18 Must-Listen In 2017
I have found no better source to improve myself other than listening to books, and as I have done in the previous years, I will go through introducing the books I have read this year.
This year I have been experimenting with “neuroplasticity’, the fact that our brains can rewire the neurons and allocate more neurons to a certain task.
I have been gradually increasing the speed by which I listen to and comprehend an audio book, and now I am comfortable with 2.5x speed, which has helped me listen to even more books.
Like many previous years, the books I have read are non-fiction and are about my favorite topics. Biographies, Productivity, Entrepreneurship, Neurosciences, and Finance.
So without further due, here is the list:
1- Shoe Dog (Phil Knight): A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
It is very well written, and makes you imagine the scenes and feelings. Takeaway for me: The early days of even the best brands have been though. Extremely though. They have gone nearly bankrupt many times and the founders have felt they are not going anywhere, but eventually perseverance paid off.
2-Whiplash (Joi Ito): How to Survive our Faster Future
Great read from a personal idol, Joi Ito (Director of MIT’s Media Lab) to see what the future may look like
3- Sprint (Jake Knapp): How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in 5 Days
I had read the summary of this book before but this time I read the full text. This is one of the methods Google uses for brainstorming new ideas.
4- Rework (Jason Fried)
A new and fresh way to look into how businesses should be run.
5- Hooked (Nir Eyal): How to Build Habit-Forming Products
Nir Eyal is a genius of habits and understanding how humans form habits.
6- Start With Why (Simon Sinek): How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Second time I read this book. Although I don’t agree with all of Simon Sinek’s ideology, Starting with Why has stopped me from jumping in a number of opportunities this year!
7- Zero to One (Peter Thiel): Notes on Startups or How to Build the Future
Second time read, this classical entrepreneurship book needs to be read every once in a while
8- The Hard Thing About Hard Things (Ben Horowitz): Building Businesses When There Are No Easy Answers
Doing startups is hard and you need to make very though decisions to take your company forward.
9- Delivering Happiness (Tony Hsieh): A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Zappos (an e-commerce company) has amazing customer service and we can all learn from Tony’s way of doing business.
10- The Tax and Legal Playbook (Mark Kohler): Game Changing Solutions to Your Small Business Questions
As a new immigrant to the US, I feel the need to learn about the tax and legal system!
11- Incognito (David Eagleman): The Secret Lives of the Brain
David Eagleman, my favorite neuroscientist, can talk about how the brain works for your entire life and you will not get bored.
12- Random Walk Down Wallstreet (Burton Malkiel): A Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing
Old classic book about investing and some insights into the world of finance
13- Algorithms to Live By (Brian Christian): The Computer Science of Human Decisions
I LOVED this book. I get hyped by applying scientific, mathematical models and methods to psychology and behavior sciences and this book exactly does that.
14- Other People’s Money (John Kay): The Real Business of Finance
Another book to learn about the world of finance
15- Fooled By Randomness (Nassim Taleb): The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in Markets
I have been always talking about randomness and how much of a role luck plays in our lives. Nassim Taleb puts this in context for trading, finance, and many other aspects.
16- Break Into VC (Bradley Miles): How to Break Into Venture Capital and Think Like a VC
I have been fascinated by the world of Venture Capital and how VCs can better help entrepreneurs
17- Principles (Ray Dalio): Life and Work of Ray Dalio
Many would argue against living based on pre-written principles. But this book is not a that. It gives perspective into how one of the top thinkers of the world of finance looks at life and work. I have been astonished by Ray Dalio’s interest in neuroscience and psychology.
18- The Brain That Changes Itself (Norman Doidge): Personal Triumphs from the frontiers of Brain Science
The Brain is Plastic and can change. In this book we hear stories of who people could change their medical condition exploiting this neuroplasticity
and my favorite book of 2017 was … Shoe Dog! I lived the life of Phil Knight listening to Shoe Dog and almost experienced the early days of Nike. Astonishing level of story telling.
Happy 2018!
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