My 3 favorite books in 2023

2 min readDec 21, 2023

This year I read and listened to 16 (audio)books, which is exactly the same number compared to last year. I’m happy with this. In addition, participating in the Corporate Finance Institute online courses counts, for me like, 10 books on finance, with the difference in actually applying the knowledge in exercises.

The Plant-Based Athlete: A Game-Changing Approach to Peak Performance

What is it about: The book busts the myth that athletes need a high animal-protein diet. The author explains his facts with case studies of real athletes and concrete examples of how to switch to a plant-based diet.

When to read: You think about going vegan, vegetarian, or just reducing meat consumption. Or you want to challenge your current diet.

Key learnings:

The factor for muscle growth is not necessarily animal protein but quality carbohydrates. Still, sufficient protein is necessary but can easily achieved on plant-based nutrition.
The advantages of plant-based nutrition include faster recovery after sports. It is important if you need to recharge fast as proven in multiple studies.

Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story

What it is about: This is the biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger. And man, what a life he has. Growing up in Austria, moving to the US for bodybuilding, going into politics, marrying a Shriver (close to Kennedy family), becoming a movie star, and so much more.

When to read: You need inspiration for your life.

Key learnings:

Work and diligence can put you in places you’ve never imagined.
Creativity, the right appetite for risk, and a strong work ethic are a powerful combination.
It’s about the people you surround you with. They can make or break you.

How Will You Measure Your Life?

What it is about: It’s written by Clayton Christensen a famous professor for innovation. What’s fascinating is that he thought diligently about life. It’s clearly written and uses a lot of business jargon. But this helped me a lot ;).

When to read: Kind of philosophical but you think about “what matters in life”.

Key learnings:

Exploratory strategy is what we do with life. We can have some ideas and goals, but need to explore how to get there. Even while exploring our objectives might totally change and this is fine.
Have a defined set of priorities and joint values in your family. For what do you want your family to stand for?

Have a look at my favorite books since 2018