Post: #1

I think it would be a good idea to organize a general list of quality books related to business/lifestyle. Here are my picks:

Rework by 37Signals - I read this when I was starting my first business and it was incredibly valuable. Offers a fresh perspective on business without any BS. Also easy and fun to read.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene - I can't even begin to say how important this book is. Follow what Greene describes here and you will take total control of your life and climb to the top. I don't think there is a single successful person I've met who hasn't read this.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - An essential self-help book. All about pursuing your dreams, taking risks and living by your own terms.

The Game by Neil Strauss - I don't think this book needs any introduction. Changed my life. Also read his book Emergency if you're interested in survivalism and internationalizing.

Iron John by Robert Bly - There is no other book that so perfectly captures what it means to be a man in a society that has forgotten what masculinity is.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk - A novel that clearly summarizes the problems our generation faces. This was my entry point into self-help. Anyone who reads this or watches the movie and doesn't rethink their life didn't understand the message.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - Follow your passions, live life on your own terms and don't let society corrupt you.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini - Essential book for anyone working in marketing or sales. But then again, everything in life comes down to sales. Read this.

Twilight - Just kidding.

Feel free to add your selections and I'll update the main post. Don't just suggest a book, tell us why it was important to you and what it has to offer.

Post: #2

The Way of The Superior Man - by David Deida

Essential reading.

Post: #3

The 4 Agreements and The 5th Agreement

Post: #4

Awaken the giant within by Anthony Robbins. I finished reading this book 2 weeks ago,this book was life changing..Anthony is well beyond his years.

Post: #5

The Pimp Game... Instructional Guide- Mickey Royal





Mickey Royal is a modern version Niccolo Machiavelli. This book is so cold it's scary. Mickey lays down the game with an psychological intricacy and an articulation that I've never seen before. From a first hand point of view he explains the positions of all the players and how they interact with one another (Whether you realize it or not you're already a player in game). He explains how to turn someone into a ho (pay close attention) and how to truly recognize game. In just 90 pages you'll probably learn and retain more than if you read Robert Greeene's " Art of Seduction" and "48 Laws of Power" cover to cover twice. It's short intricate, articulate and powerful. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!


The Art of Mackin'- Tariq Nasheed





About 5 years before Neil Strauss came out with "The Game" book that set off the whole and pickup artist craze and introduced the world to Mystery (allegedly the worlds greatest seducers of women) an exposed the online seduction community, Tariq Nasheed came out with the Art of Mackin'. Like Mickey Royal's "Pimp Game Instructional Guide" Nasheed breaks down the Pimp game and all of it's players. However, the "Art of mackin"' is written for the average man (squares) who want to be successful with women as suppose to some who wants to enter "The Life". While he does delve into some of the mechanics of the pimp game does so only to educate the everyday man on mindset and tactics that make Pimps and Mack's so successful with women. He talks in depth about the difference between a Mack and a Pimp (and why you probably want to be rather be the latter than the former). He also Identifies certain female personality types and how to deal with (or avoid) them successfully. He even includes a few of routines. It's the fact there is so much game present here (both inner and outer) that makes the "Art of Mackin" such a great book. Excellent read!

Post: #6

4 hour work week

Post: #7

The four hour work week and Vagabonding.

Post: #8

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene





Man, this book should be mandatory for every single human being on the planet! This book helps you see the bigger picture. Why people do certain and what motivates them. When you read the newspaper or watch the news, you suddenly know why politicians say the things that they say, why they act a certain way, and what's in it for you. If, at the very least you don't want to get blindsided and used by other people in their quest for power, you should at least know what they're up to and know how to defend yourself.

Post: #9

For spirituality I recommend:

Rasta Heart, Siddhartha, and the Tao Te Ching


Inspirational biographies:

"Black Boy" (Richard Wright), "The Autobiography of Malcolm X", "Revolutionary Suicide" (Huey P. Newton) * out of print

Post: #10

Millionaire Fastlane, Work the System

Post: #11

I'd would add
- Art of Love by Ovid
- Pimp Story of my life by iceberg slim
- Black Players: Secret underworld of black pimps
- The prince ~ Machiavelli

Post: #12

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
Psycho-Cybernetics - Maxwell Maltz
The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Alex Haley

Post: #13

Also:
Commentary on the Gallic Wars, by Julius Caesar.
Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War, and Diaries of the Revolutionary War in Congo, by Ernesto Guevara.

Why hasnt anyone mentioned The Art of War by Sun Tzu yet?

Post: #14

Cause I was just gonna mention!

- Art of War
- The Price
- 48 Laws of Power (one of my favorites)
- Kane and Abel (novel by Jeffrey Archer - just I appreciate it)
- Iron John
- Kamasutra !

Post: #15

(11-21-2011 05:56 AM)Ami5 Wrote:  Cause I was just gonna mention!

