We all have heard the quote - ‘Books are our best friends who will never walk away from us.’ But in this day and age, we are walking further and further away from books every single day. We are so engrossed in consuming short-form content, that starting a new book or finishing an unfinished one seems too difficult a task to accomplish. However, one has to build and maintain the habit of reading, especially non-fiction, if one intends to grow intellectually and have a better understanding of things. In this list, you will find 51 best non-fiction books to get started on your way to developing a deeper and better understanding of finance, time management, personality management, love life, and various other important aspects of life.
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - One of the most influential books ever written, this book is a must-read for people who want to learn how to talk to people, how to hold meaningful conversations, and how to develop friendships and connections that last a lifetime. Dale Carnegie shares with us various tips on how to start a conversation with a stranger, how to turn a boring conversation into an exciting one, how to help someone open up about themselves, etcetera. With the demand for good people skills rising each day, this book can help one achieve a lot.
2. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle - With over 2 million copies sold across the globe, this book continues to be one of the most popular spiritual books of all time. This book is about introspection and connecting with one’s true self. Eckhart Tolle essentially encourages his readers to focus only on the ‘now’, or the present, instead of being bothered about the past or anxious about the future. This book has been translated into over 30 foreign languages and it continues to teach people some of the fundamentals of living a spiritually rich life.
3. Autobiography of A Yogi By Paramhansa Yogananda - Often touted as one of the most profound spiritual books ever written, Autobiography of A Yogi is a treasure for someone interested in knowing oneself. The book entails the life journey of spiritual guru Paramhansa Yogananda. People looking to embark upon a self-transforming journey should give this a read.
4. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy - The human mind, as we all know, is the most powerful and the most complicated machine known to humankind. But we often fail to use the power of our minds, especially the subconscious mind. Joseph Murphy's bestseller helps us realize and unlock the full potential of our brains and achieve whatever we want to in life. If you have high aims in life, make sure you give it a read.
5. The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma - We have all heard the proverb, 'Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man (human) healthy, wealthy, and wise'. With social media scrolling turning all of us into night owls, it's difficult to rise early in this generation. But if we can manage to achieve the feat, the rewards are lucrative. If you want to know more about the benefits of having a healthy sleep schedule, and how to wake up early every day, go ahead and gulp it up!
6. The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer by Stephen Kotler - Written by peak performance expert Stephen Kotler, The Art of Impossible digs deep into the secret of achieving the seemingly impossible. From athletes to business entrepreneurs to artists, how do they manage to achieve what seems absolutely out of reach to us? This book teaches it all. Based on years of research and neuroscientific findings, this book is a must for anyone who aims high in life.
7. The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Authored by ancient Chinese military general-philosopher-strategist Sun Tzu, The Art of War is one of the most influential books to date. Based on tactical warfare, the premise of the book revolves around strategies to avoid battles, or fight them strategically to minimize the damages, in case one fails to avoid them. If you want a healthy dose of ancient Chinese philosophy to apply in your life, go for it!
8. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari - The emergence of human beings as the most powerful species on the face of the earth is a rather intriguing chapter of history and biology combined. One of the most popular books of all time, this bestseller is a must-read for you if you want to know more about our origins and what we are heading toward as a species.
9. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking - Time is a concept that has made human beings wonder and ponder for ages. What exactly is time, whether there was a beginning of time, is time linear in nature or is it capable of running backward, these are some of the questions that this widely acclaimed book deals with. If you are interested in developing a deeper understanding of these concepts, you should get your hands on this book.
10. Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within by APJ Abdul Kalam - Written by India’s beloved former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Ignited Minds is going to change the way you perceive yourself, as well as your country. This book speaks at length about various obstacles faced by India, and how as citizens we can win over them. A must-read indeed!
11. An Era of Darkness: British Empire in India by Shashi Tharoor - This book is a wonderful account of the dark and heart-wrenching era of British rule in India. How India’s fate changed at the hands of the blood-thirsty British colonials, and how it dragged India from riches to rags has been discussed at length by Tharoor. One of the best historical accounts of the colonial era, this book is one of Tharoor’s most acclaimed works.
12. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie - With life becoming more and more stressful, we need to read this book and apply its teachings now more than ever. Renowned American author Dale Carnegie talks in depth about living life without worrying too much. One of the most sold and revered self-help books of all time, this book helps us develop a newer and more positive perspective about life, which in turn helps us lead a more happy and more fulfilling life.
13. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller - Possibly the most remarkable autobiography of all time, The Story of My Life is a story of unparalleled determination and courage. This book accounts for Helen Keller’s experiences, her childhood, how she emerged triumphant against her blindness and deafness, and the wonderful relationship she shared with her governess-cum-companion, Anne Sullivan. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film Black (2005) starring Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan was heavily inspired by this book.
14. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - The true diary of a teenage girl, Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl, opens on Anne's 13th birthday (12 June 1942), when she receives a diary. It chronicles the narrative of her family, who live in Frankfurt, Germany, and are forced to go into hiding as a result of Hitler and the Nazi Party's treatment of Jews in Europe during WWII. A very moving account of the horrors faced by the people during the said era, the book goes on to convey deep messages and is a must-read.
15. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain - In a world where social skills are considered a great asset, introverts are often thought of as low-impact people. However, throughout the history of humankind, innumerable introverts have gone on to achieve unimaginable feats, from artists like Chopin, to engineers like Steve Wozniak. The book takes a deep dive into how society perceives introverts, and how these seemingly timid people can use this trait to their benefit.
16. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia - This international bestseller is a guide to living a long, happy, and meaningful life. In an endlessly stressful world, Ikigai helps one find the true purpose of one’s life. It is based on the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which means ‘life purpose’. It is based on the residents of a small village in Okinawa, Japan, named Ogimi, where people tend to live a very long and happy life.
17. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - With over 2.5 million copies sold worldwide, renowned psychologist Daniel Kahneman in his book talks in detail about two ways of thinking, one is fast and intuitive, while the other one is slow and logical. This book comes in handy, especially for those who have trouble making decisions. If you want to know your mind better so that you never end up taking wrong decisions, pick this book up and get going!
18. F.U. Money by Dan Lok - Written by Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur-business mentor-author Dan Lok, this book is a must-read for those who want to learn more about money. From lessons on investing to developing a rich mindset, this book covers it all. While the name of this book might not be very family-friendly, it sure is a great book for those who want to learn how to earn money.
19. Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor - No matter what we eat or drink or how much we work out, none of it would be fruitful if we do not breathe properly. Written by journalist James Nestor, this book is a detailed account of what should be the correct way of breathing, how we ended up messing it up, what are the consequences, and how we can fix it. If you have been wondering why you haven’t been able to meet your fitness goals despite trying hard, this might be the answer!
20. The Rudest Book Ever: Powerful Perspectives to Free Your Mind by Shwetabh Gangwar - Written by famous Indian Youtuber Shwetabh Gangwar, this book is an eye-opener. Shwetabh goes deep into issues that we all face in our daily lives and gives us significant insights to free our minds from their burden. Written in a sarcastic and unintentionally rude tone, this book hits you hard and helps you bring about changes in yourself that you have always wanted to.
21. Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Old Ones by James Clear - Human beings are slaves to their habits. What habits you cultivate determine what you end up being in life. Thus, it becomes essential to build good habits and break bad ones. James Clear in this revered work of his discusses in great detail how to gradually build good habits, break the bad ones, and bring about significant change in life.
22. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell - Decision-making can be a cakewalk for some, while for others it might not be less than any horrendous nightmare. This book lays out in detail, how our mind works when taking a call regarding something. Why is it so that some people make the right decisions within just a few seconds while others end up taking the wrong ones despite careful planning and thinking? This book is an answer to all these questions.
23. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki - Undoubtedly the most popular book written on finance to date, Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich dad Poor Dad is a goldmine of information on the accumulation of wealth and fortune. Kiyosaki talks about two fathers in this book, one is his biological father who leads an ordinary life despite being highly educated, and the other is his friend’s father who has made a fortune for himself through investments and asset-building, despite being much less educated than his own father. This book will teach you concepts like asset-building, cash flow, liabilities, etcetera, and will help you in your journey to becoming wealthy.
24. Zero To One: Notes on Startups or How To Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters - Written by PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel along with Blake Masters, this book is a guide for the people who intend to build technology startups of their own. The future lies heavily upon innovation, and this book does a great job of teaching us how we can innovate, how we can think of new things, and bring about changes that benefit society.
25. The Things You Can See Only When you Slow Down by Haenim Sunim - In a world that is becoming moe and more stressful, we have almost completely forgotten to slow down. This fast-paced lifestyle is standing tall between us and mental peace. Zen monk Haenim Sunim in his book, teaches us how to slow down, take a breather, and do away with our stress. If you are suffering from a perennially stressful lifestyle, pick this book up, read it, and be ready to implement its teachings.
26. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams And Reaching Your Destiny by Robin Sharma - Written by Canadian-Indian writer Robin Sharma, this book is based on Sharma’s life, his personal experiences, and how his life turned out to be after he quit as a litigation lawyer at 25 years of age. This book gives us wonderful lessons on how to develop positive thoughts, how to nourish our relationships, and how to lead a life filled with true abundance.
27. Who Will Cry When you Die? Life Lessons from the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma - Another gem of a self-help book by Robin Sharma, this one is full of practical wisdom that intends to help us find simple and effective solutions to some of the most complex problems that we face in our daily lives.
28. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - Often regarded as the ‘Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature’, Think and Grow Rich teaches us about the ‘get rich’ mindset. Hill teaches us through his various experiences how the mindset is an extremely important factor when it comes to earn money and how the subconscious mind works and how it turns our dreams into reality. If you intend to become wealthy, you better pick this up right away!
29. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness by Eric Jorgenson - An entrepreneur, investor and philosopher par excellence, Naval Ravikant has enthralled the globe with his wealth-building and long-term happiness principles. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a curated collection of Naval's most intelligent interviews and emotional observations from the last ten years. This isn't a how-to manual or a step-by-step guide. Instead, you will learn how to take your own individual path toward a happier, wealthier life through Naval's own words.
30. The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel - Morgan Housel, in his enormously popular book, teaches us how our personal biases and experiences can affect our financial decisions, and how we can be more rational and logical while making financial decisions. This book will provide you with useful insights that are extremely important when it comes to earning money and accumulating wealth.
31. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight - In 1962, a 24-year-old Phil Knight, borrowed $50 from his father with the aim of importing high quality, low-priced sports shoes from Japan and selling them for a profit. Cut to 2022, Phil Knight has a net worth of 4,070 crores USD. Shoe Dog accounts Knight’s journey from the beginning up until he became of the global entrepreneurial icons. Filled with hard-earned wisdom about life and money, thisbook is indeed a must-read.
32. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy - What is that one thing that most of us are guilty of? It’s probably wasting time. Procrastination is not only a real, but a serious problem too. We keep postponing important tasks and end up burdening ourselves with excruciating pressure. Brian Tracy teaches us how to prevent procrastination and get important things done real quick. If you haven’t yet read this book, stop procrastinating, eat the frog, and gulp it up (the book, not the frog)!
33. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt - Freakonomics is an intriguing book that mixes economic ideas with everyday difficulties and subjects and delivers a number of unique and entertaining exercises. This book, written by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt, offers a fresh perspective on a variety of issues that we confront on a daily basis, helping us develop newer and better insights to deal with them.
34. The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables of a Planet in Crisis by Amitav Ghosh - Authored by 2018 Jnanpith Award winner Amitav Ghosh, The Nutmeg’s Curse is a hard-hitting book that encapsulates everything from the dark colonial mindset and human exploitation to the never-ending crisis of climate change. This book makes us realise, what we are heading towards is not positive and we need to make changes right now in order to make this world a better place to live in.
35. Corporate Chanakya by Radhakrishnan Pillai - Chanakya was the smartest, most diplomatic, and astute economist-strategist of India. The entire Mauryan Empire can be traced to Chanakya's strategies, which fetched him the title of a ‘kingmaker’. In today's world, business empires require effective management to keep up with expanding competition. The author applies the aphorisms or sutras proposed by Chanakya in his work Arthasastra (Economics) to the administration and operation of modern businesses. Leadership, Management, and Training are the three key parts of Corporate Chanakya. The author selects the most appropriate sutras to provide tips for success in all of these disciplines.
36. Rework: Change The Way You Work Forever by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried - Rework is a one-of-a-kind business book that teaches readers how to be more successful in business in a faster and easier way. It explains why plans can be detrimental, why people don't need outside investors, and why it's preferable to ignore the competition. The book teaches the reader what they need to succeed: to stop talking and start working. This book explains to the reader how to do things correctly. If you want to change the way you work for good, this book is for you.
37. The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau - Chris Guillebeau's The $100 Startup can be your guide to a new way of life. This book teaches you how to earn a good living on your terms, when and where you want. Finding the perfect balance of passion and income to make work enjoyable is a must. Chris’s book shares with you the experiences of 50 ordinary people who started a business with $100 or less.
38. The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason - This collection of classic Babylonian parables teaches timeless financial lessons on topics ranging from the significance of saving to the fundamentals of being wealthy. It examines the five rules of gold and offers advice on how to become wealthy and attract good fortune. The Richest Man in Babylon has inspired readers for generations as a superb guide to understanding finances and a powerhouse of time-tested methods for gaining and retaining personal riches. This bestseller is still considered a classic.
39. Coffee Can Investing: The Low-Risk Road to Stupendous Wealth by Saurabh Mukherjea, Rakshit Ranjan, and Pranab Uniyal - The majority of people invest in traditional assets such as real estate, gold, mutual funds, fixed deposits, and stock markets. All they wind up with is an annual profit of 8 to 12%. In the worst-case situation, they lose a lot of money.
What if there was an alternative? What if one could only earn a 20% compound annual growth rate on investments? What if there was a way to grow one's money four to five times faster than the entire market while incurring half the risk? This book is a guide to this investment approach known as ‘coffee can investing’. A must-read indeed.
40. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham - This book is widely regarded as the best investing advice of the twentieth century, and it has taught and motivated individuals all across the globe. This book has become the stock market bible because of Benjamin Graham's theory of 'value investing,' which protects investors from making significant mistakes. Graham also assists customers in developing long-term strategies to help them reach their financial objectives.
41. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl - This 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicles his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II and describes the psychotherapeutic method opted by him, which required establishing a good purpose in life and then immersing oneself in imagining the outcome. One of the most inspiring and moving books, it helps one find their true purpose in life.
42. Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David with Greg Dinkin - Both successful businesspeople and chess grandmasters can take a look at the pieces/people in front of them and predict their moves. Patrick Bet-David combines this expertise into a beneficial methodology applicable to outstanding performers at all levels. This book is indeed a great read, especially for people looking to make an impact in the business world.
43. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss - People no longer seek a good-paying 9-to-5 job. This book debunks the old notion of retiring at 60 after working exceedingly hard for a tiny sum of money, especially in uncertain economic times. The 4-Hour Workweek is the plan for escaping the rat race, experiencing opportunities to travel the world, or generating a monthly five-figure salary with no management. If you intend to work less and earn more, this book will get you started.
44. Loaded: Money, Psychology, and How to Get Ahead without Leaving Your Values Behind by Sarah Newcomb - Loaded is a must-read for everyone who finds themselves dangling between the desire to prosper financially and the complex emotions and competing priorities that money so often brings into our lives. It is based on decades of research and years of hands-on experience with people from all walks of life. This book will help you broaden your thoughts on financial riches and how to become affluent without sacrificing your core principles.
45. Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins - The only man ever to undergo elite training as an Army Ranger, Navy SEAL, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, Goggins went on to set records in a variety of endurance sports, prompting the Outside magazine to name him The Fittest Man in America. In this book, he tells his fascinating life story and explains that most of us barely use 40% of our potential. He refers to this as The 40% Rule, and his narrative reveals a path that everyone can take to push past suffering, overcome fear, and attain their full potential.
46. Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss - This book is a collection of summaries of celebrity interviews conducted by Tim Ferriss. Throughout his career as a podcaster and content creator, Ferriss has interviewed a lot of successful people. This book brings the habits and routines followed by all these high-achieving people into one place and is often regarded as one of the best self-help books ever written. If you want to know the recipe for success, this is what you should start reading right away!
47. Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration by Meera Lee Patel - Start Where You Are is an interactive diary that encourages its readers to cultivate their creativity, mindfulness, and self-motivation. It helps readers through the clutter and bustle of daily life by reminding them that by taking the time to know themselves and their objectives, they may appreciate the world around them and achieve their goals. This book is a powerful instrument for good change, with inspiring quotes from writers, artists, and other visionaries mixed with open-ended questions and prompts, as well as lots of space for writing and contemplating.
48. The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie - Public speaking can be extremely exciting for some, but it’s too daunting for most. The fear of public speaking is more than the fear of death in some people. This book by Dale Carnegie helps in overcoming the fear of appearing and speaking in front of an audience. With easy-to-follow instructions and practical teachings, this book is a must for everybody who wants to emerge triumphant over this phobia.
49. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini - Dr. Robert B. Cialdini's psychology book is based on his insights and study of why individuals tend to say ‘yes’. The author has conducted significant and rigorous research on people's thoughts and general psychology. His discoveries have enabled him to write this book on the art of persuasion and how to use this psychology to one's benefit. It is the outcome of a thirty-five-year-long intensive investigation that included surveys, evidence, experiments, and three years of observation on people's behaviour, and is a roadmap to learning to persuade anyone, anytime.
50. Money Changes Everything: How Finance Made Civilization Possible by William N. Goetzmann - Leading financial historian William Goetzmann argues in this book that the emergence of finance has enabled the growth of civilizations. Finance, according to Goetzmann, is a time machine, a technology that allows us to transfer value forward and backward through time, and this innovation has revolutionized the way we think about and plan for the future. He demonstrates how finance has played an important role in history and will continue to play an important role in influencing our future. This is the place to start if you want to learn more about the world of money and how it has touched us and will continue to do so.
51. The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch - The 80/20 principle states that 80 percent of all our accomplishments in business and life come from only 20 percent of our efforts. One of the great secrets of highly efficient people and companies is the 80/20 principle. The unsaid corollary to the 80/20 principle is that only a small portion of what we spend our time on matters. But by focusing on what works, we can unlock the huge potential of the magic 20% and improve our effectiveness in our professions, careers, enterprises, and lives.
Quite a long list, isn’t it? There are hundreds and thousands of non-fiction books to learn about of multitude of topics. This list will give you a headstart, after which, you can embark on your journey of discovering and reading more and more fascinating non-fiction books. Do let us know what you think of this list. Happy reading!