In our spare time, my wife and I love to read.  She loves to read really great, thought provoking stories from around the world and of different eras.  I love to read inspirational, nonfiction, self-help variety books.  She only reads a book once, but I revisit my favorites again and again.  Those are two very different approaches to the same thing, but I guess that’s what makes us a good match.  These books are my current favorites:

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie is my all time most favorite book.  I’ve read it several times, and learn something new every time I do.  The principles it teaches are very simple, but things that are often forgotten in our society.  This book reminds us not to criticize others, to smile, to be a good listener, to make other people feel important, and most importantly, to give praise.   I like that the author emphasizes kindness and how it leads to prosperity.  This book was first published in 1937, but it is timeless and absolutely applicable to relationships today.

Killing Sacred Cows by Garrett B. Gunderson is what I’m reading this month.  This book dispels common myths related to finances, security, and happiness.  It suggests that financial security is really a psychological endeavor.  Think it before you can be it.  The author totes the importance of self-reliance, which really hits home to me.  He reveals the true source of financial security, which is the individual and his skill set, rather than just money.  My favorite idea in this book is the importance of creating value.  This is driving how I run my practice, and how I view my family and my life.

If you’re looking for something lighthearted and funny, Fatherhood by Bill Cosby always fits the bill.