Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. 

—Richard Steele

It’s been a crazy month in my life. We closed on the new home that I talked about in, “How do we think through the home buying process?” packed and moved. There is a reason that moving is considered one of the Top 5 most stressful life events. That doesn’t mean I have stopped reading. As Jim Rohn said, “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” We should all seek to rise above the ordinary! Allow me to share my reading list for those wondering, “what should I read now?” and what has caught my attention recently in this week’s Inside Look at Building Towards Wealth.

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill

I was reading this 2 months ago when I last wrote about Things I’m Reading That I Think You Should Too. At 3000 pages, I will be reading this in 2022 as I am only about 800 pages in. I continue to be astonished at the number of times he seemed to be at near ruin yet continued staying true to himself and succeeded when prevailing sentiment came back to him as opposed to him changing around the world. 

Also of note is his loving attitude towards his children and wife, something he lacked in his upbringing. He tried to be the person that he wished his father would have been when he was young.

There is no doubt some of Churchill’s views of the world seem extremely dated and cringeworthy in the light of the 21stcentury, but that should not stand in the way of admiring his daring, accomplishments, and perseverance.

Much of what you’ve heard about Carter and Reagan is wrong

The above is a blog by Noah Smith. Someone who writes interesting posts that often expose the holes in our narratives. These blogs are often around economics, but he covers a variety of topics as well.

This post I find especially interesting because it dives into a popular topic. Inflation. It jumps into the idea that it was primarily monetary policy, not a fiscal policy that caused inflation in the ’70s and ’80s. And that it was actually Carter who appointed the person, Paul Volcker, who tamed inflation, not Reagan.

The whole post is worth a read and should be on your reading list.

Grant

Ulysses S Grant was another flawed individual. I am not sure I have ever come across someone that did not have flaws. His issues with drinking and depression, as well as the claims of cronyism, are what stick out for Grant.

What stands out to me is his courageous actions in protecting former slaves. During a time when even members of the union didn’t view them as people, Grant stood out for his then progressive actions. The ability to stand for what you believe in the face of criticism and scorn is something I value highly.

He also came from very little and rose to the head of the union army entirely on his own merits. And despite powerful people trying to block his rise.

Casualties of Perfection

Casualties of Perfection is a blog from my favorite writer, Morgan Housel, published in June 2021. I reread this at a perfect time for me. Like you, I hold myself to a high standard. Sometimes this means I try to optimize too much of my time and be too efficient.

This post is excellent at reminding us that we do not need to fall into the #grind mentality all the time. Inefficiency and slack in our systems are for the best. He says in the article, “the key is realizing that the more perfect you try to become, the more vulnerable you generally are.”

I hope you find these suggestions useful! Share with me what you are reading or what’s on your reading list in the comment section below!