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Principles, Thinking, Assassinations: Book Recommendations From Our Team

By Sean Condon, CFP^®

One of the most powerful tools for learning, growing, and improving ourselves is the medium of books.  The guidance and knowledge we receive through reading books can help us become the best version of ourselves.  Of course, books are also a form of entertainment and should also be read purely for the enjoyment they bring.

Our team here at Windgate Wealth Management values education and sharing resources and knowledge.  With that goal in mind, we want to share the books that have shaped our team and helped us grow personally and professionally.  We hope you will find them as inspiring and impactful as we have.

Michael Corbett

Bagehot: The Life and Times of the Greatest Victorian by James Grant

This biography explores the life and times of one of the most brilliant financial minds, Walter Bagehot, who was a banker, essayist, and editor of The Economist.  A lot of research went into this book, but it is an entertaining read and I found it very enlightening.  If you are interested in learning more about one of the financial industry’s greats, I highly recommend this book.

Principles by Ray Dalio

This book is another great insight into the financial giant of our times.  If you have not heard of Ray Dalio, he is one of the world’s most successful investors and entrepreneurs who started the investment firm Bridgewater Associates in 1975.  This book shares (insightfully and engagingly) the principles that helped shape and define Dalio’s personal and professional success.  It is essentially a life handbook of everything he learned throughout his life and career that he is passing on to us so we can learn and grow from his wisdom.

Sean Condon

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

This long-time bestseller by renowned psychologist and Nobel-Prize-winning economist Daniel Kahneman delves into the topic of how we think and how that informs our every decision.  He explains there are two types of thinking—fast and slow—and how we can use those to our benefit in both professional and personal decision-making.  I especially enjoyed the perspective on how our cognitive biases affect all our decisions, including how loss aversion can shape investor decisions.

My American Century by Studs Terkel

It is difficult for me to choose my favorite book by author Studs Terkel because I also really enjoyed The Good War.  But this one is a “best of” compilation of all his written works of oral history, highlighting the best interviews from each, so it is an excellent choice to start with if you have never read anything by this author.  These interviews feature conversations with real people talking about their lives and dreams.

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

My only fiction pick, this was my first “favorite book” as an adult.  It is also the book that planted the seed for a love of reading.  Most people have heard of this book, as it has been a classic of American and world literature for 50 years, but many people have not read it.  If you fall into that latter category, give it a try. You will not be disappointed.

Stacie Suhrbur

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

In the author’s groundbreaking 2006 book, he explains the range of food choices we face and the impact they have on the environment and animal welfare.  The author advocates buying raw food and making it yourself, bypassing corporate processed foods.  I enjoy the many avenues which Michael Pollan’s career has taken since his first book.  For example, he has explored other, non-food-related themes such as psychedelics and consciousness in his latest book.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

This next book is about three U.S. presidents (Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley) and their assassins.  The author takes a unique approach to understanding our nation’s political history as she travels around the U.S. researching the stories behind these assassinations.  Her detail and humor are what hooked me and made this story so fascinating.  Fun fact: Sarah Vowell is also the voice actress of the character Violet Parr in The Incredibles movies, as well as a contributor to NPR’s This American Life.  This would be a delightful book to listen to on Audible.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

If you like history and true crime, then this book is for you as it combines the two genres. It is a non-fiction book that reads like a novel, weaving two stories together into one—the history of the making of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the story of Chicago serial killer H.H. Holmes during the same period.  If you like Chicago history, like me, you will love this book.

What Are Your Favorite Books? We would Love to Hear

So, what do you think of our list? Are you familiar with any of these books or are they all new to you?  If you have read any of them, we would love to hear your thoughts.  What are some of your favorite books that have impacted you greatly?  Feel free to reach out to us and let us know your recommendations.  We are always looking for the next enjoyable book to read.

At Windgate Wealth Management, we value trust and communication, and we always put your best interests first.  If you have been looking to partner with a trusted financial professional who shares similar values, we would love to meet with you and see if we would be a good fit to work together. You can reach us by calling (844) 377-4963 or emailing windgate@windgatewealth.com.  You can also book an appointment online here.

Perritt Capital Management, Inc. is the registered investment advisor for Windgate Wealth Management accounts
All investments carry some level of risk, including the potential loss of principal invested.

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