self-help, and physiology books that year.
I continue to read a new book every two weeks.
What follows is a short list, in no particular order, of my favorites. Some were serious, some were just for fun. All of them made me think.
Illusions by Richard Bach
The Four Hour Work Week Timothy Ferriss
Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams
Rules of the Game by Neil Strauss
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
What's your favorite book? Let me know in the comments!
Comments for This Entry
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I didn't really like AHWOSG. I thought Eggers was trying to make himself sound too smart or funny or charming to be likable. He's like a less-talented David Sedaris or something.
Also, I don't think T-Nation should be counted as a book. I call bullshit. Put Denis Johnson up there instead! -
The Autobiography of Malcolm X will blow your mind. The man learned to read in jail by copying the dictionary, by hand, cover to cover.
COMMENT RULES: Critical posts are fine, but if you're rude I'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your personal name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. But most of all, have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Tim Ferriss for the inspiration.)
Shane 7:09pm Mar 19, 2008