elBenbo’s bathroom reading
Published: Tue, 01/01/19
And while it’s a joke, it’s more true than not.
For example:
I had the great Ken McCarthy’s “System Club Letters” book in my bathroom, giving me daily deposits of knowledge that even today, years later, I profit from and benefit from. I did the same with "Obvious Adams", too. And, with the (original, shorter version of) Joe Vitale’s “7 Lost Secrets of Success” book.
But that was then.
Nowadays, I read very few “how to” books.
And, do the vast majority of my reading with biographies and autobiographies of great people.
Why?
Because biographies of great people change the way you think. They change the way you view success. And, they change the way you attack problems. The things you learn in biographies of great people aren’t the same things you’re going to learn in yet another best-selling business book on Amazon or in a regurgitated IM launch with a fancy whiz-bang name attached to it designed to rile up the goo-roo fanboys and affiliates haunting the Facebook groups.
On that note, following are some biographies I’ve recently read and recommend.
Here they be:
* Another Man’s War — by Sam Childers “The Machine Gun Preacher”. There are only about 4 things in the movie that are in the book, but I have never seen a better case study of what a man with a Mission looks like. Including the “shadow sides” of having a Mission. (i.e. it ain't all cherries and cream...)
* Unfinished Business — the great Dan Kennedy’s autobiography. It not only has many valuable business lessons embedded, I think he has a very health skepticism of the future of the United States for businesses.
Nobody will want to hear what he has to say about that.
Which makes it all the more important you do…
* The Art of Neil Gaiman — Mr. Gaiman has always been one of my favorite writers. His “Seasons of Mists” storyline in his acclaimed Sandman comics is some of the best storytelling I’ve ever read. And the way he comes up with ideas for writing is worth reading this bio alone.
* My First Million — this isn't a biography, but it is biographical, and if you are a Matt Furey fan, you will love it, as it details how he got started in the info publishing business, with a lot of great advice, tips, ideas, and information anyone in info publishing can use to become a lot more successful. My favorite part was when he described how he thinks of haters and complainers who whine about something he writes.
* SJWs Always Double Down — this also is not a biography, but I slipped it into the reading stack, because I despise SJWs and their incessant hypocrisy, virtue signaling, and the way they attach themselves like parasites to companies. But from a copywriting perspective, the first chapter is worthy of serious study for anyone who is a fan of the late, great master of negotiation Jim Camp, as it is probably the single best example of using vision to influence I've ever seen.
* Frank Miller Interviews — Frank Miller is probably my biggest writing influence. And while this isn’t a “biography”, either, it is a bunch of interviews he’d given from the early 1980’s through the early 2000’s. Far too much of it is about his views on censorship in comics to the point where I skipped several pages. But, his opinionated attitude (even the stuff I disagree with) is something more marketers should adopt.
Especially in emails.
In fact, want to know you’re doing email right?
It’s when people start accusing you of being too opinionated.
I have found the more opinionated I get, the more sales follow...
* Frank Capra The Man Above The Lights — Frank Capra is one of my favorite movie directors, and he would have made an incredible direct response marketer. This is the book I’m currently reading. I’m only about 50 pages in, and it’s already fascinating. Especially if you enjoy reading about how people have hustled their way into business (he basically conned his way into making his first movie, it's a crazy story), and want to see what truly “writing like you talk” looks like.
So those are my most recent reads.
I have a thick stack next to me now of many more I have curated on deck for 2019. I will report the best of them later.
In the meantime?
I am launching the sequel to my Villains book Thursday and through the weekend, titled:
“Super Villains Of Persuasion”
If you want to read the first book of the series, “Persuasion Secrets of the World’s Most Charismatic & Influential Villains” first, use the link below. While it’s not my “biography”… it is a series of lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way in life. Lessons you will still have to go through the hurdles of implementing (i.e. I give you the intelligence as far as learning these concepts, but it’s up to you to develop the wisdom by application…) but that I believe can create radical and lasting change in men who read it.
Women can benefit from it, too.
But, it’s written to and for men.
Same will go for the sequel.
Here’s the link to the first Villains book:
http://www.VillainsBook.com
Ben Settle