10 Non-Real Estate Books Real Estate Investors Should Read

Much of real estate investing doesn't specifically relate to real estate, but instead is about personal habits and business practices that are applicable to a wide range of businesses. So to follow up my post on 10 real estate books every real estate investor should read, here are 10 non-real estate books every real estate investor should read. In no particular order:

10. Good to Great – Jim Collins

Jim Collins has written many great books, two of which I discussed here, but his greatest is Good to Great. In this book, he looks at 15 companies that did average for 15 years and then, all of a sudden, skyrocketed to beat the Dow average by at least 300% for 15 years. Only a handful of companies met such a criteria and when compared to other similar companies that didn't do as well, Collins finds similar behaviors that lead companies to becoming great (whether they are real estate companies or not).

9. How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

Never have I read a book with such simple advice that is so commonly ignored. Despite the manipulative sounding title, this classic shows that the only real way to get people to do something is to make them want to do it. And the only way to get them to like you is, shockingly, to like them and behave accordingly. Smile, say thank you, apologize, remember people’s names, etc. All these things can completely change your luck with people professionally and personally.

8. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

This is ultimate book on controlling your thought and mental processes to align yourself with the mindset of a high achiever.

7. The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg

In a similar vein as the above book, but with a more scientific approach, The Power of Habit explores the uncomfortable fact that we are creatures of habit. These habits can be good (or necessary to life, such as breathing) or they can be very bad. Recognizing these habits and understanding the best known approaches to change them is critically important.

6. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey

So which habits are the best to instill in oneself, well Stephen Covey has the answer. This is sort of the end-all, be-all of personal improvement books and for a good reason. It’s where the idea of a “paradigm shift” came from. And while buzzwords can be annoying, learning how to view the world differently and more positively, instead of just trying to change one’s attitude, can have tremendous results.

5. Willpower – Roy Baumeister and John Tierney

What is willpower and how do we improve it? It turns out willpower is real and is best thought of as gasoline in your own personal willpower gas tank. Use it too much without taking a break and you run out. Luckily, there are ways to improve your willpower including simple things like practicing sitting up straight as well as some insights from the number one book on this list.

4. Feel the Fear… and Do It Anyways – Susan Jeffers

Negotiating with sellers can be scary, as can putting a large property under contract, asking someone to be a private lender, knocking and talking or many of the other things real estate investors do. Susan Jeffers has put together a great book on how to deal with that fear. Instead of trying to get past feeling fear, learn to embrace that fear because the only way to relieve it is to actually do it, and then do it again.

3. Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher, William L. Ury andBruce Patton

The go-to-guide on negotiating is a must read for anyone who negotiates a lot, which rumor has it that real estate investors do. The approach is to look for opportunities to find collaborative solutions whenever possible. Using this method reduces the animosity and mistrust between the parties and increases the possibility of finding a mutually beneficial solution.

2. The Intelligent Investor – Benjamin Graham

Benjamin Graham was the mentor of Warren Buffet and a legend in stock investing with his philosophy of value investing. While not directed at real estate, many important lessons about investing in general lie within this long but worthwhile book.

1. Getting Things Done – David Allen

It turns out that being organized is one of the best ways to improve your willpower as well as obviously being able to keep track of everything you’re doing. David Allen has put together a marvelous and flexible system that I personally use and could not recommend more. He also offers seminars which can be very helpful since the book by itself can be a bit overwhelming, but it is most certainly worth the effort.

Honorable Mentions:

The E-Myth - Michael Gerber

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living - Dale Carnegie

Built to Last - Jim Collins

Change Your Thinking, Change Your Mind - Brian Tracey

Mentored by a Millionaire - Steven Scott

Who- Geoff Smart and Randy Street

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