• Rich Dad Poor Dad (Favorite book) • Cashflow Quadrant • Guide To Investing • The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing (was my 1st pure real estate book) • The Art of Deal • The ABC's of Real Estate Investing • The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing • The E-myth • The Power of Positive Thinking • The Magic of Thinking Big • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People • The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership • Awakening the Giant Within • Your Erroneous Zones • The Power of Now • Emotional Intelligence • Think and Grow Rich • Start With Why • Slight Edge • The Compound Effect • 48 Laws of Power • The Wealth of Nations • The Art of Seduction • The 5 Love Languages • The Art of Start • The Crash Course • Business Model Generation • Secrets of the Millionaire Mind • The Secret • The Art of War • Emotional Intelligence • The Psychology of Winning • The 4 Agreements • The Richest Man in Babylon • The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success • The monk who sold his Ferrari • A whole new world • Your Erroneous Zones • As Man Thinketh • Eat that Frog I read Rich Dad Poor Dad and I quitted from College in 2012 (I started in Real Estate in 2007), I was about to start a degree on Computer Science with a minus concentration in business administration. Now I'm a a real estate investor. I've read more than 305 books in these past 2 years.

When I went to grad school, my favorite engineering teacher made this comment, and it struck a nerve. He said "I know what you should be doing in life just by looking at your night stand." I went home and saw 3 real estate books on my night stand. Apparently, real estate has always been my passion, not engineering. :) I have been a student of real estate since the late 90's. I've read more real estate books than engineering books. However, the 1% rule mentioned in various books didn't exist in the Bay Area at that time. After some research, I flew to Florida to look at properties that exceeded the 1% rule in the early 2000. In some cases, they met the 2% rule. It was a major disappointment when I showed up in Tampa Bay to check them out. These neighborhoods were so sketchy. So I went to DFW Texas afterward in search of investment properties. Apparently, the 1% rule also didn't apply in the neighborhoods I wanted to buy in TX. It was closer to 0.7% rule. In addition, their property tax was about 3% so that was a big turn off because it would have made my fixed holding cost too high. I went home and looked at 4plexes in San Jose selling for $700k while bringing in $4,000-$4,400/month. Interest rate was around 7% at that time. The numbers did not compute so sat out until 2009. Fortunately, things worked out for the best.

Books that changed my life, what about you?

Jon Klaus

Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

12y

Wow Jorge, you are a voracious reader. What would you say were the most significant applications in your life from what you've learned?

0 Reply

Duncan Taylor

Real Estate Investor · Member since 2013 · 866 posts · 487 votes

12y

Good for you! Read everything you can get your hands on.

0 Reply

Chris K.Pro Member

Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 655 votes

12y

It's probably bias cause I look up to him but Mark Cubans "How to Win at the Sport of Business".

1 Reply

Roy N.Pro Member

Rental Property Investor · Fredericton, New Brunswick · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes

12y

"Who has seen the wind?" (W.O. Mitchell), The Metamorphosis (Kaftka), and "A Clockwork Orange" (Burgess) ... but don't ask me to tie them back to real estate investing.

1 Reply

Eduardo A.

Sandy Springs, GA · Member since 2011 · 126 posts · 31 votes

12y

The Millionaire Fastlane

1 Reply

Don KonipolBusiness Member

Investor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votes

12y

1. Freedom in an Unfree World - Harry Browne

2. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

3. How I Turned $1,000 into Three Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time - Bill Nickerson

4. Real Estate Tsunami - Ingersoll

5. The Sky's the Limit - Passion and Property in Manhattan - Steven Gaines

Private Mortgage Financing Partners, LLC

Website View Page

1 Reply

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OP

Multi-family Investor · San Juan, Puerto Rico · Member since 2014 · 90 posts · 1 vote

12y

Now I enjoy more audiobooks. They are faster and I retain more content. I have no problem listen to an audio book for 8 hours In a day.

