The best 100 Inspiration books

In Think and Grow Rich (1937), Napoleon Hill investigates the methods of the 500 most successful people of his time, including the world’s richest men, top politicians, famous inventors, writers and captains of industry. First published amidst the Great Depression, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies.

A note to readers: this Blink was redone especially for audio. This is the reason why the text version might differ from the audio version. If you’re trying to decide whether to listen or to read, we highly recommend listening!

What is happiness and how can we bring more of it into our lives? Gretchen Rubin asked herself this question because although she fulfilled all the prerequisites for a happy life – an intact family, a good job and enough money for a rainy day – she found herself frequently unhappy. During her year-long Happiness Project, she read about various techniques and theories on increasing happiness and tried to become happier with their help.

Give and Take offers a breath of fresh air to traditional theories of what it takes to be successful. Backed by ground-breaking research, Give and Take demonstrates how giving more to others, rather than competing against them, may be the secret to profound success and fulfillment.

David and Goliath (2013) shares myriad stories of underdogs who won out against all the odds. Throwing out our traditional ideas of what it takes to be a success, it offers unconventional views on subjects such as the downsides to privilege, the benefits of learning difficulties, and how authorities should treat their citizens. These lessons are infused with academic studies, historical examples and detailed interviews with the underdogs themselves.

Flow (1990) explores how we can experience enjoyment in our lives by controlling our attention and strengthening our resolve. This is achieved by being immersed in an activity or subject that makes us neither anxious (if it’s too hard), nor bored (if it’s too easy). In this “flow state” we lose our self-consciousness, selfishness and sense of time. Using goal-setting and immediate feedback, we can achieve a state of flow that improves our relationship with work, increases our self-worth and gives our lives meaning.

The Richest Man In Babylon – Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century is a series of parables set in ancient Babylon concerning financial wisdom. In these blinks you’ll find these parables distilled into modern day advice that can help you accumulate wealth.

The Untethered Soul is all about you: your feelings, thoughts and consciousness. By drawing on different spiritual practices, this book explains how you can navigate your own mind, get in touch with yourself and become your own master, to ultimately achieve enlightenment.

The Motivation Manifesto (2014) explains the fundamental driving forces of human nature and how these either help us realize or keep us from our life’s goals. In a few easy steps, you’ll learn how to inspire and increase your own levels of motivation to live a happier life.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up isn’t just a guide to decluttering, it’s a best seller that’s changed lives in Japan, Europe and the United States. The Wall Street Journal even called Marie Kondo’s Shinto-inspired “KonMari” technique “the cult of tidying up.” Kondo explains in detail the many ways in which your living space affects all aspects of your life, and how you can ensure that each item in it has powerful personal significance. By following her simple yet resonant advice, you can move closer to achieving your dreams.

The Compound Effect shows us how to make lasting changes by paying attention to the smallest decisions we make – and their cumulative effect on us. It’s about the slow burn, not the big gesture. Author Darren Hardy teaches us that by accepting responsibility for our own lives, we can change our habits and carve out a life that is more successful, fulfilling and happy.

Moore's Law (2015) tells the story of Gordon Moore, a chemist from San Francisco who helped revolutionize the technology industry. Over the years, Moore’s innovations have fundamentally changed all kinds of electronic technology, from digital watches and personal computers to the internet and Facebook.

Our perceptions of our true selves are clouded by the society we live in and the people around us. The Fifth Agreement (2010) introduces five pacts that will help you strip away those misconceptions and uncover the truth about who you really are – without running off to a mountain top to be a hermit.

The 8th Habit (2004) helps you find your inner voice and thereby lead a more fulfilled life. Covey explains why we struggle to feel motivated and passionate (particularly in our working life) and how we can go about changing that.

Big Magic (2015) explores what both frightens and thrills us: turning our creative ideas into reality. These blinks provide helpful strategies that’ll enable you to manage the fears, frustrations and blocks of creating, allowing you to channel the playfulness you need to express yourself freely.

As a Man Thinketh (1903) captures the philosophy of James Allen. These blinks reveal the power that thoughts have over our personalities, our circumstances and our well-being. We discover the benefits of learning to master our minds and direct our thoughts toward the goals we want to achieve.

The ADHD Advantage (2015) provides new insights into ADHD, debunking false assumptions and unveiling the positive sides of this condition. These blinks explore how anyone with ADHD – children, young people and professionals alike – can be nurtured and supported to reach their full potential.

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.

Born For This (2016) is your guide to finding the career of your dreams. These blinks will help you discover your true passions while providing the tips and information you need to earn money from your genuine interests.  

You Are a Badass (2013) is your guide to living life to the fullest. Sincero provides an analysis of exactly what’s holding you back and provides powerful strategies geared toward breaking bad habits so that you can truly live out your dreams.

Become the badass you always wanted to be.

On the Shortness of Life (49 AD) is an essay on how to appreciate life – and how to use it. These blinks show you what is truly valuable in this world and how to avoid getting distracted by unimportant matters. They’ll show you where genuine happiness comes from and why working hard will not lead to a tranquil and satisfied mind.

Tools of Titans (2016) details the stories, strategies and successes of some of the most inspirational achievers, thinkers and doers of modern times. These blinks will teach you how to strengthen your body and your mind, all while building your creative business.

“There’s a reason why Tim Ferriss has become such an influential voice when it comes to achieving top performance. He always manages to get the best advice out of such fascinating, impressive people. Even Seth Rogan is in here!” – Ben S. Head of Salad at Blinkist

The Power of the Subconscious Mind (1963) has helped millions of readers around the world harness their subconscious and find true happiness in the process. These blinks share inspiring true stories and effective techniques that will positively influence your career, love life and overall health.

Make Your Bed (2017) is a collection of the author’s ten most valuable personal experiences during his many years of service with the US Navy SEALs. Each is a simple yet priceless piece of advice that will have a positive influence on your life.

You Are a Badass at Making Money (2017) offers a fresh and exciting perspective on what it takes to bring home the big bucks. Yes, you too can be a money-making maestro once you improve your mind-set and understand the energy of money. So stop making excuses and fooling yourself that only evil people are rich. Unlock your inner badass and open the door to success!

12 Rules For Life (2018) provides readers with an inventory of life’s most pressing concerns and the issues that have been present in the human psyche since ancient times. Author Jordan B. Peterson has collected some of the most enduring philosophical and religious assertions, as well as the lessons from our most cherished tales, to provide us with 12 guidelines to ensure a life of meaning. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, history and myth, these are clear and consistent principles that everyone can live by.

Tribe of Mentors (2017) is an insightful collection of interviews with mentors – highly regarded professionals who are widely considered to be leaders in their respective fields. To understand the secrets of their success, Tim Ferriss asks these mentors a variety of questions, from “What are your favorite books?” to “What are your daily habits?” The answers add up to a trove of useful tips for getting to the top.

Wabi Sabi (2018) sets out the different ways that the Japanese concept of wabi sabi can shape our lives for the better. Based on simplicity, impermanence and imperfection, wabi sabi acts as an antidote to the consumerism and fast pace of modern living.

Mind Over Clutter (2019) explores simple tips and techniques for keeping any home free from clutter. These blinks also reveal the impact of mess on your mental health and explain how you can approach housework in a more eco-friendly way, without the need for harsh chemicals. 

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.

The Power of Awakening (2020) is a collection of timeless writings by the late spiritual and motivational leader Wayne Dyer. They provide an accessible yet inspiring exploration of his belief that enlightened thinking can manifest concrete and positive change in the universe.

Beyond Order (2021) is a prescription for how to navigate the complexities of modern life. While Peterson’s previous work warned of the danger of excessive chaos, this new guide to living details the perils of too much rigid order.

Good Vibes, Good Life (2020) explores the power of positive thinking. By outlining simple techniques for changing your mindset, it reveals how every one of us can take control of our happiness – and our future.

Courage is Calling (2021) is both a meditation on bravery and a guide to courageousness. From how to dispel your fears to the benefits of taking small steps first, it gives concrete advice for building courage, and lays out, in writing rich with anecdotes, the simple ways that each of us can become a little bit braver.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (2020) condenses the wisdom of philosopher and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant into actionable, bite-sized chunks. Although he covers many topics, this collection of insights circles around two profound questions – how do you build wealth, and how do you find happiness? Ravikant’s answer? Both are skills that need to be practiced.

