The best 88 Learning books

Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011) – a recapitulation of the decades of research that led to Kahneman's winning the Nobel Prize – explains his contributions to our current understanding of psychology and behavioral economics. Over the years, the research of Kahneman and his colleagues has helped us better understand how decisions are made, why certain judgment errors are so common, and how we can improve ourselves. 

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!

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.

Mindset (2006) discusses the differences between people with a fixed mindset versus those with a growth mindset. Our mindset determines the way we deal with tough situations and setbacks as well as our willingness to deal with and improve ourselves. This book demonstrates how we can achieve our goals by changing our mindset.

On the Origin of Time (2023) guides you through the humbling, stranger-than-fiction theories that the late physicist Stephen Hawking developed in the last two decades of his life. With quantum physics, holograms, and inspiration from Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory, it reveals what the great scientist came to believe about the origins of the universe.

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (2019) offers basic and advanced exercises to help people hone the four core emotional competencies. While it can be used alone, it’s also an excellent companion for anyone working with a therapist. 

Unlimited Memory (2014) explains memory techniques that will help you remember and retain any information you want to. These blinks will show you how to organize and store information in your mind so that you’ll never forget it.

It Worked for Me (2012) imparts Colin Powell’s practical wisdom on becoming an effective leader. It’s largely based on his time in the military and public service, and the insights he gained from his experiences in these positions. 

The Mountain Is You (2020) can help you recognize the negative patterns in your life and what they are really telling you. Changing those patterns will be like climbing a mountain and the reward will be unlocking your own potential.

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.

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.

In Mastery (2012), author Robert Greene argues and illustrates that everybody can achieve mastery of a skill or field if they follow the established steps of historical and present-day masters. Based on interviews and studies of some of the best in their respective fields, Greene provides a diverse array of tips and strategies on how to become a master.

The Future is Faster Than You Think (2020) examines how converging exponential technologies (AI, robotics, 3D printing, CRISPR, Blockchain) are reinventing every industry this decade. Starting with flying cars and artificial intelligence, it explores and predicts the future of industries including retail, manufacturing, transportation, health care, education, finance, and insurance. It also offers a vision for how these technologies can be applied to address many of the world’s most pressing problems.

Existential Kink (2020) invites you to transform your life by embracing your deepest desires and hidden shadows. Through a radical and intriguing journey, you'll discover the power of turning your “wrongness” into personal growth and self-acceptance. With the help of seven axioms and practical exercises, prepare to unleash your true potential and create positive change.

Leadership: Theory and Practice (2015) is a popular textbook exploring the topic of leadership. It discusses the main theories of leadership, explains the popular types of leadership style, and offers practical advice on improving your own leadership characteristics.  

Smarter Tomorrow (2021) shows you how to upgrade your brain using a technique called neurohacking. You’ll learn how to improve your memory, creativity, emotional regulation, and what’s known as “executive functioning” through self-testing and experimentation – all backed up with insights from neuroscience.

The Memory Palace (2012) is a step-by-step guide to using your spatial memory to help you remember absolutely anything. It teaches you how to build a palace of memories that will give you the power to recall everything you read, and even to memorize the names of every Shakespeare play in just 15 minutes.

The Power to Change (2022) is a practical guide to creating not just positive changes in your life but ones that have a lasting effect. Backed by Bible teachings, it walks you through the strategies on how to work your way towards a changed you. 

The Power of One More (2022) follows the idea that doing “one more” in any situation can bring you greatness and open up more opportunities.

How to be Love(d) (2022) teaches you how to transform your thoughts and actions to give, receive, and experience more love in life. Full of relatable stories and actionable advice, this guide will teach you how to rid yourself of useless programming, embrace imperfection, and honor your progress – so you can better love yourself and others.

Unlimited Power (1989) is a powerful, useful guide to overcoming fear, uncertainty and the feelings of unworthiness that can plague your life. With a few mental and physical exercises to help generate positive thoughts and improve body language, you can achieve the goals in life that truly matter to you.

