My Recent Reading List

I like to read and learn, but don't seem to get an
opportunity to finish as many books as I would
like.

Looking around my office, there are probably
20-30 books that I want to read and other things
have jumped in the way.

Here are a couple of titles that I have read recently:


The Trick to Money Is Having Some by Stuart Wilde.

I found this book to be very liberating, despite its
puzzling title.

I think it is almost universally true that most people
would like to have more money. But, despite all the
opportunities that we have in this country to succeed
economically, many of us have fallen in the trap of
thinking that we cannot do it.

Wilde helps outline how to acquire an "abundance
mentality" and to visualize success occurring for
yourself. And to understand that many of the
limitations that you face are self-imposed.

He espouses acquiring more money in a balanced
way - he does not want it to be an all-consuming
desire. He does want you to focus on making
money as a way to measure your contribution
and value to others, and not just accept praise
and meaningless titles instead.

There were a few concepts that I would not
accept without question, but it didn't diminish
my enjoyment of the book or acceptance of
those ideas that I think have validity.

I would certainly recommend this book as a
vehicle to help you get a better idea of how
you can expand your thoughts to bring more
money into your life with integrity.


The Big Short, Inside the Doomsday Machine,
by Michael Lewis.

I wrote about this earlier in the year, but it is
worth mentioning again.

If you want to have a better understanding
of how the mortgage market collapsed several
years ago, Lewis' book helps explain the mechanics
behind it, and some of the major players who
participated.

Even being in the business for over 33 years, I
learned a lot about what happened with the
lenders, the investors, the bond traders, and the
manipulations that occurred.

I learned more how credit default swaps and
collateralized debt obligations worked. How
loans were packaged into tranches and received
ratings that were more optimistic than they
should have been.

It is well-written, and the story is told through
several major characters that allow the details
of complex transactions to flow through the
narrative.

It is a good read if you have an interest in how
we got in this situation.


Blindside, by Michael Lewis.

I like Michael Lewis, and have probably read
about 7 of his books.

There is a good chance that you saw the movie
starring Sandra Bullock. As good as that movie
was, I think the book was better. (I am probably
prejudiced toward books because they supply
such a richness of detail that the movie can't go
into).

In case you don't know the story, it centers
around Michael Oher, deprived of a normal
upbringing, encountering continual challenges,
and who tries to hide from everyone.

The thing is, he is huge, and despite his size,
he is incredibly athletic and agile. He really
can't hide.

He doesn't do well in school, doesn't communicate
well (or at all), sleeps wherever he can, eats what
he can and drifts through his days.

The Twohey family makes a decision to help him.
And beyond that, they demonstrate the depth of
their faith by bringing him into their home and
treating him like a son.

There is no question in my mind that they did this
out of the goodness of their hearts, but there was
an element of their generosity that paid off for their
school and their college alma mater. Michael Oher
was a tremendous left tackle in football and helped
his teams succeed and has become an NFL player
with the Baltimore Ravens.

It is a very uplifting story, and appeals to that part
of all of us who know we could do more to help
others in need.


The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber.

This has been on my list for a long time, and I am
almost finished reading it.

It is a fascinating dissection of how small businesses
work - or don't work!

Most small businesses start because someone is
good at doing something. They understand that
there is an opportunity to make more of that talent
for themselves, instead of working for someone
else.

But just because someone is a good Technician
does not mean that they know how to run a
successful business. Gerber points out that two
other parts of their personality - the Entrepreneur
and the Manager - have to have their say in making
the business work.

It is that blending of the three facets of the person-
ality that has to come together in balance for the
business to succeed.

Gerber elaborates that the small business owner
has to get themselves out of the business. They
cannot continue to have everything revolve
around their efforts. They need to delegate, they
need to hire others, they need to put systems
in place and they need to think of their business
as an asset they are building for future sale.


I think it is important to learn from others, and
reading is one of the best ways to do that. We
cannot experience everything first-hand ourselves,
nor would we want to. I would much rather learn
from someone else's mistake than make the mistake
myself!

Please e-mail me back if you have some books
on your reading list that you have enjoyed or found
meaningful. I'd be interested in expanding my
book list!