Author Investor Long term thinker
The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

We've asked 1,608 authors and super readers for their 3 favorite reads of the year.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity

John Lamerton Why did I love this book?

What's the one thing every small business owner can do to maximise the wealth they generate in their lifetime? 

Live longer.

Outlive is the "how-to" manual to help us achieve that – showing us simple, practical habits and routines that we can easily implement – not only to live longer but to remain fit and healthy for longer. This book actively encourages you not to simply add years to your life but instead to add life to your years.

The single biggest point of failure in most small businesses is the business owner themselves. Most businesses die along with the owner. If you can outlive your competitors, your legacy could outlive you.

By Peter Attia, Bill Gifford,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Outlive as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is the ultimate manual for longevity.

For all its successes, mainstream medicine has failed to make much progress against the diseases of ageing that kill most people: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and type 2 diabetes. Too often, it intervenes with treatments too late, prolonging lifespan at the expense of quality of life. Dr Peter Attia, the world's top longevity expert, believes we must replace this outdated framework with a personalised, proactive strategy for longevity.

This isn't 'biohacking,' it's science: a well-founded strategic approach to extending lifespan while improving our physical, cognitive and emotional health, making each decade better…


My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts

John Lamerton Why did I love this book?

I had to double check that this was indeed a Ryan Holiday book, as it's very different from his usual stoicism topics; instead, he explains how Iron Maiden sell millions of records without being played on the radio, how Kevin Hart became world-famous one business card at a time, and why Louis CK throws out his entire set every year.

As a small business owner and investor, I love evergreen assets, creating work (such as books, podcasts, and blogs) once, yet reaping the rewards again and again. The ultimate evergreen asset is a perennial seller.

By Ryan Holiday,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Perennial Seller as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bestselling author and marketing strategist Ryan Holiday reveals to creatives of all stripes-authors, entrepreneurs, musicians, filmmakers, fine artists-how a classic work is made and marketed.

Classic. Evergreen. Cult. Backlist. We can all identify with products that seem to last forever and just keep selling. But how can we create things that can and should last, especially in an environment where short-term gain and flash-in-the-pan success are so often the benchmark, where Hollywood movies are written off after a weekend or Silicon Valley start-ups are considered to have failed if they don't go viral?

Enter Ryan Holiday and his concept of…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

John Lamerton Why did I love this book?

If you've ever been to a Foo Fighters gig, you already know Dave Grohl can tell a story. In The Storyteller, he has you hooked on his every word for hours as he explains why earning $15 a day in Nirvana made him feel "rich beyond my wildest dreams," how he's remained frugal, and always looking forward, never back.

There are wild stories of ghosts, UFOs, and rabid dogs, alongside becoming BFFs with Sir Paul McCartney and playing a gig for President Obama at the White House. Above all, you just want to keep hearing one more story from "the nicest man in Rock' n' Roll."

By Dave Grohl,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Storyteller as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

So, I've written a book.

Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities ('It's a piece of cake! Just do four hours of interviews, find someone else to write it, put your face on the cover, and voila!'), I have decided to write these stories just as I have always done, in my own hand. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I've recorded and can't wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or…


My project is...

The 100 best business books you must read!

Small Business owner John Lamerton has read over 1,000 business books (and written four bestsellers himself) and has been involved in more than 60 small businesses over two decades.

He knows that the best reads for small business owners aren't theoretical – they're full of actionable takeaways and frameworks you can deploy on the front lines. 

These are the 100 most read, most thumbed, most recommended, most highlighted, and most implemented small business books on John's bookshelf.