“The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.” Mark Twain

You’re confused. You want to pick a good book that will change your life, but you don’t know which one to read since there are too many book recommendations out there.

Choosing a life-changing book to read doesn’t have to be a life-sucking task. I analyzed the book recommendations from some of the most iconic people in the world so you don’t have to. These books have changed the lives of gazillions of people and they’ll continue to do so.

For simplicity, I’ve only included the books in the self-help category that may change your life regardless of your age. Below, you’ll find the best life-changing books to add to your reading list. Each book recommendation comes with a small description so you can pick your next book to read according to your current interest, desire or need.

Table Of Contents

Top 10 Books on Success and Mindset

Top 10 Books on Happiness and Philosophy

Top 10 Books on Life Skills

Top 10 Life-Changing Books on Success and Mindset

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” Jim Rohn

Recommended by (76)

Peter Attia, Benedict Dohmen, Santiago Nestares, Allen Walton, Elaine Pofeldt, A. J. Jacobs, Samin Nosrat, Scott Belsky, Cal Fussman, Daniel Pink, Tim Urban, Walter Isaacson, Blake Mycoskie, Cory Booker, Ricardo Semler, Kevin Rose, Pete Adeney, Soman Chainani, Whitney Cummings, Debbie Millman, Josh Waitzkin, Ramit Sethi, Adam Robinson, Brené Brown, Mark Bittman, Charles Poliquin, David Heinemeier Hansson, Mike Birbiglia, Ryan Holiday, Jamie Foxx, Mark Bell, Maurice Ashley, Laura R. Walker, Marc Goodman, Mike Shonda, Jason Silva, Michael Hyatt, Simon Sinek, Evan Carmichael, Bob Metcalfe, James Altucher, Vishen Lakhiani, Bryan Callen, Jack Canfield, Stewart Friedman, Michael E. Gerber, Mike Maples, Charles L. Brock, Tim Draper, Tracy Osborn, Gunhee Park, Cristina Riesen, Ola Olusoga, Joel Gascoigne, Mike Benkovich, Andrea Loubier, Mehdi Kajbaf, Fabrice Grinda, Marvin Liao, Jesper Bylund, Marc Montagne, Lewis Smith, Vincent Pugliese, John Doherty, Lex Na Wei Ming, Dean Roller, Marin Gerov, Cliff Hartono, Chelsea Frank, Liam Martin, Pedro Cortés, Katie Keith, Nick Loper, Andrew Youderian, Cody McLain, Jules Schroeder

Tim Ferriss introduces the idea of lifestyle design where he argues that you don’t have to work a 9–5 job and wait for retirement to enjoy your life. So if you want to escape your job and earn the freedom that comes from location independence, this book is perfect for you.

My favorite quote from The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich:

“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”

Timothy Ferriss



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Recommended by (37)

Tony Robbins, Peter Diamandis, Terry Crews, Michael Gervais, Aniela Gregorek, Fedor Holz, Turia Pitt, Jim Loehr, Tim Ferriss, Kevin Rose, Daniel Pink, David Blaine, Esther Perel, Brené Brown, Bryan Johnson, Brendon Burchard, Ryan Holiday, Madalina Uceanu, Deepak Chhugani, Gunhee Park, James Altucher, Simon Sinek, James Murphy, Henry Medine, Kevin Lamping, Emi Gal, Tudor Mihailescu, Stephen Lew, Todd Henry, Jason Calacanis, Erik Rostad, David Heinemeier Hansson, Roxana Bitoleanu, George Logothetis, Jeff Bussgang, Lolly Daskal, Søren Bjerg

When Victor was in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War, he shared his experience on how to cope with suffering and deal with adversity in life. If you’re struggling to find meaning in tough times of life, pick up this book right now.

My favorite quote from Man’s Search for Meaning:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Viktor E. Frankl

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Recommended by (25)

Ryan Flaherty, Brené Brown, Laird Hamilton, Eric Ripert, Daniel Ek, Ryan Shea, Brendon Burchard, Gabby Reece, Tony Robbins, Ola Olusoga, Joel Gascoigne, Mike Benkovich, Henry Medine, Mehdi Kajbaf, Seth Louey, Stephen Lew, Sarissa Rodriguez-Schwartz, Daylon Soh, Ng Rong Xin, Jules Schroeder, Peter Vu, Ella Botting, Roxana Bitoleanu, Marie Denis, Kamal Ravikant

The Alchemist is a tale of a man named Santiago who embarks upon his journey of following his dreams. On his path, he learns countless life lessons and discovers himself in the process. If you’re looking for an inspiring story to read, this book is a good choice.

