Books are usually the most nourishing diet of information we consume, but they’re not all created equal. This page presents the best books from the many hundreds I’ve read. (I read 5-15 books a month, depending on what I’m up to.)
I’ve chosen the top books based on what’s going to give you the greatest summary of the field or give you key information that you can put into practice. I’ve favored accessibility over profundity in the top books because a seminal but too-dense-to-get-into book isn’t going to do you much good.
This list will be updated every quarter to include new books and topics, so check back often on the topics you love most. The links go to Amazon so you can see reader reviews and learn more about the books. If you purchase the books from Amazon, we get a small commission; thanks for supporting the work it takes to provide this resource to our community.
Productivity + Effectiveness
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key To High Performance and Personal Renewal by Jim Loehr
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Self-Help + Personal Growth
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks, PhD
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Business + Entrepreneurship
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene M. Schwartz
Hardcover
The 100 Best Business Books of All Time: What They Say, Why They Matter, and How They Can Help You by Jack Covert
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Competing for the Future by Gary Hamel
Paperback | Kindle
TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments by Douglas Conant
Hardcover | Audiobook | Kindle
To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Creativity + Innovation
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The Language of Man: Learning to Speak Creativity by Larry Robertson
Paperback | Kindle
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The Back of the Napkin (Expanded Edition): Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures by Dan Roam
Paperback | Kindle
Communication
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle
The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal, Save The Relationship and Still Say No by William Ury
Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle