Essential reading for every area of life.
OVERVIEW
This is the list of books I wish someone had handed to me when I started my journey of self-development.
The books are selected to introduce you to each life area. Pick the ones you’re interested in, but if you read them all, you gain an overview of what it takes to achieve self-mastery.
Someone with a bachelor’s degree has read perhaps 30 books. Here you will find 50. That makes this list a full education. The result, I hope, is not a degree but a good life.
Rules for reading:
Reading a great book twice is better than reading four good books once.
Follow your interest, but also study underdeveloped areas.
Above all else, act on what you read.
I may earn a small commission through these links at no extra cost to you.
ON THIS PAGE
Body Area books
Health, energy and vitality
Primate Change
— Vybarr Cregan-Reid
Why modernity is making our ancient bodies sick.
Why We Sleep
— Matthew Walker
The foundational role sleep plays in health.
How Not to Die
— Michael Greger
How whole plant foods prevent and reverse disease.
The Complete Guide to Fasting
— Jason Fung
The practice of fasting and its benefits.
The Body Keeps the Score
— Bessel van der Kolk
How trauma is stored in the body and ways to heal.
Mind Area books
Clarity, focus and discernment
Sapiens
— Yuval Noah Harari
A brief history of humankind.
The Art of War
— Sun Tzu
A guide to strategy, planning, and victory.
The Black Swan
— Nassim Taleb
The illusion of certainty and cognitive fallacies.
Deep Work
— Cal Newport
The value of single-minded focus in work.
Atomic Habits
— James Clear
A way to make good habits and break bad ones.
Matter Area books
Wealth, power and abundance
The Simple Path to Wealth
— JL Collins
Low-cost index funds are the best investment strategy.
Mastery
— Robert Greene
How to build rare, valuable skills and master a craft.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
— Marie Kondo
Organize your physical space the Japanese way.
Getting Things Done
— David Allen
Productivity tools: to-do lists, projects, and calendars.
Zero to One
— Peter Thiel
The blueprint for building a unique business.
Relationships Area books
Connection, bonds and belonging
How to Win Friends and Influence People
— Dale Carnegie
Being sincerely interested in others is the basis of friendship.
Nonviolent Communication
— Marshall B. Rosenberg
The gold standard for effective communication.
The 5 Love Languages
— Gary Chapman
Attune to people’s love languages so they feel seen.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace
— Nedra Glover Tawwab
Learn to say no more often and create space for yourself.
Braiding Sweetgrass
— Robin Wall Kimmerer
Authentic connection and relation with the living world.
Heart Area books
Love, creativity and dreams
The War of Art
— Steven Pressfield
How to beat resistance and turn pro.
The Prophet
— Kahlil Gibran
Perhaps the most beautiful poetry ever written.
The Little Prince
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A guide to seeing clearly with the heart.
The Alchemist
— Paulo Coelho
A fable about following your dreams.
The Lord of the Rings
— J.R.R. Tolkien
The most accessible modern myth we have.
Spirit Area books
Awareness, faith and meaning
The Power of Now
— Eckhart Tolle
A great introduction to presence and meditation.
The Kybalion
— Three Initiates
On the nature of God and universal principles.
Bhagavad Gita
— Anonymous
An ancient and insightful interview with Krishna (God).
The Journey of Soul Initiation
— Bill Plotkin
A roadmap for discovering your soul’s unique gift.
The Untethered Soul
— Michael A. Singer
On the practice of letting go and surrendering.
Service Area books
Calling, contribution and fulfillment
The Republic
— Plato
Attaining wisdom and bringing order to yourself.
The Four Agreements
— Don Miguel Ruiz
A simple code of conduct for freedom.
Man’s Search for Meaning
— Viktor E. Frankl
On finding meaning, even in the worst suffering.
Tao Te Ching
— Lao Tzu
Effortless action and harmony.
Meditations
— Marcus Aurelius
The diary of a Roman emperor on virtue.
Biographies
Lives worth studying.
Steve Jobs
— Walter Isaacson
Shows how to manifest a vision in the world.
Memories, Dreams, Reflections
— C.G. Jung
The man who mapped the unconscious.
We Will Be Jaguars
— Nemonte Nenquimo
A leader and protector from the Amazon.
Elon Musk
— Walter Isaacson
A phenomenal risk-taker and successful entrepreneur.
The River of Doubt
— Candice Millard
Theodore Roosevelt’s journey through the Amazon.
Fiction
Amazing stories that stay with you.
The Name of the Wind
— Patrick Rothfuss
Some of the finest prose in fantasy.
This Perfect Day
— Ira Levin
The predecessor to The Matrix.
Warriors: Into the Wild
— Erin Hunter
A story about clan cats and tribal life.
The Conference of the Birds
— Farid ud-Din Attar
The story of 30 birds who search for the one.
A Game of Thrones
— George R.R. Martin
Power, honor, and societal games.
More masterpieces
Unique works that cover multiple areas.
The 5 AM Club
— Robin Sharma
Own your morning. Elevate your life.
Letters from a Stoic
— Seneca
A great introduction to Roman life, virtue, and philosophy.
Outwitting the Devil
— Napoleon Hill
An interview with the devil. Hill has been scrutinized, so read it with a grain of salt.
When Plants Dream
— Daniel Pinchbeck and Sophia Rokhlin
How plants have influenced human society.
How to Be a 3% Man
— Corey Wayne
A practical guide for men and women alike to increase polarity in romance.
Writers I return to
Writers whose every book is worth your time.
Recommended resources
Yoga, bodywork, vision quests, and retreats.
Breathe and Flow Yoga
I practiced yoga with Bre and Flo for years. They provide awesome classes to build strength and awareness.
Structural Integration
Bodywork that evokes your core and improves posture. Come to me if you are close by, or find a practitioner through this link.
Kriya Yoga International
A great meditation practice to study and incorporate into your life. Kriya Yoga meditation is taught in the line of Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of Autobiography of a Yogi.
Animas Valley Institute
I highly recommend a vision quest if you feel the call. Either find one locally with someone you trust or go to Animas. I have not been there myself, but I trust Bill Plotkin.
Vipassana
Ten days of silent meditation, donation-based. I have not sat one yet. Friends I trust have, and I will sit one in the future.
