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What are some of the best life-changing books?Below I have a list of 15 books that have all changed my life for the better.And what more, they are free on Amazon Audible.Amazon.com: A Promised Land (Audible Audio Edition): Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Random House Audio: Audible Audiobookshttps://www.amazon.com/A-Promised-Land-Obama-Audiobook/dp/B08HGH9JMF/ref=zg_bs_audible_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YRWAJEH1RNK5MH0E9937&_encoding=UTF8&tag=shehuab-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=5a1a2df109c8c1624c8d9b0c367d0b2f&camp=1789&creative=9325A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making - from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.Obama takes listeners on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of US partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings listeners inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about US strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective - the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change”, and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.Audible Membership Plans - CompareHow does the free trial work? Audible is a membership service that provides customers with the world's largest selection of audiobooks as well as podcasts, exclusive originals and more. Your Audible membership is free for 30 days. If you enjoy your Audible trial, do nothing and your membership will automatically continue. We'll send you an email reminder before your trial ends. Download the free Audible app to start listening on your iOS or Android device. You can also listen on any Alexa-enabled device, compatible Fire tablets, Kindles, Sonos devices and more. You can cancel anytime before your trial ends and you won’t be charged. There are no commitments and no cancellation fees. How much does Audible cost? Plans start at $7.95 per month after free trial. No commitments, cancel anytime. Audible Plus $7.95/month: listen all you want to thousands of included titles in the Plus Catalog. Audible Premium Plus $14.95/month: includes the Plus Catalog + 1 credit per month for any premium selection title. Audible Premium Plus Annual $149.50/year: includes the Plus Catalog + 12 credits a year for any premium selection titles. What is included with my Audible membership? Premium Plus members get credit(s) good for any titles in our premium selection (1 credit = 1 title.) Premium Plus members get access to exclusive sales as well as 30% off all additional premium selection purchases. All members can listen all they want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, originals, and more in the Plus Catalog. *Number of credits vary based on your membership plan. Credits expire after one year. Are there additional benefits for Amazon Prime members? Amazon Prime members are invited to start an Audible trial with 2 credits (1 credit = 1 title) that can be used on any titles from our premium selection . A standard trial includes 1 credit. After trial, all members receive 1 credit per month. Do I have to commit for any period of time? There are no commitments. You can easily cancel your membership at anytime. All titles taken during trial and purchased with a credit are yours to keep forever. You will get an email reminder at least 7 days before your trial ends.https://amzn.to/3bduLNQWhat does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners.In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers" - the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.Brilliant and entertaining, Outliers is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.Forget the old concepts of retirement and a deferred life plan. There is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. For living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.This expanded edition includes dozens of practical tips and case studies from people who have doubled their income, overcome common sticking points, and reinvented themselves using the original book. Also included are templates for eliminating email and negotiating with bosses and clients, how to apply lifestyle principles in unpredictable economic times, and the latest tools, tricks, and shortcuts for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either.From the Academy Award-winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.“Unflinchingly honest and remarkably candid, Matthew McConaughey’s book invites us to grapple with the lessons of his life as he did - and to see that the point was never to win, but to understand.” (Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck)I’ve been in this life for 50 years, been trying to work out its riddle for 42, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last 35. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges - how to get relative with the inevitable - you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights”. So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is 50 years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops. Hopefully, it’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears. It’s a love letter. To life. It’s also a guide to catching more greenlights - and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green, too. Good luck.In the spirit of Steve Jobs and Moneyball, Elon Musk is both an illuminating and authorized look at the extraordinary life of one of Silicon Valley's most exciting, unpredictable, and ambitious entrepreneurs - a real-life Tony Stark - and a fascinating exploration of the renewal of American invention and its new makers.Elon Musk spotlights the technology and vision of Elon Musk, the renowned entrepreneur and innovator behind SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity, who sold one of his Internet companies, PayPal, for $1.5 billion. Ashlee Vance captures the full spectacle and arc of the genius' life and work, from his tumultuous upbringing in South Africa and flight to the United States to his dramatic technical innovations and entrepreneurial pursuits.Vance uses Musk's story to explore one of the pressing questions of our age: Can the nation of inventors and creators who led the modern world for a century still compete in an age of fierce global competition? He argues that Musk - one of the most unusual and striking figures in American business history - is a contemporary, visionary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, and Steve Jobs. More than any other entrepreneur today, Musk has dedicated his energies and his own vast fortune to inventing a future that is as rich and far reaching as the visionaries of the golden age of science-fiction fantasy.For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare - poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him The Fittest (Real) Man in America.In Can't Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.An annotated edition of Can’t Hurt Me, offering over two hours of bonus content featuring deeper insights and never-before-told stories shared by David. Not available in other formats.In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be positive all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.Manson makes the argument, backed by both academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited - "not everybody can be extraordinary; there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault". Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.There are only so many things we can give a f*ck about, so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.The number one international best seller!A timeless business classic, Who Moved My Cheese? uses a simple parable to reveal profound truths about dealing with change so that you can enjoy less stress and more success in your work and in your life.It would be all so easy if you had a map to the Maze.If the same old routines worked.If they'd just stop moving "The Cheese."But things keep changing...Most people are fearful of change, both personal and professional, because they don't have any control over how or when it happens to them. Since change happens either to the individual or by the individual, Dr. Spencer Johnson, the co-author of the multimillion best seller The One Minute Manager, uses a deceptively simple story to show that when it comes to living in a rapidly changing world, what matters most is your attitude.Exploring a simple way to take the fear and anxiety out of managing the future, Who Moved My Cheese? can help you discover how to anticipate, acknowledge, and accept change in order to have a positive impact on your job, your relationships, and every aspect of your life.You can go after the job you want...and get it! You can take the job you have...and improve it! You can take any situation you're in...and make it work for you!Simon & Schuster Audio is proud to present one of the best-selling books of all time, Dale Carnegie's perennial classic How to Win Friends and Influence People, presented here in its entirety.For over 60 years the rock-solid, time-tested advice in this audiobook has carried thousands of now-famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.With this truly phenomenal audiobook, learn:The six ways to make people like youThe twelve ways to win people to your way of thinkingThe nine ways to change people without arousing resentmentAnd much, much more!There is room at the top, when you know...How to Win Friends and Influence People.Think and Grow Rich is the number-one inspirational and motivational classic for individuals who are interested in furthering their lives and reaching their goals by learning from important figures in history. The text read in this audiobook is the original 1937 edition written by Napoleon Hill and inspired by Andrew Carnegie, and while it has often been reproduced, no updated version has ever been able to compete with the original. It has been used as a roadmap to achievement by countless individuals.The 13 Steps to Riches described in this audiobook offer the shortest dependable philosophy of individual achievement ever presented for the benefit of the man or woman who is searching for a definite goal in life. It comes directly from the experiences of hundreds of America's most successful men.Hill interviewed 504 people, including Ford, Wrigley, Wanamaker, Eastman, Rockefeller, Edison, Woolworth, Darrow, Burbank, Morgan, Firestone, and three United States presidents. The process of conducting these interviews required an investment of 20 years of Napoleon Hill's life.This audiobook will guide many to success, and has sold millions of printed copies for nearly three quarters of a century. Yes, one can gather from the title that the starting place for wealth is in a person's thoughts - and this title is the source for most of today's motivational speakers. So why not go back to the original source?Extreme success, by definition, lies beyond the realm of normal action. If you want to achieve extreme success, you can’t operate like everybody else and settle for mediocrity. You need to remove luck and chance from your business equation, and lock in massive success. The 10X Rule shows you how! Success is your duty, obligation and responsibility, and this audio book gives you step-by-step guidance on how to achieve phenomenal success for yourself!With The 10X Rule , you’ll learn to establish the amount of effort needed to guarantee success and ensure that you can continue operating at this level throughout your life. Most people desire success and have great ideas but they come up short on the amount of action required to get their lives to the exceptional levels they deserve. Four degrees of action exist, and in order to achieve your dreams, you must learn to operate at the fourth degree of action: Massive Action. The 10X Rule will dissolve fear, increase your belief in yourself, eliminate procrastination, and provide you with an overwhelming sense of purpose. The 10X Rule compels you to separate yourself from everyone else in the market—and you do that by doing what others refuse to do. Stop thinking in terms of basic needs, and start aiming for abundance—in all areas of your life. The 10X Rule guides you toward the frame of mind that all successful people share. Aim ten times higher than you are right now—and if you come up short, you’ll still find yourself further along than if you had maintained your life’s current status quo. The 10X Rule teaches you how to:Reach goals that you previously thought were impossibleCorrectly set goals and guarantee their achievementCreate unprecedented levels of happiness and satisfaction in every area of your lifeUse fear as fuel to move you into actionGet everything you want and never have to settleDominate your competition and become a role model for successNumber One New York Times Best-Selling PhenomenonMore than seven million copies sold worldwideA Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club PickA Business Insider Defining Book of the Decade"I can't even express how much I love this book! I didn't want this story to end!" (Reese Witherspoon)"Painfully beautiful." (The New York Times Book Review)For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens.Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former first lady of the United States.Number one New York Times best sellerWatch the Emmy-nominated Netflix original documentaryOprah’s Book Club PickNAACP Image Award WinnerOne of Essence’s 50 most impactful Black books of the past 50 yearsIn a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As first lady of the United States of America - the first African American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the US and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same.The number one New York Times best seller. Over one million copies sold!Tiny Changes, Remarkable ResultsNo matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving - every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, listeners will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.Learn how to:Make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy)Overcome a lack of motivation and willpowerDesign your environment to make success easierGet back on track when you fall off courseAnd much moreAtomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits - whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.All free on Audible.Audible Membership Plans - CompareHow does the free trial work? Audible is a membership service that provides customers with the world's largest selection of audiobooks as well as podcasts, exclusive originals and more. Your Audible membership is free for 30 days. If you enjoy your Audible trial, do nothing and your membership will automatically continue. We'll send you an email reminder before your trial ends. Download the free Audible app to start listening on your iOS or Android device. You can also listen on any Alexa-enabled device, compatible Fire tablets, Kindles, Sonos devices and more. You can cancel anytime before your trial ends and you won’t be charged. There are no commitments and no cancellation fees. How much does Audible cost? Plans start at $7.95 per month after free trial. No commitments, cancel anytime. Audible Plus $7.95/month: listen all you want to thousands of included titles in the Plus Catalog. Audible Premium Plus $14.95/month: includes the Plus Catalog + 1 credit per month for any premium selection title. Audible Premium Plus Annual $149.50/year: includes the Plus Catalog + 12 credits a year for any premium selection titles. What is included with my Audible membership? Premium Plus members get credit(s) good for any titles in our premium selection (1 credit = 1 title.) Premium Plus members get access to exclusive sales as well as 30% off all additional premium selection purchases. All members can listen all they want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, originals, and more in the Plus Catalog. *Number of credits vary based on your membership plan. Credits expire after one year. Are there additional benefits for Amazon Prime members? Amazon Prime members are invited to start an Audible trial with 2 credits (1 credit = 1 title) that can be used on any titles from our premium selection . A standard trial includes 1 credit. After trial, all members receive 1 credit per month. Do I have to commit for any period of time? There are no commitments. You can easily cancel your membership at anytime. All titles taken during trial and purchased with a credit are yours to keep forever. You will get an email reminder at least 7 days before your trial ends.https://amzn.to/3bduLNQGet listening…….Others have noted below.