The Knowledge Cooler is a simple collection of books that have had a positive impact on my quest for financial independence. For each book in this library I will write up a few things:
The Basics:
A very brief teaser of what the book is about. I emphasize the word brief because if you want more details/information then there is a very easy solution to your problems: Google it!
All the Feels:
How did I feel after reading? Amped up, stupid, hungry for more, confused, enlightened? You get the point.
My Main Takeaway(s):
Every time I read a book I try to take away at least one key point/message. The things that resonate most with me wont always be aligned with the authors main points, but that’s why this section is called “My Main Takeaway(s)”.
Personal finance is a lifelong journey, you need to keep learning. The worst action is inaction – if you do nothing, then nothing happens. You need to get the wheels in motion and the perfect way to do that is though education.
Atomic Habits
Perfect for: Building good habits, Breaking bad ones
Length: 320 pages
Depth: Fun to read and try his methods as you go
More info →
Zillow Talk
Perfect for: Fun facts to tell your tell estate inclined friends
Length: 304 pages
Depth: Lots of numbers thrown around but content is simple and light
More info →
The 10X Rule
Perfect for: Motivation, Thinking Big
Length: 240 pages
Depth: Quick read, more motivational than dense
More info →
Hyperfocus
Perfect for: Productivity, Focus, Compartmentalizing
Length: 256 pages
Depth: Need a pen to jot down notes – a lot of actionable advice in here
More info →
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age
Perfect for: Emotional Intelligence, Relationships, Listening
Length: 272 pages
Depth: Non-technical, full of stories
More info →
The Power of Habit
Perfect for: Rethinking your routines, Understanding the importance of good habits
Length: 416 pages
Depth: Collection of entertaining stories
More info →
Think and Grow Rich
Perfect for: Mindset, Mamba Mentality, Career
Length: 320 pages
Depth: Dense with actionable advice
More info →
Your Money or Your Life
Perfect for: Introduction to Financial Independence, Relationship with Money, Overall Financial Health
Length: 368 pages
Depth: Easy to understand, but requires dense actions to implement
More info →
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics
Perfect for: Learning to Meditate, Controlling your Mind
Length: 304 pages
Depth: Easy to read, Hard to Practice
More info →
The Millionaire Next Door
Perfect for: Financial Independence, Basic Money Management
Length: 272 pages
Depth: Light read; requires reflecting on your spending decisions
More info →
The Richest Man in Babylon
Perfect for: Financial Independence, Basic Money Management
Length: 144 pages
Depth: Quick and light
More info →
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
Perfect for: Foundation to Investing
Length: 304 pages
Depth: A lot of numbers thrown around but the main ideas of the book are easy to grasp
More info →
Principles: Life and Work
Perfect for: Broader Thinking, Handling and Learning from Failures
Length: 592 pages
Depth: Very dense if you self-reflect and try to relate his principles to your life
More info →
The Truth About Money
Perfect for: Introduction to Personal Finance, Foundation to Investing
Length: 736 pages
Depth: Can be dense at times – covers a large range of personal finance topics, some more in depth than others
More info →
The Book on Rental Property Investing
Perfect for: Foundation to Rental Property Investing
Length: 362 pages
Depth: Light-Medium depending on your prior knowledge of real estate investing
More info →
Set for Life
Perfect for: Introduction to Financial Independence; roadmap to achieve Financial Independence
Length: 236 pages
Depth: Inspires heavy self-reflection about lifestyle choices. So light for some, heavy for others.
More info →
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life
Perfect for: Realizing life is a marathon, not a sprint; Appreciating that there is more to life than your career
Length: 447 pages
Depth: Easy read, but contains a lot of surf terminology and vocabulary
More info →
Finding and Funding Great Deals
Perfect for: Experienced real estate investors seeking non-traditional deals, Understanding the general lifetime/process of a real estate deal
Length: 239 pages
Depth: Dense if you are a new real estate investor
More info →
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Perfect for: Entrepreneurship, Inspiration, Realism
Length: 400 pages
Depth: Light and non-technical read
More info →
Emotional Agility
Perfect for: Personal Development, Stress Relief, Patience
Length: 243 pages
Depth: Light to read but may spark heavy self-reflection
More info →