These books motivated me in ways I didn't expect, changed my thinking about what it meant to be successful, and showed me there was an entirely new way to work.

Unfortunately, most books are a complete waste of time. Instead, I encourage you to give these three books a read. They're well worth the time!

1: Skin in the Game by Nassim Taleb

I read this book just in late 2019, and one key takeaway was to be mindful of the person who advises without having skin in the game - in other words, if their advice will likely hurt you more than them.

If you enjoy reading thought-provoking, edgy and original books, this book is for you.

2: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

This book was recommended to me by a good friend in sales.

Here is a sentence I particularly enjoyed reading:

"Life is a series of negotiations you should be prepared for; buying a car; negotiating a pay hike; buying a home; renegotiating rent; deliberating with your partner. Taking emotional intelligence and intuition to the next level.."

I enjoyed this book a lot, especially the chapter on tactical empathy. Chris Voss, who worked as an FBI hostage negotiator, eloquently conveys the importance of empathy when negotiating. 

3: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Finally, I think everyone should read this book.

This book provides practical guidance on breaking bad habits and forming new ones. I particularly enjoyed reading about the importance of taking small incremental steps in everyday routines that compound into massive change over time.

Let me know if you have any other books I should consider adding to the list.