Talent is Overrated explores the top performers in a number of fields to get at the bottom of just what makes them great. Contrary to what most of us intuitively think about skill, this book offers enticing evidence that top performance in any field are not determined by their inborn talent, but by deliberate efforts over many years.

Frames of Mind (1983) is a landmark text that first proposed the psychological theory of multiple intelligences. Upending the long-held conception that intelligence is just one general, monolithic trait, it argues instead that there are several intelligences that everyone possesses in different quantities. By studying them, educators and policymakers can reshape the educational system to benefit a much greater number of students than the current programs do.

The First 90 Days (2006) maps out the critical transition period for any business leader taking on a new role. It offers comprehensive and practical strategies for surviving – and thriving – past the first three months.

Moonwalking with Einstein takes us on the author’s journey towards becoming the USA Memory Champion. Along the way he explains why an extraordinary memory isn’t just available to a select few people but to all of us. The book explores how memory works, why we’re worse at remembering than our ancestors, and explains specific techniques for improving your own memory.

Fluent Forever unlocks the secrets of how to get the most out of your memory, so you can learn languages faster than you ever thought possible. It teaches you how your memory works and the precise techniques you can use to remember more words, more accurately, in a way that’s efficient and fun.

Two Weeks Notice (2023) is your step-by-step guide to launching a successful online business. It provides you with the tools and tricks you need to become your own boss – and gain the creative and financial freedom to live your best life. 

Ultralearners are ordinary people who can master difficult skills with extraordinary speed. As a result, they achieve tremendous personal success and cultivate a serious professional advantage. But how exactly do they pull it off? In Ultralearning (2019), Scott H. Young analyzes the aggressive, self-directed learning strategies of some of the world’s most successful ultralearners and breaks them down into techniques and strategies that anyone can implement.

A Year of Positive Thinking (2018) provides you with a dose of positive thinking for every day of the year. By using its daily affirmations, inspirational quotes, and exercises you’ll learn to live your best life.

Smart Money Smart Kids (2014) guides parents – or anyone helping raise children – in teaching those kids to become financially smart. Review basics like the relationship between work and money and find actionable advice for instructing toddlers through teens to gain confidence with money.

How to Take Smart Notes (2017) is exactly that – an explanation of how and why to take smart notes. It explains how this simple, little-known, and often misunderstood technique can aid your thinking, writing, and learning. With the help of smart notes, you may never face the horror of a blank page again.

Beginners (2021) is a light-hearted study of the joys of life-long learning. Part personal story and part scientific primer, it demonstrates the benefits of always trying something new.

Learn Better (2017) upends traditional approaches to learning skills and obtaining knowledge. Learning was once thought to depend entirely on the innate ability and intelligence of the learner. Rote learning was the order of the day. We now know there are much more effective ways to learn. In fact, there are six simple steps to better learning.

The Art of Impossible (2021) is a science-driven guide to reaching your maximum potential. By developing four key skills –⁠ motivation, learning, creativity, and flow –⁠ you’ll gain the power to smash whatever goals you set. With enough time, you may even achieve the impossible.

The First 20 Hours (2013) is about learning new skills quickly. These blinks will help you shake off the notion that it’s too late to expand your horizons. Whether you want to master a foreign language or learn how to fly a helicopter, here are ten simple steps for getting started.

Fluent In 3 Months (2014) is a guide to mastering any language in record time. These blinks are full of useful methods to help you learn a new language efficiently and effectively. They debunk traditional forms of language learning, offer actionable strategies to get you speaking today and will set you on the road to being multilingual.

The Montessori Toddler (2019) teaches parents how to better understand their toddlers and raise them according to the method developed by Italian physician and philosopher Dr. Maria Montessori. With its practical approach, it offers actionable advice that parents and grandparents can apply no matter whether they already have experience with the Montessori method or not.

Learn Like a Pro: Science-based Tools to Become Better at Anything (2021) looks at the most powerful strategies for staying focused and learning effectively. Both coauthors draw on their past struggles with learning, and use insights from experts and research to find out what works and what doesn’t. 

