There are myriad ways to distract yourself these days, from a constant barrage of newsfeed updates to the latest, greatest drop on Netflix. It’s tempting to fall into a comfy heap on the couch and let the internet entertain us after work, we know, but it’ll probably be a better use of your time if you turn off the TV and reach for a good book instead.
That’s not just opinion, by the way: numerous studies around the world have found that reading is a great way to reduce stress, promotes wellness, improve sleep, and can play a large role in pushing you toward success. Some of the world’s most successful people are avid readers, and we figure they probably know something that we don’t.
So, we brought together a list of 10 books that will change the way you see the world, and help you on your journey to success.
Life-changing Books at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following options:
Now you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Our Favourite Quote: “People get so caught up in the fact that they have limits that they rarely exert the effort required to get close to them.”
Look, we know we kind of social-media-shamed you a bit in the intro, but maintaining healthy habits are actually pretty difficult if you don’t have any systems in place to keep you on the right track. This is where our first recommendation comes in: Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Within this book, you’ll learn key strategies to shepherd yourself toward better daily habits which help us live in a way that we want: be that spending more time with friends and family, putting money away in an emergency fund, or finally quitting smoking.
Clear’s advice is sound, noting that change doesn’t happen overnight and, instead, happens in measured steps that get you to your destination all the same. Making drastic changes almost always leads to a rebound (this is why fad diets never work), and instead it’s on you to set up a supportive environment, make small changes as you move toward your goal, and ensure that you are always clear about what you’re working toward.
It’s an incredible book, and probably should be one of the first you read on the list since it’ll help you build up a habit for reading, funnily enough.
2. Deep Work by Cal Newport
Our Favourite Quote: “The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a consequence, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive.”
Have you ever found yourself distracted at work? Maybe your phone goes off, or you see an important new email grace your inbox. Maybe you take a second to indulge and, a few minutes later, you’ve lost focus on what you were working on?
Most of us have, and it actually doesn’t have to be this way. Cal Newport has put out some bangers in recent years, but perhaps his seminal work Deep Work teaches us that the people that are able to protect their attention are going to have an advantage over the rest of us. How do you go about becoming one of these Deep Workers, you might ask? Newport’s glad you asked!
In Deep Work, you’ll learn critical skills to work effectively in the modern workplace, as well as how to set yourself up for success as you get better at what you do.
3. Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke
Our Favourite Quote: “Beyond extreme examples of running from pain, we’ve lost the ability to tolerate even minor forms of discomfort. We’re constantly seeking to distract ourselves from the present moment, to be entertained.”
In Dopamine Nation, author Dr. Anna Lembke seeks to explain just how absolutely cooked our current relationship with dopamine is. We, as a society, are obsessed with it, and do everything we can just get just a little bit more every time we open our phones (which, according to Statistia, is probably around 60 times per day).
If Deep Work aims to teach us to take back control of our work day, Dopamine Nation wants us to take back control of our lives. Dr. Lembke simplifies complex neuroscience so the rest of us can follow along, and illustrates that a happier life actually requires keeping dopamine in check.
That’s not to say you should cut dopamine out, but we’re probably all getting a bit too much of the good stuff on a daily basis and could stand to find a better balance.
4. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Our Favourite Quote: “Instead of asking, “What do I have to give up?” they ask, “What do I want to go big on?” The cumulative impact of this small change in thinking can be profound.”
Much like Minimalism, Essentialism is all about deciding what’s important to you and focusing on it. According to author Greg McKeown, the goal isn’t to get ‘less’ stuff done, but rather to get the ‘right’ stuff done, by channelling our time, energy and effort into making the highest possible contribution toward the goals and activities that matter to us.
Within this book, McKeown lays out the foundations of how to identify the things that really matter to you, and then walks you through how to maintain your nerve when making choices that put your (and your goals) first. It’s a sometimes sobering read to those of us with people pleasing tendencies, but lays out a clear path to take back some control.
If you’re struggling to figure out what you should be focusing on, or are feeling lost, Essentialism will help you define the direction you want to take your life in.
5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Our Favourite Quote: “If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive”.
You’ve probably already heard of this book, and there’s a good reason for that. It’s a self-help classic, and gets recommended in almost every ‘best of’ book list on the internet – and we’re not here to be original, we’re here to give you good advice.
How to Win Friends and Influence People teaches you the important lesson that, if you’re nicer to people, they’ll be nicer to you. If you open up to people, they’ll open up to you, and, similarly, if you close yourself off from friends and colleagues, they probably won’t have much affection for you.
Carnegie lays out the basics of useful skills like actively listening when people talk, showing up (both physically and metaphorically) for others, and using people’s names properly. Yes, it sounds basic, but a surprising number of people fail even these simple tests.
Don’t be one of those people.
6. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
Our Favourite Quote: “According to scientists who have studied the five Blue Zones, the keys to longevity are diet, exercise, finding a purpose in life (an ikigai), and forming strong social ties — that is, having a broad circle of friends and good family relations. The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”
Ikigai is a concept: it is, essentially, a person’s reason to live. It is why you get out of bed in the morning, and why you do the things you do. Without it life would be largely meaningless, which is why it’s so important to identify.
But it’s also more than that. It’s an approach, which encourages you to take care of yourself, and the world around you, and stay socially connected with friends. It asks you to stop overeating, and smile more.
Authors Francesc Mirelles and Hector Garcia argue that, by following the tried and true approach of Japan’s longest-living and happiest people, we too can live a long, happy life. In this book, the authors outline how to get there in a carefree fashion, filled with anecdotes about those that have trodden the path before you.
Plus, there’s a follow up – The Ikigai Journey: A Practical Guide to Finding Happiness and Purpose – if you decide you want more.
7. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
Our Favourite Quote: “The single most powerful item in our preventive tool kit is exercise.”
Did you know that the four most deadly diseases on the planet are, largely, preventable? Heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer take the crown, and many of the risk factors that lead to people dying from them are well known, and have relatively simple solutions.
Dr. Peter Attia has seen this time and time again, and in his frustration, wrote what is described as a “groundbreaking manifesto on living better”. In Outlive, Attia talks through the science of what you can do to live a fuller, healthier life, as well as outlining the strategies you can implement to plot out a different path for your life.
With so much of modern life relegating us to chairs (be it at work, in front of the TV, playing video games, etc), and a global epidemic of obesity affecting more than 2 billion people worldwide, understanding the how and why of staying healthy is more important than ever before.
Plus, if it helps you stick to those gym goals that’s also a plus.
8. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Our Favourite Quote: “Be nicer and less flashy. No one is impressed with your possessions as much as you are. You might think you want a fancy car or a nice watch. But what you probably want is respect and admiration. And you’re more likely to gain those things through kindness and humility than horsepower and chrome.”
If you’ve ever been confused by the constant contradictions money brings into the world, this is the book for you. It tries to explain why rich people aren’t necessarily any happier than people lacking funds, why so many people can have completely different relationships and attitudes toward money, and that, while finance is often taught as a maths-based field, most purchases are emotionally driven.
For the majority of us, money is something we’ll always want more of, but before you get there it’s a good idea to understand some of the ways it actually works. The Psychology of Money is a fantastic primer for understanding the ways in which money shifts our attitudes and actions, and how important it is to keep greed in check.
9. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Our Favourite Quote: “A meaningful life can be extremely satisfying even in the midst of hardship, whereas a meaningless life is a terrible ordeal no matter how comfortable it is.”
While most of the titles on this list could be described, accurately so, as self-help books, Sapiens is something a bit different. It’s closer to a condensed history of humanity, jumping between huge moments of historical or evolutionary significance to deliver a succinct look at where we’ve been. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of lessons here.
For a book that covers about 70,000 of history, Sapiens is surprisingly easy to follow: largely thanks to author Yuval Noah Harari’s focus on storytelling over dropping stats and facts. Major moments through history are told through the eyes of those who lived through them, while also contextualising what happened, why it mattered, and what changed about our world as a result.
If you have any interest in how we got to the point we’re at now, Sapiens is a must read. Plus, Harari has a follow up – Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow – if you want some insights into what comes next.
10. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Our Favourite Quote: “If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.”
Our final recommendation really is food for thought. According to author Daniel Kahneman, our brains have two major systems of thought: one is fast, intuitive and emotional, while the other is slower, deliberate and logical. Each system has a function, and a place in our daily lives, but are unfortunately often used at the wrong time.
In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman tries to explain why readers should tap into the power of these systems, offers practical steps to get there, and techniques to avoid the pitfalls we so often fall into.
It’s probably not as easy to read as some of the other titles on the list, but you’ll know more about yourself and everyone else you’ve ever met by the time you’re finished reading.
Alternative Books That Will Change Your Life
Okay, we get it: you don’t like our list, or maybe you’ve already read them all. That’s okay, thankfully there are so many fantastic books out there to recommend that we’re actually just going to drop another 7 here for your consideration.
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: Life is an adventure and we all have dreams we would like to fulfil. So in this book, we ask the age-old question… How do we really pursue our dreams? And Paulo Coelho has the answers. The Alchemist teaches us how to deal with the obstacles that will arise in our lives, and inspires us to channel our ambition and courage and keep to the path of what we value the most.
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: In his third non-fiction book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell examines some of life’s extraordinary phenomenons and discusses real life case studies on social intelligence and the impact decision making has on creating vastly different fortunes. It’s a great read, as are his other two books, and you’ll be sure to be left with some fascinating stories and facts to repeat to your friends down the pub.
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins: A brave survivor of childhood abuse and poverty, David Goggins has had his fair share of upheaval. But he pushed through the obstacles that life put in his way and became a member of the U.S. Army. Can’t Hurt Me is the story of Goggins’ journey out of the darkness and a heartwarming tale of how humans can tap into their inner power and preserve through the darkest days. An uplifting and thought-provoking read.
- This Is Going To Hurt – Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay: During his six years as a junior doctor, Adam Kay documented his experiences on the wards into a hardback journal, and the result is utterly incredible. This Is Going To Hurt paints a true picture of the harrowing and, at times, painfully funny experiences as he made his way up the career ladder in his chosen profession. A well written and hilarious insight, behind the scenes of the chaotic life of a junior doctor – one not to be missed!
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: Based on the research of over 40 millionaires, this incredible book was published during the great depression, but stands the test of time and is still completely relatable in the modern day. The focus here is on personal development and how the psychological power of thought can contribute to increased wealth and pave the way to success. One of the most inspirational books in our lifetimes, and it will definitely leave you wanting to change the world.
- Mastery by Robert Greene: Living in a world of fast and ever-changing lifestyles and technology, it’s often decided best to take the easy route and get things done quickly. We feel the need to be constantly busy and keep moving. Teaching us to slow down and learning from case studies of the worlds’ greatest masters, Mastery helps you to realise that taking the longer path can lead to a much higher form of success. This level of mastery – you may be inclined to think very few people ever achieve, but the practical advice in this book will certainly make it more achievable.
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle: New car? Latest gadgets? In today’s fast-paced world, we are constantly seeking more. More of everything. And it’s easy to get distracted planning for the future and not be content staying in the present. The Power of Now helps us focus on who we are at this moment and how to fight your ego and be happy in the present. This fantastic book really helps open your eyes, brings a new perspective, and see that you do, indeed, have everything you already need.
