Photo by Wilson Vitorino
What books do the most successful people read?
Not to be rude, but I am not reading a biography about Elon Musk. When I set out to research the books most loved by successful people, I found a lot of lists written by successful white men in business.
As I pored through the lists—some would feature nine books, and some would list over 30—I kept seeing the same books by the same white men. Beyond that, there were so many books about war, power, and the pursuit of massive amounts of money. It all felt so...masculine.
I'm sure Walter Isaacson's book about Steve Jobs is incredible, but I'm tired of reading the same story. There's also a lot of weight regarding the word "successful." I know that success goes hand in hand with money, power, and more money.
However, I am also disinterested in Jeff Bezos' favorite books because nothing is relatable about a billionaire's perception of success. How could I compile a list of books that were inspirational, aspirational, and also relatable?
How I Created This List of The Best Books Successful People Read
I thought about some of the folks I admire and some of the books that have greatly impacted the more successful people I've encountered, and I compiled this list of fiction and non-fiction books.
Then, I hit the books—quite literally. I read articles on some of the successful people I admire. I read hundreds of reviews on Goodreads and Bookshop.org. I hope the result is a list of books written by and for the most successful people of today and tomorrow.
The Best Non-Fiction + Memoir Books Successful People Read
The habits and practices of successful individuals often draw fascination. What do these people do differently? What does their morning routine look like? What habits do they engage in to keep their focus on success? What books do they keep on their nightstand?
From business moguls to visionary leaders, the reading lists of successful people serve as windows into their mind. Their favorite books often reveal their ideas, values, philosophies, and narratives. Successful people have recommended the following books after leaving an indelible mark on their lives.
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
I didn't want to create a book list featuring all the business books we've seen. However, Let My People Go Surfing is not just a book about business—and that's partly because it's written by someone who has been known to do business differently.
Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, offers a unique blend of memoir, business advice, and environmental advocacy. Chouinard shares the story of how he built Patagonia from a small climbing equipment company into a global outdoor apparel brand. During his journey, Chouinard always stayed true to his foremost values, focusing on environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Chouinard emphasizes the importance of creating a company culture that values work-life balance, environmental stewardship, and employee well-being. Let My People Go Surfing is a compelling read for anyone interested in business, entrepreneurship, and making a positive difference in the world.
Successful People Who Love This Book:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
As someone who probably should have studied psychology—and maybe someday I will!—I am fascinated by books that break down the human mind.
Unlike many traditional business books focusing solely on strategies, tactics, and success stories, Thinking Fast and Slow delves deep into the psychology behind our thinking and choices.
Drawing from decades of research in psychology and behavioral economics, Kahneman introduces the concept of two distinct systems of thinking: System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and prone to biases and errors, and System 2, which is slow, analytical, and more rational.
What sets Thinking Fast and Slow apart from other business books is its emphasis on understanding human behavior. Rather than offering quick fixes, Kahneman encourages readers to reflect on their thinking patterns and biases, challenging them to adopt a more critical and rational approach to decision-making.
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Ok, Malcolm Gladwell's view on remote work makes me want to scream, but Outliers is almost impossible to leave off the list.
Outliers explores what sets high achievers apart from the rest of us. Gladwell challenges the conventional notion of success and the idea that "hard work" is all that it takes. Instead, Outliers explores how external factors—culture, family background, and timing—play a significant role in shaping success.
Through engaging narratives and thought-provoking analysis, Gladwell examines the stories of outliers—people who have achieved extraordinary success—and uncovers patterns and opportunities hidden beneath the surface.
The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
The Moment of Lift is an inspiring and thought-provoking book that challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about gender, power, and progress. It offers a roadmap for achieving meaningful social change by prioritizing the rights and well-being of women and girls.
From the struggle for gender equality to the fight against poverty and disease, Gates demonstrates how investing in women's education, health, and economic empowerment can catalyze positive transformations in communities and societies.
Whether you're a policymaker, philanthropist, or concerned citizen, The Moment of Lift is a must-read for anyone committed to building a more just and inclusive world.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Brené Brown, Barack Obama, Malala Yousafzai
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
What if we replaced our notion of success with emphasizing happiness over net worth?
A Short Guide to a Happy Life is a heartfelt and poignant reflection on what it truly means to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. In this brief yet powerful book, Quindlen shares personal anecdotes and timeless wisdom that encourage readers to reevaluate their priorities and embrace the simple joys of existence.
Rather than offering a list of prescriptions or self-help techniques, Quindlen invites readers to slow down and appreciate the beauty and wonder of everyday life. She emphasizes the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones, finding purpose in ordinary activities, and cultivating gratitude for the blessings that surround us.
At its core, A Short Guide to a Happy Life is a reminder to savor the present moment and to live with intention and authenticity.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Sheryl Sandberg
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
I love a good book that can tell me more about...me.
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin serves as a guide to understanding human behavior and motivation. Drawing from extensive research and personal anecdotes, Rubin introduces four distinct personality types: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. These tendencies describe how individuals respond to inner and outer expectations, shedding light on why some people thrive on accountability while others resist it.
Through engaging storytelling and practical insights, Rubin illustrates how understanding your tendencies can help you harness your strengths, overcome limitations, and achieve your goals more effectively. The Four Tendencies offers valuable tools and strategies for navigating life's challenges with greater self-awareness and empathy.