My favorite quote from The Alchemist:

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” Paulo Coelho﻿

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Recommended by (24)

Doug McMillon, Drew Houston, Howard Marks, Derek Sivers, Tony Robbins, Chris Sacca, Richard Branson, Robert Kabushenga, Preston Pysh, Tom Bilyeu, Amber Atherton, Bill Gates, Arianna Huffington, Michael Bloomberg, Reed Hastings, Tim Ferriss, Jack Dorsey, Henry Medine, Marvin Liao, Antonio Eram, Cory Zue, Hong Qi Yu, Dominic Steil, Dan Lok

In this book, Ray Dalio discusses the key principles he has found through his experience in investing, management and economics that lead to success in life or business. If you want to know these timeless principles, read this book next.

My favorite quote from Principles: Life and Work:

“If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential” Ray Dalio

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Recommended by (22)

James Altucher, Shaun White, Aisha Tyler, Phil Keoghan, Soman Chainani, Shay Carl, Mark Hart, Raoul Pal, Victor Asemota, Deepak Chhugani, Bogdana Butnar, Ionut Danifeld, Neal O’Gorman, Irina Botnari, Fabrice Grinda, Xi-Wei Yeo, Rand Fishkin, Stephane Grand, Bryan Choo, Cat Williams-Treloar, Alex Circei, Brendon Burchard

The book highlights the commonalities between the “outliers” who are the most successful people in their field. If you want to become one of the best at what you do, this book is for you.

My favorite quote from Outliers: The Story of Success:

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” Malcolm Gladwell

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Recommended by (19)

Tony Robbins, Josh Waitzkin, Tobi Lütke, Tim Ferriss, Vince Vaughn, Luis von Ahn, Peter Diamandis, Spencer Rascoff, Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, Jack Dorsey, James Altucher, Julie Zhuo, Michael Herrmann, Julia Enthoven, Tudor Mihailescu, Chelsea Frank, Cody McLain, Guy Kawasaki

The book distinguishes between the growth mindset and the fixed mindset. All successful people approach things from a growth mindset. If you think your potential and capabilities are limited, this book should be your next read.

My favorite quote from Mindset: The New Psychology of Success:

“We like to think of our champions and idols as superheroes who were born different from us. We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary.” Carol Dweck

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Recommended by (19)

Tim Ferriss, Catherine Hoke, Noah Kagan, Mike Weinberg, Pat Flynn, Daymond John, Tommy Bar Av, Michael Sliwinski, Peep Laja, Justin Kan, Heather Baker, Louis Nyffenegger, Tudor Mihailescu, John Shea, Vincent Pugliese, John Hall, Andrew Youderian, Gilles Bernhard, Casey Neistat

Excellence comes from focusing on the essentials. This book forces you to eliminate distractions so you can do the things that matter. If you’re feeling distracted, leave everything and pick up this book.

My favorite quote from Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less:

“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.” Greg Mckeown

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Recommended by (17)

Seth Godin, Ryan Holiday, Brian Koppelman, Vishen Lakhiani, Soman Chainani, Marie Forleo, Daniel Pink, Susan Cain, Graham Duncan, Ola Olusoga, James Altucher, Mike Benkovich, Scott Perry, Jessica Lauria, Kaci Lambe Kai, Anoop Anthony, Jules Schroeder

Every creative or artist faces what Steven Pressfield calls as resistance. If you want to succeed in your creative endeavor, you have to win the war against resistance. If you’re a creative fighting a similar war, this book will teach you how to fight the resistance.

My favorite quote from The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles:

“If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?” chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.” Steven Pressfield

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Recommended by (16)

Shay Carl, Daymond John, Manny Fernandez, Ola Olusoga, David Henzel, Adam Haritan, Benjamin Kwan, Alan Pierce, David Kramaley, Pat Walls, Lex Na Wei Ming, Jose He, Boban Dedovic, Yaro Starak, Grant Cardone, Dominic Steil

Most people think that their dreams and ambitions are unreachable. This book teaches you to use the power of thinking to grow rich. If you’re thinking too small, read this book immediately.

