That’s why the whole world now is obsessed with productivity.
Productivity and being productive can mean different things to different people. It will depend on what you ultimately want to accomplish. It isn’t just about getting more stuff done (though there’s no denying that efficiency is a huge piece of the pie). You’ll also need to figure out why you’re doing what you’re doing, and if what you’re doing is even necessary.
There are literally thousands of books on the subject. I made my research about the best books on productivity and picked the most known and convenient ones for you.
If you are in a hurry, here are 5 productivity books we recommend:
> Follow Successful People's Path
1. Millionaire Success Habits
The Gateway to Wealth & Prosperity
Originally Published: 2016
Millionaire’s habits aren’t as dramatic as you might think. They just cut through all the noise and complexity of modern life and draw a straight line between where they are now and where they want to be in the future.
Dean Graziosi, started with a firewood business in high school, to a collision repair shop, and his first real estate deal before the age of 20. From there he went on to create a multimillion-dollar real estate business, became a multiple NY Times bestselling author.
2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
Originally Published: 1989
Society and most of the self-help books on the market champion independence as the highest achievement, but Covey argues that it’s interdependence that generates the highest results. The seven habits in this book will help you move from a state of dependence to independence, and finally to interdependence.
- Be Proactive
- Begin with the End in Mind
- Put First Things First
- Think Win-Win
- Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
- Synergize
- Sharpen the Saw
If you are looking for the best books on productivity and motivation, we highly recommend this book.
3. Tools of Titans
The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers
Author: Timothy Ferriss
Originally Published: 2016
As Timothy Ferriss says, one can steal ideas, but not execution or passion. Tool of Titans is a great, handy book injected with doses of humor that have been put together for your maximum usage and retention of ideas. However, without your action or passion, there will be no result.
Keep an open mind and prepare to be different as the book takes you through an inspiring and motivating journey.
A great resource that synthesizes the habits, tools, and philosophies of top performers and leaders. You will walk away with dozens of nuggets of wisdom, book and article recommendations, and new habits to introduce into your life.
4. 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management
The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes, 29 Straight-A Students, and 239 Entrepreneurs
Author: Kevin Kruse
Originally Published: 2015
This book is one of the best books on productivity and time management. It will help you boost your productivity without feeling overwhelmed or overworked.
It teaches you how to identify your real priorities, how to cure procrastination with the trick “Time Travel”, how to run meetings, how to leave work at 5 pm without feeling guilty, and other useful tactics and methods that will help you tackle all the tasks of the day with ease.
5. The Effective Executive
The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
Author: Peter F. Drucker
Originally Published: 1967
The good news is, effectiveness can be learned. Specifically, it is the result of learning and practicing a small number of simple practices until they become a habit. An “executive” may not necessarily be in a leadership position. Every knowledge worker is an “executive” if his role and contributions affect the organization’s capacity to perform and obtain results. The workplace is a challenging place, and to become effective in it, the book shows you how you should manage your time, how to focus on results and contribution to the organization, how to build on strengths rather with weaknesses, and most importantly how to make effective decisions.
6. The 4-Hour Workweek
Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Author: Timothy Ferriss
Originally Published: 2007
The main idea of this book is to create a business that will allow you to build the lifestyle of your dreams and free yourself from the limitations of corporate jobs.
Living millionaire life is possible. You don’t have to be one to live it.
> Productivity Against Procrastination
7. Eat That Frog!
21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
Author: Brian Tracy
Originally Published: 2001
“Eat that frog!” means to start your day with the biggest, most important, and most dreaded task. It’s also the task you are most likely to procrastinate on.
Brian Tracy is also about disciplining yourself to eat that frog first thing in the morning every single day. If you do, you will reach new heights of productivity while learning to overcome procrastination, and while building self-discipline.
8. Time Warrior
How to defeat procrastination, people-pleasing, self-doubt, over-commitment, broken promises and chaos
Author: Steve Chandler
Originally Published: 2011
This book provides tips and tricks about time management and personal productivity. Steve Chandler says that every one of us can become something far greater than we are now by tracking your cognitive style because it’s the only way to free yourself from the treadmill of linear, limited time. It also encourages to let go of people-pleasing, approval-seeking, and every shade of mood-based and future-based thinking.
