Jay Papasan’s Best Books Of 2022
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers” — Harry S. Truman
We recently caught up with KellerINK author Jay Papasan to discuss some of the best books that he’s read in the past year. He shared a variety of titles, some representing innovative new business books that focus on strategic thinking. Others are books related to building wealth or thinking about investments. Still others are deep-dives into how we make decisions and discover meaning in our lives.
Now, before we share the list, know that 1) these books aren’t exclusively published in the last year, but each title is something that made an impression and 2) this list is not in any particular order.
We hope that you find something that inspires you and helps you take the next step you need in business or life!
The Innovation Stack: Building and Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time by Jim McKelvey
Part history of Square (a tech solution to modern payment processing), part strategic thinking guide—The Innovation Stack is a thrilling business narrative that's much bigger than the story of Square. It is an irreverent look inside the world of entrepreneurship, and a call for all of us to find the entrepreneur within ourselves.
Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke
As Jay wrote , it can be difficult to know when to quit and when to stick it out. In this book, Duke explains why quitting is integral to success, as well as strategies for determining when to hold'em and when to fold'em that will save you time, energy, and money.
A CEO Only Does Three Things by Trey Turner
Gary recommended this book for agents attending the CEO Mastermind at Mega Agent Camp and we got a lot of value out of it. Turner identifies the core duties of a CEO and shows his readers how to focus on these areas and transform their businesses.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
This book for all ages follows the journey of its titular characters—and their shared adventures and conversations—as they come together and learn great life lessons.
The World’s Worst Assistant by Sona Movsesian
Sona is Conan O’Brien’s longtime assistant. She makes a strong case for assistants having the right to have a life in the often toxic world of Hollywood executives. She is also hilarious. Don’t worry, Conan is one of the good guys who appears to tolerate her decline in professionalism since she consistently provides great material for standup.
The Lifestyle Investor by Justin Donald
If you attended any KW Wealth event in this past year, you’ve likely encountered Donald’s book. In this guide, he shares lessons in producing passive income and his take on an investment system that can garner repeatable returns.
The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink
Pink is a great researcher and storyteller. This book poignantly shares how regrets are vital to our decision making. A terrific read.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl's account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps—and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity—has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness by Eric Jorgenson
Building wealth takes more than luck; happiness can be a choice, rather than a result of circumstances beyond our control. These are skills we can learn. Jorgenson's book is a collection of Naval's thinking on financial and spiritual progress from the past ten years.
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Kahneman, a Nobel-winning scientist, explains that our brain actually operates on two different systems each time we make a decision. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical.
What do you think about Jay’s list? Any titles you’ve read, or a few new ones you’ve added to your list? Reach out and let us know if there’s anything they’ve read this past year that we should know about on our Facebook page. And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more articles and research.