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rogers
We Should All Be Millionaires serves as an empowering manifesto for women to take control of their financial destinies. Using a combination of personal anecdotes, practical advice, and powerful insights, Rodgers challenges traditional narratives around money and ambition. She urges women to embrace their worth and pursue their financial goals with confidence and determination.
With a focus on entrepreneurship and wealth-building, Rodgers offers a roadmap for women to break through barriers, overcome self-doubt, and build thriving businesses and careers.
Rogers addresses common challenges and misconceptions that hold women from achieving financial success, providing actionable strategies and mindset shifts to help readers cultivate abundance and create the desired life.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Rachel Cargle, Farnoosh Torabi
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit is a collection of insightful and thought-provoking essays that delve into issues of gender, power, and communication.
At its core, the book explores the pervasive phenomenon of mansplaining, wherein men condescendingly explain things to women in a manner that assumes their ignorance or incompetence. Through personal anecdotes, historical context, and sharp analysis, Solnit unpacks the harmful effects of mansplaining on women's voices and agency.
This is a compelling and necessary read for anyone interested in understanding and challenging the dynamics of power and privilege in society—and especially the workplace.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Essentialism is a powerful guide to living a more purposeful and meaningful life by focusing on what truly matters. In a world pulsing with endless distractions, the key to success and fulfillment lies in identifying and prioritizing the essentials.
Through practical strategies and insightful anecdotes, McKeown shows readers how to eliminate non-essential tasks, set clear boundaries, and make deliberate choices that align with their values and goals.
Whether you're overwhelmed by busyness or seeking greater focus and effectiveness, this book can help you to prioritize the essential and let go of the rest.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Adam Grant
The Best Fiction + Literature Books That Successful People Read
If you're gearing up to make an argument against fiction and literature, scroll your cursor and click out. Fiction books are some of the most accessible means to access different points of view and experiences—all from the comfort of your coziest reading chair.
These fiction books have inspired countless successful people and adaptations and reinterpretations of the source material.
If you think Greek mythology or Jane Austen are meaningless to you, you might be surprised at how many times you've watched a movie detailing the hero's journey or how many modern adaptations you know and love, respectively.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a seminal work of American literature that follows the journey of Janie Crawford, a black woman living in early 20th-century Florida.
Through Janie's experiences, Hurston explores themes of race, gender, and identity in the context of the Jim Crow South. Janie's relationships with her husbands offer insights into the complexities of love, power dynamics, and societal expectations.
Their Eyes Were Watching God continues to captivate readers and inspire discussions about race, gender, and the pursuit of happiness in America.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Oprah (who calls it her "favorite love story of all time")
Sula by Toni Morrison
Sula follows the intertwined lives of two African American women, Sula Peace and Nel Wright, from childhood to adulthood.
Through their intertwined stories, Morrison delves into themes of race, gender, sexuality, and the search for individuality in a world constrained by social expectations. The novel also explores the consequences of choices, the nature of morality, and the complexities of human nature.
Sula is a portrait of friendship and betrayal, love and loss. Morrison's lyrical prose and vivid imagery bring the characters and the landscape of Medallion to life, while her exploration of the human psyche invites readers to contemplate the depths of human emotion and the intricacies of the human condition.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, John Green
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a timeless coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters as they navigate the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood during the American Civil War. Set in Concord, Massachusetts, the story revolves around the sisters' aspirations, struggles, and relationships with each other and the world around them.
The March sisters encounter love, heartbreak, and loss as they grow up. Through their experiences, Alcott explores themes of family, sisterhood, resilience, and the pursuit of independence and fulfillment.
At its heart, Little Women celebrates female strength, resilience, and perseverance.
Successful People Who Love This Book: Roxane Gay, Hilary Clinton, Greta Gerwig
The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor
Did I put this collection of stories in this list because I personally love it? Maybe.
The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor is a masterful collection of short stories that showcases the author's unique Southern Gothic style and keen insight into the human condition. Set primarily in the American South, O'Connor's stories delve into themes of morality, redemption, and the collision between the sacred and the profane.
Throughout the collection, readers encounter a diverse cast of characters and stories—each grappling with their own inner demons and moral dilemmas. O'Connor's prose is characterized by its dark humor, vivid imagery, and sharp social commentary as she explores the complexities of faith, grace, and human nature.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Wide Sargasso Sea is a gripping and provocative prequel to Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre. Set in Jamaica during the early 19th century, the novel tells the story of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole woman marginalized by her European colonizers and her black Caribbean neighbors.
Born into a world of privilege and oppression, Antoinette struggles to find her place in society and grapples with her own identity. As a young woman, she marries an Englishman known only as Mr. Rochester, who takes her back to his estate in England. However, their relationship is fraught with tension and mistrust, as Antoinette's past and her cultural heritage collide with Rochester's expectations and prejudices.
As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into a complex web of colonialism, racism, and gender dynamics.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
White Teeth by Zadie Smith is a sprawling and ambitious novel that follows the lives of two families—the Joneses and the Iqbals—in multicultural London.
Against a backdrop of social and political upheaval, White Teeth explores themes of identity, assimilation, and belonging. Smith's sharp wit and keen observation bring to life the rich tapestry of London's multicultural society, while her nuanced portrayal of human relationships captures the joys, sorrows, and contradictions of modern life.
