Noel Whittaker writes exclusive weekly blog updates for the Ban Tacs Group, with IN8 Business Advisory, a member of that group. Here, he talks about three great books perfect to give out as presents for Christmas this year.
Christmas is fast approaching and with it, the annual challenge of finding a gift that will be of lasting value to the recipient. As usual, I’ve done the rounds and found some books that would be welcome in any Christmas stocking, as well as adding value to the recipient’s life.
My new book, Retirement Made Simple, is the perfect gift for anyone aged 45 and over. Retirement is often touted as a worry-free time – but right now it’s not easy. People are living longer, government budgets are stretched, financial markets are volatile, and interest rates are at historic lows.
The problem is that there are so many things to think about both in the run-up to retirement and during retirement. These include the best assets to invest in, how long your money will last, effective estate planning, understanding the complicated rules about superannuation, Centrelink and aged care, finding the right advice, and keeping abreast of rule changes and new products. Everything keeps changing. On top of that, there are the constants: understanding investor psychology and avoiding scams. All these issues are important. And a major facet of a fulfilling retirement is preparation – the sooner you start to plan, the better your retirement is likely to be.
Another vital element of retirement is happiness and health. I read over a dozen books on these subjects when I was researching for my new book. The common theme in most of them is that it’s about exercise, diet and social networks. The book that stood out was Lifespan: Why We Age — and Why We Don’t Have To, by Dr David Sinclair, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. In 2014, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In this ground-breaking book, Sinclair, a leading world authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. He writes that it’s a fallacy to believe that aging is a disease, and needs to be treated as such. He discusses the ageing process in-depth, explains what realistic expectations we can have for life expectancy in the future, and includes some simple tips that may delay the ageing process.
Think and Grow Rich has sold 130 million copies since it was first published in 1937, and has changed the lives of millions of people, including myself. It’s based on the timeless success principles as told by Andrew Carnegie to Napoleon Hill. When I first read the book, I made a vow to promulgate those principles for the rest of my life. I am extremely proud that my son James Whittaker has taken up the torch and has been appointed by the Napoleon Hill Foundation as their ambassador. Recently he was given access to the previously unpublished diaries of the conversations between Carnegie and Hill that became the basis of Think and Grow Rich.
James has turned these documents into a new book: Andrew Carnegie’s Mental Dynamite – How to Unlock the Awesome Power of You. It reminds us that there are solutions to today’s most troubling problems – everything from relationships and education to homelessness and even democracy – based on simple principles. What is so special about this book is that the conversations between Hill and Carnegie are verbatim. I keep it next to my bed, and every night choose a page at random to read Andrew Carnegie’s own words on a range of issues. He was a man who started poor and became the wealthiest person in the world in the 19th century. This is the perfect gift for anybody who is keen to succeed in life.
There you have it – just three books I’m recommending this Christmas. Each one can change a person’s life for good. Remember, we can’t change the beginning, but we sure can change the ending.
Noel Whittaker is the author of Making Money Made Simple and numerous other books on personal finance. noel@noelwhittaker.com.au
23 Nov 2020
