Books worth reading
Short, original summaries of 15 well-known books. Read the idea in simple English, then apply one thing. Each one counts as reading practice.
Habits & focus
Atomic Habits
James Clear
A practical guide to building good habits and breaking unhelpful ones through tiny, repeatable changes.
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ModerateThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey
A classic on character, priorities and working well with others, organised around seven connected habits.
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ModerateDeep Work
Cal Newport
A book on the value of long, distraction-free concentration in a world full of notifications.
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Mindset & confidence
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
A bestselling book built around the idea that our thoughts and feelings shape what we experience. It became hugely popular, and also widely debated.
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Easy readMindset
Carol S. Dweck
A psychologist explains the difference between believing abilities are fixed and believing they can grow with effort and learning.
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Easy readThe Magic of Thinking Big
David J. Schwartz
A classic on building confidence, setting bigger goals and overcoming the excuses that keep us small.
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Meaning & purpose
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl
A psychiatrist's account of surviving Nazi concentration camps, followed by an introduction to his approach to psychology, logotherapy.
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Easy readIkigai
Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
A gentle book exploring the Japanese idea of ikigai, often explained as a reason to get up in the morning, drawing on interviews in Okinawa.
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ModerateThe Power of Now
Eckhart Tolle
A spiritual guide about living with attention in the present moment instead of being pulled by worry about the past or future.
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Easy readThe Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
A short novel about a young shepherd who travels far from home to follow a recurring dream.
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Success & people
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
One of the earliest popular success books, written during the Great Depression and focused on desire, persistence and planning.
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ModerateGrit
Angela Duckworth
A psychologist explores why passion and perseverance for long-term goals can matter as much as natural talent.
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Easy readHow to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
A long-running guide to getting along with people through genuine interest, respect and appreciation.
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Money
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Robert T. Kiyosaki
A personal-finance book contrasting two attitudes to money, told through the author's story of two father figures.
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Easy readThe Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
A collection of short chapters about how emotions, history and behaviour shape our financial decisions.
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