In the last few weeks, I have shared with you the Recommended Reading By 50+ Billionaires, Mega-Bestselling Authors, and Other Titans that were shared with Tim Ferriss on his podcast and as a chapter in his book, ‘Tools of Titans’, as well as 11 Books Not To Miss in 2017, According To The World’s Most Influential Persons.
Now, I’d like to share with you the five books Tim shared with Business Insider, that he considers to have had the biggest influence on his life. He keeps them face-out on the book shelf in his living room, “so that I see them regularly, to remind me of the lessons I took from them.”
Some of these double up across the various recommended reading list. Shrewd readers will be able to cross-reference the list and come up with the best place to start for their next reading adventure…
‘Moral Letters to Lucilius’ by Seneca the Younger
Ferriss has long had an obsession with Stoicism, the school of ancient Greek philosophy that was also adopted by Roman thinkers.
The most famous work of Stoicism may be the philosopher king Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations,” of which Ferriss is a fan, but he’s especially taken with Seneca’s letters to his student Lucilious. The collection is, as Ferriss said, “about everything imaginable, and it’s as applicable today as it was 2,000 years ago.”
“Stoicism as a whole I think is the optimal operating system for thriving in high stress environments,” he said.
Find it here »
‘Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!’ by Richard Feynman
Richard Feynman was a Nobel-prize winning physicist who was a bit of a Renaissance man. His book “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!“, first published in 1985, is a collection of his autobiographical writings.
Ferriss has adopted Feynman’s approach to life. He said the book “paints a picture of a very brilliant problem solver and merry prankster who was a polymath, taught himself how to play the bongos, used to paint in strip clubs. You’ve got to love this guy! And it’s a hilarious book but it also shows you how good he was at testing assumptions and questioning dogma. Even in the face of embarrassment or criticism.”
[I have read this book and Feynman definitely had a very intersting, eclectic life. Well worth a read. Scott]
Find it here »
‘Zorba the Greek’ by Nikos Kazantzakis
Ferriss said that after interviewing more than 100 high performers, he saw that true success should be defined as continuing to achieve while appreciating what one already has.
He explained that the 1946 novel “Zorba the Greek” by Nikos Kazantzakis captures this insight. It tells the story of an academic who sets aside his books to immerse himself in the world.
“‘Zorba the Greek’ is a really good read for trying to chill out that Type A drive … piece of yourself, so that you can actually enjoy the ride,” Ferriss said.
Find it here »
‘Dune’ by Frank Herbert
Ferriss says “all you need to know about leadership” is contained in “Dune,” the 1965 sci-fi epic by Frank Herbert that tells the story of a young aristocrat who becomes the messiah of an intergalactic society.
But two quotes by the late author lend insight. In a 1979 interview Herbert said, “The bottom line of the ‘Dune’ trilogy is: Beware of heroes. Much better [to] rely on your own judgment, and your own mistakes.”
And in 1985 Herbert wrote, “‘Dune’ was aimed at this whole idea of the infallible leader because my view of history says that mistakes made by a leader — or made in a leader’s name — are amplified by the numbers who follow without question.”
Find it here »
‘The Effective Executive,’ by Peter F. Drucker
“The Effective Executive” is a classic management book by Peter Drucker that was first published in 1967. It’s about the way being effective (choosing the right things to attack) should be prioritized over being efficient (doing things quickly).
“I think it’s much more valuable than 99% of the so-called time management books out there,” Ferriss said.
Find it here »
Well, there you go! If these three list don’t give you something to read then I don’t know what you want.
50+ Billionaires, Mega-Bestselling Authors, and Other Titans
11 Books Not To Miss in 2017, According To The World’s Most Influential Persons.
Physio Strength Club Books Club
Enjoy!
Scott
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