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Some Of My Favourite Books
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items These are some of my all-time favourite books, many of which I re-read over and over again.
This is my all-time favourite book, which I have read so many times I'm on my third copy because I keep wearing them out. For me, it was a life-changer and a place to retreat to whenever I feel down.
The Dice Man
As a magician, this is a wonderful book that reveals many of the real secrets to being a great magician - and I don't mean it teaches you any magic tricks per se. It's the thinking that goes into the art that is valuable.
And for non-magicians, I believe this will be fascinating too. Many people don't appreciate what goes into the art of magic, and this will be an eye-opener for them, while still being interesting.
And for non-magicians, I believe this will be fascinating too. Many people don't appreciate what goes into the art of magic, and this will be an eye-opener for them, while still being interesting.
How Magicians Think: Misdirection & Deception
Written by Jessica Pan, it is the story of her year’s worth of exploits, trying to do extraverted activities that would usually be an anathema to an introvert such as herself.
It is both funny and touching, and, I feel, a great source of support for introverts such as myself as well as a glimpse into our world for extraverts who probably have no idea what it’s like.
It is both funny and touching, and, I feel, a great source of support for introverts such as myself as well as a glimpse into our world for extraverts who probably have no idea what it’s like.
Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: An Introvert
This is the book that spawned a load of knock-offs, with similar titles, but this one, by Mark Manson, is the best one I’ve found.In spite of what the title might suggest, this is not about caring for nothing – it’s about being really careful what you do decide to care about. It’s a whole new way of thinking that is, as the subtitle says, counterintuitive.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
I came across this book when I still worked a regular 9 – 5 job, and I loved its premise immediately. (Actually, back then, it was the initial version of the book – not the relatively new v2.)
The authors differentiate between talents, which you are born with, and skills, which can be learned and acquired.
If you’ve ever taken any of personality / profiling assessments (e.g. MBTI), then you probably know that these can change over time, but their claim is that talents never change – because they are innate.
The book explains what these talents are (there are over 30 of them), and it includes a unique access code so that you can perform the assessment online yourself.
Once you’re done, it identifies what your talents (or strengths) are, and lists the ways in which you can make use of them.
It may be confirmation bias speaking, but out of all the different profiling tools I’ve used over the years, this one seemed like the best fit – and I read the descriptions of talents that it claimed I didn’t have, and for once, I agreed. (I had beco...
The authors differentiate between talents, which you are born with, and skills, which can be learned and acquired.
If you’ve ever taken any of personality / profiling assessments (e.g. MBTI), then you probably know that these can change over time, but their claim is that talents never change – because they are innate.
The book explains what these talents are (there are over 30 of them), and it includes a unique access code so that you can perform the assessment online yourself.
Once you’re done, it identifies what your talents (or strengths) are, and lists the ways in which you can make use of them.
It may be confirmation bias speaking, but out of all the different profiling tools I’ve used over the years, this one seemed like the best fit – and I read the descriptions of talents that it claimed I didn’t have, and for once, I agreed. (I had beco...
StrengthsFinder 2.0
This excellent book by Malcolm Gladwell explores how small changes can make a big difference.
He includes plenty of examples, including a long section about Sesame Street, and it’s one of the few non-fiction books I’ve read multiple times.
He includes plenty of examples, including a long section about Sesame Street, and it’s one of the few non-fiction books I’ve read multiple times.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Matter
This book, which I first read many years ago and which is on my re-reading list, is brilliant for anybody who is scared of mathematics or who thinks math doesn’t matter.
The author, John Allen Paulos, expertly shows why math is important, the consequences of people not being good enough at it, and how not to be afraid of it.
In my opinion, this is great for anybody from high school age upwards, regardless of their experience with maths – those who had a bad time with at school will discover it’s not nearly as bad or useless as they thought, and those who enjoy maths will...
The author, John Allen Paulos, expertly shows why math is important, the consequences of people not being good enough at it, and how not to be afraid of it.
In my opinion, this is great for anybody from high school age upwards, regardless of their experience with maths – those who had a bad time with at school will discover it’s not nearly as bad or useless as they thought, and those who enjoy maths will...
Innumeracy
This short book by Darrell Huff may sound scary, but the good news is that it’s an easy read that demystifies statistics and demonstrates how they can be used to prove almost anything.
As they say, forewarned is forearmed, and once you’ve read this book, you’ll never look at stats quoted in the media the same way again.
As they say, forewarned is forearmed, and once you’ve read this book, you’ll never look at stats quoted in the media the same way again.
How to Lie with Statistics
This book, by renowned memory expert (and magician) Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas, was the second book I’d read about mnemonics, and it was what really got me hooked on the usefulness of memory systems – something I still use some 57 years later.
It covers the main systems you might want to use, how to use them, and provides plenty of real-life applications. At first, they may seem like more effort than they’re worth, but in my opinion, the initial time you need to put in to learn one or more...
It covers the main systems you might want to use, how to use them, and provides plenty of real-life applications. At first, they may seem like more effort than they’re worth, but in my opinion, the initial time you need to put in to learn one or more...
The Memory Book
Firstly, I have to confess that I wrote this book, but I am proud of it and want to show that the memory systems I use (including one in The Memory Book, which is also on this list) are fun and useful.
How To Memorize 101 Digits Of Pi In A Day
I came across Tom Sharpe by accident when I happened to see the first episode of Blott On The Landscape on TV in 1986.
Since then, I have read all of his books, most of them many, many times.
They are well-written, and very funny - but very British in terms of their humour.
Wilt is the first of a series of books about a character called Henry Wilt, and may be my favourite Tom Sharpe book, although it's really difficult to choose one out of all the ones I love.
Since then, I have read all of his books, most of them many, many times.
They are well-written, and very funny - but very British in terms of their humour.
Wilt is the first of a series of books about a character called Henry Wilt, and may be my favourite Tom Sharpe book, although it's really difficult to choose one out of all the ones I love.
Wilt
If you currently love coffee, then this book will probably make you angry, because it paints a detailed picture of coffee (and caffeine) that you probably won't see in the media.
I had already stopped drinking coffee by the time I read it, but this would have made me stop anyway.
I had already stopped drinking coffee by the time I read it, but this would have made me stop anyway.
Caffeine Blues: Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug
This classic book shouldn't need any introduction, so let me say that this is another of my favourite books - it's witty, clever, and is the best of this short series.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I first read this book when I was about ten, and recently re-read it for the second time.
It's a classic British book that takes a very light-hearted look at British history.
It's a classic British book that takes a very light-hearted look at British history.
1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England
A classic book about war that is both funny and dark.
Catch-22
This is the book I took with me on almost every holiday I had in Paris. It's a great book that is full of guided walks around different parts of the city. You'll see all sorts of things you would miss if you stuck to the popular sights.
Walking Paris: 30 Original Walks In & Around Paris
I loved this book when I read it as a child, and it was just as enjoyable when I re-read it in my 50s. Highly entertaining and somewhat educational too.
The Phantom Tollbooth
I left my copy of this book in England when I moved to the USA, and I would love to re-read it. Although I would love to be able to create comic strips, I think this has important lessons for anybody.
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art