In my experience, there are two types of authors. There are authors who write a book to promote themselves. And there are authors who write a book to add to the body of knowledge.
This list is a short list of the second type. In this list, we go across a range of ideas. Because if you're reading this, you - like me - believe there is more to life than specializing in one dimension. These books are put together to build multi-dimensionality. I hope you enjoy it.
- Ryan Richardson
1. The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is an very enjoyable story of a shepherd who says yes to his personal adventure. It's a must read for anyone who knows they were made for more. Crucially though, it perfectly captures the idea of the Hero Journey.
2. Pathways To Bliss
By Joseph Campbell
Bliss is one Hero Journey after another. Campbell studies myth across the world and millennia and found most stories follow the same outline. In this book, he talks about how that applies to us, right now. The author shows us how the hero journey represents the psyche, and how Freud, Jung, and Adlers theories put it all together.
3. Psycho-Cybernetics
by Maxwell Maltz
Too much attention has been given to the dark side of human nature and psychology. Psycho-Cybernetics changes that. Pulling from Alfred Adler and Emerson among other thinkers, Maltz organizes a framework for us to change how we see ourselves. When we change our identity we hijack the millions of thoughts, behaviours and bias we need to change to achieve our goals.
4. Crucial Conversations
By Joseph Grenny
No matter what our goals are, they involve other people. Knowing how to talk to them effectively can not be overstated. No book has had a greater impact on my day-to-day life than this one. Life is a lot easier when you can talk about anything to anyone at anytime in any circumstance.
5. Why Him? Why Her?
By Helen Fisher
This is maybe the most underrated book I've read. The title is misleading. Yes, this will help you find and keep love. But it will also uncover your personality type, and how to engage with others types. Helen Fisher is the lead scientist behind Tinder, Match.com, and other dating sites. She teaches from an anthropological and biological lens. Once you read this, you will not look at yourself or your relationships that same.
6. The H Factor Of Personality
by Kibeom Lee and Michael C. Ashton
Speaking of personality, what is the most scientifically proven method for organizing personality? HEXACO is the answer. The big 5's older brother. The important addition to H - meaning honesty and humbleness - allows us to understand the positive and negative character traits in ourselves and others. Of the 50+ books I've read on personality, this is the clear winner.
7. The Lessons Of History
By Will Durant
"If you can say it in two words, don't say it in three". Durant takes this summarized approach seriously. Summing up the most important ideas of the human story so far. There is no other book I return to more often, and with more joy than this one.
8. The Serengeti Rules
By Sean B. Carroll
If you want to be successful at anything, you must understand reality. Nature is the best lens for granting access to reality. This book will change what you think you know about nature.
9. Reality Is Not What It Seems
by Carlo Rovelli
From before Christ to now, this book shows us how physical laws were understood before science, and the major building blocks along the way to modern understanding. No other book on psychics is as easy to grasp large theories.
10. How To Stubbornly Refuse To Make Yourself Miserable About Anything
By Albert Ellis
Cognitive behavioural therapy would not exist without Ellis. He is the most important man in modern psychology that most have never heard of. He's a joy to read, and writes in the simplest terms. Taking very big concepts and making them very approachable. He's also a huge fan of Alfred Adler and builds on his goal oriented and positive approach to psychology which I love.
11. Thinking, Fast And Slow
By Daniel Khaneman
No other book comes close to knowledge and value inside this one. Covering everything from how the brain really works, to emotions, biases, persuasion and more. This is deserving of more than just the Nobel prize. This is a staple.
12. Power Vs. Force
By David R. Hawkins
You can get pretty far using sheer brute force. But it's hard, and leaves us empty. Hawkins shows us a better way. It will reframe how you see effort. But more importantly, it will introduce you to consciousness in a rational way. It covers world-view, god-view, life-view. And it will uncover human behaviour in ways you've likely never thought to consider.
13. Understanding Human Nature
By Alfred Adler
I genuinely don't know how this isn't mandatory reading in ever classroom in the world. Actually, yes I do. Because everyone would have agency, be happy, and the current system would change over night. Freud and Jung get talked about all the time in the world of psychology, but Adler was just as crucial and infinitely more actionable and helpful. This book has everything.
14. The Farther Reaches Of Human Nature
By Abraham Maslow
By now, you're probably seeing a pattern. Psychology is crucial but no part of it is more important than its positive approach. Adler and Maslow at the top of this list. Maslow's approach is heavy on creativity. Many people treat human nature as a sinister subject, not Maslow. This will reframe how you think of human nature, psychology, creativity, and peak experiences.
15. Man And His Symbols
By Carl Jung
Jung's work on symbols, the unconscious, archetypes, is the most well-rounded and comprehensive guide to grasping so much of reality. And this book brings this list full circle from the Alchemist and Pathways to Bliss because Jung goes into depth and detail about what we uncover in those first two books. However, his work is far less approachable than both books but after reading everything else in this list first, you'll tackle this one easily now.
Don't miss out on your multi-format reading summaries.
I've personally read and summarized these of books and others into actionable guides for becoming a modern polymath.