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.How To Fail At Everything And Still WinScott Adams has failed at more things than anyone you’ve ever met. So how did he go from office worker and serial failure to the creator of Dilbert, one of the world’s most famous syndicated comic strips? He had a system!Scott takes an alternative bent on all business matters, even with regards to his own success. Below is his summary of 'Success' and how failure was the secret in achieving that success. These insights reveal a great deal about the benefits of 'contrarian' thinking."Suffer defeat. Lots and lots of defeat" ~Scott AdamsTrue to his 'contrarian' philosophy, Scott has identified three 'contrarian' perspectives that have been critical to his success;Passion is overrated.Goals are for losers.Luck can be manipulated.Scott feels that failure is 'where success likes to hide in plain sight'. Therefore, everything you want out of life is in that huge... bubbling vat of failure. However, the trick is to get the good stuff out. Here are his suggestions on how to do that...with the right mindset.PassionSuccessful people are often said to have 'followed their passion.' But we must remember that the biographers of successful people never have access to the internal thoughts of those people.Therefore, beware of advice about successful people and their methods. For starters, no two situations are alike.The projects Scott was most passionate about, were also the ones that were most successful. However, his passion level only moved up with that success. Success caused the passion, more than the passion causing success.Forget about passion, and while you're at it, forget about goals, too.GoalsGoal-oriented people exist in a state of nearly continuous failure, which they are hoping will be temporary.When you achieve your goal, you celebrate and feel terrific, but only until you realize that you just lost the one thing that gave you purpose and direction.Instead of a goal, one should have a system. That system must be continually looking for better options. People who use systems do better than those who don't. Systems-driven people find a way to look at the familiar in new and more useful ways... goals are for losers.Furthermore, you should create a system that has value, and - this is critical - you want the product to be something that is easy to reproduce in unlimited quantities (selling just your time has an upward limit). Therefore, you must; create, invent, write, or otherwise concoct something widely desired, that is easy to reproduce (a system).When you are systems-oriented, you feel yourself growing more capable every day, no matter the fate of the project that you happen to be working on. Every day you will wake up with the same positive thoughts 'Today's the day'.Creating a system vastly increases your odds of getting 'lucky.' In fact, the system could be so solid that it will withstand quite bad luck without buckling. However, to create a winning system you must have accurately identified your skillset.LuckIf you drill down into any success story, you discover that luck played a huge part. You can't control luck, but you can move from playing in a game with bad odds to playing in a game with better odds. In this way, you make it easier for 'luck to find you'. Therefore, the most important thing you must do is to stay in the game.Failure is inevitable when you stay in the game, and should therefore be viewed as a tool, not an outcome. Viewing the world in this way can be useful. 'If your current get-rich project fails, take what you learned and try something else'.Nietzsche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." According to Scott, that's a loser's philosophy. You don't want your failures just to simply make you stronger (better able to survive future challenges). You want to become; smarter, more talented, better networked, healthier, and more energized, as a result of your failures. Therefore, failure is a resource that can be managed.Based on Scott's philosophy I have learned that I should; build a system, suffer defeat... lots and lots of it. Learn, grow, and become energized from those defeats. The result will be success... MAYBE!I really found this book to help me look at the world and, more importantly my world, in an entirely different light. Dramatic as it sounds, I found it rather life-changing, which I definitely wasn't expecting. I strongly recommend this book to those who are looking for a way to embrace who and where they are.A lot of the people in my life (myself included) struggle with shame, with that inner critic that tells you "You are not good enough" and a million other statements that begin with "YOU SHOULD". Brown helps us to get rid of the word "should", and focus on who we want to be rather then who we think we are supposed to be, and who we think "society" thinks we are supposed to be.I decided to read the book after seeing Brene Brown's profound TED Talk. Brene Brown is a qualitative researcher who studies shame, fear, and vulnerability. In the course of her research, she discovered two lists: a list of things that people who live their life wholeheartedly DO, and a list of what they DON'T do. And proceeded to freak out when she realized that she herself was living the DON'T do list . She put in the work to get to the other side, so her book is written with compassion because she has truly been there herself.Unlike most self-help books with psycho babble and rules, or nebulous statements, Brene presents stories, and the research of stories that she has collected in a way that is easily digestible, and yet still meaningful. I read the book in less than 24 hours, and I walked away with some strategies to work on being my most authentic self.A quote from the introduction that really stuck with me:Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.Another quote that I keep thinking about is:"The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it’s difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."In other words, while we should work at being more compassionate and accepting of others, that does not mean we should allow people to treat us like shit and get away with it. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned quite some time ago. But, hey, it's never too late, right?Susan Cain's astounding book blew my mind and I think it would be fascinating - hell, a true eye-opener - for introverts and extroverts alike.One third of the world's population consists of introverts, including many of us avid readers. What makes being an introvert so hard is that––especially in the US––we are held up to what Susan Cain calls the "Extrovert Ideal." That is, we are told our whole lives that the "ideal" person is an extrovert––outgoing, confident, well-spoken, etc. Extroverted people are thought of as being more important, more authoritative, and more attractive. If you are a shy, you are more likely to be seen as weak, a pushover, a bad leader, an awkward/unattractive person. We're constantly told that in order to succeed, we need to stand up for ourselves, push others out of the way, be the loudest, take the most risks. If you're an introverted person, you are constantly told that you need to change––that if you continue to be quiet, you're never going to get anywhere in life. You won't get a good job, you won't succeed, no one will want to date you ... you name it. Cain also does a great job of going into the history of how the Extrovert Ideal become culturally valued and when Americans began to prefer Personality to CharacterYes, as a society we tend to value the gregarious go-getters, the loud talkers, the forceful presenters. But Cain's book reminds us that societies need introverts, too -- the thinkers, the listeners, the people who look before leaping. (The long, long, long list of introverts in history includes: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, George Orwell, Marcel Proust, J. K. Rowling, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats, Warren Buffet, Steve Wozniak, Charles Schultz, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Gandhi... )As an introvert, I found the book comforting and inspiring. But extroverts who are in relationships with introverts or who are parents of an introvert would also do well to read this book. The author has good tips for how to handle introverts, especially children.It's the most interesting book/article I've ever read on being shy/introverted/sensitive. I really enjoyed the scientific studies having to do with mapping the brain. This book was personally empowering. It took me years to begin to realize that there's nothing wrong with the fact that I like to spend time alone (often with a book, thus my voracious reading), or that I often prefer listening to dominating a conversation. This book reassured me that all of that is not only okay, but also that it is a fundamental part of my personality that I should embrace and celebrate.This is a great read, regardless of where you fall on the introversion-extroversion spectrumNow, if you're looking to read some life-changing fiction, I can't recommend a better book than The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And while it is billed as a YA, this ain't your grandma's typical young adult book. It’s been a loooong time since I was in high school but I remember it well. I think a lot of adults are still affected by experiences they had (or didn't) in high school.This novel is unlike others, solely for the fact that the book is written in letters. And while Charlie (the 15 year old protagonist, dealing with major issues like a friend's suicide and the death of a family member) writes in a very simple way, his words are powerful.