7 Best Productivity Books You Should Read in 2024
Updated on 08 Feb 2024 • 4 min read • posted by Maria H
Isn't it wonderful how reading books can do so much for our mental, emotional, and even physical health? It sharpens the mind, and trains memory and focus. A morning reading session can gently wake up your brain while reading before bed can become a calming routine that signals rest.
There are books out there that can actually teach you how to use your time more efficiently, create a work-life balance, and improve your concentration and discipline. Sounds tempting, isn't it?
We've put together a list of the seven best productivity books you should read in 2024. The selection includes both classics and the latest works that contain ideas that can really change your approach to work and personal life.
Best Books on Productivity
Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You
by Ali Abdaal
A long-awaited book on productivity from a famous YouTuber, Ali Abdaal. As a doctor, entrepreneur, and educator, Ali has a unique, practical perspective on productivity. His forthcoming book on productivity offers simple actions that can change everything. It is science-based, filled with real-life stories, and refreshingly joyful.
The book has four main parts. It guides you through discovering the science of Feel-Good Productivity, understanding fundamental energizers of true productivity, learning the best methods for overcoming procrastination, and guiding you to eradicating burnout.
Read Feel-Good Productivity to experience the power of productivity in a groundbreaking way.
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen
Since its first publication almost fifteen years ago, this book has become one of the must-reads for personal organization. David Allen is a creator of the GTD method and in his also-called book, he explains this system.
Getting Things Done is about understanding that to do something, you need to define what "done" means and what "doing" looks like. And this book unleashes all the secrets and ways of using the method – to reassess goals, plan projects, be flexible and adaptable, and overcome feelings of confusion and anxiety.
Read Getting Things Done for nurturing mindful productivity.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted
by Cal Newport
Cal Newport’s book offers the most informed and insightful collection of practical tips for restoring your mental faculties. The book uncovers strategies for adapting to our reality, where deep work is becoming increasingly valuable at the same time that it’s becoming increasingly rare.
Focus and cultivate deep work. It is a superpower of learning complicated new skills and producing high-value output at a high rate.
Read Deep Work to create a distraction-free environment.
Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business
by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg is a master of the life hack. His book, “Smarter Faster Better”, unveils eight core productivity concepts – from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision-making. What sets this book apart is that each concept is explained through the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics.
The book shares insights from the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, FBI agents, and airplane pilots, revealing practical ways to become smarter, faster, and better at everything we do.
Read Smarter Faster Better for real use cases for improving existing productivity methods.
Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything
by BJ Fogg PhD
We all have behaviors we want to change. BJ Fogg offers an approach to how to do this. There are three main things to focus on: have an epiphany, change your environment, and take small steps.
The trick is to start with doable habits instead of making big, overwhelming changes. This approach is not only easy to follow, it is also very inspiring.
Read Tiny Habits for forming life-changing habits.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
by James Clear
Despite what the title might suggest, this book offers much more than just insights into habit formation. Productivity seekers can draw from it the true power of habits, goals, and systems. The book's main idea is that you do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.
James Clear teaches how to make time for new habits, overcome laziness, and get back on track when you fall off course. This is your chance to get a proven system that can take you to new heights.
Read Atomic Habits to change your view on habits and your life.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman
This book explains how our thought processes affect our professional and personal lives. It offers different techniques to protect ourselves from mental failures that often get us into trouble.
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” will help you determine when to trust your intuition and how to take advantage of the benefits of slow thinking. Mastering these skills will not only increase your overall productivity but also improve both your soft and hard skills.
Read Thinking, Fast and Slow for better understanding the way we think.
Excited about these productivity books but not sure how to start reading regularly? Our article "6 Proven Tips to Read More Books" is the perfect next step for you.
Uncover essential tips in our article about
What is the Best Book for Productivity
The “best” book on productivity can vary depending on your needs. Up-level your daily habits and productivity, and improve your life with the best productivity books.
If you want to form effective habits and systems – “Tiny Habits” and “Atomic Habits” are here for you.
To enhance your soft and hard skills – read “Smarter Faster Better” and “Thinking, Fast and Slow”.
And improve the task management and work-life balance with “Feel-Good Productivity” and “Getting Things Done”.
But knowledge alone is not transformative, it is the application of that knowledge that will unlock new levels of your work and life. So choose the book that resonates with you the most and let it be the catalyst for the change you seek.
