Category: Book List (Topic)

Self-help books are all about change. A change of habits, character traits, or your physical appearance – you name it. The thing is, you have to make the change yourself.

Every New Year’s Eve, you commit to another version of “new year, new me.” But how does it look a few months later? Has it ever happened to you that you ended up resolving to make the same changes again the next year? Two years, three years, four years in a row? Inevitably, we’ll ask ourselves: How many times do I have to try this to succeed?

The honest answer is “Forever” – because there’ll always be new changes you want to make, a new person you’ll want to become. That’s perfectly okay. Growth is what life is all about. When it comes to making a certain set of new habits stick, however, there are proven methods, tools, tips, and tactics you can use. That way, you won’t get stuck trying to make a single transformation over and over again.

At Four Minute Books, we’ve summarized over 1,000 books, most of them in the self-improvement category. In the process, we’ve learned a thing or two about habits, and we’ve also discovered which books are most efficient at helping us adjust our behaviors to better serve our goals.

All in all, we’ve found 33 books that’ll support you in making the changes you want to make and achieving your full potential. In this list, we’ve curated them all – the 33 best self-help books of all time. These are the hardest hitters. They’ll drastically improve your life, no matter how old you are.

Self-help can be a tricky thing initially, but if you embrace it and stick with the process for the long run, it’ll yield great rewards. Changing yourself is a never-ending process. The books in our list will be a great starting point for your journey.

If you want to live your best life and become your most powerful self, here are the 33 best books you should dive into. Discover their secrets and make it happen!

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Best Books on Self-Help Overall

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favorite Quote

“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.” — Paulo Coelho

The Book in One Sentence

The Alchemist is a classic novel in which a boy named Santiago embarks on a journey seeking treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream about it and on the way meets mentors, falls in love, and most importantly, learns the true importance of who he is and how to improve himself and focus on what really matters in life.

Why should you read it?

This novel presents a simple story, yet filled with wisdom. Concentrating on the theme of destiny and integrating mysterious characters, as well as important lessons, it compels the reader to wonder constantly and to come to the conclusion that destiny is what we make of it.

Key Takeaways

1. Listen to your heart if you want your dreams to come true.
2. Your fear is holding you back more than anything else.
3. “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Favorite Quote

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” — James Clear

The Book in One Sentence

Atomic Habits is the definitive guide to breaking bad behaviors and adopting good ones in four steps, showing you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound into massive, positive change over time.

Why should you read it?

What does it take to form a habit? There is a lot of information out there in regards to this, but sometimes you might just not have the time to go through all of it. James Clear has put together this useful and practical book, for you to achieve more good habits and avoid the bad ones.

Key Takeaways

1. Every time we perform a habit, we execute a four-step pattern: cue, craving, response, reward.
2. If we want to form new habits, we should make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
3. You can use a habit tracker as a fun way to measure your progress and make sure you don’t fall off the wagon.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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3. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Favorite Quote

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

The Book in One Sentence

Thinking Fast and Slow shows you how two systems in your brain are constantly fighting over control of your behavior and actions, and teaches you the many ways in which this leads to errors in memory, judgment and decisions, and what you can do about it.

Why should you read it?

The human mind is a wonderful, yet still undiscovered place. But what Kahneman can tell you is that two systems form our thinking. If you are looking for a curious conversation about the human mind, this book will not only get you thinking but also transform the way you think.

Key Takeaways

1. The biggest leaps in progress are vertical, not horizontal.
2. Your brain is lazy and thus keeps you from using the full power of your intelligence.
3. When you’re making decisions about money, leave your emotions at home.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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4. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Favorite Quote

“Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive – the risk to be alive and express what we really are…” — Don Miguel Ruiz

The Book in One Sentence

The Four Agreements draws on the long tradition of the Toltecs, an ancient, indigenous people of Mexico, to show you that we have been domesticated from childhood, how these internal, guiding rules hurt us and what we can do to break and replace them with a new set of agreements with ourselves.

Why should you read it?

Our lives are usually conducted by a set of beliefs, and they can sometimes limit us and keep us away from our true calling. According to Don Miguel Ruiz, four agreements could help us transform the way we live our lives and experience its joys to the fullest. And if you are passionate about ancient wisdom, then this book might just be what you need.

Key Takeaways

1. We’re domesticated from a young age and it leaves us living by a set of rules we haven’t chosen ourselves.
2. What people say and do to you is a reflection on them, not you. Know who you are and you won’t take things personally.
3. There are three ways to break your old agreements and live with new ones you choose yourself.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Favorite Quote

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” — Stephen R. Covey

The Book in One Sentence

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People teaches you both personal and professional effectiveness by changing your view of how the world works and giving you 7 habits, which, if adopted well, will lead you to immense success.

Why should you read it?

Taking control of your life might seem like a difficult thing to do without the proper advice. But Covey has put together a few pieces of advice to help people achieve exactly what they want, from proactivity to success in both their professional and personal lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Do the funeral test.
2. Learn how to say no.
3. Practice active listening.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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6. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

Favorite Quote

“Control your perceptions. Direct your actions properly. Willingly accept what’s outside your control.” — Ryan Holiday

The Book in One Sentence

The Daily Stoic is a year-long compilation of short, daily meditations from ancient Stoic philosophers, like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, teaching you equanimity, resilience, and perseverance via the three Stoic disciplines of perception, action, and will.

Why should you read it?

If you struggle with reading non-fiction at a pace that makes you feel good about your progress, this is the book for you. It’s also one of my all-time favorites. I read it every year for five years in a row. A page a day is so easy to read, you can’t not do it. As a result, you’ll gain a great overview of Stoicism and implement plenty of its tenets in your life.

Key Takeaways

1. Perception gives purpose to your thoughts, actions, and ultimately everything you do.
2. We can change the course of our life by actively choosing our actions instead of just reacting to our impulses.
3. Will is our internal force of perseverance, ready to give us hope when everything else fails.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Favorite Quote

“Who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for.” — Mark Manson

The Book in One Sentence

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck does away with the positive psychology craze to instead give you a Stoic, no bullshit approach to living a life that might not always be happy, but meaningful and centered only around what’s important to you.

Why should you read it?

Nowadays, wherever you turn your head, you hear that positivity is the key to living a happy and fulfilled life. But according to Mark Manson, this might be a flawed way of thinking and he will tell you that in a raw voice that will make you rethink all that you know about living a happy life.

Key Takeaways

1. Values you can’t control are bad values to follow.
2. Don’t believe you know anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.
3. Trying to leave a legacy might ruin your life.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books for Women

8. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Favorite Quote

“You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.” — Rachel Hollis

The Book in One Sentence

Girl, Wash Your Face inspires women to take their lives into their own hands and make their dreams happen, no matter how discouraged they may feel at the moment.

Why should you read it?

Women deal with a lot of things that might not be visible to other people. In this book, Hollis makes use of a soft, yet empowering tone that helps women remove themselves from any mentality that might destroy their self-confidence and helps them stay on top of things, even when they seem to crumble. A book that is filled with honesty and humor, as well as precious advice.

Key Takeaways

1. Build the habit of keeping your promises to yourself because breaking them pulls you down.
2. Rather than fighting the river of chaotic home life, learn to embrace it.
3. Visualize your dreams and focus on them in detail to stay motivated to make them happen.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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9. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Favorite Quote

“You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.” ― Jen Sincero

The Book in One Sentence

You Are a Badass helps you become self-aware, figure out what you want in life and then summon the guts to not worry about the how, kick others’ opinions to the curb and focus your life on the thing that will make you happy.

Why should you read it?

Improving your life might sound like a tedious thing to do, but it doesn’t always have to be like that. Jen Sincero has written this book exactly for those people – the ones who want to change their lives, but not in a hard way. Making use of stories and pieces of advice, as well as easy exercises, this book promises to be a good starting point in your life-changing journey.

Key Takeaways

1. Decide you’ll stop caring what other people think. Right. now.
2. Figure out what you want but don’t obsess about how you’ll get there.
3. If your habits, surroundings and friends don’t support you, it’s time to change them.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books for Men

10. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

Favorite Quote

“It’s all very well to think the meaning of life is happiness, but what happens when you’re unhappy? Happiness is a great side effect. When it comes, accept it gratefully. But it’s fleeting and unpredictable.” — Jordan Peterson

The Book in One Sentence

12 Rules for Life is a stern, story-based, and entertaining self-help manual for young people that lays out a set of simple principles that can help us become more disciplined, behave better, act with integrity, and balance our lives while enjoying them as much as we can.

Why should you read it?

Sometimes, life can get rather chaotic and some things just don’t seem to make sense. Not to mention those burning questions that nobody seems to have an answer to. But according to Dr. Peterson, there are some things everybody should know and he explains them in a humorous and informative way in this stunning book.

Key Takeaways

1. Sweep in front of your own door before pointing out the street is dirty.
2. Treat yourself like a child you’re responsible for.
3. Aim to do what is meaningful, not convenient.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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11. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Favorite Quote

“Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.” — Robert Greene

The Book in One Sentence

The 48 Laws of Power draws on many of history’s most famous power quarrels to show you what power looks like, how you can get it, what to do to defend yourself against the power of others and, most importantly, how to use it well and keep it.

Why should you read it?

What constitutes power? Is it a set of black and white moral views? Or is it a set of gray moral views, the ones that some people never really talk about? This challenging book puts into perspective a synthesis of philosophies and historical legacies that might be surprising to the reader. Are you curious yet?

Key Takeaways

1. Always make superiors look smarter than you.
2. Confuse competitors by acting unpredictably.
3. Don’t force others to do what you want, seduce them instead.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books for 20-Somethings

12. The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

Favorite Quote

“The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you have gained that courage, your interpersonal relationships will all at once change into things of lightness.” — Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

The Book in One Sentence

The Courage to Be Disliked is a Japanese analysis of the work of 19th-century psychologist Alfred Adler, who established that happiness lies in the hands of each human individual and does not depend on past traumas.

Why should you read it?

Is it that easy to liberate our real selves and be happy, despite past experiences and doubts that might have shaped us differently? This book offers precious insight in terms of what we need to do to let go of any burdens that might keep us away from who we truly are.

Key Takeaways

1. It’s dangerous to believe that your past determines your future.
2. If you focus on what’s wrong with you, you might be looking for reasons to hate yourself on purpose.
3. Most of what we think of as competition is just made up and hurting our happiness.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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13. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Favorite Quote

“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 Frankl

The Book in One Sentence

Man’s Search for Meaning details holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s horrifying experiences in Nazi concentration camps, along with his psychological approach of logotherapy, which is also what helped him survive and shows you how you can – and must – find meaning in your life.

Why should you read it?

Do you ever wonder what is exactly that people are pursuing? Could it be anything we find meaningful or is it just something that brings us happiness and pleasure? Written by a psychiatrist, this book wants to inspire us to find something meaningful not just when it comes to things, but when it comes to your life.

Key Takeaways

1. Sometimes the only way to survive is to surrender to death.
2. Your life has its own meaning and it’s up to you to find it.
3. Use paradoxical intention to make your fears go away.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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14. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Favorite Quote

“Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember: Life is too short to be little.” — Dale Carnegie

The Book in One Sentence

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is a self-help classic which addresses one of the leading causes of physical illness, worry, by showing you simple and actionable techniques to eliminate it from your life.

Why should you read it?

Do you feel like you are constantly worrying and that this is taking its toll on you? This book might help you cope with those feelings, by making use of simple, yet effective techniques that can bring you peace. You might also find out the golden rule for conquering any kind of worry – but that will not be spoiled here.

Key Takeaways

1. Use a 3-step approach to deal with confusion and you’ll eliminate the worry caused by it.
2. Put a stop-loss on stress and grief.
3. Take criticism as compliments.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books for Self Esteem

15. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Favorite Quote

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” — Brene Brown

The Book in One Sentence

Daring Greatly is a book about having the courage to be vulnerable in a world where everyone wants to appear strong, confident and like they know what they’re doing.

Why should you read it?

Embracing our vulnerabilities can be a difficult thing to do, but once we learn how to do that, we find out that we can dare to do anything. Dr. Brene Brown has come up with a powerful vision that encourages us to do exactly that: overcome our insecurities and learn how to live our lives fearlessly.

