I’ve heard it said that nothing in life changes you more than the books you read or the people you meet. These are some of my favorites. For fun, I’m also including my list of must see movies. You will find that every movie on this list was made before 2008 when our first child was born, because we have seen about 2.5 movies since then. If you have any recent movies I must see, help me out and send me the title!
BOOKS
Harry Potter Series – Because it made me feel like a kid again
The Firm/The Pelican Brief – Grisham is my guilty pleasure!
House Of Sand And Fog – Brilliant storytelling! Maybe the best fiction book I’ve read.
To My Children’s Children’s Children – My Dad wrote this book. It’s a biography, philosophy, business, and history book all rolled into one. This is one of my greatest treasures, and the one book I’d reach for if there was a fire.
The Right Words At The Right Time – 2 page stories written by influential people, recounting a pivotal moment when they needed advice.
The Traveler’s Gift – Andy Andrews writes books filled with practical wisdom that can change your life, and this is a great book to start with.
Now Discover Your Strengths – This book comes with an online assessment tool that gives you better insight than any similar book. I recommend this for anyone in search of their true purpose.
Daring Greatly – Brene Brown’s research is important to anyone who seeks to live a wholehearted, complete life. I highly recommend this book and her other products.
The Monster At The End Of This Book – My favorite childhood book. And if I’m honest, I gotta admit I still secretly love turning the page.
The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children Turns out, the process of parenting is even more about shaping ourselves than our children. While I don’t agree with everything here, I do believe there’s value and wisdom for every parent. Must read.
Letters To A Young Poet – Reading this book was like reading my own story and having my own questions answered in a book that was written 100+ years ago.
Hinds’ Feet On High Places – The best ‘little’ book I’ve read. It found me at a time when I really needed its message.
Life Strategies – My favorite lesson: you teach people how to treat you.
Live From New York – A candid, vivid look behind the scenes, with interviews from favorite cast members from all 25 seasons of SNL.
The Seasons Of A Man’s Life – Traces the lives of 40 men, from birth to death to compare and contrast similar life events.
Breaking Free – This book and study changed the way I look at failure.
MOVIES
Moulin Rouge – A musical, visual and heart driven epic!
Waiting For Guffman – A 14 page outline was all that carried one of the funniest, most quirky and quotable comedies of all time.
ET – The first time a movie planted a seed in me that could not be uprooted.
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty – It’s been a long while since I wanted to make everyone in the world sit down and watch a certain movie. Well…sit down.
20 Feet From Stardom – As a studio singer for more than 20 years, there’s not a movie that tells my personal story better than this movie. I was riveted from beginning to end and wanted to watch it again as soon as it was finished. Just amazing.
Braveheart – The story and script inspire me, and the musical score is magnificent.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – One of the smartest adventure films ever.
Dead Poets Society – “Oh Captain, my Captain”…I was the perfect age for this movie to speak to me when it came out.
The Red Violin – Beautiful on so many levels. If you haven’t seen it, you must.
Garden State – This movie convinced me I should take the leap with my wife, Jennifer. So I guess I owe Zach Braff a really nice fruit basket or something.
500 Days Of Summer – Not since Garden State has a movie gripped me so. This is in my top 5. Great story, beautifully written and shot. Loved the last 5 minutes.
The Words – I don’t want to give even a tiny bit of the story away, but you must rent this movie. It will get inside you.
Shawshank Redemption – You know why I love it….it’s on your favorites list too!
The Godfather – Two words: Al Pacino
The Wizard of Oz – This movie came on TV every Thanksgiving when I was a kid. I have great memories of watching it with my sister.
Up – Any cartoon that can make you cry in 90 seconds without dialogue, gets two thumbs way…UP!!! Get it? Do you see what I did there? Sorry.
