What’re some books you’ve read that have given you purpose?

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AntiSharp
June 24, 2019
160 upvotes
askTRP
/r/asktrp/comments/c4gwga/whatre_some_books_youve_read_that_have_given_you/


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Title What’re some books you’ve read that have given you purpose?
Author AntiSharp
Upvotes 160
Comments 89
Date 24 June 2019 02:14 AM UTC (1 year ago)
Subreddit askTRP
Link https://theredarchive.com/post/243200
Original Link https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/c4gwga/whatre_some_books_youve_read_that_have_given_you/
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[–]Joey_Lopez143 points144 points  (27 children) | Copy

The rational male. Really changed my life. You are just not the same person anymore after reading that.

[–]IndiansSmellLikePoo41 points42 points  (3 children) | Copy

I went through an LTR and got burnt bad by a girl (Lead me on etc we made out and then I had a massive amount of exams and my great grandmother died in that week and then she ghosted me) before that in the space of 18 months (when I was 17 to 19). I then posted about my circumstance on a forum I use (completely unrelated to Red Pill) and some guy said to read the Rational Male in a PM unprompted. Thought why not.

Dude there were so many uh-hu and light bulb moments in that book it wasn't funny. That sets out how women are for the most part in that book. I've recommended the book to guys but they don't bother reading it. But guys who have actually read it agree how powerful it is.

If every guy got given that book when he was 18 the economy would grow by about 5%.

[–]Joey_Lopez2 points3 points  (2 children) | Copy

I used to have so much frustration in relationships. I just didn't understand females or what they wanted. Then I read that book and it all made sense. I finally knew how females thought and what motivated them. That's when I actually started becoming effective.

Now that I'm getting older and more successful I have a lot of post wall females trying to get me to be their beta bucks just as Rollo predicted.

[–]IndiansSmellLikePoo3 points4 points  (1 child) | Copy

Knowing what there end game is the important part of the equation imo. That part isn't spoken about at all in society despite being so obvious to every man after reading the book. It's pretty funny seeing women ride the CC then want to settle down over a few years and complaining about lack of 'good' guys.

[–]Joey_Lopez2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Yeah I can't stomach to hear used up chicks complain after their time is done. Like you had had a hundred chances and you blew them all so don't complain now.

[–]AntiSharp 1 points [recovered]  (14 children) | Copy

Absolute agreement

[–]Madhatter74717 points18 points  (10 children) | Copy

Just started reading the pdf

[–]strengthenics1 point2 points  (5 children) | Copy

Can you please share the link where I can find the PDF?

[–]ianellwood212 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

The book is like $11 to your door on amazon. Rollo makes his stuff incredibly affordable

[–]lilgoatedboy4 points5 points  (1 child) | Copy

Buy it broke mfs support the author.

[–]strengthenics1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I bought the audiobook on audible already and would like a pdf to read along on my phone since it's more convenient than getting the book for now. Eventually il buy the hard copy to add to my library.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

share it with me too please

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children) | Copy

This

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (3 children) | Copy

This

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child) | Copy

This

[–]Argetlamx4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

Yes, this book opened my eyes! Also Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel.

[–]herrLitschka2 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

Hard to read without being an English native speaker even though I consider my English to not be that bad. His writing and use of words is so scientific sometimes that it's hard to follow him without looking up the words in a dictionary, but I keep going.

[–]Joey_Lopez1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Hey then I guess you get to learn even more. Also don't feel bad, he uses a lot of obscure words.

[–]Idontgetitboyz0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Total life changer

[–]MonojitSarkar29 points30 points  (5 children) | Copy

Mastery by Robert Greene.

[–]HumbleTrees2 points3 points  (3 children) | Copy

TLDR on why it changed your life please? I like Greene

[–]MonojitSarkar7 points8 points  (2 children) | Copy

Greene talks about finding one's life task. He goes into saying that everybody is unique. Our DNA's are unique. This combination was and will never get repeated.

I am in my final year of engineering. I will admit before reading his book I felt lack of guidance on how I should pursue the things that interest me.

