The end of the decade is upon us and this is the sixth year of sharing my favorite books. This year has been busier than normal with our rebranding project to Beyond Wealth so my list is slightly abbreviated compared to previous years. However, the books on this year are all worth your time. My Christmas list is filled with books and I hope to be back next year with a longer list of amazing reads!

Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry by David Robertson and Bill Breen

I was a huge Lego fan as a kid (and am still am as an adult). This book was a deep dive into the history of Lego from their roots as a small Danish toymaker to the massive company they have become today. The story behind the Lego brick is a cool chronicle of ingenuity and innovation. The process of making the Lego brick work is worth reading this book but learning about how Lego’s huge growth in the 1990s and 2000s nearly put them out of business. The business and innovation lessons in the book are a great business case study.

Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

If you are a fan of historical fiction, I think you will love this book. It was my favorite book of the year. The book is centered on an Italian teenager during the waning days of World War 2. It is a remarkable story that takes him from helping people sneak over the Alps to safety in Switzerland to eventually joining the German Army. It is a book that I can’t recommend highly enough.

An Economist Walks into a Brothel: And Other Unexpected Places to Understand Risk by Allison Schrager

The title is catchy, right? Allison Schrager takes a unique look at how people in different industries look at risk. When it comes to investment portfolios, I look at risk in certain ways but people in different careers have a different set of risks they have to manage. The book looks across a wide array of fields from big waves surfers, Cinnabon executives, and yes, even the oldest profession in the world and how they navigate and minimize risk in their particular field. I read this book on a flight and it is broken into short stories which makes it a quick read.

Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke

Creating a framework to make decisions is a critical part of our job. Making the right decision is important but developing a quality process to consistently make good decisions is at the core of this book. Annie Duke is a former professional poker star who has retired and is working with professionals now on how to make better decisions. The book opens looking at the Super Bowl where the Seahawks had the ball inside the 10-yard line late in the game. Seattle threw an interception and the Patriots won another title. Despite the poor outcome, Annie looks at the odds behind the play and that it was still the right decision to throw the ball there. The book looks at different situations like this and how to improve your decision making.

The Mastermind: Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal. By Evan Ratliff

They say that reality is better than fiction. The Mastermind is about an internet “entrepreneur” who used his skills as a computer programmer to build the largest network of online pharmacies in the US. At some point, his business turned from legal pharmaceuticals to more illegal activity. The story follows how the authorities pursued him around the world and makes this a page-turner. If this is not being made into a movie, it should!

Traction: Get a Grip on your Business by Gino Wickman

This book has had the greatest impact on our business. Gino Wickman has written numerous business books but Traction walks you through the Entrepreneurial Operating System or EOS. This book offers a structure and framework on how to run a better business and not a business that runs you!

As always, we love to hear what your favorite books are from the past year. Please send me an email with your favorite titles over the past year!

Disclaimer: The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing.

Andrew’s Favorite Books for 2019