Reading Is About More Than… Reading
21 life lessons from books I read in 2021
I barely read as a child. My older brother was the ferocious reader in the family. It’s odd because school turned out to be the opposite for us. I loved it and he hated it.
He eventually succeeded in getting me into reading and as I read more, I started looking for knowledge in books rather than school.
I have been able to read more over the past year than I ever had. Moving to Germany and taking time off from the rat race meant more time to read. But books aren’t the real world. As much as reading can be an escape, it can also enrich your reality.
A life lived only in books is only half lived.
There are dozens of reasons you might pick up a book. Reading for pleasure is an absolutely beautiful thing. You don’t need to be productive. However, I do believe the things you do should make your life better. That might mean spending the entire day reading at the beach. It might mean reading Man’s Search For Meaning to get another person’s perspective on the quest. Reading can help you connect the dots when you least expect it.
I thought I was just reading David Copperfield for the story, but it turns out it has a lot more to teach me. The main character reminded me of myself and of the importance of doing things with your whole heart. The lesson came at a time when I was feeling my work ethic slipping.
Something I have realized the more I’ve lived and read is that reading is an accouterment to life. A life lived only in books is only half lived. While reading, you have the opportunity to live out your own story, the way you want it to be told.
I got stuck on a couple of books this year. One that slowed me down quite a bit was The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene. I devoured his book Mastery back in 2015 and I figured I would eat up his other works. I had to take a break from The Laws of Human Nature. At the time of reading, I didn’t feel I was taking anything away from the words on the page. After a couple of months, I went back to it and couldn’t put it down.
It’s incredible how books are there for you whenever you are ready for them.
Without further ado here are (some of) the books I read in 2021.
Nickel and Dimed — Barbara Ehrenreich
Why I read it: This past year I thought a lot about the disparities between the rich and poor. I found myself thinking that anyone can overcome being poor when I know factually that is not true. I come from a relatively poor family but still a privileged position. That makes it easy to forget how challenging some people have it. I read this in hopes of improving my empathy. Nickel and Dimed did that and more.
Lesson Learned: For some people, it’s nearly impossible to get out of poverty. Hard work alone is not a solution. Society needs to change so that someone working a full-time job is paid enough to lead a decent life.
Memorable quote: “There seems to be a vicious cycle at work here, making ours not just an economy but a culture of extreme inequality. Corporate decision-makers and even some two-bit entrepreneurs occupy economic positions miles above that of the underpaid people whose labor they depend on.”
Up from Slavery — Booker T. Washington
Why I read it: A lot of my favorite books are biographies. A large percentage of the biographies I’ve read are about white men. I am not proud to say that. I want to increase the diversity in my reading and this biography from one of the most influential men in American history turned out to be one of the best self-help books I have ever read.
Lesson Learned: Booker T. faced a life more challenging than I can even fathom. As much as I try to empathize with his situation I’ll never understand what it’s like to be a person of color. Booker did more for America than most other men, black or white, but he did not solve racism, nor did anyone that came after him. Racism is something we solve together not as individuals.
Memorable quote: “I believe that any man’s life will be filled with constant, unexpected encouragement…if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day of his life.”
Bonus quote because it’s such a good book: “I am not quite sure of the exact place or date of my birth, but at any rate, I suspect I must have been born somewhere at some time.”
Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success — Hugh Delehanty and Phil Jackson
Why I read it: Phil Jackson is the greatest coach in NBA history. He managed some of the biggest egos the game had ever seen. He is a spiritual man, who was inspired by Native American traditions. I grew up watching the Shaq and Kobe Lakers days. I’m surprised it took me so long to read this book. I guess I was nervous it wouldn’t be very good. I was wrong.
Lesson Learned: Phil created a theme for his teams during each season to give them something to rally around. I have tried doing this for myself. I look at a time period and adopt a theme to make it more meaningful to me. It helps bring me more into the present. It also helps during times of uncertainty and struggle.
Memorable quote: “To make work meaningful, you need to align it with your true nature. Work is holy, sacred, and uplifting when it springs from who we are, when it bears a relationship to our unfolding journey.”
Bitcoin Billionaire — Ben Mezrich
Why I read it: I went down the cryptocurrency rabbit hole this year. I made my first investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum when prices dipped in the summer, and recently a few other coins and tokens. Naturally, I started to dream about the day I might become a crypto millionaire.
Lesson Learned: Opportunities come from odd circumstances. It’s advantageous to be open to exploring those circumstances.
Memorable quote: This quote actually came from Teddy Roosevelt but was a key passage in the book: “if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
The Godfather — Mario Puzo
Why I read it: I visited Savoca, Italy this past summer where the Godfather was filmed. It seemed fitting to read the book.