The Hidden Habits of Genius (2020) is a guide to the traits that set geniuses apart from the rest of us. Drawing on the lives of extraordinary creatives, thinkers, and disruptors from ancient Greece to modern Japan, it traces the factors that make up the complex and fascinating phenomenon that we call “genius.”

Love People, Use Things (2021) is a manifesto extolling the pleasures of minimalism. This primer explains why living with fewer things can lead to less clutter and more fulfilling relationships.

The Daily Laws (2021) is a compendium of 366 rules for life, covering everything from seduction and power to the discovery of your life’s great task. It distills the insights author Robert Greene has uncovered in a series of best-selling books spanning 22 years of word.

Discipline Equals Freedom (2020) is your field manual to the art of self-discipline. It uncovers what you need to do to meet your full potential – and why being disciplined sets you free. 

The Alchemist (1988) follows the story of a young Andalusian shepherd, who travels to the pyramids of Egypt to find a treasure he has recurrently dreamed about. On his journey, he has to overcome multiple obstacles – through which he learns valuable life lessons. Based on a thirteenth-century folktale, it explores topics such as following your dreams, finding your destiny, and the nature of love.

Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) is a deeply spiritual yet light-hearted account of the life of India’s preeminent yoga emissary to the West. In this epic, Paramahansa Yogananda narrates his encounters with legendary gurus, swamis, saints, and astral beings that guided him toward the fulfillment of his mission to unite East and West under one God through the personal and scientific practice of Kriya Yoga.

Tao Te Ching (circa 400 BC) is one of the foundational texts of Taoism, the enduring philosophical and religious movement that can be traced back to around the fourth century BC. Throughout the ages, its poetic wisdom continues to be relevant, inspirational, and timeless.

Blue Ocean Strategy (2004) is a business classic that revolutionized the way companies think about market competition. It explains why some businesses can grow uncontested, while the rest tear each other to bits in a hypercompetitive environment.

The Everyday Hero Manifesto (2021) is a how-to primer for becoming the hero of your own life. It’s full of detailed plans interspersed with short essays, anecdotes, and even poetry to help you become happier, more productive, and more successful.

Discipline Is Destiny (2022) draws on Stoic virtues to make a case for a life guided by self-discipline. It shows how being in control of your body, thoughts, and emotions is a prerequisite to mastering anything else – and uses historical figures to illustrate how things like sleep, discomfort, and kindness tie into greatness. 

Never Finished (2022) is your guide to transforming into the person you never imagined you could be. It shares stories of setbacks and lessons learned that you can use to power through life's unending challenges.

Saving Aziz (2023) is the story of how one man’s daring rescue of his friend and brother-in-arms turned into a multi-organizational effort that has resulted in rescuing over 17,000 allies from Afghanistan. 

Becoming Supernatural (2017) explores how everyday people can become supernatural. It references breakthrough studies, ongoing research, and incredible stories from regular people that show how anyone can create incredible mental and physical changes within themselves and others by connecting to the unseen energies of the world.

The Creative Act (2023) is a meditative manifesto about what it really means to be an artist. It contends that artists don’t have a monopoly on creativity – everyone is inherently creative. To access that creativity you just need to commit to a creative practice. By cultivating an awareness of the world around you and allowing yourself to make lots of mistakes, you’ll be able to revel in the creative process, instead of fearing it.

The Power of Discipline (2020) explores the biological tendencies within our brains that determine our ability to control our self-discipline. It shows us how we can refine these tendencies in order to develop improved self-disciplinary habits and reach our goals.

Living in Flow (2019) invites you on a transformative journey to discover the power of synchronicity – and, through it, to create a life filled with ease, joy, and fulfillment. Unveiling the science behind meaningful coincidences, it provides practical guidance for aligning yourself with life's natural rhythms and unlocking your full potential.

The Law of Attraction (2006) shows how you can use a fundamental law of the universe – the law of attraction – to manifest the life you always wanted. It explains what laws govern the world around us and how, once we understand them, we can use them to our own advantage.

