In 2023, I spent a lot of time writing and re-writing my own book, “The Spectrum Mindset: Lead Your Family and Life To Infinite Possibilities By Transforming The Way You Think.” I promised in last year’s Top Books List that my book would finally be published and that promise will come true THIS year. I can finally announce that my book will be released in April! 

When you are choosing your books to read in 2024, I encourage you to read some books that are very specific to your goals as I did with the subject of self-publishing, but also read books that you are unsure of how they might help you. For the most part, I only enjoy reading books that will improve my life in some way. There are no fiction books in this list. But there are books that are just stories and experiences from other people’s lives that I wasn’t sure what I would gain from them. 

This line of thinking is key to “The Spectrum Mindset.” It’s vital to stop trying to predict the outcomes of the books you read. I’m not talking about the outcomes in the books, but rather the outcome you’ll receive from it. I had no idea what I would get out of reading Andre Agassi’s biography (I’ve never liked tennis), or reading country music star Granger Smith’s story of family tragedy, but both have stayed with me for months after reading them. 

Also, there were a handful of books I didn’t bother finishing this year. I read enough of them to know my time was better spent elsewhere. If a book makes my list, it was good enough to finish it fully. Don’t be a afraid to leave a book behind for your next one. I completed 34 books this year.

One last tip before I get into my Top Books, I recommend you get Spotify Premium if you don’t already have it. They now have audiobooks available to listen to! This is such a cool feature allowing subscribers to listen up to 15 hours of audiobooks per month.

Before I get to the Top 5, I have 3 Honorable Mentions:

“Unleash the Power Within: Personal Coaching to Transform Your Life!” By Tony Robbins

This book is only on audio and it is compiled from Tony’s UPW seminar. This is a seminar people pay a lot of money to go to and rearrange their schedule’s for — and you can go to it for “free” on Spotify. I’m always blown away at the value Tony Robbins has to give. I’ve been listening to him since I was a little boy and my dad had his cassettes in his car. This is an awesome listen to start your 2024! (It’s an audiobook only so it didn’t make the Top5).

“How to Grow Your Small Business: A 6-Step Plan to Help Your Business” By Donald Miller

If you own a business, or have a hand in running one, get this book! Because this book is so specific to business owners I included it outside the Top5. This book is the gameplan on how to run a small business. Check out this video of Donald’s breakdown of the airplane and how it relates to business. It’s a brilliant analogy.

“How to Influence People: Make a Difference in Your World” By John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell needs a spot on every book list, every year. He is one of my favorite authors. This book was a “random” grab from our local library when I went there with my kids. And like always, John delivers a great message. Find a John C. Maxwell title that resonates with you and read it this year!

Here are my Top 5 Books of 2023: 

5. Build For Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career By Jason Feifer

I have a confession to make. I have about 20 of Jason’s pictures stored away in a folder in my office. No, I’m not some crazy stalker fan, I just like to save articles from Entrepreneur magazine that I want to revisit later—and Jason happens to be the editor-in-chief. I love his writings and it’s one of my favorite things about picking up the newest issue. When his book came out, it was an easy decision to get it. While it sounds like a career book, it was very much a mindset and how to see the world differently type of book. I love the message of always changing and fighting against our primitive ways of resisting change. He tells some really interesting stories about commonplace things today that were once feared or fought against.

4. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity By Peter Attia, MD

I was gifted this book last year by a member (thank you Joe!) and couldn’t wait to dive in. It’s not a short read and there is enough science in it to scare off the everyday person. I would love for Peter to write the condensed version that would be much more shareable and easier to digest for most. There is so much incredible information about health and ensuring you live a long life. This might be the best return on your money ever spent on a book because of the years in your life it could give you. One of Peter’s favorite ways to expand lifespan…is daily movement! His book is what inspired our MOVE-ember challenge at FitTown where we encouraged you to move every single day. The challenge wasn’t just for looks, it was for life!

3. Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache By Granger Smith

Not many podcasts can make me cry, but when I heard Granger Smith’s story on The Ed Mylett Show, I was balling like a baby. Granger was a country music star who lost his youngest son “River” in a drowning accident in their pool. Granger then tried to return to life as normal and continue touring the country, but the grief almost forced him to take his own life with a gun to his head. It was through this trauma that he discovered his faith and has created a beautiful story out of it. He and his wife had another child after losing River, and now Granger has gone into ministry, leaving his country music career behind. Faith and family stories will get me every time, and I highly recommend you let it move you too.

2. Please, Sorry, Thanks: The Three Words That Change Everything By Mark Batterson

I love everything Pastor Mark Batterson puts out; books, sermons, podcasts, etc. He is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. I had my hesitations about this book because I wasn’t sure what I would get out of it. Like my own book, I can feel Mark’s frustrations with the unkindness that was happening in the world around the 2020 pandemic. His book is a graceful way of explaining how to be the best version of yourself, and how to always be kind through hard times. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book, “people live up or live down to our expectations.” “Legacy is not what you accomplish. Legacy is what others accomplish because of you.” “When you take offense, you stop playing offense. Your defense mechanisms kick in, and you start protecting your ego at all costs. It becomes a zero-sum game, and no one really wins.” This book went so much deeper than the three words in the title and I’m so glad that I jumped into it.

1. The One Truth: Elevate Your Mind, Unlock Your Power, Heal Your Soul By Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon has written over 20 books and most of them are fictional stories that teach lessons in leadership, teamwork, etc. Jon helps build strong teams and cultures, often speaking to many collegiate and professional teams. Even though I’ve enjoyed his story books like “The Energy Bus,” I really love his non-fiction works as well. This book was his latest nonfiction work in 2023, and I would venture to guess the most personal book he has ever written. He writes about how we are all really seeking wholeness in a world full of The Five D’s: doubt, distortion, discouragement, distraction, and division. The book evolves into talking about God as a pathway to this oneness, which will not sit well with every reader. I truly respect Jon for writing a book that so closely represented his life path of seeking wholeness and finding God. 

If you have any recommendations for your favorite non-fiction books, I would love to hear them. Did you read any of these from the list or the ones listed below? 

Here Are More Books I Read This Year (26):

Business:

Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future By Cameron Herold

Help First: Sell Less, Profit More By Chris Cooper

Never Lose a Customer Again By Joey Coleman

Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth & Prosperity By Dean Graziosi

Extreme Revenue Growth: Startup Secrets to Growing Your Sales from $1 Million to $25 Million in Any Industry By Victor Cheng

Parenting:

Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids By Hunter Clarke-Fields MSAE and Carla Naumburg

The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids By Ryan Holiday

First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner By Kurt Warner & Brenda Warner

Born On A Blue Day By Daniel Tammet

Self-Publishing:

Self Publish and Succeed by Julie Broad

Self Promote and Succeed By Julie Broad

Successful Self-Publishing: How to Self-Publish and Market Your Book By Joanna Penn

How to Publish a Book on Amazon in 2023: Real Advice from Someone Who’s Doing it Well By Sam Kerns

Spiritual Health:

Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table By Louie Giglio

Only Jesus By Mark Hall

The Law of Love By Steve Young (yes, the Hall of Fame Quarterback)

Ignite Your Life: Defeat Fear With Effortless Faith by Barry Meguiar

The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character By Jon Tyson

Mere Christianity By C.S. Lewis

No Greater Love By Mother Teresa

Self-Improvement:

Just Show Up: And Other Enduring Values From Baseball’s Iron Man By Cal Ripken Jr. and James Dale

Open: An Autogiography By Andre Agassi

You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, & Your Why By Eric Thomas

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari By Robin Sharma

A Handbook for New Stoics: How to Thrive in a World Out of Your Control―52 Week-by-Week Lessons By Gregory Lopez and Massimo Pigliucci

The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals By Daniel Walter