The world has changed a lot.
This isn’t much of a surprise to any of us, but to think about just what the world was like just 100 years ago and today is like night and day.
We have gone from horses to cars to airplanes to space travel.
Phones turned into cell phones and now smartphones.
Business has gone global with China, almost non-existent just 40 years ago thanks to communism, taking center stage in the 21st century.
Letters were replaced with emails and now FB has made emails somewhat of a so-last-decade sort of thing.
We had two world wars, a cold war and now the makings of a currency war.
Books, then radio, then TV, video, DVD and now Bluray and 40″ high definition TVs being commonplace.
Yes, a lot has changed.
But not all change is good.
Today we’re more interconnected than ever before and yet so distance with our friends and family.
Family dinners aren’t as sacred as they once were.
I find myself constantly scratching my head as to why people aren’t getting happier in spite of our incredible technological advancement.
Life is easier, and yet it seems harder.
So many more opportunities and yet people are struggling…
I grew up with TV.
I loved it.
I could never understand why my father would sit in his chair night after night and read a book when the TV and videotapes were there.
But when I ran into trouble a few years back, I turned to books because I didn’t know where else to look.
I did it out of desperation.
I started with authors such as Robert Kiyosaki, Keith Cunningham and Steven Covey.
These authors introduced me to others.
Today I am shocked when I look through my library — hundreds of books and 100+ ebooks, over 200 audio programs and tens of DVD trainings.
They cost a small fortune, but they’ve been the best investment of my life.
And one day I’ll be able to pass them to my son. (many of them become more valuable with time)
I think it’s fair to say I taught myself to like reading.
I just wonder why twelve years of school, four years of college and all the teachers I had failed to do this.
I know you can’t make anyone like anything…but having read the books I’ve read, now I realize it depends on what books you read.
For every great book, there are so many that just bomb.
Today, books have got stiff competition and they’re losing out to video games, texting, violent sports, gossip magazines and silly video clips.
Nothing beats a good book. Emphasis on good.
It’s so easy to make a mistake, but here are some novels I would consider dang good.
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon
- If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
- The Vanished Man by Jeffrey Deaver
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
- Peril at End’s House by Agatha Christie
- Shogun by James Clavell
- The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
- Daemon by Daniel Suarez
- Alex by Pierre Lemaitre
- Life’s Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- Influx by Daniel Suarez
For those who are looking for answers to improve their life or business, I suggest you start with one of these. I assure you the ideas contained within them won’t simply help you improve your bottom line, but your inner you.
- Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
- Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
- He Can Who Thinks He Can By Orison Swett Marden
- Conversations With Millionaires by Jason Oman and Mike Litman
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
I never thought I’d find myself itching to get into a new book, but I’ve gotten older…and hopefully wiser.
These days I’d be hard pressed to think of anything more enjoyable than just sitting down, reading a good book and thinking.
Like father, like son.
Reading is a skill, one that can unlock more information than anything else.
The answers to everything you want to know are out there.
It’s up to us to go search for them.
It is my sincere wish you will.
Adrian Shepherd