6 Of My Favorite Books From 2021 And Why You Might Like Them Too

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a voracious reader and avid consumer of content in all its various forms. I’m always reading something. I also love technology, which is why I was an early adopter of social media for both business and personal use. Like reading, the ability to connect and share with others feeds my insatiable curiosity and unlimited appetite for learning. That curiosity about others and their thoughts on matters large and small is something I like to think we all share and can certainly benefit from as we make our way through life.

One could argue that it’s more important than ever in today’s climate to make the effort to open our hearts and minds, not only to like-minded thinkers, but to those we may disagree with from a political, social, business or philosophical perspective. More often than not, what we have in common is so much more expansive than what sets us apart. Reading can be a great way to help find that middle ground and achieve a deeper understanding of the people and world around us.

At any given time, I usually have several books going from different authors across genres, from business and fiction, to biographies, memoirs, history, etc. People ask me how I find time to read so much, but that’s the beauty of technology. While I thoroughly enjoy the tactile experience of holding a solid book in my hands, especially when seated in front of a roaring fire on a cold Nebraska night—thanks to audio books, much of my reading takes place while I’m driving in the car or walking, hiking, cycling or working out.

If you’re looking for something new to dive into when you’re on the move or simply relaxing, below are several of my favorite reads from 2021.

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan is one I’ve talked about a lot in recent months. As the book’s subtitle indicates, Pollan takes a deep dive into “What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence.”  One reason I really liked this book was because it dovetailed with a very important program we introduced last year at Carson Group, LLC. Our “Raise the Baseline” initiative focuses on the importance of mental health in and outside of the workplace. In early December, we held a panel discussion on mental wellness with our executives, stakeholders and two doctors where we discussed the importance of mental health in our daily lives, along with new breakthroughs in treatments and ways to get help and resources.

I also liked Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives by Michael Newton, PhD., which provides insights into the author’s research and theories on the immortality of the human soul and the ability for consciousness to survive death. This one is a good choice for audio.

One of the more compelling reads on my list was a manuscript written more than 70 years ago by the iconic American author, Napoleon Hill, but only recently published. Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success was written in 1938, a year after the publication of Hill’s classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich, which I’ve read multiple times and continue to highly recommend. Originally considered too controversial to publish, Outwitting the Devil reveals how fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy prevent us from realizing our personal goals and how seven principles of good allow us to triumph over obstacles to find success.

While many may disagree, I’ve always found Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos to be an incredible leader, entrepreneur and human being. So I was very interested in reading Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos. As noted in the introduction by Walter Isaacson, Bezos has never outgrown his wonder years and retains an insatiable, childlike and joyful curiosity about almost everything. Isaacson makes the case that Bezos’ love of history and the humanities, technology and business have made him one of our era’s most successful and influential innovators.

I also like to mix in a little fiction. I think it’s important to allow time for our brains to wander and novels can help achieve that goal. November 9th by Colleen Hoover and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens were two novels that I really enjoyed reading last year. I’m not going to give away the plots or the endings, so you’ll have to read them yourself to learn more.

When it comes to processing information, I like to view our minds as big buckets with holes in them. We continue to get rid of old and useless information so we can replenish our buckets with fresh, new and interesting ideas. Remaining open to new ideas, opportunities and avenues is what drives personal and business growth and helps us move closer to realizing our goals.

The same holds true for wealth planning. Planning relies on the ability to continually process and evaluate new information to help keep you on the path toward accomplishing your goals. That means reevaluating priorities as your life changes or outside influences, like the markets or economy, evolve over time. It’s also why your financial plan should never look the same when you’re 55 as it did when you were 35.

If you’d like to read more about how a dynamic approach to planning can help replenish your bucket while keeping you on track toward your important life goals, download our complimentary checklist: When Shifting Goals Mean Shifting Plans. Use this checklist to evaluate your goals and decide when it’s time to contact your advisor for an update.