On my ambitious quest to finish 77 books on self-improvement and business as soon as my lifestyle allows, I’ve come across a few that haven’t really wowed me for one reason or another. Occasionally, though, I discover books that complement one another in really powerful ways.
I’ve been intrigued by this notion of reading multiple books at the same time ever since I heard about Bill Gates. An avid reader, Gates aims to read at least 50 nonfiction books each year. Though I’m not sure if he still does it, he used to set aside one large chunk of time each year to read all the books he’s been meaning to get to. In reading them all at once, he says, the ideas held within are able to cross-pollinate with each other and inspire him to make new innovations.
Two books on my massive to-read list that cross-pollinate well are Chris Guillebeau’s The $100 Startup and Darren Hardy’s The Compound Effect. To maximize my time toward reading, I’ve scheduled a specific time slot to read Guillebeau’s physical book, and I listened to Hardy’s audiobook when doing dishes, cutting grass, taking long trips, etc.
Though the visual learner in me often struggles to process the content of audiobooks, Hardy’s conversational writing keeps me engaged with what he’s saying. He narrates it himself, which brings a sense of dynamism to the writing that might not be there with your run-of-the-mill narrator.
In the same light, Guillebeau’s book works well being consumed in print because, if you’re trying to start a business idea, it provides a lot of areas where you’ll want to stop and write out plans before moving on to the next section.
The Compound Effect is a book about establishing simple habits that bring about lasting positive change. It’s empowering with the same tone as something by Tony Robbins, and it offers lots of practical steps the reader can take to revolutionize his or her life.
As The Compound Effect prompts the reader to make lasting personal change, The $100 Startup makes starting a business or launching a product seem accessible, catalyzing professional change. It’s loaded with real-life examples of small-scale businesses that have thrived using the methods he suggests. I’ve already bought the followup book to The $100 Startup because it has been that influential toward getting the right thoughts churning. His next book on my reading list, Side Hustle, promises to keep creative side projects growing without requiring the reader to quit the day job.
If your life needs a jumpstart and you’re tired of making excuses for not actualizing your dreams, consider reading both The Compound Effect and The $100 Startup at the same time. If you do, let me know of your insights in the comments section below!
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