Recommended Reading

It was Sir Isaac Newton that anglicized the expression “If I have seen further, it was by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

I believe that the social responsibility of the artist grows in proportion to the platform he or she stands on.

In efforts to further my reach, I study the works of those whom I feel can broaden and raise my platform.

“Good artists copy, while great artists steal” – Pablo Picasso

The following lists are of books that I have read since 2016. Above all else, my time at Yale inspired me to read more and to seek the unknown.

The Socratic paradox, “I know that I know nothing,” is an interesting and humbling notion.  Having self-awareness allows for rapid development and further introspect.

Be humble, be relentless in your pursuit of knowledge, be curious across disciplines, be welcoming of the unknown, be strong-willed – for it is only through the acquisition of these traits that you will gain the courage to stand on the shoulders of giants.

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn – John C. Maxwell

Put Your Dream to the Test – John C. Maxwell

Confidence – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck

Mind Over Mind: The Surprising Power of Expectation – Chris Berdik

The Daily Stoic, 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living – Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

The Obstacle is the Way, The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs – Ryan Holiday

Ego is the Enemy – Ryan Holiday

Sacred Hoops – Phil Jackson

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking – Malcolm Gladwell

The Inner Game of Tennis – W. Timothy Gallwey

The Talent Code – Daniel Coyle

Self-Esteem – Fanning Patrick & Matthew Mckay

Be Quick – But Don’t Hurry – John Wooden & Andrew Hill

Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, Building Blocks for a Better Life  – John Wooden & Jay Carty

Coach Wooden and Me, Our 50 Year Friendship On and Off the Court – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Zen in the Art of Archery – Eugen Herrigel

Listening, The Forgotten Skill, A Self-Teaching Guide – Madelyn Burley-Allen

Maps of Meaning, The Architecture of Belief – Jordan B. Peterson

Developing the Leaders Around You – John C. Maxwell

Becoming a Person of Influence – John C. Maxwell

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John C. Maxwell 

Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher, William Ury

How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Power to Lead – Sheryl Sandberg

Born to Run – Christopher McDougall

Dog Training Revolution – Zak George

This book discusses complexities that far supersede the singular suggestion of its title. Concepts such as leading and guiding through trust instead of fear, developing strong relations through nonverbal communication and the importance of eye contact in dialogue.  Ideas that are far too often left unexplored by professionals and novices alike. 

Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race – Debby Irving

Warren Buffett’s Management Secrets – Mary Buffett, David Clark

Rich Dad Poor Dad – Tim Wheeler

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry – Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Accessory to War, The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military – Neil DeGrasse Tyson & Avis Lang

Pale Blue Dot – Carl Sagan

Genius: The Life, and Science of Richard Feynman – James Estell

The Meaning of it All: Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist – Richard Feynman 

The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Times – Will Durant

How We Die, Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter – Sherwin B. Nuland  

Sound in Motion, A Performer’s Guide to Greater Musical Expression – David McGill

The History of Classical Music – Richard Fawkes

Einstein – Walter Isaacson

Born Standing Up – Steve Martin

Steve Martin, The Magic Years – Morris Walker

Becoming – Michelle Obama

Open – Andre Agassi

When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi