Influential Books; What are YOU reading?

I have read and own so many life-transforming and beautiful books, but here are some really amazing ones off the top of my head:

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
Ask And It Is Given by Esther & Jerry Hicks
The Science Of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles
Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

and my all time personal favorite:

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

Cheers,

Josip

P.S. Right now, I'm reading The Science Of Getting Rich for the gazzilionth time

Think and Grow Rich is a constant.

I'm also reading a Rockefeller bio. Interesting to get inside the mind of the wealthiest man who ever lived.

RB

Influence and mastery series by A T Perhacs is powerful..

I have lost count.

Currently, I'm reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki.

I like to read biographies and autobiographies of successful people. Andrew Carnegie's autobiography is inspiring. Don't read biographies that are critical of the wealthy for being wealthy though. Read books that will inspire you.

Great thread Starmo!

I am currently reading 7 Keys to Imagination by Piero Morosini. It is a pretty inspiring book for me.

Some of the books that have influenced my life are:

The Book of Changes or I-Ching
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Failing Forward by John C Maxwell
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is worth the time to read(very long), whether you find that you agree or disagree with the main themes.

Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman was required by my martial arts teacher many years ago. It's a pretty easy read, and kinda cheesy, but I always feel better after re-reading it. And that seems like a good sign.

-Brett

I'm an avid reader. Currently I am reading "What to say when you talk to yourself", by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.. It's really good.

One of the shortest, most impactful books I have read lately is As a Man Thinketh. It is really quite revealing to read a book written a century ago that is so applicable even today. Just goes to show that the old truths never change!

One of the most practical and helpful books I can recommend is How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Actually, on my blog I have a lot of other stuff about the books I've found useful and why I felt so.

Think and Grow Rich is one of my personal favorites.

Rich Dad Poor Dad is also a great book - I have a ton of books on my list to read. They're sitting here but I haven't had a chance to read them all yet.

One book that I can't recommend enough for any marketer is Ca$hvertising.

Read all books and blogs written by Seth Godin.

I've read pretty much every book in here. They are awesome great books, but one book I highly recommend that got me through losing my job, house, cars, wife, and dogs in 2007, and helped me do a 360 in opening up a film school in Las Vegas, to launching several businesses online. And the funny thing is it's not a business book it's spiritual.

Conversations With God by Neal Donald Walsch.

Currently I'm reading Made To Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath.

Great post.

Never heard of this book. Have to hit to amazon for this.

"A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose"

I guess all of you have heard of it. It is real gold piece, answers a lot of questions if you're a person who like to wonder about certain things.

Currently Reading: For Fun - Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela's autobiography
For Learning - Search Engine Optimization Second Edition

Funny I run into this article while looking for books to buy. I'm considering purchasing The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.

I have finished reading to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and I recommend the book to everybody. A chapter, or maxim, I found truly revolutionary was - "seek first to understand, then to be understood." The audio book is also a great pick-up, seeing as how it features commentary from various people.

Onto The 7 Military Classics of Ancient China by Ralph D. Sawyer. You'd be surprised just how much you can learn from such books when it comes to marketing and business.

Hey, "The Science Of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles" is a great book. I had also read it and all of you must read it.

Conspiracy of the Rich by Robert T. Kiyosaki.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

..."This book teaches you to observe your ways of thinking and to challenge your limiting and non supportive thoughts, habits, and actions with regard to money."

Highly recommended!

Have lost count of books I have read. I read for enjoyment and self-improvement which is my special interest.

I like to read thrillers, mysteries etc and have read them by hundreds if not by thousands though can't stand science fiction.

I have read majority of the self-improvement books mentioned on this thread and have got some new leads to look for here.

Just now I got The Power by Rhonda Byrne and her The Secret is my favorite. I carry it with me even when traveling. I open a page randomly and get refreshed. And I can say that it has really helped me.

However I have a question about Think and Grow Rich which is considered to be an all time classic and mentioned a lot of times here.

I read it long time back and remember that it said that the success secret is not spelled out in so many words anywhere in the book but it is on every page. This is what I remember about it. Some people with whom I talked about this book told me that the book is not as easy to understand as other books in this genre. I also read somewhere that there is another book that sort of explains what Think and Grow Rich is all about.

