Let’s talk about books again

Dearest Savages,

There are a lot of posts about books in this forum.  My question today is a little different.  Please forgive me for gushing in advance..

When one of us asks about mindset, high-performance, negotiation, prospecting, wealth-creation, investing, etc... we all seem to have answers for them. There appears to be a common set of non-fiction books that appear repeatedly.  Attached is a screenshot of my audible library.  There are plenty of titles here I'm sure most of you have read, or at least recognize, and plenty more that wouldn't fit in the frame that are similar in nature.

But, I recently picked up Atlas Shrugged. Just a fictional novel, but I'm finding myself learning more from this book than anything I've ready in years.  This particular edition is something like 11 hours of audio on Audible. I'm hooked on this book like crack-cocaine. I can't get enough. I cannot stop listening.  I had a 7AM on Friday morning with one of our biggest clients and I was lying in bed listening on Thursday night until almost 1:30. I finally had to force myself to turn it off.  I'm on track to finish it in under 4 days - definitely before the end of today, and I'm already getting that feeling of dread that when it's over I won't have anything as good to read.

I plan on reading all of Ayn Rand's content, but that brings me to my question for all of you.  Fiction, or non-fiction I don't mind either. But can you recommend books that profoundly moved and inspired you?  Books that you 'got more out of' than anything that came before or after.

For those of you that haven't read it, I don't have the words to recommend this book enough. I don't mean to overhype it, I think media resonates differently with different people so YMMV, but this book has been life changing for me.  Its the best book I've read in at least 4 years, and I never want it to end.

I hope to hear your suggestions...




💡 Education/Resources
🤘 Personal Growth
📚 Resource
32
CoorsKing
WR Officer
8
Retired King of the Coors Knights
“Can’t hurt me” is awesome. 

WHOS GONNA CARRY THE BOATS?!
Diablo
Politicker
5
Sr. AE
Good to great is awesome !
Ligy12
Opinionated
0
Inside sales
You are correct 
LordBusiness
Politicker
5
Chief Revenue Officer
I’ve moved off of “business books” the past year. And have move into Autobiographies and history. Funny enough, I listen to audio books as well and have chosen my books based on who’s voice I want to listen to most 😆 a couple of good reads. “The Way I heard it” - Mike Rowe “The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown”
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
I love Mike Rowe's voice. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
1
VP of Sales
Will definitely look into them. I’m kind of fed up with business book at the moment too. Can’t deny how much I learn and get out of them, but they can be dry. Thanks!
detectivegibbles
Politicker
1
Sales Director
I've found myself trending this way without recognizing it until recently.

There's some great ones out there. I know many are written by some elite ghostwriters, but if it tells the story, who gives a fuck.

MatthewMcConaughey - "Greenlights" has been a favorite read in the last 2 years. Bonus points for him narrating the audible book.
Salty1
Good Citizen
0
Account Manager
A very entertaining autobiography to listen to is Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
davitdude
Good Citizen
3
Director of Operations & Marketing
Not business related, but the Teddy Roosevelt trilogy by Edmund Morris will gas up anyone who reads at least the first two books.
bamageorge
Celebrated Contributor
3
International Sales Director
Can't hurt me is gold 
mycoffeesgonecold
Good Citizen
3
Solutions Engineer
For anyone that does not use Audible, there are apps such as Libby and BorrowBox that allow you to 'rent' both ebooks and audio books for free => all you need is your library subscription / details and you're set to go. I assume the licencing allows them to only 'rent' out a few copies of certain titles at a time, so it's kind of like a blowback to the early Netflix days where you had to return a 'digital item'.

I blitzed through The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*** and Everything Is F***** in a week. The Mark Manson titles have been suggested here already, but thought I'd add to it that they are available on Libby and BorrowBox.

[BorrowBox: Has a lot of Young Adult content that you can filter out, depending what your taste is of course]
jefe
Arsonist
0
🍁
Libby is great!
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
2
Exec Director, Major Accounts
Enders quarter. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
1
VP of Sales
Haha it’s in my top 3!
SADNES5
Politicker
2
down voters are marketing spies
Atlas Shrugged... Ew.

“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.”
Incognito
WR Officer
4
Master of Disaster
This is the best comment I’ve ever read 🏆
SADNES5
Politicker
1
down voters are marketing spies
IKR? Take an economics class... Radical self interest works if you're a child, not if you're living in a society. 


Great video of the alt-right playbook and the mentality they share.

https://youtu.be/agzNANfNlTs
SADNES5
Politicker
1
down voters are marketing spies
Radical Self Interest.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRfBtVep/
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
1
VP of Sales
Haha I think it’s an outstanding masterpiece. I don’t know where your quote comes form, but it doesn’t speak for me.
SADNES5
Politicker
4
down voters are marketing spies
It's okay. To each their own. 
My opinion: The book is 500 pages too long. The rants... Oh god the rants... I mean monologues, absolute drivel. Just apply any critical thought to the book the regulations and laws applied to Hanks business... Are there for a reason.

If it was such a burden to carry on, they should have sold their essential business to the government (as all utilities should be)... 

Businesses are not people. Radical self interest is in no one's best interest. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
Your opinion is appreciated. To each their own is correct. . I’m not getting into the details, philosophies or perspectives. I don’t entirely agree with you, and that’s ok. I think it’s simply a good book… if I was to go read Mein Kampf, that doesn’t MAKE me a Nazi. Reading is about seeing other points of view. It’s about considering different opinions. It’s about content that stirs and stimulates you, and Atlas Shrugged really did it for me.
SADNES5
Politicker
4
down voters are marketing spies
I get it, enjoy the book. No offence intended. Anti-Ayn is a hill I will die on. 

As a head up, I get the reference what you're trying to say about facism. But Mein Kampf... Isn't a different point of view... It blames an economic collapse on a race of people and advocates eugenics... There is no opinion to consider. Just because there are two sides to a story doesn't mean they need equal weighted thought. 

TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
I’ve never read it. I actually don’t know what it’s about, so I’ll get back to you once I have.
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
@SADNES5 Thank you!! Was surprised not to see any of your points mentioned.

And Ayn Rand's philosophical bent is basically inextricable from her work.
SADNES5
Politicker
0
down voters are marketing spies
I am glad there are people like you in the world @jefe 
 ♥️
jefe
Arsonist
0
🍁
As jaded as sales has made me in so many aspects, this is NOT one of them.
butwhy
Politicker
2
Solutions Engineer
Mark Manson's "Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***" literally changed my life. I subscribe to his blogs as well, he just has a way of making me step back and look at things that is incredibly reassuring and beneficial. 

Also for work stuff, but not "business" - every single person in SaaS sales should be required to read The Phoenix Project. 
justatopproducer
Politicker
2
VP OF SALES -US
So what does the book discuss/teach? I assume feeling like you carry the world on your shoulders and how to shrug off the stress of doing so? But thats my guess based in the title and book cover lol
goose
Politicker
1
Sales Executive
I read "A Time To Kill" before I knew who John Grisham was and I was instantly hooked.  That was nearly 30 years ago.
Incognito
WR Officer
1
Master of Disaster
This does not surprise me in the least. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
0
VP of Sales
Who cares? 😏
SADNES5
Politicker
0
down voters are marketing spies
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
0
VP of Sales
Haha I’m not very political. That’s probably why I liked the book. I think politics are for the weak-minded. . I don’t know what Pinochet-right means, and I’m not going to take the effort to find out. But I do believe in meritocracy and survival of the fittest, so you’re probably right.
SADNES5
Politicker
0
down voters are marketing spies
Meritocracy I am 💯 cool with. Survival of the fittest... That is a slippery slope in a society. 

I suggest you watch The Man in the High Castle on Amazon. See what happens to the disabled; mentally ill on Tuesdays. 
https://youtu.be/TFM2xZ7dytk
That's the radical self interest personified. 
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
1
sales
Impossible to inevitable | old mans war (series) | Enders game (series) | the sun also rises | Moscow rules
BeatCancer
Fire Starter
1
Account Executive
I don't like things that cannot happen in real tee....

Is the David Goggins one any good?

I really recommend fanatical prospecting and also Grant going nuts in 10x! Grants sales techniques are not so good, however his work ethic and motivational speaking from 6-7am in the gym and on the way to the office is great.
I really recommend fanatical prospecting - jeb blount, warren greshes - 16 something , brian tracy - psych. of selling
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
1
VP of Sales
Opinion appears to be split on Goggins. I thought it was phenomenal. Most people think he’s a bit of a masochist, but I think the principles are sound. Very very powerful book. The first 2 chapters made me cry like a little bitch.
BeatCancer
Fire Starter
1
Account Executive
Okay I am in! I have enuf points for dat der tissue box to go with it 
MinisterOfChaos
Politicker
1
Commercial Account Executive
I'm sure they've been mentioned in other posts, but my recent "go tos" for "business" reading has been Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and "Start with Why" and "Leaders Eat Last" by Simon Sinek. I also very much enjoy any of Malcolm Gladwell's books.

