Reading is Overpowered
It sounds boring to read, at least that's what people say who don’t have a clue. If your history with reading consists of being forced to read novels in school, which you aren’t even reading because there are summaries online, you haven’t actually read. Technically, yes, but you haven’t read because you wanted to but because you were forced to do so. Whenever you’re forced to do something, it becomes boring and exhausting. It just doesn’t feel right. The good thing is, you can read whatever you want, if you want to read. I’m not forcing you to do so but rather trying to convince you to start reading.
“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary”
Why?
Reading is overpowered because you are brainwashing yourself with the thoughts of successful people, you’re letting yourself go into the exciting world of fantasy, or you learn something about relationships and love. Whatever it is, your mind consumes the information and uses it. It’s up to you what to read and what not. I prefer self-improvement books, autobiographies of successful people, and fantasy novels. Reading is one of the greatest activities you can do to sharpen your mind, a great counter to scrolling through social media. Most successful people read, and that isn’t a coincidence. They learned from other people's mistakes through reading or talking with them. See reading as leveling up your character in a video game. To reach the next level, you need to read a certain amount of books because you aren’t possessing the knowledge yet that is needed to level up your character. Sure, it needs some time, and you aren’t able to read all the books in the world unless you are immortal, but you are certainly able to read a minimum of 4 books per year. That’s one book for every season. It doesn’t hurt to read; moreover, it helps you a lot. The amount of personal growth I’ve achieved through reading alone is astonishing.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Through reading, I changed my perspective on life several times, especially in topics such as mindset, spirituality, and love. Reading is neutral; you can help your mind or poison it. You need to be extremely careful about what you let into your mind and what not.
What to read and what not
It’s been more than a year since I read the book called “Hard Times Create Strong Men” by Stefan Aarnio. It's a very good book that every man should give a try. In one chapter, the author mentions the impact a book had on his life. It was a book about hooking up with women, so powerful that he became so successful at seducing women that he became a womanizer. Aarnio mentions that it was nice for a period of time but turned out to poison his mind. He wanted one functional relationship but ended up dating several women all at the same time, while being in 3 different relationships. His mind was poisoned by the lectures and the dark wisdom that came from this book. He subconsciously used the tactics of the book and seduced women, even if he didn’t want to. That’s why he was so eager to mention that we should be careful about what we let into our mind and what not. I won’t mention the name of this book because I think it causes more harm than any good. I haven’t read it and never will due to Aarnio’s warning. It would be foolish to think that you can turn off the dark desires that arose within you due to the book's teachings. You should only read what helps you in life and gives you fulfillment and joy. If your fulfillment is to seduce as many women as possible, go for it, but don’t say that you haven’t been warned when you turn to something that you originally didn’t want. Be careful; that’s all I’m saying to you.
11 Books I’ve Read and Would Recommend
Mindset:
“Can’t Hurt Me” and “Never Finished” by David Goggins are some of the greatest, if not the greatest books you can read on mindset. They taught me discipline and the importance of striving for more in life while never stop fighting for it. David Goggins went through a lot of challenges in his life, especially in his traumatic abusive childhood. He talks about dealing with such issues while succeeding as a human on this earth.
“Hard Times Create Strong Men” by Stefan Aarnio taught me what it takes to be a man while staying true to yourself in a world full of lies and misery. It was one of his last books he wrote before passing at a very young age due to cancer.
Spirituality:
“The Way of the Superior Man” by David Deida is the book I’ve read the most. I read it more than 2 times because it's so full of wisdom. It’s the most important book you can read as a man. It teaches you so much about yourself and your purpose in this life. You learn very much about women and the feminine as well as the masculine in general that you need to read it for that wisdom in relationships alone.
“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius. I haven’t even finished it, but it’s an all-time classic. Ancient stoic wisdom you can use in your everyday life.
Money:
“Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki is also an all-time classic, which needs to be read taking into consideration that some of his methods are from a different era.
“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill is the typical master book of understanding money and developing a mindset that is needed to actually get rich.
History and Future of Humanity:
“Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari is one of my favorite books of all time because it teaches you so much about history and humanity. Harari writes in such an interesting style that you are hooked by it. It isn’t only for history enthusiasts like me; it’s for everybody.
“21 Lessons for the 21st Century” by Yuval Noah Harari is extra helpful to give answers for yourself in these times. Whether it is the future, your purpose, or the meaning of life, this book has you sorted with wisdom for ages.
Psychology and Power:
“The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene is a book that was banned in prisons because it’s that powerful. This book should be read with extreme carefulness because it teaches you powerful principles. The book itself is neutral; it’s up to you what you are doing with it. Grasping for power and manipulation, or striving for greatness and glory?
“The Laws of Human Nature” by Robert Greene is a book that I have recently bought. I haven’t finished it, but the same rules for the 9th book apply to this book.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
Live more than once.
I hope you found that useful, and I hope to see you with a book in your hands at some time.