9. Procrastinate on Purpose
5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time
Author: Rory Vaden
Originally Published: 2015
People who are successful time “Multipliers,” think differently. They “procrastinate on purpose” by waiting until the last minute to do certain tasks because they understand that those jobs’ requirements constantly change. They concentrate on what they must do. The author explains why these tactics matter and gives you a menu of tactics to consider.
10. How to Stop Procrastinating
A Simple Guide to Mastering Difficult Tasks and Breaking the Procrastination Habit
Author: S.J. Scott
Originally Published: 2017
This book is a straight-forward, systematic framework for building an action-oriented habit through all the areas in your life. It explains why people procrastinate and provides tips and actions you can apply in your daily life, like how to say no to people without looking like a jerk, how to plan your week, and most importantly, how to overcome sudden feelings of procrastination.
> Productivity Is A Brain Trick
11. Faster Than Normal
A Simple Guide to Mastering DiTurbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain
Author: Peter Shankman
Originally Published: 2017
Peter Shankman seems to have more than 24 hours in a day, he is a media entrepreneur who runs several businesses, gives keynote speeches around the world, hosts a popular podcast, runs marathons and Iron Mans, is a licensed skydiver, dabbles in angel investing, and is a loving father to his young daughter.
In Faster Than Normal, Shankman presents ways to identify your pitfalls and avoid them, harness your creative energy to generate and execute your ideas, and direct your hyperfocus to get things done. A very practical book for the ADHD community, and also for anyone who’s sick of feeling overwhelmed and wants to drive their faster-than-normal brain at maximum speed without crashing.
12. Your Brain at Work
Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long
Author: David Rock
Originally Published: 2009
Paul and Emily, are the two main fictional characters of this book. David Rock goes inside their brains to see how they face their daily challenges, information overload, and lack of focus resulting from their hectic life. He explores issues like why our brains feel so taxed, and how to maximize our mental resources, how to collaborate more effectively with others, how to be more effective at changing other people’s behavior.
13. Limitless
Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life
Author: Jim Kwik
Originally Published: 2020
The brain is the most powerful organ on earth. There are no limitations, your potential is infinite. This is what Jim, world-renowned expert in memory improvement, brain optimization, and accelerated learning tells you in this book.
It shows you how to master your habits, unleash your productivity, revive motivation, fight procrastination, and get better sleep, sharpen your focus, and learn anything.
14. You Can Fix Your Brain
Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You’ve Ever Had
Author: Tom O’Bryan
Originally Published: 2018
No matter what your current brain health state may be, You Can Fix Your Brain will enable and empower you to take concrete steps that will make an immediate difference in your brain’s vitality, clarity, and energy. Your memory will improve, fogginess will disappear, you will be less tired all the time, and much more.
It is a step-by-step approach to better cognitive function being selective about what’s on your fork, what’s in your environment, and how you take care of yourself can make a world of difference.
15. The Organized Mind
Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload
Author: Daniel J. Levitin
Originally Published: 2015
The human brain is incredible at storing data; the challenge is summoning up the right stuff at the right time while not being distracted by the rest. Not only we need to limit the information we consume daily, but we should also organize our personal environment in order to take the strain off our overwhelmed brains.
16. Organize Tomorrow Today
8 Ways to Retrain Your Mind to Optimize Performance at Work and in Life
Authors: Matthew Rudy, Jason Selk, Tom Bartow
Originally Published: 2015
Matthew Rudy, Jason Selk, Tom Bartow break out their program used to train world-class athletes for peak performance. If you know anything about athletes, you know that it isn’t just physical endurance that’s required, it takes focus, concentration, and high mental performance to win championships. Framing your thoughts can literally manufacture optimism and success. Thoughts won’t change anything but acting on them will. In this book, you’ll find the 8 fundamentals of doing what is most important.
> Productivity Centered Around Habits
17. The Power of Habit
Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Authors: Charles Duhigg
Originally Published: 2014
In the Power of Habit, award-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed.
