A few years back, I stumbled upon a typical Facebook ad from a sketchy marketer, claiming the average CEO reads 52 books annually. At the time, I was living with my parents, feeling stuck and frustrated that I wasn’t making any real progress in my life. I thought, "Well, if CEOs have their lives together, maybe I should follow their lead and start reading more." So, I did. But I went a little too far, reading over 100 books a year for the next three years. My rationale? "If the average CEO reads 52 books a year, reading 100 would make me twice as good!" But that’s not how it works—not even close.
After meeting a number of successful entrepreneurs, I realized that it’s not about reading more books but reading the right ones.
Let’s break down how to read better in four steps: read, reflect, integrate, and repeat.
Step one is simple: Read. I learned too late that understanding 10 great books is far better than skimming through 100.
That leads us to step two: Reflect. One of the best ways to reflect is by writing. Reading helps you gather dots; writing helps you connect them. As Tolstoy said, "Read less, think more."
Step three: Integrate. This is about integrating what you've read into your life. This is probably the most crucial part. If you don’t apply what you’ve learned, reading becomes mental busywork. It may feel productive, but without action, it’s wasted time.
Step four is: Repeat. Something I struggled with for a while. True growth comes from revisiting books that made an impact, reflecting on them, integrating their lessons again, and repeating the process.
These days, I read fewer books but revisit the ones that made the biggest difference. This has led to far more personal and business growth than when I was reading hundreds of books a year.
But which books are worth rereading? For entrepreneurs, I’ll save you some time by sharing the 12 books I believe are worth revisiting every year.
1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
This personal journal from the Roman Emperor is a candid reflection on how to live a good life. It wasn’t intended for an audience—these are his private thoughts on temper, ego, and pride. One line that stands out: "Our life is what our thoughts make it." Simple, yet profound, and why Meditations is one of my all-time favorites. You can read my book review here.
2. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson
This collection of blogs, tweets, and interviews from modern-day philosopher and investor Naval Ravikant is packed with wisdom for life and business. A key takeaway: "Play long-term games with long-term people." His famous tweetstorm, "How to Get Rich Without Getting Lucky," is a top-notch guide to building wealth and happiness. Discover why this book is a must-read.
3. Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Taleb explores how certain systems get stronger when faced with adversity. Fragile systems break, robust ones resist, but antifragile systems improve and thrive. An example is how bones strengthen under stress. This book shows how to build antifragility into life and business.
4. Influence by Robert Cialdini
This book has made me more money than any other. It explains six principles of influence: reciprocity, commitment, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. Mastering these gives you a huge advantage in communication, persuasion, and business.
5. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Kahneman explores how we make decisions, breaking down the difference between fast, intuitive thinking (system one) and slow, deliberate thinking (system two). Knowing when to use each can improve judgment in life and business.
6. The One Thing by Gary Keller
This book focuses on finding the one thing that makes everything else easier or unnecessary. It’s great for prioritizing and staying focused, which is why I revisit it every year when setting goals.
7. The Most Important Thing by Howard Marks
Marks shares decades of investing experience with deep insights into market cycles and the importance of psychology in investing. His memos are a treasure trove of wisdom.
8. Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Taleb argues that much of life is influenced by random events. We often credit success to skill and blame failure on luck, but understanding randomness helps us navigate life better.
9. The Great Mental Models by Farnam Street
This book gives you a toolbox of mental models to approach problems from different perspectives, improving decision-making.
10. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
This book reshaped how I see time. The main idea: true power lies in the present moment, not in the past or future. It’s a transformative book about focus and mindfulness.
11. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
This short but powerful book encourages creators to share their work with the world. It helps overcome self-doubt and inspires you to put your ideas out there.
12. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, explores finding purpose in even the darkest situations. He argues that meaning can be found in any circumstance, and that meaning gives us the strength to endure life’s challenges.