The best 77 Focus books

The Da Vinci Curse (2012) plagues people who have too many talents and interests: they are always learning, but never invest enough time and energy into one thing. They are always swapping their job, their hobbies or even home and never become fully engaged in the many domains to which they’re drawn. These blinks describe their particular problems, analyzes the causes and provides a powerful systematic approach to combat the curse.

The ONE Thing (2013) helps you to discover your most important goal, and gives you tools to ensure you can use your time productively to get there. The book reveals that many of the maxims we accept as good practice are actually myths that only hinder our progress. It also provides advice on how to live your life with priority, purpose and productivity without sending other aspects of life out of balance, because this is the way to perform the kind of focused work that leads to great success.

Your Brain At Work (2009) explores the inner workings of our brains and provides many methods for us to optimize our thinking. Drawing upon thousands of neuropsychological studies conducted in the last 25 years, the book presents many strategies that will help us overcome distraction and become more focused.

Focus (1996) describes how corporations in America lose profits by focusing on growth. It explains what the leading management strategies of corporations are and why they are wrong. Additionally, it elaborates on what strategies corporations should adopt instead, and how they can focus their company for greater success.

Focus (2013) is a guidebook for nurturing today’s scarcest resource: attention. Using cutting-edge research, the book reveals that sharpening our focus in a world of endless distractions is the key to professional success and personal fulfillment. What makes Goleman’s contribution special is that the book expands the definition of “focus” beyond mere concentration and calls for a mindful life in which attention is paid to the self, to others and to the planet.

This title provides you with valuable insights and guidelines that will help you focus your life on the things that are truly the most meaningful. You’ll learn how to set your priorities, make the best decisions, and develop a keen vision for the future. If you’re looking to create positive change in your life, this book is a great place to start!

Manage Your Day-To-Day is a collection of ideas, wisdom and tips from well-known creative people. It offers readers valuable insights on how to develop effective work routines, stay focused and unleash their creativity.

Essentialism (2014) teaches you how to do better by doing less. By offering practical solutions for how to get your priorities straight, Essentialism helps you to eliminate all of the junk in your routine that’s keeping you from being truly productive and fulfilled.

Your Best Just Got Better (2012) outlines the most effective techniques for setting your goals and using your time to work toward them. These blinks reveal which parts of your life are draining your motivation, as well as what you can do to bring your ambition to the next level.

In Work Simply (2015), author Carson Tate draws from her own career experience to show you how to become more productive. By understanding your own productivity style, you can make lighter work of the ever-growing pile of tasks and achieve your life goals.

Between open-plan offices, telecommuting jobs and freelancing in coffee shops, the modern workplace is a minefield of distractions. Time to reclaim your brain with a little lifehacking strategy! Two Awesome Hours (2015) reveals unexpected and insightful steps to a more productive you, from managing your mental energy to letting your mind wander. 120 minutes is all you need to make a difference.  

Do the Work (2011) outlines ways to help you conquer your fears, stop procrastinating and accomplish the things you've long desired. Learn about the many ways you can fight resistance, the negative internal force that tries to stop all of us from reaching our goals.

Singletasking (2015) tackles some of the common myths surrounding multitasking and productivity. Full of practical advice and tricks to help you get more from your day, Singletasking clearly demonstrates how immersive focus on a single task leads to a more efficient, and ultimately happier, life.

Use Your Memory (1986) reveals how to develop, train and employ a stellar memory. In a series of guided step-by-step mental exercises, this book will give you all the tools you need to memorize everything from short grocery lists to complex subject matter.

Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined (2013) is about finding a new, more holistic approach to assessing human intelligence, rather than focusing solely on IQ. Scott Kaufman outlines the flaws in IQ tests and offers a more effective theory of what makes us smart.

Organize Tomorrow Today (2015) is the definitive guide to achieving a successful career and fulfilling life. These blinks offer you valuable information, giving you the tools to unlock the power of your mind, increase your self-confidence and become your most productive self.

