Hello everyone,

Thank you as always for the kind words I received in response to last week's email.

This week, we're going back to the roots of this newsletter, and I'm going to speak about books.

Let's get into it.

Reading Hot Streak: Book Recommendations and a few tips.

I love to read. I think its one thing nearly everyone knows about me. Reading is to me, one of the greatest joys in the world and one of the most beneficial things you can do. I have changed my life and myself through books.

Sometimes, I'll be in a bit of a slump with reading. When I first started University, I went nearly two months without finishing a book - the longest streak I've had since I was a child who hated reading. Slumps happen. It tends to be because I give up on a less than great book - and then go onto another less than great book. It doesn't take long before I'm deferring to YouTube, blog posts or a TV show in my spare time (or that time-sucking demon of Social Media).

However, I'm currently in the midst of a new phenomena - a Reading Hot Streak. It seems that lately, every book that I finish reading, I label a 10/10. Based on the fact I'm 500 pages into one of the best biographies I've ever read, and started reading a book on Storytelling that's made me laugh, take notes, and tear up within the first 50 pages - I can't see the streak ending anytime soon.

With that in mind, let me share with you the books that have been part of my hot streak - and a teaser from each to encourage you to pick up a copy:

Manvotionals by Brett and Kate McKay.

One Sentence Summary: A curated collection of old-school articles, chapters, and speeches on key virtues.

Why I loved it: This book contains a bunch of fuel for motivation and rabbit holes to dive down.

How it's helped me: Given me direction and motivation for developing the key virtues.

Teaching to Test: What are you doing in your spare moments? If its scrolling social media or a similar waste, consider doing something productive. You can mentally review your goals, practice active recall, or read a book on your phone.

80/20 Your Life by Richard Koch.

One Sentence Summary: The 80/20 Principle is for more than economics and peas, this shows you how to apply it.

Why I loved it: 80/20 is a perfect example of a great mental model. Simple but powerful.

How it's helped me: I've begun applying the 80/20 principle in every area of my life, from weekly objectives to achieving goals to learning. It's powerful.

Teaching to Test: What 20% of things cause 80% of your happiness? Figure out how you can do more of them.

Don't Shoot The Dog by Karen Pryor.

One Sentence Summary: Positive Reinforcement > Negative Reinforcement.

Why I loved it: Not only is Positive Reinforcement more enjoyable, this book teaches you how to make it more effective.

How it's helped me: It's given me a guide to removing negative reinforcement from my life - so I no longer need to direct it at myself or others.

Teaching to Test: Start rewarding yourself for behaviours that you want. Once the behaviours are more frequent, shift to a variable rather than fixed reward schedule.

Napoleon Hill's Positive Thinking.

One Sentence Summary: Positive Thinking creates a better life.

Why I loved it: This book is a summary of Napoleon Hill's far ranging teachings - and focuses on how to become more positive.

How it's helped me: I am slowly reconditioning to be more positive about myself, situations, and others.

Teaching to Test: Got a memory or thought that's bothering you? Try this. Close your eyes and picture yourself walking down a long hallway to a door while carrying that thought. The door has a big lock on it. Pull the key for the door from your pocket and open the door. Throw the thought into the room beyond and shut the door. Lock it and repeat to yourself "I am in control of my mind. I have locked that thought away."

The Success System That Never Fails by W. Clement Stone.

One Sentence Summary: Stone provides the system he used to achieve success that removes the risk of long-term failure.

Why I loved it: W. Clement Stone uses his own story to illustrate timeless principles of success.

How it's helped me: I've applied a lot from this book - ranging from autosuggestion to the creation of a daily tracker.

Teaching to Test: If you're someone who struggles with procrastination, get in the habit of repeating to yourself: Do It Now! Eventually, when you go to procrastinate, this thought will flash into your mind. Once it does, listen to it. By doing this you'll create an iron-clad habit response that eradicates procrastination in your life.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz.

One Sentence Summary: Despite the name, this book is more about how to correctly view yourself.

Why I loved it: This book is all-encompassing. It outlines goal-setting, use of vocabulary, planning, dealing with others, and overcoming self-doubt - among dozens of other points.

How it's helped me: Similar to the other thinking books, it's brought me several tools I'm using to improve in all areas. I've found great joy and progress in applying it so far.

Teaching to Test: Action leads to belief. Act Confident, and you'll feel Confident. Use a few of the authors suggestions to act more confident: Walk faster with a correct posture, Make eye contact, and speak up for yourself.

What I'm Currently Reading:

On top of these books, I've begun to act on the ones that I'm currently working through. You'll see the contents and topics of these books appear in upcoming newsletters and posts.

• Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks.
• The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris.
• The Lost Prosperity Secrets of Napoleon Hill.
• Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone.
• The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill.

Is it obvious I'm on a Napoleon Hill kick at the moment?

With this current trend in mind, I'd love some book recommendations from people. So, send them through.

Advice on Picking Books:

• Ask for recommendations: Several books on this list were other people's recommendations. Not only is reading someone's favourite book a great way to get to know them better, its a simple way to find pre-vetted books. Start asking for book recommendations and take a browse at some book recommendation lists. (This is another hint to send me book recommendations - hit reply and send them through now.)

• Dig into Authors You Like: 4 Books from this email are by Napoleon Hill. I'm a huge fan of Think and Grow Rich, and am really enjoying digging into the rest of his work at the moment. There's a reason I've read all of Ryan Holiday's books and make an effort to read several Stephen King books a year - if you like a writer, you'll probably enjoy their other writing, so why not take advantage of that?

• Expand Your Interests: Reading a book that appeared to be on Dog Training was not on my 2023 bingo - but Don't Shoot The Dog earned a 10/10 for me and challenged some long held beliefs. Expand your interests into other areas and gain some unexpected knowledge.

• Strike a Balance: I've been reading dense biographies and upbeat books on Storytelling. It keeps it interesting and lets me make random connections. It will help you enjoy your reading more, and learn more from it.

• Let serendipity into your reading: I have long book lists. Sometimes, it's books purchased off these, that I've been hearing about for years, that I find to be great - but just as often, I pick completely random books on a whim that turn out to be amazing. Once again, it's about striking a balance.

A Parting Note On Critics:

My section on Critics last week seemed to help a lot of people - who found solace in the words and let me know it helped them.

So, I thought I'd share two pieces of advice from Napoleon Hill to help further:

First, When someone doubts you, ask yourself: "Who said it could not be done? And what great victories has he to his credit which qualify him to judge others accurately?".

Second, when deciding to share your dreams, plans, goals, or objectives with someone make sure they hit two criteria: 1) they're in harmony with your cause 2) they believe in you.

Zachariah 2.0 - Update:

I'm several weeks in and just published this milestone post on my key lessons.

I'm also running a pretty good streak with the newsletter and learning - all thanks to diving head first into this plan.

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That's it for this week.

I sincerely hope that you test some of these ideas - and in finding them useful, pick up some of the books.

Until next week,

Zachariah.