Books for Growth

Books on Happiness

• The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
  by the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams
• Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life
  by Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D.
• Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
  by Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D.
• The Gifts of Imperfection
  by Brene Brown

Purpose

• Man’s Search for Meaning
  by Viktor E. Frankl
• Principles: Life and Work
  by Ray Dalio

Habits and Habit Formation

• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
  by James Clear
• The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
  by Charles Duhigg

I have an awesome life – I have a great family, an amazing wife, two adorable kids and I’ve had some success. I’m not a barnstormer – I’m just a guy looking to lead a great, fulfilling life. I’ve struggled with my own happiness and satisfaction with myself. Like anyone reading this, I’m flawed. Despite living in the most prosperous time in the history of human beings, and despite being, well, a white male (among the least disadvantaged/ most privileged), I can be unproductive, stubborn, frustrated, frustrating, unhappy and sullen.

Which is why I’ve read many, many books and listened to a lot of podcasts, talks, etc. on the best life, and I’ve chosen to start this site. I’ve been on the lookout for the best books for growth and personal improvement that I can find, and I’ve read a lot of them. Everything from Zig Ziglar (look him up – the backup band is, well it’s something) to Ryan Holiday has made it into my hands. I will detail what impact the work has had on my life, how I’ve used the information, and how these books overlap.

I’ll go over my favorite concepts – we’ll look at whether a lottery winner or a paralyzed victim of a car crash is happier (you might be surprised), whether the creation of goals or the setting of habitual/ repeated actions is more beneficial, and if you’re destined to be stuck where you are.

My guess is that there are a lot of folks out there who are interested in these concepts. I don’t claim to have any special knowledge. I’m not a clinical researcher or a therapist. I don’t have any formal education in this work. But I do think that there are some tricks in here that can help everyone.

So I hope that this is helpful to you and that you enjoy it.

Best,
Sam Siegel, MBA, PMP