Deep Work (2016) is all about how the rise of technology has wrecked our ability to concentrate deeply on tasks – and how to overcome this blockade. These blinks illustrate different strategies that can help you improve the output of your work and get the most out of your free time.

18 Minutes (2011) is a helpful guide to getting things done by focusing on meaningful work, reaching goals and preventing distractions. These blinks will show how to identify the kind of work that is right for you and how to stay on track and hit your targets.

Unsubscribe (2016) puts our unhealthy relationship with email under the magnifying glass. Our lives are busy enough as it is, so it’s high time to stop wasting precious hours catching up on emails and responding to unimportant messages. With the help of this practical guide, you can organize your inbox and your life.

Changing the Subject (2015) takes a critical and concerned look at how the internet is affecting our lives. In these blinks, you’ll find out how our constant connection to the digital world is causing us to lose our individuality, our attention span and our intellect. Are we headed for one giant hive mind, or can we put down our phones for a moment and reconnect with our own emotions?

The Outward Mindset (2016) explains how changing your perspective can transform the world. These blinks discuss how a focus on personal needs obscures the needs of others and how, by identifying collective goals, people can make powerful collective changes in society.

The Myth of Multitasking (2009) reveals an important truth: that the concept of multitasking is a lie that we’ve been buying into for far too long. The truth is that the human mind is not built to divide its focus, and if you want quality work done in an efficient, timely manner, you need to take things on one at a time.

15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management (2015) reveals the secrets of time management used by billionaires, Olympic athletes, honor students and entrepreneurs. These blinks are a guide to extreme productivity that won’t wear you out.

Finish (2017) is a guidebook for anyone who loves starting new projects but always struggles to complete them. You’ll discover how the real enemy to getting things done isn’t laziness, but rather the voice of the disgruntled perfectionist we all have inside us. This valuable advice can help you reduce needless, self-imposed pressure, giving you the opportunity to finish what you’ve started and be more productive.

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang’s The Distraction Addiction (2013) takes a look at attention in today’s distraction-riddled society and asks how we can stay connected and productive. Drawing on fascinating new research by neuroscientists and psychologists, as well as traditional Buddhist thought, Pang offers hands-on advice on how to stay focused and overcome our internet addictions in a new digital age.

Make Time (2018) promises the seemingly impossible, then actually delivers the goods. These blinks will help you do exactly what the title suggests: make more time. Of course, there are only so many hours in the day, and you can’t generate more of them. What they do provide, though, is an insightful diagnosis of how and why you lose your time to busyness and distractions along with a highly personalizable strategy and a generous buffet of practical tactics for reclaiming it, allowing you to do the things you really want to do in life.

Digital Minimalism (2018) is a practical guide to navigating today’s media landscape, where multiple billion-dollar companies are out to keep your eyes as glued to their platforms as possible. Fortunately, there is growing skepticism surrounding new technology and digital media. People are eager to regain their autonomy and, while they’re at it, live more satisfying and healthy lives. With these tools and methods, you too can regain the focus and productivity that comes from stepping back from new technology.

Ten Arguments for Deleting your Social Media Accounts Right Now (2018) is a modern-day cri de coeur. It offers, with ten distinct arguments, an all but irrefutable case for deleting your social media accounts. From their ethically dubious data-selling practices to the way they manipulate users, current social media companies are doing society a major disservice. Your best option right now is to delete your accounts until better options emerge.

Overworked and Overwhelmed (2014) shines a light on work-related stress and outlines what you can do to fight it. Packed full of simple yet effective stress-relieving strategies that you can start putting into practice today, this is a survival guide tailor-made to today’s fast-paced corporate world.

Create Space (2018) is a collection of the many tools and methods used by Derek Draper in his role as a coach for business leaders around the world. As a practicing psychologist and sought-after consultant, Draper has honed his knowledge and is generous in sharing what he’s learned and observed over the years. Whether you’re a CEO or an intern, or somewhere in between, Draper’s valuable insights help you establish a balanced and successful career.