But after reading his book I feel like I know on how I should go about my life. I applied whatever he suggests in his book and I will admit that I feel myself more grounded in my life.

I now know that my life is not at the mercy of others. I can be a master in my own craft. I can take charge for my own life. I don't have to depend on anybody.

Not realizing my potential is actually a waste of my life. By not realizing my true potential, I fail the previous generation, present generation and the future generation.

I don't know what I would have done without Robert Greene. I suggest this book to everyone in this community.

[–]HumbleTrees1 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy

Thanks for taking the time to reply bro. I'll buy it today. Need a new book

[–]MonojitSarkar1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Search Robert Greene Mastery interview on YouTube. That will get you pumped up as well. Wish you luck.

[–]mseand0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

YES!!!

[–]1TyroneTheDriver78 points79 points  (11 children) | Copy

Meditations, the rational male, the Havamal, the book of genesis, 12 rules for life, how to win friends and influence people. The 48 laws of power, the prince, the hobbit?..... the count of monte Christo, the pearl, biographies of Churchill, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln, the odyssey, the Iliad, animal farm, 1984, lord of the flies, Night... I could go on.

Edit: the river of doubt

[–]FarfromaHero4015 points16 points  (1 child) | Copy

Excellent selections.

I'll add, The Republic, Nicomachean Ethics, Fear and Trembling, and The Myth of Sisyphus

[–]tries_to_tri9 points10 points  (0 children) | Copy

While we're on philosophy, I'll add the Bhagavad Gita.

[–]Vikingcel6 points7 points  (1 child) | Copy

The speech of a maiden should no man trust

nor the words which a woman says;

for their hearts were shaped on a whirling wheel

and falsehood fixed in their breasts.

[–]1TyroneTheDriver1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

<3 You get it

[–]tatendakutadza2 points3 points  (3 children) | Copy

Why the book of Genesis? Not trying to be rude or anything, just curious.

[–]1TyroneTheDriver7 points8 points  (2 children) | Copy

It’s interesting to see how the many collaborative minds of humanity have chosen to represent the birth of the universe and human kinds place within it.

It’s a beautiful thing, to think that we come from a place of paradise (the womb) where all is given and provided for, a place of love where we know nothing but god (infinity) and peace, Only to be thrust into the cold harsh landscape by committing our original sin (being born human and coming to cognitive realization of the self).

When you look at the Bible literally you’re missing the point entirely. Ancient philosophy once was a bunch of people sitting around talking, oral tradition. This book sought to combine the wisdom of the mouths of great men into one philosophical moral exploration of humanity and our nature, where we are, how we contemplate it, our place within it.

Genesis is the birth story, the beginning, the evolution of man into a thinking, knowing, feeling, self-identifying creature. It shows us all of our humanity and weaknesses in simple prose. It’s all there if you look for it.

[–]tatendakutadza1 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy

Thanks for the explanation. I'm going to read Genesis again because of this. The underlying meaning had gone over my head.

[–]1TyroneTheDriver1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

All biblical stories are veiled lessons meant to be interpreted. Leaving the garden of Eden is humanities evolution into a self conscious self identifying organism. Doing so made all of our actions “work”. We started having to cover ourselves out of “embarrassment” that didn’t exist before. We kill our brothers out of jealousy and lament our actions, we’re susceptible to jealousy and anger and rage and animal violence yet posses the cognitive ability to regret and be filled with sorrow and pain. Cain and Able are representations of different temperaments that are found in ALL men. You know the story of the wolf you feed more? Cain and Able fed different wolves.

[–]TheRealBrotherLouie0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

yep, 1984 is a must. Start with it, op

[–]1TyroneTheDriver1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Happy cake day, gay boy

[–]-endless-20 points21 points  (1 child) | Copy

Crash Early Crash Often - Viktensh Rao

On Grand Strategy - John Lewis Gaddis

These books won't give you purpose. They will empower you to find your purpose yourself.

[–]apskidb5 points6 points  (0 children) | Copy

^ came here to say this. books won’t give you purpose but they will sharpen your sword.

for purpose you need to face your fears and look into yourself.

