BookThinkers

This book is not self-help. It’s truth wrapped in satire. M.B.A.: Discover the Truth About Leadership by D.M. Christensen is one of the most refreshing reads I’ve had in a long time. It calls out two systems that shape most people’s lives. Corporate America, and traditional education, and how they work together to create people who look qualified but lack real leadership. The author breaks down what real leaders actually do. They challenge assumptions. They ask uncomfortable questions. They think independently. They take responsibility others avoid. They stop waiting for permission. Yet those same traits are often punished in school. And ironically demanded in the workplace. It’s satire, but it hits uncomfortably close to reality. If you’re ready to question the system instead of blindly following it, this is worth your time.

Most people are creating content… but almost nobody is converting. That’s the gap. And Video Authority by Aleric Heck just became the first book I’ll recommend to anyone serious about fixing it. This isn’t another “post more consistently” or “follow trends” type of book. It’s a blueprint. Aleric breaks down exactly how to turn attention into action… and action into clients. A few things that stood out to me: 📸 If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million 🎥 Talk to the camera like it’s a close friend, not an audience ❌ Most people fail in three ways: they quit, they never start, or they never learn 😎 Your vibe attracts your tribe, especially on video 🟰 Every piece of content should follow a simple structure: hook → value → call to action Simple… but most people still don’t do it. That’s the difference between creators who get views and creators who build businesses. I also loved his perspective on failure. Not starting is the real loss. And not learning is what keeps people stuck. Aleric was recently on the BookThinkers podcast, and he’ll be sponsoring our event this July… which tells you everything you need to know about the level he’s operating at. If you’re creating content (or thinking about it), this is required reading. Highly recommend!!!

Robert Greene taught me that the people that preach the loudest about virtue are usually the most power-hungry. It’s not just Hollywood; he’s seen it when he worked in New York in journalism. It’s what really goes on in the world of business, politics, or wherever the real game is played behind the mask, not out in the public.

This book is not self-help. It’s truth wrapped in satire. M.B.A.: Discover the Truth About Leadership by D.M. Christensen is one of the most refreshing reads I’ve had in a long time. It calls out two systems that shape most people’s lives. Corporate America, and traditional education, and how they work together to create people who look qualified but lack real leadership. The author breaks down what real leaders actually do. They challenge assumptions. They ask uncomfortable questions. They think independently. They take responsibility others avoid. They stop waiting for permission. Yet those same traits are often punished in school. And ironically demanded in the workplace. It’s satire, but it hits uncomfortably close to reality. If you’re ready to question the system instead of blindly following it, this is worth your time.

Have you read my book, Rise of the Reader? “Action is the real measure of intelligence.” - Napoleon Hill If you choose NOT to read this book, there will be opportunity cost to reading other books. Rise of the Reader teaches you EXACTLY how I transform the information I read into action and results. Read Less. Apply More. #readingtips #readinghabits #habits #successhabits #nonfictionbooks

“It’s not education that changes lives, it’s curiosity. Degrees don’t create successful people, drive does. Classrooms don’t guarantee confidence, practice does. Assignments don’t build wisdom, experience does.” 📖 M.B.A.: Discover the Truth About Leadership by Drew M. Christensen

The difference between a professional and an amateur. Listen to Steven Pressfield explain how what makes the difference. This was from our BookThinkers LIVE event this past November.

You don’t lack discipline. You’re in the wrong brain state. Life Explained by Dr. Izzy Justice reframes stress, focus, and burnout through a neuroscience lens, not motivation or willpower. This book explains why high performers can look successful on the outside yet feel overwhelmed, foggy, or constantly on edge, and it all comes down to how the brain is operating under modern pressure. What you’ll learn: how stress, sleep, attention, and performance are neurologically connected, why chronic overload reshapes the brain, and how small shifts in brain state can restore calm, clarity, and focus faster than forcing productivity ever could. This is a reminder that you are not broken. Your brain adapted perfectly to the environment you trained it in. Read Less. Apply More. Change the state, and everything else follows.

“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is a part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.” - Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad)

“A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.” —Tim Ferriss (The 4-Hour Workweek)

Becoming a parent changes the way you read certain books. The Executive Function Playbook by Michael McLeod, along with The Executive Function Playbook in Action, immediately grabbed my attention. Michael is the founder of GrowNOW ADHD, an organization helping educators, counselors, and parents build executive function skills in kids and families. And what I appreciate most about his approach is how grounded and serious it is. In a world where ADHD is often reduced to a quirky social media label, this book brings the conversation back to brain development, real delays in the prefrontal cortex, and the very real social and emotional consequences that can come with executive dysfunction. ADHD isn’t just about distraction. It’s about self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, and self-evaluation. When those systems are delayed, behavior makes a lot more sense. As a parent, that perspective matters to me. Even if my kids never receive an ADHD diagnosis, understanding how the brain develops and how executive function can be strengthened feels like essential knowledge. We are, in many ways, serving as our kids’ prefrontal cortex for years. That’s a big responsibility. A few takeaways that apply to everyone, not just families navigating ADHD: • Executive function skills can be developed and strengthened. • Kids are often mislabeled as lazy or rude when they are actually struggling with internal regulation. • Screens are reshaping childhood. Less outdoor play and more screen time have real developmental consequences. Although you’re probably reading this on a screen, maybe this is your nudge to increase your own self-awareness today. Put the device down. Get outside. Let your kids play. Strengthen the internal systems that matter. Strong recommendation for any parent raising a child with ADHD, and honestly, for anyone who cares about building resilient, self-aware kids. Really well done book.

