Before I give you a list of books which I strongly recommend that you read, I want to talk to all the non readers out there, and you know who you are.
Most people stop reading after they finish school, and NO Cosmo, the news, and Sports Illustrated DON’T COUNT. I’m talking about reading books, specifically non fiction books that will help you grow.
You know there’s a saying that goes something like : “Rich people have their books, and poor people have their television.” And from my experience this could not be more true.
If you never liked reading, then it’s going to take some effort to develop the habit. Here’s what I recommend: Read 15 minutes each night before you go to bed.
If you read 15 minutes a day from the book list I’m going to give you then I can tell you right now, it will change your life.
It changed mine.
Most affiliates out there are just focused on learning techniques and strategies to begin a better marketer. If that’s all you’re doing your making a big mistake. If you want to be financial free, happy, rich, and prosperous, you’re going to need a lot more than just an ebook about the latest tips and tricks on Adwords.
Do YOU know what I’m saying?
If you’re 35 years old and broke, then the thoughts you had in the last 10 years have brought you to where you are now. Now if you don’t change you’re thinking then where do you think you’ll be in the next 10 years??
Broke!
Back when I was broke, I realized that I had to change to the way I thought if I wanted to change my personal (I was very unhappy) and financial situation. So I literally read dozens of books about: personal growth, spiritual growth, personal finance, marketing, business/entrepreneurship, success, etc,etc. It was a transformational experience. And to this day I still focus heavily on personal growth.
Why do I still heavily focus on personal growth?
Yes, I want to be happier, I want to improve my relationships, and I want more peace of mind, but besides that I realized this simple truth:
Your net worth will NEVER exceed your self-worth.
In order to take my affiliate marketing business to the next level, I must grow first.
Of course, the best way to increase your self-worth is to get fanatical about personal growth. One of the best and most cost effective ways of growing personally and developing that coveted millionaire mindset, is to do what I did, that is to read, read, and READ some more.
Anyone can do this, no matter what your financial situation, by going to your local public library and grabbing copies of each of the books I recommend, which I will talk about on my next post, so stay tuned!
Yep you’re right. I’m in college right now and people give me weird looks when they see my library.
Off the Top of My Head:
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The Magic of Thinking Big David Schwartz
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
I’m also starting to get into Seth Godlin books for marketing.
You know what’s great about some of these books is that you will get something different from it every time you read them.
I also want to throw in Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It was the first success/finance book I read in high school and was the one that “opened” my mind to what’s possible.
Right on, Amit. I guess some people don’t take to reading much but for me it’s one of the greatest things in the world. I’ve read and own so many books that storing them and moving them around has become a major hassle. Reading (along with world travel) has helped me in so many ways to see the world differently. There seems to have been a real decline in reading over the last few decades and you can see that reflected in the decay of our educational system, our political system, and our society in general. The rise of fundamentalist ideology and blind “groupthink” is also a reflection of people having lost the ability to think for themselves. If more people read and actually enjoyed it we might have a very different world.
I think your preaching to the choir. We’re all liked minded hustlers, I guarantee Ive read all the books you’ve read, (even though I am way younger than you) as Im sure most have, otherwise we wouldn’t be reading your blog, we’d be on facebook and myspace or watching tv. lol.
What we want from you, yes you, the guy making a 100k a month from AM. Is the real no b.s. about your techniques, of course within reason as no ones going to give away their exact techniques.
Nice post Amit. I can’t wait for your recommendations.
Gagan
Your net worth will never exceed your self-worth.
I like that, nice one.
Awesome post.
Nice Post Amit.
For me as far as reading for fun, I turn to books on History.
Lately I have read “the 4 hour work week” by Tim Ferris. The last
10 Months have been a change in thinking for me and yes you are soo correct in that the thinking process you have leads to the life you have. Another good book for me is by John Assaraf “having it all”.
I have notice that the one thing that makes this site the success that it has, is not just the business stuff. But the Mindset articles and post like this one. Thanks Amit.
Hey Amit,
Good post. I went through a similar thing in the late 90′s. One day I realized it was the overall condition I was in and that the only person who could change it was me. I was a carpenter with no education, not a lot of income and no future. I started going to school, taking classes, reading…3 years later I started my own business (aff mktng) married a stanford mba (still hard to believe but true) and am close, not quite there yet, to being able to retire whether internet mktng goes away or not. spot on post.
Amit,
You are absolutely right on reading, especially non-fiction! I don’t know why adults (those over age 25 still read fiction?!) why do they still want to live in a world of fantasy and made up cinderalla stories?
But in all fairness, you have a ph.D in theoretical physics…I’m sure your educational background has had an influence on your reading (I know mine has – people who go to graduate school tend to be “big” readers)
I’m eagerly awaiting this reading list although I hope it’s not filled with self-help books. I want books on Affiliate marketing and online advertising.
I have always been one of those weirdos who does enjoy “a world of fantasy and made-up stories”, and I used to turn my nose up non-fiction.
Geez, some people are just stupid — but I’m trying to change
I’ve recently been looking at: Four Hour Work Week, Rich Dad/Poor Dad, Peryy Marshall’s Secret to Google Adwords, and basically anything written by Jeffrey Fox.
Looking forward to your list!
You’re absolutely right about that.
Because of my youthful looks, whenever I whip out my books on airplanes, in waitings rooms, etc., people always ask me if I’m in school.
It’s amazing, that the only conclusion that can be drawn from reading is that you’re in school. Most American’s don’t read any books once the “graduate” to adult life.
The old adage “readers are leaders” is absoultely true, and more importantly, taking action on what you read!
Sincerely,
Brian T. Edmondson
BlogWithBrian.com