“I would die for you. But I won't live for you”I believe there’s a great message in this book that while it’s good to participate and be involved, essentially you are the way you are. The book is at times incredibly funny, and at others very touching (crying your heart out kind of touching - hell, yeah, I'll admit it!)I personally found myself really moved by this particular passage:"So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."Even the adult me can really relate to that. In fact, it was not that long ago that I went through what I guess you could call "a series of unfortunate events" (personal tragedies...). I found myself struggling with a very deep depression (for not the first time in my life) - and yet, I was also the happiest I'd ever been. How could both things be possible simultaneously? And how odd that it took reading a passage in a YA book about the very concept to help me to wrap my brain around the concept that I could be depressed and happy at the same time. As my wife likes to point out, "There is no normal life, Wyatt, there's just life." And I'm just fine with that.The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness by Dr. Steve PetersThis book was recommended to me by two different and completely unconnected friends;The first friend studied Geography at university (receiving a Lower Second Class degrees, or 2:1, or 'C' grade) and, largely due to a physically debilitating condition, couldn't follow his preferred path in the police force and instead ended up working in the postal service. After reading this book my friend decided to retrain as a podiatrist as he was a lover of sports and had become interested in the biomechanics involved; since he had not completed his education with anything remotely connected to this field this included going back to college and university to study various biology, and associated, courses (in each case he passed with 'A' grades or Distinction), and he is currently in the reckoning for a funded PhD.For my second friend, this book also helped him come to terms with, and deal with, his alcoholism. He has been clean for more than two years now.For me, the arrival of this book coincided with running out of my prescribed anti-depressants that I had been on for four months following a severe period of depression. It helped me to understand what was going on in my head that was contributing to my state of mind, and gave me some tools to help me deal with it. Whilst I would not go so far as to say this book has cured me, or can cure you, of depression or the risk of being depressed, what I can certainly say is that I haven't been on, or felt the need to be on, any sort of medication since I first picked this book up in late-February 2015.What I really love about this book is that the techniques described have been used by people like us, through to people participating at the Olympic sports level looking for that extra little gain in performance - it feels like a book that you can get as much, or as little, as you want out of it regardless of your situation. It is presented in a straightforward manner, and I would be very surprised if anyone reading it can't see at least a little of themselves and their behaviour within the examples given - it's then just up to you whether you want to do anything about it.These 7 books will change Your life For Sure. These will give you wings to dream. I am also mentioning 5 points from every book from my personal review so that you will get some insights.Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Winners are never afraid of failure, losers are, failure is a part of success.You are only poor if you give up, most people only talk of getting rich, but you have to take action.If you live all your life, playing it safe, doing the right things, then you are going to die a boring old man.Welcome, change in life rather than just clinging to the past.If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser.The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.The values you can't control are the bad values to follow.Don't believe that you anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.Don't obsess about leaving a legacy, instead focus on being useful in the present, it will be a lot better.A good life is not a life without problems, it's a life with good problems.You are defined by what you are willing to struggle for.Think and grow rich by Napoleon hill.The starting point of any achievement is desire, stronger the desire , stronger will be the results.You can make the impossible possible by telling yourself over and over again that you can achieve what you dream of.Be stubborn and always stick to your descions, lack of determination is the reason for long term failure.Join a mastermind group to accelerate your learning, mastermind means the coordination of knowledge and effort of few people working towards a goal.When you fail, accept it as a sign that your plans are not sound, so rebuild them and work on it again.Business Adventures by John BrooksPay attention to your market. Customers wishes changes very quickly and it’s important to be aware.The best solution to recourse something is to scrap it and do-over.Never trust a rapid process, competitors can caught up fast.Revenge is not actually good and it certainly doesn't pay off.A small group of determined individuals can always fight against a bigger or stronger enemy inspite of all odds.Zero to One by Peter Thiel.If you want to create a start-up that would drastically change the world, you have to go from zero to one, not one to many.Monopolies are good for both business and society, it's actually what a start-up should shoot for.Being a little weird and having the vision for future is what company really needs to go from zero to one.A bad plan is better than having no plan, same way something is better than nothing.The reason for failure of the companies is same, they failed to escape competition.How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.Be a good listener, make the other person feel important and let them talk about themselves.If you are wrong at any point, admit it quickly and emphatically in a friendly way.A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little man. So be understanding and forgiving.You can only influence people by knowing what they want, and show them how to get it.The secret of success lies in understanding someone's point of view as well as your own.Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Creator of Nike.Better go broke young, you only get a few chances to start something crazy, what if it works out well ? Believe in yourself.Let everyone call your idea crazy, keep going don't stop, People are going to say whole life, ignore them and do your work.Get someone who can be your mentor and partner and the one who will believe in you, who will help you bring out your valuable skills.Tell people what to do and let them figure out how , encourage them to be themselves and let them surprise you with their results.When you see only problems , you are not seeing clearly. There is a ray of hope always, in every situation.

