Here are some of my favorite books along with my reviews.

A smart man once wrote that if he came across a book he wanted to read he’d never let time or money prevent him from buying it.

This same philosophy has kept my mailman busy and has ensured my Amazon Prime account has paid for itself many times over.

 

The Science of Running by Steve Magness

Rating: 7/10

Definitely a book for an endurance athlete or coach with some background or interest in exercise physiology.  Magness doesn’t hesitate to delve into the complex biology.

I like that the book balances the academics and real coaching.  It’s one of my most “marked up” books and made me question my beliefs a lot.  My chief complaint is grammatical and spelling-related.  It’s apparent Magness didn’t hire an editor.

 

Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Rating 10/10

The first “mini” book I ever read.  I love small, short books like this.  So easy to get a point across without taking several days or weeks to get through.

This is one of my favorite books of all time.  It just hit me at the right time in my life.  While it’s a business book, the lesson applies to many more parts of life.  No one remembers a black and white cow.  But a purple cow…that would really be something.  Design your business to be memorable.

 

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

Rating 8.5/10

Another small, short read.  This should be required reading for children.  Kleon discusses, among other things, the secret to creativity.

It’s not about creating something new.  It’s about applying old ideas in new ways, new contexts, with new spins.  I go here when I need inspiration.

 

 

The Art Of Being Unmistakable by Srinivas Rao

Rating 8/10

A small book and short read.  This is clearly a compilation of blog posts but they are so good I don’t even care!  This book is my handbook for confidence and breaking away from ordinary life.

Rao covers designing your life, being a rebel, and creating.  But the point I keep coming back to is that it’s never too late to reinvent myself.  I need to hang a banner with those words in my house.  It’s easy to forget.