A lot of people are guilty of “shelf help,” meaning they are better at buying books than actually reading them. The books end up sitting on their shelf and become “shelf help” instead of self-help. I address this in the book by including a whole chapter on how to read and remember its contents, as well as any other book. People who visit limitlessbook.com are offered a 10-day program focused on reading, remembering, and focusing. I believe a lot of people avoid reading because they don’t feel they are good at it. The message is to “Stop stacking shelves and start stacking results.”

Some books shake you. Others quietly steady you. We Got This by Elissa Kalver felt like the second. Elissa shares what it means to live with Stage IV cancer while still choosing joy, purpose, and ownership. Her story is honest and grounded. She does not pretend the diagnosis is easy. She simply refuses to let it define the quality of her life. One line that really stayed with me: “I am no longer afraid of dying. I am afraid of not living.” Reading experiences like hers gives me perspective. It reminds me not to wait for the perfect circumstances to live well. It reinforces the idea that we get to define success on our own terms and that awareness, ownership, and persistence matter more than perfection. I appreciated how she reframes success as something that does not have to be stress filled or all or nothing. We can make our own metric. We can choose how we respond. Even in uncertainty, we still have agency. On March 18th, I will be joining Elissa on stage at The Cabot in Beverly, Massachusetts for a free community event called Live Like It Matters: Living Fully in the Face of Uncertainty. I am honored to help her share her deeply personal and hopeful journey. If you are nearby, we would love to see you there!!!

5 Books that will improve your Financial Intelligence. Have you read any of these books? 1. The Psychology of Money Explores how emotional and psychological factors influence financial decisions and highlights the importance of long-term thinking and behavior over technical knowledge. 2. I Will Teach You to Be Rich Offers practical, actionable strategies for managing personal finances, automating investments, and building a rich life through smart spending and saving habits. 3. The Path Provides a clear guide to creating a personalized financial plan that navigates life’s uncertainties while building long-term wealth. 4. Unshakeable Focuses on building financial resilience and mastering strategies for investing in the stock market with confidence, regardless of economic conditions. 5. Rich Dad Poor Dad Emphasizes the mindset shift from working for money to having money work for you by understanding assets, liabilities, and the importance of financial education.

The Executive Function Playbook by Michael McLeod, along with The Executive Function Playbook in Action, immediately grabbed my attention. Michael is the founder of GrowNOW ADHD, an organization helping educators, counselors, and parents build executive function skills in kids and families. And what I appreciate most about his approach is how grounded and serious it is. In a world where ADHD is often reduced to a quirky social media label, this book brings the conversation back to brain development, real delays in the prefrontal cortex, and the very real social and emotional consequences that can come with executive dysfunction. ADHD isn’t just about distraction. It’s about self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, and self-evaluation. When those systems are delayed, behavior makes a lot more sense. As a parent, that perspective matters to me. Even if my kids never receive an ADHD diagnosis, understanding how the brain develops and how executive function can be strengthened feels like essential knowledge. We are, in many ways, serving as our kids’ prefrontal cortex for years. That’s a big responsibility. A few takeaways that apply to everyone, not just families navigating ADHD: • Executive function skills can be developed and strengthened. • Kids are often mislabeled as lazy or rude when they are actually struggling with internal regulation. • Screens are reshaping childhood. Less outdoor play and more screen time have real developmental consequences. Although you’re probably reading this on a screen, maybe this is your nudge to increase your own self-awareness today. Put the device down. Get outside. Let your kids play. Strengthen the internal systems that matter. Strong recommendation for any parent raising a child with ADHD, and honestly, for anyone who cares about building resilient, self-aware kids. Really well done book.

“You have to study something for at least 25 hours to genuinely understand it and get better at it. Don’t dismiss an idea until you have truly studied it.” 📖: “Built by Lessons” by Gary Daly

I recently finished Built by Lessons by Gary Daly and really enjoyed it. I’ve had the chance to connect with Gary a couple of times, and it’s clear we’re cut from the same cloth. We’re both lifelong students of personal development, share many of the same mentors, and have a similar curiosity about how people can build better lives through intentional decisions and consistent growth. This book reminded me a lot of why I wrote Rise of the Reader. Both books serve as accessible entry points into the personal development world without feeling preachy or overwhelming. If you’re a young, ambitious person looking to solve problems, build skills, follow your curiosities, and live closer to your potential, this book belongs on your shelf. Honestly, I wish I’d had a book like this when I was 21 and just starting my journey into personal development. Gary shares practical lessons through real experiences, showing how an everyday person can make intentional choices that compound into meaningful results over time. Gary is incredibly impressive, and I hope we get to meet in person one day. If you have a friend or family member who’s curious about personal development but doesn’t want to be lectured and would rather read a relatable story about someone figuring it out along the way, this book would make a fantastic gift.

Leaders fall into one of two buckets: - Leaders who people follow because they have to. - Leaders who people follow because they want to. “A Leader Worth Following” by Benjamin Granger.

Have you read this book yet? 📖: The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma Robin Sharma is someone who works harder on himself than anyone in any room that he’s in. I love that. I want mentors who are putting in the work, and there is no questioning Robin’s dedication to personal development. In this book, he advocates for waking up at 5AM to maximize your personal growth and productivity through a morning routine that includes exercise, reflection, and learning.

A book that I wish I had when I was 21. “Built by Lessons” by Gary Daly shares practical lessons through real experiences, showing how an everyday person can make intentional choices that compound into meaningful results over time. If you have a friend or family member, who’s curious about personal development, but doesn’t want to be lectured and would rather read a relatable story about someone figuring it out along the way, this book is perfect for them.