0 Reply

Aaron Mazzrillo

Investor · Riverside, CA · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

12y

I don't think I could select one book that drastically changed my life, but there have been simple passages or even a few words in many books that have had a profound effect on me. For example, in Jim Rohn's book The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle there is a short paragraph about little things having big impacts. (I actually believe the book Compound Effect was written based on that idea as I'm pretty sure Darren Hardy was an employee of Jim Rohn at one time.)

I'm paraphrasing but essentially the idea was that the little things you do each day compound. If you just wrote one offer a day, it only takes 20 minutes or so, at the end of the week, you'd have written 5 offers. Keep going for a month and you end up with 20 or so. Likewise, if you sat on your rear and watched the kartrashians for 1/2 hour a week for how every many years they've been dumbing down humanity, you'd probably have spent 2-3 days in total with the kartrashians for what result? Side note; how is it that I don't even own a T.V. but can probably name everyone on that show? What a virus...

I really don't remember much else that was in that book, but that one idea really kicked me in the arse and that is what I look for when I read; I want that one strand of advice that I can put to work now like a piece of DNA I can genetically implant into my code. Little mistakes made every day add up to big errors over elapsed time. Powerful stuff.

Now I need to reread the book and see what other nugget I can extract.

3 Reply

Ophelia Nicholson

Involved In Real Estate · Hyattsville , MD · Member since 2011 · 298 posts · 256 votes

12y

My life is constantly changing so for me I loved.

1. The trick to money is having some

2. Secrets of the Millionaire mind.

More than books I think listening to youtube has had tremendous impact. Jim Rohn is a favorite of mine. Every time I listen to him for a few days or weeks at a time I make huge leaps and bounds. When I originally started listening to him I was making $44k a year- I pretty much almost made that with my first rehab sale so far this year.

He had a valuable lesson- You don't get paid for time you get paid for value. The value that you bring to the market place is what people pay you for- if you want to make more money become more valuable!

2 Reply

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OP

Multi-family Investor · San Juan, Puerto Rico · Member since 2014 · 90 posts · 1 vote

12y

@Jon Klaus

Sorry I didn't understand your question.

0 Reply

Jon Klaus

Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

12y

Originally posted by @Account Closed:

@Jon Klaus

Sorry I didn't understand your question.

What have you learned from your reading that has changed your life?

0 Reply

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OP

Multi-family Investor · San Juan, Puerto Rico · Member since 2014 · 90 posts · 1 vote

12y

Jon Klaus I'll make it short and sweet, I'm a new person. I changed drastically (for good) in so many ways in a short period of time, let say in less than 10 months. So you can imagine all the new things I learned (Still learning) and I'm applying today.

0 Reply

Henry Nguyen

Wholesaler · Arlington, TX · Member since 2013 · 59 posts · 29 votes

12y

Originally posted by @Aaron Mazzrillo:

I don't think I could select one book that drastically changed my life, but there have been simple passages or even a few words in many books that have had a profound effect on me. For example, in Jim Rohn's book The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle there is a short paragraph about little things having big impacts. (I actually believe the book Compound Effect was written based on that idea as I'm pretty sure Darren Hardy was an employee of Jim Rohn at one time.)

I'm paraphrasing but essentially the idea was that the little things you do each day compound. If you just wrote one offer a day, it only takes 20 minutes or so, at the end of the week, you'd have written 5 offers. Keep going for a month and you end up with 20 or so. Likewise, if you sat on your rear and watched the kartrashians for 1/2 hour a week for how every many years they've been dumbing down humanity, you'd probably have spent 2-3 days in total with the kartrashians for what result? Side note; how is it that I don't even own a T.V. but can probably name everyone on that show? What a virus...

I really don't remember much else that was in that book, but that one idea really kicked me in the arse and that is what I look for when I read; I want that one strand of advice that I can put to work now like a piece of DNA I can genetically implant into my code. Little mistakes made every day add up to big errors over elapsed time. Powerful stuff.

Now I need to reread the book and see what other nugget I can extract.

Haha I love the part about the Kartrashisns. I don't think they are the cause of mindless entertainment because if they disappeared another would quickly take their place(MTV reality show). I'm gradually weaning myself off TV and hope for a no TV house in the future.

