On the show Seinfeld, George pledged to read a book during his time off.
George: I’m really going to do something with these three months.
Jerry: Like what?
George: I’m gonna read a book. From beginning to end. In that order.
I’m pleased to say I’ve met the Costanza Challenge. Here are the non-computer books that I’ve read since May 5th.
Unexpected Returns: Understanding Secular Stock Market Cycles by Ed Easterling. I learned why it’s difficult it is to make money in a secular bear market. Covers absolute returns vs relative returns. Excellent economic history.
Snowblind: A Brief Career in the Cocaine Trade by Robert Sabbag. Smuggling cocaine in the 1970s on a much smaller scale than the movie/book Blow.
Beyond Bodybuilding by Pavel. Not the landmark book Power to the People was. Book is mostly a collection of article reprints from the old Muscle Media magazine.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini. An outstanding book that exposes business psychology and how we as humans are programmed to fall for the techniques of marketers. I wish I’d read this a decade ago.
Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring: A Son’s Struggle to Become a Man by Teddy Atlas. This is the autobiography of boxing genius Teddy Atlas.
The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene. Another brilliant collection of wisdom from the writer that gave us The 48 Laws of Power.