How I went from Failure to Success in Sales - By Frank Betcher (I probably mis-spelled his name!)

The Greatest Salesman in the World! It's the greatest book on success I've ever read and it should be read every year.

Hey Starmo,

guess i found another book lover like myself! I'm a huge fan of personal-devpt and financial-help books too! reading such books just puts more fire in your belly each time.

anw i would highly recommend "4-hour work week" by tim ferris. Reading this book has completely changed tthe way i approached my business and personal life. my personal effectiveness soared thru the roof after reading and APPLYING the techniques taught inside.

A must-read!

Hope this helps

YS

I belong to a business networking group called Inner Circle. The facilitator keeps a running list of recommended reading on the front page of the site (innercirclemidatlantic)

I can personally recommend these:
Good To Great by Jim Collins
Strength Finders by Tom Rath
Running Your Own Company by Paul Riecks

I like the Silva Method. Really recommended. Now i'm listening (not reading) Silva Ultramind (the full home seminar). Cool.

we've all familiar with "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen 107 years ago.

Well, he also wrote "From Poverty to Power"
"The Mastery of Destiny"
"Eight Pillars of Prosperity"
"Foundation Stones to Happiness and Success"
"Book of Meditations for Every Day of the Year"

and others of equal caliber as our favorite.

In fact, I would say some of his other books are better.

You can find the "Complete James Allen Treasury" at Barnes and Nobles store.

He is a deep thinker. Way beyond his time. Yet, his message sounds like it was written yesterday... His interpretation of men is flawless. Genius.

His thought is a powerful thought. And worth incorporating. He explains what it
would be like to live in the world of the future. The character such men and women will have.

The title of the collection is "Mind Is the Master"

Add it to your library to complete it.

I'm having a hard time believing no one cited one of the most influential (non-biblical) books of all time: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Some great titles in this thread, for sure! But no list could be complete without this classic--and very near the top. I would recommend it to anyone, anywhere, at any time. But especially as an "influential" book in the field of Success, Power, and Self-Improvement, I think the argument could easily be made that Franklin's autobiography is in the top three.

Kudos to BrettQ! Ayn Rand, awesome!

I'm going through preview's at ebooks

I like to read whatever my mind feels to read at that moment. I generally avoid romantic novels. I like adventures, biographies, spiritual, short stories..etc. I am reading "Go Kiss The World" now.....

Someone on another thread cited the rare (but classic) "Kybalion," by the Three Initiates. a little far-out, if you know what I mean. But it is the epitome of "It's all in the mind."

"The Book of Tea" by Kakuzo Okakura.

"Teaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order. It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life."

has someone read this book The Twentieth Wife its just amazing

Just finishing Linchpin by Seth Godin.

Interesting read about making your work your Art... ie you cant just be producing commodities or you will soon be replaced or displaced.

Modern office or factory work .. is basically commodity work. Workers can be replaced easily, and are managed to max production while minimizing wages and benefits.

Timely reading for me, but for most of you IM'ers a good validation of doing what you are doing.

Anybody else read this book or any others by Seth Godin?

J.

Now reading.. Eat that frog and Secrets to Mind Power

Great books on this list! Entangled Minds by Dean Radin confirmed a lot for me; Power vs. Force by .... oh shoot, can't remember his name right now....was really good!

Quick note many of you might find interesting. From Wikipedia you can find downloads to 3 of Napoleon Hill's books:

Think and Grow Rich
Law of Success
Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude

You can find links to most of James Allen's Books too.

As A Man Thinketh
From Passion to Peace
Byways to Blessedness
The Master of Destiny
Morning and Evening Thoughts

I'm a big fan of any books by Napoleon Hill, Og Mandino, Tony Robbins, and a couple by Esther Hicks for a little more "new age" thinking.

Just started reading Think and Grow Rich and I can't put it down!

I'm reading Inside steve's brain, the Google story and creating lasting change

I just finished reading The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. He talks about how our lives are shaped by agreements we've made with ourselves and others and how we need to live by 4 new agreements in order to find peace and happiness.