As for the original thread:

Rich dad, poor dad - obviously

Millionaire next door - Just living humbly and simply, contrary to what marketing makes you believe. Also compare with people in your income bracket. If you're a teacher don't compare yourself to Dr's. How are you doing compared to other teachers in your age group.

7 Habits of highly effective people - how to live life purposefully and becoming a better person and leader

0 Reply

Randy King

Investor · Madison, AL · Member since 2013 · 93 posts · 28 votes

12y

Building wealth One House At A Time by John Schaub

Nothing Down by Robert Allen. One of the founders of guru seminars.

Invest in Debt by Jim Napier.

The Journey Is The Reward by Jeffery Young. Published in 1988, it is about the early Steve Jobs and the founding of Apple.

The Search by John Battelle. About the founding of Google.

0 Reply

Duncan Taylor

Real Estate Investor · Member since 2013 · 866 posts · 487 votes

12y

A few books that changed my life...

The Bible

Atlas Shrugged

The Millionaire Mind

The Psychology of the Deal

If You Fear Public Speaking More Than Death, You Are Doing It Wrong

1 Reply

Rob K.

Investor · Southeast, MI · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

12y

When I was 17, I read Winning Through Intimidation by Robert Ringer. It changed my life. Best book ever.

There have been a couple mentions of Atlas Shrugged, which I really liked. I thought The Fountainhead was even better. Anthem by Ayn Rand is great also and can be read in one sitting.

0 Reply

Bryan L.

Residential Real Estate Agent · Cookeville, TN · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 948 votes

12y

For me I would have to list the following:

The Bible

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Surprised by the Power of the Spirit and Surprised by the Voice of God (both by Jack Deere).

I've also been positively changes by so many people, websites, and talk radio programs. Among those would be WorldNetDaily (wnd.com) and "Uncle Phil" (Phil Valentine) on talk radio. And to some extent, Rush, Hanity, et al.

And Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words. Learning the background definition to one little word in the Bible really changed my life for the better.

Now days I spend much more time reading on the internet than I do reading books.

3 Reply

Pat L.

Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes

12y

Originally posted by @Bryan L.:

For me I would have to list the following:

The Bible

Now days I spend much more time reading on the internet than I do reading books.

I agree...

I keep telling my kids "just imagine if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for the night before"??.

1 Reply

John Chapman

Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2009 · 718 posts · 913 votes

12y

@Rob K. that's awesome that you like the Fountainhead better than Atlas Shrugged as I totally agree it was the better of the two. (I always feel like I'm in the minority.)

I'd throw out the "Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson. It's basically the same premise that @Aaron Mazzrillo talks about, that is, small actions compounding into big results. Really makes you start to question all the small decisions you make day in and day out and the effects they have on you overall.

2 Reply

Aaron Mazzrillo

Investor · Riverside, CA · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

12y

Originally posted by @Randy King:

Building wealth One House At A Time by John Schaub
Nothing Down by Robert Allen. One of the founders of guru seminars.

Invest in Debt by Jim Napier.

If you've ever been to a John Schaub seminar, he makes it a point, at every seminar he does, to tell everyone how Robert Allen was a student of his before he went all guru.

One can never go wrong with old Jimmy Napier content.

0 Reply

Phil Z.

Real Estate Broker · Orange, CT · Member since 2013 · 951 posts · 218 votes

12y

- E-Myth

- Rich Dad, Poor Dad

- Millionaire Real Estate Agent

0 Reply

Account Closed

Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes

12y

None. What changed my life was what my professor said.

0 Reply

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OP

Multi-family Investor · San Juan, Puerto Rico · Member since 2014 · 90 posts · 1 vote

12y

Alright, thank you.

0 Reply

Daniel Miller

St. Petersburg, FL · Member since 2012 · 173 posts · 44 votes

12y

Investing in Apartment Buildings - Mathew Martinez

The Millioniare Real Estate Investor - Gary Keller

What Every Real Estate Investor needs to know about Cash Flow - Frank Galinellai

Books that changed my life, what about you?

Books that changed my life, what about you?

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