In my first yearly book recap, I will cover my best books of 2018. One of the goals of this article is to provide a helpful guide if you need recommendations. I am still shocked that I read 38 books this year, two more books than my goal. Before jumping into the list, three books in my best books of 2018 outshine the other books. In no particular order, my favorite books in my best books of 2018 list are Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet, Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers, and The Fifth Risk. I could have included many more. However, I would have considered it a successful reading year had I only read these three books.
Book categories included in my best books of 2018 list include Sports, Astronomy, Self-Help, Psychology, General History, Fiction, World War I & II, Entrepreneurship, and Finance and Investing. I went deep in terms of the number of books that I read in the Self-Help, General History, and Entrepreneurship book categories. The amount I learned from these book categories has motivated me to learn even more in these categories next year.
Sports
The Breaks of the Game
The Breaks of the Game dives into the world of professional basketball during the late 1970s. Basketball superstars like Bill Walton dominated the game. Author David Halberstram focuses this book on the Portland Trailblazers 1979-1980 basketball season. The book explores the pressure faced by the team owners, the coaches, and the players as they all navigate a season of professional basketball. The psychological, emotional, and physical challenges faced by all of these groups blew me away. Halberstam also covers social issues like race and class, as well as how basketball grew the commercial side of the business. The book highlights the inner workings of the league, what players go through in a season, and the business of professional basketball.
Astronomy
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
I’m still unsure why I picked up Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, but I’m glad I did. I have an unusual interest in astronomy and have watched countless Khan Academy videos on the topic. deGrasse Tyson answers questions about space, energy, chemistry, earth, and light, among other topics in this book. I continue to find astronomy mind-blowing, and this book provided an easy and relatable way for me to grasp incredibly complex topics.
Self-Help
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
A book on negotiation is a new topic for me because it’s one of those “just in time” information books. I was in the midst of an important negotiation and felt that this book would deliver the goods. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It is an interesting look at negotiation from FBI international lead kidnapping negotiator Chris Voss and his work in the world of high-stakes negotiation. What I most appreciated about this book is that Voss shared how his tactics and strategies relate to the real world. The book has so many actionable takeaways it’s nearly impossible to count. In short, I’ll be referencing this book every time I’m about to go into any type of negotiation.
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World
This book by William H. McRaven was recommended on the Tim Ferriss podcast and Admiral McRaven was also mentioned heavily in The Operator which I read the last month. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World is about the lessons McRaven learned in the SEAL teams and leadership roles in the military, and how those lessons apply to your life. It’s a short read with actionable advice, which has been true of other military books I’ve read this year, including Discipline Equals Freedom and Extreme Ownership. To sum up, there are a ton of takeaways in this book for those looking to become better leaders.
Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers
The first time I was exposed to Tim Ferriss was through his first book The Four Hour Work Week. That book alone changed the way I think about many things, including how I approach work. Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers is yet another helpful book where he shares the tools, habits, and routines of his world-class podcast guests in book form. I found that the bite-sized pieces of information and stories are ideal to reference when you are looking to solve a particular problem. In conclusion, Tim nailed it again with Tools of Titans by distilling information from top performers into a book that I can use and regularly go back to.
Rework
Tim Ferriss interviewed both Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson on his podcast and I found both guys interesting. What I didn’t know until after listening to the podcasts was how deeply both of them thought about how to work. Rework lines up with how I think companies should operate – focus on attracting top talent that fits in with your team’s culture, no matter where that person lives. It’s an easy read that will change the way you think about work.
Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet
A friend of mine recommended this book and I kept putting it off for whatever reason. After finishing this book, I’m so mad at myself for not reading it sooner because it’s that good! Nearly all of the insights in Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet are identical to what Jocko Willink preaches in his podcasts and books. I now have the feeling that the SEAL is watching me when I’m not working as hard as I can.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck
I deviated from the Ryan Holiday reading list because I missed too many of his recommended books this year. Mark, a blogger among many other things, started his blog not long after graduating college. He has since published two books, including The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, in addition to founding a media company. The book is a type of self-guide that says we need to hear the world like it is. It reads in a conversational manner, which makes sense with the title, and I found his ideas refreshing. His points about what “we’re supposed to do” in life remind me a lot of what Gary Vaynerchuk says.
