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the best self-help books

The self-improvement books most often recommended by notable readers in our 4,800-recommender index — with sources where we have them. Captures the canon that recurs across the reading lists of founders, athletes, podcasters, and public figures.

60 books, ranked by how many of the 4,800 notable readers in our index have publicly recommended each one.

  1. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
    52 people

    Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    James Clear · 2018

    52 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  2. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
    47 people

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

    Timothy Ferriss · 2007

    47 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  3. The War of Art
    37 people

    The War of Art

    Steven Pressfield · 2003

    37 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  4. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
    34 people

    Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

    Greg McKeown · 2014

    34 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  5. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
    34 people

    The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)

    Don Miguel Ruiz · 2001

    34 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  6. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
    33 people

    The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

    Eric Ries · 2011

    33 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  7. Outliers: The Story of Success
    30 people

    Outliers: The Story of Success

    Malcolm Gladwell · 2008

    30 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
    29 people

    The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

    Stephen R. Covey · 2004

    29 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  9. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
    29 people

    The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

    Charles Duhigg · 2012

    29 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  10. Think and Grow Rich
    27 people

    Think and Grow Rich

    Napoleon Hill · 2016

    27 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  11. Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success
    27 people

    Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success

    Adam Grant · 2013

    27 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  12. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
    26 people

    Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

    Susan Cain · 2012

    26 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  13. Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers
    26 people

    Tools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers

    Timothy Ferriss · 2016

    26 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  14. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
    25 people

    Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

    Cal Newport · 2016

    25 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  15. The 48 Laws of Power
    23 people

    The 48 Laws of Power

    Robert Greene · 2000

    23 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  16. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
    23 people

    The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

    Eckhart Tolle · 2004

    23 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  17. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
    23 people

    The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

    Mark Manson · 2016

    23 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  18. Tao Te Ching
    21 people

    Tao Te Ching

    Lao Tzu · 1989

    21 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  19. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
    21 people

    Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

    Angela Duckworth · 2016

    21 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  20. 12 Rules for Life
    20 people

    12 Rules for Life

    Jordan B. Peterson · 2018

    20 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  21. The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
    20 people

    The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness

    Ichiro Kishimi · 2019

    20 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  22. The Magic of Thinking Big
    20 people

    The Magic of Thinking Big

    David J. Schwartz · 1987

    20 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  23. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
    20 people

    Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

    David Allen · 2002

    20 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  24. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
    19 people

    Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

    Adam Grant · 2016

    19 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  25. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
    19 people

    Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

    Chip Heath and Dan Heath · 2007

    19 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  26. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
    19 people

    The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

    Michael A. Singer · 2007

    19 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  27. The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
    19 people

    The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

    Ryan Holiday · 2014

    19 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  28. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
    18 people

    Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

    Adam Grant · 2021

    18 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  29. Ego is the Enemy
    18 people

    Ego is the Enemy

    Ryan Holiday · 2016

    18 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  30. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
    17 people

    The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness

    Eric Jorgenson · 2020

    17 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  31. The Richest Man in Babylon: Deluxe Hardbound Edition
    17 people

    The Richest Man in Babylon: Deluxe Hardbound Edition

    George S. Clason · 2002

    17 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  32. Stumbling on Happiness
    15 people

    Stumbling on Happiness

    Daniel Todd Gilbert · 2007

    15 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  33. The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.
    14 people

    The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.

    Daniel Coyle · 2009

    14 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  34. On the Shortness of Life
    14 people

    On the Shortness of Life

    Lucius Seneca · 2005

    14 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  35. The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results
    14 people

    The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results

    Gary Keller · 2013

    14 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  36. Mastery
    14 people

    Mastery

    Robert Greene · 2012

    14 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  37. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
    14 people

    Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

    Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler · 2009

    14 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  38. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
    13 people

    Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

    Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi · 1990

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  39. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
    13 people

    Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

    Chip Heath & Dan Heath · 2010

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  40. Moonwalking with Einstein
    13 people

    Moonwalking with Einstein

    Joshua Foer · 2011

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  41. The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
    13 people

    The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

    Seth Godin · 2007

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  42. The Inner Game Of Tennis: The Classic Guide To The Mental Side Of Peak Performance
    13 people

    The Inner Game Of Tennis: The Classic Guide To The Mental Side Of Peak Performance

    W. Timothy Gallwey · 1997

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  43. The 4-Hour Body
    13 people

    The 4-Hour Body

    Timothy Ferriss · 2010

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  44. ReWork: (Vermilion Life Essentials)
    13 people

    ReWork: (Vermilion Life Essentials)

    Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson · 2010

    13 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  45. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
    12 people

    Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

    Oliver Burkeman · 2021

    12 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  46. Alchemy
    12 people

    Alchemy

    Rory Sutherland · 2019

    12 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  47. Everything is Figureoutable
    12 people

    Everything is Figureoutable

    Marie Forleo · 2019

    12 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  48. Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies
    12 people

    Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies

    Reid Hoffman · 2018

    12 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  49. The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
    12 people

    The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You

    Julie Zhuo · 2019

    12 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  50. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
    12 people

    Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

    Daniel H. Pink · 2009

    12 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  51. Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides)
    11 people

    Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides)

    Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. · 2003

    11 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  52. The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self
    11 people

    The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self

    Julia Cameron · 2002

    11 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  53. How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes in Freedom
    11 people

    How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes in Freedom

    Matt Ridley · 2020

    11 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  54. Stillness Is the Key
    11 people

    Stillness Is the Key

    Ryan Holiday · 2019

    11 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  55. Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
    11 people

    Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

    Cal Newport · 2019

    11 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  56. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
    11 people

    When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

    Pema Chodron · 2000

    11 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  57. So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
    10 people

    So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

    Cal Newport · 2012

    10 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  58. The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
    10 people

    The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

    Ryan Holiday · 2016

    10 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  59. Daring Greatly
    10 people

    Daring Greatly

    Brene Brown · 2012

    10 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop
  60. The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win
    10 people

    The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win

    Maria Konnikova · 2020

    10 recommenders

    AmazonBookshop

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Methodology: each book is ranked by the number of recommenders in our index who have publicly endorsed it. Curated topics use a hand-picked book list; year-stamped pages query our index by publication year. More on methodology →