For fiction, David Baldacci's The Camel Club series (5 books total I think) are quick and fun reads and the dude is a truly gifted storyteller.
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
1
Burn Towns, Get Money
Lol... only 11 hours. That's a highly abridged version then. I think the full-length is like almost 60 hours on Audible.

Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are some great novels that explore where philosophy connects with reality. I too had a major 'ah ha!' moment reading Atlas Shrugged.

Regardless of if you agree with the author or outcomes in the books, they are good to have in your knowledge-base.
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
Dude! I thought the 11 hour was the full book, nowhere on the description or audio did it mention it was abridged. I will buy the full version and thanks for the wake up call on this . And totally agree. The Fountainhead is next for me. It seems to take a larger mind than I previously thought to be able to consume content or listen to opinions without wholly agreeing or aligning yourself with them
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
0
Burn Towns, Get Money
Serious question: Given that you're listening to this book... are you seeing any shocking similarities to what's going on today in society?

The first time I read Atlas Shrugged in Hardback (like 1300 pages) many, many people asked me if I was reading a Bible... if they only knew how funny of a comment that was considering the material in my hand...

The Fountainhead is shorter; a little easier to digest. It was intended as the introduction to Rand's philosophy. Starting with Atlas Shrugged is going to make you see around the corner to the next page a little better with The Fountainhead, as you'll already be aware of where Rand is taking you.

It's real level-up moment in your life when you realize you can consider an idea without conferring judgement on the person communicating it to you. Kind of like creating this little experimental compartment in your brain... how would I feel in those shoes?

Honestly, that's a skill that will serve you very well in sales.
ADudeBeingAGuy
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Give 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson a a shot. I enjoyed his new book as well.
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
I’ve moved off of “business books” the past year. And have move into Autobiographies and history.
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
1
ISR
WHOS GONNA CARRY THE BOATS?!
cw95
Politicker
0
Sales Development Lead
A non-sales, fictional book that is rather popular and of which I have liked for years is any adult fiction by Matt Haig. He writes fiction but also a couple of insightful short, easy to read books relating to mental health and whatnot - when you read them you really understand why he created the fictional books. 

Notes on a nervous planet & 'reasons to stay alive' read them and then read his fictional ones. 
duckduckgos
Opinionated
0
Business Development
Currently listening too "A Promised Land" by Barack Obama on Audible. It's narrated by him and very immersive, i've quite enjoyed listening to it so far! 
Salty1
Good Citizen
0
Account Manager
One absolutely great book was The Fish That Ate The Whale. It’s a true story about the life of the man behind the Banana Empire!
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
Good to great is awesome !
Mr.Floaty
Politicker
0
BDR
Wow my nephew is in the exact same situation.
Cyberjarre
Politicker
0
BDR
I love mastering a craft. It's been shown by different studies over and over again that the more you perfect a handful of skills, the happier you are in being able to use them.
Lambda
Tycoon
0
Sales Consultant
The little red book of selling is my go to tbh short sweet simple reminder/advice
SaaSguy
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
I just finished Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game. It was fantastic, its about "golf" but really about life and how to be less outcome dependent hard on ourselves in order to become our best selves. Highly recommend.
GingerBarbarian
Opinionated
0
Lead Sales
These are a few of the bookjs I have really loved that are not likely to come up that I plan on having my children read when they are old enough, no matter what field they plan to go into. They don't have much to do with sales, but have helped me live a richer life.

***Quiet by Susan Cain**** This is the book that had the absolute biggest impact on my life. I am an introvert in a very loud profession, and by better understanding myself I have been able to prioritize what I need in order to function at my best ability. I now better understand myself and others better than ever before.

The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes - Better understanding the expectations put on men and the emotional damage it creates.

The Man Who Broke Capitalism by David Gelles- Understanding how the economy has changed in the last 40 years and made the corporate world a more toxic place.

Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew B Crawford: Enjoying the pure beauty and satisfaction of working with your hands.
GingerBarbarian
Opinionated
0
Lead Sales
Can I say that more salespeople should be reading fiction. Fiction helps you see into the mind of another person going through one of the most difficult times in their lives. It enables complex understanding and helps train empathy. I personally listen to fiction books on audible every night as I go to sleep.
5

Burnt-out on business/sales books- where do you go?

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