100 Books Like The 4-Hour Workweek

I think about this book every day, even though it was written almost 25 years ago, and the edition I read explained how to manage your paper file folders! (One of my most-used apps, the to-do manager Things, is built on this system.)

I love how much time this book has saved me as I juggle running several businesses, staying active in my hobbies, and running a household. Allen’s approach to capturing your ideas and then deciding how to organize them so that you can keep track of what needs your attention is both simple and really profound.

For athletes who need to be as efficient as possible to reserve time and energy for training, this book is a lifesaver.

This book hit me as both tragic and strangely hopeful.

Chris McCandless walked into the Alaskan wilderness with little more than a backpack and a stubborn streak, and people have argued ever since: was he brave, reckless, or just plain stupid? But his compulsion isn’t as rare as we might think. In my book, Cole feels the same tug—escape the sterile shoebox apartment and the $8 lattes. This can’t be all there is.

What drew me in wasn’t the verdict but his hunger for something real—stripping away every layer of artifice most of us cling to. Krakauer tells it with empathy and curiosity, letting you wrestle with the questions instead of handing you neatly typed answers. I recommend it because it forces you to stare down your own compromises: freedom versus responsibility, idealism versus pragmatism.

Admire Chris or dismiss him, you won’t forget him. And the story lingers like a… show more.

I’ve read this book more times than I can count.

Hell, I think I actually wore the pages out, if that’s even possible. When I was younger, I went back to it like a lab rat hitting the lever for a pellet—each parable connecting another dot. To me, the mystery was life, the teacher the universe, and I was the student—albeit a lousy one. 

The Alchemist is one of those rare novels that feels both timeless and uncomfortably personal. At its foundation, it’s about following your own path—trusting the itch of intuition and chasing something bigger than yourself, even when it feels a little foolhardy in the moment.

What I love is how Coelho cuts through with fable-like simplicity: those who love walking go farther than those who love the destination—and they usually learn a hell of a lot more if they’re paying attention. 

I recommend it because it doesn’t… show more.

Ryan Holiday, like Steven Pressfield, is a no-nonsense writer whose words inspire you to start that project you’ve been putting off.

Already started it but running into some, well, obstacles? Holiday describes in his book how obstacles are a good thing and inspires us to look for creative solutions. This book made me reframe how I look at challenges, both personally and professionally.

What I love most about Bird by Bird is the way that Anne Lamott characterises writing as a gift, a giving over to someone else in a manner akin only to being a parent.

While I am not a parent, I am inspired by this idea that the written word can make a person braver and better by virtue of opening them up to the world and people in new ways. Despite the hurdles and difficulties of the practice, which Lamott deftly outlines, she ultimately decides that a writer is pursuing an act of generosity and openness. I really love this idea.

There is a real lack of pretentiousness to Lamott’s writing, which allows you to take these nuggets and accept what otherwise might be sentimental claims that “writing is life” as simple truths. 

As the mom of an extreme introvert, I listened to this book to better understand my child. It taught me so much about how introverts think, process information, but most importantly, what they need around communication. As a leader, understanding the differences in the way people think, work, and engage will enable you to get the most out of them.

I retrained myself to approach my daughter differently as a result of this book. It helped me explain myself to her and made her feel understood by me. Grateful for this book. Imagine if we did that in the workplace!

This book is one of the most effective guides to meaningful, lasting change.

James Clear explains how transformation happens through small adjustments practiced consistently over time. His philosophy aligns with a core belief in my own life and work: growth is created by what you do daily, not occasionally.

Clear breaks down the power of systems, discipline, and identity-based habit building. The book proves that success is rarely about dramatic breakthroughs. It is the result of steady, intentional actions that accumulate into extraordinary impact.

Mastering the next right step is the foundation of personal and professional excellence.

To succeed in selling your product, service, or even yourself into the job of your dreams, Tyler Watson asserts that you shouldn’t be selling at all! Instead, your focus needs to be on enrolling your customers or your new employer into what you are bringing to the table that will transform their lives. The Enrollment Effect gives you the information you need to master the tools of enrollment at all levels including relationships and your own personal success psychology. So, whether you are working on starting a new business or looking for your dream job, you must study and master enrollment to fulfill your objectives and elevate your income!

If you are an expert at something and you want to build a business around your expertise, then Expert Secrets is your guide. Russell Brunson has several other very successful books, but for me, this is the starting point on your expert journey. Once you have mastered how to package and talk about your expertise in a way that enrolls others, then you are well on your way to the success you are seeking. Russell shows you how to simplify your message, address resistance, and develop what he calls “unlimited free customers”. He shows you exactly how to bridge your customers from their current situation to where they want to be using your expertise. If done correctly, your target customers will be banging your door down to hire you for your expertise to accelerate their own personal goals and elevate your income!

If you like investing and making money in real estate, then you will love learning how to make money being a “lienlord” instead of a landlord. Paper Profits gives you everything you need to know to purchases performing and non-performing mortgage back notes and profiting from them. Most people I talk to don’t understand that most banks don’t want to deal with defaulted mortgage notes. They would rather sell them at a discount, take the tax write-off, and move on. This is an awesome opportunity for the small investor. Josh Andrews shows you how you can get started in this unique investment class with a small amount of money. In my opinion, discounted mortgage notes are the best way to elevate your income outside of your job or business. At the same time, if you really love this investment/income niche, you can make it your full-time income endeavor as the… show more.