Read All the Books by Jim Rohn
 

All of the books that we will ever need to make us as rich, as healthy, as happy, as powerful, as sophisticated and as successful as we want to be have already been written.
 

People from all walks of life, people with some of the most incredible life experiences, people that have gone from pennies to fortune and from failure to success have taken the time to write down their experiences so that we might share in their wealth of knowledge. They have offered their wisdom and experience so that we can be inspired by it and instructed by it, and so that we can amend our philosophy by it. Their contributions enable us to reset our sail based upon their experiences. They have handed us the gift of their insights so that we can change our plans, if need be, in order to avoid their errors. We can rearrange our lives based on their wise advice.
 

All of the insights that we might ever need have already been captured by others in books. The important question is this: In the last ninety days, with this treasure of information that could change our lives, our fortunes, our relationships, our health, our children and our careers for the better, how many books have we read?
 

Why do we neglect to read the books that can change our lives? Why do we complain but remain the same? Why do so many of us curse the effect but nourish the cause? How do we explain the fact that only a small percent of our entire national population possesses and utilizes a library card - a card that would give us access to all of the answers to success and happiness we could ever want? Those who wish for the better life cannot permit themselves to miss the books that could have a major impact on how their lives turn out. The book they miss will not help!
And the issue is not that books are too expensive! If a person concludes that the price of buying the book is too great, wait until he must pay the price for not buying it. Wait until he receives the bill for continued and prolonged ignorance.
 

There is very little difference between someone who cannot read and someone who will not read. The result of either is ignorance. Those who are serious seekers of personal development must remove the self-imposed limitations they have placed on their reading skills and their reading habits. There is a multitude of classes being taught on how to be a good reader and there are thousands of books on the shelves of the public libraries just waiting to be read. Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. We must not permit anything to stand between us and the book that could change our lives.
 

A little reading each day will result in a wealth of valuable information in a very short period of time. But if we fail to set aside the time, if we fail to pick up the book, if we fail to exercise the discipline, then ignorance will quickly move in to fill the void.
 

Those who seek a better life must first become a better person. They must continually seek after self-mastery for the purpose of developing a balanced philosophy of life, and then live in accordance with the dictates of that philosophy. The habit of reading is a major stepping-stone in the development of a sound philosophical foundation. And in my opinion it is one of the fundamentals required for the attainment of success and happiness.

[This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to www.jimrohn.com Copyright © Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.]

Must Reads

(This is an ever-expanding list. Check back often. Some of these categories are blurry because we are blurry: a living soul enclosed in a body.)

For the Soul

The Bible (I have taken a great liking to the English Standard Version but possess many different translations.)

Desiring God by John Piper

The Pleasures of God by John Piper

Future Grace by John Piper

Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton

Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen

Chosen by God by R. C. Sproul

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul

The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer

Knowing God by J. I. Packer

The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson

The Lord’s Prayer by Thomas Watson

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks

The Christian in Complete Armour (in 3 volumes) by William Gurnall
Communion with God by John Owen

Seeking the Face of God by Gary L. Thomas

The Cry of the Soul by Dr. Dan Allender


These next ones are not for the faint of heart:

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray

Overcoming Sin and Temptation (ed. Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor) by John Owen

The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther

Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther

Commentary on Romans by Martin Luther

The Sovereignty of God by Arthur Pink

The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards

Knowing Christ by Jonathan Edwards

The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

Confessions by St. Augustine

The City of God by St. Augustine

For the Mind

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The Friendship Factor by Alan Loy McGinnis

Bringing Out the Best in People by Alan Loy McGinnis

The Balanced Life by Alan Loy McGinnis

Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak by Robert E. Fisher

Finding Contentment by Neil Clark Warren

Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp

The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle by Jim Rohn

The Freedom of Forgiveness by David Augsburger

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Integrity by Dr. Henry Cloud

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

First Things First by Stephen R. Covey

The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey

The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey

Thinking for a Change by John C. Maxwell

The Difference Maker by John C. Maxwell

For the Body

You: The Owner’s Manual, Updated and Expanded Edition: An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger by Michael F. Roizen, M. D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M. D.

You On a Diet: The Owner’s Manual for Waist Management by Michael F. Roizen, M. D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M. D.

PACE: Rediscover Your Native Fitness by Al Sears, M. D.

The Doctor’s Heart Cure by Al Sears, M. D.

The Paleo Diet by Wiley Long

The Maker’s Diet by Jordan S. Rubin

The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston, M. D.

Total Health Breakthroughs

Dr. Joseph Mercola’s eNewsletter

Healthier News newsletters

For Success

The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

How to Be Rich by J. Paul Getty

Who Dares Wins by Bob Mayer

the dip by Seth Godin

Why We Want You to be Rich by Donald J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Next Millionaires by Paul Zane Pilzer

The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

Seven Years to Seven Figures by Michael Masterson

Ready Fire Aim by Michael Masterson

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

The Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell

The 21 Indispensible Qualities of a Leader by John C. Maxwell

Talent is Never Enough by John C. Maxwell

Leadership Gold by John C. Maxwell

On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis

Leadership is an Art by Max DePree