The Distracted Mind (2016) explains the basic structures of the brain and questions how well it can function in a world stuffed full of high-tech gadgets and constant distractions. Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience, it offers practical solutions for how to resist all these distractions and regain focus.

In Free to Focus (2019), Michael Hyatt challenges some common myths surrounding productivity and proposes a new way to approach our workday. In a distraction-laden and attention-sapping world, these blinks offer a reality check packed with practical tips.

The Free-Time Formula (2018) is a practical guide to better time management, addressing a problem we’ve all grappled with: the feeling that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do the things we value most. These blinks show that the problem usually isn’t time itself but perception. Once we reframe our concept of time, Jeff Sanders argues, we can start setting realistic priorities and getting the most out of our days.

The Science of Intelligent Achievement (2018) is about how to become more productive and creative, so that you achieve the goals you have set for yourself. The book shows you how to think the right thoughts, and surround yourself with the right people to sustain your motivation.

Do/Breathe (2015) is a calming antidote to the stressors of contemporary life, offering a simple guide to cultivating balance, honing focus, and learning to be present. Do/Breathe takes you right back to life’s basics – like breathing, eating, and sleeping – to show how adjusting fundamental practices, habits, and mindsets can produce positive, lasting change in your life. 

Indistractable (2019) addresses one of modern life’s most common problems – distraction, often blamed on contemporary technology. Nir Eyal, however, claims that while smartphones and apps might get in the way of more meaningful work, they are not the root cause of the issue. So what is? In these blinks, Eyal provides an actionable four-part framework that breaks down how distraction really works and what you can do to overcome it. 

Procrastinate on Purpose (2019) provides powerful yet simple techniques for saving time and money. Packed with straight-forward advice, these blinks shed light on how to escape constant busyness. They reveal how to boost productivity by lightening your schedule and focusing solely on your priorities.

How to Do Nothing (2019) is a study of what’s gone wrong in contemporary society and what we can do to fix it – and ourselves. Ironically, the most effective tactic against our 24/7 culture of productivity might just be doing nothing. When we stop, step back, and refocus our attention, Jenny Odell argues, we can begin to see the contours of a better, more meaningful existence.

Despite what the title says, F#ck Content Marketing (2019) isn’t against content marketing. Rather, it’s about clearing up the confusion and refocusing our attention on how to get the most from our content marketing efforts. To this end, author Randy Frisch is out to take the emphasis off of content creation and put it where it belongs: on how to get your content noticed and use it to create a meaningful customer experience.

Willpower Doesn't Work (2018) sets itself firmly against orthodox opinion in the fields of productivity and self-help. Drawing on a wide range of psychological theories, as well as the stories of successful entrepreneurs, these blinks argue that when it comes to changing your life, willpower simply isn’t the answer.

Limitless (2020) is an empowering how-to guide for making full use of your brain’s incredible capabilities. It goes out to anyone who’s ever felt too dumb, too slow, or too unskilled to succeed. Learn how to unlimit your brain – and gain the power to achieve anything at all.

168 Hours (2010) provides a revolutionary strategy to manage your time. Author Laura Vanderkam has discovered that successful people have a unique mindset, one that helps them fit everything they value into their week. By learning to time-manage like they do, you can free yourself from the daily grind and focus on what really matters. 

Hyperfocus (2018) is a straightforward guide to reclaiming your attention that lays out how you can boost both your productivity and creativity by learning to redirect your focus. Combining periods of intense concentration with spells of creative thinking sets the foundation for a brighter, more efficient version of you.

Noise (2019) is an antidote to our distracted times. In an age of shrinking attention spans and divided focus, it shows us how to reclaim our natural powers of concentration.

Kaizen (2019) is a guide to the improvement philosophy known as kaizen, which encourages taking small steps to complete ambitious goals. Already well established in the world of business and sports, this method can also be applied to personal development. Using practical examples, this guide explains how to take a kaizen approach to setting goals that’ll improve health, relationships, money, and work.