- Art of War
- The Price
- 48 Laws of Power (one of my favorites)
- Kane and Abel (novel by Jeffrey Archer - just I appreciate it)
- Iron John
- Kamasutra !

These will be my next reads in the near future.







I'm think of starting a book club. Is anyone interested?

Post: #16

the hagakure
Siddhartha
basquiat - a quick killing in art
the soul of man - Oscar Wilde
the prince
talk - Carl Hancock Rux
the book of five rings

Post: #17

tao te ching - lots of good translations
bhagavad gita - translation by w.j. johnson
way of the superior man - david deida

Post: #18

(11-19-2011 02:21 PM)The Lesser Evil Wrote:  The Pimp Game... Instructional Guide- Mickey Royal





Mickey Royal is a modern version Niccolo Machiavelli. This book is so cold it's scary. Mickey lays down the game with an psychological intricacy and an articulation that I've never seen before. From a first hand point of view he explains the positions of all the players and how they interact with one another (Whether you realize it or not you're already a player in game). He explains how to turn someone into a ho (pay close attention) and how to truly recognize game. In just 90 pages you'll probably learn and retain more than if you read Robert Greeene's " Art of Seduction" and "48 Laws of Power" cover to cover twice. It's short intricate, articulate and powerful. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!

I have this one - it's pretty good. I've read Pimp too. I think the pimp thing is good to study because it's like psychology applied to the extreme. If you understand how a pimping works, you start to see all the ways you are being pimped by the powers that be.

Post: #19

(11-20-2011 03:35 AM)blurb Wrote:  The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene





Man, this book should be mandatory for every single human being on the planet! This book helps you see the bigger picture. Why people do certain and what motivates them. When you read the newspaper or watch the news, you suddenly know why politicians say the things that they say, why they act a certain way, and what's in it for you. If, at the very least you don't want to get blindsided and used by other people in their quest for power, you should at least know what they're up to and know how to defend yourself.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through The 48 Laws of Power, I definitely agree that it is a great book, I also have The Art of Seduction that I plan to read next.

I was wondering if anyone has read either of Robert Greene's other two books, The 33 Strategies of War, and The 50th Law? Reviews on amazon are mixed and I haven't heard anyone ever mention them on these forums.

Post: #20

(11-22-2011 01:45 AM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

(11-20-2011 03:35 AM)blurb Wrote:  The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene





Man, this book should be mandatory for every single human being on the planet! This book helps you see the bigger picture. Why people do certain and what motivates them. When you read the newspaper or watch the news, you suddenly know why politicians say the things that they say, why they act a certain way, and what's in it for you. If, at the very least you don't want to get blindsided and used by other people in their quest for power, you should at least know what they're up to and know how to defend yourself.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through The 48 Laws of Power, I definitely agree that it is a great book, I also have The Art of Seduction that I plan to read next.

I was wondering if anyone has read either of Robert Greene's other two books, The 33 Strategies of War, and The 50th Law? Reviews on amazon are mixed and I haven't heard anyone ever mention them on these forums.

I have read all the above mentioned books.
Art of Seductions is another fine work by Greene.
33 Strategies is just an amalgam of Art of War and 48 Laws-Concise.
I was highly ...HIGHLY disappointed reading 50th Law. Not recommended. The book only looks good for 'display' with its dark looks. That's it.

Post: #21

I found the 50th law to be one of the best books I've ever read. Maybe it was just me, but the concepts it presented such as intense realism, aggression, mastery etc. really almost made it my Bible.

Other good books besides the ones mentioned
-Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience
-7 habits of highly effective people

Post: #22

(11-22-2011 02:38 AM)davidkm590 Wrote:  I found the 50th law...

-Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience

I plan on reading both of those very soon

Post: #23

50 cent isn't really a role model to me. He spit for Em and Em got Dre to put him on. He raps about selling crack and shooting people. He also got shot for running his mouth about real G's in his rap songs. i dont see any value in reading what 50 thinks.

I listen to his music when I lift weights.

Also think Robert Greene is full of theory, but devoid of execution. In other words, he's a professor, not an actual model of success.

Post: #24

I think Swami Vivekananda is a better investment of your time than a mediocre gangster rapper if you want some good stuff to read/think about:

http://hinduism.about.com/od/vivekananda...oflife.htm

Post: #25

(11-23-2011 02:24 AM)Iceinthewater Wrote:  50 cent isn't really a role model to me. He spit for Em and Em got Dre to put him on. He raps about selling crack and shooting people. He also got shot for running his mouth about real G's in his rap songs. i dont see any value in reading what 50 thinks.

I listen to his music when I lift weights.

Also think Robert Greene is full of theory, but devoid of execution. In other words, he's a professor, not an actual model of success.

The book includes aspects of 50 Cent's Life, but it's primarily written by Robert Greene. Robert Greene, in my eyes, is more as a messenger instead of a role model.