10+3 Best Productivity and Self-Improvement Books to Read
We’ve put together a list of 10 of the best productivity books out there, plus 3 honorable mentions for more recent publications. We really hope you enjoy our list.
1. Getting Things Done
Author: David Allen
First published more than fifteen years ago, Getting Things Done (or GTD) has become one of the most popular productivity books on the market. It’s your guidebook for an effective way to approach and manage your professional and personal tasks. Allen has entirely rewritten the book in 2015, adding new material to make it more relevant and fresh. David also released a Teens edition.
“What a classic! I first read this when I was 16 and it still helps me today, almost 10 years later. Perfect for working out how to capture and move forward with a task. ”
2. Eat That Frog!
Author: Brian Tracy
As the title suggests, the book will provide you 21 of the most effective methods and techniques to beat procrastination, helping you to achieve and accomplish more. The updated edition also includes actionable tips about technology.
One of Carl Pullein’s favourites.
3. Deep Work
Author: Cal Newport
In this book professor Cal Newport celebrates the power of focused work, explaining how and why we should aim for Deep Work vs Shallow Work and presenting a disciplined series of rules to transform your mind and habits in order to be able to master this skill. An indispensable guide to anyone who’s looking for a more effective way to live in a distracted world.
4. The Power of Habit
Author: Charles Duhigg
In this book, the author explores the science that explains how habits can be built and changed, teaching how to actively put into practice these methods in your daily life.
A notable favorite of Thomas Frank.
5. The 4-Hour Workweek
Author: Timothy Ferris
Whether you are an overworked employee or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, this book is the compass for a new and revolutionary world. Tim Ferris will teach you how to craft your best lifestyle possible in order to do what matters, live wherever you want and escape the 9-5 life.
“Helped me with scaling things. The frameworks that Tim puts in place are really useful if you’re looking to start any type of business to avoid too much workload. ”
6. The Productivity Project
Author: Chris Bailey
The author explains how to be more productive at work but also in every aspect of your life sharing his lessons learned during a year-long journey performing a deep dive experiment into the pursuit of productivity.
7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Author: Stephen Covery
Covey’s book, considered one of the most inspiring ones ever written, has guided whole generations of readers during the last 25 years. Its step-by-step pathway will help you to adapt to change and to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
8. The Power Of Less
Author: Leo Babauta
Modern life is constantly bombarded by countless distractions coming from every corner and preventing us to accomplish even the simpler tasks. This book will demonstrate how to identifying the essential and eliminating the unnecessary in order to streamline your life and focus on your goals.
Leo’s Blog is worth a visit!
9. The One Thing
Author: Gary Keller
In this book, the author explains how to overcome the six lies that block our success, beat the seven thieves that steal time, and leverage the laws of purpose, priority, and productivity.
10. The 12 Week Year
Authors: Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
This book is a guide to redefining your year to a 12-month execution cycle, creating focus and clarity on what matters most and a sense of urgency to do it now. Suitable for both individuals and organizations looking for a way to improve their execution effectiveness.
BONUS:
The Bullet Journal Method
Author: Ryder Carroll
Bullet Journal inventor Ryder Carroll shares what he calls “intentional living”, spending more time with what you care about and working on fewer things.
Alice’s thoughts on the BuJo book:
“Alice breezed through this during her birthday weekend and loved it! ”
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day
Authors: Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
The perfect book for anyone seeking more hours in a day, it will help you stop passively reacting to the demands of the modern world and start intentionally making time for the things that matter.
“Possibly one of my all-time top 5 non-fiction books. MakeTime made such an impact at the right time for me. The visuals in the book help and the process outlined will help you keep focused. ”
Atomic Habits
Author: James Clear
The author teaches how to make time for new habits in your busy life, how to overcome a lack of motivation, and get back on track. The book will make you rethink the way you see progress and success giving you the tools and strategies to transform your habits.
“On my Audible right now. Only 1hr left and loving it. James Clear brings the best of habit research into a recommended process for adopting, sticking to and enhancing habits. ”
Let us know on Twitter your top productivity books, we’d love to hear.
If you enjoyed this list. Please do share this out on social media for us.
