I have been a reader for as long as I can remember. A core memory of mine when it comes to books is when I was in elementary or middle school. My parents had instructed me to turn my lights out and get to bed.
Problem was, this was not an option.
See, I was deep in the throes of Harry Potter. Which one of the seven books, I cannot specifically remember, but suffice it to say: Going to bed just wouldn’t do.
But I listened, being the good little boy I was. Turned the lights right out. Then I went to the bathroom, turned those lights on, cracked my bedroom door open and used the lights from the bathroom to illuminate the pages. I felt not unlike young Harry practicing lumos in his bedroom at the Dursleys. My mom couldn’t contain herself. She wasn’t supposed to laugh, but she did.
What’s a parent to do with that?
My passion for reading has never waned. In fact, it has only grown stronger and stronger, alongside my passion for writing, which began as a reporter for a weekly newspaper in Baltimore County when I was 16 years old and continues today as an author of six books (and counting) and writer for various sports publications. I’ve always enjoyed when other folks — Ryan Holiday, Tim Ferriss, to name a few — make their book recommendations available, and I figured I’d do so myself here.
I have loosely categorized them, and when books fit into multiple categories — fiction and self-help, for example, or fiction and sports — I just put them in both. They are ordered roughly in terms of how much I enjoyed them or learned from them. It isn’t an exact science, just a list meant to be enjoyed and, hopefully, to inspire your next read. If you do feel so inspired to buy any of these books, for transparency’s sake, all of the links to them are affiliate links, and I get a kickback when you buy using those links, but you obviously have no pressure to do so.
This list will continue to be updated as I read good books, or remember good books I’ve read that I forgot to include.
Until then, enjoy, and keep your reading light forever on.
Nonfiction
Best Self-Help & Personal Development Books I’ve Read
The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt
I guess this book falls into self-help, seeing as it is going to help A LOT of selves after they read this book. I know it helped me more than I thought possible, which is why this is No. 1 in this column for me. A small snippet here won’t do, so I wrote an entire blog on this book’s impact, alongside Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus, which you can read here. But I cannot recommend Anxious Generation enough.
Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey
Greenlights was one of those can’t-put-it-down types when I read it back in 2020, rare for a nonfiction book in the self-help category. I’ve been a fan of McConaughey’s work on the Big Screen for a long time, but the stories he tells, and the way in which he tells them in Greenlights would make a phenomenal movie in and of itself. Floating down the Amazon, living with a bizarre family in Australia, wrestling a tribesman in Africa, going on a retreat with monks for three weeks, giving up romantic comedies for good — they’re all good. And they’re all wonderfully told in Greenlights.
How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
At the time I read this, in 2020, it was the most impactful book I had ever read at the time. That title has since changed several times over, but How to Win Friends is still easily in the top-10, and one of the most gifted and recommended books I have ever read. One I continue to revisit often.
Atomic Habits, James Clear
This is one of those books that, many many years after reading it, I still see impacting me every single day. That’s how good James Clear’s Atomic Habits is. It was especially important for me as an athlete, and currently as a coach and writer of books myself, but this can apply to everyone and everything in life. It would probably make my top-five all-time most valuable list of books if I ever decide to put that together.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, Mark Manson
I read this one as my media career was beginning to take off in earnest, which meant more eyes on my work, which meant more unsolicited feedback on my work in the form of comments and direct messages and everything else on the internet. Certain books are meant to be picked up and read at certain times of your life, and goodness did this one land, as Manson kept me sane by emphasizing the limited amount of fucks we have to give in our life, and why we cannot lend them out to people we do not know, or many we even do know. This changed my life, and it is not hyperbole to say so. Even if you’re not in the media — and we all kind of are, in the era of social media — this is a hugely important book.
Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss
This is not the book I have re-read the most, but it is, by far, the one I revisit the most. Ferriss’ tome, Tools of Titans, is a compilation of the first several years of his podcast, taking the best insights and pieces of wisdom from each of his guests and whittling them into bite-sized golden nuggets of awesomeness. This book, alongside its sister companion, Tribe of Mentors, sit on the top shelf of my bookshelf, readily available whenever I’m in search of a quick hit of wisdom. It’s one of the best uses of $20-some dollars I’ve ever spent.
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, Jonathan Haidt
Haidt has become a powerhouse to me, as his work is becoming increasingly important with this new generation of young people who are increasingly disconnected and unfulfilled. I never intended to read The Happiness Hypothesis; it came as a set of books when my in-laws — God bless them — bought The Coddling of the American Mind for me for Christmas one year. After plowing through Coddling on a bus ride with the Florida State beach volleyball team, I turned to The Happiness Hypothesis and enjoyed that one far more.
The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt
Sensing a theme here? Three Jonathan Haidt books in the top six for me and yes, they’re that good. Haidt is just so damn important, and the messages he’s writing about are critical to this generation and, especially, the next. Anything he writes, read. Please.
Deep Work, Cal Newport
If you are to read one book by Cal Newport, Deep Work is the one. The others are all a rehashing of a similar message: In order to do quality work, you need to go deep. And in order to go deep, you need to give your mind some space to think, to get out of what he calls The Shallows, an area outside of our mental Prideland that includes social media and all things trivial. When you pair this with Jonathan Haidt’s Anxious Generation and Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus, it’ll make you rethink your use of social media in the best way possible. Changed me forever.
Can’t Hurt me, David Goggins
This book will punch you in the face and scream at you to get off your lazy behind and get to work. I’ve never had an author yell at me so much — in a good way — without the use of all caps as David Goggins does here. Man, I LOVE Goggins. Love every podcast he’s been on, love everything he writes, love what he’s all about. This is as inspirational a story as there is, and one that’ll motivate the hell out of you to get doing what you’ve always wanted to do. Stay hard and go get some.
The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter
When I read The Comfort Crisis in February of 2023, it inspired me to go on an elk hunt that November that would become the most memorable experience I’ve had in quite some time. So bravo, Michael Easter. But even if you’re not interested in hunting, this book packs a ton of valuable lessons in it, beginning with the obvious: We’re too comfortable, and we’re becoming worse because of it. Maybe you’ll take the stairs after reading.
The Art of Living: The Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness, Epictetus
Meditations (see below) gets all of the hype amongst the Stoic books, but I actually find Epictetus’ Manual the more valuable read. Both are making this list, of course, but this is somehow somewhat underrated and just as jammed with lessons. Easy to pick up, turn to a random page, and get a nugget to make your day better.
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
The number of times I had seen Meditations recommended, without me actually buying it or giving it a shot, was more than any other book in the world. Finally, finally, finally, I bought and read it – and then read it again, and then again. It’s more than worth the hype, and it is now an annual read for me. I’ve heard it said that everything that needs to be said (or written) has already been said (or written), but people need to keep saying them because nobody was listening. When you read Meditations, you’ll know that’s true, as this is the foundation of every self-help or leadership or some type of improvement book of any kind. You don’t really need to bother with anything but good ole Marcus and his Meditations.
Range, David Epstein
This is one of those books that spoke to my soul, and maybe I loved it so much because it confirmed my bias for the way I live my life, which is one of constant reinvention. Not only does Epstein write that this is OK, but in fact it’s going to be advantageous in the long run, because you’re creating such a unique set of cross-sectional skills that hardly anybody else possesses. It moves you away from being an expert on one thing, and into being proficient at multiple things, thereby making you an expert at the intersection points of those skill-sets. It’s a different way of explaining the now-famous Blue Ocean Strategy. Fun, informative, and pleasant read.
Breath, James Nestor
Amazing, how much impact a book can have on the simplest, most automatic thing we do: breathing. Nestor’s deep dive into the art of breathing, and how much it effects our daily lives, mindset, physiology, psychology, sleep — literally everything — was a hugely important read for me, especially as an athlete. The practices he writes about I still use daily, even as a NARP, and I highly recommend this one to every single person reading this blog.
Wisdom of the Ages, Wayne Dyer
Like all of the books in my annuals section, this one can be picked up, turned to any page, and a lesson can be gleaned in five minutes that will set you on a course for a better day. Do this a few days a week, and you’ll have a better week. Dyer selects 60 poems — or excerpts from poems — or bits of ancient literature and adds his own commentary, and I love almost all of his selections. My current copy is worn to bits — just as any good book should be.
Tao te Ching: A book about the way, and the power of the way, Lao Tzu
Like Meditations above, this is a book I read every year. Throughout my day, I try to read three types of books: one for the mind, one for the spirit, and a fiction one for the soul, something fun. This is for the spirit. Open to any page and you will find yourself something to mediate upon. Do this every day for a week or two or three, and you’ll be in a better mental state than you were before, I promise.
Living From the Soul: The 7 Spiritual Principles of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sam Torode
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and John Muir have long been heroes of mine, so when I saw this book, it was an instant buy. I’m glad I did, as I flipped through this one multiple times this year. If you pair this with Meditations and simply flip back and forth between the two, you’ll have virtually everything you need to know for good livin’.
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
I, like many people, get excited about a lot of things – and therefore get distracted by many things. Oftentimes, it is these very distractions that get in the way of us accomplishing anything, for we’re too busy changing directions to find out if anything is actually working or not. This book was a valuable one for me, as I get excited about all sorts of things both trivial and not, and am therefore easily distracted. The One Thing expounds on exactly that: How focusing on ONE THING is often the difference between winning and not, succeeding and not.
Gift From the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Ryan Holiday, the modern stoic and tremendous writer, is maybe my most-trusted source of book recommendations. This one has been a recurring recommend from him, and Gift From the Sea had been on my to-reads list for multiple years. My parents bought it for me for Christmas in 2024, and I devoured it – it’s a quick read – in a few days.
I’m a firm believer that the timing of reading certain books is what makes them so magical – or irrelevant – and Gift From the Sea hit at the perfect time for me, at the tail end of the most exhausting year of my life. The point is stillness, space, quiet, slowing down. I needed that, and it felt like Lindbergh was writing directly to me, nearly 75 years after the initial publication of the book. Cannot recommend this enough.
Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss
I’d heard Chris Voss on a number of podcasts, but it wasn’t until Jordan Cheng recommended Never Split the Difference that I actually picked it up to read it. I’m glad I did. We’re all getting sold to, marketed to every day, and many of us are selling and marketing something or other every day. This will help see through a lot of the manipulation, and also help navigate normal, everyday encounters in a more agreeable manner. Big fan, will re-read.
The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene
I guess this falls into the self-help category, though truth be told, I don’t really know. Either way, I believe this is an absolute must, not necessarily to teach people how to manipulate others and attain power, but to recognize it when it’s going on around them. This is one of the most eye-opening books I’ve ever read.
Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon
You can read this book in a day, or a few hours. It’s fun, and you can glean quite a bit of insight; I certainly did, which is why it’s on my list. Kleon says what everyone is thinking: There are no original thoughts. Not really. Everything is rehashed, spun in their own way — stolen from the greats and then repackaged. I loved it, and the rave reviews suggest I’m not alone in that.
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You About Quitting, Seth Godin
Why would a book about quitting be in my favorite all-time self-help category? Because Seth Godin examines the difference between the learning curve, where we tend to get worse before we get better, and when we’re abjectly failing and need to change course and quit. It was valuable for me when I read it, during my first years as a professional beach volleyball player, and it’s just as valuable now.
The War of Art, Steven Pressfield
This was the first book I read by Pressfield — and it set off a chain of me reading everything else he writes. This isn’t so much a book so much as it is a hundred-plus pages of quick-hitter sayings for motivation and inspiration. Useful, depending on when you need it in your life.