How to Think Like a Philosopher (2023) draws from the lives and work of thinkers through history to reveal unique perspectives on beauty, truth, and the nature of reality. It presents philosophy as an all-too-human search for meaning, and encourages everyone to do the same.

The Warren Buffett Way (2013) chronicles the unprecedented success of one of the world’s greatest investors. From his first $120 investment to his ultimate $120 billion net worth, it focuses on the history and strategies of the man who seemed to do the impossible: beat the market.

Visual Thinking (2022) offers an authoritative view on different ways of thinking, and how those differences have been crucial to many of our biggest creative advancements. It shows how society tends to be biased toward verbal thinkers – and how visual thinkers, albeit typically underserved in society, bring an array of crucial skills to various domains.

Level Up (2023) is a practical guide to help you move from inaction to taking focused steps to achieve your goals and dreams. It reveals the reasons behind inaction and offers strategies to stop spinning your wheels and start taking meaningful action.  

The Art of Positive Thinking (2023) is a guide to positivity as a practice. Through regular, simple exercises, we can all learn to change our mindsets, and improve the quality of our lives.

Hidden Potential (2023) challenges the notion that only those born with natural and exceptional talent can excel intellectually, artistically or athletically. Supported by groundbreaking research, it offers a framework that any individual can use to tap into their hidden potential and achieve more than they ever thought possible. 

Limitless Mind (2019) explores the potential of the human brain to learn and grow without boundaries, challenging the traditional belief that intelligence and abilities are fixed traits. Drawing on the latest science and research, it presents readers with six keys to enhancing learning capabilities and overcoming educational and personal obstacles. 

Always Looking Up (2009) is Michael J. Fox’s candid and inspiring memoir that looks at the challenges and triumphs of living with Parkinson’s disease. Fox explores how he navigated the complexities of work, politics, faith, and family while maintaining optimism and purpose. Through his reflections, he offers a powerful perspective on resilience, showing how to find hope and meaning even in the face of life’s toughest uncertainties.

The Negativity Fast (2023) presents a transformative approach to personal growth, emphasizing the power of positivity and effective management of negative emotions. It guides you through a process of eliminating negativity and nourishing your mental outlook with optimism, offering concrete strategies for perspective-taking and coping with conflicting beliefs.

The Art of Laziness (2024) is a transformative guide to improving your productivity, offering practical strategies for personal and professional growth. Through the dual focus of mindset and action, it teaches you how to overcome procrastination, harness your best work, and realize your full potential. 

The First Rule of Mastery (2023) reveals that letting go of the fear of other people's opinions unleashes your potential by promoting a shift towards values and purpose.

Your Journey to Financial Freedom (2023) is a comprehensive guide designed to help you achieve financial independence through smart money management and investment strategies. It delves into the importance of budgeting, saving, and investing, providing practical tools and advice to create a solid financial foundation. 

Zero Sugar / One Month (2024) is a roadmap aimed at helping individuals eliminate sugar from their diet to achieve long-term health. It provides actionable advice, including guides on what to eat, how to resist temptation, and a day-by-day timeline of what to expect – along with motivational anecdotes and tips to navigate emotional challenges and build confidence throughout the 30-day journey. 

How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job (1955) provides guidance about getting more out of your day-to-day life, by generating more energy into your workday and improving your personal relationships. It sheds a light on how human nature influences the way we behave, so you can improve your interpersonal skills and deepen your self-understanding.

Quick Confidence (2023) is a highly useful primer on how to move through the world with more self-assurance and determination. It provides tips that are useful for team managers, executives and self-employed entrepreneurs alike. This is advice that anyone can use to make better first impressions and stronger connections.

Do the New You (2024) explores how to align your self-perception with God’s vision to become the person he designed you to be. It speaks to the challenge of living out your authentic, God-given identity and calling by unpacking practical mindsets to shift from who you are today to where God is leading you. It emphasizes that the true, ideal you isn’t an imaginary future self but the “you” God has always known you to be.