Key Takeaways

1. Vulnerability means strength, not weakness.
2. Understand and verbalize your shame to make it go away.
3. Children can only become who you are, so be a role model.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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16. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Favorite Quote

“It seems to me that the less I fight my fear, the less it fights back. If I can relax, fear relaxes, too.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

The Book in One Sentence

Big Magic is the book that’ll give you the courage you need to pursue your creative interests by showing you how to deal with your fears, notice ideas and act on them and take the stress out of creation.

Why should you read it?

Inspiration is a mysterious thing, but that’s what makes it so interesting. And Elizabeth Gilbert knows that, which is why she has written this book. In Big Magic, she tries to show us how to embrace who we are and to find those hidden things inside us, which can help us accomplish wonderful and unimaginable things. Filled with wonder and with a sense of joy, this book might be what you need to let go of your fears and live in a way that inspires you to change.

Key Takeaways

1. Let your fears coexist with your passions.
2. Give yourself permission to create.
3. Keep your day job to fuel your creative affair.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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17. Quiet by Susan Cain

Favorite Quote

“Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to.” — Susan Cain

The Book in One Sentence

Quiet shows the slow rise of the extrovert ideal for success throughout the 20th century, while making a case for the underappreciated power of introverts and showing up new ways for both forces to cooperate.

Why should you read it?

There are people in the world who prefer to listen, rather than talk. Or people who have greater results on their own, rather than inside a team. And those people are most likely introverts. Susan Cain presents us in this book with stories about those quiet people and promises to give us a different perspective in regards to how we perceive these quiet people.

Key Takeaways

1. Whether you like small talk or not is part of your personality type.
2. Western cultures portray extroversion as the ideal of success.
3. Companies need to adjust their workplaces to introverts as well.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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18. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Joseph Schwartz

Favorite Quote

“Do what you fear and fear disappears.” — David Joseph Schwartz

The Book in One Sentence

The Magic of Thinking Big gives you several starting points to develop and strengthen the most important trait of successful people: believing in yourself.

Why should you read it?

What do you need in order to become successful? Is it talent or intellect or is it just a habit of thinking in such a way that all you’ve ever wanted will be sitting right in front of you? Dr. Schwartz has put together a few useful methods to achieve all those things you want but never dared to get: from a good job to a good life.

Key Takeaways

1. Always be open to new ideas.
2. Learn something new whenever you can.
3. Ask yourself “How can I do a better job today?” every day.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books About Relationships

19. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Favorite Quote

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” — Dale Carnegie

The Book in One Sentence

How to Win Friends and Influence People teaches you countless principles to become a likable person, handle your relationships well, win others over and help them change their behavior without being intrusive.

Why should you read it?

Making things work to your advantage doesn’t have to be just a dream. All the things you have in mind can happen and all you need is to follow the solid advice Dale Carnegie has to offer in this bestseller. How to make friends, how to win people by making use of the way you think. and how to change people – these are all things you will encounter in this book.

Key Takeaways

1. You can make a great first impression just by smiling.
2. To be interesting to others, talk about their favorite topic: themselves.
3. If you want to convince people, get them to say yes a lot.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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20. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Favorite Quote

“True love cannot begin until the ‘in love’ experience has run its course.” — Gary Chapman

The Book in One Sentence

The 5 Love Languages shows couples how to make their love last by learning to recognize the unique way their partner feels love.

Why should you read it?

Love is a curious thing, and it can even be deemed as challenging sometimes. But there is a secret to keep things going and this book contains it. Filled with practical examples, Dr. Chapman’s approach will help you experience a deeper connection with your partner and also discover the love language of both you and your partner, through a Couple’s Personal Profile assessment.

Key Takeaways

1. As your relationship matures, communication is key.
2. There are 5 different ways people give and show love.
3. Identify your and your partner’s love language to deepen intimacy.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books About Productivity

21. Deep Work by Cal Newport

Favorite Quote

“If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive – no matter how skilled or talented you are.” — Cal Newport

The Book in One Sentence

Deep Work proposes that we have lost our ability to focus deeply and immerse ourselves in a complex task, showing you how to cultivate this skill again and focus more than ever before with four simple rules.

Why should you read it?

There is a valuable skill out there that could you get the best results in whatever you do. Being able to focus without being distracted can seem like a difficult thing to do, but it is a very powerful skill that could help you achieve your goals and unexpected results. If you want to find out more about this skill, Cal Newport’s book might be a good starting point.

Key Takeaways

1. There are 4 strategies for deep work, all of which require intention.
2. Productive meditation can help you work deeper, even while you’re taking a break.
3. Stop working at the same time each day.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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22. Getting Things Done by David Allen

Favorite Quote

“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” — David Allen

The Book in One Sentence

Getting Things Done is a manual for stress-free productivity, which helps you set up a system of lists, reminders and weekly reviews, in order to free your mind from having to remember tasks and to-dos and instead let it work at full focus on the task at hand.

Why should you read it?

Things change daily and that can sometimes become overwhelming and even frustrating. But that doesn’t always have to be the case, as David Allen depicts. Filled with methods that will help our productivity reach its peak, even in the case of stressful situations, this book will help you get things done, under any circumstances.

Key Takeaways

1. Use a “collection bucket” to store things outside your mind and stay focused.
2. Create a “next actions” list for all your projects to avoid thinking in the moment.
3. Do a weekly review of everything, or else!

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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23. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

Favorite Quote

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” — Spencer Johnson

The Book in One Sentence

Who Moved My Cheese? tells a parable, which you can directly apply to your own life, in order to stop fearing what lies ahead and instead thrive in an environment of change and uncertainty.

Why should you read it?

This is not your usual guide, but rather an amusing story that will put things into perspective. You are in a maze and there’s a block of cheese in front of you. Your life is the maze and the cheese is the prize, but there is a tricky thing about it – you constantly have to chase it. Just as it is in life, this story puts into perspective the challenges we have to deal with in order to reach our goals. But what’s the moral of the story? You’ll discover it when you read this book!

Key Takeaways

1. Thinking too much about your cheese might paralyze you, so just start looking.
2. Nothing lasts forever, so keep your eyes open for approaching changes.
3. You can always find new cheese, and the minute you start moving things will get better.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books About Money

24. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Favorite Quote

“The main reason that over 90 percent of the American public struggles financially is because they play not to lose. They don’t play to win.” — Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Book in One Sentence

Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of a boy with two fathers, one rich, one poor, to help you develop the mindset and financial knowledge you need to build a life of wealth and freedom.

Why should you read it?

As a child, growing up, your views and thoughts are usually shaped by your parents. And in this book, Robert tells the story of how his views about money and how they were shaped by his two dads, one of them being his real father and the other one, his best friend’s father. Money makes the world go round, but how do you deal with them? Read this book to find out.

Key Takeaways

1. Get a real financial education if you ever want to exit the “rat race” and stop living paycheck to paycheck.
2. Stop saying “I can’t afford it” and instead focus all your energy on answering the question “how can I afford it?”
3. Get more assets, which are anything that brings in more money, and pay off all liabilities, which are anything that takes your money away.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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25. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Favorite Quote

“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

The Book in One Sentence

Think and Grow Rich is a curation of the 13 most common habits of wealthy and successful people, distilled from studying over 500 individuals over the course of 20 years.

Why should you read it?

In life, you have to take certain steps to achieve your goals and there is also a point where you have to avoid certain steps to be successful. Filled with timeless information and pieces of advice that might take you far, this book is a must-read for your personal development.

Key Takeaways

1. Use autosuggestion to build an unshakable belief in yourself.
2. Be stubborn and always stick to your decisions.
3. Join a Mastermind group to cut the learning curve.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books for Business

26. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Favorite Quote

“Doing something unimportant well does not make it important.” — Tim Ferriss

The Book in One Sentence

The 4-Hour Workweek is the step-by-step blueprint to free yourself from the shackles of a corporate job, create a business to fund the lifestyle of your dreams, and live life like a millionaire, without actually having to be one.

Why should you read it?

The world keeps changing, but some things seem to always stay the same. If you feel that your business is trapping you in a life that is not the best for you or if you just feel overworked, while other people seem to be doing very little and are living their lives to the fullest, you might want to dive into this book and find out exactly what you might be doing wrong.

Key Takeaways

1. Be effective, not efficient.
2. Validate all of your business ideas.
3. Charge a premium to make your life easier.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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27. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Favorite Quote

“Who we are cannot be separated from where we’re from.” — Malcolm Gladwell

The Book in One Sentence

Outliers explains why “the self-made man” is a myth and what truly lies behind the success of the best people in their field, which is often a series of lucky events, rare opportunities and other external factors, which are out of our control.

Why should you read it?

Are those considered high achievers different from the rest of the world? Malcolm Gladwell answers this question and not only, in a book that puts into perspective the background of those high achieving people. According to him, being that kind of person is not just about what you are like, but so much more. Are you curious to find out the secrets of all these great people?

Key Takeaways

1. After you cross a certain skill threshold, your abilities won’t help you.
2. The month you’re born in matters.
3. Asians are good at math, because where you come from matters.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books for Positive Thinking

28. The Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Favorite Quote

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.” — Norman Vincent Peale

The Book in One Sentence

The Power of Positive Thinking will show you that the roots of success lie in the mind and teach you how to believe in yourself, break the habit of worrying, and take control of your life by taking control of your thoughts and changing your attitude.

Why should you read it?

You usually hear people saying that you should have faith in yourself, and that alone will bring you to the point you want to reach. But what if you had more faith in action? Filled with practical advice, this book will help you clear your mind and realize that sometimes, you just have to let yourself believe.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with confidence and watch your problems shrink.
2. Your world is nothing more than the thoughts you have about your experiences.
3. In order to live worry-free, first imagine a worry-free life.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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29. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Favorite Quote

“Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable.” — Rhonda Byrne

The Book in One Sentence

The Secret explains how the law of attraction governs your thinking and actions, and how you can use it to achieve whatever you desire in life.

Why should you read it?

This is the seminal book on visualization, manifestation, and how to make your dreams a reality through the power of your thoughts. It’ll help you understand and unlock the true power of your mind. It’s not a cheat code for not doing any work, but it goes a long way in tackling our challenges with more optimism, vigor, and determination than ever before.

Key Takeaways

1. The law of attraction is one of the most prevalent principles in the world.
2. To use the law of attraction, you must think about what you want, not what you want to avoid.
3. The three steps of the law of attraction are asking, believing, and receiving.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books About Stoicism

30. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Favorite Quote

“Put an end once for all to this discussion of what a good man should be, and be one.” — Marcus Aurelius

The Book in One Sentence

Meditations is a collection of 12 books written by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who’ll introduce you to Stoic philosophy, the concept of logic, self-discipline and give you faith that the course the world runs is a good one.

Why should you read it?

A remarkable collection of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, this book will help you realize that simple and true ideas might be the most important things to live life to the fullest extent. Things are temporary, and so are people and their feelings, but what is not temporary is the work we put into developing ourselves. An enlightening read, this book will provide you with some challenging beliefs.

Key Takeaways

1. Logic doesn’t always make sense, but everything happens for a reason.
2. Life is too short to complain.
3. The only pain you suffer is the one you create yourself.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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31. Letters from a Stoic by Seneca

Favorite Quote

“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you need is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.” — Seneca

The Book in One Sentence

Letters from a Stoic is a collection of encouraging moral messages sent by Roman Stoic and philosopher Seneca to his friend Lucilius in order to help him become less emotional, more disciplined, and find the good life.

Why should you read it?

There used to be a thing called “pen pals.” People would commit to writing each other letters on a regular basis. Nowadays, the practice is dwindling. Thanks to this book, however, you can have a pen pal, and not just any pen pal but one of the most famous philosophers in history. If you’d like a friend to send you letters of encouragement, this book is perfect for you.

Key Takeaways

1. The goal of attaining wisdom is to live in harmony with nature.
2. Your most valuable possession is your mind.
3. A wise man doesn’t need friends, but he chooses to make them anyway.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Self Help Books About Mindfulness

32. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Favorite Quote

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

The Book in One Sentence

The Power of Now shows you that every minute you spend worrying about the future or regretting the past is a minute lost, because really all you have to live in is the present, the now, and gives you actionable strategies to start living every minute as it occurs.

Why should you read it?

Is living in the present moment the key to a happy life? According to Eckhart Tolle, this might just be what we need – to be conscious and to live in the moment. Employing useful information and ideas which prove to be inspirational, this guidebook will inspire you to change your life for the better.

