2020 was another productive reading year for my books on Amazon. Ending just shy of 40 books, I set a goal at the beginning of this year to read at least 25 pages per day. That goal reminded me every day to pick up a book and spend time reading. You can find my full book list here and my 2019 books on Amazon recap here.
Not only did I instill the habit of reading 25 pages per day, but I also put down every book that didn’t grab my attention. This was from Naval Ravikant. With my type-A personality, I used to read every book I started, endlessly grinding away at uninteresting books. Never again. I now give a book 50 pages or so, and if it doesn’t resonate, I move on. This saves me time and allows me to focus on more captivating books.
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Best Credit Cards to Use to Buy Books on Amazon
The Citi Double Cash and AmEx Blue Business Plus are two cards I used most frequently to buy books on Amazon in 2020. You earn 2% cashback on every purchase with the Citi Double Cash. The AmEx Blue Business Plus earns 2x points on every transaction. All in all, there are at least two cards that allow you to earn 2x points/2% cashback for books on Amazon purchases.
AmEx Offers currently allow me to earn 8x points with my Amex Marriott Bonvoy. In addition, my World of Hyatt credit card earns 5x points on Amazon. Also, this COVID Credit Card Enhancements Ultimate Guide offers a helpful breakdown of the current spending bonuses.
3 Best Books on Amazon
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
Calm and happy are two adjectives that were hard to find this year. That’s why Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World was such a powerful book to read. Cal Newport shows why it’s so important to remove the digital clutter to take back your life. So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love and Deep Work (Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World) are his other books that are really good.
Washington: A Life
George Washington is a figure I’ve always wanted to learn about. In Washington: A Life, Ron Chernow shows how Washington’s leadership put the US on the map. Leadership is something we all need right now and this book paints a portrait of one of America’s greatest leaders. Overall, this book is one we can all learn more about an important US pioneer.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness did more for my mental state in 2020 than any other book. Simple yet tactical skills are what you learn from Naval’s wisdom and experience. This book teaches you how to live a happier life while at the same type building wealth.
Additional Books on Amazon
Three books are clearly not enough so here’s a list of other books that resonated with me in 2020. Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business shows why customer service is so powerful. Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World helps you to learn from the most successful people in the world. Stillness Is the Key taught me to slow down. Ego Is the Enemy is what I need every day. The Wright Brothers show that perseverance pays off. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life outlines one of America’s greatest entrepreneurs. Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World reminded me that working in gray areas is key. Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice has a narrative that sucks you in. Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World highlights how fragile the world’s financial system can be. Superpower: One Man’s Quest to Transform American Energy shows how the US power grid can offer renewable energy through transmission lines.
Books on Amazon Ideas
Navals’ Recommended Reading, The Only Nonfiction Book List You’ll Ever Need, The Pulitzer Prizes, and Farnam Street Recommended Reading are resources I tap for new book ideas. All in all, a combination of these resources helps me to easily find books. If you have other places where you find books, please let me know.
Which books on Amazon did you read this year? Do you have books you recommend? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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