We all have days where procrastination takes over.
But if it starts getting in the way of making progress in your work, that might be a sign it’s time to make a change.
Self-improvement has a different recipe for everyone, and it’s not always easy. Developing good habits to transform your behaviors takes time and determination.
Some people may tackle their self-improvement through coaching or watching inspiring TED Talks, while others listen to podcasts or flip through the pages of a trusted book. For those who prefer the latter, learning about the best productivity books on the market is a great place to start.
This reading list covers some of the most well-known productivity book recommendations and what you can expect from reading each.
20 of the best productivity books
Even the most determined people struggle with productivity sometimes. You may go through periods of feeling highly motivated or experience moments of low productivity — and that’s a normal part of life.
Reading the best productivity books is the first step in managing your motivation and developing habits that lead to long-term change. Here are 20 of the best books on productivity and a breakdown of what makes each unique.
1. Everything Is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo
Entrepreneur Marie Forleo’s Everything Is Figureoutable is a self-help book encouraging readers to think more positively when facing fears and setbacks. Within the pages, you’ll learn how to combat imposter syndrome and build practical habits for achieving your goals.
Everything Is Figureoutable is a must-read if you need personal encouragement to boost your productivity. It gives you the tools you need to push through roadblocks and problem-solve for any situation.
2. Rest, by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Consultant and writer Alex Soojung-Kim Pang’s book Rest introduces a health-centered approach to increasing productivity through rest and exercise.
Pang opposes the idea that you should measure success by the number of hours you work. He instead argues that most people can only concentrate for a limited time, so the brain needs rest to function properly and develop new ideas. It’s a great resilience book for people who need to learn how to relax and stay strong by taking breaks instead of overworking.
3. Getting Things Done, by David Allen
Getting Things Done is a book and personal productivity system from consultant David Allen. It underlines the importance of recording projects and tasks externally and organizing them into actionable work items — rather than keeping them confined to your mind.
Allen’s approach views creating a detailed action plan as a way to mitigate stress and improve productivity. The book outlines tips for goal-setting, organization, and relaxation that can help you develop an effective strategy for progressing toward your objectives. It’s one of the best time management books for developing self-discipline strategies.
4. The 5 Second Rule, by Mel Robbins
In former lawyer Mel Robbins’ The 5 Second Rule, she introduces the concept that confidence and courage come from knowing how to push yourself.
Robbins outlines a five-second tool that can help you become your greatest self by breaking the habit of procrastination, eliminating fear, and building confidence. The 5 Second Rule is an excellent book if you feel fear is holding you back from true productivity.
5. 168 Hours, by Laura Vanderkam
In 168 Hours, productivity author Laura Vanderkam challenges the myth that you don’t have enough time by giving you the confidence you need to restructure your days effectively.
After interviewing successful people, Vanderkam found that most allocate their time wisely, and she details how they do so in 168 Hours. She urges readers to begin time tracking and prioritizing their most vital activities, spending less time on non-essential tasks and unlocking a more fruitful life outside of work.
This time management book is excellent to read if you often run out of time or make excuses for not completing important projects and tasks.
6. Start Where You Are, by Chris Gardner
Chris Gardner, author of the famous memoir The Pursuit of Happyness, teaches readers how to transform the impossible into possible with his book Start Where You Are. By using real-life examples, Gardner provides a roadmap for success that anyone can use — no matter what obstacles lie in their way.
Start Where You Are provides hope for overcoming challenges, and it’s a must-read if you’re finding it difficult to build motivation in the face of adversity.
7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
Educator and writer Stephen R. Covey published The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in 1989, and since then, it’s sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The book’s material blends business insight with self-development understanding to help you unlock personal and professional success.
Rather than suggesting quick fixes, Covey provides a high-level step-by-step process for undergoing behavioral transformations. He explains how aligning your actions with principles, rather than responding to external events, is a more significant way to achieve fulfillment. It’s a great option if you want to make time to adjust your behaviors and lay the groundwork for long-term productivity.
8. Better Than Before, by Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin, author of the bestseller The Happiness Project, is one of the most influential writers on habits, happiness, and human nature. In Rubin’s book Better Than Before, she explores how to form good habits and introduces 21 strategies that anyone can use to better their life.
If you want guidance for developing healthy habits, eliminating bad ones, and achieving your goals, this productivity book should be at the top of your list.
9. Essentialism, by Greg McKeown
Essentialism, a book by business strategist and public speaker Greg McKeown, illustrates the importance of reaching your highest point of contribution by focusing on only what’s essential.
Instead of proposing time management techniques, McKeown suggests that you should only focus on the most paramount tasks in your life. This discipline follows the premise that you work more efficiently when you have a clear and narrow focus rather than trying to multitask.
Essentialism is an excellent read if you’re overwhelmed with countless tasks and don’t know where to start. The content can help you curb procrastination and create strategies for effective prioritization.
10. Strategize to Win, by Carla Harris
Strategize to Win by business leader Carla Harris provides readers with valuable insight on how to get “unstuck” and redirect their energy toward building their best career. She explains how to make the most of your skill set and transition through career changes confidently, making it a great option if your low productivity stems from job dissatisfaction.
11. Free to Focus, by Michael Hyatt
Author and growth expert Michael Hyatt published Free to Focus in 2019 to help professionals accomplish more in less time. The book reveals nine ways to enhance productivity and build a better work-life balance, nurturing relationships and hobbies in your day-to-day life.