Key Takeaways

1. Life is just a series of present moments.
2. All pain is a result of resistance to the things you cannot change.
3. You can free yourself from pain by constantly observing your mind and not judging your thoughts.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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33. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Favorite Quote

“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” — Marie Kondo

The Book in One Sentence

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up takes you through the process of simplifying, organizing and storing your belongings step by step, to make your home a place of peace and clarity.

Why should you read it?

Your environment dictates your mood. And it also applies to your home. If your home is cluttered with all sorts of things, your mood will be affected by it. Tidying up your house can help you reach a feeling of calmness and change your mindset, both of which will make you happier.

Key Takeaways

1. Move from easy to hard items when considering what to keep.
2. YODO – you only declutter once (if you do it right).
3. Ask yourself a few simple questions for each item.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Bonus: 2-Minute Pep Talks by Niklas Göke

Favorite Quote

“Pep talks are like vitamins: You can take them every day preemptively, or you can wait until your body signals a lack of them — but sooner or later, you will need your vitamins.” — Niklas Göke

The Book in One Sentence

2-Minute Pep Talks is a collection of 67 short jolts of inspiration for more hope, comfort, and love in any situation, providing you with a daily dose of good-spiritedness so you can tackle each day with the lightness, excitement, and optimism we all used to feel as kids.

Why should you read it?

If you feel tired, burned out, or are going through a slump in motivation, this book is for you. It’ll reignite your inner fire, but not with rah-rah speeches and bold claims. Instead, these soothing daily messages will make you think and give you a quiet sense of strength that, yes, you can do this — whatever “this” is. If you enjoy brief stories from all walks of life that contain powerful lessons and are looking for a way to stay consistently motivated without injecting caffeine straight into your veins, get this book.

Key Takeaways

1. No matter what has happened in your life thus far, you’re still here, and that’s all that matters.
2. The secret to life is that there is no secret, except showing up on a daily basis for the things and people we care about.
3. If you’re not valued, chances are, you’re just in the wrong place.

We don’t have this one on our roster yet, but thankfully, each chapter is even shorter than a Four Minute Books summary! Grab a copy, and in just two minutes a day, you’ll feel empowered, calm, and resilient!

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Conclusion

That concludes our list of the best self-improvement books. We hope we managed to give you a bit of insight into what self help means and how to do it right. We’re confident that these 33 books will help you figure out where to start and how to become the person you want to be.

Letting go of certain beliefs or ideas might be scary, but when you take a leap, you’ll discover parts of yourself you never knew existed. Knowing yourself and changing yourself is not a piece of cake, but it will bring out your most remarkable sides.

What idea spoke most to you in our list? Which book presented it the best? Take that idea and put it into practice, and you’ll find yourself improving immediately!

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Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

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Other Book Lists by Author

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

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Other Book Lists by Year

Want more books sorted by the year they came out? Here are all the best-of lists we’ve made for you based on various years:

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Habits. Such a simple yet powerful word. It contains all the behaviors we perform without giving them too much thought. Our actions and decisions, all mixed in a specific ritual.

The most interesting part about habits is how different they all are for every single one of us. Habits can refer to anything; from reaching for your toothpaste and toothbrush each morning to what you eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Forming a specific habit means associating a specific thing or action with another one. Making the right associations can drastically improve your life from all perspectives: work, psychology, health, and even money.

Here at Four Minute Books, we’ve summarized over 1,000 books. It’s quite a number, and it has provided us with a bit of knowledge regarding habits. We’ve discovered the best books on creating better habits, breaking bad ones, and even using the concept of habits itself to your advantage. If you manage them well, your habits will guide you to success and happiness – seemingly on autopilot!

If you want to dive into the world of habits, regardless of the field, consider the following 21 books. We’ve sorted them by various categories. Each section includes our favorite quote, a one-sentence-summary of the book, and three key takeaways. As a bonus, you can also find some reasons why you might want to read the book. The clickable table of contents below will allow you to jump to any of the books or categories.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the 21 best habit books of all time!

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Best Books on Habits Overall

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Favorite Quote

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” — James Clear

The Book in One Sentence

Atomic Habits is the definitive guide to breaking bad behaviors and adopting good ones in four steps, showing you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound into massive, positive change over time.

Why should you read it?

You want to be better, but you don’t know where to start. Can you think of any good habits you might want to form and any bad habits you might want to get rid of? If the answer is yes, then this book is the right one for you, as it contains quite an impressive number of both examples and steps you can take when it comes to building habits. Giving even that 1% each day is important, or at least that’s what James tells us. And it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about reducing stress, losing weight, or winning a championship – Atomic Habits is the solution that will answer all of your questions.

Key Takeaways

1. Every time we perform a habit, we execute a four-step pattern: cue, craving, response, reward.
2. If we want to form new habits, we should make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
3. You can use a habit tracker as a fun way to measure your progress and make sure you don’t fall off the wagon.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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2. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Favorite Quote

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” — Stephen R. Covey

The Book in One Sentence

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People teaches you both personal and professional effectiveness by changing your view of how the world works and giving you 7 habits, which, if adopted well, will lead you to immense success.

Why should you read it?

Life can sometimes become a rollercoaster and the simplest things tend to be overlooked. Things seem complicated when they are really not. And that is exactly what Stephen is telling us: the basic things might just be our key to success. Just to get you hooked on the book, I will give you one spoiler: prioritization is crucial. Sounds complicated, right? You might want to read the book to see how easy it actually is!

Key Takeaways

1. Do the funeral test.
2. Learn how to say no.
3. Practice active listening.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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3. The Habit Blueprint by Patrik Edblad

Favorite Quote

“Since you’re the biggest expert in the world on your behavior, I encourage you to take on the roles of both scientist and subject from this point forward. Let life become your experiment and the world your lab.” — Patrik Edblad

The Book in One Sentence

The Habit Blueprint strips down behavior change to its very core, giving you the ultimate, research-backed recipe for cultivating the habits you desire, with plenty of backup steps you can take to maximize your chances of success.

Why should you read it?

If you consider yourself the type of person that really needs a “how-to” kind of strategy, then this is the book for you. Times change and so do people, but in order to keep things running smoothly, people need to decide that they want to change and actually start doing it. Which can become overwhelming at times. Written by a certified mental trainer, this book is a quick and easy read that will determine you to actually jump from thought to action.

Key Takeaways

1. Get a head start on your habit changes by picking a keystone habit first.
2. Avoid fluctuating willpower by starting ridiculously small.
3. Use the sunk cost fallacy to your advantage by building a chain of check-ins.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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4. Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

Favorite Quote

“What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.” — Gretchen Rubin

The Book in One Sentence

Better Than Before breaks down the latest research on how to break bad habits and develop good ones, in order to help you find your habit tendency and give you a few simple tools to start improving your own habits.

Why should you read it?

Nowadays, one of the most asked questions is related to change. And this New York Times bestseller is trying to answer that exact question with a very simple answer. The way in which we spend our time basically dictates how our lives flow. And maybe even those daily habits you might not necessarily take into consideration have a bigger impact than you might think. If you need doable approaches or concepts that can take you a long way, this book can help you achieve that.

Key Takeaways

1. There are 4 different habit tendencies: Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel.
2. Track and plan your habits with two simple tools to make sure you follow through: a calendar and a habit tracker.
3. Make good habits easy to do and bad ones unattractive.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books About Habits for Beginners

5. The Power Of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Favorite Quote

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.” — Charles Duhigg

The Book in One Sentence

The Power Of Habit helps you understand why habits are at the core of everything you do, how you can change them, and what impact that will have on your life, your business and society.

Why should you read it?

Human nature might be difficult to understand sometimes and scientific discoveries regarding it never ceases to amaze us. If you are looking for an enjoyable book, that gives you a bit of insight into how exactly habits work and how they can be changed, then this book might be your winner. Habits govern our life, whether they’re good or bad. Starting or breaking a habit might be difficult, but knowing exactly how and why they are formed can save us a lot of time and give us a lot of control.

Key Takeaways

1. Habits work in 3-step loops: cue, routine, reward.
2. You can change your habits by substituting just one part of the loop, the routine.
3. Willpower is the most important habit, and you can strengthen it over time with 3 things.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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6. Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg

Favorite Quote

“After you put your feet on the floor in the morning, immediately say this phrase, ‘It’s going to be a great day.’ As you say these seven words, try to feel optimistic and positive.” ― B.J. Fogg

The Book in One Sentence

Tiny Habits shows you the power of applying small changes to your routine to unleash the full power that habits have to make your life better.

Why should you read it?

Times sometimes get really chaotic and have a greater effect than imagined on us. And at one point, we can all agree that change is not the easiest process out there, as it has a lot of elements that form it. The world’s leading expert B.J. Fogg agrees with this idea, which is why the main focus is on breaking a “habit” into a set of “little habits”, which can allow you to make small, but sure changes. If taking things step by step is your way to go, then this book should be all yours.

Key Takeaways

1. Starting embarrassingly small is the secret to keep you going through the boring days and beyond to finally reach your goals.
2. Motivation doesn’t work for long-term growth, you need to tap into the potential of behavior.
3. To unlock the power of action, connect your habits with prompts that are already in your daily routine.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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7. Mini Habits by Stephen Guise

Favorite Quote

“Be the person with embarrassing goals and impressive results instead of one of the many people with impressive goals and embarrassing results.” ― Stephen Guise

The Book in One Sentence

Mini Habits explains how you can get the most out of the fact that 45% of your behavior happens on autopilot by setting ridiculously small goals, relying on willpower instead of motivation and tracking your progress to live a life that’s full of good mini habits.

Why should you read it?

This book dives into the idea that you can change and make these changes last. Do you want a motivating, but rather quick read? Hop right on, but don’t go too fast. Keeping a rather lower profile and going slower might be the key elements to success. Also, if you want a bit of the author’s personal touch, a book that will make you think: “That makes so much sense and it is exactly what I was thinking!,” then you might have made an important discovery with this title.

Key Takeaways

1. Set a super easy goal to start, because chances are you’ll keep going once you’re off.
2. Use some kind of system to track your habits and progress.
3. When you beat your goal, don’t increase the standard, or you’ll fall off the wagon.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books About Habits for Work

8. The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth

Favorite Quote

“We don’t realize how many of our fixed views of the world are based on limited samples of reality.” — Bernard Roth

The Book in One Sentence

The Achievement Habit shows you that being an achiever can be learned, by using the principles of design thinking to walk you through several stories and exercises, which will get you to stop wishing and start doing.

Why should you read it?

Written by the Academic Director at the Stanford d. School, this book dives into the powerful methods of design thinking. Do you usually find yourself stuck in situations or moments in which you shouldn’t be? This book offers enough tips to help you remove yourself from such a situation by rewiring the way in which you think about a problem. And the best part about this book? You can find quite a few strategies that are not only creative but will also help you when you feel like you are stuck.

Key Takeaways

1. Stop giving reasons, they’re just another form of excuses.
2. Swap “but” for “and” in everything you say.
3. Don’t network, make real friends instead.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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9. The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

Favorite Quote

“I read for growth, firmly believing that what you are today and what you will be in five years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read.” — Twyla Tharp

The Book in One Sentence

The Creative Habit is a dancer’s blueprint to making creativity a habit, which she’s successfully done for over 50 years in the entertainment industry.

Why should you read it?

Creativity is often seen as a gift, as something magical, a spark some people are born with, while others without. But what if it’s all about effort and construction? This book is not your usual “manual” or practical kind of book – it is more an insight into how Twyla Tharp stays on top of her game. If you are looking for strategies that could be considered rather high-level and could help you be the most creative person out there, this would be a great starting point.

Key Takeaways

1. Design a starting ritual for your creative process.
2. Use a project box to prepare your work and ground yourself.
3. Always end right in the middle of work for an easy entry the next day.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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10. The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey

Favorite Quote

“People simply feel better about themselves when they’re good at something.” — Stephen R. Covey

The Book in One Sentence

The 8th Habit is about finding your voice and helping others discover their own, in order to thrive at work in the Information Age, where interdependence is more important than independence.

Why should you read it?

A sequel to his previous book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this one challenges readers to put everything they have learned so far in the proper perspective and flourish from there. If you are on the lookout for simple, yet useful insights to help you be more effective, Stephen has them for you. And one of the best parts is that these principles can be integrated into any part of your life – be it private or public life, all in order to make a difference.