Turning Pro, Steven Pressfield
I love Steven Pressfield’s writing. I try to read one of his books every year, be it War of Art or Turning Pro or any of his other titles. I’m a fan of short, pithy statements that are easy to remember, especially when you have a day or few hours where you just don’t feel like doing what you know you ought to do.
Stillness is the Key, Ryan Holiday
Like Steven Pressfield above, I’ll read anything Ryan Holiday puts out — and I’ll enjoy it, to the tune of five stars. This was no exception. In a world of, as the Grinch might say, noise noise noise noise, where we are at our best is in stillness and quiet. I am, anyway. Holiday backs it up with stories, anecdotes, and the why behind it. This pairs well with George Mumford’s The Mindful Athlete.
The Molecule of More, Daniel Z. Lieberman
Dopamine has sort of gotten a bad rap lately because so many in the tech industry have hijacked it and used to their gain — see Stolen Focus for more on that. But in the Molecule of More, Lieberman explains the necessity of one of the most talked about molecules, why it’s good, and how to harness it for good rather than let it be hijacked for bad by the folks on Instagram and Facebook and whatever else comes out of Silicon Valley. It’s informative and will help you recapture what is likely your narrowed attention span.
Stolen Focus, Johann Hari
The first half of this book is where I got all of the value, and if Hari halted there, after 100 pages or so, it would get a five-star rating. That said, it continued on, and the second half, while not a waste of time, was not nearly as useful as the first. So, you may be asking, why is it on your best books of all-time list? In fact, this is the only book on here that only received a four-star on Goodreads. That’s how good, and useful, those first 100 pages were. This book changed how I use social media and the internet. Not only was it a wakeup call to the damages I knew it was inflicting, but there were many practical solutions offered as well, solutions my family is implementing. It will be one of the more impactful books I’ve read, even if the last half was just sort of meh.
The Inner Knight, Billy Allen
Whenever Billy Allen comes out with a book, I’m going to give it five stars because he’s my friend and that’s something friends should do for other writer friends. Ratings are gold for authors and writers. But I wouldn’t write about The Inner Knight here if I didn’t think it was something everyone should read — and I do think everyone should read this book. It’s a quick, fun, fictional tale that will teach you quite a bit about sports psychology and a few tools that will help you on the court, in the classroom, wherever.
Best Sports Books I’ve Read
Open, Andre Agassi
Best sports book of all time to me, and also one of the best memoirs. J.R. Moehringer’s writing in this wildly open and vulnerable memoir makes it absolutely magical to read. I’ve read this, I don’t know, three times or so, and will probably get to it about a dozen before my eyes just can’t read no more. It’s that good.
The Cost of These Dreams, Wright Thompson
This book, an anthology of the best of Wright Thompson’s longform pieces, comes with me everywhere I go. If there’s a trip that requires a flight, it’s coming. Not only is Thompson one of the best two writers alive, and the best, I think, in sports, he’s also a man who tackles enormous topics of serious importance that happen to revolve around the sports world. If you like phenomenal writing, wonderfully-told stories, and deep topics, this is one you can turn to over and over and over again.
The Confident Mind, Nate Zinsser
Zana Muno recommended this book when she came on SANDCAST early in 2023. If Zana recommends it, I read it, and I’m glad I did. This was easily the most useful book I’ve read in years, if not ever. I’d consider it mandatory for any athlete, at any level, and have brought it up on probably a dozen episodes since. It is by far the most I’ve ever recommended a single book, even more than The Alchemist.
The Inner Game of Tennis, Timothy W. Gallwey
Talk about a multi-vitamin of a book. It doesn’t matter what sport you play, The Inner Game of Tennis contains some of the most useful 122 pages you’ll read as an athlete. It’s light but packed with some of the most valuable lessons I took away as a professional beach volleyball player and now use as a coach at Florida State University.
The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance, George Mumford
I can sum this book up in two words, really: meditate, and breathe. But reading the whole thing — it’s a quick read, I promise — will make it more memorable, with anecdotes from Mumford’s days working with the Chicago Bulls. Most elite athletes I know have read, or at least skimmed, this book, and there’s a reason for it: It’s useful.
When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, David A. Maraniss
2024 was my first foray into coaching, and my reading list reflected as much. When Pride Still Mattered is perhaps the most well-known of any coaching biography out there, and its reputation is deserved: Maraniss’ deep dive into Vince Lombardi is an absolute must for any coach, or any sports fan, really.
Belichick, Ian O’Connor
Ian O’Connor is a sportswriting treasure, and Bill Belichick is a coaching treasure, the greatest of all time, in my opinion. This book examines Belichick’s background, beginning with his father, Steve, himself a phenomenal coach who laid the groundwork for his son to become the indelible figure he did. If you’re curious how Belichick came to be who he is today, and what pieces you, as a coach or leader yourself, can take away from it, this is an excellent read.
The Education of a Coach, David Halberstam
I went on a huge Bill Belichick kick after I was hired to become the assistant coach of the beach volleyball team at Florida State, and found Halberstam’s book fascinating. Rather than dive into Belichick’s life, as Ian O’Connor did above, he looked at the men from whom Belichick learned the most. Halberstam’s writing is wonderful, and I learned a ton from it while also enjoying the writing.
The Club, Joshua Robinson
I discovered this book when reading a Sports Illustrated preview of the World Cup. I have no interest in soccer and never really have, but I have huge interest in storytelling, sports business, and good writing, and Robinson delivered. This was a fascinating, rollicking tale of how the Premier League became the exorbitant monster that it is today. Soccer — football, whatever — fans will love it, and anyone who enjoys good writing, excellent reporting, and a tale well told will enjoy as well. This has the makings of a documentary.
