We love books at QHP. As our clients know, we regularly use book reviews to discuss topics like meditation, breathwork, and learning. Personally, the two most impactful habits in my life are meditation and reading – more specifically, learning, but books prove a great way to explore invaluable topics.
The reason for this is twofold:
- The Barrier to Entry. This is the energy required to complete a task. Books have an extremely high barrier to entry and, therefore, make excellent “bullshit filters.” They take, at the minimum, weeks to write and often represent years of concentrated and passionate deep work. Nobody writes hundreds of pages about a topic that does not interest them. Instead, the ideas are tested and challenged, molding them into fundamentally intriguing subjects. Compare this to social media, a low barrier to entry, and the value is abundantly clear.
- Return on Investment. Because of the high barrier to entry, books represent a knowledge haven. We get years of someone’s dedication and passion condensed into a few hours and an opportunity to live an author’s life. Time tests all, and the most time-tested books are still available because they explore some fundamental human truth, promote insight and intrigue, and strike a primal chord.
We use over 20 books as lessons during the QHP program. Using Pareto’s Law – the 80/20 Rule – these four books, plus an honorable mention, will give us 80% of the value. While watching the book review videos for the other books will prove sufficient, we highly recommend reading these below (ranked by value):
- Atomic Habits by James Clear (subject: habits and mindset): There is no book on our list more valuable than Atomic Habits. We start with Habit Formation for a reason; they are the foundation of our lives. James Clear’s simple and elegant review of the Laws of Habit Formation makes this read numero uno on our list. It is practical, actionable, and simple – a deadly trio.
- The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler (subject: flow, motivation, learning, and creativity): For flow, look no further than this read. It delivers 90% of the information and value. Explore maintaining motivation, effective learning, and enhancing creativity on the path to finding flow.
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (subject: mindfulness, mindset, and character): This novel offers a profound exploration of inner peace and spiritual awakening. The book guides readers through a journey of self-discovery, teaching us how to free ourselves from the limitations of the mind and embrace inner freedom. Its practical insights and thought-provoking concepts make it a transformative read for anyone seeking deeper understanding and personal growth.
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins (subject: motivation, mindset, and habits): David Goggins is the epitome of a freak. It fell to number four because it is less comprehensive and actionable than the three above. Other than that, prioritize this book. When you are finished, you will feel like running through a wall. We don’t expect you to turn into Goggins – I sure as hell have not – but if you can extract just 1% of his mindset, you will be a striving human being.
Honorable Mention. Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker (subject: sleep): If you strictly abide by the 80/20 Rule, you don’t need to worry about this one. The only reason we have not included it is because it’s single-dimensional, unlike the others. However, this book is the gold standard on sleep. Sleep is the bedrock of health and no book comes close to being as comprehensive as this one. It’s truly the only sleep book you need to understand the importance of rest and how to experience quality slumber. Both scientific and actionable.
