The 17 Best Habit Books in 2024
Having the right habits can be a game-changer between success and failure, especially if you want to level up your business or career!
From rising early to time management and productivity, creating healthy habits can help launch our businesses and careers into even greater heights. But it can be challenging to know where to start.
Fortunately, plenty of fantastic habit books out there help guide you in developing great habits.
Today, I dive into some of the best habit books for entrepreneurs so you can jumpstart your journey toward mastering your habits and achieving progress on your own personal goals!
Read on for a quick guide through these inspiring books on habits!
What are the Best Habits Books?
So, what are the best habit books out there?
1) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
“Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.”
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a standout in this list and one of my favorites. This book offers not just theory but practical strategies that have helped me build good habits and break bad ones.
In this book, you can expect a deep dive into the psychology of habits and their profound impact on life. Atomic Habits contains actionable advice, real-life examples, and easy-to-follow steps.
You should read Atomic Habits because it offers a clear and proven framework for achieving personal goals and reshaping you for a successful life one habit at a time.
2) Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg
“When it comes to change, tiny is mighty.”
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg is a unique and practical approach to forming habits. This book has significantly influenced my understanding of how small changes can lead to significant transformations.
The author discusses how tiny behaviors can lead to remarkable results. It’s a must-read for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of change. BJ Fogg’s approach is practical, empathetic, and backed by years of research. The book advocates for starting small to make habit changes manageable and achievable.
You should read this book if you’re looking for a practical, science-backed method to transform your habits and life.
3) The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.”
The Power of Habit is a cornerstone in habit formation and change. Its inclusion on this list is a no-brainer for me. I learned a great deal about the science of habits and how they influence our lives, personally and professionally.
Charles Duhigg provides an in-depth exploration of the habit loop and how understanding it can revolutionize your actions and decisions.
This book is essential for you if you’re seeking to understand the why behind your habits and learn how to manipulate them to your benefit. It’s insightful, well-researched, and offers a fascinating blend of storytelling and practical advice.
4) Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
“What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while.”
Better Than Before offers a fresh perspective on forming better habits. Gretchen Rubin’s approach resonated with me, particularly her emphasis on understanding our nature and tendencies to build better habits.
Rubin explores the concept of habit tendencies – the idea that different people respond differently to expectations. She provides practical advice for understanding your habit tendencies and using that knowledge to form habits.
If you’re looking for a personalized approach to habit formation, give Better Than Before a read.
5) Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
“Efforts to deepen your focus will struggle if you don’t simultaneously wean your mind from a dependence on distraction.”
Deep Work is a crucial addition to this list, especially in our constant connectivity and distraction era. It’s a book that profoundly impacted how I approach work and productivity, teaching me the value of focused, uninterrupted work.
Cal Newport presents the concept of deep work and practical strategies to integrate it into your daily life. He provides practical advice on how to cultivate a deep work ethic and resist the pull of distractions.
If you often need help to focus and produce high-quality work, this book could be a game-changer for you. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking success in a distracted world.
6) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
“Becoming is better than being.”
Mindset earns its spot on this list for its groundbreaking exploration of the power of mindset. This book has significantly influenced my understanding of how our beliefs about ourselves can guide many of our lives.
Carol S. Dweck delves into the differences between a ‘fixed’ mindset and a ‘growth’ mindset and how they affect every aspect of our lives. This book will enlighten you if you want to transform how you face challenges, setbacks, and opportunities.
Dweck’s research is insightful and immediately applicable, offering a new lens through which to view your potential and capabilities. It’s an essential read for anyone aiming to foster a more adaptable and resilient approach to life.
7) The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
“But until a person can say deeply and honestly, ‘I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday,’ that person cannot say, ‘I choose otherwise.’”
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a classic and a must-have on this list. It’s a guide that profoundly influenced my productivity and personal development perspective. Covey’s insights are timeless and have helped me understand the importance of aligning my actions with my deepest values.
Covey offers more than just the notion of how to form habits; he provides a framework for living a life of integrity, service, and effectiveness. You’ll benefit from this book if you seek a comprehensive guide to personal and professional excellence. The principles outlined are universal and empowering, making it an essential read for anyone committed to continuous improvement and practical living.
8) Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
“Productivity is about making certain choices in certain ways.”
Smarter Faster Better makes it to this list for its insightful productivity analysis. Duhigg’s approach to productivity, focusing on smarter choices rather than more challenging work, was eye-opening for me. This book has reshaped my understanding of efficiency in both personal and professional realms.
Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, weaves engaging stories with in-depth research to illustrate the secrets of being productive in life and business. In this book, you’ll explore the eight key productivity concepts explaining why some people and companies are more effective.
It’s perfect for you if you’re looking to enhance your ability to think differently and succeed in complex environments. Duhigg combines the latest neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics findings, offering actionable insights to become more productive without getting stressed or busy.
9) Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
“The best way to change long-term behavior is with short-term feedback.”
Hooked earns its place on this list for its unique angle on forming better habits – it focuses not on personal habits but on how companies can create products that people habitually use. I’ve found this book particularly enlightening in understanding the psychology behind our interactions with technology.
This book offers a deep dive into the ‘Hook Model,’ a four-step process companies use to build customer habits. You’ll find it enlightening if you’re curious about how products can create and sustain user engagement.
Eyal’s blend of research, case studies, and practical insights provides a unique lens through which to view our interactions with technology, making it a compelling read for anyone looking to understand or create habit-forming products.
10) Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
“The secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.”
Drive is a crucial book for understanding the underlying forces of motivation. It’s one of my favorites because it challenged and changed my views on what truly motivates us in our personal lives and the workplace. Daniel H. Pink’s approach to motivation is both innovative and practical.
Pink breaks down the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in this book and explains why the latter is essential for long-term success and well-being. This book is highly beneficial if you want to deepen your understanding of what drives you and how to harness this knowledge to improve your life and work.
Pink’s insights are backed by scientific research, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read that will change your thoughts about motivation.
11) Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven
“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
Make Your Bed is a crucial addition to this list because of its powerful message that small actions can lead to big changes. This book resonated with me deeply, reinforcing that even the simplest tasks can set the tone for the rest of the day.
Admiral McRaven shares his life lessons learned in military service, emphasizing how ten simple practices can turn into better habits that improve your life and, ultimately, the world around you. If you’re searching for motivation or purpose, Make Your Bed delivers in spades.
It’s a reminder that no action is too small, and every task contributes to your larger success story.
12) So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport
“Passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable, not before.”
I chose to include So Good They Can’t Ignore You because it challenges the common advice of “follow your passion.” This book significantly shifted my perspective on work and passion, emphasizing the importance of skill mastery over blindly chasing passions.
Newport challenges the common wisdom about passion and career, arguing for a skill-centric approach to professional satisfaction. This book is particularly compelling if you’re amid career development or change. It’s filled with practical advice and real-world examples, providing a roadmap to building a career that’s both successful and deeply satisfying.
This book is a game-changer for anyone looking to navigate their professional path more clearly and purposefully.
13) Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick by Jen Sincero
“You are a badass. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, convince you otherwise.”
Badass Habits earns its spot on this list with its dynamic and empowering approach to habit formation. Jen Sincero’s straightforward and often humorous style made this book not just informative for me but also incredibly enjoyable to read. It’s about more than just having better habits; it’s about transforming your mindset.
In this book, you’ll find a blend of personal anecdotes, psychology, and practical advice that makes habit change feel attainable and exciting. If you’re looking for a book that will guide you in forming new habits and inspire you to push your boundaries, this is it.
Sincero’s focus on awareness and boundary-setting as tools for forming better habits provides a fresh, relatable, and motivating perspective. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to challenge themselves and transform their life one habit at a time.
14) Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
“Your personality creates your personal reality. Your personality is made up of how you act, how you think, and how you feel.”
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself is a game-changer on this list because Dr. Dispenza aims to teach readers the idea that we are not doomed by our genes and hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of our lives. This book has been instrumental in my understanding of how our thoughts and behaviors shape our reality.
Joe Dispenza delves into quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to demonstrate how changing our thought patterns can transform our lives.
If you want a deeper understanding of why you act the way you do and how to change it, this book is for you. It provides a comprehensive plan that you can follow to create the changes you desire in your life.
15) Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
“The key to living well in a high-tech world is to spend much less time using technology.”
Digital Minimalism is a vital book for our times, addressing the ever-growing challenge of digital overload. I included it on this list as it has been instrumental in helping me redefine my relationship with technology. Newport’s principles have guided me to a more balanced, focused digital life.
Newport’s book is not just about minimizing screen time but using technology to align with your values and goals. He presents a philosophy for technology use that has already improved countless lives.
If you’re struggling with the constant noise of the digital world, this book will provide practical strategies to regain self-control. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to live a focused life in an increasingly noisy world.
16) High-Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard
“Often, the journey to greatness begins the moment our preferences for comfort and certainty are overruled by a greater purpose that requires challenge and contribution.”