Lifescale (2019) addresses the modern struggle to stay focused in a world designed to distract you. It offers practical solutions for increasing your productivity while contending with a shortened attention span. It also outlines ways of identifying meaning, values, and goals that will propel you forward.

High Impact Tools for Teams (2021) offers flexible tools for project planning, assessment, and creating an empowering environment for your team members. At the center is the Team Alignment Map, a simple chart that will transform the way you conduct meetings, track progress, and identify problems before they occur.

Start Finishing (2019) is a guide for turning your ideas into projects that you can push all the way to completion. It shares easy-to-follow steps and tips for selecting the right idea, making it feasible, and overcoming any challenges that you may encounter along the way. 

The Power of Full Engagement investigates the formula for peak performance by examining the causes and qualities of our many energy sources of energy. The authors offer tricks and methods on how to nurture those sources of energy in a way that helps us live fulfilling lives that adhere to our deepest values.

Urgent! (2021) is your guide to getting the right things done at the right time. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to fall into the urgency trap – and keeping up with the constant demands often feels impossible. But by learning to consciously replace reactive behaviors with proactive ones, you can reduce stress and do deeper, more effective work.

How to Fix Meetings (2021) is a guide for turning long and ineffective meetings into well-designed sessions that encourage collaboration and produce results. From defining a meeting’s purpose to helping people get started on their tasks, How to Fix Meetings outlines the best ways to get the most out of any meeting.

The Power of Focus (2001) provides readers with the tools to focus their lives and work in a direction that fulfills their life purpose and brings financial success to their business ventures. Packed with practical exercises, the authors demonstrate the importance of successful habits, overcoming setbacks, maintaining win-win relationships, and asking the right questions.

Goals (2019) provides a comprehensive guide to setting goals and achieving them. By learning how to plan, hold yourself accountable, and foster the personal qualities you need to pursue your dreams, you’re more likely to succeed.

Not Today (2021) explains how you can become extremely productive through nine simple steps. The authors learned many of these lessons while running their business at the same time as caring for their gravely ill young son.

Strategic Kaizen (2021) examines the principles and practices of corporations that have embraced lean thinking – a paired-down, customer-oriented production process pioneered in postwar Japan. Also known as the Toyota Production System, this managerial philosophy is all about maximizing efficiency and reducing waste by making many small changes. 

A Minute to Think (2021) explores how busyness is harming our productivity – and why it's so important to take regular pauses. It reveals the mental and economic costs associated with our hectic modern working environments and explains how we can reclaim our time. 

At Your Best (2021) is a practical guide to moving beyond time management. Drawing on Carey Nieuwhof’s decades of leadership, it shows how to sync your time, energy, and priorities so that you can reach your goals, have more energy for what you love, and begin to thrive both at work and at home.

Meetings That Get Results (2021) is a practical guide to the art of running more effective and efficient meetings. Designed for leaders tasked with facilitating meetings and group discussions, it emphasizes collaborative approaches to decision-making and problem-solving. 

How to Begin (2022) argues that you unlock your greatness by working on the hard things. The things that matter. Not to your partner, friends, or family – but to you. The hardest part isn’t the work itself, though. It’s identifying the kinds of projects that are worth investing your time in. Projects which give your life meaning. And that’s what this book is really about: helping you discover worthy goals.

Attention Span (2023) examines the connection between the digital age and our capacity for attention. As digital devices have become inextricable from our lives, our attention spans have shortened and our stress levels have risen. Drawing on scientific research, it debunks modern myths about attention and explains how we can reclaim it for better well-being. 

How to Be a Productivity Ninja (2014) transforms old-school time-management techniques and productivity advice into a twenty-first century handbook on how to work smarter – not harder. Adapted to the realities of contemporary work and life, it’s filled with practical guidance and exercises for boosting productivity.

The Power of Unwavering Focus (2022) is a practical and personal guide that offers clear steps toward ending the distractions, fears, and worries that keep us stressed out and anxious, while carving a clear path toward more mental clarity and focus. Packed with concrete steps and personal reflections, it offers a deep look into the awesome power of the mind and how focus can help everyone live a more purposeful and joyful life.