Learned Excellence (2024) offers a comprehensive guide to the five mental disciplines necessary for peak performance. It provides principles and practices used by top athletes, military personnel, and business executives to attain excellence – professionally and personally.

How to Walk Into a Room (2024) talks about the big decisions in life and how to make them. Learn how to assess your life, make a plan on how to change things that aren’t working for you, and put that plan into action. 

All It Takes Is a Goal (2023) is a transformative guide that empowers readers to achieve their dreams. It demonstrates how setting effective goals can help individuals escape their comfort zones, make measurable progress, and ultimately reach their full potential.

Move by Move (2024) explores the profound lessons learned from over four decades playing chess, illustrating how the game fosters critical thinking, resilience, and strategic acumen. It reveals how chess transcends mere gameplay, offering invaluable wisdom applicable to navigating life's challenges and pursuing success.

Think Remarkable (2023) is a transformative guide to unlocking your full potential and living an extraordinary life. It draws on the wisdom and insights of remarkable individuals to provide a blueprint for personal growth and success.

Uncommon (2024) explores the mindset and strategies necessary for achieving extraordinary success in various aspects of life. It charts the five mountains of personal development – physical, mental, emotional, intuitional, and spiritual – providing actionable advice for optimizing each aspect of performance and reaching one’s full potential. 

Manifest (2022) explores the transformative power of manifesting to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Designed to help you harness your desires and make meaningful changes in your life, this seven-step program will empower you to turn your best life into reality. 

The Wealth Money Can't Buy (2024) is a groundbreaking guide that will hardwire in you a completely new way of measuring wealth. With proven tactics and methods, it will help you stop chasing the wrong kinds of riches, so you can get on the right track to making a life you absolutely adore.

Think This, Not That (2024) is a guide to reshaping thought patterns to foster a healthier mental, emotional, and physical state. It delves into the science of cognitive habits and provides 12 actionable strategies to empower individuals to achieve lasting personal change and make their life their masterpiece. 

Love Life (2024) is a treasure trove of valuable relationship advice. By knowing what to look for in a partner, and what to say in difficult situations, we can walk away from dead-end relationships and find the person who’s right for us.

Just the Good Stuff (2024) is a practical and candid guide to managing today’s complex world and achieving success, regardless of your starting point. It offers essential advice on finding your passion, building a meaningful career, and attaining health, wealth, and happiness.

Get Better at Anything (2024) identifies three key factors for effective learning: observing others, practicing extensively, and receiving reliable feedback. Drawing on research and real-life examples, it provides valuable insights for anyone looking to improve their skills.

Sovereign (2024) explores how people can take back their freedom and learn to truly value themselves. It offers science-backed strategies to break free from self-destructive patterns and beliefs, aiming to help readers live more authentic, fulfilling lives. Using real-life examples of people who hold an inner sovereignty, it addresses how readers, too, can reclaim sovereignty over their work, family, body, and mind.

MicroSkills (2024) offers a deep dive into how small, specific skills can significantly enhance your personal and professional growth. Learn to break down complex goals into manageable actions, from building professional resilience through self-care to transforming workplace conflicts into opportunities for success.

Excessively Obsessed (2024) offers a candid and practical roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs. This guide demystifies the entrepreneurial journey, revealing the gritty realities behind glamorous social media portrayals and providing actionable insights on everything from funding and marketing to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Supercoach (2018) offers a simple but profound explanation of how the mind works and provides insights on happiness, goal-setting, relationships, emotions, financial security, and creativity. It aims to help readers unleash their potential and make a difference in the world while having a deeper, more meaningful experience of being alive.

Rewire (2024) explores the neuroscience behind personal transformation and provides insights into how you can alter your brain’s wiring to enhance mental well-being and achieve a more fulfilling life. Combining scientific research with practical strategies, it demonstrates how understanding your brain function can lead to significant changes in your habits and overall happiness.

Anatomy of a Breakthrough (2024) uncovers the secrets to overcoming obstacles and creative blocks by looking at human nature and the habits of successful performers, thinkers, and creatives. It offers practical strategies that will break through barriers and transform your own habits by mastering the balance between experimentation and action.