The next book I want to read is The Law of Success by Napolean Hill. I don't know too much about it, but I'm intrigued to read it because supposedly, it is the forerunner to Think and Grow Rich. From what I've heard, Think and Grow Rich is the watered down version of The Law of Success. Initially, there were only 118 copies in print and it was said that the richest, most powerful people didn't want it in the hands of the masses. I don't know if that's true, but it is intriguing enough to get me to want to read it.

Cyne

The Sales Bible.

The "richest man in babylon " by George Clason. I am reading it again . that book that got me excited and taking the right steps in my online journey

Delicious read

I am listening to 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey.
I have it on audiobook and listen to it in my car

Pardon me for popping back in here ... I picked up an old hardback by Jim Rohn today. Decent condition, dust jacket intact. Half price was nice. Got it home and took a closer look - it's a 1986 first edition ... signed by Jim Rohn. I nearly passed out when I saw that. Good news - I did not find another autographed copy for sale, anywhere on the web. Bad news - there's no way I can sell this one, so on my already overcrowded bookcase it goes with the other keepers.

Guess I should have mentioned the title - "Seven Strategies for Wealth & Happiness"

Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Psycho-cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
The Power Of Now
Get Off Your But By Sean Stephenson
Hypnotic Writing by Joe Vital

Best I've read so far are:

Mind Control Marketing - Mark Joyner (Free available)
The Irresistible Offer - Mark Joyner (Also free)
Influence - Robert Cialdini

Are books are focused on how-to influence customers with (scary) tactics and persuade them to buy. The last book also have very interesting case studies!

Great thread buddy!

Onto Earl Nightingale. This video was intriguing.

I am currently reading Frank Channing Haddocks book "Mastery of Self" which teaches you how to be courageous by revealing three proven methods for gaining courage, which includes having a powerful daily regiment, with 22 necessary denials, and 19 transformative affirmations.
These are so good and powerful, I have actually printed them out, and keep a copy next to my computer.
Plus also contained within is an uplifting, Lifelong Affirmation that you can use to Instantly Instill Confidence in yourself and the Universe.
Powerful stuff indeed, highly recommended.
If anyone would like a free copy let me know....

Reading Googled. Not a motivational work per say but I find that I get more motivation from reading about entrepreneurs who hit the big time. Also liked Accidental Billionaires (The Social Network movie was based on it).

talk and grow rich by ron holland

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Understanding the mysteries by Lao Tzu

regularly read all three of this of these books to keep me inspired.

The Count of Monte Cristo ...

Right now I am reading Getting Things Done by David Allen. I'm also reading a book by Brian Tracy called No Excuses.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. (This has to be one of the best, most life changing books I've ever read.)

Rich Dad's Financial IQ by Robert Kiyosaki

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Ecker

I am actually a reader but not to the extent of having an area of full of bookshelves. It's good to know that you have a great lists of books and I salute you for keeping all the books as a treasure.

im re reading "thick face black heart" and also reading "growing yourself up"

Im reading STEVE JOBS

How to win friends and Influence People, Rich dad Poor dad, and for my spiritual needs Purpose Driven Life.

I highly recommend "The Greatest Salesman in the World" written by Og mandino, it serves as a guide to a philosophy of salesmanship, and success, telling the story of Hafid, a poor camel boy who achieves a life of abundance.

Mandino composed The Legend Of The Ten Scrolls. They are:
Scroll I - The Power of Good Habits
Scroll II - Greet Each Day With Love In Your Heart
Scroll III - Persist Until You Succeed
Scroll IV - You Are Natures Greatest Miracle
Scroll V - Live Each Day as if it Were Your Last
Scroll VI - Master Your Emotions
Scroll VII - The Power of Laughter
Scroll VIII - Multiply Your Value Every Day
Scroll IX - All is Worthless Without Action
Scroll X - Pray to God for Guidance

His primary message was to "do it now".

Actor Matthew McConaughey has said that this book has changed his life.The book is also recommended by Tariq Jameel, who says that the book should be read by everyone looking for success in their lives

Again i highly recommend

I'm working on a refresher of the 7 Habits, and Maximum Influence, and for relaxation purposes i picked up the last book of the last Thomas Covenant trilogy by Stephen Donaldson.

I love reading the books by Paulo Coehlo and I'm currently reading his new book "Aleph".

Napoleon Hill's "Think And Grow Rich" is a timeless classic