BiggerPockets

It really depends on what you want to do in real estate. Those books you read were good but they are not going to help you.

Once you find out what you want to do then look for reading material that follows your strategy.

Shawn- I always suggest The Truth About Money, by Ric Edelman. They should make every high school and college student read it. He looks at Real Estate differently than I, but the book is a syllabus on money and how it works.

NC- you were referring to "many who have written about their experiences". Were you one that received a book from a BP poster? Just curious. Rich.
p.s. Why aren't we colleagues??

Hey Shawn -
Devour this website's forums, articles, and Official Blog, and you'll be way ahead of what any one book or course can teach you. That said, there are a ton of good books out there . . . just none with the breadth or depth of BP. :wink:

I know that the following books have nothing to do with real estate but they will benefit your business tremendously:

1. Robert Cialdini's "Influence"
2. Mark Joyner's "The Irresistible Offer"
3. Timothy Ferres " 4 hour workweek"
4. Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
5.
The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies by Chet Holmes
6. Chris Andrerson's "Long tail"
7. Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich"

Remember, real estate is still a business and even though these books have nothing to do with real estate, they'll greatly enhance your real estate business.

One last thing, reading books is a great habit to acquire. When I was in high school, I hated reading books. Now, I can't get enough of them. They'll enhance your life, your business, your personality, influence and more.

However, here's the most important point. You have to take action, massive action. Reading books is not going to do you any good if you don't take action on the knowledge you acquired.

To Your Success,

Peter Kolat

Also Shawn, I see you are studying for your license in your profile... I would recommend the book "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" which is also by Gary Keller.

you can read wendy patton subjects to and lease option book with ittle to no money down. also David Lindhals books

I have bought many on Amazon.com for just a few dollars. There is a lot of info. & specifics in some of those books. Take them for what they are worth, & HOW you will USE THEM.
Dolf DeRoos is an Author & REI who gives a lot of info....he is the Mentor that Robert Kiyosaki goes to when he has an REI question.

- Think Big and Kick Ass
- 4 Laws of Debt Free Prosperity
- Think & Grow Rich
- Magic of Thinking Big
- Twelve Pillars
- The Greatest Salesman in the World
- The Secret
- How to Win Friends & Influence People

The better you are with your People Skills and bigger your network is, eventually you build yourself a Sphere of Influence and RE Deals will be flowing your way. Your RE Experience and Knowledge will expand IN THE TRENCHES!

Good Luck

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand some think it is timely to read in our current economic and government state. I think it is a timely read for anyone who has yet to devour it.
John C Maxwell for leadership and motivation
Dave Ramsey for personal finance
Psychology of the deal by Tim Owensby for marketing
Library for negotiations(many good authors)
Good to Great by Jim Collins for Strategy and Motivation
On Bullsh*it by Harry Frankfurt for levity
library for time management(many good authors)
library for Copywriting for marketing and advertising(many good authors)
Landlording by Leigh Robinson
36 hour real estate investing course by Jack Cummings
The list for real estate stuff is almost endless. Lots of fluff and crap, some great, many decent, almost all hold at least a pebble to take with to make the read worth while.

And if this list overwhelms you at all...add this one:
Speed Reading Made Easy by Arlyne F Rial

Tony hit the nail on the head - The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, by Gary Keller, is by far the best read. Most books are informative and motivating, but TMREI uses great examples from investors all over the country - a must have!