Focal Point (2022) delves into the secrets of high achievers, revealing how they identify their focal point to achieve optimal results in various aspects of their lives. It offers a comprehensive guide to personal management, helping you analyze your life, set focused goals, and create plans for success, ultimately achieving both professional success and personal satisfaction.

You Only Die Once (2023) is a motivational guide that encourages people to make the most of their remaining time on Earth. Drawing from positive psychology principles, it offers practical advice and inspiring stories to help you pursue your passions, find meaning, and live life to the fullest.

You Deserve Good Gelato (2024) is a memoir that engages both the excitement and heartbreak of taking big leaps of faith, navigating the challenges and joys of expat life, and learning profound lessons about resilience, growth, and finding happiness in the moment.

Nobody Cares About Your Career 2024) is a no-nonsense guide to taking control of your professional life. It challenges you to shift your mindset from expecting others to advance your career to actively creating value, following your vision, and embracing change as your opportunity for growth.

The Success Myth (2023) challenges the conventional metrics of achievement and exposes how they often lead to a sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness. It proposes a new framework for viewing success, focusing on personal fulfillment rather than societal accolades. Through a mix of anecdotal evidence and practical advice, it invites readers to redefine success to align more closely with their own values and aspirations. 

I Shouldn’t Feel This Way (2024) is for anyone struggling with overwhelming emotions like fear, shame, and anger. It offers practical tools for managing and transforming these feelings to build healthier relationships, set firm boundaries, and foster a deeper sense of self-compassion and spiritual growth.

How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart (2024) guides you to rediscover yourself and grow. You'll learn how childhood shapes adult relationships, face fears holding you back, and set healthy limits. By trusting your gut and living purposefully, you'll create real connections and align your life with what matters most to you.

The 12 Traits of the Greats (2020) explores twelve key characteristics that are essential for achieving greatness in any field. It distills wisdom from the lives and habits of highly successful individuals, offering practical advice and inspiring stories. By examining traits like vision, passion, and discipline, it provides readers with actionable insights to help them cultivate these qualities in their own lives.

Coach Yourself Confident (2024) delves into the art of building true self-assurance – not through acquiring new traits but by unlocking and nurturing the confidence that already resides within you. It provides practical tools for quieting your inner critic and overcoming “self-doubt tax” while maintaining powerful yet humble confidence that amplifies your potential in both personal and professional arenas.

The Art of Encouragement (2024) is a practical guide that empowers readers to enhance wellbeing and productivity through the power of encouragement. It offers actionable strategies for leaders to develop their teams, maximize impact, and create positive change within their organizations and communities. With compelling narratives and straightforward lessons, it serves as an essential resource for anyone looking to uplift and inspire those around them.

Start Now. Get Perfect Later. (2018) offers a kick in the butt to anyone coping with procrastination and perfectionism. With actionable advice on decision-making, time management, and leveraging intuition, it empowers readers to start taking steps toward their goals today, rather than waiting for an ideal moment that may never come.

Fear Dynamics (2024) explores the transformative journey of overcoming deep-seated fears and struggles through self-help techniques developed from personal experiences. Delving into the ways we can confront and manage our fears, it supports those seeking a more authentic and satisfying existence.

On the Edge (2024) explores the world of risk-takers who shape modern life, from poker players and hedge fund managers to venture capitalists and crypto enthusiasts. It delves into the strategies and mindsets of those who thrive in high-stakes environments, offering insights into how they navigate uncertainty and use risk to their advantage. Through a blend of storytelling and analysis, it sheds light on the art of risk and its pivotal role in today's rapidly changing world.

No Limits (2017) challenges the idea that capacity is fixed, suggesting instead that limitations are often self-imposed. It examines various aspects of personal potential, offering practical advice on how to expand your capacity through intentional choices and actions. By identifying and growing your capacity, you can achieve greater success and fulfillment in life.

Strive (2024) unveils a transformative approach to personal growth, blending hard-won wisdom with scientific insights. Drawing from the personal experiences of a tennis champion and her battle with an autoimmune disorder, it presents a compelling strategy for turning smart choices into sustainable habits – ultimately leading to a lifestyle of genuine fulfillment and success.