And 21 Honorable Mentions.
2022 Reading:
31 Books.
8,908 Pages.
It wasn’t as heavy of a haul as 2021, but given the fact that I authored and published my first book, ‘Broad Axe Training’ (which can be purchased by clicking here) this year and my wife and I brought our daughter into the world, I will definitely call it a respectable haul.
In all reality reading isn’t about the number of books, but the quality of the books read. It’s easy to blast through pages, but I often ask myself, am I simply reading the material or am I absorbing and learning something from it?
I’d rather read 10 books and implement the lessons learned into my life than bust through 100 for a cool Instagram photo.
Narrowing down a Top-10 List was a bit of a challenge because obviously the judgement is subjective, and I truly believe there is value in every single book despite it being good, bad, or indifferent, which is why I will share my 2022 reading list in it’s entirety at the end of this post.
While I do read a variety of different genres, non-fiction & fiction, this Top-10 List is comprised of actionable non-fiction works. This isn’t because I didn’t read some incredible fiction novels, I absolutely did, but I would argue that these Top-10 selections were the most eye opening and/or helped me move the needle the furthest in 2022.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
10. ‘The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History Of The War’ by Craig Whitlock.
This was a fantastic book. A sad book, but great writing and reporting, nonetheless. As you’re well aware by now, back in August of 2021, the Taliban took back over Afghanistan after 20 years of conflict. How you ask? To put it simply, failed leadership & a lack of clearly defined goals and objectives.
America’s leaders tried to strong-arm Afghanistan with firepower and money in an effort to to “Westernize” it. It appeared to be “working” as we pumped billions of dollars into the country over 2 decades, but then like a house built on sand (literally) it came crashing down the day we left.
If you’re interested in the war in Afghanistan and/or the importance of leadership, check out The Afghanistan Papers, it will blow your mind.
To Purchase ‘The Afghanistan Papers’ Click Here
9. ‘Snow Leopard: How Legendary Writers Create A Category Of One’ by Category Pirates.
This was one of my favorite reads this year. As a fan of Nicolas Cole and the Team at Category Pirates I really like their highly actionable writing style.
As a very passionate writer myself, I am constantly looking for ways to improve my writing and to differentiate myself from others writers. Snow Leopard, while reading very smoothly provides a clear, step by step guide to improving the focus and delivery of your writing.
Whether you enjoy writing as a hobby, need to write for school, or write for your occupation, Snow Leopard is a must read.
To Purchase ‘Snow Leopard’ Click Here
8. ‘Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, And Brotherhood Of War In Afghanistan’ by Sean Parnell.
In 2022 I got an Afghanistan/Iraq War kick. I read several books on the conflicts as well as books on the Taliban and ISIS, too. Despite the incredibly poor leadership from our Government Officials in both conflicts, Outlaw Platoon is one of those books that just makes you Proud to be an American. To know that hard men across these “United” States are willing and ready to run to the sound of guns is something we should never take for granted.
This book takes you inside the lines of 24-Year-Old Army Ranger Sean Parnell, who was named Commander of a 40-man elite infantry platoon, 10th Mountain Division, a unit that would later become known as ‘The Outlaws’. This book shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of war, but also the importance of love, faith, and camaraderie.
If you’re looking for an action-packed war story with the subjects being some of the baddest SOB’s on earth, this book is for you.
To Purchase ‘Outlaw Platoon’ Click Here
7. ‘The Coddling Of The American Mind: How Good Intentions And Bad Ideas Are Setting A Generation Up For Failure’ by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt.
This was a re-read of this book for me this year and I believe it to be one of the most important reads for any American. This book is loaded with research confirming how we are quite literally softening our kids mentally, physically, and emotionally.
The book is based on 3 Great Untruths that are being carefully woven into our society. 1. What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker. 2. Always trust your feelings. 3. Life is a battle between good and evil people. These Great Untruths contradict basic psychological principles about well-being and embracing them is leading to our culture of safteyism that we know today. These Great Untruths interfere with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development, resulting in the destruction of autonomy.
If you’re confused on why the hell we are where we are today on college campuses and in k-12 classrooms and what we need to do to fix it, this book is for you.
To Purchase ‘The Coddling of the American Mind’ Click Here
6. ‘The War Of Art: Break Through The Blocks And Win Your Inner Creative Battles’ by Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield is one of my favorite authors of all time. He is one of the few who has crossed the non-fiction and fiction boundaries with great taste and success in both arenas.
The War Of Art and its’ cousins as Pressfield refers to them is a book about overcoming resistance. Resistance that often time starts and manifest itself from within. It is a short, to the point read, but taking the lessons from its pages and applying them to your own life will inevitably help you to move the needle and get out of your own way.
If you want to be told how it is, like it is, The War of Art is it and Pressfield is your guy.
To Purchase ‘The War of Art’ Click Here
5. ‘The Only Plane In The Sky: An Oral History of 9/11’ by Garrett M. Graff.
I read a lot of books and a lot of books move me, but very rarely do I read a book that nearly puts me in tears. Very rarely do I have to close the book and ponder on what I just read, not from confusion, but to fully absorb the depths of the horrors of what I just read.
I realize many Americans remember exactly where they were on 9/11 and how they felt on that day and I also recognize being that we are 20+ years removed from that tragic day, many Americans today weren’t alive. Regardless, this book should be required reading for every single American. It’s one of the most tragic, but most important books I’ve ever read. It is a play by play of the one of the most tragic days in American History.
