In this Ren Men Chat we discuss our Top Business 5 books of all-time.
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Alan’s Top Picks |
Grant’s Top Picks |
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#5 Outliers: The Story of Success |
#5 Trump Strategies for Real Estate: Billionaire Lessons for the Small Investor |
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#4 Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else |
#4 Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom |
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#3 Why We Want You to be Rich: Two Men – One Message
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#3 How To Win Friends and Influence People |
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#2 Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money-That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not! My first business book, I ever read. Thank you Mr. Kiyosaki.
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#2 Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion |
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#1 The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content. |
#1 The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content. |
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Alan’s Top Picks |
Grant’s Top Picks |
Malcolm Gladwell tells why some people are successful and how many things needed to come together in order for them to be successful.
A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. You can’t become a billionaire without thinking like one. George Ross shares insight into one of the world’s most successful real estate development companies.
This book is so good, we sent it to Eli Manning after we noticed it wasn’t in his home library.
The real “meat” of the Rich Dad series. A must read, but should be read after Rich Dad Poor Dad.
I had read this awhile ago, and forgot just how good it is. Trump and Kiyosaki together in a book, priceless.
The quintessential text on interpersonal relationships and how to treat other people. Layer these techniques on top of your lifestyle design and watch your happiness and the happiness of those around you explode!
Ah, Timmy. Marvelous book, to be able to top the prior four. This book single-handily has had more impact on my business life than any other. Super info, easy read, great resources, you get it all.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Only have a second before heading off to dinner here in Charleston at Water’s Edge in Mount Pleasant, so haven’t watched the video yet but just had to say this after seeing your number 1 picks. You guys are a bunch of kiss asses cause I have a good feeling of why you guys were in San Fran and it’s related to that book
Not sure if you said anything about the trip yet in any responses as I haven’t made it through them yet but that was just my hunch from things I pieced together.
Oh man! your right… I remember Tim’s contest “if you buy a million books right now” you could go visit him. The Ren Men cant even hide all 10000000 copies they bought.. They literally do not have enough room to house all of them (Their deal for the industrial warehouse to hold all the copies probably fell through). very interesting. Tim Ferris on the Ren Men show?!? May I be so bold as to suggest? how bout that for a BOOB challenge. Now I’m interested. Nooooooooooo. Strong detective work Richard. Strong work.
You guys ARE a bunch of kiss asses! Haha
Video Reply from The Ren Men
Listen here Nancy Drew!
Video Reply from The Ren Men
Can’t call a man a kiss ass if he isn’t gonna benefit from the kissing.
Hey Boys — Thanks for the knowledge. May I suggest “Work the System” by Sam Carpenter. I just started reading it this past weekend and I’m excited about it. It’s good stuff!
Thanks,
Lou
Video Reply from The Ren Men
Thanks for the heads up.
Make everything a system.
Ren Men meal hack.
Fellas — Thanks for the shout back. You guys crack me up. In the video, you look like you just came in from a night of breaking & entering. Alan’s dressed all in black and Grant still has his black cap on. I can only imagine that you counted your booty (not that kind of booty) once you were done taping the video replies.
Is B & E a legit business opportunity?
Just remember, I kid because I care.
Keep up the great work!
Video reply from The Ren Men
Grant and Alan,
Meal hack – Wow! Hadn’t thought of that one but can appreciate it. I’m not sure that there is anyone I’d like to dine with on a weekly basis, as I’m sure either the food or dialog would eventually become stale. That being said, I suppose that a bit of prudently applied butter could address either challenge
Out here, Jenn and I formed a small, informal group called the “Denver Dining Adventure Club”, we try new restaurants routinely and take turns choosing the venue and picking up the tab – It’s been a great way to enjoy unexplored grub with an intimate group of friends.
Cheers,
Matt
Ok, I got two book tips for you from over the pond:
1. Screw it, let’s do it! by Richard Branson It’s a very short, very inspirational, straight to the point book where Branson shares the decisions he has made in his life and the decision-making behind them. I think you’ll like the attitude of it. Some say that his previous book “Losing my Virginity” is better, but I havent read that one so cant recommend it.
2. How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis. The advice in it can be a bit specific to Felix’s own situation and the publishing business, but it’s just an hilariously amazing read and a very entertaining book.
And while I’m at it a video tip:
Will Smith talking about skills, talent, life, hard work touching the talent is overrated theme:
http://rosstraining.com/blog/2010/01/11/wisdom-from-will-smith/
And a bonus tip:
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and with comments by Jason Zweig. I think this is the best investment book out there – it’s focused on financial investments which I havent heard you discuss much, but as Graham says “investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike”.
Video Reply from The Ren Men
Awesome suggestions.
We will be sure to check them out.
Yeah, the first two and the video are stuff I liked, that I thought you’d like too. Intelligent Investor was more about pushing you out of your comfort zone! So I have an anti-recommendation: Stay away from Marty Whitman’s Aggressive Conservative Investor which I found dry and caused me to fall asleep at least three times – and I have read the Intelligent Investor twice.
Video Reply from The Ren Men
Anti-recommendations are just as good as a recommendation!
I’ll second the Branson books- and Felix was fun, too!!
Grant and Alan,
I enjoyed reviewing your “top 5″ list of books – Reminds me of the movie “High Fidelity” with John Cusack, a classic flick with numerous “Top 5″ lists.
It is nice to see that I’ve read several entries on your list, but there are some I have yet to read, such as the “Biscuit Storybook Collection”, 5 stars on Amazon can’t be wrong! Oh, wait, I don’t think that you included that one, but it will revolutionize the way you think about the business of business! But it’s late, so I may be mixing up my titles.
I’ve finished several books this week, including the expanded 4HWW by your best buddy Tim F. The book was interesting and I most enjoyed the part about mini-retirements. I learned about “Earth Class Mail” (http://www.earthclassmail.com/) from this text and that alone was worth the cost of admission. Jenn and I are taking a year off of work in 4-5 years and this option will really help us ensure that we’re not missing any critical mail.
I also finished:
- “Farewell, My Subaru” by Doug Fine – It was an entertaining and easy to read about reducing one’s carbon footprint, but it got a bit preachy towards the end.
- “Escape from Corporate America” by Pamela Skillings – Another book that had some funny content and a lot of information about getting out of what Kiyosaki referred to as the rat race. It was a bit more broad than I would have preferred, but I enjoyed the read and found that it could offer quality motivation to get people out of dead-end and unfulfilling jobs.
- “Gap Year for Grown Ups” by Susan Griffith – A tedious read with tiny font. The middle of the book was terribly dull and I almost gave up on it but I’m not one to stop once I pick up a book. This worked out well for Gap Year, as I really enjoyed the last quarter of the book which spoke of world travel, learning languages, learning skills (like sailing, cooking, etc). Still, I wouldn’t recommend it, as it was a lot of work for a little reward.
I’ve started three or four new books since finishing the ones mentioned above and will let you know if I find any keepers. None of the afore mentioned texts would make it onto my “top 5″ list at this point.
Thanks again for sharing!
Matt
Ren Men,
Thanks for the Top Five List. I’d seen it when it came out, but re-visited it this week to prepare my summer reading list. BTW stopped in this week to borrow (and did) The Book of Business Wisdom for a young business associate of mine for J. Paul Getty’s passage on individuality. Still bookmarked by the cover as it was in the video!
Incidentally, I plan to first finish 4 Hour Workweek, then proceed to Trump Strategies. I just finished Think and Grow Rich. Anti-recommending seems a bit harsh, but suffice it to say I didn’t see it on your Top 8!
I’m off the bench,
Coop
PS Thanks for being generous enough for me to feel reasonably comfortable wandering in off the car lot and having your wonderful receptionist help me find a book to borrow!
Anytime Coop…