The Formula, Joshua Robinson
Same author as above, just a different topic — but the same rollicking, thrilling ride through the history of one of the most fascinating sports on the planet in F1. It’s a deliciously written story, and again, I feel compelled to repeat: I have no interest at all in F1. Never watched a single race. But I love sports, business, writing, and their intersection, and Robinson delivers again just as he did with The Club above.
Learning to be an Ecological Coach, Rob Gray
Rob Gray is the father of the modern coaching movement, pioneering a shift from the top-down styles of youth coaching — coach gives orders, athletes listen — to more bottom up: coaches provide problems for the athletes to solve, allowing them to learn for themselves the most effective ways of performing a skill or task. Gray has become the most influential figure for me as I have delved into coaching at Florida State, and you will find several of his books in this section.
Coach Your Brains Out, John Mayer and Billy Allen
Mayer and Allen have been running their podcast, Coach Your Brains Out, for nearly a decade, and in their debut book, they distilled all of the wisdom they had learned into a few hundred easy-to-read pages. When I first got into coaching, this was the first book I picked up, and it has since laid the foundation of my coaching philosophy. It’s volleyball-specific, so if you’re a volleyball player or coach, this is what I’d call a must.
One Shot at Forever, Chris Ballard
I LOVE Chris Ballard’s writing, and miss it every time I open up a Sports Illustrated and his byline is not in there. He’s phenomenal, and his book on a high school baseball team, and it’s fun-loving coach, is such a fun ride to enjoy. You don’t have to like baseball to enjoy this book; I am patient zero there. I don’t care a bit about baseball, yet this was so, so, so good to read.
The Mindful Athlete, George Mumford
I can sum this book up in two words: Go meditate. But if you’re looking for more evidence, and the importance of meditation, visualization, and how and why it can help you, regardless of your field, read this book.
The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever, Mark Frost
My dad bought this book for me, and I really only opened it out of respect for him. We’re a golfing family — my two brothers are both plus handicaps and I’ve been as low as a 1 — and he knows I love good sportswriting. Still, I wasn’t jumping at the chance to read it. But hot damn am I glad I did! This book was so good! I couldn’t put the thing down; it read like a novel, and was so well-reported. The golfer in your family will need this in their lives, and I’ve since gifted it to dozens of my golfing friends.
The Inner Knight, Billy Allen
Whenever Billy Allen comes out with a book, I’m going to give it five stars because he’s my friend and that’s something friends should do for other writer friends. Ratings are gold for authors and writers. But I wouldn’t write about The Inner Knight here if I didn’t think it was something everyone should read — and I do think everyone should read this book. It’s a quick, fun, fictional tale that will teach you quite a bit about sports psychology and a few tools that will help you on the court, in the classroom, wherever.
Best Memoirs and Autobiographies I’ve Read
Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson
This book — holy cow is this a tremendous book. I’d expect nothing less from Isaacson, who has established himself as the Michael Jordan of biographies. But even with those lofty expectations, his examination of Elon Musk, from his days as a youth in South Africa to the richest man in the world, is phenomenal, a full 360-degree view that presents a fair and honest look. Whether you love Musk, hate Musk, or are one of the few who find themselves in between, this is a must-read.
Open, Andre Agassi
Best sports book of all time to me, and also one of the best memoirs. J.R. Moehringer’s writing in this wildly open and vulnerable memoir makes it absolutely magical to read. I’ve read this, I don’t know, three times or so, and will probably get to it about a dozen before my eyes just can’t read no more. It’s that good.
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, William Finnegan
Before you skip over this one because the subtitle of the book mentions that this is a memoir about surfing, and maybe you’re not all that into surfing, I beg you to not do so. I read this book before I ever picked up a board, at the urging of my then-agent who was shopping my book, We Were Kings. She said that beach volleyball players reminded her a bit of the road dog adventures of surfers, as detailed in magnificent detail by Finnegan. Goodness, the writing in this book is just delicious, and the stories are awfully fun as well. But I come back for the writing, over and over and over again, and have read this three times and counting.
Wild, Cheryl Strayed
This book ignited a passion for all things outdoors and camping and hiking for me. Cheryl Strayed’s writing is beautiful, funny and poignant and vulnerable and relatable and, in a word, incredible. There’s a reason they made this book into a movie (a bad one, but still). This was so good that as soon as I stopped reading, I turned to page one and began again. That good.
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Ron Chernow
This book is a beast, and it took me a long, long time to get through it. But, man, am I glad I did, because not only did I learn so much about the art of crafting a deeply researched biography from Chernow, but I learned so much about one of the original titans of business in John D. Rockefeller. An incredible read.
Lone Survivor, Marcus Lutrell
This book had me looking up pathways into the military as I was reading it. It’ll inspire you — as it did to me — move you to tears, and give you a wholly new appreciation for our men and women in the military. This is an absolute must. Cannot recommend it enough.
Can’t Hurt me, David Goggins
This book will punch you in the face and scream at you to get off your lazy behind and get to work. I’ve never had an author yell at me so much — in a good way — without the use of all caps as David Goggins does here. Man, I LOVE Goggins. Love every podcast he’s been on, love everything he writes, love what he’s all about. This is as inspirational a story as there is, and one that’ll motivate the hell out of you to get doing what you’ve always wanted to do. Stay hard and go get some.
Pappyland, Wright Thompson
Thompson inhabits a space occupied by two people, the only other one being Mitch Albom. They are the rare writers where if they write something, I do not bother reading what it’s about; I simply buy it. Had I read what Pappyland is about — bourbon, and in particular, the Pappy Van Winkle line — I wouldn’t have read it. It turned out to be one of my all-time favorites, prodding me to write a deep piece on my relationship with my own father. When I finished it, I immediately read it again.
Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
This is one of the most well-read and gifted books for a reason: It’s really, really, really good. To see how close Nike was to collapsing, over and over and over again, only to prevail and become the behemoth it is today, is awesome and inspiring and riveting. Packed with lessons and a fun read.
Turning Feral, Zachary Hanson Craig
My mother-in-law was terrified when she bought this for me, seeing as it was not on my Goodreads To Read list. Buying a book not on the list is a risky move. But when I opened it up on Christmas morning and began thumbing through the pages, suddenly, I was finished the book. She bought it for me at the right time, when my nascent interest in hunting and all things outdoors was beginning its rapid ascent that has not cooled since. I’ve actually been in touch with the author, and we’ve chatted about a hunting trip up by his place in Iowa. If you’re interested in transforming your life into one that is more outdoors oriented, this is a goodie.
Meateater, Steven Rinella
I owe my passion to hunting and outdoors to Steven Rinella. His show, Meateater, and podcast by the same name are some of my favorites. He’s also a magnificent writer, and he tells his own story so well in his book, Meateater, that I’ll flip through it every now and again before I go on a hunt, just as a refresher. Easy, quick read.
Molly’s Game, Molly Bloom
I’d heard of Molly’s Game before I took a week-long trip to New Orleans to run some lefty-lefty magic with my boy Matt Blanke. It rained — imagine that — a lot while I was there, so we spent a lot of time inside, watching movies, watching the AVP Champions Cup, chatting about whatever. He mentioned that one of his favorites was Molly’s Game, a memoir from Molly Bloom that had been made into a major motion picture, directed by Aaron Sorkin. I have a firm rule that reading the book is a must prior to watching the movie, and I really wanted to watch the movie.
I read the book in two sittings, in one day.
On a flight to Cincinnati, I read the entire time. The book was so good, so enthralling, that I was kinda bummed the flight was over. As soon as Kevin Villela and I settled into our bunk beds in Chris Luers’ home, I read until I was finished, around 2 in the morning.
It was worth the five hours of sleep I got.
Even if you don’t like poker — I’m not a huge poker fan — this is a wild ride of a book. And if you do like poker, this is required reading, and watching.
On Writing: A memoir of the craft, Stephen King
Unlike Matthew McConaughey above, I am actually not a fan of any of King’s work, save for this one. I’m sure they’re well-written and interesting storylines; you cannot become Stephen King if they’re not. Scary stuff just isn’t my thing. But this memoir, recommended on the Joe Rogan podcast, is one of the best I’ve ever read. King’s story is fascinating, and his tips and advice to writers of all ages are practical, useful, and memorable. Even if you’re not a writer, I think you’d find this interesting, to peek behind the curtains at one of the best at their craft.
Fearless, Eric Blehm
Another book in my Navy SEAL era of reading, Fearless hits you everywhere you’d think a book on Navy SEALs will hit you: Inspirational, deeply emotional, heart-wrenching. It makes you want to be a better person, as the protagonist of the book, Adam Brown, has one of the best stories you’ll ever read.
A Bold Return to Giving a Damn: One Farm, Six Generations, and the Future of Food, Will Harris
I first heard Will Harris on the Joe Rogan Experience and grew intrigued enough to put his book on my to-read list – for years. In that span, I bought a few bits of meat from White Oak Pastures, Harris’ regenerative farm that I hope will become the blueprint for all farms moving forward. My dad says it’s the best steak he’s ever had.
Harris’ book, which details the rise of White Oak Pastures from an industrialized, disgusting pollutant with no care for the animals into a massive regenerative operation that has resuscitated a whole town and has provided the blueprint for regenerative farming. If you’re passionate about the environment, your food, your health, or all of the above, this is an excellent choice for you.
Educated, Tara Westover
I saw this book in the back of the trunk of my good friend, Jon Mesko. Like me, he’s a reader of literature of all types. We think similar, and enjoy mostly the same types of, well, everything in life, from food to entertainment. If he liked it, I probably would, too. I was not wrong. Westover’s story, growing up in the mountains of Idaho with a deeply religious family — didn’t believe in modern medicine, conspiracy theories abound, etc. — to teaching herself how to read, write, do math, enrolling in BYU as a high school junior, thriving in college despite no formal education prior, getting a master’s, doctorate — is a masterpiece of a story, and so well-written it made me sad, because I just can’t write like that yet.
It reminded be a bit of Hillbilly Elegy, just better, and I’d expect a movie or TV show to be made of it at some point in the not too distant future. If you’re looking for a beautiful story, written and told incredibly well, this is an easy pick for you.
Best Fiction Books I’ve Read
Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling
This will never be topped. Never. Jordan Peterson had it right when he said: Anytime an impoverished single mother becomes richer than the queen of England, you should take note. Indeed. This is the series that turned me into a lover of books, the series that probably changed the course of my life to become a reader and writer. If you are looking for one place to start, it is here, with Harry Potter.
Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein
Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter stand alone as the greatest fiction series of all time, and I don’t find it to be particularly close. They are in a class of their own, and it’s why I’ve continued to re-read them over and over and over again. Incredible writing, incredible stories — I’ll never get enough.
The Timekeeper, Mitch Albom
The first time I read this book, I didn’t put it down. For nine hours. That’s the power of Mitch Albom’s writing and storytelling: He draws you in with the most powerful yet simple sentences and phrasing and spins a tale that impacts you deeply. I’ve now read the Timekeeper four or five times, and it is my wife’s favorite book of all time.
The Alchemist, Paolo Coehlo
It’s almost cliche to say that The Alchemist is one of the best fiction books of all-time — and it’s cliche for a reason. Because it’s true! This was a seminal read for me, forever altering my decision-making and the way I went about crafting my life and its path. As soon as my son is able to read and understand this book, it’ll be in his hands.
The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis
This is my favorite fiction book ever written, one I’ve read several times now. It helps if you’ve read the previous six books in the Chronicles of Narnia, but you don’t necessarily need to in order to get a wonderful read out of the finale.