[–]JyoungPNG24 points25 points  (4 children) | Copy

Philosophy:

Nietzsche “Beyond Good and Evil”

Nietzsche “The Gay Science”

Kierkegaard “Fear and Trembling”

Sartre “Being and Nothingness”

Heidegger “Being and Time”

Plato “Republic”

Plato “Timaeus”

Aristotle “Politics”

Aristotle “Rhetoric”

Hegel “The Phenomenology of Spirit”

Kant “The Critique of Pure Reason”

Taleb “Antifragility”

Wittgenstein “Tractatus”

Wittgenstein “Philosophical Investigations”

Psychology/Social Science:

Jung “Aion”

Jung “Modern Man in Search of a Soul”

Peterson “Maps of Meaning”

Dostoyevsky “Crime and Punishment”

Dostoyevsky “The Brothers Karamazov”

Frankl “Man’s Search for Meaning”

Spaniel “Game Theory 101”

Machiavelli “The Prince”

Business:

Carnegie “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Klarman “Margin of Safety”

Ferrazzi “Never Eat Alone”

Graham “Security Analysis”

[–]AntiSharp 1 points [recovered]  (2 children) | Copy

That’s quite the list. What’re your suggestions on priorities/where to start for each category?

[–]Edzardd4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

Not OP, but usually you start with the classics: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. They are the fundation of western thought and are easy to read. Then you can go to the rest.

[–]JyoungPNG1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

What u/Edzardd said, if you have no experience with philosophy, watch some intro vids or read an intro book and start with the classical philosophers. For psychology, watch some of Peterson’s YouTube lectures to get familiar with his ideas and then dive into the list (don’t read Aion first). The business books have a mild degree of jargon in terms of finance and investments. If you don’t know or understand a term, look it up on investopedia.

[–]JustDaMax0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Yes yes yes excellent list

[–]Red_Pill_Brotherhood35 points36 points  (5 children) | Copy

Not necessarily for finding my 'purpose' but here's all the good books I can think of that I have/read:

Game/women:

-The Rational Male

-all of Christian McQueen's books

-Alpha Male Strategies' dating book

-The Book of Pook and the Mill (lost it, had it downloaded. Anyone have it?)

-The 10 Magnificent 10 Crucial Dating Tips for Men

-How to be a 3% Man

-The Way of the Superior Man

-The Manipulated Man

-Happier Abroad grand ebook (Winston Wu)

​

Business/Sales/Entrepreneurship:

-Efficiency (Wall St Playboys)

-The Personal MBA

-How to get Rich (Felix Dennis)

-The Entrepreneur Mind

-The Way of the Wolf

-Sell or be Sold

-Money and Investing Guidebook (WSJ endorsed) by Dave Kansas

-Serve No Master

-The 4 Hour Workweek

-The Choose Yourself Guide to Wealth

​

Psychology/misc:

-48 Laws of Power

-The Definitive Book of Body Language

-What Every-body is Saying

-The Art of War (Sun Tzu)

-Predictably Irrational

-The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Baltasar Gracian)

-The Prince

-Meditations

​

Bodybuilding/working out:

-The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding (Arnold)

-Serious Strength Training (Mauro Di Pasquale)

​

My top 5 books would be (The Rational Male, 48 Laws of Power, Definitive Book of Body Language, The Alpha Playboy part 1 and 2 by Christian McQueen, Efficiency by WSPs)

[–]felix044904 points5 points  (2 children) | Copy

Do you guys recommend models ?

[–]Red_Pill_Brotherhood1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I actually haven't read that one. Its on my list to get.

[–]TheRedPillKing0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

yes

[–]MrIncreible100 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Great

[–]Thinkingard8 points9 points  (0 children) | Copy

In the last decade I've read roughly 1000 books. None of them have given me purpose. It has always been up to me to find purpose. A book can't give you purpose any more than a movie or video game. One thing I learned the hard way is don't get caught up in intellectual movements. You think you are improving yourself by reading a lot of good books, but in reality you are simply replacing other entertainment. However, there are two books that prompted me to reflect enough to dig in to finding a purpose. Both books you can download a free pdf with a simple google search.

