The march towards 100 books for 2019 continued in February and March I am doing my best to read about a variety of topics that will stretch me and help aid in my personal growth.

March was an incredibly busy month for me, and I did not have enough time to write a post, so I have combined February and March into this one post.

I will be formatting each post with the next number in sequence from the previous month.

The Kindle Paperwhite and the Libby app have been my two best friends in this reading endeavor.

Here’s what I’ve been reading over the last two months.

Book #13: The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason

This is a classic in the world of personal finance. It harps on several basic ideas about money that are the foundational pieces to most of today’s financial coaching celebrities. Published in 1926, this book offers seven simple rules of money. It dives deep into saving habits, prioritizing necessary expenses over personal desires, and protecting what you have earned and your ability to earn.

I think this book should be required reading for any personal finance class. I highly recommend it.

Book #14: Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki

This is one of the next installments in the Rich Dad series authored by Kiyosaki. He takes an in-depth look at his Rich Dad’s investment strategies. Proper planning, creating your financial team, taxes, bookkeeping, business structures, and many other technicalities of investing and running a business are mentioned.

If you are a business owner, or just a financial nerd like me, I would highly recommend this book. I would offer the disclaimer that it does get rather technical at times and may not be for everyone.

Book #15: Erasing Hell by Francis Chan

This book is authored by Cornerstone Community church founder and Pastor, Francis Chan. Erasing Hell offers a rebuttal of sorts to Rob Bell’s Love Wins. I don’t think you can read one without reading the other. Both books stretched me and offered interesting commentary on the afterlife.

Book #16: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

The enneagram is EVERYWHERE right now. It’s a personality test that has become extremely popular in the Christian world. This book breaks down each personality type, and it helps you understand how each type processes things. This was an excellent read. I highly recommend it. BTW, I am an 8.

Book #17: EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

EntreLeadership is by far my favorite of Dave Ramsey’s books. Dave dives deep in to his specific business processes including sales pitches, interviewing, hiring, firing, pay scales, etc. Dave is an extremely successful person, and I would recommend this to anyone that owns a business or is in a management position.

Book #18: Principles by Ray Dalio

Dalio, successful hedge fund manager and founder of Bridgewater Associates, offers a philosophical take on business, living life, and even the meaning of life. This book offers a lot of wisdom from a guy that has a ton of life experience.

Book #19: Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

It’s hard for me to describe who Tim Ferriss is and what it is he does. He hosts a hugely successful podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, and he writes a variety of interesting books. He has done a lot of experiments and trial tests on himself on a variety of different physiological, social, and professional topics. Tools offers a very short summary of conversations that he has had with various experts in different fields. It’s a large book that reads very quickly.

Book #20: Romans

Paul’s letter to the Romans starts off with a discussion of the state of humanity before Jesus’ coming to save mankind. He constantly compares and contrasts the Gentiles’ worshiping of idols and how the Jewish people failed to follow the law properly. He calls both sides out as hypocrites and discusses how salvation now comes through Christ, and not a set of laws or the worship of idols. Romans 8 is one of the most powerful chapters in all of scripture. Paul illustrates what life through the Spirit looks like. Full disclosure, I have been reading Romans for about eight months now as I have been leading a small group on the book. Here are a couple of the highlight passages to me:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8: 1-2 (NIV)

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to in us. For creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”

Romans 8: 18-19 (NIV)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12: 2 (ESV)

Book #21: Ephesians

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians shows a lot of practical ways that the gospel story affects our everyday lives. He looks at how God the Father always intended to create a covenant family unified through Jesus. God’s grace invites people of all races, creeds, and backgrounds into a new, multi-cultural, united family. Paul challenges everyone to die to their old self and to be restored into God’s image. He closes out this book with the reality of spiritual warfare that surrounds us on a daily basis. Here are a few key passages:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4: 1-3 (ESV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6: 10-12 (ESV)

Book #22: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This is one of the original “self-help” books of the 20th century. Hill published this book in 1937 after a suggestion from Andrew Carnegie. This book is based on Hill’s early work The Law of Success. Hill spent twenty years studying many people that had amassed large personal fortunes. He lists 13 “steps” that most people take to acquire a large fortune. This book is definitely a foundational piece of many modern books. It’s not a bad read at all, but I wouldn’t rank it too high compared to other things read this year so far.

Book #23: How to Win at the Sport of Business by Mark Cuban

Cuban is a fascinating guy with a really unique voice in the business world. In this short read, he chronicles his personal experience with building businesses, and he tells some really colorful stories about his rise in the business world. I really like this book, and I’d recommend to anyone, but especially to fans of Shark Tank.

Book #24: Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg

Ansari, an actor and stand-up comedian, collaborates with NYU sociology professor Eric Klinenberg to explore romantic relationships and how they form in the twenty first century. They do a deep dive into how technology affects relationships today. Modern Romance blends humor with a topic that is not easy to navigate.

Book #25: Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women, & Money by Kevin O’Leary

So, you can probably guess that I am a fan of the show Shark Tank. Not to sound too much like a hipster, but I enjoyed that show years ago before it became a series of weird inventions for pets and babies. Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary, offers candidate advice and opinion on how people interact with money. He brings an expert level of opinion to the table with a high level of bluntness. This book is great for folks that are in need of a kick in the pants financially.

Book #26: Hebrews

Modern biblical scholars are unsure of the author of the letter to the Hebrews. This books seems to be written to an audience that has begun to doubt whether or not Jesus really was the Messiah for whom they were waiting. The author repeatedly illustrates Jesus and His preeminence over the angels. The author also drills home that faith is superior to the work of the Old Covenant. Hebrews brings together some of the most beautiful biblical writing, in my opinion, and here are a few of my favorite passages.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4: 14-16 (ESV)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed pure with water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10: 19-23 (ESV)