Will Entrepreneurship Make You Rich? A Realistic Perspective.If you become an entrepreneur just because you see it as a shortcut to "get rich," you may need to rethink your priorities. However, entrepreneurship does offer significant potential.NEXT ARTICLEAdd to QueueImage credit: shutterstockOpinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.Entrepreneurship is a manifestation of the American dream. Anyone, with the right idea and enough hard work can become successful, the saying goes. And, indeed, we constantly see images of multi-billionaires, like Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson, who built empires from scratch, and are taught that there's no income limit for business owners in our capitalistic system.Related: 5 Reasons Why Most People Don't Become WealthyAccordingly, hundreds of thousands of new entrepreneurs every year write business plans and gather funds for their own chance to strike it rich and build enough wealth for a lifetime. But, is the idea of using entrepreneurship to get rich just a pipe dream? Or is it a legitimate way to build that level of wealth?The ideaEntrepreneurship is a way to unchain yourself from the fixed salary you’ll make at a full-time job. Rather than being capped at whatever value your company determines that you offer, you’ll create your own value by owning a business with no upper limit on profitability.Whatever money your entrepreneurial company makes beyond what it invests in itself and its operations is then yours to keep; what's more, you just might see an even bigger payday if you sell your company to a larger organization. But, as you might imagine, the path to wealth from entrepreneurship isn’t as straightforward as that picture would have you believe.The average salaryA study by American Express OPEN found that more than half of entrepreneurs surveyed were paying themselves a full-time salary, and typically making $68,000 a year. That number rises and falls from year to year, but hovers around $70,000.Of course, that paycheck doesn’t include any additional profits that business owners reap, or reflect what they make if and when they eventually sell the business. However, it does provide a portrait of how the “average” entrepreneur performs.AdvertisementBecause today's median household income in the United States is $52,000, entrepreneurs -- given that average $68,000 a year -- are earning above average.Related: 8 Money Mistakes to Avoid on Your Way to Being WealthyBut, remember, there are entrepreneurs who make far more and far less.Chances for breakout successWe like to celebrate the big winners of the entrepreneurial world, because our capitalistic and materialistic society deems these people the most worthy, and the best representations of the American dream in action. However, it’s not reasonable to think you have a strong likelihood of becoming one of them -- as well as a multi-billionaire.That's certainly possible, but only a handful of entrepreneurs -- out of those 28 million small business owners in the United States -- get there.Chances for failureIt’s commonly reported that 90 percent of startups fail, but this number misrepresents the real statistics (and for several reasons, it doesn’t define failure or include a time frame). Even so, it is true that the majority of businesses do fail, even if they barely constitute a majority.The good news is that after four years of operation, approximately 50 percent of businesses are still open, though that number does decline as the years go on Does that mean you have a 50 percent chance (or higher) of failing?Not necessarily. Much depends on the nature of your business and your specific circumstances, but it does mean that entrepreneurshipis neither an easy or straightforward way to get rich.What Entrepreneurship Does Give YouSo, yes, it's uncommon for entrepreneurship to make you rich, at least in the material sense. But being an entrepreneur comes with a host of other benefits:Fulfillment. For many, entrepreneurship is about fulfilling an inner desire to build something, lead a team, or leave behind a legacy for one's children. Whatever the case, entrepreneurship can lead to inner fulfillment, rather than just a big paycheck.Freedom. As your own boss, you’ll have the freedom to create and capitalize on whatever you want. You can create the work culture you want and hire your own workers. You can take days off when you feel like it, and set your own schedule. For some, that’s far more valuable than just money.Experience. Even if your business fails, you’ll walk away with more experience to use in your next endeavor, whether that means starting another business from scratch or returning to the professional world.Contacts. You’ll also get more visibility as an entrepreneur, which can lead to stronger connections for future endeavors, whether that means finding a new full-time position, or knowing which partners to work with in creating future businesses.Does entrepreneurship make you rich?So . . . back to the original question. The bottom line is that entrepreneurship can make you rich, and in more ways than just materially. But it's not the only way to become wealthy, and becoming an entrepreneur is certainly no way to guarantee you'll be able to build wealth.Related: 5 Steps You Can Take Now to Get Wealthy in 2017If you become an entrepreneur just because you see it as a shortcut to "getting rich," you may need to rethink your priorities. However, entrepreneurship does offer significant potential for those willing to work for it.More From EntrepreneurGet heaping discounts to books you love delivered straight to your inbox. We’ll feature a different book each week and share exclusive deals you won’t find anywhere else.Sign Up NowAmplify your business knowledge and reach your full entrepreneurial potential with Entrepreneur Insider’s exclusive benefits. For just $5 per month, get access to premium content, webinars, an ad-free experience, and more! Plus, enjoy a FREE 1-year Entrepreneur magazine subscription.Become A Member >>Entrepreneur Store scours the web for the newest software, gadgets & web services. Explore our giveaways, bundles, "Pay What You Want" deals & more.Shop NowLatest On EntrepreneurINDUSTRYThese are the 7 trends you must follow if you want your business to surviveBusinesses of all sizes will have to respond in the best way possible to these changes if they want to be on the positive side of the new normal.EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEThe 5 keys to emotional intelligence to adapt to the VICA worldIn the midst of an environment of complete chaos and confusion, Emotional Intelligence can bring clarity and temperance.LESSONS FOR ENTREPRENEURSThe sad story of Jeffery Katzenberg's company that failed in just 6 monthsLike its content, Quibi's time in the market was short. Very brief.CAPITAL RAISINGLet's talk about raising capital in the pandemicThe pandemic and everything that comes with it has brought various challenges to the industry, both for startups and venture capital investment funds alike.BITCOINBitcoin keeps rising and this is whyThe "healthy distance" is pushing more and more people to use commerce and digital means of payment.SUCCESSHow Generation Z Is Altering the Face of Entrepreneurship for GoodGeneration Z-ers are approaching business differently and the results have been thrilling.SMALL BUSINESS SURVIVES AND THRIVESHow to Build an Effective Home OfficeEveryone's ideal home office set up will be different. It might take a bit of time to adjust your workspace so that it works for you and there's rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. The trick is to find a space that helps you to feel calm, focussed and positive.TRADEMARKSBalenciaga launches tennis shoes for more than 115 thousand pesos that you can not wearThe most curious thing about the article is that they cannot be used and are the most expensive in the history of the brand.LAMBORGHINILamborghini pulls controversial ad campaign with teens posing in front of luxury sports carsA popular photographer captured images during this campaign, which were later removed after receiving multiple criticisms and rejection by the mayor of Palermo.MARKETING3 Vital Marketing Strategies Businesses Should Adopt Post-CovidAs we look ahead to a post-Covid world, it will be wise to re-think our marketing machinerySTARTING A BUSINESS5 Reasons to Double Down and Draft a Business Plan, Plus Tips for How to Do ItThere are plenty of good and necessary reasons for savvy entrepreneurs to invest time and energy to write a memorable business plan. Here are my top five.GROWTH STRATEGIESConversational Commerce Is