Bibliotheca

I have compiled here an assortment of books that I’ve been strongly influenced by and recommend that you read as well. I only feature books that I have read myself and consider the best of their kind; every item here is listed for a reason. The list also follows the law of the survival of the fittest, and I intend to replace any titles upon discovery of something superior. Above all, the list is here to benefit you and to showcase tools that are genuinely capable of guiding you to success.

Self-Improvement

  • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. A truly life-changing book that compels you to believe that you can succeed in whatever you decide to pursue. If I had the power to design high school curricula, I would put Think and Grow Rich right at the top of the list of compulsory books to be studied by every student. You can also download the free PDF here.
  • The Master-Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill. If you liked Think and Grow Rich, The Master-Key to Riches is a complementary book meant to provide more insight on the concepts introduced in the former title. I wanted to list this book here particularly because I actually gained more from this book than from Think and Grow Rich. I do, however, recommend that you read Think and Grow Rich too because it introduces you to all the foundational concepts.
  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. This is a great manual that teaches you how to deal with people diplomatically. It provides a lot of insightful ideas as well as simple techniques like memorizing people’s names to create closer initial relationships.
  • The Quick & Easy Way to Effective Speaking by Dale Carnegie. Whether or not you’re aiming at speaking in public, this book helps you to learn the basic skills needed in communication, including self-confidence, using effective wording, and presenting your thoughts in an organized manner.
  • Getting Things Done by David Allen. Although clearly geared toward corporate employees and executives, David Allen’s book relays a lucid message to anyone in need of getting things organized and boosting his or her productivity tenfold. The manual is full of techniques that you can implement right off.
  • Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin R. Doland. This manual walks you through the steps to organize your life at home and at work. It’s an intensive one-week program (which you can of course choose to complete at your own pace) that teaches you how to effectively fold your clothes, how to keep your desk and closets neat, how to manage projects, and how to make a habit of being an unclutterer, among many other no-nonsense techniques that you can start applying immediately.

Entrepreneurship

  • Rework by Jason Fried & David H. Hansson. Rework is like the no-nonsense business version of the Tao Te Ching. The short book is so densely packed with wisdom that I should just tell you to get it now. It busts many of the hindering myths about entrepreneurship being too risky and demanding for ordinary people like you and me. It’s a manual for a successful business plan mindset.
  • The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries & Jack Trout. The authors of this 132-page book have carefully handpicked 22 core marketing principles that are necessary to grasp what business is about. Every lesson is carried out in easy-to-understand English and exemplified by relatable anecdotes. This guide is definitely worth getting especially if you’re new to the world of business, marketing, and/or entrepreneurship.
  • The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. Spend time doing things that you love, and outsource the rest. This book was a big eye-opener for me, because I didn’t see outsourcing as something that would grant more freedom and less stress in life. It’s a treasure chest full of practical tips for you if you intend on pursuing (designing) a wealthy lifestyle governed by free time rather than work. (I haven’t read this expanded edition yet, but it appears to be reinforced with dozens of pages devoted to case studies and examples.)
  • Career Renegade by Jonathan Fields. This manual is almost like a step-by-step walkthrough of going entrepreneur because it features all the necessary tools and techniques for creating and maintaining a business of your own. Much of the information is centered on running a business online, but the philosophical principles covered in the book are certainly nothing less than immortal.

Writing

  • The Elements of Style by William Strunk & E. B. White. A no-brainer for anyone wanting to improve his or her writing. It goes straight to the important points without wordy intros and explanations—everything is clear and succinct. This 85-page manual is full of practicable gems: how to use correct punctuation (like dashes and semicolons), lists of commonly misused and misspelled words, active versus passive voice, et cetera.
  • Writing with Style by John R. Trimble. Following in Strunk and White’s footsteps, John Trimble supplements the knowledge contained in The Elements of Style with lucid tips on, for example, where to place periods when using parentheses. While these two books are very similar in content, they effectively complement each other. I personally tend to consult Writing with Style the most.

Languages

  • Spanish by Pimsleur Language Programs. I’ve been trying a couple of programs for learning Spanish, but this is—hands down—the best one ever. With this program, you learn the language naturally, that is, without killing yourself with grammar and an oveflow of new words. Although the price is higher than on other programs, it’s definitely worth the investment if you’re serious about learning the language. If you want, you can check my lesson notes for the first three units. When you’re done with the first 30 units (or if you can’t wait), don’t forget to grab Spanish II, Spanish III, and Spanish Plus.
  • Cantonese Chinese by Pimsleur Language Programs. Cantonese has nine tones, and if you ask me, the most effective way to learn the differences is by hearing them in their appropriate context, pronounced by a native speaker, and repeating them by yourself. This program makes sure, if you follow the instructions, that you learn the correct tone for every word while learning how to actually speak the language. Cantonese is one of the hardest languages to learn, but this program makes it much easier for you.
  • Guide to Reading & Writing Japanese by Kenneth Hanshall, et al. A must-have reference for kanji learners. This book includes all the 1,945 characters that Japanese students are expected to learn in elementary and middle school. All kanjis have been given appropriate English translations, and most of them a number of example usages.
  • Remembering the Kanji by James W. Heisig. This book is probably the best self-learner’s guide to remembering how to write kanji. You might reach a comfortable level of proficiency at reading kanji just by being constantly exposed to Chinese characters and their readings, but writing is a totally different game. It’s so easy to forget how some characters are constructed. But Heisig has developed a fun way to memorize kanjis by associating a story with each one. These stories are told by using so-called “primitive” components, which are merely individual parts of a kanji character. Advanced learners should also get Remembering the Kanji, Vol. 2 and Remembering the Kanji, Vol. 3.