Since How to Read a Book was first published in 1940, the blank sheet of paper that faces you when you start an essay or report has been replaced by the blinking cursor in a blank Word document. No matter: this classic bestseller, revised in 1972, is still a great guide to tackling a long reading list, extracting all the relevant information and organizing your own conclusions. Be the boss of books with this effective approach to reading and understanding texts of all kinds.

Failing Forward (2000) provides a positive perspective on failure. These blinks draw on legendary success stories and literary anecdotes to explain the importance of failure, the advantages of embracing it and the power of leveraging your mistakes to stimulate personal growth.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor (2003) is an accessible and engaging introduction to literary analysis. With illuminating examples drawn from both classic and contemporary literature, these blinks provide readers with the tools they need to detect deeper meaning in any fictional text.

The Happiness Equation (2016) unlocks nine essential secrets to living a happy life. These are guidelines that can help anyone reap the rewards that come with having a positive outlook on life. Happiness isn’t just about reducing stress and anxiety; it’s about paving the way to great work and success.

The Art of Learning (2007) offers a crash course in improving your mental performance. In these blinks, the author draws on experiences from his chess career and martial arts practice to present a range of methods and techniques to make your brain work harder, faster and more effectively.

Million Dollar Micro Business (2021) is a hands-on guide to creating your first online course – and making lots of money in the process. From coming up with an idea that feeds your passions to perfecting your marketing, it provides guidance on how to claim your place in this innovative, burgeoning industry of online learning.

The Talent Code uses recent neurological findings to explain how talent can be trained through deep practice. It shows how nurturing our cellular insulation – called myelin – influences the development of our skills, and explains why certain methods of practice and coaching have been used in “talent hotbeds” around the world to great success.

Power Failure (2022) details the rise and fall of General Electric – once a great success story of international business.  But its legacy went badly awry, as even casual consumers of business news will remember. Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon (2022) gives a startlingly detailed account inside the behemoth corporation, examining what went right – and then wrong.

Why Don't We Learn from History? (1944) is a meditation on the nature of history and on why so few heed its lessons. First published near the end of World War Two, this thoughtful treatise contains many insights still relevant today. 

Hyper-Learning (2020) shows you how to adapt to a rapidly changing world in which technology threatens to make many skills redundant. By adopting a growth mindset, becoming less egotistical, and learning to collaborate, you’ll be ready to face the future. 

Problem Solving 101 (2009) is a short and snappy guide to problem-solving. Originally written to help kids become better problem solvers, it can help anyone who wants to improve their ability to resolve issues, no matter how big or small.

How to Become a Straight-A Student offers you successful strategies used by actual straight-A students to help you score better grades while studying less. From time management to concrete advice on developing a thesis, this book gives you all the tools you need to earn the perfect 4.0 without burning out.

Game Changers (2018) condenses the wisdom of 450 highly successful business leaders, scientist, athletes, authors, artists, journalist and other individuals at the top of their fields. It then combines that wisdom with an understanding of human biology and psychology. The result? A wide-ranging and practical guidebook to success.

Thrivers (2021) is a study of what it means to be a child in today’s fast-paced, ultra-competitive, and digital world. Kids are achieving more and more, but they’ve never felt so lonely and stressed. In our rush to prepare them for an uncertain future, we’ve taught them to strive for accolades but forgotten that there’s more to success – and happiness – than test scores and grades. What’s missing is an emphasis on helping them thrive.

How We Learn explains the fascinating mechanisms in our minds that form and hold memories, and shows how with this information, we can better absorb and retain information. You’ll explore the many functions of the brain and gain practical advice on how to better study and learn.

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.

The Little Book of Talent (2012) shares tried and tested methods of developing skills from top performers and talent hotbeds around the world. From sports players to musicians, anyone can easily apply these strategies and reach their full potential. 

Brainstorm (2014) is devoted to the many mysteries and secrets of the teenage brain. These blinks debunk lazy stereotypes about adolescents and paint a more positive picture. Our teenage years aren’t just a period of hormonal and cognitive disarray; they’re also a crucial phase in the brain’s development.

In The Gift of Failure (2015), Lahey offers compelling reasons for caregivers to relinquish control over their children and let them fail. By taking this approach, Lahey argues, it will give children an important opportunity to learn about their values and skills, while strengthening their confidence, autonomy and sense of responsibility.

