What We’re Reading
Thought Provoking is not alone in publishing great novels. Below are the top 3 reads that Thought Provoking recommends to Big Thinkers that will expand minds, beliefs, and worldviews. Purchase a Thinking Cap from Thought Provoking on this page and enter a raffle to win one of these life-changing novels.
Must Read Books
Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant
The CashFlow Quadrant is a brilliant story about investing. It follows Robert T. Kiyosaki on his journey to financial freedom from being homeless with his wife to a highly successful real estate investor. Kiyosaki has a poor dad, his biological father. The biological father settles for a college education and salary, and the rich dad, his mentor, teaches him about the intricacies of investing. The rich dad teaches Kiyosaki the four cashflow quadrants. E(employee, top left), S(small business/self-employed, bottom left), B(big business, top right), and I(investor, bottom right). The quadrant theory convinces Kiyosaki to change how he views money and investing. The rich dad also proposes that although the left side of the quadrant (E and S) may appear to be low risk, the higher risk is not learning about big business and investing, taking your security and time out of the employer’s hands, and putting it onto your own.
The Art of the Deal
The Art of the Deal is a clever story that explores the psychology of leveraging a great deal. It follows the young Donald J. Trump and how wealth, fame, or ego were not the main drivers of his success. It was the thrill of leveraging great deals that fired him up. Helping to build the beautiful New York City skyline, Trump negotiated and leveraged deals with banks, construction companies, building owners, politicians, and even tenants. One of the best gems from this story is to be able to walk away from any negotiation. By not being in a position to walk away, it is highly likely to be on the unfavorable end of a deal. Negotiating deals should benefit each party, but the party that finds it more challenging to walk away will likely be out-negotiated.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a rewarding fiction novel that will help readers find their purpose in life. Written by Paulo Coelho, Shepard Santiago has dreams about a great treasure hidden at the Egyptian pyramids. So, he sells his flock to go on the journey for the treasure. Santiago gets help and faces many setbacks while seeking the treasure, but never gives up. When he finds the treasure, he makes a discovery that would have made the journey pointless if not for all the valuable lessons he learned along the way. One of the best lessons from this tale is to have gratitude for both blessings and challenges because challenges can be more effective than blessings in shaping our best version. Also, to embrace the journey. Although the treasure at the destination is the goal, the lessons learned along the way are the real treasures.
The 48 Laws of Power
The foundational theme throughout the 48 Laws of Power is that whether we would like to accept it or not, humans are part of a never-ending game of power. Most who refuse to accept this reality are selected to be played by one more powerful. A select few, aware of the power games, strive for power and avoid being other's pawns. Author Robert Greene helps readers convert from amateurs to master players with the 48 Laws of Powers. Based on historical examples, the laws reflect the events of people who have succeeded or failed at the game of power. Some of the examples were grandiose, while others were grim and gory. There are laws like the 1st, Never outshine the master, law 20, Do not commit to anyone, or law 32, Play to people's fantasies. Perhaps the most impactful law is the last, Assume formlessness. While reading, some or all of the laws may seem impossible to follow to the T, and the final law agrees. Be unpredictable. Be flexible and able to adjust. Although the laws are a great playbook to have while striving for power, at times, you must be able to call an audible like a Quarterback to avoid the opposition being ahead of your moves.
The Prince
Composed by Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince is a guide for ruling. The book is a dedication to Lorenzo de' Medici, the ruler of Florence at the time. Many scholars argue if the book was a satire or a gift to Medici to regain good favor from the Medici family. Theories proposed in The Prince coined the term Machiavellian, which describes a manipulative person in power. Machiavelli felt qualified to give such advice to Medici because of the years he spent studying history and working in Florence's government before the Medici family came back into power. Machiavelli argues that all governments are either principalities, ruled by one person, or republics, ruled jointly by citizens. A key theme in the book is class, which is determined by how one is born. Nobles are born noble, commoners are born commoners, and the interests of these two classes will always be at odds. A prince must avoid hatred from both, but even more from the commoners as they are more numerous. Machiavelli discusses themes such as necessary evil for effective governance, learning from history, and the functionality of a principality to eternalize and defend itself. Machiavelli uses metaphors such as a lion to frighten off wolves and a fox to recognize and avoid traps and how it is crucial for a prince to break promises when it places him at a disadvantage and the purpose of the promise no longer exists.