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
I singled out The Last Battle above, because I believe it is the best book in the series, but the entire Narnia Chronicles is such a classic. I’ve read the whole series a few times, and they feel like a comfortable, worn pair of sweatpants. Lewis’ writing is magnificent, the stories rich and fun, a wonderful read before bed or on a vacation.
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Goodness gracious is this a MIGHTY book. That’s the best word I can use to sum up the heft of Steinbeck’s novel. It is slow, yes, but the writing is so damn rich and unbelievably carefully crafted that each sentence seems like it took him an hour. The care he took to write this book, the time he takes to develop each complex character, is rare in literature these days, or any days. One of the best books I’ve ever read.
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
To this day, I can’t really explain why this book hits me so — it just does. The characters. The writing. The story. They all get me still. I read this book every year for three or four years, as one of the main characters, Dallas, reminds me so much of one of my late best friends, Eric Zaun. This is an all-timer to me.
The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Mitch Albom
I was walking through an airport I do not remember, heading to Brazil, when I saw the unmistakable cover design and font of a Mitch Albom book. I didn’t even read the jacket, didn’t bother looking at the swollen price of an airport purchase; I just took it to the front, bought it, and proceeded not to sleep a wink on my flight, choosing to read the entire flight instead. Like all Albom books, this one is light, breezy, and full of wisdom that hits your deep in your emotional feels. It’s a unique blend of faith-based, but also murder-mystery, and a winding tale told through various viewpoints that’ll keep you glued to the page.
Red Rising Saga, Pierce Brown
This was a recommend from Chris Williamson, host of the tremendous podcast, Modern Wisdom, which checked in as my most-listened-to podcast in 2024 by a long shot. How good is this series? I brought the first book, Red Rising, to my first international trip of the year – and finished it in a single flight from Los Angeles to Sao Paolo, Brazil. I still had two weeks left in the trip and only one other book to keep me company, so I just…read it again. Every other trip I took this year, I was accompanied by a Red Rising novel, and now I, like many other devotees of Pierce Brown, anxiously await the seventh and final volume, Red God, which is expected to be published in January.
Red Rising has not, to me, surpassed Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings as far as best fiction series goes, but it’s in the conversation.
The Name of the Wind — King Killer Chronicles, Patrick Rothfuss
This is one of those books I was almost mad at — so good I stayed awake the entire night reading and then had to work on literally zero sleep. And by work, I mean play a professional beach volleyball tournament in Doha, Qatar — not exactly suitable conditions to be competing! But hotty toddy, this book, and series, is unbelievable, up there with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, to me — but it can’t be there yet, because Rothfuss isn’t finished, and maybe never will be. That’s good news for you if you haven’t yet read it: There’s still plenty of time to catch up.
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
The first novel of this series was incredible, and I loved — absolutely loved — Katniss and her entire arc. The series, I think, gets a little worse with each book, but I still devoured each one with no regrets. The movies were solid, too, until the final one, which went too far astray for me, but this is still one of my favorite fiction series of all-time.
The Little Liar: Mitch Albom
The first book I read in 2024 — on a training camp to Hawai’i with Tri Bourne and Chaim Schalk — may actually have been be my favorite of that year. Strong start. Mitch Albom is undefeated to me. When he comes out with a book, I don’t even bother reading the description or the jacket – it’s just a buy. The Little Liar isn’t the best he’s ever written, I don’t think, but it’s close, and if you’re looking for an uplifting read with phenomenal writing, do yourself a favor and pick up The Little Liar.
A Man Called Ove, Frederik Backman
This is one of those books that will make you laugh out loud while also making you want to cry while also making sure you never put the book down. It’s that good. Backman’s writing style is so unique, and so fun, and he creates such memorable characters you feel as if you’ve known your whole life. A Man Called Ove is one of my favorites I’ve read in the last five years or so, and no matter your reading preference, you’ll find a way to enjoy this one.
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, Mitch Albom
There’s a line in this book I still remember reading, and where I read it: “Every human is musical. Why else would the Lord give you a beating heart?” Damn. What a freaking line! And I’m not musical, nor do I care about music, but I love — love — delicious writing, and Albom is, as you may have already noted, my favorite living writer. He delivers with lines and phrases such as that over and over and over again in a fun story about the young musician who is Frankie Presto and his wild journey.
When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi
I read this book in a single sitting, in Hermosa Beach, California, on July 4. I had just returned from a several-weeks-long stretch playing beach volleyball overseas, and needed a long stretch of unwind and decompress time. This book came recommended by a number of my friends, and I could not put it down. Kalanithi’s writing is powerful, and his story — sheesh, it’ll smack ya right in the feels. You’ll leave in a deeply emotional state, but for the better. You’ll kiss your wife, hug your kids, and have a newfound appreciation for everything around you. It’s the highest-ranked book on this list, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, for a reason.
The Way of the Warrior Kid, Jocko Willink
Like many of the writers in this list, I think Jocko Willink is one of the most important voices in the world today. A no-bullshit Navy SEAL, Jocko has made an impact with his podcast and by appearing on others’, and writing books of all sorts. I read The Way of The Warrior Kid while I was writing my own children’s book, Volleyball for Milkshakes, to get an understanding of the type of verbiage and diction that would be appropriate for kids. I came away with an awesome story that both children and adults can learn quite a bit from. In an age of slothful, screen-based kids and childhoods, Jocko eschews that with his Warrior Kid series, and I cannot wait until my son is old enough to dive into these.
Chop Wood, Carry Water, Joshua Medcalf
A fun little fictional tale that espouses the most impactful bit of wisdom: before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. Fast read, and a big punch of golden wisdom.