Lesson Learned: The Godfather was not an excitable man — at least not in the book (I haven’t seen the movie). He didn’t boast about how powerful or successful he was. He was strategic and level-headed because he was more prepared and strategic than any of his adversaries. There is no need to be overly confident. Instead, focus on preparation. The Godfather was the godfather because he was always prepared. Ruthless too, but let’s ignore that for the sake of a positive life lesson.
Memorable quote: “There is no greater natural advantage in life than having your enemy overestimate your faults.”
Greenlights — Mathew McConaughey
Why I read it: Mathew has a one-of-a-kind take on life. He is passionate about what he does, and I admire him. This book seemed like a chance to learn how he’s created an amazing life.
Lesson Learned: Everybody has a story to tell if you are willing to listen. Your life will be better if you do a bit more listening.
Memorable quote: ‘Nobody forgives themselves quicker than she does, and therefore she carries zero stress.”
Growth Hacker Marketing — Ryan Holiday
Why I read it: You could create the greatest product in the world but if you can’t market it you will not succeed. Take the original inventor of Google Maps: Art+Com. They couldn’t get anyone but some computer nerds interested in what they created. Then Google “borrowed” the idea and because they were better at distribution we all say check Google Maps, not TerraVision. There is a very good Netflix show on this engrossing story.
Lesson Learned: Distribution is (almost) everything.
Memorable quote: ‘With growth hacking, we begin by testing until we can be confident we have a product worth marketing. Only then do we chase the big bang that kick starts our growth engine.”
Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography — Walter Isaacson
Why I read it: I got my first Macbook this year. Previously I had not used any Apple products. I figured it was time to learn more about the late great Steve Jobs.
Lesson Learned: Find something to be obsessive over but don’t treat people like Steve Jobs did.
Memorable quote: ‘Guys you’ve killed yourselves over this design for the last nine months, but we’re going to change it. We’re all going to work nights and weekends.’
Mans Search For Meaning — Victor Frankel
Why I read it: I have always struggled to figure out my purpose. I wanted one so bad but never felt satisfied with the ones I have tried out. Questions spiral in my head constantly about what the meaning of my life is. Why am I here? What’s important and what isn’t? How should I act? Am I doing life right?
Lesson Learned: Life is about searching for meaning. Sometimes it will all make sense and other times you will question everything. It’s okay to look for meaning, it’s when you stop searching that you become lost.
Memorable quote: “The existential vacuum which is the mass neurosis of the present time can be described as a private and personal form of nihilism; for nihilism can be defined as the contention that being has no meaning.”
The Laws Of Human Nature — Robert Greene
Why I read it: It’s a legendary book and felt it was time to read more from Robert Greene. I am always trying to better understand myself, and I thought understanding more of human nature would help. It did.
Lesson Learned: Greene says our minds are bottomless pits causing anxiety about whether we are going in the right direction in life. In order to overcome this he says to explore your uniqueness and express it as best you can. This will help you discover your particular talents and purpose in life.
Memorable quote: “In the theatre of life, expand the roles you play.”
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us — Daniel H. Pink
Why I read it: I have never struggled with motivation. I can get myself to work, to go to the gym, to eat healthily, etc. I have struggled with meaning. I was hoping this book could help me figure out how I could stay inspired with work and stop second-guessing.
Lesson Learned: Motivation comes from within. If you’re not naturally inspired or interested in what you are doing, not much will change that.
Memorable quote: “The reward is the activity itself.”
Choose Yourself — James Alltucher
Why I read it: Because I had a free trial of Kindel Unlimited.
Lesson Learned: I never liked inconveniencing anyone. From my childhood, I learned how to be as small as possible. This book was a reminder to be a bit more selfish than I am by nature.
Memorable quote: “Every time you say yes to something you don’t want to do, this will happen: you will do a bad job, you will have less energy for the things you were doing a good job on, you will make less money, and another small percentage of your life will be used up…”
The Almanac of Naval Ravikant — Eric Jorgenson
Why I read it: It was only 0.99. Plus I heard Naval on Tim Ferris’s podcast talking about cryptocurrency. He sounded like a wildly intelligent person.
Lesson Learned: I was reminded to set a value on my time. Growing up in a lower-class house with little wealth in my family, I learned how to be cheap. This translated into my thinking that I am not worthy of a high salary. Naval reminded me that I am and that I should ask for what I am worth.
Memorable quote: “If wisdom could be imparted through words along, we’d all be done here.”
How to Own The World — Andrew Craig
Why I read it: I have been investing since university and have two investment accounts, one that I manage and one that is managed for me. My investing account constantly outperforms the professionally managed one. You hear so often that a retail trader can’t beat a professional. But for all the information and technology professionals have, they also have constraints. I wanted to see whether the author's strategies could make me a better investor.
Lesson Learned: It is possible to beat the market, but this book won’t teach you how. You are better off reading One Up On Wall Street by Peter Lynch.