Buy the book. Read it. Hug your loved ones.
To Purchase ‘The Only Plane In The Sky’ Click Here
4. ‘The Art And Business Of Online Writing: How To Beat The Game Of Capturing Attention’ by Nicolas Cole.
This was book that I spent the most time reading and re-reading this year. It’s because it was packed with so much actionable gold as it pertains to improving as a writer (one of my main goals in life).
I’ve been writing daily for as long as I can remember and while this book affirmed what I already knew to be true (To get better at writing, one must sit down and write) it also helped me develop a blue print to consistently churn out quality writing. Writing, like many things in life is a game. In order to improve your chances of winning the game, one must play consciously. The Art and Business of Online Writing is quite literally your blueprint to improved writing and content creation.
If you’re looking for a book to help you keep up with the times of capturing and keeping attention, look no further than Cole’s work.
To Purchase ‘The Art and Business of Online Writing’ Click Here
3. ‘The Daily Stoic’ by Ryan Holiday.
As you can tell from my copy of this dust coverless book covered in coffee stains and bent edges, I absolutely pillaged this book this year.
The Daily Stoic is a book full of short and sweet daily readings of timeless wisdom from stoic philosophers. Each month there is a focus – Clarity, Duty, Mediation on Mortality, etc. that allows the reader to consciously stay focused on each subject for the given month. Beyond the daily excerpts, Ryan Holiday tastefully decodes the quotes and helps simplify them so that the modern reader can apply the lessons to their everyday lives. Taking the time to read, reflect, and take notes on each passage, daily, was quite literally one of the biggest contributors to my mental growth this year.
You’ll spend less than 5 minutes a day in this book, but it’s likely one of the most important books you’ll ever buy.
To Purchase ‘The Daily Stoic’ Click Here
2. ‘Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong And The Surprising Science Of Real Toughness’ by Steve Magness.
By the sound of this title, you’re likely expecting the author of this book to be some juiced up, tattoo covered, ex-navy seal, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Steve Magness is a glasses toting, skinny runner. While I don’t say this to make fun of him, I acknowledge it because he is contrary to the image of what most would perceive toughness to be. There is pseudo-tough (think bro at your local gym) and then there is real toughness (think expert on performance, author of this book, Steve Magness).
This book dives into the (digestible) science of how to enhance toughness. Steve outlines the 4 basic pillars of toughness, which are: P1- Ditch the façade, embrace reality. P2- Listen to your body. P3- Respond, instead of react. P4- Transcend Discomfort. Throughout the book Steve teaches the reader how to (actually) increase their toughness.
If you’re tired of the fake Instagram image of toughness and looking for the real deal toughness, look no further than Steve’s amazing work in ‘Do Hard Things’.
To Purchase ‘Do Hard Things’ Click Here
1. ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl.
Is there a better book in print, today? Will a better book ever be written? Next to the Holy Bible, my answer to those questions would be a strong no.
This book is absolutely incredible from start to finish. Man’s Search For Meaning is a book by an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, writer, and 4-camp holocaust survivor. The book shares stories and lessons learned even in the harshest of environments, Concentration Camps. Concentration Camps that because of a visa, Viktor Frankl didn’t have to endure, but ultimately chose to by letting his visa, safeguarding him from hell on earth, lapse. Why would he do this? Because his purpose was not of himself. It was for his loved ones, who didn’t have the visas. He endured the camps, even with an outlet.
While Frankl, a genius, knew and admitted that his chances of survival were extraordinarily low, he endured anyway. He found solace in committing himself to the service of others.
“We who lived in the concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedom’s to choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Freedom to choose how to act and purpose in suffering are two themes of this literary masterpiece. A masterpiece that I will continue to re-read over and over again.
To Purchase ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ Click Here
And now I will include a Best of the Rest List (in no particular order). While these didn’t make the Top-10, I thoroughly enjoyed each of them.
‘5/3/1: 2nd Edition’ by Jim Wendler
‘Dead Man’s Walk’ by Larry McMurtry
‘Think Again’ by Adam Grant
‘Deliberate Discomfort’ by Jason B.A. Van Camp
‘Fiasco’ by Thomas E. Ricks
‘Force’ by Dan Cleather
‘War’ by Sebastian Hunger
‘Black Flags The Rise Of ISIS’ by Job Warrick
‘Taliban’ by Ahmed Rashid
‘One Man’s Wilderness’ by Sam Keith/Dick Proenneke
‘Comanche Moon’ by Larry McMurtry
‘Battle For The American Mind’ by Pete Hegseth
‘Can’t Hurt Me’ by David Goggins
‘Believe In Yourself The Lee Priest Story’ by Lee Priest
‘In The Blood’ by Jack Carr
‘Endure’ by Cameron Hanes
‘Greatness’ by David L. Cook
‘Put Your Ass (Where Your Heart Wants To Be)’ by Steven Pressfield
‘Yes To Life’ by Viktor Frankl
‘The Book Of Five Rings’ by Miyamoto Musashi
‘Broad Axe Training’ by Ray Zingler
I will leave you with this, it is simple, but it is true:
Reading is a weapon and successful people leverage weapons and use them to their advantage.
Onward to ‘23.
In Strength,
Ray Zingler