Driving Performance Through Learning (2019) is a guide to help learning and development professionals understand the full breadth of possibilities for learning in the modern workplace. It explains the benefits of learning during the natural flow of work, encouraging a wide range of innovative methods.

I’d Rather Be Reading (2018) is a collection of stories and anecdotes that document the life of a bookworm and offer advice to fellow bibliophiles. From overflowing shelves to forbidden reading, these blinks offer a colorful take on what it means to be A Reader.

What If? 2 (2022) is Randall Munroe’s follow-up to the New York Times best-selling What If? Like its predecessor, it comprises Munroe’s serious scientific answers to the absurd, funny, and whimsical questions submitted to him by readers, ranging from “How big would a snowball be if rolled from the top of Mt. Everest to the bottom?” to “Could a person eat a cloud?”

The Consultant’s Handbook (2015) is an indispensable field guide to the world of consultancy. Packed with top tips, illuminating examples and hands-on advice, it’s the perfect explainer for consultants past, present and future, as well as anyone keen to pick up some consultancy tricks to boost their performance in adjacent industries.

We’re thrilled to announce that the author has worked together with Blinkist to create this book-in-blinks for you.

Why Don’t Students Like School? (2009) seeks to explain the brain’s most important processes relating to memory, learning and intelligence. A stronger understanding of these mechanisms will enable all educators to train themselves in better teaching methods and result in more engaging and effective educational programs.

A Mind for Numbers offers insight into the way our brains take in and process information. It outlines strategies that can help you learn more effectively, especially when it comes to math and science. Even if mathematical or scientific concepts don’t come naturally to you, you can master them with the right kind of dedication and perseverance – and this book will teach you how.

Micromastery (2017) teaches you how to effectively learn a new skill with a focused and gradual approach. With helpful, actionable tips and advice, it outlines all the steps you need to take to ensure you’re successful at any task you take on.

The Sense of Style (2014) offers a refreshing and relevant guide to writing potent, readable texts of all kinds. Instead of extolling the same confusing and sometimes counter-intuitive rules found in traditional style guides, The Sense of Style offers simple tricks and heuristics guaranteed to improve your writing.

Elevate (2018) is an indispensable guide to upping your game and living your life to the fullest. Whether you’re looking for a career boost or want to bring more meaning and joy into your private affairs, these blinks contain an arsenal of tips and tricks to help you take things to the next level.

Blockchain Chicken Farm (2020) is an examination of the way technology is entangled with everyday life. This sweeping survey of life in rural China unpacks the social, political, and economic changes we can expect in the twenty-first century.

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The Upskilling Imperative (2020) introduces practical tips for companies to ensure their staff have ample opportunity to learn skills for the future. With industries and technologies changing all the time, it shows business leaders the steps they can take to stay ahead of the curve and establish robust, accessible learning environments.

Brilliance by Design (2011) is all about creating learning experiences that bring out the brilliance in every student. Targeted at coaches, teachers, mentors, and anyone who spends time in a classroom, it provides a handy and helpful model for high-impact instructional design that will inspire and motivate learners. 

Potty Training in 3 Days (2016) is a success formula for parents and caregivers who want their babies to start using the toilet. The plan involves recognizing when your child is ready for potty training, what to do during the three days of intense practice, and how to follow up for lasting results.

Creative Superpowers (2018) is a one-stop guide to hacking your creativity, crafted by a crack team of high-flyers who’ve put their own advice into practice. Packed with useful tips and timely insights, this is the matchbox you’ve been looking for to spark those dormant creative fires.

Proust and the Squid (2007) tells the fascinating story of how the human brain learned to read. From the invention of the first writing systems to our brain’s amazing capacity to rearrange itself, reading expert Maryanna Wolf explains how the incredible skill of reading developed over the course of human history. That is, how it transforms our brains, thoughts, and culture, and why some of us struggle to learn it.

