History and general non-fiction were the two categories I read in this best books on Amazon list. The books were Bubble in the Sun: The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depression, The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship, a Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation, The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business, and Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty.
All four of these books on Amazon were fun reads. However, The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business was my favorite. Author Wright Thompson, also the author of Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last, is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors joining the likes of Cal Newport, Malcolm Gladwell, and Michael Lewis.
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Best Credit Cards to Use to Buy Books on Amazon
If I’m not working on hitting a mininum spend on a new credit card, the Citi Double Cash Card and Amex Blue Business Plus are two cards I use to buy books on Amazon. The card I use comes down to whether I want to earn Citi ThankYou points or Amex Membership Rewards points.
The Citi Double Cash Card earns 2% cashback on all transactions. 1% when you make a transaction plus 1% when you pay your bill. You can convert cashback earned from this card if you also hold the Citi Premier Card or Citi Prestige Card. The Amex Blue Business Plus earns 2x Amex points on all transactions.
Best Books on Amazon
Bubble in the Sun: The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depression
Author Christopher Knowlton introduces readers to three Florida real estate titans in Carl Fisher, George Merrick, and Addison Mizner. Through these characters, you are taken on a wild ride that was the Florida speculative real estate bubble of the 1920s. What makes this book interesting is how speculation in Florida land was directly responsible for the Great Depression. At the time, Florida was a rural and wild environment. That all changed when these real estate developers convinced the nation that buying Florida real estate would make them rich. It turns out, the opposite happened and the US experienced the worst economic collapse on record.
Recommend: Yes
The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship, a Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation
Albert Hicks, otherwise known as the last pirate of New York, was a terror to the cities’ residents in the late 1800s. He was good-looking, had a family, and worked on ships as a deckhand. An otherwise fairly normal existence. That’s what made tracking him down and ultimately catching him challenging. Hicks was able to hide in plain sight.
Recommend: No
The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business
Wright Thompson has one of the best voices in sports. He also happens to be an incredible writer. This includes both sports articles and books. In The Cost of These Dreams, Thompson takes you through the personal struggles of sport’s icons like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Pat Riley, and Urban Meyer. He shows how the relationships of these individuals with their fathers created the challenges they faced to become great. At points the stories are sad but ultimately you find out about the sacrifices these icons were willing to endure to become great.
Recommend: Yes
Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty
Growing up an LSU fan, you loved Shaquille O’Neal. This larger-than-life figure is one of the central characters in Three Ring Bus joining Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson. These three combined for three straight NBA titles and built a dynasty from 1996-2004. Winning meant everything, especially for Kobe. None of these individuals come across as likable because each has major flaws. However, Kobe’s attitude and selfishness makes it difficult to like him after reading this book.
Recommend: Yes
Conclusion on the Best Books on Amazon
Reading is a skill that I’ve continued to work on by focusing on books that pique my interest at the time. Hopefully, my best books on Amazon list includes books you’ll find interesting and enjoy too.
Which books on Amazon did you read last month? What books do you recommend? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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