Every once in a while, you NEED to hear something you don’t WANT to hear.
That’s probably why there’s a verse in Proverbs that says:
Better are the wounds of a friend than the deceitful kisses of an enemy.
As a friend who wants to see you succeed in writing, and in life, I’m going to recommend a few books that might be difficult to get through, but will hopefully help you in this month, this year, and beyond.
In this month’s roundup of Books for the Brilliant Writer, we’ve got some refreshing, no-nonsense, butt-kicking stories and tips including:
- What it actually takes to successfully “argue” with someone with a completely opposite worldview…without getting trapped
- A Steve Jobs biography revealing the good, the bad, and the ugly (and there’s a lot of ugly) of the Apple founder’s personal and professional life
- The gritty reality of writing personal stories by a memoirist whose daughter nearly broke her heart
- …and more!
Oh, and also one of the books on this list comes with 4 special bonus resources and classes on the secrets of a 6-figure Medium.com writer, and yours truly.*
Check this out:
Real Help by Ayodeji Awosika
You’ve tried the “New Year, New Me” thing more than a few times by now, but you’re still not where you want to be. How do you get this whole self-improvement process to stick?
Unlike the folks who promise “10 Steps to becoming a millionaire ASAP,” Real Help by Ayodeji Awosika tells you the harsh truth about what it really takes to succeed. Truths like:
- Life is inherently unfair and you’ll encounter setbacks through no fault of your own
- You can do everything right and still fail
- Sometimes people get flat out lucky and surpass you for no reason
This kick-butt straight-talking book is what you need to drown out the empty words and fluffy inspiration and get real results in work and life.
*And if you grab the book here, shoot me an email and I’ll send you the time-limited bonuses related to this book: a workshop about writing on Medium.com by 6-figure writer Ayodeji Awosika; a Real Help-based class on personal transformation; a Journaling Genius course, and more!
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
In Steve Jobs, famed biographer Walter Isaacson pulls no punches. Here is the famous (or infamous) Apple founder, at his best and worst:
From Jobs’ childhood growing up the adopted son of non-college-educated parents, to his epic successes and failures as the founder of Apple and Pixar, companies that revolutionized the world of tech…and the world, period.
In many ways, Jobs life reads like a cinematic drama, which isn’t surprising, considering the impact he made on the world. Anyone who is interested in Apple, Pixar, the histories of revolutionary tech- and business-people, or zany biographies will benefit greatly from reading this book!
Tactics by Greg Koukl
Why do you believe what you believe? How do you defend your beliefs when challenged by people who believe differently? And how do you hold your ground or even invite people to change their minds when you face stubborn, nonsensical, or even angry debaters?
In Tactics by Greg Koukl, the author goes through powerful, honest strategies for engaging with others — even those you have fundamental disagreements with us — in a way that will benefit both you and them.
Talk Triggers by Jay Baer
In today’s over saturated and overtly noisy marketplace, it’s hard to stand out. But as a business, freelancer, salesperson, what if you could make your product or service so amazing that people can’t help talking about it?
Jay Baer’s Talk Triggers teaches you how to do just that, by introducing you to the principles of “talk triggers,” and providing plenty of real-life examples that have helped multiple businesses shoot to prominence in their readers’ minds.
Naked, Drunk, and Writing by Adair Lara
If you’ve ever wanted to write a memoir or personal essay, check out Naked, Drunk, and Writing by Adair Lara.
As a memoirist and writing teacher, Lara painstakingly goes through the different aspects of the memoir creation process, from planning to writing to marketing…complete with vivid examples and to-the-point writing exercises that will help you create your own top-notch memoir.
Even if you have no interest in writing a memoir, Lara’s tips and principles will help you write any stories — both real-life and fictional.
And that’s the book list for January!
If you’re a part of the Team Brilliant Writer already, you WON’T be getting an extra book recommendation this month.
Instead, you’ll be getting the chance to receive a multi-bonus special including a writing course by a 6-figure Medium.com writer, a personal development class by someone who’s been through the trenches and will kick your butt into action, and an upcoming Journaling Genius course.
And if you’re not yet part of our team, but want use the link below to stay in the loop, or shoot me an email directly and I’ll get you in! 😃
Want to Find More Incredible Books Like This?
I’ve created The Brilliant Writer Reading List to help you avoid wasting time on terrible books and only enjoy reading the good stuff.
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