‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen R. Covey has earned its place as one of those must-read life guides that every self-improver swears by. You know the type: big on “character over personality” and filled with advice like, “be proactive, not reactive” – which basically means stop blaming traffic for why you’re late to work every morning. Covey’s wisdom has helped millions tackle everything from better time management to more meaningful relationships. If you’re looking to get your life together (or at least look like you are), this book is a solid place to start.
But let’s be real. No single book can solve all your problems. Life’s complicated, and sometimes we need a whole arsenal of wisdom to navigate it. Enter this list of powerhouse books, packed with advice on everything from how to be rich and successful, to finding purpose in the chaos. These are the books that will make you feel like you’ve got a personal coach whispering nuggets of wisdom in your ear as you figure out how to win at life.
Contents
- 1 ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl (1946)
- 2 Man’s Search For Meaning
- 3 ‘Getting Things Done’ by David Allen (2001)
- 4 Getting Things Done
- 5 ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill (1937)
- 6 Think and Grow Rich
- 7 ’What Got You Here Won’t Get You There’ by Marshall Goldsmith (2007)
- 8 ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’ by Patrick Lencioni (2002)
- 9 ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins (2001)
- 10 ‘Mindset‘ by Carol S. Dweck (2006)
- 11 ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear (2018)
- 12 Atomic Habits
- 13 ’Make It Stick’ by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel (2014)
- 14 ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ by Robert T. Kiyosaki (1997)
‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl (1946)
Ever feel like life’s a bit… bleak? Viktor Frankl sure did, surviving Nazi concentration camps and somehow coming out of it with the message that suffering can lead to meaning. ’Man’s Search for Meaning’ is half memoir, half life philosophy, and 100% inspiring. If you’ve ever wondered what the purpose of it all is, Frankl’s got answers – well, at least a really powerful perspective.
Man’s Search For Meaning
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‘Getting Things Done’ by David Allen (2001)
If your to-do list looks like a tangled ball of anxiety, ‘Getting Things Done’ might just be your new best friend. David Allen’s GTD system is all about clearing mental clutter and becoming a productivity ninja. You’ll learn how to organise tasks, break them down into bite-sized actions, and finally feel like you’re on top of everything – until you add ten more things to the list, of course.
Getting Things Done
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‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill (1937)
Napoleon Hill’s classic is basically the O.G. of self-help books on success. It’s been around so long, it’s probably the reason your grandparents are financially savvy. Hill interviewed the business moguls of his time to distil the secrets of wealth-building. Spoiler: It’s mostly about thinking like a millionaire before you’ve got the cash.
Think and Grow Rich
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’What Got You Here Won’t Get You There’ by Marshall Goldsmith (2007)
So you’re successful, but something’s holding you back from levelling up? Goldsmith’s got you. This book is all about ditching the little habits that are sabotaging your big dreams – like constantly interrupting people or thinking your email deserves an immediate response at 3 a.m. Ready to fix those blind spots and hit the next level? Let’s go!
‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’ by Patrick Lencioni (2002)
Ever worked on a team where everything falls apart, and you’re left wondering, “Is this even fixable?” Lencioni says yes. Using a leadership fable (yes, like storytime for grown-ups), he breaks down why teams fail and how to make them function like a well-oiled machine. Trust, accountability, results – this book makes teamwork sound almost… fun?
‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins (2001)
Jim Collins asked the million-dollar question: What separates good companies from truly great ones? After five years of research, he’s cracked the code and boiled it down to things like disciplined leadership and facing the brutal facts. If you’re in business, this book is your playbook for turning “meh” into “wow.”
‘Mindset‘ by Carol S. Dweck (2006)
Ever heard someone say, “I’m just not good at maths” and believed it? Well, Carol Dweck is here to tell you they’re wrong. ‘Mindset’ explains how having a “fixed” mindset can hold you back, while a “growth” mindset can help you learn and improve. It’s basically a pep talk for your brain, telling you that you can do anything – yes, even maths.
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear (2018)
Tired of setting goals you never hit? James Clear’s ’Atomic Habits’ shows that it’s all about the tiny, daily actions that add up over time. You’ll learn how to build good habits and ditch the bad ones – so maybe by next year, your New Year’s resolution to “exercise more” will actually stick past January.
Atomic Habits
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’Make It Stick’ by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel (2014)
‘Make It Stick’ dives into the science of learning, and here’s the twist: a lot of the ways you’ve been studying are, well, wrong. It turns out, spaced repetition and active recall are where it’s at. The authors bring the best of cognitive science to help you remember what you learn – whether it’s for school, work, or life’s curveballs.
‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ by Robert T. Kiyosaki (1997)
‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ is the book that’s probably gotten more people thinking about passive income than any other. Kiyosaki contrasts his two father figures – one with a “go to school, get a job” mentality and the other who teaches him how to make money work for him. This one’s a personal finance wake-up call for anyone tired of living paycheck to paycheck.
There you have it – your ultimate reading list for becoming a better, wiser, more productive version of yourself. From learning how to get stuff done like a pro to figuring out the meaning of life, these books cover it all. And the best part? You don’t have to read each one cover-to-cover to get the wisdom – you can get the main ideas from all of them in no time at all.
Thanks to Wizdom, you can dive into these books and get the key takeaways in bite-sized, actionable summaries. It’s like having a personal development shortcut right in your pocket – because let’s face it, you’re too busy working on your new habits to read every single page. Ready to level up? Download Wizdom and get started on your journey to greatness.
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