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Updated almost 11 years ago, 03/11/2014

Account Closed
  • Multi-family Investor
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
1
Votes |
90
Posts

Books that changed my life, what about you?

Account Closed
  • Multi-family Investor
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
Posted
  1. Rich Dad Poor Dad (Favorite book)
  2. Cashflow Quadrant
  3. Guide To Investing
  4. The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing (was my 1st pure real estate book)
  5. The Art of Deal
  6. The ABC's of Real Estate Investing
  7. The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing
  8. The E-myth
  9. The Power of Positive Thinking
  10. The Magic of Thinking Big
  11. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  12. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
  13. Awakening the Giant Within
  14. Your Erroneous Zones
  15. The Power of Now
  16. Emotional Intelligence
  17. Think and Grow Rich
  18. Start With Why
  19. Slight Edge
  20. The Compound Effect
  21. 48 Laws of Power
  22. The Wealth of Nations
  23. The Art of Seduction
  24. The 5 Love Languages
  25. The Art of Start
  26. The Crash Course
  27. Business Model Generation
  28. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
  29. The Secret
  30. The Art of War
  31. Emotional Intelligence
  32. The Psychology of Winning
  33. The 4 Agreements
  34. The Richest Man in Babylon
  35. The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success
  36. The monk who sold his Ferrari
  37. A whole new world
  38. Your Erroneous Zones
  39. As Man Thinketh
  40. Eat that Frog

I read Rich Dad Poor Dad and I quitted from College in 2012 (I started in Real Estate in 2007), I was about to start a degree on Computer Science with a minus concentration in business administration. Now I'm a a real estate investor. I've read more than 305 books in these past 2 years.

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Jon Klaus
  • Developer
  • Garland, TX
4,013
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8,666
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Jon Klaus
  • Developer
  • Garland, TX
Replied

Wow Jorge, you are a voracious reader. What would you say were the most significant applications in your life from what you've learned?

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Duncan Taylor
  • Real Estate Investor
487
Votes |
866
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Duncan Taylor
  • Real Estate Investor
Replied

Good for you! Read everything you can get your hands on.

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Chris K.
Pro Member
  • Investor
  • Baltimore, MD
655
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1,265
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Chris K.
Pro Member
  • Investor
  • Baltimore, MD
Replied

It's probably bias cause I look up to him but Mark Cubans "How to Win at the Sport of Business".

  • Chris K.
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    Roy N.
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Fredericton, New Brunswick
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    Roy N.
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Fredericton, New Brunswick
    ModeratorReplied

    "Who has seen the wind?" (W.O. Mitchell), The Metamorphosis (Kaftka), and "A Clockwork Orange" (Burgess) ... but don't ask me to tie them back to real estate investing.

  • Roy N.
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    Eduardo A.
    • Sandy Springs, GA
    31
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    126
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    Eduardo A.
    • Sandy Springs, GA
    Replied

    The Millionaire Fastlane

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    Don Konipol
    Lender
    Pro Member
    #1 Tax Liens & Mortgage Notes Contributor
    • Lender
    • The Woodlands, TX
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    5,563
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    Don Konipol
    Lender
    Pro Member
    #1 Tax Liens & Mortgage Notes Contributor
    • Lender
    • The Woodlands, TX
    Replied

    1. Freedom in an Unfree World - Harry Browne

    2. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

    3. How I Turned $1,000 into Three Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time - Bill Nickerson

    4. Real Estate Tsunami - Ingersoll

    5. The Sky's the Limit - Passion and Property in Manhattan - Steven Gaines

    • Don Konipol
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    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    1
    Votes |
    90
    Posts
    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    Replied

    Now I enjoy more audiobooks. They are faster and I retain more content. I have no problem listen to an audio book for 8 hours In a day.

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    Aaron Mazzrillo
    • Investor
    • Riverside, CA
    3,665
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    2,770
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    Aaron Mazzrillo
    • Investor
    • Riverside, CA
    Replied

    I don't think I could select one book that drastically changed my life, but there have been simple passages or even a few words in many books that have had a profound effect on me. For example, in Jim Rohn's book The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle there is a short paragraph about little things having big impacts. (I actually believe the book Compound Effect was written based on that idea as I'm pretty sure Darren Hardy was an employee of Jim Rohn at one time.)

    I'm paraphrasing but essentially the idea was that the little things you do each day compound. If you just wrote one offer a day, it only takes 20 minutes or so, at the end of the week, you'd have written 5 offers. Keep going for a month and you end up with 20 or so. Likewise, if you sat on your rear and watched the kartrashians for 1/2 hour a week for how every many years they've been dumbing down humanity, you'd probably have spent 2-3 days in total with the kartrashians for what result? Side note; how is it that I don't even own a T.V. but can probably name everyone on that show? What a virus...

