“What are the books that helped shape Shepard’s world-view?” This is THE Shepard Humphries Reading List.
I have learned a bunch since beginning the productive stage of life at age 13. I have failed, won, been angry, reinvented wheels, been rich, been poor, been happy, been sad and have read and studied extensively over the last 35 years. I am sometimes asked for mentorship and sometimes I am hired as a consultant by businesses and individuals. If you are willing to put in some time and work, the following reading / watching /listening list will likely benefit you, probably in different ways than me.
*Many people will read a book title or cruise through a few pages of a book, form an opinion and then say the book is lousy. Other will give it a complete reading, however their minds are closed to new information. I suggest that if you have already found the one and only complete truth about everything, further reading, especially of the following, is not of any use.
** I think (in common usage terms) that “reading a book” no longer means only turning the pages of a physical book. Formats of consumption now include Kindle & audio, and while it is not “reading” a book, much great information can be gathered by listening/watching YouTube videos, so I will include some of them as well.
Finding Direction & Purpose in Your Life
It is no secret that Shepard believes that college is a lousy choice for 80% of people, and that there are better ways to prepare for a successful life.
12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson (I disagree with 20% of what Jordan says, but overall he is well worth the investment of time.
Skip College by Connor Boyack
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
99% of What You Have Been Taught is Wrong by Don Cooper
This easy-to-read book will help the reader consider possibilities and consider a different type of life: Rich Dad – Poor Dad by Robert Kiyasaki. A great follow-up by the same author is Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki.
Listen to Jordan B. Peterson on YouTube. I disagree with 25% of what he concludes, however the guy is really smart, politically incorrect and has some solid ideas. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCodkb-qBktJI5NrUsPYpf7g
Take these two tests from Tony Robbins’ site, they will help you learn more about yourself and what will make you happiest in life.
Business & Self Employed
I spent many years of my life in the E quadrant (employee). I didn’t like it and was not good at it. Since then, I have been in the S quadrant (Self-Employed) and have recently become more in the B quadrant (Business).
To be the in the S quadrant, assume 80 to 110 hour work weeks for at least the first 5 years. You will earn less each year than cops, school teachers, librarians etc. This is because you will not be paid in stolen money, rather, you have to intelligently and peacefully persuade others to exchange value with you.
Not sure which quadrant is best for you? Read these two books in this order to help learn more about yourself:
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- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
There is a great YouTube channel that offers 8-minute summaries of more than 75 great business / personal development books. The Productivity Game on YouTube I suggest watching one a day or more. They offer a free 1-page summary in the description of each video and for $10 a pdf book of all 75 1-page summaries.
Books by Michael Gerber. Most of them say roughly the same thing, I have most enjoyed The E-Myth Revisited and several others were also beneficial.
High Trust Selling by Todd Duncan.
EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey.
Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk.
Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
In Search of Excellence by Robert Waterman & Thomas Peters
Philosophy & “The Spiritual Side”
I have chosen to live a principled, moral, rational life of intellectual consistency. This is frequently in opposition to the world view of pragmatic, dogmatic, cognitive dissonance that 98% of the world has chosen, sometimes even consciously. When an individual is unlike the majority, life is not as smooth, financially profitable, friendly or welcoming. On the other hand, I sleep very well at night. If you do not have an open mind, read no further.
If one takes care of the means, the end will take care of itself. -Mahatma Gandhi
The Most Dangerous Superstition by Larken Rose is perhaps the most important book available in our time. It is a diamond in the rough and will change the open-minded and intelligent reader’s worldview. Buy it on Amazon HERE, or it is available in audio format (free) here:
Why Won’t god Heal Amputees? This book is in contrast to Jordan Petersen’s counsel that “belief in the supernatural is good for humanity in the long run because it provides order.”
Everyday Anarchy by Stefan Molyneux
For a New Liberty by Murray Rothbard
Communication
I have long been interested in persuasion, NLP, psychology, propaganda, psychological warfare, manipulation tactics, crowd-think, sales tactics and other areas of communication. Some books worth reading include:
Win Bigly by Scott Adams
Therapeutic Metaphors by David Gordon
Behind the Green Mask by Rosa Koire
How to Argue & Win Every Time by Gerry Spence
Rules For Radicals by Saul Alinsky
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Life & Being a Smarter Human
The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin
Territorial Imperative by Robert Ardrey
Equal is Unfair by Don Watkins and Yaron Brook
The Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant
Check back for more additions to Shepard Humphries Reading List!