​

Zero to One: you are not a lottery ticket. You cannot diversify yourself like a portfolio. What you do matters.

​

No More Mr. Nice Guy: this book revealed why I developed the way I did and how to overcome it. Covert contracts, sexual dysfunction, and boundaries I didn't enforce became greater and greater problems until this book punched me in the face.

[–]Nathaestion5 points6 points  (0 children) | Copy

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck - Mark Manson

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey

Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink

Civilisation and its Discontents - Sigmund Freud

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

1984 - George Orwell

King Warrior Magician Lover - Robert Moore

Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk

Can't Hurt Me - David Goggins

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[–]haasteagle4 points5 points  (2 children) | Copy

Striking Thoughts by Bruce Lee

[–]flapjacksrbetter0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

What’s this about?

[–]pollodustino5 points6 points  (4 children) | Copy

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. I read it as a teenager, then had it assigned in high school for senior English, and have read it at least once a year ever since. The individual versus society. What is sanity? Who exactly is sane? How is a man supposed to act, behave, and think?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert Pirsig. What is Quality? How do you perceive it? Is there objective quality, or is it all subjective? How do you incorporate that into your own life? (I'm barely scratching the surface because I need to go to bed and I haven't read it for a year or two. I just know that chapters 25 and 26 are my favorites.)

[–]teabagabeartrap0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

As I ride a lot of motorcycle I got this book recommended a lot. Read it... and got the feeling, that I don't get it... Can you maybe go a little bit further, what you took out of this book? It really confused me, because I got the feeling that it was rather boring, but I get it recommended sooooooo often.

[–]pollodustino0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Motorcycles are just a vehicle for the message. The first bit of the book deals with motorcycles and such, but the book itself is really about technology, our relationship to it, our relationship to the idea of Quality, the two main modes of thinking (Romantic and Classical, or in other words, Emotional versus Logical), and how to act within and reconcile the two in our lives. It also talks about how to find meaning in your actions, or how to make what you're doing the meaning. To act with purpose and care.

I admit it can get really slow, repetitive, and confusing, especially near the middle when Pirsig goes on and on about Quality and rhetoric and dialectic and Greek philosophy. It took me a few readings to get through that with any sort of understanding, and even now I still don't quite get it. I've had to read and watch a lot of Cliffs Notes and dissections about the book to get a decent grasp of what it's trying to convey.

Pirsig wrote another book called Lila which goes into the same concepts, but in a much more approachable manner due to the criticism about ZMM being so hard to understand. It does a better job, but still needs some outside reading as well.

[–]teabagabeartrap0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Thanks for answering. Good Idea btw, to have some interpretation or notes with the read as well... I will consider this for some further reads...

[–]Fuktiga_mejmejs5 points6 points  (0 children) | Copy

"Cant hurt me" by David Goggings, amazing for self-improvement and sefl-mastery

[–]SalporinRP6 points7 points  (0 children) | Copy

It's fiction but Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.

The plot synopsis sounds absurd: A man responds to a newspaper advertisement that says "Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person." When he follows the address he finds himself in a room with a live gorilla.

But just trust me and read it. Even if you don't necessarily agree with the conclusions it draws it's a fantastic book if you're into philosophy.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

Models by Mark Manson.

The first logical explanation I ever read about becoming a better and more attractive man. Rather then the wishy-washy shortcut and fake shit that was out and popular reading in the scene, around that time.

[–]optimase_prime4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

12 rules for life. Hands down.

[–]Dirkz3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

Models by Mark Manson had the biggest impact on my mindset and actions in a manner that benefited me with women.

[–]cornbread072 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Put your dream to the test by John Maxwell

[–]budosmacska2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Sometimes you win sometimes you learn John Maxwell

[–]luc2422 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

A movable feast by Hemingway - To live everyday, don't dwell in the past.

