I read fiction as an escape, and I read non-fiction to become a better human. I’ve probably read hundreds of non-fiction books in my lifetime, but there are only a few that really stuck with me. These are books that I have copies of at home, so I can refer back to them again and again. Drumroll…here’s my list:

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson This is the perfect book for anyone looking to make big life changes, but just can’t gain traction. If you’ve failed yourself time and time again, this book will help you dissect your big goals into manageable daily tasks.

Essentialism by Greg McKeown Are you the type of person who has tons of ideas, but you just don’t know where to focus your energy? Do you do a lot of things pretty well, but nothing really well? This was me a few years ago, and this book changed my life. This is the perfect book anyone looking to simplify their life by prioritizing.

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks This book is for anyone who self-destructs. Most of us are standing the way of our own success. Maybe not in a big way, but in little ways that take a toll over the years. I know I’ve stood in my own way plenty of times. This book addresses our limiting beliefs, and why we default to thinking small.

The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch The main thing I learned from this book is that we could all be doing a lot less and getting the same results. In fact, by doing less, we could even get better results. Now that’s an ideology I can get behind. This book is perfect for anyone who is overwhelmed with tasks, but still not seeing the results they want.

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking This is more of a fun read, but it really did change my perspective on life. Reading this book is like getting a warm hug. It defines all the little pleasures in life, and how we can incorporate more of the things that bring us joy. It redefines what it means to be happy.