Revolutionizing EcommerceDeploying AI to facilitate dialogue with your customers adds the missing human element, providing a more personalized experience.CHARITY4 Ways Charitable Giving Can Help Reduce Your 2020 TaxesEntrepreneurs have unique options for tax-smart charitable giving this year.GROWTHEntrepreneurs and Small Businesses Are Vital to Our Economy and We Must Nurture BothTreating them as equal partners in revitalizing our communities is smart policy.ENTREPRENEURSHow to Overcome Imposter SyndromeA stage actor and TikTok sensation shares tips for being more confident in business.LEADERSHIPCapitalize on Your Team's Uniqueness to Garner SuccessCould conformity be limiting your team's potential?MOBILITY´DiDi Mujer´ the new function for female drivers to connect exclusively with female passengersDiDi, the mobility platform provides the option for drivers to choose to give their service only to female users.AMAZONTake Advantage of These Amazon Black Friday PromotionsSome notable steals and discounts lined up for the day after Thanksgiving.ADAPT TO BOUNCE FORWARDApple's Head of Global Security Charged With BriberyApple's products might be highly desirable, but shouldn't be used to try and secure concealed carry licenses.FEDERAL GOVERNMENTBiden Picks Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to Head Treasury DepartmentYellen would be the first woman to hold the job, and the first person to hold the three most influential economic positions in government: chair of the Federal Reserve, head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, and treasury secretary.ALLIANCESKavak and Uber Join Forces to Offer Pre-Owned Cars to Drivers in Mexico and Latin AmericaDriver members will be able to buy a car with a zero percent down payment.GROWTH STRATEGIES7 Common Entrepreneurial TrapsWhen starting a business, the best offense is a good defense.SMARTPHONESYou Will Spend 76,500 Hours, or Almost 9 Years of Your Life, Using Your Mobile DeviceResearch conducted by WhistleOut led to some alarming results about smartphone usage.OVERCOMING OBSTACLES'Max' Brenner Was Pushed Out of His Own Company, Financially Destroyed, and Banned From Making Chocolate For Five Years. But He Learned: 'Hell Has Benefits.'After a crushing legal battle, the founder was ousted from Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man, and forbidden from any new ventures for five years. Now he sees the darkest time in his life as a gift.FRANCHISESBusting the Myths of FranchisingIt's important to balance challenges with something personally meaningful.ENTERPRISING WOMENThis Organization Encourages Women to Give Their Businesses a Digital MakeoverThe Mexican Association of Women Heads of Business (AMMJE) will hold its Annual Business Summit "Digital Disruption." We have places for you.BEST BUYBest Buy Will Leave Mexico On December 31According to a report, the electronics company will close its 41 Mexico locations due to the effects of Covid-19.TECHNOLOGYThe Secret Unit Behind Israel's Startup Nation SuccessThe Mamram unit has produced some of the world's finest programmers and software engineers -- and helped establish Israel's reputation as a startup powerhouse.ENTREPRENEURSUnlocking Human PerformanceThe founder and CEO of fitness tracker Whoop talks about how his team works to understand what makes humans perform at their highest level.NEWS AND TRENDS9 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Travel Sales to Take Advantage OfThough you'll likely have to plan your trips for late 2021 or even 2022, get these deals while you can.TECHNICAL EXPERTISE10 Technical Skills You Can Work on at Early Black Friday PricingLearn something new and save an extra 70 percent.SMALL BUSINESS STANDS STRONGKristin Cavallari's Advice to Startup Entrepreneurs: 'Go For It, But Be Honest With Yourself'The CEO and founder of Uncommon James talks about what it takes to launch.READY FOR ANYTHINGHeadspace's COO Was Just Promoted To CEO After Only 6 Months At the Company. Here's How She Did ItTo rapidly grow your company or career, take notes on CeCe Morken's apENTREPRENEURSHow to Prepare Your Business For Economic DownturnThe full implications of the pandemic have yet to be discovered, but there are signs that we're headed for a serious recession.PERSONAL FINANCEHow Do You Reduce Your Personal Expenses In a Month?It's not as hard to cover your personal expenses as you'd think, even if you're supporting a family.PERSONAL FINANCEAll the Mistakes You Make With Your Money In December… and How to Prevent ThemYou don't want to be a financial disaster in January, so here are some tips on how you can manage your finances in the face of Christmas shopping.CORONAVIRUSThis Is How the Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Works to Fight Covid-19The final battle against the virus has begun: bamlanivimab has already been endorsed by the FDA.ELON MUSKElon Musk Takes Bill Gates' Place to Become Second-Richest Person in the WorldTesla's rising stock takes Musk's fortune to $129 billion.TIKTOKThe First TikToker to Reach 100 Million Followers Is Just 16 Years OldCharli d'Amelio became popular for her dance videos, but in recent weeks she lost a million followers for taunting a chef.GROWTH STRATEGIES5 Mind Tricks That Will Bring You Amazing Money LuckShift your money mindset and watch your fortune grow.BLACK FRIDAYBlack Friday 2020: date and when the best deals startDidn't you cheer up with the Good End? The great news is that the sales are not over yet.ELON MUSKThis Is What Life Will Be Like for the First People to Settle on Mars, According to Elon MuskThe idea of life on Mars has fascinated the scientific community and in general for decades; however, it could be a reality for years to come and Elon Musk explained his take on it.STARTING A BUSINESSWhy 2021 Could Be the Best Year For You to Start a CompanyHere are three reasons you should trust your instincts and go all-in on your new company idea in 2021.LEARNINGLearn From Successful Entrepreneurs with This On-Demand Audio Learning PlatformMore than 200 experts contribute to Knowable.CORONAVIRUSThe COVID-19 Vaccine to Be Packaged in Mexico Could Be 90% Effective, According to AstraZenecaThis vaccine requires an initial half-dose followed by a full one a month later.LEARNINGLearn From Successful Entrepreneurs with This On-Demand Audio Learning PlatformMore than 200 experts contribute to Knowable.CORONAVIRUSThe COVID-19 Vaccine to Be Packaged in Mexico Could Be 90% Effective, According to AstraZenecaThis vaccine requires an initial half-dose followed by a full one a month later.ENTREPRENEURSWhy Throwing Out the "Old Bananas" is Imperative to Your SuccessThese old ideas are sitting on your figurative counter and costing you thousands of dollars in productivity and possibility.NONPROFITSHow Online Tools Can Help Your Nonprofit Survive COVID-19Five practical tips for using technology to create personal and meaningful connections with donors.NEWS AND TRENDSUnopened Copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 Fetches for $156,000, Breaking RecordAccording to Heritage Auctions, the winning bid set a world's record for the highest price paid for a single video game at an auction. The unopened copy was found in someone's closet.CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT5 Tips for Improving Client RelationshipsWhen you strengthen your relationships with existing clients, it increases the likelihood of repeat business and referrals, which sets you and your business up for long-lasting success.SOCIAL MEDIATikTok Star Fired From Sherwin-Williams for Filming Paint-Mixing Videos at WorkThis college senior has more than a million followers on TikTok, but was fired after attempting to use his success to improve his company's marketing strategy.LEADERSHIP QUALITIES22 Qualities That Make a Great LeaderWant to inspire others? Study these characteristics and the wise words of leaders who strive to embody them.NEWS AND TRENDSSnapchat Launches TikTok Rival 'Spotlight'The company will spend millions of dollars to pay users for popular videos.ENTREPRENEURS4 Ways to Be More Productive, Not Just BusyAre you always hustling? It doesn't necessarily mean you're being effective.ENTREPRENEURIAL LIFEHow Many of the 10 Characteristics of Young Entrepreneurs Do You Have?In Mexico, 79% of early-stage ventures pursue an opportunity and 56% of young founders are motivated by improving their income or quality of life.COLUMNSFranchises: An Accessible