Read: Books

1. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
2. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
3. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
4. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
5. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
6. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
8. Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
9. Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
10. A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov

“In the twilight of my days, I’ve come to see that gratitude is the true measure of life—a quiet, constant acknowledgment of every precious moment that has enriched my soul.”

“Embracing our imperfections is the first step toward gratitude; by learning to love ourselves just as we are, we open our hearts to the beauty woven through every moment.”

“Every day offers a thousand tiny miracles, and when we dare to notice them, gratitude transforms our very existence into a tapestry of wonder.”

“When we slow down to savor a sunrise, a smile, or a whispered word of love, we discover that true abundance isn’t measured in possessions but in the daily practice of gratitude.”

“Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live … to love the journey, not the destination.”

Multiple sources suggest that top executives read far more than the average person. A Fast Company survey of 500 CEOs reportedly found that the typical CEO reads about 60 books per year, which is roughly five books each month. By comparison, the average American reads only about 12 books per year, with a median of just 4 books annually often quoted in business circles as evidence that “leaders are readers.” In fact, N2Growth advisors note that Fortune 500 CEOs tend to read 4 to 5 books a month, totaling 48 to 60 books annually. While the exact ns by individual (depending on schedule, industry, and personal preferences), it’s clear that CEOs dedicate significant time to reading, highlighting the value they place on continuous learning.

Reading is a key habit for many successful leaders because it helps them stay informed, sharpen decision-making, and gain fresh perspectives. CEOs often turn to books on leadership, strategy, and innovation to grow their knowledge base. Books offer them access to insights from experts across various fields, enabling them to make better decisions and lead their companies effectively.

For example, Bill Gates is known to read around 50 books per year. He credits reading as his main way of learning new things and keeping up with the latest ideas in science, technology, and public health . Similarly, Warren Buffettto spend 5-6 hours daily reading, which includes business reports and financial news in addition to books.

While reading 50 books a year may be impressive, it’s not a strict requirement for success. The important thing is continuous learning. Successful CEOs prioritize lifelong learning—whether through books, articles, or podcasts—to remain adaptable and innovative.

1. Be Here Now by Ram Dass
2. The Whole Earth Catalog by Stewart Brand, ed.
3. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
4. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
5. Prof. Arnold Ehret’s Mucusless Diet Healing System by Arnold Ehret
6. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
7. Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé
8. King Lear by William Shakespeare

1. The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by Olivia Fox Cabane
2. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
4. Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards
5. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves
6. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek
7. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
8. Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas
9. Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy
10. Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi with Tahl Raz

1. The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
2. Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
3. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
4. Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

1. The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama XIV and Desmond Tutu
2. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
3. The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha
4. The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking

1. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
2. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
3. The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
4. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Studies have shown the benefits of sharing our reading experiences. Research indicates that people who discuss what they’ve read have a better grasp and retention of the material (Murphy et al., 2009). Additionally, reading and talking about literary fiction can improve our ability to understand others’ emotions and perspectives (Kidd & Castano, 2013).

Participating in reading groups also leads to increased social connectedness and a sense of community (The Reading Agency, 2015). Shared reading can reduce symptoms of depression and improve overall mental health (Billington et al., 2010).

1. The Hidden Spring by Mark Solms
2. The Expectation Effect by David Robson
3. Consciousness and the Brain by Stanislas Dehaene
4. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
5. Psych by Paul Bloom
6. How to Know a Person by David Brooks
7. Incognito by David Eagleman
8. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
9. Subliminal by Leonard Mlodinow
10. Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett

1. The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
2. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
3. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
4. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
5. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
6. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
7. The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov
8. Hackers & Painters by Paul Graham
9. The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
10. An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki
11. The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
2. The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
3. Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
4. The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
5. The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
6. The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran
7. How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur
8. The Weirdest People in the World by Joseph Henrich
9. The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova
10. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. This stress reduction helps lower cortisol production, which may facilitate easier sleep onset.

Studies have highlighted that unlike electronic devices, reading physical books before bed does not interfere with melatonin production. This helps in establishing a sleep-promoting pre-bed routine.

Engaging in calming pre-sleep activities, like reading, has been associated with more restful and uninterrupted sleep. Reading can contribute to a more relaxing bedtime routine, which promotes better sleep quality.

1. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
2. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
3. Range by David Epstein
4. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
5. So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
6. Radical Candor by Kim Scott
7. Futureproof by Kevin Roose
8. Originals by Adam Grant
9. Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
10. Linchpin by Seth Godin

1. The Wages of Destruction by Adam Tooze
2. The Story of Civilization by Will Durant
3. Masters of Doom by David Kushner
4. The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
5. The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich A. Hayek
6. Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger
7. American Caesar by William Manchester
8. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
9. The Gallic War by Julius Caesar
10. The Iliad by Homer

1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
2. Driving Miss Norma by Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle
3. 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
4. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
5. This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
6. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
7. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
8. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
9. The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe
10. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

1. Set reasonable time limits for reading sessions
2. Engage critically with the material, not just passive consumption
3. Mix up activities - reading shouldn't be the only thing on the agenda
4. Remember to move and stretch regularly
5. Discuss books with others — it adds a social element to reading, for that, you can join our discussion group: @offtopicclub

1. Richer, Wiser, Happier by William Green
2. The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
3. The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner
4. The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
5. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
6. The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster by Darren Hardy
7. Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung
8. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
9. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
10. The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous

1. The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
2. The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz
3. The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb
4. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
5. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
6. The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
7. Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana