The CEOs Reading List Changed My Life—Here’s What I Learned

Bill Gates reads 50 books a year in order to learn as much as possible — and succeed. And while I didn’t have time this year to read as much as Bill Gates, I did read some of the top books read by some of the world’s most successful CEOs in preparation for the new year, to end 2024 on the best foot possible.  

Here’s what I learned by using Blinkist — one of the world’s most loved apps — to crush my CEO reading list: 

1. Use proven tools

Instead of wasting time trying out untested tools and solutions, rely on the resources that the greatest minds of tested and relied on, too. Blinkist, for example, was built by founders, for founders, and is loved by some of the biggest organizations in the world.

In fact, Blinkist was named by both Apple and Google as one of the best apps in the world and has made countless headlines in The New York Times, Guardian, and Tech Crunch. Plus, Blinkist has been praised by the likes of Tim Cook (Apple’s CEO) for its noble mission — and has over 94 thousand 5-star ratings

“As a productivity coach and one of the life long learners, I can’t tell you how happy I was to find Blinkist. If you enjoy nonfiction reading and are short on time, Blinkist will be your new favorite app.”Karen Trepte, HuffPost

2. The best books will change your mind 

The greatest minds of our time read a lot — and use the information they learn to change their lives and the world. With Blinkist, you can make the insights that CEOs are learning even more actionable. 

With Blinkist, users actually change their minds and their lives. In fact, 87.5% of the 3,500 surveyed US users said they make changes in their lives based on the books they read or listen to on Blinkist.

That’s because Blinkist was built using proven neuroscientific research methods, real-life examples, and relevant case studies designed to be retainable and actionable. That means that the insights acquired on Blinkist are easy to understand but difficult to forget.

3. Multitasking is a must

While it’s probably no surprise to anyone, I learned that multitasking is a necessity. You have to be able to juggle multiple projects and ideas at once in order to succeed. 

With Blinkist, users can get crucial insights from some of the most important books in the world in just 15 minutes or less. Plus, with audio and reading features, users can learn on the go and fit more learning into their day while cooking, commuting, or even working out.

4. Choose the right community 

The road to success doesn’t always have to be lonely — in fact, it shouldn’t.

To level up, join a community of people just like you that are dedicated to learning more, and doing better. The Blinkist community has over 29 million users who use the app every day to learn something new.

5. Be open to new perspectives 

Here’s a hard truth I learned: you’ll never grow if you’re not open to changing your mind.

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

And one of the best ways to do that is by seeking out different perspectives and expanding your school of thought. And with Blinkist, users can do just that.

With over 6,500 titles in the app, 70 new additions every month, and over 27 different categories to choose from, users can learn anything from career tips to nutrition. 

Read like a CEO with Blinkist 

Blinkist makes it possible for anyone to accomplish their reading goals, and learn more than they ever have before. With so many titles to choose from — including some of the most world-renowned career advice and self-help books ever written — anyone can read and succeed like the pros.