How I Read Books for Growth, Not Ego

Books! 📚

I think we can all agree on one thing, books are powerful.
They can change how we think, act, and live.

But where we start to differ is how we consume them. Some people go fast and brag about how many they’ve read. Others (like me) prefer to go slower and implement as they go.

Then there’s how we consume: physical books, digital books, and audiobooks. I’ve seen the data on what’s “optimal,” but honestly, I believe focused reading beats the so-called best method every time. What matters is that you actually absorb what you read, and take action on it.

My book habits have evolved over the years. These days, I mostly listen to audiobooks while walking or stretching. I pause often to take notes in a notepad dedicated to each book.

A few of my favorite reads (or listens) this year include:
📖 Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
📖 Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
📖 Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
📖 Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
📖 Atomic Habits by James Clear
📖 A Man Thinketh by James Allen
📖 Make Money Easy by Lewis Howes
📖 Living From a Place of Surrender by Michael Singer
📖 Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday
📖 Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
📖 Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
📖 Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger
📖 and Monsters and How to Tame Them by Kevin Hart.

Right now, I’m finishing
📖 Wild Courage by Jenny Wood,
📖 The Only Pirate at the Party by Lindsey Stirling,
📖 and Eight Datesby John and Julie Gottman.

I’d love to hear what’s on your 2025 reading list. 📖 Message me and tell me, I actually read every response.

I’ve joined a few book clubs and loved them. Talking about a book helps me truly embody what I’ve learned. I’ve been thinking about starting a few 📒 Lifestyle REI Book Club reads throughout 2026, but I don’t know if enough people would be interested. Would you be in?

Adrian’s Takeaway:
👉 Books are great, but applying what you read is where the magic happens.