1. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Mind Hack: Make people like you.

Why you need it: It’s pretty much the Konami Code to getting ahead in life.

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

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2. What If? by Randall Munroe

Mind Hack: Knowing the answers to hundreds of “what if” questions.

Why you need it: Besides being highly entertaining, this book can teach you how to think critically.

“They say there are no stupid questions. That’s obviously wrong; I think my question about hard and soft things, for example, is pretty stupid. But it turns out that trying to thoroughly answer a stupid question can take you to some pretty interesting places.”
― Randall Munroe, What If?

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3. How to Cheat at Everything by Simon Lovell

Mind Hack: Encyclopedic knowledge of how to cheat at everything in life.

Why you need it: On one hand, lateral thinking skills. On the other, how to not be cheated by scumbags.

“I can spot someone’s weakness a mile away. In any room I can pick out the best target,…”

― Simon Lovell, How to Cheat at Everything

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4. The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

Mind Hack: Perspective on large scale events.

Why you need it: Knowing the how and why small events can snowball into global ones is handy if you ever want to start one yourself, or find your caught up in someone else’s.

“If you want to bring a fundamental change in people’s belief and behavior…you need to create a community around them, where those new beliefs can be practiced and expressed and nurtured.”
― Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

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5. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss

Mind Hack: Creative thinking.

Why you need it: The creative process is stress relieving, and potentially financially rewarding.

“Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

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6. The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton

Mind Hack:  Financial know-how.

Why you need it: Unlike get-rich-quick schemes, or overly complicated financial advice, the knowledge here is simple, long term oriented, safe growth of your money.

“…pay yourself first.”

― David Chilton, The Wealthy Barber

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7. The Game by Neil Strauss

Mind Hack: Dating culture and perspective

Why you need it: A study of the psychology behind desire and the extent to which people will try and fill that emotional need. Don’t read it as a how-to. Try and view it through a psychology journal.

“Without commitment, you cannot have depth in anything, whether it’s a relationship, a business or a hobby.”
― Neil Strauss, The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

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