The 25 Best Books About Changing Habits That Will Help You Achieve Your Goals Faster

Books such as Tiny Habits, Outliers: The Story Of Success, or Make It Stick, are among the best ones to help you achieve your goals faster. Each of these books offers practical tips that will help you build habits that stick. By practicing the techniques therein, you’ll succeed personally and professionally.

Face it, we all have bad habits that hold us back from achieving something or another in life. These are all practices you’d like to change, whether it is learning to quit smoking or taking more breaks at work. The problem is that breaking these habits or creating new ones is tough.

This post lists some great published books that all offer something of value that will help you on your quest to make a change in your life.

Let’s dive in!

1. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

“The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can’t extinguish a bad habit. You can only change it.”

Charles Duhigg unlocks the science behind what makes something a habit. He answers the question of how they come to be and how you can break them. The tools Duhigg gives readers in this highly informative book will make anyone successful in life.

2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.”

Time Magazine recognizes Stephen Covey as one of the most influential Americans. He is the author of 49 books that have helped millions of people better themselves. In his international best-seller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey shares his advice on how to take back control of your life and reach professional and private victories. A classic book when it comes to guidance on changing habits.

3. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

“If you work hard enough, assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires.”

Malcolm Gladwell takes readers through the lives of some of the most successful people in his book, Outliers. Gladwell believes society pays too much attention to what successful people are like versus where they started. By the end of the book, you’ll know why the best and brightest people in society achieve success.

4. Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss

“Productivity is for robots. What humans are going to be really good at is asking questions, being creative, and experiences.”

Tim Ferriss spent two years interviewing athletes and celebrities on his podcast. During that period, he learned what made these people so successful, from what they do in the first hour of the morning, what books they read, and other habits they apply in their everyday life. Ferriss highlights these tips in his book Tools of Titans that you can take and use to achieve your goals.

5. High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard

“Productivity is for robots. What humans are going to be really good at is asking questions, being creative, and experiences.”

A science-backed book based on one of the most extensive surveys ever conducted, performance coach Brendon Burchard takes readers through the six habits that will change your life. 

The six habits, as defined by Burchard, are: seek clarity, generate energy, raise necessity, increase productivity, develop influence, and demonstrate courage. The book also includes a link to a free online assessment that you can use to track your progress as you implement these new practices in your own life.

6. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

“A solid routine fosters a well-worn groove for one’s mental energies and helps stave off the tyranny of moods.”

In Daily Rituals, Mason Currey talks about the routines of 161 of the most famous artists the world has ever known. The list includes the likes of Agatha Christie, Thomas Wolfe, Franz Kafka, and more. It is a new peak to see how something like the practice of writing while standing (a habit of Thomas Wolfe) made these artists so prosperous.

7. Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown, Henry Roediger, Mark McDaniel

“Rereading has three strikes against it. It is time-consuming. It doesn’t result in durable memory. And it often involves a kind of unwitting self-deception.”

Make It Stick discusses how memory plays a role in improving various areas of life. The authors write about how important having a strong memory is when carrying out cognitive tasks. They describe how having better retention of what we learn helps with understanding new responsibilities and being more productive in life.

8. Atomic Habits by James Clear

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” 

In Atomic Habits, James Clear teaches four steps to help you break bad behaviors and adopt good ones. The book explains how small everyday routines can compound and become a huge positive change over time. You’ll find many steps and examples of how to go about building desirable habits.

Dedicating as little as 1% of your day is key to getting the results you desire. If you want to lose weight, reduce stress, or win a championship, this book is for you.

9. The Habit Blueprint by Patrik Edblad

“Since you’re the biggest expert in the world on your behavior, I encourage you to take on the roles of both scientist and subject from this point forward. Let life become your experiment and the world your lab.” 

In the Habit Blueprint, Patrik Edblad explains important things to know about behavior change. This book is a research-backed recipe for building desirable habits. It offers many actionable tips to increase your chances of success.

The author is a certified mental trainer who thrives in helping you jump from thought to action.

10. Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

“What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.”

Gretchen Rubin teaches how to break bad habits and cultivate good ones in his book, Better Than Before. The book will help you discover your habit tendency and provide you with tools to improve habits. It contains actionable steps that will go a long way toward helping you achieve your goals.

11. Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg

“After you put your feet on the floor in the morning, immediately say this phrase, ‘It’s going to be a great day.’ As you say these seven words, try to feel optimistic and positive.”

In Tiny Habits, B.J. Fogg details how small changes to your daily routine can have massive effects on your life. The book contains tips to help you unleash the power of habits. You’ll find that it is a good read for those who like taking things step by step.

It teaches you to unlock the power of action by connecting your habits with already existing prompts in your daily routine.

12. Mini Habits by Stephen Guise

“Be the person with embarrassing goals and impressive results instead of one of the many people with impressive goals and embarrassing results.” 

