The 3 Most Impactful Books I Have Read
On the Let’s Go Win podcast, I ask most guests what the 3 most impactful books are that they’ve read. Funny thing is, I’ve never asked myself the same question. It was an interesting exercise because without preparing, the list I came up with does not include some of my favorite author’s books. Some of the notable authors that didn’t get included were Malcolm Gladwell, Simon Sinek, Patrick Lencioni, Brene’ Brown, John Maxwell, Charles Duhigg and many more. Off the top of my head, here are the three most profound books that have shaped my life and I believe everyone should read.
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book was originally published in 1936 and has had over 30 million copies sold worldwide. The book has been revised many times throughout the years, but the principles are still sound in today’s world as they were back then. My biggest take-aways from the book are, it will get you out of a mental rut, help you make friends easier and will increase your influence. A quote that has stuck with me from this book is “To be interesting, be interested”. There is something in this book for everyone. Truly a classic.
Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Published in 1946, this book had sold over 16 million copies at the time of the author’s death in 1997. This amazing book can be extremely difficult to read at times as the book’s intent was to answer the question “How was everyday life in a concentration camp reflected in the mind of the average prisoner?”. I am grateful that he was able to write this book as he has shaped my personal thinking regarding the fact that life has its own meaning and it’s up to you to find it. “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.” That quote by Viktor inspires me to push through any “challenge” I face in my daily life.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Carol Dweck, Ph.D., is a world-renowned psychologist from Stanford University. She published this book in 2006 and has changed millions of lives since. In this incredible book, she introduces the concept of having a Growth Mindset vs. a Fixed Mindset. Schools around the world have adopted this into their curriculum to show that abilities can be developed. It has changed the way that I parent my children and how to foster a growth mindset in them. Carol Dweck said, “Becoming is better than being”.
Reading and sharing books is one of my favorite things to do. To be able to hear other’s viewpoints on how they interpreted a book is fascinating. I hope that you will take the time and try these 3 books. There are books that I have recommended to people that have not been received well but not these 3, they are met with fanfare each time. Additionally, I would love to hear your favorite 3 books. Please share with us at info@letsgowin.com or on any of our social media pages.
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JM Ryerson founded and sold 3 businesses and is now helping leadership teams do the same. He is an Author, Leadership & Performance Coach, International Speaker, and host of the Let’s Go Win podcast who has been building companies and leading sales teams for over 20 years. JM is the co-founder and CEO of Let’s Go Win whose mission is to increase leadership, enhance culture, and help teams achieve peak performance. JM’s great passions are inspiring people to live their best lives and become open to what life has in store for them. His ultimate goal is to give others the tools that will allow them to transcend their self-limiting beliefs. JM was raised in Montana and lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife Lisa and their two amazing boys.