I’m all over the map. I read and listen to a wide variety of material, vacillating between learning about life, how things work, history and specifically how to do or build something. Then there is material for pure indulgent entertainment. I read both traditional paper books and on a Kindle or iPad. As much as I like holding a book and turning pages, there is something to be said for reading on an electronic platform - as long as your in the right light (not bright sunshine) and your battery is charged. I've found that information/instructional books – as in 'how to do' stuff is best in paper format where I can easily flip back and forth between pages and the index.
I’ve started some lists of books, podcasts and Youtube channels that I’ve enjoyed.
By far the biggest influence for me the past few years have been the various iterations of The Story Grid Podcast. The Story Grid method was developed by Shawn Coyne a well-experienced editor from the major publishing world. You can read about it here. Check out their ‘Resources’ section, especially the ‘Writer’s Room Podcast’.
The influence that really got me started in self-publishing is Sterling and Stone, 3 partners (now a whole stable of employees dedicated to story and publishing) who are writers, podcasters and public speakers/presenters. Johnny B. Truant, Sean Platt and David Write host the Self-Publishing Podcast, The Smarter Artist, Authorpreneur's Almanac, StoryShop, Iterate and Optimize, and a few more podcasts which range from 10 minute bites of information/advice, to hour long BS sessions. You can check them out here on their website: https://sterlingandstone.net
After starting as individual self-published authors, they teamed up to write a ton of books and started the Self-Publishing Podcast (SPP) along with their Non-fiction best Seller; Write, Publish, Repeat. They are a wealth of information but not for everyone! I compare them to Click and Clack, the Car Guys. I knew they had good information, but at first I couldn't stand them. I wished they would stop the juvenile banter and stick to business. It took a little while to warm up to them, and when I did, I learned a lot.
Books I grew up on that shaped my life and shapes my writing today:
Swiss Family Robinson - Johann David Wyss
Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn - Mark Twain
Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
White Fang & Sea Wolf & Short Stories - Jack London
PT-109 - John F Kennedy
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne
Five on a Treasure Island - Enid Blyton
The Mad Scientist Club Series - Bertrand R. Brinely
Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Conan series - Robert E Howard
Boy Scouts Handbook - BOA
Be Here Now - Ram Dass
Illusions and One - Richard Bach
Thrillers, Suspense and Horror
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
Finders Keepers and Squall - Sean Castello. These were both Free books that I recently stumbled across by accident. I was researching book covers and came across his website. It's a great find! They are somewhat short, easy reading and keeps you turning the pages. I will buy more of his material anytime!
Yesterday's Gone Series - Platt & Write
Fields of Prey - John Stanford
Numerous books by - Stephen King
Science Fiction? Kinda. Supernatural? Comedy/Satire
The Beam Series- Truant & Platt
Robot Proletariat - Truant & Platt
Invasion Series - Truant & Platt
Schrodinger's Caterpillar – Zane Stumpo
Sacre Blue and Lamb and Serpent of Venice – Christopher Moore
The Perfect Future - Kirk Mustard
The Ocean at the End of the Lane and American Gods - Neil Gaiman
Sum. Forty Tales for the Afterlives – David Eagleman
B is for Beer - Tom Robbins
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Everything Else by - Douglas Adams
Martin Chronicles and most other books by - Ray Bradbury
Andromeda Strain - Michael Crichton
Coma - Robin Cook
Dune series - Robert Howard
Traditional Reads & Contemporary Literature
Eat, Pray, Love and Committed - Elizabeth Gilbert
Wicked - Gregory Maguire
Devil May Care - Truant & Platt
The Fault in our Stars - John Green
The Ladies Room - Carolyn Brown
Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
Bios
Life – Keith Richards
Clapton, the Autobiography – Eric Clapton
Stevenson in Hawaii – Martha May McGraw
Yukon Passage - Keith Tryck
Guitar Lessons – Bob Taylor
Surely You're Joking and The Pleasure of Finding Things Out – Richard Feynman
Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris
Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
Out of Africa - Isak Denisen
Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda
My Wicked, Wicked Ways - Errol Flynn
Diary of a Drug Fiend - Aleister Crowley
Biography of Samuel Morse - ?
Biography of Thomas Edison - ?
Instruction / How To / Philosophy
Write. Publish. Repeat. and Iterate and Optimize - Truant & Platt
On Writing – Stephen King
250 Things You Should Know About Writing – Chuck Wendig
Life 101 & Wealth 101 - Peter McWilliams
Innumeracy - John Allen Palos
The Mathematical Tourist - Ivers Peterson
Flatland - Edwin Abbot
Short Stories
Louis Lamour
Zane Grey
O. Henry
Rod Sterling
More Older Reads that made an impression either for the story or the descriptive language and flow of words.
Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, and everything by Hermann Hesse
Another Roadside Attraction, and everything by Tom Robbins
Lamb, Coyote Blue, and everything by Christopher Moore
Shogun - Jame Clavell
The Teachings of Don Juan & the whole series - Carlos Casteneda
I re-read at least one of these books every year.
Misc
Connections - James Burke
Ring of Fire - Lawrence and Loren Burke
The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings & Sillmarillon - JRR Tolkein
Harry Potter - JK Rollins
A few of my favorite YouTube channels:
Chis Fox
Jenna Moreci
Joe Gilder
Red Barrns Audio
Sean Pratt
Booth Junkie
MusicTechHelpGuy
Produce Like a Pro
Chris Ronan Murphy
Mental Floss
Guitar Jamz - Marty Schwartz