As my digital collection of books grows and grows, it’s becoming incredibly difficult to find something to read. Although I always lean towards productivity, I have books about every conceivable genre. As part of this article, I decided to make a list of the books I want to read the most in 2022. I tried to keep the list varied so as not to burn out on a particular genre. While most of the books here teach me something, I also added books whose main purpose is entertainment.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
There are several Tim Ferris books I want to read, but this one is at the top of my list. The author has been a productivity guru for quite some time now. He has written extensively about the topic, but also has a popular podcast called “The Tim Ferris Show”. The 4-Hour Workweek is one of those books that keeps coming up and one I feel I need to read. I guess I’ll change that sometime in 2022.
Becoming By Michelle Obama
Becoming is a memoir by former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. Published in 2018, this book has been at the top of the charts pretty much since it came out. This is one of those books I don’t know that much about, but one that I keep hearing about. Becoming won several awards and there’s even a Netflix documentary of the same name.
Can’t Hurt Me By David Goggins
Another book that people keep mentioning. Can’t Hurt Me tells the life story of David Goggins who suffered physical abuse growing up. Through hard work though, Goggins became an endurance athlete that made it to the U.S. Armed Forces. To this day, he’s the only man who has completed the training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller. Apart from focusing on his life, the book also describes the rules the author followed to transform his life for the better and become such an influential athlete.
Getting Things Done by David Allen
I’ve never read Getting Things Done, but that is going to change soon. GTD is a productivity bible that’s been around for years and years. In the book, David Allen teaches a system that enables readers to tackle all the activities they want to do. I read about GTD enough times that I feel like I have a good grasp of its principles, but I definitely want to dive into this book as soon as I can.
The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need by Jade Bowler
Written by Jade Bowler, who you might recognize from YouTube, this is a book that tries to teach you how to study. Although I read and write about productivity, I just discovered that some of the study techniques I use are quite ineffective and antiquated (those include highlighting, re-reading, and summarizing). I learned new techniques like active recall and spaced repetition. This made me interested in what others are using to study more effectively. The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need isn’t the most popular book about the topic it focuses on, but enough people raved about it that I’m willing to give it a try.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
I’ve read several books about habits, but the truth is that The Power of Habit has been around since 2012 and has been quite influential in its field. According to the book, the key to success in every field comes down to learning how habits work, why they exist, and how you can change them.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
This personal finance book came out over twenty-five years ago, but it’s still as influential as when it first came out. Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert Kiyosaki’s story about growing up with two fathers, his real, biological one and the father of his best friend (the “rich” dad). The book explores the teachings he received in both households.
The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
The subtitle of this book, “Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of Walt Disney Company”, details what this memoir is about. Robert Iger became CEO of Disney in 2005, a time when there was a lot of competition in the field of animation, and technology was advancing at such a rapid pace that most studios had trouble keeping up with the pace. Apparently, Iger had a clear vision of what he wanted the company to be. This vision turned Disney into the company that it is today.
Something by Stephen King
I included this entry to remind myself to read more fiction. Although I love reading memoirs, biographies, or books about productivity, there’s value to reading fiction. A couple of years ago, I read several Stephen King books, including On Writing. That became one of my favorite books of all time. There’s so much to choose from since King is one of the most prolific writers ever. I could read books such as The Shining, It, Carrie, The Stand, Misery, and The Dark Tower. When I read one of King’s books, I’ll have to do some research to know what the best place to start is.
Will by Will Smith
Like many reading this article, I’ve watched my fair share of Will Smith films. I don’t know much about the actor’s work philosophy, but I’ve heard some inspiring quotes from him, including the “running and reading” speech from the 2005 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. His memoir, simply called Will, has been on bestseller lists for months now and received glowing reviews.
Choosing ten books from a list of well over a thousand was excruciating. In other words, this list could have easily been significantly longer. Nevertheless, I’m more than happy with the books I included and I’m excited to start reading them this year. I’m more than open to suggestions, so feel free to include those in the comment section below.