Stephen Guise encourages you to set easy goals first and keep going from there. In his book Mini Habits, he focuses on the fact that 45% of our behavior happens on autopilot. You can achieve remarkable results by relying on willpower instead of motivation, setting ridiculously small goals, and tracking your progress while living a life filled with good mini habits.

13. The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth

“We don’t realize how many of our fixed views of the world are based on limited samples of reality.”

The author of The Achievement Habit is an Academic Director at Stanford D. School that believes that you can learn to become an achiever. Bernard Roth uses design thinking principles to guide you through exercises to take you from thought to action. The book offers many tips to get you out of any undesirable situation you’re in. 

14. The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

“I read for growth, firmly believing that what you are today and what you will be in five years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read.”

Twyla Tharp provides a dancer’s perspective on making creativity a habit in The Creative Habit. This book teaches you the same tips that have helped Twyla achieve great success for more than 50 years in the entertainment industry. You’ll learn how to excel and stay on top of your game with high-level strategies.

The Creative Habit is not like the regular practical kind of book out there – it guides you through the footsteps of one of the most creative persons and is a great read.

15. The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

“The choice is not working or not working, but which type of work; even feeling guilty because of procrastinating takes some effort.” 

Niel Fiore aims to help readers eliminate procrastination from their lives. His book The Now Habit is a must-read strategic program read for those looking to bring back fun and motivation to their work. You’ll enjoy your spare time better without feeling guilty.

16. The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey

“People simply feel better about themselves when they’re good at something.” 

In The 8th Habit Stephen Covey teaches you to find your voice and help others discover theirs too. This book is for those who want to excel at work by learning how to be interdependent rather than independent. You’ll learn to build trust by improving your interpersonal skills.

17. Switch  by Chip & Dan Heath

“Knowledge does not change behavior. We have all encountered crazy shrinks and obese doctors and divorced marriage counselors.”

Switch focuses on three forces (the rider, the elephant, and the path) that influence changes in human behavior. If you’re looking to lead changes in human behavior in yourself and your organization, this book is a must-read.

18. Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi

“It doesn’t matter where you come from. It only matters where you are and where you want to go.” 

Dean Graziosi explains the habits required to be financially successful in his book Millionaire Success Habits. He advises readers to focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses. This way, you will live a happier and more productive life. 

19. Rewire by Richard O’Connor

“You know very well what the right choice is, yet you keep making the wrong one.”

Rewire is a book that can help you become more mindful and disciplined. The author, Richard O’Connor, explains how the human brain justifies our bad habits. He advises against repressing your emotions as it can cause you to become self-destructive.

If you want to break any addictive and self-destructive behavior, Richard teaches that you should fake it and train in mindfulness.

20. You Are Not Your Brain by Jeffrey M. Schwartz

“Your mind is your biggest ally.”

Jeffery M. Schwartz breaks down the science behind bad habits in this book. He explains an actionable 4-step framework that will help you break bad habits by shutting out your brain’s deceptive messages. Negative thoughts can easily find their way into your head.

But you can overcome them. While your brain tries to push you into thinking specific thoughts, your mind can work as an ally against destructive thoughts.

21. The Joy Of Movement by Kelly McGonigal

“The right playlist can transform your experience of exercise.”

Kelly McGonigal will increase your motivation to step out and work out more frequently. Her book The Joy Of Movement details many benefits of exercise and why you should enjoy it. 

22. Willpower by Roy Baumeister

“For most of us, the problem is not a lack of goals but rather too many of them.”

Roy Baumeister teaches self-control in Willpower with the latest scientific research and practical tips. This book details how willpower works and how to boost it. You’ll learn how to maximize willpower and what to do when it fails. 

If you’re looking to build a better life, a good starting point will be learning the tips and different techniques in this book. 

23. Drive by Daniel Pink

“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.” 

Explore the human journey throughout history and discover what has motivated our shift from mere survival to the approach we practice today. Drive offers many tips that will help you achieve your goals.

24. The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

“Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.” 

The author of The Willpower Instinct is a health psychologist who prioritizes long-term goals over instant gratification. This book provides deep insights into willpower and provides science-backed systems to boost your self-control. Learn how to maximize self-control and improve your life.

The book draws insights from psychology and neuroscience to explain willpower and answer questions surrounding it. 

25. Habits Of A Happy Brain by Loretta Breuning

“You can increase your pleasure if you’re willing to do things that don’t feel good at first.” 

In Habits Of A Happy Brain, Loretta Breuning teaches how to take responsibility for your happiness. There are four neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for creating happiness. Loretta explains why you can’t be happy every time and how to control your own hormones and create happiness.

Conclusion

Books about changing habits can help you develop desirable habits that will help you succeed in life. Some of the best ones include Willpower, The 8th Habit, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, etc. These books will change your routine and set you up for success.

So there you have it, some of the top influencers and their books on habit. What about you? Have you read any of these? Is there another book you’ve read on habits that you found helpful? Let us know in the comments!