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Books I Read and Why

Reading is one of the best ways to understand the world. My reading list is almost entirely nonfiction, with a mix of history, biography, adventure, business, science, and self-improvement. 

I gravitate toward true stories of resilience, leadership, perseverance, and exploration, especially those rooted in early US history, as well as the American West, the Grand Canyon, and the people, cultures, and stories that shaped America..

I’m drawn to true stories of people who went further than they had to. Patriots like Thomas Jefferson. Explorers like John Wesley Powell. Trailblazers like Theodore Roosevelt. Entrepreneurs who built something meaningful from scratch. I also read to learn from big ideas: about how we work, think, connect, and grow.

Lately, I’ve been digging deeper into North American Indigenous histories, marketing strategy, and the science of health and fitness. I’m also learning Spanish.

Whether it’s about kayaking the Colorado River or understanding the psychology of influence, I read to expand my perspective and to find valuable ways to live with purpose.

While I use the term “reading,” I have found that listening to a well-narrated audiobook often suits my learning style and lifestyle just as well as a traditional paper book can. I can consume an audiobook while driving, hiking, walking, or working out.  Of course, some books are just better read.

If you’re interested in my personal reading list, check out my Goodreads page.

I enjoy reading about:

  • American History and Exploration
      • I’m fascinated with American frontier history (e.g., Jim Bridger, Blood and Thunder, The Apache Wars, Undaunted Courage, 1776, Down the Great Unknown).
      • I have an intensive interest in the Grand Canyon, Colorado River, and Western water politics (Cadillac Desert, Where the Water Goes, The Emerald Mile, Brave the Wild River).
  • Biographies and Leadership
      • I love early biographies of US presidents and patriots (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman), 
      • I appreciate profiles of notable figures in business and technology (Steve Jobs, Elon Musk)
      • I also enjoy military-oriented non-fiction (Never Quit, Extreme Ownership, Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman).
  • Adventure & Endurance
      • I’m drawn to true stories about personal challenges and extreme physical or mental endurance. I love the idea of pushing human limits, often outdoors and in wilderness settings (No Barriers, Never Finished, Endure, Into Thin Air, Force of Nature).
  • Business, Marketing & Productivity
      • I've studied a range of business-focused works (Ogilvy on Advertising, The Lean Startup, Brand Identity Breakthrough, Content Chemistry, The HP Way, Building a StoryBrand,  Blue Ocean Strategy).
      • Seth Godin is my favorite author on the field of modern marketing (Permission Marketing, The Dip, Linchpin, Tribes, Purple Cow, What to Do When It's Your Turn, This Is Marketing).
      • I also value books about practical frameworks and intentional living. Some of my favorite mindset classics include Atomic Habits, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and First Things First. 
  • Cultural Studies and Indigenous Perspectives
      • I love non-fiction works that explore Native American history, especially underrepresented voices and spiritual dimensions of Indigenous culture (I Am Grand Canyon, We Call the Canyon Home: Indigenous Peoples of the Grand Canyon Region, Code Talker, Book of the Hopi, The Hopi Survival Kit, The Apache Wars, Geronimo, In Search of the Old Ones).
  • Curiosities & Science
      • Sometimes I enjoy deeper intellectual explorations of science and consciousness (The Soul of an Octopus, Why We Sleep, Outlive, Sapiens, A Short History of Nearly Everything).
  • Personal Growth & Skills Development 
    • I enjoy nonfiction books that provide guidance on learning, growth, and living a more fulfilling life (Becoming Bulletproof, Be Useful, The Comfort Crisis, Endure, Can’t Hurt Me, Awaken The Giant Within)