Fear and loathing in Las Vegas - HS T and Manufacturering Consent by Chomsky - Ignoring spin, following your own path to originality.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

I'm currently reading Art of Seduction by Robert Greene and it's very informative, packed with lots of historical examples. Same w 48 Laws of Power.

[–]magnimeelcul2 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl

He offers an incredible perspective on his experience (Nazi concentration camp). One of my favourite books ever.

[–]BrodinsOats2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

This one is a great cure for nihilism.

[–]hedden931 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Man's Search for Meaning

You Are The Placebo

The Go-Giver

[–]SoulRedemption1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Law of Success - Napoleon Hill Richest man in Babylon

No More Mr.Nice Guy - though this doesnt give purpose, it will helo lay a foundation for internal struggles you may have which is reflected externally. Helps find yourself, if you are honest with yourself while reading this book.

[–]LoadingLevel1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

No more mr.nice guy The rational male The subtle art of not giving a fuck

[–]sebastianconcept1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

The Rational Male Spent: Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior Political Ponerology The Gulag Archipelago Postmodernism Explained by Hicks Sperm Wars The Way of Man

[–]Theguygotgame7771 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Not so much a life purpose, but C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity really confirmed my faith as a Catholic for me.

[–]Radinax1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I mentioned in a previous post that "Rich Father Poor Father" was one that opened my eyes to a reality I didn't know was there, other users mentioned the financial advices and the author are frauds, but for me I didn't really cared about the financial aspect of it, but realizing how boring my life would be if I just work 24/7 in a company until I get old... instead I learned programming and working now for a respected company in eyes for creating my own system to get money.

Just like TRP opened my eyes about the true nature of women (not good or bad, its just what it is), that book showed me that the path showed to all of us since we're childs, its not the only one and we can forge one ourselves.

[–]bear_formula1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Sapiens by Yuval Noah, The Rational Male, How to Win Friends and Influence People, 48 Laws of Power.

Having very recently read The Rational Male after a "WTF just happened?" romance with a post wall, everything made sense...like everything. I got played like a real chump. Never again.

That said, Sapiens does a great job of explaining who we are as a species and what our motivations are. In my opinion it provides solid complementary information for the principles in many of the books listed on this thread,especially The Rational Male.

[–]JustDaMax1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Faust, by Johan Wolfgang von Goethe. This is basically the absolute epitome of human literature. I don't know if you can get properly translated versions because it is written in German. Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Ecce Human both by Nietzsche. Critique of pure Reason, by Immanuel Kant. This book has stumped philosophers for centuries. You will not understand it but every bit you grasp can make you understand more about being Human than anything else ever could.

I personally believe Goethe and Nietzsche to be the best mixture of literary mastery and life advice you could ever dream of getting.

[–]sosex19920 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Checked most comments and haven’t seen anyone recommend the Way of the superior man by David Deida so there. Book talks about spirituality, life purpose, and even women and their role in a mans life. Definitely a must read book. In fact I dare put it just like one notch below the rational male. Enjoy

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

This is going to be a little out there but Sapiens is really up there for me purpose-wise.

It's basically a very conversational history of humans....really helps put things in perspective, to appreciate how difficult life used to be, how far humanity has come, how many different things had to happen to make the world the way it is

[–]parshal340 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

[–]Good4Chun1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I will teach you to be rich by Ramit Sethi. Really taught me the importance of savings and long-term investing.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

The Bible. Aka the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Only book you’ll ever need. All the answers are within.

[–]sebastianconcept2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I’ve never read it. But after seeing Jordan B. Peterson Biblical series, I’m mind blown.

[–]1jacques_cousteau007[🍰] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

boba

[–]randombjkfan19030 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Mein kampf

[–]tinko223306-1 points0 points  (0 children) | Copy

How to be 3% man by Corey Wayne The book really opened my eyes about women and that men should be always centered and pursuing their purpose

[–]psirras316-1 points0 points  (0 children) | Copy

Rich dad poor dad

[–]inkoDe-1 points0 points  (0 children) | Copy

Everything by Nietzsche.



You can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea.

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