Rob Weidner
Optimist, Leader, Technologist, Innovator, Automator, Integrator, Entrepreneur

Books

Rob Weidner is growing to become an avid reader and is happy to share his favorite parts of the books he has read.  The books are in order from highest rated to lowest.

Author's Books, Rob's Notes

Shared notes and highlights from the books Rob has been reading. Click a title or image to see notes.
Rob's curated Amazon.com Bookstore

Featured
Shoe Dog - Phil Knight
Shoe Dog - Phil Knight

With the way that the world is getting smaller and smaller via the accessibility of the internet and readily available information, international business has become drastically easier than what it was like when Phil Knight started down the path that would eventually lead to the creation and success of Nike.  With running a business that deals internationally on a day-to-day basis, Film Gear South Africa is constantly having to deal with similar issues that Knight had to encounter with supply chain, cash flow, and employee management.

Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink
Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink

First and foremost, this book is unlike any other military book I've ever read. There are no embellished war stories and you can tell by the humility of the authors that they are only touching the surface on the tragedies on the battle theatre. 

My Thoughts and Highlights on: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future | Ashlee Vance
My Thoughts and Highlights on: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future | Ashlee Vance

Two years ago, my father was faced with the decision of purchasing a new car and being a driver of some of the best consumer-performance vehicles on the market with BMWs, Jaguars, and Audis; it only made sense to keep the car search headed in that direction.  While having to keep the possibility of long road trips, the winter snow storms, and typical day-to-day driving habits in mind, the idea of getting a Tesla Model S was not on his mind.  After much convincing just to get him to test drive one, the battle was over, and he was sold.  Since then, he has upgraded his Model S already to the new generation that allows for the autosteer technology and all-wheel drive capabilities.  My fascination with Elon Musk was only solidified at that point, as an avid user of PayPal.  The Musk name was also intriguing because of my love of South Africa, and the role of South Africans in the business world.

The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, Chris Guillebeau
Business
The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, Chris Guillebeau
Business

This book is a very quick read with micro-case studies in each chapter, but each chapter has a powerful overarching theme that all add up to this amazing layered cake with a Sriracha base and red pepper flakes on top.  The $100 Startup is a book that I read a couple years ago before I embarked on the Pizza Dude adventure with my good friend Adam Folta.  At the time, it invited me to pursue a passion that I was so interested in and so devoted to, even though it was a pizza business based out of a fraternity kitchen from 10pm to 2 am on Thursday and Saturday nights.  The fire that this book lights under you, heats the ceramic pizza stone of life and as you read it you realize it is so easy to simply get out there and do whatever it is you love. The book almost makes a mockery of all of the ridiculous hurdles that one sets up for oneself, which only prohibits you from ever starting the race.  This is potentially one of my most suggested and gifted books that I have read and if you are happy or disappointed with what you are doing in life, read this book and see what happens. Danielle LaPorte said it beautifully and casually by saying, "I feel unstoppable because I'm unafraid to fail".  If it is only $100 to potentially turn your work into what you love, why not?

Business
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Business
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Business

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is high on my list of must reads.  It really opens your eyes to the idea that there are tipping points all throughout your life and you need to be able to acknowledge, cherish, and harness them.  When thinking back on multiple points in life, there are certainly tipping points that are now clear, but might not of been at the time.  Tipping points, as the cover cleverly depicts, are the strike of the match on the box.  One spends so much time building the match, folding the box, and getting setting up the house of cards to fall, without knowing all you have to do is hit strike.

Business
The Storyteller's Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don't by Carmine Gallo
Storytelling
The Storyteller's Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don't by Carmine Gallo
Storytelling

This book was a great first book to read on my new Kindle.  The chapters/stories are very short which makes it super easy to pick up and put down at your convenience.  Was written in 2014, so very relevant with stories about Gary Vaynerchuk, Richard Branson, and Winston Churchill.

Storytelling