The Shack, William Paul Young
A wonderful, heart-wrenching, inspiring novel that will make you wonder if it’s a novel or something divinely inspired and perhaps true. I don’t know. I’ve read The Shack twice and still believe Young had a spiritual experience and simply wrote it down as a book all Christians will love. Even if you’re not Christian, it’s still a beautiful story to read.
The Five People you Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
As I wrote above, I think Mitch Albom is the best living writer on Earth, and the Five People you Meet in Heaven is one of his earliest classics. He could write about the phone book and I’d read it, to be honest. And this was far better than the phone book (although he did write about a phone call from heaven).
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
I didn’t know what to expect when I first picked up Perks, but it blew those expectations away, I can tell you that! What a unique way to write a book, and what a fun, relatable storyline. A delightful surprise with how much I loved this one.
Holes, Louis Sachar
Take me back to middle school! Goodness was this such a fun read in school, and they even turned it into a classic movie, a rare success in the book-to-movie transformation. Good for kids, good for adults, good for the soul.
The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
I’ll be the first to admit it: At first, I just didn’t get it. Didn’t get the hype. But the more I read, the more I felt I couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with the old man and his respect for nature. Loved his resilience and toughness. Love the internal battles he fought. Loved his love for the boy. Loved Hemingway’s writing. Loved it all. If you find yourself stuck in this book, wondering why it’s such an all-timer, just keep reading. It’ll come.
How to get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, Mohsin Hamid
Terrible title, awesome book. This came as a recommendation from Tim Ferriss, and after it had come up a number of times, I finally bought it. It was one of my favorite books I read whatever year I wound up reading it. The writing is delicious, and the story fun and fast-paced. Don’t let the weird title fool you: This one is a winner.
Best Narrative Non-Fiction And History Books I’ve read
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer
As an outdoor enthusiast, I LOVED this book. Krakauer’s writing is excellent, and the story of Chris McCandless is fascinating in so many ways. I’ve had, and have, friends similar to McCandless, and my respect for the way he lived his life — roguish, on his own terms — knows no bounds. Krakauer did a wonderful job telling what I think is a remarkable story.
Empire of the Summer Moon, S.C. Gwynne
Holy shit was this book such a wonderful surprise! I had no interest in reading it when I was gifted it by my good friend’s father-in-law, but then I also heard it referenced on the Joe Rogan Experience and figured I’d give it a try. I barely came up for air as Gwynne details the triumphs and tribulations and grim reality of the Comanches and all of their badassery and also terribleness. It is just so dang good.
Born to run, Chris McDougall
I became familiar with McDougall’s work when he edited my favorite annual book, Best American Sports Writing. Still, I hadn’t read much, but I stumbled across this one via a story in The Athletic, so I bought it. It more than delivered. A story about a tribe of Indians living in Mexico’s Copper Canyons, and their supernatural ability to run for miles and miles on end without breaking, it was fascinating to me as an athlete, writer, and journalist living the topic about which he writes. McDougall takes you inside the Copper Canyons to run with these Indians, but he also provides a detailed history of their tribe, features of other ultra-runners you may recognize, and the science behind running. It’s a sublime blend of elements that had me saying “just one more page…” over and over and over again.
Best Finance and Business Books I’ve read
The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life, JL Collins
One of my New Year’s resolutions in 2020 was to read at least one book on business or finance or marketing or something of that ilk per month. For the most part, that continued through 2024, but The Simple Path to Wealth stands out above all the rest. The writing is digestible and easy to understand, the concepts both foundational and advanced to the point that it might be all you really need to know about money and how to manage it. Big fan of JL Collins’ work, and I’m a big fan of the man who recommended this to me: Mr. Money Mustache, whose blog is fantastic and a must-read any time he comes out with something new.
The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel
If I were to recommend only two books on the topic of finance and business or personal wealth, it would be Housel’s Psychology of Money and JL Collins’ book above. They just make a very complex subject simple, but not in an overly-simplistic, quixotic way. Housel also allows you to understand why making some decisions that aren’t mathematically correct could still be superior because it helps you psychologically, like paying off your house despite the math not really adding up for that to make sense. He lives in the real world, writing to real people, and this was just tremendous.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Rahmit Sethi
Simply put: This built the foundation of my financial habits as I know them. I’ve since tweaked and built from there, but Sethi lays the groundwork for the basics of a financially sound family/individual/business and I highly, highly, highly recommend.
Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
This is one of the most well-read and gifted books for a reason: It’s really, really, really good. To see how close Nike was to collapsing, over and over and over again, only to prevail and become the behemoth it is today, is awesome and inspiring and riveting. Packed with lessons and a fun read.
The Richest Man in Babylon, George Samuel Clason
One of my New Year’s resolutions for 2020 was to read one book on finance — any type or sector — per month. The Richest Man in Babylon can be read by anyone of any age, and the lessons in it, while fundamentally simple, are also the bedrock of what seems to be a financially stable life. This was the first financial book I read and, dozens of books later, is still the one that has helped me the most. It’s not boring, either, but filled with little stories and fables that make it a good, quick read.
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, Chip Heath
As a writer and a co-owner of a business, I loved this book, and learned quite a bit from it. Add to that Heath’s catchy and easy-to-read writing, and it made for a breezy, lesson-packed read that I will turn to again and again when I need to spruce up some ideas.
The Personal MBA: Master the art of business, Josh Kaufman
The simplest book on business I’ve read, and one of the more impactful. It sits right on my bookshelf next to my desk, easy for me to flip open to a section I’m in need of revisiting here and there. I don’t think it is a substitute for an actual MBA, but if you’re looking for a tremendous bang for the buck of a read, this is it.
Best Books on Faith I’ve Read
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
Lewis is a powerhouse in the world of faith writing, and Mere Christianity found its way to me when I was making my initial pursuit of Christianity. I’m glad it did, as it remains one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read, and one I continue to revisit often.
