By By Elsie Udoh
It is said that the wisdom of the world can be found in a book. Research also confirms that reading books helps you succeed in your work and relationships. Sadly most Nigerians suffer from a poor reading culture and if you make up that list, you just might be missing out on the knowledge of wealth that is preserved in a single book.
Well, that doesn’t mean you’re supposed to randomly pick up a book and glance through it. You won’t get emotional or financial intelligence in an exercise ‘book’!
Think more about books that comprise valuable nuggets on life, relationships and of course, money!
Here’s a list of 10 books to help you get started and fill up your reading space.
1. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy
Written by Thomas J. Stanley, the Millionaire Next Door teaches you how to accumulate wealth smartly. You never can tell, your next-door neighbour who is the most shabbily dressed might just have a fat account and investments raking in cool cash for him because according to the nuggets contained in the book, millionaires are not flashy consumers but focus more on working hard and saving money.
2. Mastery
Yet another masterpiece, Robert Greene’s novel delves you into the world of achieving social intelligence and of course, Mastery. Describing mastery as a function of deep practice over many years, the book explains the highs and lows of having a mentor. Also unlike the regular status quo about separating your work from personal life, Mastery tells you exactly why you shouldn’t.
3. The Power of Habit
Have you ever wondered why habits exist? Or do you think it’s totally normal to just find yourself doing specific things over and over again terming it a habit? Charles Duhigg, Power of Habit will explain this as well as how you can develop habits that will make you successful
4. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Still on habits, Atomic Habits by James Clear will guide you to develop habits that will help you get 1% better every day. Clear develops a framework called the “Four Laws of Behaviour Change” which include a simple set of rules for creating good habits and breaking bad ones.
5. The Obstacle in the Way
In every obstacle exists a weak spot which can be used to your advantage. The obstacle in the way by Ryan Holiday helps you endure the struggles of life with grace and resilience by drawing lessons from ancient heroes, former presidents, modern actors, and athletes, and how they turned adversity into success thanks to the power of perception, action, and will. Do you see yourself getting after already?
6. Emotional Intelligence
According to psychologists, you need 20 per cent of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and 80 per cent of the Emotional Quotient (EQ) and the Adversity Quotient (AQ) to succeed in life. Daniel Goleman’s book understands this hence why it tells you how to develop EQ that will help you solve problems and think logically.
7. Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers explains why “the self-made man” is a myth and what truly lies behind the success of the best people in their field, which is often a series of lucky events, rare opportunities and other external factors, which are out of our control.
8. The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
Understand how money moves around in an economy and how personal biases and the emotional factor play an important role in our financial decisions, as well as how to think more rationally and make better decisions when it comes to money in Morgan Housel’s novel
9. Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity
As the name implies, Hugh Macleod writes about finding your voice despite all odds. Only you can deliver your unique ability the best way but how do you deliver when you don’t even know what you have? Reading this book will help you unlock your creativity and share it with the world in a way that earns you a living.
10. Zero to One
Hey there startup’ founders, this one’s for you. Peter Thiels uncovers his strategy of how he founded his business and rose to be a billionaire. If you are in business or thinking of starting one then you’ll find this book extremely useful.
Reading the books listed above will put your 2023 to a right start and help you position yourself properly towards becoming a better you and achieving a lot this year.
Apart from the books listed above there are also other books that can help you get smarter, they include:
1. Never split the difference by Christopher Voss
2. Show your work by Show Your Work
3. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
4. Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon
5. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
6. Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing by Matthew Allen
7. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
8. Think Again: Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How to Keep it From Happening to You by Sydney Finkelstein
9. The Only Skill That Matters by Jonathan A. Levi
10. Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill
