Read

I started to read more in 2008.  I know I didn't read many books that year, but of the books I read, they made a great impact on me.  The first was suggested to me at a business meeting from a person who represented Tom Hopkins who is a great salesperson trainer, and has written lots of books.  I didn't read any of those books, but read the one that was suggested, and it is called "The Richest Man in Babylon."  Shortly thereafter, we were at the bookstore for reasons that I can't explain, and I found a book entitled "The Millionaire Next Door", and purchased that one.  Reading these two books helped Sarah and I decide to sell our home in Kalamazoo.  That has turned out to be the best decision we have ever made related to finances.  Those two books helped greatly.
Since 2008, I have sought to read more pages each year, and in 2009, 2010, and 2011, I have done so.  Reaching only 2,000 pages in 2009, I felt good, and in 2010, read over 3,000.  Last year, I was very aggressive, and read about 7,500 or so. 
Those two original books stand out; however, the value of reading has become so obvious to me that I feel that I must stress it to anyone who might hear.  There is so much knowledge to be gained by reading- especially about other historical figures.  One very practical benefit is to not make the same mistakes that these people have made.  We can also strive to attain the levels of success they made in their respective lives. 
It has become apparent to me that the people I see in my job every day (30-40 new people weekly) don't know a lot of things about the past.  This is troubling to me.
by reading a little bit in a few short years, I know things that people twice my age don't know because I read them.

Knowledge just for the sake of having knowledge is meaningless.  The application of such knowledge adds the true value to reading books.  This is the value that you can't attain by just living your life.

In other words, why would you want to live your life not having lived before, and just take a stab at it, and know that if you make a mistake(s), you can't go back and redo it?  Wouldn't you want to read some kind of instruction manual from another person to help you do better on this, your only chance of success?  Isn't it entirely illogical to try living any other way?

I'm afraid many people live like this.  It aids them in taking bad advice, parenting poorly, investing foolishly, and making a mess of things. 

With some foresight that can only be gained by taking the advice of other people, one can avoid many pitfalls.  Reading helps a person get this valuable advice. 

Talking to your peers feels good, and seems to make sense; however, what do they know?  They are your peers.  If they are as old as you, they know about the same as you with varying degrees. 
Do talk to people, but in addition, read, and compare those thoughts from your friend to a book that is 100 years old. 

I read a book from an author who wrote his book in AD 400.  What a wonderful change of perspective that book had on me.  Thinking about thoughts from 1700 years ago was a challenge, and full of benefits.

The main book to read is the Bible.  This is God's message to each of us.  One to not just be a guidebook, but it does work that way as well.  The Bible is mainly to teach you about God.  Knowing who He truly is will aid any endeavor you may set out to accomplish.  Why would you want to try living your one life without it?  If you think a book that was written in AD 400 is old, try the Bible!

The Bible says that in the multitude of counselors, one can receive sound advice.  Leaning on books to be your counselor in addition to your peers is a goldmine.

Dig into history, and don't forget the Bible.  Set a goal to read more in 2012 than you did in 2011, and next year, make the same goal for the following year. 

Top four books since 2008
The Bible
The Richest Man in Babylon
The Millionaire Next Door
The Creature from Jekyll Island