My favorite quote from Think and Grow Rich:

“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” Napoleon Hill

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Recommended by (14)

Tobi Lütke, Tim Ferriss, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Vince Vaughn, Josh Waitzkin, Skip Prichard, Albert Wenger, Pierrette Abeel, Anu Hariharan, Dan Rockwell, Sujan Patel, Stephen Lew, Bogdan Lucaciu, Benjamin Spall

The secret behind some of the most successful people on the planet is not luck or talent. It’s their ability to persist. This book emphasizes the importance of focused hard work and perseverance. If you dabble a lot, this book will help you achieve outstanding results through grit.

My favorite quote from Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance:

“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” Angela Duckworth

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Top 10 Life-Changing Books on Happiness and Philosophy

“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” J.K. Rowling

Recommended by (21)

Soman Chainani, Susan Cain, Graham Duncan, Brendon Burchard, Gretchen Rubin, Krista Tippett, Adam Robinson, Josh Waitzkin, Jason Nemer, Naval Ravikant, Laird Hamilton, Rick Rubin, Michael Gervais, Brian MacKenzie, Jack Ma, Jack Dorsey, Joel Gascoigne, Bernard Tan, Adam Haritan, Austin Kleon, Tim O’Reilly

Taoist philosophy can teach you to bring more peace, harmony, contentment, and balance in your life. The wisdom and principles in this book will help you learn the art of living well. If you’re seeking a peaceful and balanced life, grab this book now.

My favorite quote from Tao Te Ching:

“Knowing others is intelligence;

knowing yourself is true wisdom.

Mastering others is strength;

mastering yourself is true power.” Lao Tzu

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Recommended by (17)

Coach George Raveling, Sam Hurley, Jason Fried, David Cancel, Douglas Burdett, Brian Koppelman, Marc Ecko, George Raveling, Austin Kleon, Steven Pressfield, Adam Grant, Robert Greene, Marvin Liao, Marius Ciuchete Paun, Cristian-Dragos Baciu, Pedro Cortés, Derek Sivers

In this book, Ryan reminds us of the importance of humility and confidence while avoiding ego. Staying humble in your aspirations, gracious in your success and resilient in your failures are the core principles of this book.

My favorite quote from Ego Is the Enemy:

“Those who have subdued their ego understand that it doesn’t degrade you when others treat you poorly; it degrades them.” Ryan Holiday

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Recommended by (17)

Coach George Raveling, Tim Ferriss, Christopher Sommer, Douglas Burdett, Steven Pressfield, Jimmy Soni, Chris Guillebeau, Nancy F. Koehn, James Altucher, Marvin Liao, AnneMarie Schindler, Chris Oliver, Marin Gerov, Cliff Hartono, Garrett Moon, David McCammon, Cody McLain

We see obstacles as a hindrance on our way. We try to avoid them at all costs, and we feel discouraged when we face them. This book shows you that obstacles are not something to be afraid of. In fact, they need to be embraced and used as opportunities.

My favorite quote from The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph:

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” Ryan Holiday

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Recommended by (16)

Bozoma Saint John, Eric Ripert, Charles Best, Naval Ravikant, Ryan Holiday, Arianna Huffington, Neil Straus, Elizabeth Holmes, David Heinemeier Hansson, Mike Benkovich, Scott Perry, Marvin Liao, Chris Oliver, Matthieu David-Experton, Stephane Grand, Santiago Basulto

Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, one of the well-known stoics captured his philosophy in this book. It’s one of the most recommended books on stoicism that will help you understand the principles of stoicism. If you want to download the ancient wisdom of Marcus, get this book now.

My favorite quote from Meditations:

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Marcus Aurelius

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Recommended by (15)

David Blaine, Brené Brown, Peter Attia, David M. Sabatini, Navdeep S. Chandel, Naval Ravikant, Bryan Johnson, Wim Hof, Neil Straus, Laura R Walker, Amir Salihefendic, Ola Olusoga, Mehdi Kajbaf, Thomas Graziani, Julian Samarjiev

The story of Siddhartha is well-known for its insights on suffering, peace, wisdom, and enlightenment. Siddhartha’s story offers a unique perspective and great life lessons. If you’re interested in the life of Buddha and want to learn from it, add this book to your reading list.

