Erik Rostad's Top Book Recommendations

Jelena DjokovicJust finished a great book - The One Thing by Gary Keller. Important advice for all entrepreneurs and students. Make sure you take a break from time to time and allow yourself to fully enjoy it! I’m taking a break from organizing our conference👌 @orgnlmagazine #daretobeoriginal https://t.co/LgRJAgIh8B (Source)

Jaylen BledsoeWhen I read this book, I literally saw so many principles that he spoke to that are what grew my companies to where they are today. #TheOneThing is the must-read for any and everybody. https://t.co/P7pF929nVg (Source)

Iman Ben ChaibahLove the books that get referneced in an article as a passing reference but gets you intrigued enough to download a sample on kindle, then get hooked and buy the book and just feel happy through the ahha moments this book is giving you. Best way to discover books ❤📚 Reading ⬇️ https://t.co/rA76oS7NPQ (Source)

Barack ObamaA few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. (Source)

Bill Gates[On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Marc AndreessenCaptivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? (Source)

Tony RobbinsTim is a brilliant thinker. The way he approaches mastery is inspiring in many ways. His latest book is no exception. What I loved about Tools of Titans is that it distills key tactics, routines and habits of the ultra-successful in actionable ways that anyone can take advantage of. Highly recommended. Every chapter is a valuable lesson. (Source)

James AltucherIt only came out recently. I had so many questions about it that I flew to California and interviewed him about it for my podcast.It’s the collection of all the knowledge and wisdom he gained from the 100s of people he interviewed.I leave it out on my floor and read a page or two whenever I pass it.It’s already filled with 100s of my notes (see below). It’s maybe the one physical book I keep... (Source)

Marvin LiaoMy list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... (Source)

Satya NadellaKai-Fu Lee's smart analysis on human-AI coexistence is clear-eyed and a must-read. We must look deep within ourselves for the values and wisdom to guide AI's development. (Source)

Arianna HuffingtonKai-Fu Lee's experience as an AI pioneer, top investor, and cancer survivor has led to this brilliant book about global technology. AI Superpowers gives us a guide to a future that celebrates all the benefits that AI will bring, while cultivating what is unique about our humanity. It’s one of those books you read and think, ‘Why are people reading any other book right now when this is so clearly... (Source)

Yuval Noah HarariA superb and very timely survey of the impact of AI on the geopolitical system, the job market and human society. (Source)

Richard BransonToday is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Tony RobbinsThe basis of this book is so important to anyone looking to increase their influence, profits or impact. People won't truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. When you start with the why, everything else falls into place. This book is so impactful, I consider it required reading. (Source)

Tony HsiehOver the years he’s [] recommended well over 20 business books — including his own, the 2010 bestseller Delivering Happiness and you can always find what he’s currently reading atop his cluttered desk. Start with Why is amogst those titles. (Source)

Tony RobbinsAnother book that I’ve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life. (Source)

Jimmy FallonI read it while spending ten days in the ICU of Bellevue hospital trying to reattach my finger from a ring avulsion accident in my kitchen. It talks about the meaning of life, and I believe you come out a better person from reading it. (Source)

Simon SinekThis is essential reading for anyone interested in the topic of purpose. Because Frankl’s personal experience was so extreme, the lessons are that much more stark. And, most importantly, his lessons are universally applicable to all our lives. (Source)

Bill Gates[On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

Jamie DimonCEO recommends this book (along with The Intelligent Investor) in his suggestion to JP Morgan summer interns. (Source)

Erik RostadI read this book in 2003 or 2004. I was out of college and working in my first job. Friedman convincingly showed that the world was rapidly changing and that I would soon be competing for jobs with people from around the world. I decided to go to graduate school as a direct result of being convinced of his argument in this book. What's interesting is that I don't think these two books would have... (Source)

Erik RostadDon’t worry, this is not a steamy romance novel ;). I read this book in 1998 just before I was heading to college. In the book, Eldredge showed how the stories we relate to in novels, movies, and plays are echos of the grand narrative of the Christian story. As a Christian, this was very compelling and led me to literature. I began reading some of the classics in earnest after reading this book... (Source)

Erik RostadOne of the final books I chose for my 2019 reading list was The Art of X-Ray Reading by Roy Peter Clark. I heard about this book in a podcast episode I listened to at the very end of the year. It was the last book I added to my list and I had to remove another book I had in the set of 52. This one sounded so interesting that I couldn't pass it up (and it was book 4 of my list and I absolutely... (Source)

Erik RostadHere is something that recently helped me. It comes from the book A Mind at Play by Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman. I'll quote the passage directly and then describe how it helped me: "What does information really measure? It measures the uncertainty we overcome. It measure our chances of learning something we haven't yet learned. Or, more specifically: when one thing carries information about... (Source)

Bryan Johnson[Bryan Johnson recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

Joan BoixadosRecover soon from your mistakes. (Source)

Erik RostadFor career books, I'll focus on more overarching themes. You can get books on particular skills you need for a given job, but these books will help having the right mindset for a career and how work should fit into the greater story of your life. For learning new skills: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin. (Source)

Chris OliverThe Art of Learning as well is phenomenal. You're always learning new things in programming and startups so being good at learning is a crucial skill to have. (Source)