Authors of ‘The Unfair Advantage’ Share Their 10 Favorite Books
What do you consider an “unfair advantage”? For many, these advantages are based on gender, race, wealth, geography, and many other societal and environmental factors. But what would you say to the idea that everyone has an advantage of some kind, whether or not they realize it? That’s the idea posited by authors Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba in their new book, The Unfair Advantage. No matter who you are or what your circumstances, you have something unique to you that you can use to your advantage. Whether that’s charisma, a great idea, or a good head for numbers, there’ll be something special about you that can help you pave the way to success. The key is in discovering what that is. To learn more, check out the key ideas from The Unfair Advantage on Blinkist.
The Unfair Advantage
- 19 min reading time
- audio version available
We asked the authors to provide a list of some of their favorite nonfiction books to help you get started on your path to success, whatever that means to you.
1. Outliers
“A firm favorite of ours. We often hear that our book reminds people of Outliers. We’re honored.”
Outliers
- 16 min reading time
- audio version available
Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling third book, Outliers, looks at the factors that contribute to individual success. It’s filled with stories as diverse as how Bill Gates amassed his billions to why Canadian hockey players tend to be more successful if they’re born in the early months of the year—no summer babies on the ice, please! By isolating the factors that contribute to these successes, Gladwell reveals how we can increase our own chances.
2. The Millionaire Fastlane
“A no-nonsense explanation of how to become financially free. This book got Hasan started on his entrepreneurship journey.”
The Millionaire Fastlane
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Anyone who works hard and dreams of one day being wealthy knows that getting rich is a lot less straightforward than we’re told. The authors of The Millionaire Fastlane show you a number of ways in which you can step out of the grind or “the slowlane” and start making some changes—and sacrifices—that will ultimately set you up for financial success.
3. How To Win Friends and Influence People
“Timeless and beautiful. A true classic that we’d recommend to absolutely everyone.”
How to Win Friends & Influence People
- 18 min reading time
- audio version available
A perennial favorite at Blinkist and beyond, Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends and Influence People is a constant bestseller for a reason—it’s chock-full of simple, great advice about how to be more influential and generally a happier, more likeable person.
4. The War of Art
“This is all about how to win against procrastination, fear and self-sabotage. Popular with entrepreneurs and creatives alike.”
The War of Art
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Anyone who’s ever tried to do creative work will know that it can be hard to consistently motivate yourself to get the work done. When there’s no certainty of a paycheck, no boss to impress, and a host of internal voices telling you you’re not good enough, it can be extremely difficult to power through. No matter your line of work, Steven Pressfield’s book is a brilliant lesson in the art of seizing and realizing your own potential.
5. The ONE Thing
“The power of focus. A fantastic productivity book about prioritization.”
The ONE Thing
- 18 min reading time
- audio version available
How many different things are competing for your attention right now? If you could focus, and I mean truly focus, on just one, what would it be? And how might that kind of laser attention change your experience of the world, and the work you put into it?
6. Rework
“A guide to rethinking work and business. Business advice without the fluff.”
ReWork
- 16 min reading time
- audio version available
This bestselling book isn’t your standard guide to drawing up your business plan. Instead, it’s a collection of unorthodox advice about productivity, product development, communication, and other crucial aspects of growing a good business. Couched in the author’s own experience, Rework is an essential guide for anyone who wants to do business their own way.
7. Perennial Seller
“A deeply inspiring guide to creating your own masterpiece and ‘classic’ product.”
Perennial Seller
- 15 min reading time
- audio version available
Ryan Holiday’s Perennial Seller shares the secret of work and products that endure. Where many enjoy initial success and then fade into obscurity, there are some that stand the test of time. Holiday looks at businesses and creative work that have managed to stay consistently popular, interviews the minds behind them, and reveals the keys to their success.
8. Atomic Habits
“Practical self-improvement without the mumbo-jumbo. We’re huge fans.”
Atomic Habits
- 19 min reading time
- audio version available
Starting the new year isn’t the only opportunity to break bad habits and build good new ones. At any time, you can begin changing your life in small, fundamental, and transformative ways. This practical guide helps you set yourself up for success, while taking into account, and protecting against, all the ways in which you might stumble.
9. Blitzscaling
“An enlightening read about why some tech startups are all about growth rather than profit.”
Blitzscaling
- 31 min reading time
- audio version available
What separates the startups that grow into global giants from those that don’t make it out of the first 5 years? The secret may all be in how fast they grow or scale. Blitzscaling, co-authored by Reid Hoffman, one of the co-founders of LinkedIn, shares techniques for rapid growth that blow competitors out of the water.
10. The E-Myth Revisited
“How to think about entrepreneurship in the correct way. Another classic that helps you to work ‘on’ rather than ‘in’ your business.”
The E-Myth Revisited
- 21 min reading time
- audio version available
Voted the number 1 business book by Inc. 500 CEOs, The E-Myth examines myths that pervade the world of entrepreneurship and common blockers that stop talented people from being truly great founders.
So, there you have it: the top 10 favorite books of Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba, otherwise known as the authors of The Unfair Advantage. If you’d like to turn this list up to 11, their bonus favorite read is Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit & Wisdom of Charles T. Munger. You can check out all these books on Blinkist and don’t forget to read or listen to the key ideas from The Unfair Advantage today to figure out how you can get ahead.