Key Takeaways

1. Your freedom to choose is the biggest gift you were born with.
2. Build trust by being friendly, knowing when to say sorry and following through on your promises.
3. Empower others by giving up control and handing them responsibility.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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11. The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

Favorite Quote

“The choice is not working or not working, but which type of work; even feeling guilty because of procrastinating takes some effort.” — Neil Fiore

The Book in One Sentence

The Now Habit is a strategic program to help you eliminate procrastination from your life, bring fun and motivation back to your work and enjoy your well-earned spare time without feeling guilty.

Why should you read it?

Having sold over 100.000 copies, this book tackles the idea of overcoming procrastination through a comprehensive plan. There are quite a few books on the market that usually tell you that procrastination can be overcome if you make a list or just… start working. But this book does not give you those reasons over and over again. It starts by explaining why people procrastinate and as you might have guessed it, it is not because they’re lazy. But not to give any spoilers, information is key in this book and it opens the lock to all your time barriers.

Key Takeaways

1. Procrastination is trained into us.
2. Try to unschedule your life.
3. Record your distractions to block them.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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12. Switch  by Chip & Dan Heath

Favorite Quote

“Knowledge does not change behavior. We have all encountered crazy shrinks and obese doctors and divorced marriage counselors.” — Chip & Dan Heath

The Book in One Sentence

Switch is about how you can lead and encourage changes of human behavior, both in yourself and in your organization, by focusing on the three forces that influence it: the rider, the elephant and the path.

Why should you read it?

Best-selling authors of Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath have returned with a delicate subject: how do you change when it’s not so easy to do so? Are you also looking for complex subjects explained in a simple manner? This book comprises a metaphorical sense that helps with all the concepts that are presented. Changing is not an easy task, but knowing exactly how to kickstart the mechanics behind change can help you achieve quite a lot. And it might never be the easy way out, but it will definitely be the best way out.

Key Takeaways

1. Focus on one specific, critical aspect of the change, so the rider doesn’t have to decide.
2. Get the elephant moving with a powerful emotion.
3. Make the path of change easy to follow, because human behavior is highly situational.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Habit Books About Money

13. Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi

Favorite Quote

“It doesn’t matter where you come from. It only matters where you are and where you want to go.” — Dean Grazios

The Book in One Sentence

Millionaire Success Habits will teach you the habits you need to become financially successful and make a big difference in the world along the way.

Why should you read it?

Where could you situate yourself in life as we speak and where do you want to end up? This book might just have the answer you are looking for. Informative and impressive – these are probably the best words to describe this book. And sometimes, the smallest shifts can produce the biggest effects. And that, no matter the circumstances you find yourself in. It just takes a bit of courage to apply any of the wisdom shared in this book.

Key Takeaways

1. Find your why by doing the seven levels deep exercise and your motivation and energy will skyrocket.
2. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses, if you want to be happier and more productive.”
3. Wake up the hero inside of you and let them take charge of your life.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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14. Dollars And Sense by Dan Ariely & Jeff Kreisler

Favorite Quote

“Thinking a lot about money would be fine if by thinking more about it we were able to make better decisions.” — Dan Ariely & Jeff Kreisler

The Book in One Sentence

Dollars And Sense explains why it’s so hard to manage money and teaches you how to combat false cues and natural desires so you can manage your dollars in better ways.

Why should you read it?

Money is just a collection of numbers, or so we think, but sometimes, we judge these numbers with our hearts, and not our heads. How would you describe your relationship with money and how would you describe your spending habits? Behavioural economist, Dan Ariely has partnered up with writer Jeff Kreisler to explain how instincts work in our relationship with money. Knowing exactly how and when certain behaviours are instilled can help us reconsider our daily financial decisions. You might be surprised to find out that a lot of our money-related decisions are actually just a bias.

Key Takeaways

1. Fundamental human characteristics make it hard to manage our money.
2. Use emotional connections and “Ulysses Contracts” to boost your self-control.
3. Get rid of your complex budget and make a simple one.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Habit Books for Health

15. Rewire by Richard O’Connor

Favorite Quote

“You know very well what the right choice is, yet you keep making the wrong one.” — Richard O’Connor

The Book in One Sentence

Rewire explains why we keep engaging in addictive and self-destructive behavior, how our brains justify it and where you can get started on breaking your bad habits by becoming more mindful and disciplined.

Why should you read it?

Written by a psychotherapist, this book gives you a number of tools that will help you not only understand those bad behaviours you might have but also change them. People have a tendency to “repeat mistakes”, which might just be bad habits that die hard. This book will also go deeper into the roots of a certain problem, in order to put things into a certain perspective and will help you overcome any destructive behaviour with the help of exercise. A short book, but packed with a lot of valuable information!

Key Takeaways

1. You have two selves that influence your actions – a conscious one and an automatic one.
2. Repressing your emotions can cause you to become self-destructive.
3. You can start breaking your bad habits by faking it and training mindfulness.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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16. You Are Not Your Brain by Jeffrey M. Schwartz

Favorite Quote

“Your mind is your biggest ally” — Jeffrey M. Schwartz

The Book in One Sentence

You Are Not Your Brain educates you about the science behind bad habits and breaking them, giving you an actionable 4-step framework you can use to stop listening to your brain’s deceptive messages.

Why should you read it?

This 4 – Step Method book, written by two neuroscience experts can help you change those bad habits once and for all. More and more people seem to dive into an unhealthy way of thinking, which affects them from every perspective. But this can be overcome, as it is explained in this book. Your brain might push you into thinking in a certain way, but your mind can become your biggest ally against destructive thoughts or actions.

Key Takeaways

1. Self-directed neuroplasticity is your go-to weapon to change your habits.
2. Hebb’s law and the quantum zeno effect.
3. There are 4 steps you can take to break a bad habit.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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17. The Joy Of Movement by Kelly McGonigal

Favorite Quote

“The right playlist can transform your experience of exercise.” — by Kelly McGonigal

The Book in One Sentence

The Joy Of Movement is just what you need to finally find the motivation to get out and exercise more often by teaching you the scientific reasons why it’s good for you and why your body is designed to enjoy it.

Why should you read it?

Many books will tell you why you should get up and start moving around in your house. Dance, sing, jump – do whatever your body tells you to. Now, do you feel all pumped up? Because this book will have you all pumped up as well and it will show you how to start enjoying moving around! If you want to have a better understanding of the science behind movement and how it makes us feel all better, you might want to run to the nearest store and find this book.

Key Takeaways

1. The “runner’s high” comes with any type of physical exertion, is a protection against anxiety and depression, and can even make you more social.
2. Exercise can give you a hit like drugs would, but with a whole lot of positive side-effects instead of the negative ones that come from substance abuse.
3. If you don’t like the idea of steroids but want to enhance your performance, use music to reach your peak state while exercising.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Habit Books on Psychology

18. Willpower by Roy Baumeister

Favorite Quote

“For most of us, the problem is not a lack of goals but rather too many of them” — Roy Baumeister

The Book in One Sentence

Willpower is a blend of practical tips and the latest scientific research on self-control, explaining how willpower works, what you can do to improve it, how to optimize it and which steps to take when it fails you.

Why should you read it?

Roy F. Baumeister, an influential psychologist, teamed up with a science writer, John Tierney, in the writing of this book. And what did they find out? That self-control might be a well-kept secret for a better and successful life and that this secret can be easily mastered. This book is filled with tips and different techniques that can help you build a better life, without using too much magic.

Key Takeaways

1. Your willpower works like a muscle – if you exercise it too much, it gets worn out.
2. Willpower begets willpower, so you can train it by using it.
3. Set compatible and clear goals, but leave leeway for your willpower.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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19. Drive by Daniel Pink

Favorite Quote

“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.” — Daniel Pink

The Book in One Sentence

Drive explores what has motivated humans throughout history and explains how we shifted from mere survival to the carrot and stick approach that’s still practiced today – and why it’s outdated.

Why should you read it?

This New York Times bestseller surprises readers with a new view in regards to motivation. An easy read, that gets straight to the point and allows the readers to aim not only for self but also for business improvement. Times change and things evolve, and so do we – so how do we reach that point of true motivation? This unique book will provide you with clever and simple techniques that will take you far.

Key Takeaways

1. The carrot and stick approach is dead.
2. Extrinsic motivation destroys intrinsic motivation.
3. Strive for the flow state in everything you do.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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20. Habits Of A Happy Brain by Loretta Breuning

Favorite Quote

“You can increase your pleasure if you’re willing to do things that don’t feel good at first.” — Loretta Breuning

The Book in One Sentence

Habits Of A Happy Brain explains the four neurotransmitters in your brain that create happiness, why you can’t be happy all the time, and how you can rewire your brain by taking responsibility for your own hormones and thus, happiness.

Why should you read it?

Is it revolutionary if I tell you that this book will help you boost your happiness in just… 45 days? Our brain makes use of four neurotransmitters in order to create happiness and these happy chemicals can be released with just a few activities, presented in this book. This pleasant read will help you retrain your brain in order to live a more fulfilled life.

Key Takeaways

1. Unhappy chemicals are just as important as happy ones.
2. Nothing will make you happy forever.
3. To live means to choose constantly, so it’s important that you do.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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21. The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

Favorite Quote

“Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.” — Kelly McGonigal

The Book in One Sentence

The Willpower Instinct breaks down willpower into 3 categories, and gives you science-backed systems to improve your self-control, break bad habits and choose long-term goals over instant gratification.

Why should you read it?

Written by a health psychologist, this book concentrated on self-control and how we can use it to the fullest in order to improve our lives. Based on recent research and making use of precious insights from psychology, neuroscience, and not only, this book concentrates on breaking down willpower and giving an answer to all the questions surrounding it: what, why, and how.

Key Takeaways

1. Willpower comes in 3 different shapes and sizes.
2. Your willpower instinct can also be called the pause-and-plan-response.
3. Don’t let past good behavior be an excuse for present bad behavior.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Conclusion

So far, we’ve summarized more than 1,000 books. As depicted above, quite a few are about habits and how they affect our lives. We believe that these are the best books about habits that you can read this year.

We all have this desire for a better life, but our busy schedules and the way we think might sometimes get in the way of that. Learning how to deal with self-control, understanding our spending habits, and starting with the simple things are just a few of the numerous tips these books have for us. Figuring out which ones work for you will definitely lead you on the path to a better and calmer life.

Habits define us. But we can also define them. What’s your habit… or book of choice today?

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Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

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Other Book Lists by Author

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

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Each year, a group of experts gathers to assess the global state of happiness. The result, the World Happiness Report, is released on March 20, the International Day of Happiness.

This sounds like a positive thing, but, since 2005, overall happiness is decreasing while negative feelings like sadness and anger are on the rise. What’s worse is the trend of more young people experiencing mental illness, addictions, and their consequences. To an extent, this is understandable.

It’s tough to stay afloat mentally with everything going on in the world these days. No wonder we can crack at the slightest problem. But then we feel bad for not knowing how to handle it all and slip even deeper into unhappiness.

How do we stop this spiral? How can we actively combat our common enemy? What do we need to stop doing? And which habits will allow us to harness the power of happiness?

Dozens of books can help educate ourselves about happiness from a multitude of perspectives. We can take the view of science, of history, of philosophy, mindfulness, and spirituality.

At Four Minute Books, we’ve hand-summarized over 1,000 books. In the course of doing so, we’ve learned a thing or two about happiness, and we recorded which experts and books have the most potential to add more joy to your life.

If you want to be happier, consider the following 33 books, sorted by category. For each one, we’ve included our favorite quote, a one-sentence-summary, our three key takeaways, and a few points on why you might want to read it. Use the clickable table of contents below to jump to any book or category.

Here are the 33 best happiness books of all time – they’ll change your life forever!

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Best Happiness Books Overall

1. Solve For Happy by Mo Gawdat

Favorite Quote

“If you can afford the brain cycles to worry about the future, then by definition you have nothing to worry about right now. Right now, you’re okay.” — Mo Gawdat

The Book in One Sentence

Solve For Happy lays out a former Google engineers formula for happiness, which shows you that it’s our default state and how to overcome the obstacles we face in remaining in it.

Why should you read it?

Sometimes, it takes a tragedy to understand happiness is a choice. Mo Gawdat knows. He lost his 21-year-old son Ali. He taught himself to choose happiness instead of sadness regardless. What made Gawdat’s choice an obvious one was the formula that he and Ali had been working on for years: “Happiness is equal to or greater than the events of your life minus your expectation of how life should be.” This incredible book shows you why your perspective, more than anything else, determines your happiness.

