Jack Kerouac’s On the Road is an example of a book that must be read.

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7 Books Essential for Loving Life

John McElhenney
2 min readMar 10, 2022

Here are five books I’ve read over and over again in my life. There are a lot of great lessons we can learn from the great books. These books, while not strictly business, are my go-to resources when I’m needing some comfort thinking, some guidance from the older and wiser writers of the past. Enjoy.

Notes To Myself — Hugh Prather
The father of all little wisdom books. Open to any page and get a quick snap back into what’s important.

Time and the Art of Living — Robert Gruden
We lost this great writer too soon. Both of his books contain a lifetime of wisdom. This one is his masterpiece.

Siddhartha — Herman Hesse
A masterpiece written as a coming of age tale. It is buddha? A book I read every couple of years to check on my own path and how I walk the Earth.

On the Road — Jack Kerouac
Not his best book, but the best road trip book. His prose is like a cup of coffee for the soul.

Making Things Happen — Scott Berkun
A project management book, yes, but much more. A great writer.

A Writer’s Time — Kenneth Atchity
A fantastic book about scheduling your craft no matter what.

Letters to a Young Artist in the Digital Age — John McElhenney
A raw series of letters was written to my nephew before he left for college.

I’d love to hear what books have shaped your life and your work in the comments. I will add significant ones to my list. Thanks.

John McEhenney, Austin, Texas USA
@jmacofearth

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John McElhenney
John McElhenney

Written by John McElhenney

John McElhenney is an author, life coach, and musician who lives in Austin, Texas. He’s best known for his single dad blog, The Whole Parent. (wholeparent.org)

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