Heyo 👋 Jordan here,
Over the last 7 years, I’ve read a little over 200 self-improvement books.
Most were 100% platitudes. Some had useful ideas.
But only a precious few were life-changing.
Here the 21 best ones👇
Punishment and rewards are terrible motivators 80% of the time. They replace the powerful intrinsic motivation that you already have.
Daniel Pink's Drive explains motivation in the way it should be done (for you or to help others).
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Attention is the new oil.
Dopamine regulation is the new superpower.
In Dopamine Nation, Anna Lembke explains how to gain that superpower, how to escape addiction, and the pleasure/pain balance (which is groundbreaking).
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
Most happiness books are too wishy-washy for me. Not Jonathan Haidt's "The Happiness Hypothesis".
From how the brain works to scientific explanations of gossip or disgust. And, of course, how to use them in the final happiness equation.
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
"If you get one percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done." — James Clear
Atomic Habits is the quintessential book for self-improvement. Read it.
Atomic Habits: the life-changing million-copy #1 bestseller
Getting started is the hardest part of anything we face.
In under 250 pages, Mel Robbins will teach you how to get started with anything. Anytime. Anywhere.
I've been using The 5 Second Rule to start things for 7 years. It's insane!
The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage