The Books Successful People Swear By

Your reading list, according to those who get things done

Reading list from successful people in 2019

Words by

The Valet. staff

Photography by

Courtesy

Published

August 8, 2019

Note

Items featured in this story are independently selected by the editorial team. Purchasing via our links may earn Valet. a portion of the sale, which helps fund our editorial mission.

Think about that proverbial question: Who would you invite to dinner, dead or alive? The idea being that if we were able to spend a little time with these great men and women, we might glean a little knowledge. That perhaps a little of what made them so successful, so interesting and iconic might rub off on us. Well, this is the next best thing. Taking reading recommendations from smart people is always a good idea. After all, if you look at some of the wealthiest and most successful people in the world, they all have one thing in common. They're all avid readers. If the people we admire for getting things done rely on these books for inspiration and guidance, then surely they could do us common folk some good too. Herewith, some well-vetted reading material. Get one, get two and keep them on your desk to stoke your imagination at lunchtime. Or have it ready on your nightstand for a little end-of-the-day meditation.

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2019 Reading List

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging

By Sebastian Junger

Tim Ferriss, the entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author or The 4-Hour Workweek, suggests this book to anyone who wants more courage and clarity. Combining history, psychology and anthropology, this New York Times bestseller explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty and belonging, and explains why we are stronger when we come together. "From the battlefield to Main Street, its stories and examples will captivate you," says Ferriss. "The questions it poses alone could change your life."

$12.08 at Amazon

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Essentialism:
 The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

By Greg McKeown

Sophia Amoruso, founder and CEO of Girlboss, says that this book helped her stay focused, identify what's truly essential and learn how to say no to the peripheral distractions. McKeown's philosophy is not a time management strategy, or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution towards the things that really matter.

$15 at Amazon

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

The Power of Habit

By Charles Duhigg

Jake Knapp, author of Make Time and Sprint, often recommends this book to friends and colleagues because it offers a deeper understanding of how to create new“and most importantly, lasting“habits. There's also helpful guidance on breaking bad habits and maintaining those that help you stay focused and productive on a day-to-day basis.

$13.11 at Amazon

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Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley

Younger Next Year

By Chris Crowley

When you're ambitious, sometimes you can put your professional goals ahead of self-care and your general health. This best-selling guide is a quick read co-written by one of the country's most prominent internists, Dr. Henry "Harry" Lodge, and his star patient, the 73-year-old Chris Crowley. Candice Nicole, founder and president of HUmineral says it's a must-read. "Even if you experience a lazy time of forgoing workouts, you probably won't for long because the words on these pages linger in the mind, long after the read," she says. "It motivates you to kick-start and continue a healthy workout routine."

$10.51 at Amazon

Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck

Travels with Charley in Search of America

By John Steinbeck

Not all the books have to be so practical. Richard Branson, the famed Virgin founder, often comes back to this classic from John Steinbeck. In it, the author drives along roads big and small, embarking on a uniquely American adventure where he finds racial hostility, tranquility and loneliness, along with the unexpected kindness of strangers. "It opens your eyes to the small pleasures of life, and the great wonders of humanity in the little moments that matter," says Branson.

$11.70 at Amazon

Barrack Obama illustration

Presidential Poetry

Barrack Obama recommends this book of poetry by the late W.S. Merwin. "Most of us don't spend a lot of time on poetry, but Merwin's death reminded me of how a good poem can inspire and instruct," wrote the 44th president when sharing some of his recent favorites reads. "I've drawn inspiration from Merwin's writing because it teaches us about ourselves, our world, and how we as humans connect to nature."

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