    I really don't remember much else that was in that book, but that one idea really kicked me in the arse and that is what I look for when I read; I want that one strand of advice that I can put to work now like a piece of DNA I can genetically implant into my code. Little mistakes made every day add up to big errors over elapsed time. Powerful stuff.

    Now I need to reread the book and see what other nugget I can extract.

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    Ophelia Nicholson
    • Involved In Real Estate
    • Hyattsville , MD
    255
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    298
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    Ophelia Nicholson
    • Involved In Real Estate
    • Hyattsville , MD
    Replied

    My life is constantly changing so for me I loved.

    1. The trick to money is having some

    2. Secrets of the Millionaire mind.

    More than books I think listening to youtube has had tremendous impact. Jim Rohn is a favorite of mine. Every time I listen to him for a few days or weeks at a time I make huge leaps and bounds. When I originally started listening to him I was making $44k a year- I pretty much almost made that with my first rehab sale so far this year.

    He had a valuable lesson- You don't get paid for time you get paid for value. The value that you bring to the market place is what people pay you for- if you want to make more money become more valuable!

    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    1
    Votes |
    90
    Posts
    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    Replied

    @Jon Klaus

    Sorry I didn't understand your question.

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    Jon Klaus
    • Developer
    • Garland, TX
    4,013
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    8,666
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    Jon Klaus
    • Developer
    • Garland, TX
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    @Jon Klaus

    Sorry I didn't understand your question.

    What have you learned from your reading that has changed your life?

    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    1
    Votes |
    90
    Posts
    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    Replied

    Jon Klaus I'll make it short and sweet, I'm a new person. I changed drastically (for good) in so many ways in a short period of time, let say in less than 10 months. So you can imagine all the new things I learned (Still learning) and I'm applying today.

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    Henry Nguyen
    • Wholesaler
    • Arlington, TX
    29
    Votes |
    59
    Posts
    Henry Nguyen
    • Wholesaler
    • Arlington, TX
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Aaron Mazzrillo:
    I don't think I could select one book that drastically changed my life, but there have been simple passages or even a few words in many books that have had a profound effect on me. For example, in Jim Rohn's book The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle there is a short paragraph about little things having big impacts. (I actually believe the book Compound Effect was written based on that idea as I'm pretty sure Darren Hardy was an employee of Jim Rohn at one time.)

    I'm paraphrasing but essentially the idea was that the little things you do each day compound. If you just wrote one offer a day, it only takes 20 minutes or so, at the end of the week, you'd have written 5 offers. Keep going for a month and you end up with 20 or so. Likewise, if you sat on your rear and watched the kartrashians for 1/2 hour a week for how every many years they've been dumbing down humanity, you'd probably have spent 2-3 days in total with the kartrashians for what result? Side note; how is it that I don't even own a T.V. but can probably name everyone on that show? What a virus...

    I really don't remember much else that was in that book, but that one idea really kicked me in the arse and that is what I look for when I read; I want that one strand of advice that I can put to work now like a piece of DNA I can genetically implant into my code. Little mistakes made every day add up to big errors over elapsed time. Powerful stuff.

    Now I need to reread the book and see what other nugget I can extract.

    Haha I love the part about the Kartrashisns. I don't think they are the cause of mindless entertainment because if they disappeared another would quickly take their place(MTV reality show). I'm gradually weaning myself off TV and hope for a no TV house in the future.

    As for the original thread:

    Rich dad, poor dad - obviously

    Millionaire next door - Just living humbly and simply, contrary to what marketing makes you believe. Also compare with people in your income bracket. If you're a teacher don't compare yourself to Dr's. How are you doing compared to other teachers in your age group.

    7 Habits of highly effective people - how to live life purposefully and becoming a better person and leader

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    Randy King
    • Investor
    • Madison, AL
    28
    Votes |
    93
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    Randy King
    • Investor
    • Madison, AL
    Replied

    Building wealth One House At A Time by John Schaub

    Nothing Down by Robert Allen. One of the founders of guru seminars.

    Invest in Debt by Jim Napier.

    The Journey Is The Reward by Jeffery Young. Published in 1988, it is about the early Steve Jobs and the founding of Apple.

    The Search by John Battelle. About the founding of Google.

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    Duncan Taylor
    • Real Estate Investor
    487
    Votes |
    866
    Posts
    Duncan Taylor
    • Real Estate Investor
    Replied

    A few books that changed my life...

    The Bible

    Atlas Shrugged

    The Millionaire Mind

    The Psychology of the Deal

    If You Fear Public Speaking More Than Death, You Are Doing It Wrong

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    Rob K.
    • Investor
    • Southeast, MI
    1,707
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    2,295
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    Rob K.
    • Investor
    • Southeast, MI
    Replied

    When I was 17, I read Winning Through Intimidation by Robert Ringer. It changed my life. Best book ever.

    There have been a couple mentions of Atlas Shrugged, which I really liked. I thought The Fountainhead was even better. Anthem by Ayn Rand is great also and can be read in one sitting.

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    Bryan L.
    • Residential Real Estate Agent
    • Cookeville, TN
    948
    Votes |
    1,980
    Posts
    Bryan L.
    • Residential Real Estate Agent
    • Cookeville, TN
    Replied

    For me I would have to list the following:

    The Bible

    Rich Dad, Poor Dad

    Surprised by the Power of the Spirit and Surprised by the Voice of God (both by Jack Deere).

    I've also been positively changes by so many people, websites, and talk radio programs. Among those would be WorldNetDaily (wnd.com) and "Uncle Phil" (Phil Valentine) on talk radio. And to some extent, Rush, Hanity, et al.

    And Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words. Learning the background definition to one little word in the Bible really changed my life for the better.

    Now days I spend much more time reading on the internet than I do reading books.

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    Pat L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Upstate, NY
    3,352
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    3,975
    Posts
    Pat L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Upstate, NY
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Bryan L.:
    For me I would have to list the following:

    The Bible

    Now days I spend much more time reading on the internet than I do reading books.

    I agree...

    I keep telling my kids "just imagine if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for the night before"??.

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    John Chapman
    • Investor
    • Dallas, TX
    912
    Votes |
    718
    Posts
    John Chapman
    • Investor
    • Dallas, TX
    Replied

    @Rob K. that's awesome that you like the Fountainhead better than Atlas Shrugged as I totally agree it was the better of the two. (I always feel like I'm in the minority.)

    I'd throw out the "Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson. It's basically the same premise that @Aaron Mazzrillo talks about, that is, small actions compounding into big results. Really makes you start to question all the small decisions you make day in and day out and the effects they have on you overall.

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    Aaron Mazzrillo
    • Investor
    • Riverside, CA
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    Aaron Mazzrillo
    • Investor
    • Riverside, CA
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Randy King:
    Building wealth One House At A Time by John Schaub
    Nothing Down by Robert Allen. One of the founders of guru seminars.

    Invest in Debt by Jim Napier.

    If you've ever been to a John Schaub seminar, he makes it a point, at every seminar he does, to tell everyone how Robert Allen was a student of his before he went all guru.

    One can never go wrong with old Jimmy Napier content.

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    Phil Z.
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Orange, CT
    218
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    951
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    Phil Z.
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Orange, CT
    Replied

    - E-Myth

    - Rich Dad, Poor Dad

    - Millionaire Real Estate Agent

    Account Closed
    • Investor
    • San Jose, CA
    3,331
    Votes |
    2,097
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    Account Closed
    • Investor
    • San Jose, CA
    Replied

    None. What changed my life was what my professor said.

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    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    1
    Votes |
    90
    Posts
    Account Closed
    • Multi-family Investor
    • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    Replied

    Alright, thank you.

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    Daniel Miller
    • St. Petersburg, FL
    44
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    173
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    Daniel Miller
    • St. Petersburg, FL
    Replied

    Investing in Apartment Buildings - Mathew Martinez

    The Millioniare Real Estate Investor - Gary Keller

    What Every Real Estate Investor needs to know about Cash Flow - Frank Galinellai

    Recent Read -

    "Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works" - AG Lafley (P and G CEO)

    It's been a really good read. A lot of the material is very applicable to the Real Estate game. One of his main themes in the book is;

    "Where are you going to play and how are you going to win there?"

    Not trying to start a political anything BUT how did Rush Limbaugh and Hannity get brought up in a thread about books that have made an impact in your life?

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    John Rooster
    • Denver, CO
    105
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    409
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    John Rooster
    • Denver, CO
    Replied
    Originally posted by @John Chapman:
    @Rob K. that's awesome that you like the Fountainhead better than Atlas Shrugged as I totally agree it was the better of the two. (I always feel like I'm in the minority.)

    You probably are in the minority. I prefer Atlas Shrugged to The Fountainhead.