The book teaches you how to manage your time more effectively, cut down on non-essential tasks, and build the momentum necessary to achieve your goals. Free to Focus is a must-read if you never seem to have the time to do the things you love.
12. The One Thing, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
The One Thing, written by real estate entrepreneurs Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, is an insightful text that protests the habit of multitasking and encourages readers to focus on one critical action item at a time.
Keller and Papasan discuss how bouncing between tasks is detrimental to achieving optimal productivity. Through this book, you’ll learn how to eliminate all non-essential items on your to-do list and focus on what’s most important to you.
13. Deep Work, by Cal Newport
Author and professor Cal Newport is the author of Deep Work, a book that focuses on transitioning mental clutter into mental clarity. Newport breaks down strategies for regaining focus by effectively dealing with constant distractions, whether you’re in a home office or have to commute to work.
Deep Work argues that by learning how to minimize the clutter and noise from social media, emails, and other applications, you’ll achieve higher productivity and success rates. It’s great for entrepreneurs and busy modern professionals who need help cutting out distractions for maximum productivity.
14. Zen to Done, by Leo Babauta
Zen to Done, written by productivity blogger Leo Babauta, is an insightful book that helps you develop a simple productivity system to get more done without the stress. Babauta explains habit-changing techniques that improve your organizational skills and effectively structure your workday.
Within the pages, you’ll learn how to become more mindful about what’s on your to-do list and limit the distractions that get in the way of completing tasks. Zen to Done is a wonderful read if you want to become more productive through effective organization.
15. How to Stop Procrastinating, by S. J. Scott
Mindfulness author S. J. Scott’s How to Stop Procrastinating is a brilliant ode to the world’s procrastinators. Scott provides insight from his personal learnings and offers readers a clear framework for becoming more action-oriented.
The book outlines the negative consequences of chronic procrastination and how it limits individual success. Scott speaks bluntly on how critical it is to eliminate procrastination — by not doing so, you’re standing in the way of your own achievements. It’s a must-read if you often postpone deadlines and delay taking action on your personal and professional goals.
16. Atomic Habits, by James Clear
If you’re familiar with self-help books, you’ve likely already heard of this one. Atomic Habits is a bestseller by writer and speaker James Clear that discusses four critical steps to creating effective habits and eliminating unwanted ones.
Atomic Habits focuses on the fundamental principles of forming habits and how to accomplish more with your time by focusing on less. It’s an insightful option if you struggle with creating strong daily routines or find it challenging to stick with the patterns you’ve formed long-term.
17. The Checklist Manifesto, by Atul Gawande
Surgeon and health researcher Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto outlines the simplicity of the checklist as the ultimate solution for keeping busy lives in order. It’s an excellent choice if you’re searching for a simple yet effective way to enhance your productivity with structure.
Through captivating stories, Gawande transports readers into moments when checklists defied the odds and even saved lives. Among the riveting tales is how an emergency checklist miraculously rescued a drowning victim submerged underwater for 30 minutes.
18. Limitless, by Jim Kwik
Limitless by entrepreneur and coach Jim Kwik aims to break down mental barriers and redefine what’s achievable by replacing negative ideas with positive self-talk.
Almost everyone has created a set of limiting beliefs — what you think you can and can’t achieve. Kwik opposes the idea that these beliefs are set in stone and instead offers the idea that each individual can improve their mental performance and achieve goals they thought otherwise unattainable.
19. How to Get Sh*t Done, by Erin Falconer
How to Get Sh*t Done by entrepreneur Erin Falconer is the ultimate guide on doing less to achieve more. Falconer covers the guilt women feel from the deep-seated belief that their efforts are never good enough. By offering insight into productivity from this perspective, Falconer shows readers how to overcome those expectations to live a happier and healthier life.
How to Get Sh*t Done is a great choice for women who want to shift their energy from doing everything to focusing on what matters most.
20. You’ve Got To Be HUNGRY, by Les Brown
Motivational speaker Les Brown’s You’ve Got To Be HUNGRY stresses the importance of having high ambitions and encourages readers to overcome their limitations.
After interviewing thousands of successful business leaders and studying the science of achievement, Brown merges valuable insight with personal life lessons on making a mark on the world. You’ve Got To Be HUNGRY is a must-read if you want to deepen your motivation levels and overcome productivity roadblocks.
3 tips for finding the right productivity book
Although each book has wisdom to learn from, there are a few factors you can keep in mind to find one specific to your needs. Here are several tips for narrowing down the list:
- Do research on the author: Learning about the author’s background can help you determine if their insight relates to you and your career. If you’re going through a career change at 50 or trying to up your day-to-day productivity, find a book with that focus.
- Select a genre that interests you the most: Finishing a book can be challenging if you’re not interested in the subject. Choose an approach that sounds interesting to you, whether that’s tracking tasks effectively with the best books on time management or reducing procrastination tendencies with books on mindfulness.
- Use resources such as Goodreads or Book Riot: These websites can help you sort through top book recommendations and read helpful reviews from other avid readers.
Build good habits with great books
Reading productivity books is a great way to unplug from technology and focus on your productivity and self-improvement.
Every author has their own theories and strategies for enhancing productivity, so reading as many perspectives as possible can help you find the right approach. Some focus on quick fixes, while others require long-term behavioral changes — so find what works for you.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone, but you can learn something new every day when you read a book. Look for manifestation books, self-esteem books, and leadership books to start growing.
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