Key Takeaways

1. Your inner voice is not the real you.
2. Many cognitive filters prevent you from seeing the whole world around you.
3. No matter if life is good or bad, staying in the present always makes you feel more content with it.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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2. Stumbling On Happiness by Dan Gilbert

Favorite Quote

“The secret of happiness is variety, but the secret of variety, like the secret of all spices, is knowing when to use it.” — Dan Gilbert

The Book in One Sentence

Stumbling On Happiness examines the capacity of our brains to fill in gaps and simulate experiences, shows how our lack of awareness of these powers sometimes leads us to wrong decisions, and how we can change our behavior to synthesize our own happiness.

Why should you read it?

This book examines how your brain tries to lie to you, specifically about what will happen in the future. Dan Gilbert’s years of research show just how our minds trick us into worrying, which makes us unhappy with our decisions even before we make them. It turns out that a big key to happiness is figuring out how to tell the difference between fact and fiction!

Key Takeaways

1. Your brain is really bad at filling in the blanks, but it keeps on trying.
2. You should always compare products based on value, never on price.
3. Bad experiences are better than no experiences.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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3. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Favorite Quote

“I could care less about whether it’s half full or half empty — as long as I can fill it up.” — Shawn Achor

The Book in One Sentence

The Happiness Advantage turns the tables on happiness by proving it is a tool for success rather than of the result of it, sharing seven actionable principles you can use to increase both.

Why should you read it?

Shawn Achor’s research reveals the lies in the conventional idea that hard work and success lead to happiness. He’s identified, with science, that happiness comes first, then you will become successful. This book points to several ways that you can start being happier right now.

Key Takeaways

1. Happiness comes before success, not after it.
2. You can train yourself to be optimistic with the “Tetris Effect.”
3. Fall up instead of down.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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4. The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

Favorite Quote

“Love and work are to people what water and sunshine are to plants.” — Jonathan Haidt

The Book in One Sentence

The Happiness Hypothesis is the most thorough analysis of how you can find happiness in our modern society, backed by plenty of scientific research, real-life examples, and even a literal formula for happiness.

Why should you read it?

This book dives into the neurological aspects that contribute to happiness with a twist. Instead of getting lost in medical terms, Haidt employs the memorable analogy of a rider on an elephant. The metaphor shows how we can harness our brains to make us happy. More importantly, you’ll learn how to build thinking and relationship habits that will lead to long-term happiness.

Key Takeaways

1. Surround yourself with the people you love the most and live in accordance with reciprocity
2. Do work that matters to you.
3. Find a partner who will stand by your side through sunshine and rain.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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5. Flourish by Martin Seligman

Favorite Quote

“I’m trying to broaden the scope of positive psychology well beyond the smiley face. Happiness is just one-fifth of what human beings choose to do.” — Martin Seligman

The Book in One Sentence

Flourish establishes a new model for well-being rooted in positive psychology, building on five key pillars to help you create a happy life through the power of simple exercises.

Why should you read it?

Martin Seligman is the father of positive psychology. Prior to his work, brain science was based solely on the problems with the mind. Seligman changed that with his research. He is one of the best sources for beating dysfunctional thinking patterns. This book stands out with simple but powerful exercises you can do immediately to improve your happiness.

Key Takeaways

1. A life of profound fulfillment is built on the acronym PERMA.
2. Simple positivity exercises can have life-changing effects.
3. IQ isn’t everything — success is based on character traits, not just intelligence.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books About Happiness For Beginners

6. The Power Of No by James Altucher

Favorite Quote

“When you get in the mud with a pig, you get dirty and the pig gets happy.” — James Altucher

The Book in One Sentence

The Power Of No is an encompassing instruction manual on using the power of a little word to get healthy, rid yourself of bad relationships, embrace abundance, and ultimately say yes to yourself.

Why should you read it?

Ultimately, this book is not about saying no, although you’ll get a lot of tips on how to do that. The benefit of this book lies in learning to eliminate unnecessary things from your life so that you can say yes to yourself. It’s packed with practical tips for ridding your life of that which pulls you down, which will make you feel freer and happier.

Key Takeaways

1. Rate your regulars to say no to the wrong people.
2. Stop doing things you don’t like, and everyone will be better off.
3. Say no to scarcity to go beyond “glass half full.”

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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7. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

Favorite Quote

“Success is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.” — Richard Carlson

The Book in One Sentence

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff (… And It’s All Small Stuff) will keep you from letting the little things drive you insane, like your email inbox, rushing to trains, and annoying co-workers, and help you find peace and calm in a stressful world.

Why should you read it?

This book spent 100 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. If you’ve ever rushed in traffic only to end up next to the same person you passed a couple of miles back, this book might change your life. It’ll open your mind to the idea of letting go of the unimportant things that society has trained us to think of as vital. The author left a great legacy that lives on in this good book.

Key Takeaways

1. Remember that your life isn’t an emergency.
2. Give others a break, especially when they don’t deserve it.
3. Don’t procrastinate on relaxing.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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8. Happier At Home by Gretchen Rubin

Favorite Quote

“I am living my real life, this is it. Now is now and if I waited to be happier, waited to have fun, waited to do the things that I know I ought to do, I might never get the chance.” — Gretchen Rubin

The Book in One Sentence

Happier At Home is an instruction manual to transform your home into a castle of happiness by figuring out what needs to be changed, what needs to stay the same, and embracing the gift of family.

Why should you read it?

This book is a result of the author feeling homesick while standing in her own kitchen. Knowing it was time to make some changes, she worked hard for the next nine months to improve her home and family life. She investigates four themes that make for a happy home: time, possessions, parenthood, and marriage and family. Reading this book will help you feel happy at home.

Key Takeaways

1. Get rid of clutter.
2. Underreact to problems.
3. Meet your neighbors.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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9. How To Stop Worrying And Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Favorite Quote

“Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember: life’s too short to be little.” — Dale Carnegie

The Book in One Sentence

How To Stop Worrying And Start Living is a self-help classic that addresses one of the leading causes of physical illness - worry - by showing you simple and actionable techniques to eliminate it from your life.

Why should you read it?

This book is a classic in identifying roadblocks to happiness and how to eliminate them. Nobody likes worrying, it’s a killer of joy, but it has several different causes. Having sold six million copies, this book can help you deal with all kinds of negative emotions like confusion, stress, grief, and criticism.

Key Takeaways

1. Use a 3-step approach to deal with confusion, and you’ll eliminate the worry caused by it.
2. Put a stop-loss on stress and grief.
3. Take criticism as compliments.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books About Happiness For Advanced Learners

10. Happiness by Richard Layard

Favorite Quote

“Competition for status is a zero sum game.” — Richard Layard

The Book in One Sentence

Happiness will teach you how our desire for it developed, what its benefits are, why money actually hurts our happiness and where it really comes from, and how Western countries could easily increase their happiness with a few changes.

Why should you read it?

The author of this book has researched happiness for almost 50 years. He takes a holistic approach to this emotion we all seek. You’ll learn the history of happiness in mankind, what money has to do with it, and why higher taxes might, counterintuitively, be a good thing.

Key Takeaways

1. Our capability to feel happiness is a result of evolution, we weren’t always able to feel happy.
2. More money actually makes you less happy, unless you live in poverty.
3. One of the simplest ways for Western countries to increase happiness would be to raise taxes.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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11. Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson

Favorite Quote

“Hopelessness is the root of anxiety, mental illness and depression. It is the source of all misery and the cause of all addiction.” — Mark Manson

The Book in One Sentence

Everything Is F*cked explains what’s wrong with our approach towards happiness, providing philosophical suggestions that make our lives worth living.

Why should you read it?

Despite the clickbait title, Mark Manson delivers on his promise. This is “a book about hope.” Manson argues trying to avoid pain and discomfort makes us more unhappy than simply accepting and dealing with the negatives in our lives. He shows us it’s okay for not everything to be awesome all the time, and that having a more detached attitude will make us happy without depending so much on externals.

Key Takeaways

1. Pure logic won’t help you make the best decisions, a balanced brain will.
2. Hope won’t solve your problems, it takes acceptance and principles to do that.
3. The solution to mental illnesses is not chasing happiness, it is to attain true freedom from our addictions and dependencies.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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12. If You’re So Smart Why Aren’t You Happy by Dr. Raj Raghunathan

Favorite Quote

“Although happiness is a very important goal for most people, they also seem to devalue it as they go about their lives. That is, people seem to routinely sacrifice happiness for the sake of other goals.” — Dr. Raj Raghunathan

The Book in One Sentence

If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy walks you through the seven deadly sins of unhappiness, which will show you how small the correlation between success and happiness truly is and help you avoid chasing the wrong things in your short time here on earth.

Why should you read it?

This book follows the most popular course on the online learning platform Coursera in 2015. The author, Dr. Rajagopal Raghunathan, went on a quest to find out why so many of his intelligent friends were unhappy. He found out that we must not de-prioritize happiness, but that we also can’t be too desperate in chasing it. This book sums up his insights and findings.

Key Takeaways

1. The first step on the path to happiness is not devaluing it.
2. Don’t be desperate in your quest for love and strong relationships.
3. Happiness is knowing what you want yet being okay with not getting it for a while.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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13. A Guide To The Good Life by William B. Irvine

Favorite Quote

“The easiest way for us to gain happiness is to learn how to want the things we already have.” — William B. Irvine

The Book in One Sentence

A Guide To The Good Life is a roadmap for Stoicism, showing you how to cultivate this ancient philosophy, why it’s useful, and what Stoics are really about.

Why should you read it?

We’re not the first humans to think about what it takes to be happy, and we certainly won’t be the last. This book dives into the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and how it can help us live better. The author gives many firsthand examples on how these principles are improving his life, and in practicing it for several years, both Luke and I have found the same.

Key Takeaways

1. The two primary values of Stoicism are virtue and tranquility.
2. Learn to want what you already have.
3. Immediately accept things that are outside of your control and focus on what you can do.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Happiness Books (Positive Thinking)

14. The Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Favorite Quote

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget yourself, think of others. Try this for a week. You will be surprised.” — Norman Vincent Peale

The Book in One Sentence

The Power Of Positive Thinking will teach you how to believe in yourself, break the habit of worrying, and take control of your life by mastering your thoughts and changing your attitude.

Why should you read it?

This book was on the New York Times bestsellers list for 186 weeks. For 48 of them, it held the top spot. It was translated into 40 languages and has sold five million copies. Peale uses affirmation and visualization to develop a positive mental attitude, practices which are just as sound today as they were in 1952, the book’s original year of publication. An “old but gold” read.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with confidence and watch your problems shrink.
2. Your world is nothing more than the thoughts you have about your experiences.
3. In order to live worry-free, first, imagine a worry-free life.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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15. Loving What Is by Byron Katie

Favorite Quote

“I am a lover of what is, not because I’m a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality.” — Byron Katie

The Book in One Sentence

Loving What Is gives you four simple questions to turn negative thoughts around, change how you react to the events and people that stress you out, and learn to love reality as it is.

Why should you read it?

Byron Katie had a powerful realization at 43 years old. She’d been battling mental illness and anger issues for 10 years. One morning, she woke up and asked: What if I didn’t believe my own, negative thoughts? With a few simple questions, like “Is this thought true?” and “Who would I be without this thought?” she completely turned her life around. After she gave up destructive thinking patterns, all that was left was joy and gratitude to be alive. A powerful case study and proof that we can all change — even in a single day.

Key Takeaways

1. You can overcome stress by dissecting your thoughts with four simple questions.
2. Give yourself more options to think differently by turning thoughts around.
3. You can’t change reality by being frustrated about it.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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16. Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson

Favorite Quote

“By taking just a few extra seconds to stay with a positive experience — even the comfort in a single breath — you’ll turn a passing mental state into lasting neural structure.” — Rick Hanson

The Book in One Sentence

Hardwiring Happiness tells you what you can do to overcome your negativity bias  – focusing on and exaggerating negative events  – by relishing, extending, and prioritizing the good things in your life to become happier.

Why should you read it?

It’s easy to obsess over the negative. If you assess what’s going on in your mind right now, you’ll quickly find several things that are “not working.” In identifying why we linger on bad events and feelings so much, Hanson helps us change these patterns. He suggests our brains are like velcro for bad experiences and like teflon for good ones. His tips will make your happy memories stick, with negative ones sliding away like water off a duck’s back.

