Whatever you feed your mind becomes your thoughts. Your thoughts become your actions. The quality of your inputs, therefore determines the quality of your outputs.
Here are some of the books that have shaped my mind, thoughts, career – and life – the most. I’ll keep updating this list as and when. Last updated June 2021.
If you’ve read any of these let me know, if you’ve got any other suggestions for me. Tweet me.
Happy Sexy Millionaire by Stephen Bartlett
Happiness
Stephen calls this book “his intervention”. And I’m fucking glad he’s written it. Make sure your kids read this one. Very, very important read.
Happy by Derren Brown
Happiness
There are few things better than a good Derren Brown. I picked up this book out purely of curiosity, and it turned out to be my introduction to Stoic Philosophy. The Stoics say that there are only two things in our control, our thoughts and our actions. You can forget about everything else. Life felt a little simpler after this one.
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Productivity
The book that spawned every other productivity book out there. Tame your inboxes and nail your weekly reviews. If you’ve ever heard David Allen speak, his serenity rivals Morgan Freeman’s. The guy is CALM.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Life
I’m a James Clear fanboy, and an atomic habits disciple. You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems. Learn how your habits shape your life, and why you should be much more concerned about your trajectory than your progress.
Working Hard, Hardly Working by Grace Beverley
Productivity
An interesting look at the world of productivity through the lens of self care. Sometimes you have to hardly work, to work hard.
The Choice Factory by Richard Shotton
Behavioural Science
A smogasboard of decision making quirks and biases that we are subject to as humans! Fun and important read for anyone working in sales or marketing. Apparently Richard is working on Choice Factory Two as I type this.
The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
Copywriting
One of the copywriters classics. These are letters that Gary wrote to his son while he was in prison. All kinds of good life lessons in here.
Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins
Copywriting
Probably the great, great (great?) grandfather of Digital Marketing, how we know it today. Must have on your bookshelf. It’s a quick read, you’ll get through it once or twice a year.
Thinking Fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Behavioural Science
An incredibly tough book to read. It’s like wading through treacle at times. But the idea in this book is a game changer. “We buy on emotion and justify with logic”.
The Way Of The Wolf by Jordan Belfort
Sales
Turns out the film isn’t all bravado, JB is actually a very competent sales guy! I’m a fan of the straight line selling system, takes some balls but it works! “Selling only starts after you’ve asked for the business once”. I’d also get shot if I didn’t include at least one sales book in here, so there you go.
7 KPIs for Ecommerce Growth by The Hammersley Bros
Ecommerce
There has been no book more instrumental for my own knowledge of Ecommerce than this book. Along with their podcasts, I blame the Hammersley Bros for making me an Ecommerce guy.
Influence by Robert Ciladini
Behavioural Science
Again, like marching through treacle, but understanding CLARCCS will help you no end.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Productivity
How often do you really, truly, deeply engage with a task that you’re working on? Not very much, I’ll bet. Output = Hours worked x intensity of work. An expansion on Parkinson’s Law.
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Minimalism
Do less, but better. I’m trying as hard as I can to live by this one.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
Life
A timeless classic. Massive book.
Have I missed any? I’m always looking for more suggestions.