10 Books I Wish I Had Read Sooner
For a long time, I searched for the best books in the world. The books that change your life completely — and make you wish you read them sooner. Because if you did, your life may have turned out completely different.
After endlessly searching, I found and read 10 books that did just that: these books made me rethink every decision I’ve ever made, encouraged me to grow far beyond what I thought possible, and made me wonder what my life would have looked like should I have read them long ago.
But before you consider how you, too, might possibly read all of these books, check out Blinkist.
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The Top 10 Books I Wish I had Read Sooner
1. Thinking Fast and Slow
Thinking, Fast and Slow
- 28 min reading time
- audio version available
Thinking, Fast and Slow has saved me hours of of time analyzing which decision is the best one for me.
Based on years of research by Kahneman and his colleagues, this Blink teaches readers how decisions are made, why we often make judgment errors, and how can actually make better decisions.
2. The Power of Habit
The Power of Habit
- 27 min reading time
- audio version available
Habit formation — the good and bad — has the power to change our lives. The Power of Habit is essential for understanding how to create habits that last and how anyone can implement them into their personal, or work life, for better results.
“Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.”Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
3. Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits
- 25 min reading time
- audio version available
If you read one self-help book from this list, let it be this. Atomic Habits, the New York Times bestseller by James Clear, teaches readers how anyone can make small, minuscule changes in their daily life to help make huge, sweeping impacts.
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4. Sapiens
Sapiens
- 28 min reading time
- audio version available
If you want to learn more about humankind — like I did — but don’t want to revert back to YouTube or old middle-school textbooks, Spaiens is the answer. Packed with eye-opening facts about how humans came to be, this Blink will shape your entire understanding of humankind as we know it.
5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- 23 min reading time
- audio version available
For anyone interested in taking the insights from James Clear and putting them into action, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is the answer. Learn the top habits of some of the most successful people in the world — and how you can implement them in your own life.
6. How To Win Friends and Influence People
Being in a relationship with anyone — from a partner to a boss — takes work. That’s why How to Win Friends and Influence People — one of the most famous self-help books of all time — is one of the most important books you’ll ever read.
7. Quiet: The Power of Introverts
Quiet
- 21 min reading time
- audio version available
I have — and probably always will be — some sort of an introvert. And for a long time, I saw that as a big weakness. But Quiet, by Susan Cain, changed all that.
In this Blink, you’ll learn how to understand your own introversion and tools for viewing it as an asset — rather than a hindrance.
8. The Four Agreements
The Four Agreements
- 13 min reading time
- audio version available
When it comes to self-help, The Four Agreements is the holy grail. From helping you to break free from negative patterns and fully realize your true self, to finally creating your own life — outside the expectations of society — it’s the perfect read for anyone looking to find their own way.
9. Educated by Tara Westover
Educated
- 32 min reading time
- audio version available
Although Educated isn’t a self-help — and is a memoir — the insights from Tara Westover’s life, and her ability to overcome incredible hardship, are nothing short of inspiring.
10. The Art of Happiness (by the Dalai Lama)
The Art of Happiness
- 18 min reading time
- audio version available
The Art of Happiness (1998) combines Tibetan Buddhist spiritual tradition with Dr. Cutler’s knowledge of Western therapeutic methods and scientific studies, making it the ultimate everyday happiness guide.
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Meet Chris, an accomplished bilingual copywriter who excels at simplifying complex topics and making them a feast for your brain. When he’s not crafting copy in German or English, you’ll find him chasing his dream of a barefoot life on the beach with stacks of exciting books.
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