{"id":32679,"date":"2015-04-30T21:51:57","date_gmt":"2015-05-01T05:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=32679"},"modified":"2015-05-03T19:46:40","modified_gmt":"2015-05-04T03:46:40","slug":"10-mind-expanding-books-read-lifetime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/10-mind-expanding-books-read-lifetime\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Mind Expanding Books To Read In A Lifetime"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Growing up as a child, I can remember every thing and every one around me reminding me that reading was not something to be done for fun — but rather — reading was instead something that “must” be done… not because it’s something that I\u00a0want\u00a0<\/i>to do, or something that I\u00a0choose\u00a0<\/i>to do, but rather because it’s something that I\u00a0have\u00a0<\/i>to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

And I believe that’s an absolute shame.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because reading is fun. Reading is powerful. And reading has served me so well that I’d say it contributes to the majority of the successes I’ve experienced in my life — both personally and professionally. The rest of it comes from taking consistent and deliberate action on the things I’ve picked up from the books I read.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, I’m going to present 10 mind-expanding books to read in a life-time — but bear in mind: I’m not saying you should take a life-time to read them. The more of them you read, the more of the benefits you’ll gain from the books, and thus, the more of the mind-expanding ideas you’ll be able to degenerate and apply directly to your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

#1. <\/b>Outliers<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Malcolm Gladwell<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"mind<\/p>\n

This is a book about success<\/span><\/a>\u2026 and how there\u2019s a lot more to it than being smart and working hard. Maybe you’ve heard of Gladwell’s famous 10,000 hour rule<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and how it relates to success – but even then – there’s still so much more to learn about how successful people became so successful<\/span><\/a> in the first place.\u00a0Outliers\u00a0<\/i>is\u00a0a must-read title if you\u2019re looking to expand your mind about the subtleties and nuances that contributed to the success of icons like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

#2. <\/b>Cosmos<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Carl Sagan<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"mind<\/p>\n

This is one of those books that you read, and then just sit there and think. Cosmos<\/i> is one of the most mind expanding books on this list because it implores you to think about our place in the universe, and the fact that even though we’ve come so far as a species, we’ve still got so much more to learn about ourselves and our future.<\/span><\/p>\n

#3. <\/b>Meditations<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Marcus Aurelius<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"meditations-cover\"<\/p>\n

This book was written over 1800 years ago, and guess what?–The powerful principles written way back then remain just as applicable today, as they did back in the 2nd century. Just read this quote and you’ll understand what I mean: “For how could we do what justice requires if we are distracted by things that don\u2019t matter, if we are naive, gullible, inconstant?” He’s got to be referring to our texting and driving problem, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

#4. <\/b>The China Study<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Thomas Campbell<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"mind<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in learning about the single most comprehensive book about nutrition conducted to date, then this is the book you need to read. The research behind this book, and it\u2019s health and weight-loss implications will do more than expand your mind, it\u2019ll downright surprise you (and maybe even scare you) into embracing a healthier way of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

#5. <\/b>How To Win Friends and Influence People<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Dale Carnegie<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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This is the original book on emotional intelligence<\/span><\/a>. Way before social scientists had the case studies to back up the efficacy of human relations and it\u2019s impact the way we live and the way we work, Dale Carnegie had tried and tested his methods of positive influence enough times to know their effectiveness. Over 100 million copies later, the methods have proven themselves by withstanding the test of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

#6. <\/b>Flow<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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You know that feeling you get when you\u2019re doing what you love \u2014 and it\u2019s almost as if time just came to halt? As if five hours felt like five minutes? As if everything you were doing just felt right? As if you were doing what you might be meant to do? That\u2019s called a \u201cflow\u201d state. And if you\u2019re looking to get more of it in your life, then you should get this book right about now.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

#7. <\/b>The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Stephen Covey<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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You\u2019ve surely heard of this classic\u2026 but what makes it so mind expanding? The fact that it\u2019s based on principles. And principles don\u2019t change. They\u2019re time-less. Each of the habits laid out in this book are designed to act as individual prescriptions for effectiveness in all four dimensions of human nature: physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.<\/span><\/p>\n

#8. <\/b>Never Eat Alone<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Keith Ferrazzi<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Are you interested in getting ahead and getting the edge in life<\/span><\/a> \u2014 without having to sacrifice your integrity to do it? If yes, then this is your book. Never Eat Alone is a classic book on connecting with others, and must-read for anyone living in the current connection economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

#9. <\/b>The Power of Habit<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Charles Duhigg<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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The interesting thing about habits, is that once we develop them, they go about totally un-noticed in our day-to-day activities. For example: you probably don\u2019t think about how many simultaneous actions go into reversing your car out of the garage and into the street safely and smoothly\u2026 you just do it. That\u2019s a habit. But so is smoking<\/span><\/a>. The Power of Habit teaches you how to be deliberate about building better habits that serve you both in life and in business.<\/span><\/p>\n

#10. <\/b>The Alchemist<\/b><\/span><\/a> by Paulo Coelho<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"mind<\/p>\n

This book will do more than expand your mind, it\u2019ll down right transform your life\u2026 but only if you let it.\u00a0Learn about the power and wisdom that comes about by listening to your heart, recognizing opportunity, and follow your dreams in this metaphor-laden masterpiece by Paulo Coelho.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which book will you read first?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you\u2019ve got this list of 10 mind expanding books to read in a lifetime \u2014 there\u2019s only one question left\u2026 Which one do you read first? Should you go out and get all of them immediately?\u00a0Should you read them all at once?\u00a0Or should you take a lifetime to read them? So many options. So little time. Ultimately, it\u2019s totally your decision what you do with this list and how you apply it to your life and career. But if I may, here\u2019s what I would suggest you consider as you get started:<\/span><\/p>\n