Peak Mind (2021) provides a cutting-edge overview of the science of attention – looking at the various ways your mind focuses and pays attention, as well as the factors that cause our mental vigilance to lapse and weaken over time. What’s more, it lays out a simple, easy-to-follow regimen to keep your mind in tip-top shape – even as you deal with the ups and downs of life.

Stolen Focus (2022) begins with author Johann Hari experiencing a common problem: his attention span is diminishing. He can’t seem to focus on much outside of Twitter and online news. Over three years, Hari tries to identify the root causes of this problem. He uncovers a collective attention crisis that’s affecting the entire globe. From social media to the culture of productivity, Hari identifies the culprits behind our stolen focus – and wonders if, and how, we can claim it back.

Coming Alive (2017) offers readers a practical approach to overcoming their inner demons and realizing their full potential. Using four psychological tools, this groundbreaking self-help book provides a roadmap to happiness, fulfillment, and a life free of negative thoughts and influences.

You Can Fix Your Brain (2018) is a step-by-step guide to improving cognitive function and overall brain health. Through dietary choices, environmental adjustments, and other health practices, you can reduce brain fog, enhance your memory, and increase your mental clarity.

Awaken Your Genius (2023) is a straightforward yet philosophical guide to releasing the aspects of yourself that don’t suit your growth. Through a five-step process, it shows readers how they can find their way back to their unique and authentic genius selves.

The School of Greatness (2015) draws on the author’s own journey and his extensive research into what it takes to lead an inspiring and meaningful life. This includes his many interviews and conversations on the topic with leading figures including entrepreneurs, artists and athletes on his podcast of the same name. 

This Is How We Do It (2022) is the inspirational pep talk you never knew you needed. Entertainment icon Kevin Hart leads readers through his mental bootcamp of fifteen essential tools for living your best life. Drawing from his own personal experiences – and adding a good dose of his signature humor – Hart suggests a new mindset based on positivity and personal growth.

The 40-Day Sugar Fast (2019) is a spiritual journey to having a healthier relationship with food. With Biblical stories, personal anecdotes, and mini-sermons, it shows how putting a distance between yourself and sugar can lead you closer to God.

The Road Less Stupid: Advice from the Chairman of the Board (2018) is about avoiding the dumb mistakes that can sabotage businesses. The way to avoid these mistakes, which is usually more valuable than having smart ideas, is to think more and with more focus. Cunningham shows readers how to do this with his Thinking Time practice.

Essentially Less (2023) isn’t a Blink based on a book, it is the book. In a time when our attention is becoming a crucial and contested resource, it makes a case for the importance of focusing on what’s essential. It’s a joint production by journalist Dirk von Gehlen and Blinkist’s editors.

Positive Intelligence (2012) provides a way to unlock your true potential by helping you identify and conquer common mental blocks. It also shows you how to tap into your deeper wisdom to live a more balanced, productive, and happy life. 

Faster Than Normal (2017) explains that ADHD isn’t a disease to be diagnosed but a power to be nurtured and harnessed. If you follow certain rituals and avoid the triggers that lead to self-destructive behavior, you can utilize the full power of your brain to create an extremely productive and deeply fulfilling life.

Successful Time Management (2003) is a practical guide containing tools and techniques to improve workflow productivity. It offers time-saving and actionable advice that will help you organize projects, delegate tasks, and select priorities in the workplace.

Mindful Self-Discipline (2022) presents a new perspective on self-discipline as a tool for personal empowerment, rather than a set of rigid constraints. It guides us through a transformational journey of harnessing self-discipline, underlining the significance of integrating self-discipline into daily routines to control base instincts, chase higher goals, and design a life that mirrors one’s deepest values and dreams.

Rhinoceros Success (2003) is a motivational and humorous guide to achieving your goals through sheer determination. It urges readers to embrace their inner rhinoceros and charge full speed ahead towards their ambitions.