My favorite quote:

“I can think. I can wait. I can fast.” Hermann Hesse

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Recommended by (10)

Derek Sivers, Tony Robbins, Chris Sacca, Ray Dalio, Richard Branson, Pete Adeney, Brendon Burchard, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Chelsea Frank

We’re all seeking to be happy after all, aren’t we? This book combines lessons from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy and behavior economics to help you live a happy life. If you want to rewire your brain for happiness, this book should be your next pick.

My favorite quote from Stumbling on Happiness:

“The human being is the only animal that thinks about the future.” Daniel Todd Gilbert

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Recommended by (9)

Tobi Lütke, Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson, Derek Sivers, Phil Libin, Tim Ferriss, Mike Benkovich, Scott Perry, Marc Andreessen

Stoicism is one of the most popular schools of philosophy that teaches us how to live a good life. This book is your guide to not wasting your life using the stoic philosophy. If you want to live a good life and you’re curious about stoicism, this book will guide you.

My favorite quote from A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy:

“The best reason for adopting a philosophy of life, is that if we lack one, there is a danger that we will mislive.” William Ervine

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Recommended by (8)

Peter Attia, Mike Maples, Jr., Tim Ferriss, Tim Urban, Eric Ripert, Krista Tippett, BJ Miller, Derek Sivers

Self-judgment and self-criticism are the biggest obstacles on your way to self-acceptance and self-love. This book teaches you to accept and love yourself through the tales, teachings, and meditations from Tara Brach. If you struggle with self-sabotage, you need this book.

My favorite quote from Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha:

“Imperfection is not our personal problem – it is a natural part of existing.” Tara Brach

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Recommended by (8)

Kristen Ulmer, Bill Liao, Mehdi Kajbaf, Patricia Reed, Darrah Brustein, Catherine Plano, Jules Schroeder, Roxana Bitoleanu

This book reminds you to come back to the present moment. Our analytical mind is wired to travel to the past or future and to create false perceptions. If you’re looking for a spiritual dive, this book is perfect for you.

My favorite quote from The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment:

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” Eckhart Tolle

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Recommended by (7)

Tim O’Reilly, John Crowley, Adam Robinson, Josh Waitzkin, Kevin Kelly, Tara Brach, Zainab Salbi

The Essential Rumi is a collection of Rumi’s best poetry. These mystical and beautiful texts will teach you essential lessons about life and love. If you enjoy poetry that makes you think, you need to read this book.

My favorite quote from The Essential Rumi:

“What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs.” Rumi

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Top 10 Life-Changing Books on Life Skills

“If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.” Roald Dahl

Recommended by (44)

Marc Andreessen, Matt Mullenweg, Louis von Ahn, Satya Nadella, Elon Musk, James Altucher, Dustin Moskovitz, Danielle Morrill, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, Sam Altman, Casey Neistat, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Yaniv Feldman, Tommy Bar Av, Sean Si, Mark Zuckerberg, Bogdan Iordache, Mircea Scarlatescu, Robert Hajnal, Deepak Chhugani, John Craig, Howard Marks, Rupert Murdoch, Henry Medine, Neal O’Gorman, Fabrice Grinda, Marvin Liao, Bill Earner, Chris Oliver, John Doherty, Nelson Chu, Dean Roller, Liam Martin, Javed Khatri, Marc Andreessen, Catrinel Hagivreta, Boban Dedovic, Andreas Zhou, Tee-Ming Chew, Gilles Bernhard, Dominic Steil, Marie Denis, Ben Horowitz

This book teaches you to build a better future, create new things and start a business from scratch. If you’re starting from zero and have no idea how to start, this book will show you how.

My favorite quote from Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future:

“By the time a student gets to college, he’s spent a decade curating a bewilderingly diverse resume to prepare for a completely unknowable future. Come what may, he’s ready–for nothing in particular.” Peter Thiel

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Recommended by (42)

Ken Block, Shay Carl, Derek Sivers, Strauss Zelnick, Samy Kamkar, John Doerr, Daymond John, John C. Maxwell, Sean Si, Vishen Lakhiani, Cal Fussman, Nick Janetakis, Tracy Osborn, Ola Olusoga, Joel Gascoigne, Kris Reid, Michael Herrmann, Scott Keyes, Irina Nica, Bernard Tan, Sanja Zepan, Neal O’Gorman, Darren Chua, Andrew Elliott, Catherine Molloy, Antonio Eram, James Stanley, Omar Taheri, Dr. Monali Y. Desai, David Kramaley, Lewis Smith, Daylon Soh, Chris J ”Mohawk” Reed, Lex Na Wei Ming, Vincenzo Ruggiero, Jose He, Catrinel Hagivreta, Boban Dedovic, Thom Singer, Nicolae Andronic, Foti Panagio, Jeff Gibbard

Whether it’s your career or your life, you need friends to excel in life. This book gives you the best advice on how to make and keep friends. If you want to improve your relationships or create new relationships, this book will show you the way.

My favorite quote from How to Win Friends & Influence People:

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” Dale Carnegie

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Recommended by (32)

Shay Carl, Michael McCullough, Ken Block, Tim Ferriss, Daniel Pink, Brendon Burchard, Reid Hoffman, Simon Sinek, John C. Maxwell, Sean Si, Daylon Soh, Ovidiu Drugan, Andra Zaharia, Cristina Riesen, Raluca Radu, Ola Olusoga, Kris Reid, Mike Benkovich, Noah Kagan, James Murphy, Darren Chua, Nadia Al Sheikh, Alan Pierce, Dr. Monali Y. Desai, Theresa Evanoff, Jose He, Boban Dedovic, Bryan Choo, Faisal Amin, Thom Singer, Andrew Youderian, Todd Henry

This book is worth reading several times because it’s the life and blood of intrapersonal (personal) and interpersonal (relationship) skills. If you want to improve your personal and social skills, you shouldn’t wait for a second longer to get this book.

My favorite quote from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change:

“Habit 1: Be Proactive

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Habit 4: Think Win/Win

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Habit 6: Synergize

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw” Stephen R. Covey

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Recommended by (30)

Tobi Lütke, Josh Waitzkin, Ramit Sethi, Adam Robinson, Brené Brown, Sophia Amoruso, Scott Adams, Naval Ravikant, Jim Collins, Charlie Munger, Max Levchin, Rand Fishkin, Shep Hyken, Douglas Burdett, Skip Prichard, Lee Odden, Whitney Tilson, David Heinemeier Hansson, Charlie Munger , Ola Olusoga, Noah Kagan, Sean Seton-Rogers , Primoz Cigler, Adam Haritan, Julia Enthoven, Dean Roller, Louis Grenier, Holger Arians, Bryan Choo, Jeff Gibbard

This book specifically focuses on the science and practices behind creating influence, which is a necessary life skill for everyone. If you want to be more persuasive, this book is your best choice.

My favorite quote from Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion:

“We all fool ourselves from time to time in order to keep our thoughts and beliefs consistent with what we have already done or decided” Robert B. Cialdini

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Recommended by (30)

Bryan Johnson, Derek Sivers, Safi Bahcall, Jim Collins, Tony Robbins, Chris Sacca, Ray Dalio, Richard Branson, Satya Nadella, Ken Norton, Ron Conway, Naval Ravikant, Jeff Bussgang, Shai Wininger, Satya Patel, Albert Wenger, Richard H Thaler, Jane Pyle, Xavier, John Lilly, Barack Obama, Ola Olusoga, Michael Herrmann, Tudor Mihailescu, Armina Sirbu, Auston Bunsen, Cody McLain, Marc Andreessen, Gilles Bernhard, Erik Rostad

Thinking is a skill that is based on two systems — System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional and System 2, which is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. This book gives you unique insights to help you improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills.