The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel
Aside from the Bible itself, this is probably the most important book I’ve ever read on faith. Strobel, the man responsible for The Case for Christ, another seminal read in my life, walks readers through the eight most common objections to Christianity and faith itself and a logical response to them. Any faith-based individual will have doubts — must have doubts, in fact — and this book assuages them in a logically-driven way.
The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Mitch Albom
I was walking through an airport I do not remember, heading to Brazil, when I saw the unmistakable cover design and font of a Mitch Albom book. I didn’t even read the jacket, didn’t bother looking at the swollen price of an airport purchase; I just took it to the front, bought it, and proceeded not to sleep a wink on my flight, choosing to read the entire flight instead. Like all Albom books, this one is light, breezy, and full of wisdom that hits your deep in your emotional feels. It’s a unique blend of faith-based, but also murder-mystery, and a winding tale told through various viewpoints that’ll keep you glued to the page.
The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis
This is my favorite fiction book ever written, one I’ve read several times now. It helps if you’ve read the previous six books in the Chronicles of Narnia, but you don’t necessarily need to in order to get a wonderful read out of the finale.
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
I singled out The Last Battle above, because I believe it is the best book in the series, but the entire Narnia Chronicles is such a classic. I’ve read the whole series a few times, and they feel like a comfortable, worn pair of sweatpants. Lewis’ writing is magnificent, the stories rich and fun, a wonderful read before bed or on a vacation.
Favor With Kings, Caleb Anderson
Caleb Anderson is the singular most influential figure I have in my journey through faith. He and Graeme Cowgill, both once pastors at Mariner’s Church in Huntington Beach, California, are the reason I ever read the Bible in the first place. Caleb is the best speaker I’ve ever heard at a church, hands down, and he is a talented writer as well. Favor With Kings takes the reader through Nehemiah and the reconstruction of Jerusalem, and it is this book, and Caleb, that forever changed how I pray. The lessons I learned in this book stay with me on a literal daily basis.
The Shack, William Paul Young
A wonderful, heart-wrenching, inspiring novel that will make you wonder if it’s a novel or something divinely inspired and perhaps true. I don’t know. I’ve read The Shack twice and still believe Young had a spiritual experience and simply wrote it down as a book all Christians will love. Even if you’re not Christian, it’s still a beautiful story to read.
The Five People you Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
As I wrote above, I think Mitch Albom is the best living writer on Earth, and the Five People you Meet in Heaven is one of his earliest classics. He could write about the phone book and I’d read it, to be honest. And this was far better than the phone book (although he did write about a phone call from heaven).
Best Outdoors and Nature Books I’ve Read
I’m sort of making this category up because it didn’t fit super neat into any other categories, and as a reader, I seek outdoor and nature books quite frequently, so here goes.
The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter
When I read The Comfort Crisis in February of 2023, it inspired me to go on an elk hunt that November that would become the most memorable experience I’ve had in quite some time. So bravo, Michael Easter. But even if you’re not interested in hunting, this book packs a ton of valuable lessons in it, beginning with the obvious: We’re too comfortable, and we’re becoming worse because of it. Maybe you’ll take the stairs after reading.
Meateater, Steven Rinella
I owe my passion to hunting and outdoors to Steven Rinella. His show, Meateater, and podcast by the same name are some of my favorites. He’s also a magnificent writer, and he tells his own story so well in his book, Meateater, that I’ll flip through it every now and again before I go on a hunt, just as a refresher. Easy, quick read.
Outdoor kids in an Inside World, Steven Rinella
When my wife was pregnant with our first child, Austin, I immediately wondered how we could help instill in him a similar love for the outdoors that my wife and I share. Rinella, as you’ll see throughout this list, is a hero of mine, and the man who inspired me to get into hunting and living a more old school life. If he’s written it, I’m reading it. This was perfect, and inspired us to shoot for a minimum of 1,000 hours of outside time for our son, which we now hit with ease. I recommend for all parents who want to get their kids outside, off screens, and into the natural world.
Blue Mind, Wallace Nichols
I’ve always loved water. Didn’t matter what kind, be it a pool, lake, ocean, river — whatever. It’s been where I’ve found peace, creativity, joy. I could swim, surf, paddle, boogie, or just lay in water all dang day. When big wave surfer Laird Hamilton recommended this to me, it explained exactly why I, and everyone else, finds so much dang good in and around the water. Better yet, it made me only want to get in the water more because I knew how good it was for me in every aspect. Fun, quick read that’ll make you want to take a dip.
Best Books on Nutrition I’ve Read
A Bold Return to Giving a Damn: One Farm, Six Generations, and the Future of Food, Will Harris
I first heard Will Harris on the Joe Rogan Experience and grew intrigued enough to put his book on my to-read list – for years. In that span, I bought a few bits of meat from White Oak Pastures, Harris’ regenerative farm that I hope will become the blueprint for all farms moving forward. My dad says it’s the best steak he’s ever had.
Harris’ book, which details the rise of White Oak Pastures from an industrialized, disgusting pollutant with no care for the animals into a massive regenerative operation that has resuscitated a whole town and has provided the blueprint for regenerative farming. If you’re passionate about the environment, your food, your health, or all of the above, this is an excellent choice for you.
Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn’t Food, Chris van Tulleken
This book will absolutely rock your world. Never again will you grocery shop the same, will you be able to order out the same, will you be able to eat what once seemed a delicious, if not tiny, meal on an airplane and think “this should be good!” Instead, you’ll shudder a bit, as I do now.
Ultra-Processed People might be the most important book I read in 2024, and, if you choose to pick it up, will probably be the most important one you read as well. Already, my wife and I have gifted this book to no less than half-a-dozen people. Bonus point: van Tulleken is a splendid and funny writer, and even if the topic can be a bit dark, there’s good humor in it, and it makes for a fun read the majority of the time.
