Reading List
I started reading a lot of books within the past couple years. This list is a compilation of what I believe are the best of those books. I’ve found these through collections of other individual’s book lists, online articles, etc. If you would like to discuss any of these with me, offer your own recommendations, etc, please e-mail me at dominic@athleteresourcecenter.com
The Core
When I was first exposed to Emerson’s writing in high school, I didn’t truly grasp his meaning. Years of experience and life later, I can finally understand some of his work. I highly recommend “Nature” and “Self-Reliance.”
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Everyone experiences rough times during their life, and those rough times can really test our character. This book is about Frankl’s life inside a Nazi concentration camp, and his psychotherapy called “Logotherapy.” Frankl challenges us to thinkabout what life demands from us, not vice versa. This is a must read book.
While this is a small book, it’s full of useful information. Seth Godin is a marketing genius, and in this book, he teaches us “when to quit, and when to stick.” As any athlete knows, not everything goes according to plan. The information Godin covers is immediately relatable to almost everything we do, and especially to our athletic careers.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
We often have grandiose ideas of things we wish to accomplish during our lives. We get excited to do something, but when it comes time to start, we have a hard time actually getting to work. The information Pressfield covers teaches how to overcome that resistance and accomplish our goals. Pressfield also teaches us what it means to be a pro at whatever we do. This is essential reading for everyone, especially athletes.
Supplementary Core Texts
The Broken American Male by Shmuley Boteach
Shmuley Boteach writes about why American men are unhappy with their lives, and how they express that unhappiness. He also addresses how to fix these problems. While I don’t agree with everything he writes, he still brings up a lot of great information. He challenges you to think about your actions, which is a good thing.
Unprotected by Miriam Grossman
This book examines the different behaviors people engage in, and why they’re incredibly unhealthy for us. People often fail to consider the long-term consequences of their actions, and this book explains how unhealthy for us that can be.
Literature
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
This is a page-turning read even though it clocks in at over 1,000 pages. Edmund Dantes is at the pinnacle of his life when everything is snatched away from him. He is imprisoned by other people, so they can further their lives. Edmund eventually gets out of prison, and seeks revenge on these people. This is a great book.
Only a few books can say its title became a common saying. Heller’s writing sucks you into the Catch-22 universe, and doesn’t let go for a second. Not only that, the ending is one of my favorite endings ever.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
I have a hard time becoming engaged in stories, which is why I usually don’t read fiction. This is one of the few books that made me enjoy reading fiction. Nothing I say can do this book justice. Phenomenal book.
This was the book I read immediately after East of Eden. It’s another monster book at over 1,000 pages, but it was worth the time I spent on it. There was only one part of the book I didn’t like (the radio broadcast, if you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about), which isn’t bad considering the sheer size of the book.
The Internet/Business
The Long Tail by Chris Anderson
This book explains how the internet revolutionizes business, and why. If you want to understand the basic difference between an internet business, a “brick-and-mortar” business, and how it affects your garage band, read this.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell teaches you why some products remain under-the-radar for years, then suddently explode into every home across the US. The small, subtle changes make the biggest difference, and this book explains why.
This is another book by Seth Godin that manages to teach you a lot despite its small size. The best businesses are those that are remarkable, and there is no other way to do business anymore. Adapting this to our own lives, coaches want remarkable players on their teams. By putting in the extra work when others don’t, is how we become remarkable.
The Pirate’s Dilemma by Matt Mason
Everyone knows by know about the RIAA, MPAA, and websites such as Napster, KaZaA, etc. The music and movie industries are losing the fight against pirates, and this book explains why. Piracy has existed a long time before the internet, and the companies that successfully “defeated” the pirates competed against them.
Wikinomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams
Wikinomics is another great internet book. It goes into more detail than some of the others I’ve recommended by examining different aspects of the internet, such as: open-sourcing, peering, prosumers, etc. Successful businesses are using these techniques to improve their product, create demand, and generally do better business.
Auto/Biography
Quiet Strength: The Principles, Priorities, and Practices of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy is full of insightful wisdom that applies to the athlete and non-athlete alike. In his autobiography, he covers his time growing up in Jackson, Michigan, all the way through winning the Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts. I highly recommend this book, because he inspires you and shows you that you can succeed on your own terms.
Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography by Lou Holtz
This is a great book written by legendary coach, Lou Holtz. In it, he covers his time starting out in football, his coaching career, etc. He also has a lot of insightful wisdom for athletes, coaches, and people outside of athletics. Definitely a must read book. Also, check out my advice for athletes based on my reading of this book.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
Theodore Roosevelt was an incredible man. He was born with poor health, however he didn’t let that stop him. He would often work himself harder than most people would. He was also a man of incredible character. Both his wife and his mother died on the same day, hours apart. He would routinely travel to the west, where he would live on his own for months at a time. He is by far my favorite president.
Other
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
Our time is valuable, split between any number of things. When we read, we have to get the most out of our reading the first time, to maximize our time. Adler teaches us how to do just that.
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
Gladwell teaches us that a sticky message is passed from person to person more easily than an unsticky one. So what’s a sticky message? Well, Chip and Dan Heath teach us what a sticky message is in this book. The information covered in this book is useful both online, and off. It can be applied on everything from teaching a class, to running a football team. Made to Stick is definitely a must read book.
If you’re an animal lover, I’m sure you’ve heard of Cesar Millan or watched his TV show, The Dog Whisperer. If you haven’t heard of Millan, he’s by far the best there is when it comes to rehabilitating dogs. This book teaches you to become your dog’s pack leader, and to give your dog the life it deserves.
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