Close your eyes and think of the successful CEOs of your favourite companies: Steve Jobs? Elon Musk? Bill Gates? And if you can, think of the one key to success that they always emphasize. Aren't we all thinking of reading? Just to quote a few, Gates once said:
“Reading is still the main way that I both learn new things and test my understanding.”
Did you know that you can learn rocket science by reading? Elon Musk, when asked about how he learned to build rockets, replied:
“I read books.”
How about a social media company CEO Mark Zuckerberg praising books over media?
“Books allow you to fully explore a topic and immerse yourself in a deeper way than most media today.”
The best part about reading is that you don't need a fortune or experience to start reading, nor do you need connections to get yourself a book. Perhaps there is one exception to the "no free lunch" rule of the real world: the experiences of the successful people are explained and offered for you to learn from the comfort of your bed.
From local public libraries to second-hand online bookstore like Thryft, there are tons of resources around us that gives easy access to reading. In this blog, we suggest books that will give insights on success, from the empowerment of women and financial freedom to discovering & developing your passion.
Pick an area of interest and read along to see our curations!
Empowering Women
Society has made great progress towards gender equality, but is far from being perfect. From shattering stereotypes as a racial and gender minority to building a satisfying career as a woman in leadership role, the following success stories of women is hope to society that celebrates powerful women.
Warrior Lessons
By Phoebe Eng
Phoebe Eng shatters stereotypes and offers a bold new vision for American-raised daughters like herself. A second-generation eldest daughter, caught between cultures, codes of behaviour, and colliding worlds, Eng had to learn that in order to be true to herself, conflict and tough choices were necessary. But with those, she found, came a wonderful payoff: the doors to opportunity flew open. Serving as both guide and mentor, Eng addresses the range of issues Asian American women face. Warrior Lessons signifies a generation and goes far beyond the limiting portrayal of what Eng calls The Good Little Model Minority Girl. At last, here is a manual for today's woman warrior as she channels her rage and cultivates her power.
Lean in : Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
By Sheryl Sandberg
Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women's progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential. Recounting her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family, she provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of 'having it all'. Sandberg's book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth, changing the conversation from what women can't do to what they can.
The Mary Kay Way : Timeless Principles from America's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur
By Mary Kay Ash
In Mary Kay's book, You will find inspiration and real, proven success principles that represents the forty-five year old success story of Mary Kay Ash, founder Mary Kay, Inc., the cosmetics company that provides women with unlimited opportunities for success. A foreword by Mary Kay's grandson, also a company executive, introduces her timeless guide to entrepreneurial success.
The $1000 Project
By Canna Campbell
As an entrepreneur and a financially independent woman, Canna Campbell gives general advice on how to get financially healthy, including how to clear up bad debt and how to manage your superannuation more sensibly. She'll keep you motivated, focused and on track as you push yourself towards a better financial future. Her success story is here to empower you and to remind you that anyone can do it, as long as one's mind is set for success.
Ways to Financial Success
Many dream of achieving financial freedom so that they can rest, travel, and spend time with their loved ones whenever they like, wherever. As sweet as it sounds, it is not that easy. But everyone needs to start somewhere. We hope the following set of books provides you with a sense of direction.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
By Robert T. Kiyosaki
In this thought-provoking book about financial literacy, independence, and investments, Kiyosaki explains his financial theories and how money flows in and out of our wallets. Thought as an attempt to reprogram our perspectives on why we do what we do, Rich Dad, Poor Dad provides valuable insights in understanding our motives and the world around us.
Street Smarts
By Jim Rogers
Wall Street legend and bestselling author Jim Rogers offers investing insights and economic, political, and social analysis, drawing on lessons and observations from his lifetime in the markets. Jim Rogers, whose entertaining accounts of his travels around the world–studying the markets from Russia to Singapore from the ground up–has enthralled readers, investors and Wall Street aficionados for decades. In his engaging memoir Street Smarts, Rogers offers pithy commentary from a lifetime of adventure, from his early years, growing up a naïve kid in Demopolis, Alabama, to his fledgling career on Wall Street, to his cofounding of the wildly successful Quantum Fund.
Value Investing : From Graham to Buffett and Beyond
By Bruce C. Greenwald
Greenwald reveals the fundamental principles of value investing, the one investment technique that has proven itself consistently over time. After covering general techniques of value investing, the book proceeds to illustrate their applications through profiles of Warren Buffett, Michael Price, Mario Gabellio, and other successful value investors. A number of case studies highlight the techniques in practice. Learn value investing from the world's greatest experts' experiences, make them yours, and find your ways to financial success.
Path to Discovering and Developing your Passion
You might view success from a different perspective; financial freedom may not define success for many. You may find a purposeful and meaningful life driven by passion more successful than anything else. If you resonate with this, this section is for you.
Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success
By Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey tells you how to achieve your dreams using the gift you already have. Every one of us was born with a gift endowed by our creator-something you do the best at with very little effort. While it can be like someone else's, your gift is yours alone. No one can take it away. You are the only one who can use it-or waste it. Steve shows how that gift holds your greatest chance at success, and the fulfillment of your life's mission and purpose. He helps you learn to define your gift-whether it's being a problem solver, a people-connector, a whiz with numbers, or having an eye for colors. He makes clear that your job is not your gift; you may use it in your work, but it can also be used in your marriage or relationship, your community, and throughout every aspect of your life.
No Limits : The Will to Succeed
By Michael Phelps
Holder of the most gold medals in a single Olympics and the winner of 16 Olympic medals, Michael Phelps talks for the first time about how he has overcome these and other challenges - about how to develop the mental attitude needed to persevere, not just in athletic competition but in life. His success is imbued with the perspective of overcoming the obstacles that come your way and believing in yourself no matter the odds. No Limits explores the hard work, commitment, and sacrifice that go into reaching any goal. Whether it is on the starting block during an Olympic swim meet or in the weight room on a typical day, Phelps's dedication has led him to unparalleled excellence. Filled with anecdotes from family members, friends, teammates, and his coach, No Limits gives a behind-the-scenes look at the makings of a real champion. Borrowing his words, you can accomplish anything if you fully commit yourself to it. Take this step-by-step guide to realizing your dream and make it come true.
Big Potential
By Shawn Achor
Bestselling author Shawn Achor shows how to unlock hidden sources of potential in ourselves and others. In a world that thrives on competition and individual achievement, we are measuring and pursuing potential all wrong. By pursuing success in isolation - pushing others away as we push ourselves too hard - we are not just limiting our potential, we are becoming more stressed and disconnected than ever. In his highly anticipated follow-up to The Happiness Advantage, Achor reveals a better approach. Big Potential offers a new path to thriving in the modern world.
We hope these books serve as an inspiration for your aspirations, small and big.
If you want to find out more, head over to our personal development, biographies, and memoirs collections!
