Today is Ryan’s 28th birthday and in honour of that I thought I would share 4 books that he encouraged me to read that have impacted my life in a positive way.
For those of you who know Ryan well, you know that he reads A LOT. Like, a lot a lot. He always has at least one book on the go, but it’s usually 2 or 3 books. Each time we have traveled, his backpack has contained more books than clothes. This is probably why he’s also one of the smartest people I know.
Every time he reads a book that he really likes or has had a positive impact on his life, he encourages me to read it as well. Sometimes I don’t, but most of the time I do. Here are 4 that impacted me the most:
It’s easy to get lost in the love triangle of Dagny, Hank, and John, or to simply read a tale of a woman trying to succeed in a man’s world, or to enjoy a story about a railroad company in a crashing economy; but, Atlas Shrugged has so much more to offer readers than that. It’s a lesson in economics, in politics, in how to be great in an average world, and why freedom is important. Atlas Shrugged is worthy of at least one read, but the philosophic and economic lessons in it run deep, and I honestly think you could re-read it once a year for the rest of your life and always learn something new.
2.Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics
I never had much of an interest for economics, but once I was working full-time and owing on my taxes (instead of getting money back each year), I recognized that I needed to learn more about economics. Ryan recommended Economics in One Lesson and this was a great starting point for me to start understanding the principles of free market economics.
I’ve read The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem multiple times since I first read it back in 2014 and I learn something new every time. This is easily one of the books that has had the biggest impact on my life and who I am today. Ryan found The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem when we were going through a big transition in 2014. He encouraged me to read it, but I was at a point where I felt like my self-esteem was good and I didn’t have much to gain from it. I began noticing the positive changes in Ryan as he read through it and worked through the exercises, and it was at this point that I decided to read it as well, and I am so, so glad I did. Again, this is a book that I think I could return to each year and still learn something new.
4. How To Get Filthy Rich In Rising Asia
A story about a man who comes from a poor family, moves to the big city, and gets rich in the bottled water business. This is a fictional tale, but it’s beautifully written and there is so much to learn from the character’s journey. It’s one of those books that reminds you that you can truly do anything and become anyone you want to when you set your mind to it.
The next time your bedside table is empty and you’re looking for something to read that will inspire your life, come back to this list and check out 1 or all of these books. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
And to Ryan: thank you for always encouraging me to read the books that inspire your life. Thank you for always encouraging me to be a better human. Thank you for being you. The world is better because you’re in it. Happy Birthday! <3