I believe that, if you want to live a good life, you need to commit to lifelong learning…

And that includes reading great books.

This page is a distillation of everything I’ve learned from the best non-fiction books of all time.

From business to leadership, philosophy to psychology, self-help to writing, you’ll find more than 100+ good book summaries, organized by category.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Book Summaries by Name

To get started, browse my book summaries by category below. Or, if you prefer, browse by title.

Part 2. Best Book Summaries

These are my book summaries, sorted by category.

1. Business Book Summaries. These books offer compelling stories, intriguing insights, and fascinating takeaways from some of the biggest and brightest minds in business and beyond.

2. Biography and Memoir Book Summaries. Some of the best books available are biographies and memoirs of great people. By reading these books, you, too, can learn how to become great.

3. Health and Fitness Book Summaries. It’s easy to worry about health and fitness, isn’t it? These books suggest ideas for getting in shape and eating healthily—in a kind, effective way.

4. Leadership Book Summaries. What makes a great leader? These books—from Coach K to John Wooden—will inspire and empower you to strengthen and motivate your team.

5. Philosophy Book Summaries. It’s easy to regard philosophy as esoteric and academic. These books cut through the haze of misunderstanding and make you aware of what you value and why.

6. Psychology Book Summaries. Why do we do what we do? These thought-provoking books offer a hands-on approach to exploring the human mind and mastering the art of change.

7. Sam’s Favorite Books. In writing 100+ book summaries, I’ve read a lot of books that left a lasting impression. These are the ten books I return to again and again.

8. Self-Help Book Summaries. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily dramas of life. These timeless classics will help you improve your life, from boosting your confidence to realizing your ambitions.

9. Writing Book Summaries. Put your desk in the corner. The adverb is not your friend. These authors have published bestsellers, and in these books, share what they’ve learned about the craft.

Part 3. Best Books by Year

Each December, I share the ten best books I read that year. Below are the best books I’ve read since 2015, organized in reverse chronological order.

Part 4. My Annual Reading Lists

I keep a public reading list sharing every book I read to make sure I achieve my annual reading goals. Below are my annual reading lists, organized by year.

Part 5. How to Write a Book Summary

Since 2015, I’ve written 100+ book summaries for the best non-fiction books of all time. And, in doing so, I’ve learned a thing or two about writing good book summaries.

To learn how to write a book summary that will help you remember what you read months, even years, after reading., read my article “How to Write a Book Summary.”

Part 6. How to Become a Better Thinker

If you want to live a good life, you need to become a better, more rational thinker. But to do that, you must get into the habit of asking and answering smarter questions.

I’ve made a free resource that shares the best quality questions from the best non-fiction books of all-time. To learn more, read “Quality Questions: How to Make Better Decisions in Life and Work.”

Part 7. How to Read More (Even If You Don’t Have Time)

There’s a lot of advice online on how to read more. And a lot of it is helpful—especially if you’re a beginner looking to read more often and more widely.

But a lot of the advice also ignores busy professionals trying to balance life and work. Fortunately, there’s a way to read (even if you’re strapped for time).

To learn how to read more, read my article, “How to Read More: A Busy Person’s Guide.” Or, if you prefer to learn on the go, read my Audible review: “I Tried Audible for 30-Days. Here’s What Happened.”

Part 8. How to Remember What You Read

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy reading and taking notes to refer to later. But as time passes, you struggle to recall the key points for each book you read.

A few years ago, I developed a note-taking system to help me remember—and retain—everything I read. To learn more, read my article, “How to Keep a Commonplace Book with Notion.”

Part 9. How to Get Free Book Summaries

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