Books are a very personal thing, and who we are changes the reading experience so intensely, that they are a very hard thing to recommend to a person without asking them a lot of questions about who they are, where they are in life, what they desire, what their challenges are and so on... but I get asked often enough that I've made a truncated list of my top five in each category.
Foundational
1) Bold
This should be mandatory reading in schools, and given out during "guidance counselor week".
This should be the foundation of our youth's education.
Both 3 & 4 should be mandatory reading in order to get a business license.
Should be mandatory reading in order to get a marriage certificate
Bonus:
The best seminar I've listened to: The Ultimate Relationship Program
Entertainment
1) Thrawn (and his original series Heir to the Empire)
Thrawn teaches the growth mindset beautifully, and is an excellent example of mindsettertainment. His outlook on strategy, leadership, and human interaction are all stellar. I think Vanessa Van Edwards would really enjoy a conversation with Thrawn, and many of his approaches remind me of Tom Bilyeu.
PS Marc Thompson, the narrator of the audiobook is sensational!
Though I should warn you, it is unlikely this trilogy will ever be completed, the first two books are very well written. It is my desire to have books 4-6 in The Shard Chronicles to be better than these, and that is a high bar to set indeed. Great character work, good pacing, and his approach to a multilayered story is the best I've seen.
(I swear I called my things shards before I read this book). Great series, and I really enjoy the way all the individual viewpoints eventually join together into a beautiful narrative. I also really enjoy Brandon's writing classes on youtube.
4) The Cycle of Arawn / Galand
This series is something of a guilty pleasure of mine, and I devour his audiobooks the day they come out. With exception to the series starring Calimandicus, I've found each of his books incredibly entertaining. I really enjoy the process of magical discovery.
For a more complete reading list, check out my ongoing Goodreads list here