#29 List up to 5 books that have inspired and why
Books That Have Inspired Me
Why?
The first book I can ever recall reading was the King James version of the Bible. Then it would only be parts of it. While I recall skimming the entire book, certain passages helped me understand who I was as a boy.
In Junior High School, we had an extensive library at our disposal. There was one section that drew me like a moth to the flame. Biographies, autobiographies, and the Horatio Alger series of motivational books kept me going for nearly the entire eighth grade. They were all on one wall of the library. I read (consumed) every one of them. The one overriding lesson included in mind, body, spirit, and heart:
“If someone else can accomplish great things, even though many of them came from a position of lacking, then I can as well. “ — Horatio Alger, Social experiment
At the ripe old age of twenty-two, missionaries found my family and me. Ultimately, I felt called to minister and missionary myself. By the time I’d reached my mid-forties, I had read the Bible over twenty times. It did then, and as it still does now, affect my life.
Besides school books and military manuals, I cannot recall even one in this setting. After purchasing another company, a mentor suggested reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This book affected my life until I tried to retire for the 5th time in 2012. It still helps me and millions like me focus my efforts.
After college, I remember the book The Tipping Point. It has been extremely helpful then, as it still is now. The lessons learned from this small book exceeded the number of pages in this book. In my thirties, I was on a mission to read religious books from all the major religions. As I was traveling the world in those days, it was so helpful to understand others.
Today, I prefer the brevity of a well-written article. I’ve read many on Medium and publications I subscribe to. I look at books and articles to expand my thinking. They do that, and many even Refresh My Soul.
