Four Books for New Graduates

Below are four books that will make great gifts for 2018 graduates. 
  
1. The Defining Decade by Dr. Meg Jay. Your twenties matter. A lot. Too many twenty-somethings waste their time, thinking their twenties is for traveling across Europe, having fun, and being in the moment. People who waste their twenties will pay a heavy price in their 30s and 40s - economically, reproductively, and other ways. Dr. Jay explains how to make intentional, strategic moves that over time will lead to a satisfying, productive life. 
  
2. Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss. I highly recommend this book for anybody seeking to improve their life. Ferriss interviewed top performers in the world (including writers, athletes, business owners, spiritual leaders, actors, and more) to identify key tips and techniques peak performers use to be productive and successful. This book is a treasure trove of success tips.
  
3. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael Watkins. This book lays out what you should do in the first 90 days of a new job to ensure your success. Valuable not just for the techniques it covers, but also for the perspective that you can manage your career advancement beyond just developing your technical capabilities. Most people leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table in promotions and raises by not recognizing there is an entire skill set to develop beyond just technical skills. 
  
4. From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors by Alyssa W. Christensen. This book may be geared toward English majors, but no matter the degree, every new graduate can benefit from the invaluable lessons on job hunting, self-promotion, and negotiation. 
    
So these are my recommendations, do you have any books to add to the list? 

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare

Happy Birthday to William Shakespeare, the greatest writer in the English language, who was born April 23, 1564. 

    

There are no surviving records documenting the date of Shakespeare’s birth, but church records indicate he was baptized on Wednesday, April 26th. Baptisms typically took place within three days of birth, and parents were instructed by the Prayer Book to ensure that their children were baptized no later than the first Sunday after birth. So it’s not likely he was born earlier than the previous Sunday, April 23rd. Shakespeare died on his 52nd birthday – April 23, 1616.

Three Must-Read Books for Getting Your Finances in Order

Here are the three best books to help you take charge of your finances and your future. 
   

1. Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition by Dave Ramsey. This is THE BOOK on whipping your finances into shape. Ramsey walks you through saving for an emergency fund, getting out of debt, starting to invest, saving for college, paying off your mortgage, and reaching financial peace in your life. Following the steps Ramsey lays out will get your bank account looking awesome in the long run.
   
2. Your Money Or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. This is one of the most influential personal finance books ever written. This book outlines a nine-step program showing readers how to get out of debt, start saving, de-clutter, invest effectively, and begin living a great life that’s within your means. “Your Money Or Your Life” has helped millions of people take control of their finances and make a life, not just make a living. 
   
3. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. This book is packed with useful, no-nonsense (and entertaining) advice on how to set yourself up for financial success. Sethi’s approach is simple - know how much money you have coming in and then automatically direct it where you want it to end up. Once you automate your finances, you will start saving and investing without stress or effort. Start investing today, even if it’s just $1. He also addresses important subjects you won’t find in most other finance books, like negotiation and developing a side business. The target audience for this book is people in their 20s and 30s who need basic financial advice (and who will appreciate Sethi’s in-your-face style), but I also recommend this book for people who are older but are getting serious about improving their finances.      

     
This is my list. What books would you add? 
      
      

Top 5 Personal Development Books

Here is my list of the best self-improvement books to turbo-boost your career and your personal life.
   

1. How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. This is a must-read book for anyone who aspires to be a person of influence. It has sold millions of copies over the years. Carnegie shows the simple techniques you can use to get people to like you, to win people to your way of thinking, and to change people’s minds while keeping their loyalty. The lessons in this book will pay dividends the rest of your life. 
    
2. Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss. I highly recommend this book for anybody seeking to improve their life. Ferriss interviewed top performers in the world (including writers, athletes, business owners, spiritual leaders, actors, and more) to identify key tips and techniques peak performers use to be productive and successful. This book is an absolute treasure trove of success tips. 
    
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Covey identifies the seven core principles and habits necessary to succeed in life. Daniel Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is Human said it best: “Every so often a book comes along that not only alters the lives of readers but leaves an imprint on the culture itself. The 7 Habits is one of those books.” If you want to be effective and successful in life, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a must-read. 
   
4. Grit by Angela Duckworth. The key to success isn’t talent or IQ but a combination of passion and persistence known as “grit.” Chapter 7 alone - “Practice” - is worth the price of the book. I happened to read “Grit” while I was training for a strenuous cycling event, and after reading about the way “gritty” athletes approach practice I changed how I was training. Duckworth says elite performers practice differently than other people - they engage in deliberate practice to work on their weaknesses or to reach specific objectives. So after reading “Grit” I started training with more intensity, doing focused drills and exercises to build leg strength, cardio, and mental toughness. The new, “gritty” approach paid off for me, and I successfully completed the cycling event. 

    
5. Think and Grow Rich: The 21st-Century Edition: Revised and Updated by Napoleon Hill. Don’t make the mistake of assuming this is just a book about getting rich, because it is so much more. Hill studied the lives of dozens of the wealthiest, most successful men of his era, including Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie and Charles Schwab, and reveals the key traits that helped them to rise to the top. Yes, this book is “old-timey” but in my opinion it is still a must-read for the valuable insights about wealth and power, and overcoming the mental barriers that hold many people back from becoming successful. 
    
So that is my list; are there any books you would add?