My favorite quote from Thinking, Fast and Slow:

“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it” Daniel Kahneman

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Recommended by (20)

Kevin Rose, Jamie Foxx, Michael Hyatt, Michael Sliwinski, Pierrette Abeel, Jeff Bullas, Ryan Holiday, Seth Godin, Derek Sivers, Adam Grant, Daniel Pink, Ben Casnocha, Mike Benkovich, Louis Nyffenegger, Sujan Patel, Angela Pham, Marvin Liao, Vincent Pugliese, Sol Orwell, Benjamin Spall

In the modern world, focusing has become a rare and valuable skill. Deep work teaches you the skill of focused work without getting distracted. If you want to get better at focusing at your work or studies, you’ll find this book extremely useful.

My favorite quote from Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World:

“Two Core Abilities for Thriving in the New Economy 1. The ability to quickly master hard things. 2. The ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed.” Cal Newport

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Recommended by (14)

Matt Mullenweg, Drew Houston, Jim Collins, Greg McKeown, Tim Ferriss, Danielle Morrill, Brian Tracy, Guy Kawasaki, Josh Bersin, Lolly Daskal, Skip Prichard, Steve Benjamins, Henry Medine, Christopher Lochhead

Productivity is not just about getting more things done. This book reminds you to get the right things done. If you want to get better at managing your time, this book will change the way you operate.

My favorite quote from The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done:

“Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge are essential resources, but only effectiveness converts them into results.” Peter F. Drucker

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Recommended by (13)

Susan Cain, Scott Belsky, Daniel Pink, Pete Adeney, Soman Chainani, Mark Bittman, Dave Camarillo, Matt Mullenweg, Rolf Potts, Ryan Holiday, Kaci Lambe Kai, Benjamin Spall, Tim Ferriss

Writing is not just for writers. It’s a form of communication that helps you think and present your ideas. This book not only teaches you the art of writing, but it also gives you great advice on life. If you want to improve your writing skills, this book is a must-read.

My favorite quote from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life:

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” Anne Lamott

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Recommended by (12)

Malcolm Gladwell, Charles Poliquin, Ramit Sethi, Daniel Pink, Dr. Martin Gibala, Reid Hoffman, Michael McCullough, Vinod Khosla, Jack Dorsey, Pierrette Abeel, Ryan Graves, Tim Ferriss

In this book, Atul reveals the power of keeping checklists to get the right outputs from your efforts consistently. If you want to systemize your work or life using checklists, this book will help you out.

My favorite quote from The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right:

“Good checklists, on the other hand are precise. They are efficient, to the point, and easy to use even in the most difficult situations. They do not try to spell out everything–a checklist cannot fly a plane. Instead, they provide reminders of only the most critical and important steps–the ones that even the highly skilled professional using them could miss. Good checklists are, above all, practical.” Atul Gawande

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Recommended by (11)

Bryan Callen, Mark Hart, Safi Bahcall, Raoul Pal, Josh Waitzkin, Ramit Sethi, Adam Robinson, Bryan Callen, Joan Boixados, Chris Oliver, Erik Rostad

Learning how to learn is a skill that sets you apart from the rest. Today, those who can learn faster and better are the ones who will adapt and excel. This book is for you if you want to take your performance and learning skills to the next level.

My favorite quote from The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance:

“The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process, and not to live in a shell of static, safe mediocrity. Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety.” Josh Waitzkin

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Conclusion (How To Read Smarter)

That’s a wrap! I hope you found this list of best life-changing books of all time valuable.

There are tons of other inspirational books out there and there will never be a shortage of good books to read. So if you want to solidify your learnings, you must re-read or revisit these books about life. You can do that using your own notes and highlights or by using book summary apps.

I also have a guide on how I read smartly without wasting my time if you want to get the most out of your reading time. My favorite tool for revisiting notes and highlights is Readwise. And for book summaries, I love Blinkist and Instaread. Below is the link to the other learning tools I recommend.

Related: Life Designer’s Toolkit – Top Learning Tools

The final point to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t learn just for the sake of learning. Take the time to actually apply the lessons into your life. For that, I create a daily success checklist that keeps me focused on my current daily habits and sets me up for high-performance and success.

You can grab the cheat sheet that will help you design your own daily success checklist for free. Just enter your email below and click the sign-up button right now to get access to it.

Special thanks to the websites below that helped me with the research while putting together this list of most life-changing books recommended by successful people:

To sum up, here’s the list of all the books listed in the post:

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase a book or service through my link, I get a commission. Thanks for your support.