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
Jocko may be the scariest human I’ve ever listened to or seen online. He’s a decorated Navy SEAL commander who has a no-nonsense attitude towards life. Leif is Jocko’s business partner and also served in the Middle East with him. While not as intimidating as Jocko, I would never want to disappoint him. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win covers the author’s time in the middle of the last decade in Iraq. Each chapter starts with a story where their team must figure a way out of terrible situations. The way the intro stories are written makes you feel like you are there with them, which I enjoyed. The Intro section is then followed by the Principle section where you learn how that military encounter relates to your own life. Each chapter ends with an Application to Business section. Jocko and Leif use examples from when they are spending time with businesses they consult with and how you can learn from what this business did to succeed in tough situations.
Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
I’ll admit that Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual is for a niche audience. If you’re into fitness or are trying to get into shape, this book is for you. Jocko outlines how to overcome fear, weakness, and procrastination by instilling discipline in everything that you do. Discipline Equals Freedom is the mantra he lives by and that certainly comes across in this book. The book ends with specific workouts for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced individuals. He also shares a basic diet that will help with overall health and better sleep.
The 48 Laws of Power
Robert is also someone I follow on Twitter where he provides daily quotes that make you think. In The 48 Laws of Power, he shares lessons about the history of power that you can use from some of the most famous people in the world like Machiavelli and Sun Tzu.
The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy
I felt that the story is told in what feels like a kid’s book until you realize the message is for everyone. The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy focuses on George who hates his job and has nothing going right for him. One day, he has to ride the bus because of a flat tire and the bus driver, Joy, completely turns around his perspective on life and works through her positivity.
Psychology
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds
Michael Lewis is one of my favorite authors joining the likes of Malcolm Gladwell and Rich Cohen. Whenever Lewis releases a new book, I pick it up on Amazon and dive right in. The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds tells the story of Amos Tversky and Danny Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning psychologists, their relationship in the field of psychology, and what eventually led to the downfall of their partnership. I wanted to like this book but it just didn’t do it for me. The reason is that the plot didn’t interest me enough, like Lewis’ other books have, and I had trouble even finishing it. In short, people have found value in this book based on Amazon reviews, but The Undoing Project just wasn’t for me.
General History
The Fifth Risk
Michael Lewis killed it again with The Fifth Risk and it was one I immediately wanted to reread. The Fifth Risk takes readers into the depths of the different US government departments revealing how the administration transitioned from the previous administration. Lewis covers the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce in incredible depth, highlighting the dysfunction unfolding every day. All in all, this book is one I’ll likely read again because I found its detail and information fascinating and important.
American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road
The Silk Road website was something I had heard about but didn’t pay much attention to when it was in the news. American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton tells the story of how Ross Ulbricht launched Amazon.com for illegal drugs, weapons, you name it. I found the details about the website, how the government tracked Ulbricht down, and his eventual capture extremely interesting.
The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
Jocko’s Willinck’s podcast has me more interested in history books, in particular military history. I find the training and missions Navy SEAL’s go through inspiring and it makes me want to work harder. O’Neill’s The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior is a dive into what it’s like to be a SEAL based on his time in the Teams. He takes you through his initial BUD/S training to critical missions including the attempt to rescue Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell and his team, the rescuing of Captain Phillips off the coast of Somalia, and his most famous mission killing Osama bin Laden.
Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs―A True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder
I was introduced to Mezrich in 2008 when I read Rigged: The True Story of an Ivy League Kid Who Changed the World of Oil, from Wall Street to Dubai. Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs―A True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder tells the story of how billionaire oligarchs benefited from the privatization of industry after the fall of the Soviet Union. The stories about the oligarchs simply blew my mind because of how wild Russia truly was.
The Pentagon Wars: Reformers Challenge the Old Guard
A small group of activists staged a campaign against corruption in the Pentagon during the late 1960s to the mimid-1980sn what they felt was a squandering of the taxpayer’s money. The Pentagon Wars: Reformers Challenge the Old Guard is told by Air Force Colonel James Burton involved in this campaign against the Pentagon. The book provides an inside look at the Department of Defense by someone involved in the sausage making. Burton exposes the flawed logic in the military decision-making process, particularly as it relates to weapons procurement. The book offers details on why the military was focused on the procurement of high-tech weapons despite cost overruns. Burton was on a crusade to get front-line equipment tested under combat conditions to see what equipment worked and what equipment did not. The book provides procurement examples like the Army fighting over the testing of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle that Burton eventually prevailed on. Burton also outlines what happened in the final hours of the Gulf War that allowed Saddam Hussein’s elite guard to escape.
The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic
It is no secret the Roman Republic was one of the most impressive republics of all time. The republic began as a small city-state in central Italy eventually expanding across the world. What is remarkable when reading The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic is how durable the republic was for so long. The book argues Rome’s success proved to be its downfall. One of the reasons for Rome’s downfall was the republic’s inability to rule its vast empire. Income inequality, social prejudices, citizenship, voting rights, and corruption ignited a powder keg that led to political clashes against the republic. Author Mike Dunance goes headlong into the first generation that faced these challenges. The new leaders during this time set a precedent that led to Rome’s destruction. Duncan makes the case of what can happen to a civilization when it abandons its principles.
The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader
Author Fred Greenstein uses interviews and archival research to show the political movement underway during the Eisenhower presidency. The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader covers the implications of Eisenhower’s presidency’s impact on politics even to this day. Greenstein outlines that Eisenhower projected an image of a remote and interesting leader. In reality, Eisenhower worked behind the scenes, sometimes manipulating subordinates to do his bidding.
Fiction
The Alchemist
Fiction is usually a category I stay away from preferring books in the history, biography, and business & money categories. The Alchemist came up on Tim Ferriss’ podcast and after seeing how many ratings it had, I decided to give it a shot. Coelho tells the story of this boy Santiago and his search for worldly treasure across Spain and North Africa. The plot focuses on self-discovery and how you should listen to the signs that come along your way.
World War I & II
Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History
The O’Reilly and Dugard Killing series is one of my favorite series to read. When they come out with a book, I immediately buy it like I do with Michael Lewis’ books. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History didn’t disappoint. The book focuses on the manhunt for the Nazi’s top brass as World War II was coming to a close. As the Nazis realized the end was imminent, the ones who weren’t caught used secret networks to get out of Europe. Many ended up in South America, primarily Argentina. I found the details about the manhunt for these insane leaders fascinating. This book goes into ridiculous detail and provides everything you could want to know about the SS.
Entrepreneurship
Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman
I put off reading this book for more than a year and finally got around to reading it this month. Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman focuses on physicist Richard Feynman’s curious nature and his experiments as it relates to science, and in particular physics. Feynman lived an incredibly interesting and entertaining life, however, I simply couldn’t get into this book. To sum up, I’m sure some people will find value in it, but it’s not a book I plan to revisit.
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
I use Amazon frequently so naturally I was intrigued by this book. The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon completely blew me away not only by learning how Amazon started but also by how it operates today. I came away with a love/hate relationship with the company. On the one hand, they are revolutionizing e-commerce and always putting the customer first. On the other hand, many of Amazon’s business practices will make you shake your head.
Delivering Happiness
The way Tony thinks about customer service gave me a new appreciation for Zappos. He seems like a great guy and someone who I’d love to work for. Zappos operates with one goal in mind and that is to make the customer happy. There are so many helpful takeaways in Delivering Happiness on how to treat customers that I’ll be able to use when I work with customers.
Sam Walton: Made In America
Walmart is not a company I have much interaction with anymore now that Amazon, Instacart, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s have resolved many of the issues that I had with Walmart. What is undeniable after reading Sam Walton: Made In America is how innovative and hard-working Sam Walton was. He was way ahead of his time and always focused on how to sell items at the lowest price.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
I loved Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike. As an avid user of Nike products, I was extremely interested to read this story. Knight takes readers through the journey of starting the company right of business school and building it into the behemoth it is today. The amount of challenges, sacrifices, and difficulties that he encountered is incredible. I found myself rooting for him to pull off the impossible throughout the book. The main drawback is that the story stops in the mid-90s. It left me wanting more. I wanted to know what happened to get the company to where it is today.
Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America’s Kings of Beer
I saw this book recommendation on Amazon after buying Shoe Dog. Knoedelseder paints the picture of an entrepreneurial family that unravels after 5 generations of leadership. Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America’s Kings of Beer is a story of entrepreneurship, hard work, greed, and profit. I found the building of this iconic brand inspiring but also a bit sad in the end.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Musk is an individual I admire because his work directly impacts the field that I work in. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future is both inspiring and depressing. Musk is one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time, but his personal life has suffered. I’ve worked for companies that had CEOs with similar characteristics and it can be tough. What you can’t argue with is how hard Musk works, how steadfast he is in his determination, and how much he has impacted industries no one thought could be touched.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
I came across Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly after I started watching Parts Unknown, which is a great show. After realizing how incredibly talented and interesting Bourdain was, I figured I’d give this book a shot. Bourdain was a chef turned TV personality who brought a breath of fresh air anytime you saw him on TV. I continue to find all of his shows, and now this book, as great ways to decompress from the day. The book starts with how he started his culinary career in Massachusetts, went to culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America, and worked at several high-profile restaurants in New York City. What makes the book great is that he peels back the onion on the industry, an industry I know nothing about. I found it interesting to know how kitchens operate, how chefs order food, what nights and what dishes to not order on certain days of the week, and what the characters that make up the industry are like.
Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography
I picked up this book and 2 other Richard Brandon books after listening to his Tim Ferris podcast interview. I enjoyed Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography because it goes into more detail about his business career, his ups and downs, and what he’d do differently. Branson also shares his family more in this book, including his parents and grandkids. I appreciate the color of his family because it humanizes a billionaire and makes him more approachable.
Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons In Life
I picked up Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons In Life immediately after listening to Branson’s interview on the Tim Ferris podcast. Similar to Ferriss’ interview with Cal Newport, I knew I’d enjoy whatever Branson wrote. The book covers Branson’s business adventures from founding a student newspaper to the Virgin Group that he runs today. I wanted more details about how he went from one company to the next, however, the stories about his career are great.
Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School
Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School is an in-depth version of many of the stories told in Screw It, Let’s Do It. Branson goes into detail about starting Virgin Records, nearly dying in a hot air balloon promoting his business, and how he built Virgin Atlantic into a successful airline. The biggest takeaway is that he simply did not quit. Branson continually faced adversity, like when British Airways tried to take down Virgin Atlantic, but always found a way to succeed.
Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days
Chris first came on my radar after watching him on Chase Jarvis Live. Guillebeau has a background in award travel, which is what initially drew me in. Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days provides a roadmap and steps on how to create revenue from your initial idea. The book provides examples from people who have built incredible businesses while working full-time.
The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
I read this Guillebeau book first which segued nicely into Side Hustle. The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future is in a case study format where Chris shares lessons from 50 business owners. The entrepreneurs he interviewed started with minimal start-up capital or specialized skills and found a way to monetize their businesses.
Finance and Investing
Principles: Life and Work
I first found out about Ray after his interview with Tim Ferris, which is where many of my book recommendations come from. Dalio has been called the “Steve Jobs of Investing” so I knew this book would be interesting. Ray founded Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund, in the 70’s. According to Forbes, Dalio has grown the firm into the 5th most important private company in the U.S. Principles: Life and Work talks about how to use systems and first principles. I find his idea of meritocracy interesting as well as how Bridgewater uses systems to help its team make decisions.
The Million Dollar, One-Person Business
I bought The Million Dollar, One-Person Business because I wanted to know how other people have grown their one-person businesses. The book shares advice from entrepreneurs on what they were thinking and how they grew to $1 million in revenue. I learned how people created a business that provides value to other people.
Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity
Michael Lewis is one of my favorite authors. Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity highlights the deadly sin of greed. The book covers the most destructive and disruptive financial disasters that have occurred in modern history. One of the many parts of Lewis’ books is his humor. I also love the anecdotes Lewis uses in every one of his books. It makes for a more engaging story. Lewis paints a picture for readers of the market dynamics that lead up to each financial disaster covered in the book. He also waves in current views on what people think was happening at the time of the financial upheaval. Throughout each of these financial examples, Lewis analyses how everyone can learn from each of these events.