Memorable quote: “Read One Up On Wall Street instead.” — me
Empire of The Summer Moon — SC. Gwynne
Why I read it: As a Canadian, I felt I needed to learn more about indigenous people. A lot has come to light on the atrocities my homeland committed against the original Canadians. Even though this book is about a tribe south of the border, I was drawn to its story.
Lesson Learned: More needs to be done to mend the damage white settlers did to Native Americans.
Memorable quote: “There was no dogma, no priestly class to impose systematic religion, no tendency to view the world as anything but a set of isolated episodes, with no deeper meaning.”
That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix — Marc Randolph
Why I read it: I was working at a startup that wasn’t getting much interest from VCs. A story that mirrored the story of Netflix.
Lesson Learned: This is a book I stopped reading halfway through. Something the author wrote turned me off. He said to one of his staff (the author was a Netflix Founder) that he should choose between seeing his girlfriend and his job. I eventually finished the book to try to understand how anyone could care so much about work.
Memorable quote: “You have to learn to love the problem, not the solution. That’s how you stay engaged when things take longer than you expected.”
Perennial Seller — Ryan Holiday
Why I read it: Writing on Medium has shown me that you can write something that is very timely, or you can write something that is timeless. I thought Ryan’s book could help me with the latter.
Lesson Learned: Striving to write something that could be useful to someone 100 years from now is hard, but worth it.
Memorable quote: “Nobody creates flawless first drafts.”
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy The Odds — David Goggins
Why I read it: If there is something you want to do you can’t be scared to go out and do it. I read this book to stay inspired in a time when I was lacking ambition.
Lesson Learned: If you put in mediocre effort you will get mediocre results — and that’s fine for some things. But there will be things in life where mediocre doesn’t feel good. Make sure you know the things where mediocre isn’t good enough.
Memorable quote: “Our family and friends are watching, and even if you’re surrounded by positive people, they will have ideas about who you are, what you’re good at, and how you should focus your energy…if you try to break out of their box you’ll get some unsolicited advice that has a way of smothering your aspirations…”
Money: The True Story of a Made Up Thing — Jacob Goldstein
Why I read it: I have always been fascinated with money. Other kids collected comic books, while I collected cash. Knowing more about the history of money is a way I can help better predict what the future of money will entail, which could help me get more of it. It’s no secret our current system isn’t perfect and inflation is eating away at our money. One day the system could break as it has time and again.
Lesson Learned: Money will change. The US dollar won’t be the reserve currency forever. We might have a new monetary system at some point in the near future. Everyone should have some insurance in case that happens.
Memorable quote: “We know that the slaves worked almost every day, but the wage laborers worked less than two-thirds of the time. Were the laborers choosing to take time off because they preferred to do something else? Or were they denied work that they needed to survive? As the scholar David Shaps asked, was it the blessing of leisure or the curse of unemployment.”
Courage is Calling — Ryan Holiday
Why I read it: I had been noodling with the idea that I am not stubborn enough to get all I want in life. Perhaps because I have been too afraid. The reality is that there is very little to be afraid of. My hope was that learning from some of the most courageous people in history might encourage me to be a bit more stubborn in getting what I want.
Lesson Learned: To live a better life we don’t need to be the most courageous person in the world, we just need to be a bit braver than we were yesterday.
Memorable quote: “The root of most fear is what other people will think of us.”
The Harder They Fall — Budd Schulberg
Why I read it: It felt like the main character might go through some of the same struggles many of us are facing when it comes to our work. The existential idea that what you do for a living isn’t honest work. It’s a bit dramatic, but I often struggle with the idea that I am not contributing enough.
Lesson Learned: The longer you do work that has no meaning the harder it will be to stop doing it.
Memorable quote: “Drink slows my rhythm, depresses my nerves, releases fears that crawl inside me.”
David Copperfield — Charles Dickens
Why I read it: I felt I could relate to the main character. In this book, David has a difficult childhood and an unclear path in life. Sounds like someone I know.
Lesson Learned: There is no clear path in life so give your full attention to the thing in front of you and good things will happen.
Memorable quote: “The more praise I got, the more I tried to deserve.”
Lives of the Stoics — Ryan Holiday
Why I read it: If you haven’t noticed I am a Ryan Holliday fan.
Lesson Learned: My spouse often encourages me to show more emotion. I feel like Jerry Seinfeld at times, never getting angry or upset about anything. The more I read about Stoicism the more I realize I might just be really good at suppressing what I truly feel. This book was a reminder of everything that Stoicism is and everything it is not. Emotions are a tool that you can either wield or run away from. A good Stoic takes control of all that is in his power, including his feelings.
Memorable quote: “Everyone of us dies, the Stoics die, but too few of us actually live.”
How did reading change your life in 2021? If you have book recommendations for 2022, I am all ears.
