{"id":7640,"date":"2024-05-26T16:55:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-26T20:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/why-you-should-always-be-reading-7-books-at-a-time\/"},"modified":"2024-05-26T16:55:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-26T20:55:23","slug":"why-you-should-always-be-reading-7-books-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/why-you-should-always-be-reading-7-books-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Always Be Reading 7 Books at a Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
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Conventional wisdom says that you should read only one book at a time. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s like saying you should only take one college course at a time. That you should never have dinner with more than one person at a time. Or that you should only watch one television series at the same time, lest you muddle all the plots together. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ludicrous, I say. Books are the spark of imagination and the engine of creativity. <\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, I\u2019m reading seven books at the same time. That may seem like a lot, but all seven actually work very well together. <\/span><\/p>\n

Let me explain a little bit about each one, and then show you how they complement each other. By the end of this article, you\u2019ll realize that reading multiple books at one time should actually be the prevailing conventional wisdom.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. \u201cRelentless\u201d by Tim Grover<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Grover was the strength and conditioning coach (personal trainer) for Michael Jordan and Kobe Byrant. But they weren\u2019t the only top athletes he worked with; Grover\u2019s clientele includes some of the most focused, disciplined, and competitive athletes in history. His stories about the singularity of their concentration can make you feel like an under-performer. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I find his book to be a great way to start my day; it provides the inspiration for me to push harder, do better, produce more, and do things that are outside my comfort zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. \u201cThe 80-20 Principle\u201d by Richard Koch <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

My friend and client, Jason Capital<\/a>\u2014a young, ambitious entrepreneur\u2014recommended this book. Many of my successful friends have books they refer to as \u201ctheir bible,\u201d and for Jason, this is it. Koch, a wealthy investor, first published the book in the \u201990\u2019s, but its wisdom has held true for decades. <\/span><\/p>\n

Like \u201cRelentless,\u201d \u201cThe 80-20 Principle\u201d gets a few minutes of my attention every morning. Koch\u2019s promise of getting more done by doing less is one we\u2019ve heard many times before, but he lays out a politically incorrect and experience-backed blueprint for building wealth, much like Felix Dennis in his book, \u201cHow to Get Rich\u201d (another common \u201cbusiness bible\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

3. \u201cThe Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire\u201d by Edward Gibbon <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

The annotated version of this 1700s epic tome clocks in at 1,200 pages of tiny font. My goal is to read four pages each night after dinner. At this pace, I plan to finish it almost a year to the day after I started it. <\/span><\/p>\n

To be honest, I skim a lot of pages. It\u2019s heavy reading, but the extensive research completed by the author, covering a span of some 300 years between Emperors Augustus and Constantine, is truly fascinating.<\/span><\/p>\n

This book also overlaps nicely with the two books mentioned above. All three leverage lessons from history for the benefit of the present and future\u2014although, admittedly, this book dives into more weighty topics like the origins of Christianity and the influence of religion on modern life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading these three books simultaneously, and back-to-back-to-back each day, is like sitting around a fireplace in a cozy library. I can almost picture the three authors in front of me, each enthusiastically explaining why humans do what they do. <\/span><\/p>\n

4. \u201cSapiens\u201d by Yuval Noah Harari <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

I marvel at both the breadth and depth of the author\u2019s research in \u201cSapiens.\u201d Harari\u2019s tackles quite an ambitious goal with this book, documenting the many influences of evolution on our modern life, from the domestication of dogs to the rise of religion. It is, as other reviewers have said, full of \u201cintellectual acrobatics and logical leaps that will leave you in admiration.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Many evenings, I turn from Gibbon to Harari, absorbing two different perspectives on the development of the Roman Empire, Christianity, and early religion. The contrast between the two is fascinating and, not surprisingly, complementary. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is the final book I read before bed. That\u2019s not because it\u2019s boring. Quite the opposite\u2014it\u2019s as good as reading any fiction novel, rich with characters and unbelievable plot lines. Admittedly, however, it density is enough to send me off to sleep after only a few pages.
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5. \u201cSkin in the Game\u201d by Nassim Nicholas Taleb <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Fair warning: When you read a book from Taleb, it\u2019s like listening to a know-it-all schoolyard bully\u2014but one who has the ability to charm you with enthralling storytelling and compelling logic. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taleb is keenly aware of his condescending writing and just doesn\u2019t seem to care. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what one critic wrote of the Lebanese-American author: <\/span>\u201cThe problem with Taleb is not that he\u2019s an a******. He is an a******. The problem with Taleb is that he is right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If this book were written by any other author, then it would belong in the category I call, \u201cGood idea, but should have been a six-page magazine article.\u201d Taleb, however, spins story after story to make his point, and you soon wish the pages on which he connects history to present-day living\u2014and stupidity\u2014don\u2019t have to end.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSkin in the Game\u201d is undeniably provocative, forcing you to ask questions about the nature of fairness, risk, and personal investment in just about anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. \u201cTraction\u201d by Gino Wickman<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Every business owner should read and re-read Wickman\u2019s book annually. It\u2019s on par with two others that have greatly influenced my entrepreneurial career: \u201cReady, Fire, Aim\u201d by Michael Masterson (aka Mark Ford) and \u201cThe Secrets of the Rockefeller Habits\u201d by Verne Harnish. <\/span><\/p>\n

What is it exactly? A manual for business growth, and one that I go through slowly, taking out one big action item per day. <\/span><\/p>\n

7. \u201cDie Empty\u201d by Todd Henry <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

This book is one of the reasons I read multiple titles at a time. It\u2019s a case for making the most of every minute of every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the books I read get my mind racing with ideas for my business; this is one of those book. I began reading it on a long-haul flight recently from Toronto to Los Angeles. After only three pages, I set the book down and spent the next hour mapping out the schedule and keynote speech for our upcoming <\/span>Perfect Life Retreat<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

#<\/span><\/p>\n

There you have it\u2014the<\/span> seven books dog-eared on my shelf (or in my bag) right now. Once in a while, I\u2019ll open other classics like \u201cThe Art of Living\u201d or \u201cThe Tao Te Ching\u201d in hopes of solving a problem or getting a dose of daily inspiration. But for the most part, I stick to my core seven.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now I know what you\u2019re thinking. There are two questions always arise when I share my seven-book strategy, so let\u2019s get right to them. <\/span><\/p>\n

How do you find time to read?<\/b> <\/span><\/h4>\n

I gave up television years ago. I just didn\u2019t like having my time stolen through a hypnotic trance. On the other hand, getting lost in a book for an hour feels like time well spent. <\/span><\/p>\n

Getting rid of your TV is probably the biggest step you can take to reading more books. <\/span><\/p>\n

But I also read in the slivers of time in a busy schedule\u2014between phone calls, while my tea brews, on the train, waiting for airport security.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not alone. Famed horror author <\/span>Stephen King reads books between innings at Fenway Park. <\/span><\/p>\n

Still, reading is a habit that many of us don\u2019t have. My friend and bibliophile, Ryan Holiday, has some advice on that point: <\/span>\u201cYou need to stop thinking of [reading] as \u2018some activity that you do\u2026 [it] must become as natural as eating and breathing to you. It\u2019s not something you do because you feel like it, but because it\u2019s a reflex, a default.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Audio books make this easy. You can begin listening in the bathroom in the morning, as you roll through your exercise routine, or in the car on the way to work. You might even be able to finish a short book, like my \u201c<\/span>Perfect Day Formula,\u201d <\/span>in a day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Okay, that covers ONE book, you say, but what about seven?<\/span><\/p>\n

Why read so many books at the same time?<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Perhaps I\u2019m simply nostalgic for my college days, when it was my daily duty to read fascinating studies on exercise physiology and case studies of human psychology at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

In case you haven\u2019t guess it, I love learning. I might even be an information addict. (If I ever visit your home, please remove all magazines from your coffee table, as I have an overwhelming\u2014and slightly anti-social\u2014urge to read everything in sight. Thank you in advance.)<\/p>\n

The main reason I love to read multiple books at a time is the same reason I enjoy conversations with many different smart people: <\/span><\/p>\n

Information is intoxicating and human behavior is fascinating. As I described earlier, each evening of reading feels like an author roundtable in an old oak library. I can imagine sipping Cognac amidst fiery exchanges with Taleb, Gibbon, and Harari. I can hear them debate the influence of history on modern life.<\/span><\/p>\n

But there\u2019s another, simpler reason. There are some days when I\u2019m not in the mood for heavy mental lifting in a business context. I just want to hear tales of Michael Jordan chastising his teammates for not giving 100% every minute of every practice, or how Kobe was a stone-faced, unflinching, killer on the court. Having seven books open at any time gives me that variety.<\/span><\/p>\n

To me, it\u2019s no different than calling one friend to get you out of a bad mood\u2014because you love their sense of humor\u2014and another to give you sage career advice. Some books are for getting fired up (\u201cRelentless\u201d) and others are for winding down (\u201cSapiens\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the bottom line: Books are wisdom-imparting mentors in life, and one can ever have enough wisdom\u2014especially when it is given so freely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read up on Morning Success with the FREE Morning Routine Guide!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sign up now<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to get our FREE Morning Routine guide\u2014the #1 way to increase productivity, energy, and focus for profitable days. Used by thousands of fitness, business, and finance industry leaders to leapfrog the competition while making time for the people who really matter.\u00a0Learn more here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Craig Ballantyne<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Craig<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

If you want to double your income, work less, and become the ambitious millionaire you’ve always wanted to be… Craig Ballantyne is the coach who will help you do it. With more than 20-years of experience as an entrepreneur and five 7-figure businesses under his belt, he specializes in helping “struckling” entrepreneurs get out of the mud and build the business of their dreams. To see if you qualify for Craig’s “Millionaire Coaching Program” send an email to support@earlytorise.com with the subject line “Millionaire”.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n