The Call of the Wild and Free (2019) is a practical guide for homeschooling children, brimming with advice and inspiration for parents thinking about an alternative education for their children. In the process, it dispels a few old stereotypes about homeschooling and makes a case for its legitimacy as a model of education today. Frequently going beyond homeschooling to reflect upon the concept of education generally, the author presents both a powerful critique of the school system and a call to arms to educate our children differently.

Thinking 101 (2022) asserts that by understanding and overcoming thinking biases, we can better solve or even avoid most problems, from everyday conflicts to larger societal issues. 

Don’t Go Back to School shows how not having a degree doesn’t doom you to an unsuccessful life. In fact, quite the contrary: chalked full of real-life examples, this book presents a strong case for independent learning as well as principles you can immediately enact to make independent learning a part of your life.

As the title suggests, Everything I Know (2013) is a collection of what author Paul Jarvis knows, after having worked as an in-demand web designer for over 20 years. This is a compendium of insight on how to be a successful, self-employed entrepreneur with a rewarding and lasting business.

Leveraged Learning (2018) provides a six-step process for designing and implementing an optimized method of learning or teaching any subject. Drawing on recent advances in the field of education, its lessons are equally applicable to those pursuing traditional, newfangled, or self-led courses of study – no matter whether the aim is personal, professional, or academic advancement. 

Beyond Words (2015) is an explanation of the animal world’s propensity for thought and feeling. These blinks walk you through the complex societies of the natural world and explain how animals think, experience real emotion and learn.

Reader, Come Home (2018) is a meditation on the future of reading in the age of digital revolution and diminishing attention spans. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific research, Maryanne Wolf unpacks the cultural and cognitive dimensions of a technological transformation that’s reshaped our relationship with the written word. At the heart of her investigation is a question whose answer will determine how our societies will look in the future: What will reading mean to our children, a generation which has never known a world without Google, smartphones and e-books?

The Polymath (2019) explains how the hyper-specialization encouraged by society stifles people’s development, creativity and self-fulfilment. Instead, the book argues that everyone should nurture their polymathic capacities, and that educational and professional structures need to be reconfigured to reflect our innate human potential to think, learn and work across multiple fields and in varied ways.

The Strength Switch (2017) demonstrates how parents can employ strength-based parenting in family scenarios. It shows that children can blossom and flourish if parents switch their focus onto their child’s strengths rather than being overly critical.

We all know that the internet has changed the way we do business. After all, today nearly every company has a website, but how many businesses manage to effectively optimize their online presence? Well, A/B Testing shows you how to develop and refine your website through simple experimentation and evaluation – all to attract more customers and boost your bottom line.

Grasp (2020) covers the development of modern education systems and the ways in which their current forms conflict with recent scientific insights into how the brain works. It describes a variety of experimental techniques being applied to improve education and discusses how they might become more broadly generalized.

Mastermind explores Sherlock Holmes’s unique approach of observation, imagination and deduction, and illustrates how anyone can harness his method to improve their thinking and decision-making skills. To this end, the book presents a variety of simple strategies, drawing on scientific research in psychology and neuroscience, and numerous examples from the original Sherlock Holmes stories.

Thirty Million Words (2015) explains the importance of language in a child’s early development and long-term success. These blinks outline the optimal early language environment for a child and highlight the ways parents can help their children during these critical years.

Onward (2018) explains how educators can cope better with adversity so that they and their students can thrive in the classroom. Filled with rich insights from author Elena Aguilar’s experiences as an educator, these blinks also explore mindfulness and change-management techniques.

Breaking The Page (2014) explores the new possibilities ebooks offer to readers. Throughout these blinks, you’ll learn about the differences between traditional books and ebooks, and why we need to rethink what a book is in order to make the most of the powers of the digital wor(l)d.

The world is changing faster than ever. Rookies and inexperienced employees have an advantage in the workplace when they are willing to learn and adapt. Rookie Smarts shows how, when projects are approached with fresh eyes, organizations succeed. It also includes helpful tips on how even experienced workers can stay sharp by developing a rookie mindset.

Better Together (2018) is an examination of how school networks are transforming students’ education experiences across the United States to make them college and career ready. It illuminates how networks provide new learning models, foster ongoing professional development, and facilitate personalized education to help each child reach their full potential.