and Successful Investment Model in MexicoIn the country franchises of all kinds are obtained, from restaurants, gas stations, gyms, to courier services. And as a whole, they have a relevant weight in the national economy.MARKETINGHow to Implement Pay-Per-Click the Right WayFollow these steps and watch sales grow.TECHNOLOGYThe New Need for Robots, AI and Data Analytics in SupermarketsIdeas for innovators and entrepreneurs as grocery stores navigate through pandemic-driven change.NEWS AND TRENDSInvestment Firm Wants to Revive RadioShack as a Major Ecommerce SiteThe acquisition occurs as online shopping and demand for electronics and affordable computing has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expect RadioShack to relaunch soon.Pepperdine's Most Fundable Companies of 2020Graziadio Business School announces third annual list and highest participation to date.GROWTH STRATEGIES8 Online Tools for More Solopreneur SuccessApply this octet to your your business needs and goals, and good things will follow.ENTREPRENEUR MINDSETMark Wahlberg's Secret to Becoming More DisciplinedThe actor and entrepreneur's greatest business asset is his own diligence.READY FOR ANYTHINGStrange Bedfellows? What Tech PR and Sci-Fi Have in CommonTech is the engine that enables fantasy to become reality.CONSULTANCYThe 2-Step "Menu" for Giving Effective Feedback: Sandwich and WrapThe vast majority of team and interpersonal bond problems have to do with poor communication. Take note of these strategies.FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPShift Your Culture or Risk Employee Burn OutIt is essential that companies adapt and create cultures which value the whole individual, not simply the sum of their efforts.GROWTH STRATEGIES3 Ways You Can Level the Playing Field Against Big BusinessTo gain ground against well-established rivals, focus on the three Cs: Competition, credit and connections.LEADERSHIP12 Leadership Lessons from DocuSign CEO Dan SpringerHow the Silicon Valley veteran transformed the e-signature pioneer Into a $37 billion powerhouseGROWTH STRATEGIESFollow This Entrepreneur's 3-Step Approach to Cultivating a Killer BrandAscend Agency CEO Jonathan Jadali tells us why it's crucial to think beyond sales when trying to build a loyal customer baseSUCCESS STRATEGIESForget the 80/20 Rule: How to Design Your Own Ratio for SuccessWhen used correctly, Pareto's Principle gives us a clearer picture of where we need to focus our time and energy. Unfortunately, though, there are quite a few misconceptions floating around about this principle.LEADERSHIPIn Times of Crisis, Keep the Boat SteadyIn a year defined by uncertainty, company leaders need to think differently about how to set their teams up for success.CUSTOMER SERVICEOverhaul Your Customer Service with This Voice Messaging AppGet feedback in your customers' own wordsTIME MANAGEMENTWhy You Should Schedule Dedicated 'Me Time' If You Don't Get Enough Right NowDoctors recommend personal time over many daily activities.ADAPT TO BOUNCE FORWARDWhat Michael Jordan's Relentless Drive Can Teach Us About Working Through a CrisisLearning from defeat and setbacks is the foundation for repeatable success.MARKETINGWhy Positioning Is More Important Than EverPositioning has become a lost art in recent years. Brought to the forefront back in 2001, this approach to differentiation is in desperate need of a comeback.ENTREPRENEURSHIP4 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health During the Covid Second WaveYour mind is your greatest business tool. Here's how to keep it healthy in trying times.INFOGRAPHICS15 Career Lessons From Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Sara Blakely and Other Successful FoundersThe lessons these founders can teach you - and how to apply them to your own career.SAMSUNGGoogle Assistant now present on Samsung Smart TVsAlong with Amazon Alexa and Bixby, Google Assistant is built into Samsung smart TVs.HOLIDAYSHow to Keep Your Team Energized During the HolidaysHere are two areas of focus that will revitalize your people during the holiday season.SUCCESS4 Major Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Should Not Mix Their Businesses with PoliticsTo be a successful entrepreneur, it is important to focus on what you do best.APPSMarissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo! launches "Sunshine Contacts" the app designed to manage contactsThis application, exclusively for iOS, manages users' contacts efficiently in the background.SUCCESS STORIESWhat We Can Learn From Natural Grocers' 65 Years of SuccessThe family operated organic retailer reminds us that you're only as strong as your foundation.FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPWhy Traditional Luxury Branding Is Out (And What's In) for 2021People are still spending money, but their hearts are calling the shots.SUCCESS STRATEGIES4 Lessons Matthew McConaughey Taught Me About SuccessThe Oscar winner talks openly about how to living a meaningful life.BUSINESS SKILLS10 Business Skills for 2021 That You Can Master on WeekendsTurn your weekends into a time to learn something new.SOCIAL MEDIA4 Booming Industries That Are Stealing Social Media's Growth PlaybookWhy alternative business models based on social media are taking off.PHYSICAL FITNESS10 Fitness Accessories to Splurge on for the HolidaysStay in shape throughout the winter.CHESS4 Strategic Business Lessons You Can Take From 'The Queen's Gambit'Here's how you can use a (fictional) chess grandmaster's moves to beat the competition.FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPThere's No Such Thing as Business as Usual This Holiday SeasonThree tips to enhance your brand's online revenue.EMAIL SECURITY AND PRIVACYThis Privacy Tool Integrates with Your Email for Extra SecurityGive your private email correspondence the protection it needs.GOALSDon't Set Goals, Set StandardsThe radical new approach to performance management.HAPPINESSDiscover your dream jobWho do you want to be in life? What would you dedicate your life to if you didn't have to work for money? What would you do at any time, place, without conditions? What retrospective of your professional life do you want to see after 5 or 10 years?GROWTH STRATEGIES12 Essential Tips for Growing Your BusinessWant to make more money? These strategies will help you exceed your revenue goals.SMESSmall grocery stores fear they will not survive closure due to second wave of COVID-19As of July 2020, 150 thousand of these small businesses had closed in Mexico.APPLEApple still lives off Steve Jobs technology: Founder of TelegramThe young Russian entrepreneur Pàvel Dúrov compared the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 5 alluding to its same aesthetic, but different dimension with an "ugly variety of cameras that protrude at three different heights."CORONAVIRUSJohnson & Johnson vaccine will be available in 2021 for 200 Mexican pesos!The drugmaker plans to distribute 1 billion doses over the next year.STREAMINGIs Online Video Streaming Killing the Internet -- and the Environment?Video service providers must explore sustainable ways to deliver streaming video content without sacrificing quality.PUMAAre you a fan of Nintendo? Puma will release footwear with design inspired by thisPuma celebrates its 35th anniversary with a new collection inspired by NES and Super Mario.CIRCULAR ECONOMYConscious capitalism, will it change the future of your business?The philosophy of Conscious Capitalism is a new way of approaching the generation of value in business with a win-win for all.SOCIAL MEDIAHow Startups Can Leverage Social CommerceSocial media remains and affordably effective tool for establishing brand visibility.PLAYSTATIONFrom Deep Fryers to Bags of Rice, Here's What Users Got Instead of Their PlayStation 5At first, it seemed like a joke, however, the complaints on social networks are growing.BUSINESS ACCELERATIONTIC Americas 2021: An opportunity to scale your businessTIC Americas is a hemispheric program implemented by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), with the support of the Organization of American States (OAS). It promotes the economic and social empowerment of young people so that through innovative solutions they contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).ADAPT TO BOUNCE FORWARDThe Best Brain-Training Wearables of 2020Omnipemf, Braintap, Muse and Sensate lead the pack in helping focus an uneasy