Whether you’re someone who loses days on end procrastinating, have your hands full, or lack focus—you’d want to find out the secret sauce of productivity. When you become productive, you’ll be able to concentrate better, become efficient, and learn time management. However, productivity isn’t really about working harder; it’s about improving your skills and completing tasks in less time.
1. The 4-Hour Work Week
Tim Ferriss
While the philosophy of the 4-hour workweek sounds too good to be true, Tim Ferriss is a living testament to his strategies to achieve what he has today. The No.1 New York Times bestseller promises a way to escape the usual rat race and still achieve your financial goals, enhance productivity, and live life at large.
As the name suggests, the book espouses that it’s possible to work only four hours per week and still reap the financial gains. Tim’s mantra focuses on the few things that lead to the biggest gains rather than trying to be the best at everything. “Doing something unimportant well does not make it important.” He writes.
2. Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours
Robert Pozen
Written by an American financial executive who was also a former professor at Harvard Law, this book provides several valuable nuggets of wisdom, especially for ones starting their careers. Extreme Productivity teaches readers how to achieve laser-sharp focus on their key priorities and get the most work done in possibly the least amount of time.
It also comes with a toolkit full of practical tips and tactics to help people from all walks of life maximize their time and energy at work and become their most productive selves.
3. Atomic Habits
James Clear
Crafted for people who want to break bad habits and adopt good ones, Atomic habits follow a simple four-step habit loop; cue, craving, response, and reward. In the book, James provides practical strategies to make little changes that put you on the track for success.
Easily one of the best productivity books out there, atomic habits are based on years of study, and for 256-pages chock full of valuable wisdom, it is relatively an easy read.
4. Deep Work
Cal Newport
From bouncing from your Twitter handle to your inbox, group chat notifications, and meeting emails – we live in a distracted world that leaves too little for productivity. If you too succumb to these attention traps, Cal Newport’s deep work will change your life. As Cal puts it, “deep work is professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit.”
This book is an actionable guide that explains how you can focus without distraction and how to successfully incorporate it into your daily routine.
5. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
David Allen
Since published in 2001, Getting things done has long been a blockbuster business book. The title was recently updated and tweaked with fresh ideas regarding the dynamic workplace, technology, and productivity needs. The core principles of GTD states that the human brain excels at processing and churning out creative ideas.
However, it’s not great at memory saving. Hence, getting all of your ideas, projects, and commitments out of your head and into a trusted system or external brain is an important aspect of GTD.
Regardless of your profession, this book will help you become more organized at work and flourish both personally and professionally.
6. The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg
Written by the award-winning business reporter for the NY Times, Power of Habit explains the science behind habits and how they can be modified. Scientists say that our brains will always try to save effort, so habits are so powerful.
Behind the Power of Habit is a work of many scientific research and interesting findings. It’s not only a self-help book; it’s also a scientific study of habit formation and change.
7. Zen to Done
Leo Babauta
Zen to Done’s simple productivity system focuses on a set pattern of habits to get you more organized and productive. Whether you are a totally organized person or someone who can’t find their to-do list, this book has much to offer. Zen To Done was created to help you proactively organize your life. This gives you more time to rest and unwind, as well as a sense of accomplishment.
Many time-management solutions require you to spend so much time reading, organizing, and preparing that you lose whatever efficiency gained by using the system. Babauta cuts to the chase, laying out the most useful aspects of each method and encouraging you to implement the ones that are particularly beneficial to you.
8. First Things First
Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey, the well-known author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” wrote First Things First. In the book, he offers profound yet simple solutions that will perfectly work in both corporate and family life, giving you perspective on what really matters in your life and shifting your focus to your priorities. The author says it’s not about doing things right; it’s about doing the right things.
9. How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
If you want to make a difference in your life, this Dale Carnegie book is a must-read. You will understand the do’s and don’ts of life and know how to be a better entrepreneur and investor. Today you might have a massive following on the internet, but no one knows you in the offline world. This is because impressing people is more challenging in the real world.
The book gives you a rundown on all the steps you need to follow to win friends and become more likable. In addition, you learn the tips and tricks to overcome competition and convince your clients with a winning pitch. This book is a business classic, and you need to read it now!
10. Tiny Habits
BJ Fogg
Fogg’s book Tiny Habit brings out a groundbreaking approach to habits in all facets of life: personal, professional, health, relationships, and beyond. This easy-to-read book shares his recipe for habits, explains the process, and gives details. And since Fogg is a scientist and teacher, the message is loud and clear.