Key Takeaways

1. The reason you react stronger to bad things is that you (might) have a “sad amygdala.”
2. Start a “Good Year Box” to remind yourself of positive events all the time.
3. Create an infinite stream of positivity from your memories, small details, and being generous.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books on Happiness (Psychology)

17. The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha

Favorite Quote

“Motivation doesn’t cause action. Action causes motivation.” — Neil Pasricha

The Book in One Sentence

The Happiness Equation reveals nine scientifically backed secrets to happiness to show you that by wanting nothing and doing anything, you can have everything.

Why should you read it?

This book does away with unimportant factors of life that we think are vital. Pasricha teaches us to love the little things in life that have big potential to make us happy. In total, it includes nine different tips to help you become happier. Some you might have heard of before, but their unique delivery makes even those a good reminder.

Key Takeaways

1. The Germans invented retirement, and the Japanese found a cure for it: ikigai.
2. Take something called “the Saturday Morning Test” to fix the relationship with the most important person in your life: you.
3. Ignore most advice, including that from this book.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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18. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Favorite Quote

“The days are long, but the years are short.” — Gretchen Rubin

The Book in One Sentence

The Happiness Project will show you how to change your life without uprooting it, thanks to the findings of modern science, ancient history, and popular culture, which the author tested for a year.

Why should you read it?

One day, Rubin realized she was working hard but not on what would ultimately matter to her at the end of her life. She hit pause and did happiness experiments for a year. The result is this amazing book full of practical advice.

Key Takeaways

1. Clean up your house and your brain, because all clutter wears us down.
2. Accept that you can only change yourself and that what you do every day matters most to build better relationships.
3. Money is like health — it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be happy but not having to worry about it makes your life a lot easier.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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19. The Little Book Of Hygge by Meik Wiking

Favorite Quote

“To paraphrase one of the greatest philosophers of our time, Winnie the Pooh, when asked how to spell a certain emotion: ‘You don’t spell it, you feel it.’” — Meik Wiking

The Book in One Sentence

The Little Book Of Hygge is about how you can cultivate the hard-to-describe, yet powerful Danish attitude towards life, which consistently helps the country rank among the happiest in the world.

Why should you read it?

Meik Wiking is the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute. He’s also from Denmark, which ranked #1 in the World Happiness Report from 2013–2016. Hygge might sound strange, but this noun, adjective, and verb represents a way of life for the Danish — or, rather, a way of happiness. Wiking takes us through all the meanings behind this word and explains how Danish culture has made it the happiest place on earth.

Key Takeaways

1. Hygge is a special approach to happiness: a mood, a feeling, an activity even.
2. Atmosphere is a big part of hygge, so you should make a conscious effort to create the right environment for it.
3. You can live and experience hygge anywhere and anytime, it is unlimited.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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20. Habits Of A Happy Brain by Loretta Graziano Breuning

Favorite Quote

“You can increase your pleasure if you’re willing to do things that don’t feel good at first.” — Loretta Breuning

The Book in One Sentence

Habits Of A Happy Brain explains the four neurotransmitters in your brain that create happiness, why you can’t be happy all the time, and how you can rewire your brain by taking responsibility for your own hormones.

Why should you read it?

Endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin. These are the four chemicals that regulate our moods and greatly contribute (or detract from) our happiness. This book does explains them in a way we can understand them and, more importantly, use them to become happier.

Key Takeaways

1. Unhappy chemicals are just as important as happy ones.
2. Nothing will make you happy forever.
3. To live means to constantly choose, so it’s important that you do it deliberately.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Happiness Books (Work)

21. The Happiness Of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau

Favorite Quote

“It’s your life, so why not be intentional about it?” — Chris Guillebeau

The Book in One Sentence

The Happiness Of Pursuit is a call to take control of your life by going on a quest which will fill your life with meaning, purpose, and a whole lot of adventure.

Why should you read it?

Chris Guillebeau wrote this book after visiting every country in the world. Can you imagine how much you’d learn on such a journey? Guillebeau made note of the people he met that were on a mission of their own. After his return, he wrote this book to help you find yours and become happier by doing so.

Key Takeaways

1. When the world calls out to you, listen.
2. Adjust your life to accommodate your quest.
3. Your quest will give you purpose because it is a reward in and of itself.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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22. Ikigai by Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles

Favorite Quote

“Essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” — Hector Garcia Puigcerver

The Book in One Sentence

Ikigai explains how you can live a longer and happier life by having a purpose, eating healthy, and not retiring in a traditional sense.

Why should you read it?

The book identifies how Japanese people use the principles of ikigai to build happy lives through purpose and health. What’s remarkable is that some of the oldest people in the world never retired. Instead, they built healthy habits, good relationships, and a meaningful career. This book explains how to start doing the same with a few simple questions.

Key Takeaways

1. Having a purpose is a vital component of longevity and happiness.
2. If you want to live a long life, follow the advice of some of the oldest people in the world.
3. To stay healthy throughout your life, make sure you are moving enough.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books on Happiness (Mindfulness)

23. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

Favorite Quote

“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” — Robin S. Sharma

The Book in One Sentence

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a self-help classic telling the story of fictional lawyer Julian Mantle, who sold his mansion and Ferrari to study the seven virtues of the Sages of Sivana in the Himalayan mountains.

Why should you read it?

After fictional lawyer Julian Mantle has a stress-induced heart attack, he realizes he doesn’t need his Ferrari and sells it. Instead of pursuing worldly possessions, he begins seeking wisdom. What he eventually learns can teach us how to live happier lives by changing our focus to what really matters. As of 2013, this book had sold over three million copies.

Key Takeaways

1. Use the “Heart of the Rose” exercise to guard your mind against unwanted thoughts.
2. Develop a simple 10-step morning routine with the “Ten Rituals of Radiant Living.”
3. Selflessly serving others counterintuitively leaves you better off too.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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24. The Miracle Of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

Favorite Quote

“In mindfulness, one is not only restful and happy but alert and awake. Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

The Book in One Sentence

The Miracle of Mindfulness teaches the ancient Buddhist practice of mindfulness and how living in the present will make you happier.

Why should you read it?

Depression is living in the past. Anxiety is living in the future. Peace, then, is living in the present. This great book is a helpful introduction to the world of mindfulness and the huge impact it can have on your happiness. The author is a world-famous Vietnamese monk and zen master. You’ll learn straight from the master of mindfulness himself.

Key Takeaways

1. Learn how to breathe correctly to begin practicing mindfulness.
2. Set aside one day each week to be mindful the entire day.
3. Mindfulness is more than mere resting; to reap its full benefits, it requires the same attention as driving a car.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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25. The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Favorite Quote

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

The Book in One Sentence

The Power of Now shows you that every minute you spend worrying about the future or regretting the past is a minute lost because we can only live in the present and act in every moment as it occurs.

Why should you read it?

One late night, Tolle had deeply depressing thoughts, wondering what made his life so difficult. In a lightbulb moment, he realized the answer was in his “I” — the picture of himself that his brain had created. When he woke up the next day, he felt reborn. He’d finally let go. His advice on how to better focus on the present is contained in this multi-million-copy bestseller.

Key Takeaways

1. Life is just a series of present moments.
2. All pain is a result of resistance to the things you cannot change.
3. You can free yourself from pain by constantly observing your mind and not judging your thoughts.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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26. Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Favorite Quote

“Meditation is the only intentional, systematic human activity, which at bottom is not about trying to improve yourself or get anywhere else but simply to realize where you already are.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn

The Book in One Sentence

Wherever You Go, There You Are explains what mindfulness is and why it’s not reserved for zen practitioners and Buddhist monks, giving you simple ways to practice it in everyday life, both formally and informally, while helping you avoid the obstacles on your way to a more aware self.

Why should you read it?

Jon Kabat-Zinn is a legend in the mindfulness space. He studied under other experts, like Thich Nhat Hanh. As zen and intriguing as the title sounds, the book connects the power of mindfulness to science. The advice in it is simple and powerful and easy to implement immediately.

Key Takeaways

1. Deliberately ignore your phone.
2. If someone takes something from you, don’t let them take your mind too.
3. Focus on your body and senses during automatic behaviors.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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27. 10% Happier by Dan Harris

Favorite Quote

“There’s no point in being unhappy about things you can’t change and no point being unhappy about things you can.” — Dan Harris

The Book in One Sentence

10% Happier gives skeptics an easy “in” to meditation by taking a very non-fluffy approach to the science behind this mindfulness practice and showing you how and why letting go of your ego is important to living a stress-free life.

Why should you read it?

Former ABC News correspondent Dan Harris snapped under the pressure of his job. After having a panic attack on live television, he looked into what was really important. The Westerner thoroughly investigated mindfulness and then reported on useful ways even skeptics can embrace it to be happier.

Key Takeaways

1. The problem with your ego is that it’s never satisfied.
2. Be simple, not a simpleton — why letting go of your ego won’t make you a pushover.
3. Meditation increases your mindfulness and compassion by giving you a fourth habitual response – non-judgment.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Books on Happiness (Spirituality)

28. The Art Of Happiness by HH Dalai Lama

Favorite Quote

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” — Dalai Lama

The Book in One Sentence

The Art Of Happiness is the result of a psychiatrist interviewing the Dalai Lama on how he personally achieved inner peace, calmness, and happiness.

Why should you read it?

According to one of the world’s most celebrated leaders, the Dalai Lama, happiness comes from training our minds and hearts to respond appropriately to the experiences we have. This book is the kind of message that anyone can learn from, religious or not.

Key Takeaways

1. You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual.
2. The only constant thing is change.
3. Know your limits.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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29. Trying Not To Try by Edward Slingerland

Favorite Quote

“The conscious mind, ungrounded by the wisdom of the body, is remarkably incapable of taking care of business.” — Edward Slingerland

The Book in One Sentence

Trying Not To Try explores ancient, Chinese philosophy to break down the art of being spontaneous, which will help you unite your mind and body, reach a state of flow, and breeze through life like a leaf in a river.

Why should you read it?

Sometimes, it feels like you’re hacking at the branches of a problem instead of getting at the root. When it comes to happiness, there are a lot of “hacks” that only work at a surface level. This book takes a deeper approach to analyze which philosophy will make us the happiest. It’s not the end of the journey but a useful first domino in a long chain of events that’ll make us happy.

Key Takeaways

1. The concept of “flow” has long existed in traditional Chinese philosophy, and is called “wu-wei.”
2. Wu-wei is directly connected to “de,” and, together, the two can lead you towards a good life.
3. To attain wu-wei, you must be honest, especially with yourself, and then relentlessly act on it.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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30. Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson

Favorite Quote

“Only we humans worry about the future, regret the past, and blame ourselves for the present.” — Rick Hanson

The Book in One Sentence

Buddha’s Brain explains how world-changing leaders like Moses, Mohammed, Jesus, Gandhi, and the Buddha used the power of their minds to become more positive, resilient, mindful, and happy people and how you can do the same.

Why should you read it?

This book combines thinking tactics, mindfulness techniques, spirituality, and neuroscience. It includes something for everyone, whether you’re deep into mindfulness already or don’t like meditating. Most of all, this book will give you permission to catch your breath and not worry so much. It’ll free space in your life so you finally have some room for peace and happiness.

Key Takeaways

1. Stop throwing “second darts” by not dwelling on your pain.
2. Practice composure to not live in a state of constant desire.
3. Don’t identify with so many things to reduce your suffering.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Happiness Books (Minimalism)

31. The More Of Less by Joshua Becker

Favorite Quote

“Our excessive possessions are not making us happy. Even worse, they take us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don’t matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter.” — Joshua Becker

The Book in One Sentence

The More Of Less teaches you how to declutter your time, mind, and physical spaces to give more attention to the people and experiences that matter most.

Why should you read it?

The premise of this book is simple: You own too much stuff. That stuff makes you unhappy. Get rid of it, and you’ll become happier. Going further, the book explains how to get out of our consumerist habits and why doing so will give us the space we crave to deal with the things that really matter to us.

Key Takeaways

1. Minimalism is about getting rid of the things that get in the way of what’s important.
2. Advertisements have a powerful effect on our spending habits.
3. We can reject endless consumerism by donating our unwanted stuff, which will make us happy.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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32. Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus

Favorite Quote

“You needn’t settle for a mediocre life just because the people around you did.” – Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus

The Book in One Sentence

Minimalism is an instructive guide to the philosophy of less, explaining how it helped two guys who had achieved the American dream let go of their possessions and the depressions that came with them.

Why should you read it?

Ryan and Josh worked hard for their nice jobs, cars, and houses. None of it made them happy. Instead, the debt burden crushed them. As a challenge, they changed their lifestyle, got rid of the stuff that held them back, and became happier. This book is the result. It’ll help you follow in their steps to live better.

Key Takeaways

1. Debt goes first. Get rid of your financial crutches to finally feel free.
2. Use the Tolerate-Accept-Respect-Appreciate (TARA) method to become more accepting of other people in your life.
3. You are not your job. Don’t let your work define you.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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33. The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Favorite Quote

“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” — Marie Kondo

The Book in One Sentence

The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up takes you through the process of simplifying, organizing, and storing your belongings step by step to make your home a place of peace and clarity.

Why should you read it?

Konmari’s mega-bestseller has sold over six million copies world-wide and led to her own TV show. The power of behind this global phenomenon lies in the simplicity of its mantra: “Does this spark joy?” According to Marie Kondo, this single question can greatly improve our lives and homes.

Key Takeaways

1. Move from easy to hard items when considering what to keep.
2. YODO — you only declutter once (if you do it right).
3. Ask yourself a few simple questions, like “Does this spark joy?” for each item you consider throwing away.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Conclusion

We’ve summarized over 1,000 books to date, many of them about happiness. In our opinion, these are the best happiness books to read this year.

Let go of material possessions, focus on the people around you, learn the science of happiness, and practice some of the tips from these books. In finding out which ones work for you and which ones don’t, you’ll be well on your way to a happier life.

Don’t wait. Happiness is an urgent matter. Start reading some of the best books on happiness today!

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama XIV

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Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

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Other Book Lists by Author

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

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In 2022, a study found that 56% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings in the bank. It gets worse: Over half of those people don’t have enough money to cover a $1,000 expense at all. They’d have to borrow the money. That’s bad.

It’s not bad because “you should save money,” but because having no emergency fund puts you in a vulnerable position. What if someone crashes into your car? What if you break a few bones? Things outside of our control can force us to pay up. You don’t want to come up short when that happens.

That’s just the most pressing example of why you should learn to manage your finances. There are others: Retiring in peace without stressing about money, having enough to invest in a new venture, giving freely to friends, family, and charity — money does make our lives easier up to a certain degree.

Thankfully, there are a lot of good books to help us become financially smart. At Four Minute Books, we’ve reviewed and summarized over 1,000 books to date, and we think the best finance books come down to three things:

1. Practical advice. Money is a tangible thing, so whatever tips authors give should be easy to implement for you right away.
2. Relevant information. Depending on your situation and goals, you might need a beginner’s book or a more advanced one.
3. Inspiring stories. If a book is boring, it won’t motivate you to take action. The easiest way to change is to listen to a good story.

Based on these three criteria, we’ve selected the 14 best finance books for you to read. If you want to become savvy with your finances, be smarter in how you spend and save, and learn to invest your money to build freedom, consider these books.

Our list includes our favorite quote, a short summary, three key lessons, and few arguments for why you may want to read each book in question. Each of them is available on Four Minute Books, so you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

To make navigating this page easier for you, we broke the list down into different categories and created a table of contents. You can also jump back up here with the little arrow in the bottom right corner of the page.

Whether you’ve been unlucky, have bad financial habits, or just aren’t good at math, these books may finally change your financial life for the better. Here are the best finance books!

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Best Finance Books Overall

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Favorite Quote

“The main reason that over 90 percent of the American public struggles financially is because they play not to lose. They don’t play to win.” — Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Book in One Sentence

Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of a boy with two fathers, one rich, one poor, to help you develop the mindset and financial knowledge you need to build a life of wealth and freedom.

Why should you read it?

This book is controversial, but in getting you to actually do something, it just works. It’s based partially on Kiyosaki’s life, who learned two different ways of handling money from his dad and that of his best friend. The lessons are a mix of how to approach money as a concept, basic knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and investing, and how to manage your money so it works for you. By the time you’re done with the story, you’ll enjoy implementing the tips.

Key Takeaways

1. Use your money to acquire assets, not liabilities.
2. Manage risks instead of avoiding them.
3. Work to learn, not to earn.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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2. Money: Master The Game by Tony Robbins

Favorite Quote

“You either master money, or, on some level, money masters you!” — Tony Robbins

The Book in One Sentence

Money: Master The Game lays out seven simple steps to financial freedom, based on the advice of the world’s best billionaire investors, interviewed by Tony Robbins.

Why should you read it?

Tony Robbins dedicated ten years of research to this book. After the financial crisis of 2008, he decided to help average people secure a good future. After interviewing several billionaire financial legends, such as Ray Dalio, Warren Buffett, Jack Bogle, he put together their best strategies. The book contains everything from mindset changes to saving tips to asset allocation. The transcripts of the interviews are worth the price of the book alone.

Key Takeaways

1. Never underestimate the exponential power of compounding interest.
2. Pick one of three financial goals to show yourself that financial freedom is within reach: basic expenses, basic + fun, or financial independence.
3. Diversify your investments by using a 3-bucket system: A security bucket, a growth bucket, and a dream bucket.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Finance Books For Beginners

3. The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

Favorite Quote

“You can continue living in the past, beating yourself up about the money mistakes you made when you were younger, telling yourself you’ve left it too late…or you can rise up and make yourself proud.” — Scott Pape

The Book in One Sentence

The Barefoot Investor is an Australian farm boy’s no-BS guide to taking charge of your personal finances with a simple system to eliminate debt, live in the now, and still retire in peace.

Why should you read it?

Scott Pape is Australia’s most trusted personal finance expert. His book has sold over 1,000,000 copies. Despite growing up on a farm, Pape wanted to get rich by trading stocks. That didn’t work out. He went back to his farm and now uses the simple life as a metaphor for managing your money. The book helps you take control in three phases: plant, grow, then harvest your money. He balances easy tips with radical advice. A great book for beginners.

Key Takeaways

1. Simplify your money management by using different bank accounts.
2. Shred your credit cards first, then start paying off your debt.
3. Automate some of your retirement planning with index funds.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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4. The One-Page Financial Plan by Carl Richards

Favorite Quote

“People who understand interest earn it. People who don’t pay it.” — Carl Richards

The Book in One Sentence

The One-Page Financial Plan makes financial planning stop feeling like a burden for the less disciplined by helping you plan your entire financial future on a single page.

Why should you read it?

Carl Richards has spent more than 40,000 hours over the last 20 years as a financial advisor, working at Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch and others. Some of his sketches he shares on Instagram went viral. They illustrate the ideas that helped him and his wife plan their finances on just one piece of paper. His book shows you how to do the same.

Key Takeaways

1. Set some goals but stay flexible and fine-tune along the way.
2. Turn budgeting into a game to make saving fun.
3. View paying off debt as an investment in your future.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Finance Books For Investors

5. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

Favorite Quote

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — Benjamin Graham

The Book in One Sentence

The Intelligent Investor explains value investing, which is focused on generating steady, long-term profits by ignoring the current market and picking companies with high intrinsic value.

Why should you read it?

Warren Buffett says this is the single greatest book on investing ever written. It’s based on Benjamin Graham’s classes, which Warren Buffett took as a young student. Value investors find companies with great fundamentals and buy their shares at a discounted price. After that, all they have to do is wait. Eventually, their real value will unlock. A true, timeless classic.

Key Takeaways

1. There are 3 principles to intelligent investing: analyze for the long term, protect yourself from losses, and don’t go for crazy profits.
2. Never trust Mr. Market, he can be very irrational in the short and medium term.
3. Stick to a strict formula by which you make all your investments, and you’ll do fine.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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6. The Little Book That Beats The Market by Joel Greenblatt

Favorite Quote

“Choosing individual stocks without any idea of what you’re looking for is like running through a dynamite factory with a burning match. You may live, but you’re still an idiot.” — Joel Greenblatt

The Book in One Sentence

The Little Book That (Still) Beats The Market is a step-by-step tutorial to implement a simple, mathematical formula when buying stocks which guarantees long-term profits.

Why should you read it?

Joel Greenblatt is an investing legend. His investment company Gotham Funds had an annual return of over 40% for 20 years, from 1986 to 2006. With his simple formula, Joel has managed to turn Benjamin Graham’s value investing approach into a system that only needs to be updated once a year. In 2005, he wrote it down to pass it on to his children. If you’re looking for a specific, low-hassle investment approach, this is your best bet.

Key Takeaways

1. Look at earnings yield and return on capital to evaluate stocks.
2. Rank and combine these two factors to find winning companies.
3. Be patient, it’s what makes this formula unpopular, but effective.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Finance Books For Entrepreneurs

7. The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco

Favorite Quote

“Many people want to change their life, but they are not willing to change their choices, and ultimately this changes nothing.” — MJ DeMarco

The Book in One Sentence

The Millionaire Fastlane points out what’s wrong with the old “get a degree, get a job, work hard, retire rich” model, defines wealth in a new way, and shows you the path to retiring young.

Why should you read it?

This book must have the world’s most misleading title. It’s not a get-rich-quick-scheme at all. Instead, it’s a story of persistence, boldness, risk-taking, and unconventional thinking. After seeing a man in a Lamborghini when he was a teenager, MJ DeMarco knew he wanted to be rich, but he didn’t want to slave away for 40 years to get there. After launching, selling, and re-buying his own company, he retired at age 33 as a multi-millionaire. An inspiring read!

Key Takeaways

1. Wealth stands for 3 things — and money isn’t one of them: health, relationships, and freedom are what truly matters.
2. At some point, you must make your income independent of your time.
3. Think like a producer, not like a consumer.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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8. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Favorite Quote

“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

The Book in One Sentence

Think and Grow Rich is a curation of the 13 most common habits of wealthy and successful people, distilled from studying over 500 individuals over the course of 20 years.

Why should you read it?

This might be the most popular book about success in the world. After steel magnate Andrew Carnegie himself put him on to the task, Napoleon Hill interviewed successful individuals for 20 years. The result, was published in 1937 and has sold 70 million copies. It’s a book about thinking, vision, and doing what it takes to succeed. If you’re a young entrepreneur, this is for you.

Key Takeaways

1. Use autosuggestion to build an unshakeable belief in yourself.
2. Be stubborn and always stick to your decisions.
3. Join a Mastermind group to cut your learning curve.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Finance Books For Saving Money

9. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Favorite Quote

“Getting started is more important than becoming an expert.” — Ramit Sethi

The Book in One Sentence

I Will Teach You To Be Rich helps you save money on autopilot while allowing yourself to spend guilt-free on the things you enjoy.

Why should you read it?

Ramit Sethi’s blog started in his dorm room in 2004. After selling an ebook for a few dollars and seeing the magic of earning online, he doubled down. 15 years later, GrowthLab makes millions in annual revenue with online courses. His New York Times bestseller will help you cut costs in every area of life, splurge on the things you enjoy, and automate your retirement planning. A down-to-earth perspective from someone who’s done it.

Key Takeaways

1. You’re the only one responsible for your financial problems.
2. Know how much money you have coming in and then automatically direct it where you want it to end up.
3. Start investing today, even if it’s just $1.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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10. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Favorite Quote

“We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” — Dave Ramsey

The Book in One Sentence

The Total Money Makeover shows you how to stop accepting debt as normal, eliminate it forever in small increments, and build the financial future you deserve in seven steps.

Why should you read it?

The Dave Ramsey Show is one of USA’s most popular radio shows ever. Ramsey helps people become debt-free, at which point they go on his show to talk about the experience. He also helps them with the emotional issues of tackling money and goes beyond mere mathematical tips. Ramsey encourages you to tackle your debts from small to large, then slowly start saving, and only invest after you’ve covered the basics. A rock-solid approach to finance.

Key Takeaways

1. Before you do anything else, put away $1,000 in an emergency fund.
2. Start paying down your debts, beginning with the smallest.
3. Grow your emergency fund until you have at least a three-month buffer.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Finance Books For Retirement

11. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

Favorite Quote

“The fact is, none of us really has a choice: We are all playing the money game whether we want to or not. The only question is: Are we winning?” — David Bach

The Book in One Sentence

The Automatic Millionaire is an actionable, step-by-step plan for building wealth without being disciplined by relying on fixed percentages, small payments, and automated transactions.

Why should you read it?

When he was seven years old, his grandma took David Bach to McDonald’s. Over lunch, she told him there are three types of people in the world: those who eat at McDonald’s, those who work at McDonald’s, and those who invest in McDonald’s. Wow! Later, Bach became a vice president at Morgan Stanley. Today, he runs a consultancy and publishes books. 7 of 12 are New York Times bestsellers, and this one is his most practical template for building wealth.

Key Takeaways

1. Saving a little every day will go a long way.
2. Pay yourself first to take care of your financial future.
3. Automatic payments allow you to invest in a disciplined manner without being disciplined yourself.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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12. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley

Favorite Quote

“Whatever your income, always live below your means.” — Thomas J. Stanley

The Book in One Sentence

The Millionaire Next Door shows you the simple spending and saving habits that lead to more cash in the bank than most people earn in their life while helping you avoid critical mistakes on your way to financial independence.

Why should you read it?

Stanley and his co-author William Danko studied people with normal incomes and high net worths for decades. The book helps you avoid becoming a UAW — an under-accumulator of wealth. Most people could save half their income. This book shows you why that’s worth the effort in the long run.

Key Takeaways

1. Save responsibly from the moment you first start earning more than you need to live.
2. Use a simple net worth formula to calculate if you’re falling short of your financial potential.
3. Avoid economic outpatient care — spending too much money supporting others — to reach your goal.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Best Finance Books For Financial Freedom

13. Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

Favorite Quote

“If you want to change the fruits, you will first have to change the roots. If you want to change the visible, you must first change the invisible.” — T. Harv Eker

The Book in One Sentence

Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind suggests our financial success is not determined from birth and shows us what to do to break through mental barriers and acquire the habits and thinking of the rich.

Why should you read it?

After an absolute rollercoaster of building, selling, losing, and failing at over a dozen businesses, T. Harv Eker analyzed his own relationship with money. He found he’d just emulated his parents’ financial strategies, and so do most of us. This book will help you undo the damaging aspects of that wiring and replace it with solid financial thinking and habits.

Key Takeaways

1. You naturally tend to replicate your parents’ income strategies.
2. If you want to control your finances, you first have to realize you’re the one at the wheel.
3. Don’t despise rich people or you’ll never become rich yourself.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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14. The Richest Man In Babylon by George Clason

Favorite Quote

“Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you only take what is worth having.” — George S. Clason

The Book in One Sentence

The Richest Man In Babylon gives common-sense financial advice which you can apply today, told through tales and parables from the times of ancient Babylon.

Why should you read it?

George S. Clason, a soldier, businessman, and writer, was smart when he published this book in 1926. Instead of giving boring advice without any credibility, he wrapped his lessons into stories from the Babylonians. Generally believed to be an astonishing people, they lent George the power to transfer these lessons to us. The advice is as sound today as it was back then.

Key Takeaways

1. Live below your means.
2. Learn how to be lucky.
3. Never take on debt.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Bonus: The 4 Minute Millionaire by Niklas Göke

Favorite Quote

“At the end of the day, all change is in your hands. Whether you want to be rich, get fit, or find love, no one can do the work but you. What you can and should do to succeed, however, is take all the help you can get.” — Niklas Göke

The Book in One Sentence

The 4 Minute Millionaire is a collection of 44 short lessons sourced from the best finance books, each paired with an action item to help you get closer to financial freedom in just 4 minutes a day.

Why should you read it?

If you feel overwhelmed with managing your money or that you are too busy to invest, this book is for you. It’ll help you to finally start looking after your finances, and it’ll do so in a way that’s manageable in just 4 minutes a day. Everyone has 4 minutes a day, including you. The daily action items will make sure you implement what you learn, and if you’re already further along in your financial independence–journey, you can simply start with the later sections for some advanced investing techniques and ideas.

Key Takeaways

1. Take pride in starting, even if you can only start small.
2. Instead of avoiding risk and thus also avoiding wealth, you should manage it.
3. There are 7 new asset classes that make it easy to get excited about investing.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Conclusion

We’ve summarized over 1,000 books to date, many of them about money. In our opinion, these are the best finance books of all time to start mastering money in your life.

Whether you’re recovering from an unlucky turn of events, suffering from bad financial habits picked up in childhood, or just not good at math, after diving into these books, you’ll soon create more financial breathing room in your life.

Improve your financial knowledge, reduce your spending, start saving and investing, and you’ll be well on your way to financial independence.

When it comes to taking control of your finances, the most important part is to start today.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

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Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

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Other Book Lists by Author

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Here’s why we read:

“What we call following our gut is really us being subconsciously guided by every piece of information we’ve ever consumed, shaping our instincts and ideas and forming us.” 

– Joan Westenberg

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Besides reading to feel, most of us read to learn. We want to know what we need to know when we need it, and so we keep pushing the number of books. Higher. One more. Just one more.

We read books recommended by billionaires, books validated by bestseller status and books our idols tell us to read.

I didn’t read 365 books last year. But I learned from 365 different ones. After around 250, one thing became very clear:

“I don’t need more information. I need to do more stuff.”

It’s an all too familiar face on our list of end-of-year regrets: “I wish I’d read more books.” But it’s never first on that list. It doesn’t come before “I wish I’d started that company” or “I wish I’d written that book” or “I wish I’d told her I loved her.”

Our top regret always comes in different shapes, yet in the same size:

“I wish I’d done more stuff.”

A lot of smart people tell us to read more. They may be right about the what, but we might be wrong about the how.

Reading isn’t just learning. Reading is also running. Sometimes, that’s running away from doing stuff.

What if, instead of reading to know, we read more to do? To do great things, small things, more things, all things.

You know who’s never not motivated to do stuff?

Kids.

Children don’t read articles like this one. Children can’t spell regrets. They don’t need to. They’re too busy being the hero of their own story. That’s why we love to make them the heroes of our stories.

• Harry Potter receives his letter at age 10.
• Spider-Man got bitten at 15.
• Peter Pan never grows up.

Tom Sawyer, The Little Prince, Ali Baba, Oliver Twist, and, of course, Alice In Wonderland.

Kids, kids, kids. But they’re all heroes too. Because they make us feel. Because they make us do.

Here are 7 inspirational books to relight your inner child.

The Top 7 Best Inspirational Books

1 — The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.”

I read The Alchemist in 2012, while studying abroad in the US.

This is a book about destiny.

It inspired me to think. To think until I could think no more.

I woke up at 5 AM every day, watched every sunrise and every sunset. I wandered around the woods for hours. Thinking, thinking, always thinking.

What kind of college kid does that? A kid who, by the end of it, knew who he wanted to be.

2 — Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

“Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”

Nothing highlights the pivotal role of this book better than the fact that J.K. Rowling changed her mind about the title — twice.

Until 12 days before print, the already published title was “Harry Potter and the Doomspell Tournament.”

Changing the title wasn’t easy. But it was the right choice.

Before, Harry stumbled into things, and, by looking out for himself, somehow ended up saving the day. In Goblet of Fire, he stops trying to be normal and takes responsibility.

This is a book about integrity.

Harry must fight. For love, for friendship, for what he believes in. Even for his life.

When you’re 14, this book might change who you are. When you’re older than 14, you’ll see even 14-year olds have to decide between what is right and what is easy. And so do you.

3 — Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

“I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.”

Pippi Longstocking is 9 years old, has superhuman strength, and lives in a rainbow-colored house with her monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and her horse Old Man.

This is a book about possibility.

Pippi is living proof that you can make your own rules and thrive. She always comes out on top. Not in spite of her sheer intolerance for what adults consider as normal, but because of it.

Pippi makes you question a lot of the ideas we grow up with. Astrid Lindgren published this book in 1945. Imagine how much the world needed it at the time. And we still need it today.

4 — Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

“Confidence is ignorance. If you’re feeling cocky, it’s because there’s something you don’t know.”

Artemis Fowl is the opposite of Pippi, yet quite the same. He is a genius, a millionaire, a criminal mastermind, and…12.

This is a book about humility.

Artemis taught me that all humans make mistakes. Even child prodigies. Suddenly, being a dorky nerd who breezed through school, but got teased a lot, was bearable.

One day, we all learn to be humble. Some of us learn it the hard way. Others choose to be. The sooner, the better. Especially when you’re trying to turn your crazy dream into reality.

5 — Holes by Louis Sachar

“When you spend your whole life living in a hole, the only way you can go is up.”

In 7th grade, we had to pick a book we liked and present it in class. My friend Toby picked Holes. It’s a bizarre story about Stanley’s eternal struggle against his family history.

This is a book about courage.

Despite never getting anywhere, Stanley keeps doing stuff. Even in the worst of times, he has the courage to believe in karma and the endurance to act when it’s not there.

In Latin, our teacher wrote a quote on every test:

“Fortes fortuna adiuvat.” — Fortune favors the bold.

This book helps you be bold.

6 — The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever.”

Catching Fire plays a pivotal role in the Hunger Games trilogy, as it transforms Katniss’s struggle from one of survival to one of self-actualization.

This is a book about perseverance.

After finding a sense of purpose in The Alchemist, I bolted through this series and part two taught me that life truly can be short. It gave me a sense of urgency, because death is ever-present.

Fate sometimes throws more than one terrible blow, but Katniss and Peeta will teach you that even when it looks like there’s no possible way to go on, you can still go on.

7 — Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

“Books have to be heavy because the whole world’s inside them.”

Bookbinder Mo and his daughter Meggie’s journey inside the fantastic worlds of their favorite books sent me on a spiral into my own.

This is a book about hope.

The two believe beyond belief, and so Inkheart captures the underlying hope of all books: that after we finish reading, we will be better human beings.

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Here’s why we really read:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

When I point to these inspirational books, I’m not pointing to resources. I’m pointing to memories. For every single one of them, I can tell you a time and a place. More importantly, I can tell you a feeling it left me with.

What you’re reading right now, my body of work, is built on those feelings. And I can bring them back whenever I need to, just by thinking of the books. That’s worth more than even the best piece of how-to advice.

Of course you don’t have to read books to feel inspired. There are heroes all around you. Follow their journey. Venture down the rabbit hole. Fall for their story. Fall in love.

Once you feel inspired, stop. Turn the page, shut the book, close the tab and then…

Get up and do stuff.

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Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

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Other Book Lists by Author

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

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Do you know that glowing feeling you get after you finish the last couple pages of a really inspirational book?

You know, that sense of wonder, the goosebumps, the moment when your creativity seems to know no limits and you imagine yourself facing all of your challenges – and succeeding.

I think you should have that feeling more often.

Recently, when I was scouring the web for motivational books, none of the lists I found really made me want to pick up one of their books, mostly because:

• I knew all the books already,
• the books were only for a specific demographic (entrepreneurs, women, etc.), or
• they didn’t even tell me why the book was going to motivate me in the first place.

What’s more, every single list I found was limited to either fiction or non-fiction books only. So I thought: “Why not create one with both?”

To keep it fair and square, I limited myself to include only books I either have read, or am currently reading. This way I make sure I only present you with books I have a solid understanding of, and, which are, to my best, 25 year old knowledge, utterly motivating.

After digging deep (and I mean really deep, I even called my Mum), I’ve come up with a list of what I believe to be the 31 best motivational books ever written, that’ll unleash your inner greatness.

For every book I’ve included:

• title
• author
• year of publication
• an image of the cover (with a link to the book on Amazon)
• number of copies sold
• a curious fact
• a summary
• the best quote from the book
• a shareable image with the quote
• why it’s so motivational
• two ways to share the book, depending on whether you’ve already read it, or not

…and of course a link to read its summary right here on Four Minute Books. For the fiction books I’ve included Amazon links, since I only read non-fiction for this site.

Note: Don’t be surprised to see quite a few children’s books and books for teenagers. Since I’m only 25 years old, I still remember a lot of those. Plus, kids are the most motivated human beings on this planet. As adults, we’ve lost most of that lighthearted, curious, motivational mojo, and these books are a great way to get it back.

Now, without further ado, enjoy what I think are the top 31 motivational books of all time!

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What are YOUR favorite motivational books?

You might be asking yourself:

“Wow, that’s a lot of books. Which one do I pick up first to not lose time and get the most out of this list?”

No worries, I’ll help you 🙂 Enter your email below, and I’ll send you a snazzy PDF with the 10 very best books from this list. That way, you can not only keep it for future reference but also take your first pick from a smaller selection!

Enjoy, and may inspiration always be with you!

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Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

---

Other Book Lists by Author

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

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