Habits are very powerful; they can completely change our lives. They emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. In other words, the brain will make almost any routine into a habit because it allows our minds to ramp down more often. Habits are powerful, they can make or break your life.
18. Atomic Habits
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Authors: James Clear
Originally Published: 2018
Atomic Habits is the definitive guide to break bad behaviors and adopt good ones in four steps, showing you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound and add up to massive, positive change over time.
19. The 5 A.M. Miracle
Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast
Authors: Jeff Sanders
Originally Published: 2015
In his book, Jeff Sanders gives you an early rising, easy-to-follow guide. He explains how and why you should create an evening boundary for work, plan tomorrow on paper tonight, boost energy all day, drink 1 liter of water and a green smoothie every morning, and organize annual goals in 3-month chunks.
> Productivity ? Keep It Simple
20. The Power of Less
The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential…in Business and in Life
Authors: Leo Babauta
Originally Published: 2009
The main idea of “The Power Of Less” is to learn how to focus on the essential and eliminate the unnecessary. It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of modern life, the world is constantly increasing in complexity. List your important goals by priority, and change your habits one at a time working only on those projects that will lead you to where you really want to go.
21. Essentialism
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Authors: Greg McKeown
Originally Published: 2014
Essentialism is discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not. Essentialism is about deliberately distinguishing the vital few from the trivial, eliminating the non-essentials, and then removing any obstacles so the essential things have a clear, smooth passage. Essentialism is about doing less, but better, in every area of your life.
> Productivity Is A Life Style
22. The Productive Muslim
Where Faith Meets Productivity
Authors: Faris Mohammad
Originally Published: 2016
Spirituality is key to lead a balanced peaceful life. This book helps urban global Muslims lead a productive lifestyle, spiritually, physically, and socially.
Based on Islam and modern productivity techniques, Mohammed Faris, the founder of ProductiveMuslim.com, talks about the role of spirituality in our lives, how to manage sleep, nutrition, and fitness, how to be productive during Ramadan, how to be socially productive outside your home and community.
23. Sleep Smarter
21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to A Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger
Authors: Shawn Stevenson
Originally Published: 2016
Sleep is an important productivity element, and it’s often overlooked. Good sleep helps you stay productive, and improve virtually every function of your mind and body.
In this 14-Day Sleep Makeover, you’ll learn how to create the ideal sleep sanctuary, how to hack sunlight to regulate your circadian rhythms, which clinically proven sleep nutrients and supplements you need, and stress-reduction exercises and fitness tips to keep you mentally and physically sharp.
24. Lifescale
How to Live a More Creative, Productive, and Happy Life
Authors: Brian Solis
Originally Published: 2019
Most of us think that multitasking is a normal thing. But it’s NOT! It was scientifically proven that there are cognitive costs attached to alt-tab-ing between efforts.
Unfortunately, this is what we do; we text and walk, Snap/Insta and drive, email and surf while in meetings, check our phones while reading and studying. The author has pulled together scientific findings and practical tools to help you overcome this issue.
25. The Willpower Instinct
How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
Authors: Kelly McGonigal
Originally Published: 2013
This is a great little book about willpower, how it works, and how to develop it. There are tons of practical advice, as well as ingenious explanations of biological and psychological mechanisms involved.
Kelly McGonigal breaks down willpower into 3 categories and gives you science-backed systems to improve your self-control, break bad habits, and choose long-term goals over instant gratification.
> Discipline, Time management
26. Getting Things Done
The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Authors: David Allen
Originally Published: 2001
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” includes the GTD system, a simple yet detailed system for increasing productivity. The goal is to keep tasks simple enough so that postponing and procrastinating is lowered to a minimum.
27. The One Thing
The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results: Achieve your goals with one of the world’s bestselling success books
Author: Gary Keller
Originally Published: 2001
The key to success is figuring out your ONE most important thing in your business, career, or life over the long-run. Think of this as your “someday” goal. Once you’ve figured that out, you need to identify how many dominoes you need to line up, and then knock down, in order to achieve it.
The One Thing explains the success habit to overcome the six lies that block our success, beat the seven thieves that steal time, and leverage the laws of purpose, priority, and productivity.
