My Favourite Non-fiction books of 2019

I stated in my last post, that I surpassed my goal of twenty-four books by ten – nineteen of those books were non-fiction, and below are the ones I enjoyed most:

Honourable Mentions:

Ray Kroc, Grinding it out (The memoir that inspired the movie, The Founder. Surprisingly, it was way more entertaining and dramatic than the film.)

Jesse Itzler, Living with a Seal

William H. McRaven, Make your bed

Derek Sivers, Anything you want. (I really liked this book and I love this author, but most of the information was practical advice on how to run a big/growing business, so I couldn’t really apply it – at least, not yet.)

Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

Favourites (not in order):

Atomic Habits by James Clear –

I’ve read a few books on habits and personal development, but this one broke it down in the most practical way possible. I loved the simplicity of it, how through the power of compounding you could grow to reach any goal – the concept that underlies the way I’ve been laying out my sprints. If you want to get your habits together, or work towards important goals, Atomic Habits is a great book.

Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday –

Ryan Holiday is far and away, my favourite non-fiction author. Every year, I’ll preorder his new book and when it arrives, make it a priority to read. This book was his best yet. He provides practical insights into why Stillness is the key to everything – success, peace, health, all of it – and then gives actionable advice about how to Cultivate more Stillness in your life. I think this book is best if you want to gain some control over yourself and your circumstances.

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi –

I read the updated edition of this book, and it was packed to the brink with actionable advice. I have been making my way through the advice and trying to implement it, but there’s a lot – how to blog, how to create loyalty, how to cold call, etc. The best thing though, is that it doesn’t feel like information overload at all – each chapter is clean, precise and actionable. The author Keith Ferrazzi is arguably one of the most connected men in the world and getting to learn from his successes and failures felt like the ultimate cheat code / life hack.

The fish that ate the whale by Rich Cohen –

Samuel Zemurray genuinely rose from nothing, to become one of the wealthiest and powerful men in the world. Throughout the course of his life, he grew one of the worlds largest fruit companies, funded the invasion of several South American nations, led corporate coups and helped bankroll the foundation of Israel, amongst dozens of other things. I think there are few lives as interesting as his – and few with so many lessons, of both what to do and what not to do.

Man’s search for meaning by Viktor E. Frankl –

Like everyone who searches for meaning, I finally found my way to Frankl. Few books have ever moved me like this. His story of perseverance in the worst concentration camps in history, losing his family and wife in the Auschwitz death camp and still pushing on, in his search for meaning was unlike anything I had ever read. The ideas he puts forward on logotherapy, and how to find meaning in the world, have influenced my decision making and personal life ever since.

$100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau –

A much lighter tone than the book above, the $100 startup explored dozens of entrepreneurs and business owners who had launched their business for an extremely low amount (most for a hundred dollars or less). The book provided a call to arms, as well as countless panels of actual advice, for people to launch their own business and pursue the things that meant the most to them.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins –

David Goggins is another story of someone who rose from nothing, endured countless years of abuse, and then turned into probably one of the most badass people to ever live. This book is his life story and explains how he has built himself to be a machine – pure discipline and fortitude -and how you can too. Reading this book puts an end to any excuses you may have had.

Kitchen Secrets Revealed by Barry Malone –

I don’t plan on renovating or building a kitchen anytime soon – but if I did, I would use this book. The author’s style and language made this book a great read and was ended well with a bloopers section at the back (more practical / non-fiction books should have these). The author himself is a living legend, and I’m looking forward to his next book – whatever it may be.

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That’s all of them. These books were great, and my copies are all littered with notes and underlines. I’m hoping that I can continue to action on the advice provided and make myself better.