Books Recommended by Lewis Smith
Read the interview: Lewis Smith
12 books recommended by Lewis Smith
How to Win Friends and Influence People
For business it's harder to pick a clear winner, but I've read "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie quite a few times. It is very rare for a business book that it is packed with invaluable advice, to be so easy… Read the full quote
For business it's harder to pick a clear winner, but I've read "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie quite a few times. It is very rare for a business book that it is packed with invaluable advice, to be so easy and enjoyable to read. The fact that the tone and style is quite dated just adds to the fun in reading it and proves how valuable it still is. I recently recommended this book to my brother who has never read a business book before, and he said it totally changed how approaches dealing with everyone.
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
by Tim Ferriss
"The Four Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss inspired us to quit our jobs, travel the world and start our own businesses. I haven't re-read since, and I don't think much of the practical advice has aged well. But in terms of opening your mind to ideas, it is world class.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
by Ashlee Vance
Also not a programming book, but inspiring if you are starting your own thing.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
by Phil Knight
Not a programming book, but inspiring if you are starting your own thing.
Steve Jobs
Also not a programming book, but inspiring if you are starting your own thing.
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen
"Getting Things Done" by David Allen really changed my whole attitude to managing myself and all the stuff I have going on. It's not the best written book, but the concepts in it were revolutionary to me and meant I went from feeling stressed all the time about work, to much calmer with much less stuff in my head.
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
by T. Harv Eker
"Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" by T Harv Eker has also had a radical impact on me in recent years and on my attitude towards money. I find it almost embarrassing to recommend because the ideas are very radical and "woo woo", but if you stick with it, it can change your perspective totally.
Code Craft: The Practice of Writing Excellent Code
Code Craft by Pete Goodliffe – This book is the fastest way to go from junior dev to senior dev.
Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride
I'm listening to Emotional Success by David DeSteno. I'm hoping to use some of the ideas to help customers of my weight loss app stick to their targets and lose more weight.
His Dark Materials Series
His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman is my favourite fictional book of all time. I just love this story so much, it's clever and thought provoking, whilst also being accessible and gripping to read. The audiobook version is fantastic too, and narrated by Pullman… Read the full quote
His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman is my favourite fictional book of all time. I just love this story so much, it's clever and thought provoking, whilst also being accessible and gripping to read. The audiobook version is fantastic too, and narrated by Pullman himself. It's also inspiring because the main characters are just children, but they are so strong and determined. There is always something new to take from it. I love that Lyra is quite a popular girls name now.
Managing Oneself
In "Managing Oneself" Peter Drucker talks about how different people have different ways of receiving information. I realised that hearing is much more effective for me than reading and so since then I only really listen to audio books. Incidentally, that book is 100% free on audible and is shorter than most podcasts. Well worth your time.
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