28. The Power of Full Engagement
Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal
Authors: Jim Loehr, Tony Schwartz
Originally Published: 2003
The Power Of Full Engagement teaches you how to manage the only thing worth managing: your energy, by telling you how to properly maintain your four kinds of energy, live a life of purpose, and accept your limitations.
29. Deep Work
Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Author: Cal Newport
Originally Published: 2016
Cal argues that the best way to get more meaningful work done is by working deeply in a state of high concentration without distractions on a single task.
The book is split into two parts. The first explains why deep work maximizes productivity and why only a few people practice it. The second part shows us how to actually do it and make deep work a regular practice in our lives.
I think that this book is one of the best productivity books for students.
30. Make Time
How to Focus on What Matters Every Day
Authors: Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky
Originally Published: 2018
If only there were more hours in the day! We all said that before, it’s like 24 hours a day is never enough.
Make Time will help you stop passively reacting to the demands of the modern world and start intentionally making time for the things that matter. It offers a customizable menu of bite-size tips and strategies that can be tailored to individual habits and lifestyles.
31. The Checklist Manifesto
How to Get Things Right
Author: Atul Gawande
Originally Published: 2009
The Checklist Manifesto describes Gawande’s discoveries about checklists, the insights he learned from various industries, and his personal experiences, with specific tips and examples on how you can develop and use checklists.
It’s a common misconception that checklists are merely about ticking boxes and mindlessly following protocol. In reality, checklists are about facilitating a culture of teamwork and discipline, which are crucial for a wide range of contexts, including complex problems that involve expert skills and knowledge.
One of the best books on productivity and organization!
32. The Productivity Project
Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy
Author: Chris Bailey
Originally Published: 2017
Chris Bailey turned down lucrative job offers to pursue a lifelong dream, and spend a year performing a deep dive experiment into the pursuit of productivity, a subject he had been enamored with since he was a teenager.
After obtaining his business degree, he created a blog to chronicle a year-long series of productivity experiments he conducted on himself, where he also continued his research and interviews with some of the world’s foremost experts, from Charles Duhigg to David Allen. Among the experiments that he tackled: Bailey went several weeks with getting by on little to no sleep; he cut out caffeine and sugar; he lived in total isolation for 10 days; he used his smartphone for just an hour a day for three months; he gained ten pounds of muscle mass; he stretched his workweek to 90 hours; a late riser, he got up at 5:30 every morning for three months, all the while monitoring the impact of his experiments on the quality and quantity of his work.
33. Surge
Your Guide to Put Any Idea Into Action
Author: Steve Garguilo
Originally Published: 2016
How many times have you had an idea that you were passionate about, one that you believed was important? How many times have you waited until you had the perfect amount of time or the perfect environment or the perfect set of circumstances to act on that idea? How many times have your ideas vanished into thin air because those “perfect” opportunities never came?
In this book, you’ll learn exactly how to harness the power of now to take action on your ideas. You’ll learn how to alleviate anxiety, face your fears, and overcome overwhelm—all so you can bring your ideas to life.
34. The 4 Disciplines of Execution
Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
Authors: Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling
Originally Published: 2016
The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) is a simple, repeatable, and proven formula for executing your most important strategic priorities.
4DX is not merely a set of practices. It’s a set of timeless disciplines that jointly form an operating system that must be applied as a whole.
By following the 4 disciplines, you will focus on the wildly important, act on lead measures, keep a compelling scoreboard, create a cadence of accountability.
35. How to be a Productivity Ninja
Worry Less, Achieve More and Love What You Do
Author: Graham Alcott
Originally Published: 2014
How to Be a Productivity Ninja is a book packed with a good combination of high-level concepts, psychological mental frameworks, and street-level strategies and tactics. The author argues that instead of managing your time, manage your attention. And he moves on to lay out the entire process to achieve that.
According to the author, the entire aim of this book is to encourage you to think more about your own productivity behaviors so that you can improve these habits to a point where you rarely to have to think about your productivity ever again.
Did We Miss Something ?
We hope you like our list of the best productivity books.
Leave us a comment below, tell us about your favorite one, and what you’ve learned from it.