mind.FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPWhy PR Is Fundamental in Scaling Your Business RapidlyFollow these four principles to transform from a great company to the benchmark in the industry.BUSINESS ACCELERATIONHyundai Motor Group Announces an Accelerator Program for Tech StartupsThe ZER01NE Accelerator 2020 open innovation platform facilitates collaboration between Hyundai Motor Group startups and teams on future technology projects.NEWS AND TRENDSThe Undertaker and Snoop Dogg Have Finally Collaborated on a Line of MerchandiseWrestling's spookiest living legend and hip-hop's most brand-conscious innovator are launching a selection of mutually inspired apparel. Because, sure.HEALTH AND WELLNESSAre Mind-Altering Substances Hurting Your Employees' Productivity? Here's What the Science Says.The work-related effects of mind-altering substances.ADAPT TO BOUNCE FORWARDThe Future of the Beauty Industry in an Increasingly Virtual WorldWith new norms in place, there are three keys to building trust and making things happen.How This Company Is Disrupting Content ConsumptionThe co-founder and CEO of Listory shares how his content app makes online time more meaningful.CORONAVIRUSCovid-19 Vaccine Could Cause Sharp Fall of the DollarThe U.S. currency could be weakened as soon as the vaccine begins to ship.NEWS AND TRENDSPfizer and BioNTech to Submit Emergency Authorization for Coronavirus Vaccine TodayThe drug companies are seeking the first coronavirus vaccine regulatory OK in the United States from the FDA.HOME OFFICESpruce up Your Home Office with Affordable, Top-Quality Wall ArtFind great deals on museum-quality art.StackCommerce | 3 min readADAPT TO BOUNCE FORWARDHow to Continue Collaboration When a Disaster OccursWe will inevitably face an abundance of different crises in our lifetimes, but it's crucial your business maintain efficient operations.SUCCESS STRATEGIESWhy More Women Entrepreneurs Should Play ChessThere's a dearth of women in chess clubs, just as there is in the entrepreneurial community. But there are strategic opportunities in both spaces.NEWS AND TRENDSTesla Model 3 Crash Sends Scorching Battery Cells Into a Nearby HouseHundreds of battery cells flew out, and at least two smashed through windows.NEWS AND TRENDSWhich Generation Is Most Dependent on Smartphones? (Hint: They're Young.)How smartphone-dependent are you, compared with your age group?WINESShore Up Your Wine Collection with These 15-Bottle Cases on SaleThis wine collection features bottles from the best wineries.READY FOR ANYTHING9 Must-Read Books to Prepare Entrepreneurs for 2021Be as ready as you can be for whatever the next year holds.GOLFGolf Accessories to Help Your Game This Winter Now on Sale for Black FridayWork on your stroke while sheltering-in-place.LEADERSHIPWhat Exactly Is Thought Leadership?What is thought leadership supposed to be? What has it turned into? And can you really take advantage of it to improve your chances of success?LEADERSHIPWhat Exactly Is Thought Leadership?What is thought leadership supposed to be? What has it turned into? And can you really take advantage of it to improve your chances of success?FOOD DELIVERYIf You Haven't Tried This Grocery Delivery Service Yet, It's TimeInstacart makes life easier for busy entrepreneurs.SALESFORCEConsidering an IT Admin Side Hustle? Prep for a Salesforce Administrator Certification.Get multiple practice tests and training in one course.PERFORMANCE IGNITEDExpose Cognitive Biases For What They AreHow to avoid flawed reasoning and make better decisions.CRYPTOCURRENCYHello Interoperability! Journey to the Mass Adoption of Decentralized Finance.Now that interoperability is no longer a problem, we have to embark on a new journey - the journey to mass adoption of decentralized finance.IKEAIKEA Will Open Its First Physical Store in Mexico in 2021It will be located in Mexico City's new Encuentro Oceanía shopping center.NEWS AND TRENDSTesla Is on a Hiring Spree to Try to Reach 500,000 Annual Car DeliveriesThe carmaker is also recruiting part-time staff because it doesn't have to buy them laptops, according to a report.FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPVenture Capital Makes Steady Comeback in Wake of Pandemic DipIn the third quarter, VC investments in U.S.-based companies were up 22 percent year-over-year.ENTREPRENEURSHIP CALLSAtento Presents Its Startup AcceleratorThe project, called Atento Next, will feature a selection of companies from the organization's areas of interest.BUSINESS IDEASHave a Great Idea for a Business? Here's the Most Important Thing You Need to Do.Far too often, entrepreneurs focus on their big idea rather than listening to the market.ENTERTAINMENT'Undercover Billionaire' Is Back. Would You Make This $1 Million Bet?Discovery's new season of 'Undercover Billionaire' challenges three entrepreneurs to build a million-dollar company in just 90 days.CORONAVIRUSWHO Director for Europe Gives Hope, But Warns of a Difficult 6 Months AheadEurope and the United States are once again the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, cautioned Hans Kluge.ENTREPRENEURS6 Secrets to Retirement Security for Business OwnersTake these steps now to have plenty of money in your retirement years.OXXOOxxo launches home delivery service to compete with WalmartThe convenience store has put functions in Mi Oxxo, an online sales platform.TEAMING UP FOR SUCCESSWant Accountability Within Your Team? Start at the TopOrganizations with a strong sense of accountability and personal ownership thrive. But how do you get there?LEADERSHIP LESSONSFree On-Demand Webinar: How the E-Signature Pioneer Transformed Into a $37B PowerhouseWatch Dan Springer, DocuSign CEO, as he shares the important management lessons he's learned throughout his career.MILLIONAIRESElon Musk is close to surpassing Bill Gates on the world's billionaires indexShares of Tesla have grown the fortune of the businessman, who now has $ 120 billion.GOOGLEGoogle Pay wants to become the best app to control your moneyBeyond being a means to spend money, Google Pay also wants to help you control it without the bank being an impediment.VIDEO GAMEThe Game Awards 2020: Meet the nominees for GOTY and other categoriesGeoff Keighley, who is a major figure in the video game industry, announced the list of nominees for the 2020 Game Awards.BEAUTY BUSINESSES100 Things You Need To Know To Succeed In The Modern Beauty IndustryThese beauty moguls and industry influencers offer their experience in the highly sought-after and competitive cosmetics market.TAXESSmall-Business Owners, Here's What You Need to Do to Reduce Your Taxes During Biden's PresidencyProactive tax planning will be the key to saving thousands in the coming year.WORKFLOWWorkflows Are the Future of AutomationThe future of automation is guided by low code and no code step-by-step guidesNEWS AND TRENDS'Toy Story' Turns 25: How Pixar's Feature Debut Changed Animation ForeverHere's how the notoriously staid Disney took the plunge with Pixar and unleashed an animation juggernaut.APPLEApple will compensate with 113 million dollars to 34 US states because they accuse it of 'planned obsolescence'According to a collective investigation, the firm hid battery-related problems and made a profit from selling new phones to harmed consumers.SELLING A BUSINESSIs Now the Time to Sell Your Business?Heed these signals, says M&A advisor Michelle Seiler TuckerAUDIOFrom Small Businesses to Amazon: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Social Audio FutureThere should be no doubt that the future of marketing and social media will have a strong audio component.ADAPT TO BOUNCE FORWARD'The Alignment Factor': Collaboration Is the Backbone of AlignmentThere is indeed no "I" in team.SMALL BUSINESS SURVIVES AND THRIVESMy Company Pivoted Too Early. Here's Why That Was a Great Thing.Living life digitally and distanced is commonplace now, but many businesses were cautious to make changes quickly.PARTNERSHIPSFinding Strength in Numbers: How to Supercharge Your Startup Growth 10x With Powerful PartnershipsFresh ideas and novel processes from partners can get you out of a stagnant phase and into more productive cycles.NEWS AND TRENDSManagers at a Tyson Facility Bet on How Many of Their Workers Would Get Sick With Covid-19 After They Were Ordered to Work During the Pandemic, a Wrongful Death Lawsuit AllegesThe lawsuit alleges that the facility downplayed and covered up the outbreak so workers would keep going in.