High Performance Habits is a key addition to this collection due to its focus on the habits that foster extraordinary achievements. This book is among my favorites as it provided me with actionable insights into cultivating habits that lead to high performance in both personal and professional spheres.
Brendon Burchard presents a set of habits that are both achievable and transformative. If you want to elevate your performance and achieve more than you thought possible, this book is for you. Use it as a reference like your personal KPI.
Burchard’s research-based approach combines motivational stories with practical advice, making it an empowering read for anyone aspiring to higher levels of success and fulfillment in life.
17) The Compound Effect: Multiply Your Success One Simple Step at a Time by Darren Hardy
“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
In his book, The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy explains how small, consistent actions can lead to big results over time. The idea behind the compound effect is that habits and choices we make every day can either work for or against us in achieving our SMART goals.
By making small changes and being mindful of the impact our choices have, we can ultimately increase our chances of success. Hardy emphasizes that while success may not come overnight, by taking one simple step at a time, we can begin to multiply our success and achieve our desired outcomes.
The compound effect is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, and this book offers valuable insights if you want to make positive changes in your life.
Key Considerations For Successfully Building Habits
When you’re on the journey to building new habits, it’s important to remember that each person’s path is unique. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s okay. The key is to find strategies and approaches that resonate with your lifestyle and mindset. Feel free to experiment and adjust as you go along.
Consistency is your secret weapon in forming habits. It’s not about making massive changes overnight but small, consistent efforts that compound over time. Remember, the small steps, repeated day in and day out, lead to significant changes. So, be patient with yourself and recognize that progress is still progress, no matter how small.
Lastly, understand the power of your environment and social circle in shaping your habits. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and settings that support your goals. This might mean joining a community with similar interests or restructuring your daily environment to minimize distractions.
The right environment can make the difference between a habit that sticks and one that fades away. Remember, building habits is a journey, not a destination, and it’s one of the most rewarding journeys you can embark on.
How to Build Good Habits?
Building good habits goes beyond simply knowing what you should do. It’s about creating a system that makes it easier for you to do what you want and more challenging for you to slip back into old patterns. One of the most effective ways to do this is by making your desired habits enjoyable. The more you enjoy doing something, the more likely you will stick with it.
Another strategy is to attach your new habits to existing ones. This is known as habit stacking. For example, if you’re trying to build a habit of reading more, you could stack it onto your existing habit of drinking coffee in the morning. So, whenever you have your morning coffee, you also read a book chapter.
Lastly, remember that patience is key. Building good daily habits is a process that takes time. Don’t be too hard on yourself if progress seems slow. Celebrate small wins, keep refining your strategies, and stay committed. Over time, these small changes will compound into significant improvements.
How to Break Bad Habits?
Breaking habits that aren’t good can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but remember, it’s possible with the right approach. One effective strategy is to replace a bad habit with a good one. For instance, if you’re trying to reduce screen time before bed, try replacing it with reading a book. This substitution method keeps your routine intact while changing only one element.
Another method is to understand the triggers that lead to your bad habits. Once you’ve identified these triggers, you can work on addressing them directly. For example, if stress leads you to overeat, find healthier habits to manage your stress, like exercising, meditating, or talking to a friend.
Finally, take into account the power of a support network. Whether it’s a trusted friend, a family member, or a professional counselor, having someone to share your progress and challenges with can significantly boost your chances of success.
Remember, breaking bad habits isn’t about perfection but persistence. So keep going, even when it’s tough. You’re stronger than your habits.
For more book recommendations, check out these other “best of” book lists:
- Best Business Books
- Best Habit Books
- Best Marketing Books
- Best Productivity Books
- Best Sales Books
- Best Self-Help Books
- Best Time Management Books
Final Thoughts On The Best Habit Books
So there you have it, a rundown of the best books to help you master the art of habit formation!
Each book offers unique insights and practical advice to help you understand and transform your daily habits, whether you’re looking to build new ones or break old ones.
Remember, the habit change journey is deeply personal and varies from person to person. These books are tools to guide you on that journey, providing the knowledge and strategies you need to succeed.
These 17 books are some of the best resources to guide you on this journey. They offer a wealth of knowledge from experts who have spent years studying why habits fail and what behaviors to change.
Why should you listen to me? I’ve personally delved into these books and applied their teachings to my own life. The strategies I shared with you helped me build healthier and break detrimental habits.
But don’t just take my word for it. Dive into these books yourself and discover the transformative power of building good habits and breaking bad ones!
Happy reading, and here’s to your success!
