If you really want to get ahead in life, you need to pursue continued self-improvement. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to develop the habit of reading at least 30 minutes every day.

The following is a recommended reading list. (This is simply a "starter list": these books will get you started.) These selections deal with business and with life in general, but there are excellent books on nearly every subject of interest -- all you have to do is look for them.

Want more suggestions than the ones below? Check my reviews on Amazon.com for other selections that may interest you. I write new reviews each month, so it's a good source of fresh titles -- and I discuss them in much more detail than I have room to post here.

        - John Chancellor
 

Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

This is a classic and should be on the reading list of any person who truly wishes to improve him- or herself. Napoleon Hill made a 20 year study of success and captured the principles in this well-written book. The most famous line from the book is, "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." A real "how-to" book, it should be first on your list for reading.

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You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself, Harry Beckwith, Christine Clifford Beckwith

You, Inc. is extremely easy to read. You simply fly through the book. Which is good and bad. The lessons are so short and there are so many of them, it makes it difficult to absorb and remember all the great information.

But it is a book that you can pick up anytime and start reading anywhere in the book and find something valuable. All the lessons stand on their own. Harry presents over 150 ideas and lessons about how to make your business and/or yourself better. Well worth reading.

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Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing, Harry Beckwith

This is a wonderful book for anyone in any service business. Since over 80% of our economy is now service based, everyone can benefit from reading the book.

It is actually a huge collection of essays on marketing. They are short, well written and very insightful. It would be difficult not to pick up 10 to 15 things that you could do immediately to improve your marketing.

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All Marketers Are Liars, Seth Godin

Godin is very preceptive in explaining the changing consumer's drivers. We have gradually moved from a "need based" society to a "want based" society of consumers. Because we no longer buy based on need, our buying triggers have changed.

The title was choosen as an example of framing a story. It is not really about false advertising. It is about telling an authentic story that your consumer will believe.

The book is well written, easy to read and humorous. If you are serious about developing an effective marketing strategy, you would do well to understand the concepts in this book.

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The Science of Influence: How to Get Anyone to Say "Yes" in 8 Minutes or Less!, Kevin Hogan

"Most people are like sheep waiting for the shepherds." and Hogan teaches you how to be the shepherd. The book is filled with so much valuable information. Hogan takes the theories from a wide array of studies and translates them into everyday language. He tells you the insights you need to communicate effectively and sell your point. No matter what field you are in, follow the advice and widsom in this book and you will multiply your success tenfold.

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Good to Great, Jim Collins

This book compares "sets" of companies and examines why one company in each group went on to become great. The author gives a lot of insight into what makes a great company. There were two elements that really stood out in the successful companies: their philosophy and their people. A company will never be great unless it is in business for the right reasons and has the right people running the company. With the right person at the top, they will attract and keep exceptional employees.

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Dr. Deming, Rafael Aguayo

For a long time Edward Deming was more famous in Japan than he was in his native America. At the end of WWII, Deming went to Japan to help get the country moving again. He is given much credit for the industrial advances Japan made and the philosophy he instilled there. His methods are relatively simple: make constant but steady improvements and focus on quality control. Well worth reading.

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The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Danko

This book presents an informative look at millionaires in America based on a study done by the authors. Most of the people interviewed didn't fit the common vision of a typical millionaire. Instead, they were more like our next-door neighbors. In the authors' interviewing process, they held a cocktail party and served expensive wine and cheese. After the party they were amazed at how much wine was left. At the next cocktail party they offered beer. When they asked one guest what brand of beer he drank, he replied, "Bud, or free." These findings will open your eyes about what makes a millionaire.

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One Minute Manager, Kenneth Blanchard, Spencer Johnson

Another great little book. Very easy to read but with a very important lesson on how to manage people.

If you are charged with managing employees, then by all means, read this book.

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The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork
Leadership 101
Thinking for a Change
Today Matters
Failing Forward

All of these were written by John Maxwell and are all worth reading. You will learn something new from each book. If you are in a position of leadership (or aspire to achieve one), then read several of his books.

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The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason

Another classic. Read and follow this book and, assuming you start early enough, you will retire rich. There is no budget to follow, just the simple rule of "pay yourself first."

As explained in the book, accumulating wealth is not a secret.

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As a Man Thinketh, James Allen

For those of you who love short books, this is one of the best - only 28 pages. But those pages are full of great wisdom. The book is based on the very simple premise that as a man thinketh, he is. All of your circumstances are a direct result of the way you think. And it follows if you want to change your life, you must change your thinking. The book is small but so profound it should be read often.

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The Joy of Living, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche  

This book really does a great job of explaining how the mind works and how to make the mind work for you and what you want. There are basically two concepts that cause the majority of our problems: attachment and aversion. We become attached to the way we want things to be and have an aversion to change.

Do not expect to read this book once and become enlightened. There are many concepts that will take time to sink in and become part of your way of thinking.

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Why We Do What We Do, Edward L. Deci, Richard Flaste

If you are a teacher, parent or manager, this book has extremely valuable information that will help you make improvements in the manner you relate to your students, children or employees.

The book is well written, easy to read, with examples of case studies a layman can easily understand. It was written by a professional but specifically written for the average reader.

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Stoic Philosophy of Seneca Essays and Letters, Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Even though this book was written over two thousand years ago, there is so much wisdom that is appropriate today. While our problems are different in name, the underlying principles for dealing with them have not changed.

I must be honest and tell you that it is not an easy read. Writers of that age did not believe in simple sentence structure. And unless you are a student of ancient history, there are lots of references whom you will not know. However, the value is so great that I recommend you spend the time and effort and learn from a great thinker.

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A Manual for Living (A Little Book of Wisdom), Epictetus

If you want all the wisdom without an excessive amount of reading, this book is for you. It is short enough you can read it weekly and let the concepts sink into your subconscious mind where they can lead you to the life you were designed to live.

It is really amazing that so many of the truths of living a purposeful life filled with happiness have been around for so long. We struggle with day to day problems because we fail to seek the answers contained in this book.

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Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck

Unless you are a hermit, you can definitely benefit from this book. For those interested in improving their lives, their parenting skills, their leadership skills, their teaching skills and their relationship skills, this is a must-read.

Dweck shows us how we develop fixed mindset attitudes in many areas of our lives and the damage our attitude inflicts on us and on those we interact with. And Dweck tells how we can develop a growth mindset and improve our lives and the lives of those around us.

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The Power of Focus, Jack Canfield, Les Hewitt, Mark Victor Hanson

No matter what you want to achieve in business or in life, you must focus your efforts. This is a "how-to" book about determining what you want and then directing your efforts to obtain your goals. You really can achieve great things if you simply focus. (This book can be a little difficult to read, but the lessons are really worthwhile.)

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Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham, Donald O. Clifton

Most of us have been taught to identify our weaknesses and work to improve them. This book takes a totally different approach. It advises you to find your strengths and focus there instead. We all have natural tendencies towards certain areas; to succeed we should concentrate our efforts on what we like to do and are naturally good at. (If you buy the book, there is a code for taking an online test that will help you identify your strengths.)

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All text copyright © John Chancellor, 2007. All images copyright © Cheryl A. Chancellor, 2007. Site design and coding by Copper Moon Creative.