Here are 100 books that Who Not How fans have personally recommended if you like Who Not How. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Martin Sternstein Author Of Barron's AP Statistics

From my list on statistical insights into social issues.

Why am I passionate about this?

IĀ taught for 45 years at Ithaca College broken by two years as Fulbright Professor in West Africa at the University of Liberia. During my years in academia, I developed several new courses including a popular ā€œMath in Africaā€ class and the first U.S. course for college credit in chess theory. I’ve always had a passion for and continue to have strong interests in (1) national educational and social issues concerning equal access to math education for all and (2) teaching others about the power of mathematics and statistics to help one more deeply understand social issues.

Martin's book list on statistical insights into social issues

Martin Sternstein Why Martin loves this book

Steven Levitt, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, has written a thoughtful book at the layperson level to help one understand how mathematical and economic tools provide insights into sensitive social issues from racism to abortion.

He delves into predicting the long-term consequences of short-term decisions. This book is not intended for the college classroom, and it is controversial, but I found it to be a fascinating read.

By Steven D. Levitt , Stephen J. Dubner ,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Freakonomics as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The legendary bestseller that made millions look at the world in a radically different way returns in a new edition, now including an exclusive discussion between the authors and bestselling professor of psychology Angela Duckworth.

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? Which should be feared more: snakes or french fries? Why do sumo wrestlers cheat? In this groundbreaking book, leading economist Steven Levitt—Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and winner of the American Economic Association’s John Bates Clark medal for the economist under 40 who has made the greatest contribution to the discipline—reveals that…


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Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of Outliers: The Story of Success

David Amerland Author Of Intentional: How To Live, Love, Work And Play Meaningfully

From my list on help you take control of your life.

Why am I passionate about this?

In 2016, I finished a book that had been three years in the making. I interviewed hundreds of snipers and spent some 9,000 hours wading through neuroscientific research papers. While my own background as a Chemical Engineer helped, it also became a deep dive into a world that opened my eyes. We are on the cusp of understanding what makes us tick as humans, and if we succeed in cracking that, we will become truly unstoppable. Simply put, we are all born, and we will all die, but we now have the power to comprehend the real reason the first event happened before the second one did. 

David's book list on help you take control of your life

David Amerland Why David loves this book

We all want to know why success happens in the hope that we will be able to avoid the pitfalls that make it fail to materialize. This book suggests that those who succeed have an advantage that is circumstantial. This seems discouraging, but it is also empowering.

When circumstances and the environment create such a compelling case for success, we can better understand what to do to succeed in life. This book has popularized the 10,000-hours ā€˜rule’ where expertise in anything can be achieved by that number of hours of practice. Ignore that advice.

There are real caveats behind it that Gladwell fails to mention. Focus, instead, on what you need to have, who you must surround yourself with, and what actions you have to undertake to make success happen for you.Ā Ā 

By Malcolm Gladwell ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Outliers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the past decade, Malcolm Gladwell has written three books that have radically changed how we understand our world and ourselves: The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Regarded by many as the most gifted and influential author and journalist in America today, Gladwell has the rare ability to connect with audiences of tremendously varied interests. There are over 10 million copies of his books in print. Now, Gladwell's landmark investigations into the world around us are collected together for the first time. Beautifully repackaged and redesigned, with newly added illustrations throughout each book, COLLECTED is a perfect treasury of prose…


Book cover of Rich Dad Poor Dad

David Pere Author Of The No B.S. Guide to Military Life: How to build wealth, get promoted, and achieve greatness

From my list on service members who want to achieve financial freedom.

Why am I passionate about this?

I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008 and by 2015 I was a Sergeant who had made all the same financial decisions most service members make…tattoos, alcohol, cars, chasing tail, etc., and had a negative net worth to show for it. Then I read Rich Dad Poor Dad and the light came on. I started buying houses, and by 2021 I exited the military as a financially free millionaire and spend my time helping service members and veterans learn how to build wealth. The military is one of the best places to set yourself up for success, and these books will help you get started on that journey!

David's book list on service members who want to achieve financial freedom

David Pere Why David loves this book

Rich Dad Poor Dad is the book that changed the trajectory of my life forever.

It is a parable that explains the difference between the traditional way of thinking ā€œGo to school, get a good job, work hard, retireā€ with the entrepreneur mentality, and the concepts of utilizing passive income to replace your job at an earlier age.

I love this book because it takes the normally boring subject of finance and investing and breaks it down in a fun and easy way to learn so that you will actually finish the book and have the ability to experience that light-switch moment!Ā 

Without a doubt this is the most commonly mentioned book that I hear referenced on podcasts as ā€œthe book that started it allā€.

By Robert T. Kiyosaki ,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked Rich Dad Poor Dad as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It's been nearly 25 years since Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad first made waves in the Personal Finance arena.
It has since become the #1 Personal Finance book of all time... translated into dozens of languages and sold around the world.

Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert's story of growing up with two dads his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains…


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Book cover of Trusting Her Duke

Trusting Her Duke by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke with rigid opinions, a Lady whose beliefs conflict with his, a long disputed parcel of land, a conniving neighbour, a desperate collaboration, a failure of trust, a love found despite it all.

Alexander Cavendish, Duke of Ravensworth, returned from war to find that his father and brother had…

Book cover of The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding: How to Build a Product or Service into a World-Class Brand

Peter Leeds Author Of Penny Stocks for Dummies

From my list on to get more from capitalism.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am always trying to get a leg up in life, and I figured one of the best ways to do that is through investments. I have learned that by understanding how capitalism and business works, I was able to spot plenty of major opportunities in the economy all around us.

Peter's book list on to get more from capitalism

Peter Leeds Why Peter loves this book

With The 22 Immutable Laws, you will get an enhanced understanding of how business works, and what kinds of approaches are most likely to be highly successful.Ā Just about every product or service is about branding, first and foremost, and in The 22 Immutable Laws, you will clearly see how.

By Al Ries , Laura Ries ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This marketing classic has been expanded to include new commentary, new illustrations, and a bonus book: The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding Smart and accessible, The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding is the definitive text on branding, pairing anecdotes about some of the best brands in the world, like Rolex, Volvo, and Heineken, with the signature savvy of marketing gurus Al and Laura Ries. Combining The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding and The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding, this book proclaims that the only way to stand out in today's marketplace is to build your product or service…


Book cover of Atlas Shrugged

Paul Vigna Author Of The Almightier

From my list on showing how greed became good.

Why am I passionate about this?

I used to be a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, where I covered markets and economics. I had a front-row seat for the dot-com boom, the financial crisis, the rise of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, and the 2020 crash. I was immersed in money and the culture of money, and how it drives and distorts society. I regularly talked to brokers, analysts, executives, investors, politicians, and entrepreneurs. I had billionaires’ phone numbers. And being around all that made me wonder, what is money, and why do we value it so? Why is the pursuit of wealth seen as a virtue? So I started studying our culture of money.

Paul's book list on showing how greed became good

Paul Vigna Why Paul loves this book

I’ll be honest: I don’t like Ayn Rand. I think she is a bad writer and a worse philosopher.

But I also can’t think of a book that better illustrates how, in the last century, we became a society that embraces greed and reveres the pursuit of wealth than Atlas Shrugged. Rand romanticizes a world where people are selfish, where empathy is weakness, where money is literally a religion, and the only thing worth pursuing.

It’s a maddening novel, but it lays the groundwork for the reality that would become Den of Thieves. I did not read every word; certainly not every word of John Galt’s nauseating 60-page (60 pages!) diatribe of a speech.

I wouldn’t recommend reading every word. But I do recommend reading (most of) it.

By Ayn Rand ,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked Atlas Shrugged as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged was Ayn Rand's greatest achievement and last work of fiction. In this novel she dramatizes her unique philosophy through an intellectual mystery story that integrates ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, politics, economics, and sex. Set in a near-future U.S.A. whose economy is collapsing as a result of the mysterious disappearance of leading innovators and industrialists, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life-from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy...to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction...to the philosopher who becomes a pirate...to the woman who…


Book cover of Unleashing the Ideavirus: Stop Marketing AT People! Turn Your Ideas into Epidemics by Helping Your Customers Do the Marketing thing for You

Jonah Berger Author Of Contagious: Why Things Catch On

From my list on make anything catch on.

Why am I passionate about this?

Jonah Berger is a Wharton School professor and internationally bestselling author of Magic Words, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. Dr. Berger is a world-renowned expert on natural language processing, change, word of mouth, influence, consumer behavior, and why things catch on. He has published over 80 articles in top‐tier academic journals, teaches one of the world’s most popular online courses, and popular outlets like The New York Times and Harvard Business Review often cover his work. Berger has keynoted hundreds of major conferences and events like SXSW and Cannes Lions, advises various early-stage companies, and consults for organizations like Apple, Google, Nike, Amazon, GE, Moderna, and The Gates Foundation.

Jonah's book list on make anything catch on

Jonah Berger Why Jonah loves this book

Many of the books by Seth Godin are amazing, but this is a personal favorite.

Great ideas aren't just ideas; they're like viruses. They spread from person to person in powerful, unexpected ways. The book explores this idea and talks about some of the factors that lead ideas to spread and some of the consequences of their diffusion.

By Seth Godin ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Unleashing the Ideavirus as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Seth Godin examines how companies like Napster and Hotmail have successfully launched idea viruses - a customer-to-customer dialogue. He offers a recipe to creating your own idea virus and shows how businesses can use idea virus marketing to succeed in a world that doesn't want to hear from traditional marketeers anymore.


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Book cover of The Duke's Christmas Redemption

The Duke's Christmas Redemption by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke who has rejected love, a Lady who dreams of a love match, an arranged marriage, a house full of secrets, a most unneighborly neighbor, a plot to destroy reputations, an unexpected love that redeems it all.

Lady Charlotte Wyndham, given in an arranged marriage to a man she…

Book cover of Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

Scott Greenberg Author Of Stop the Shift Show: How to Turn Your Struggling Hourly Workers Into a Top-Performing Team

From my list on managing employees and building teams.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m fascinated with the relationship between personal growth and professional performance. Why is it in the same environment, doing the same work, some people can excel while others struggle? Most chalk it up to external circumstances that can’t be controlled. Others focus on tactics. But I’ve learned top-performers are masters at the human side of their work–the way they think, lead and serve–and that’s what gives them their edge. All of my work centers around infusing hard skills with improved soft skills, and getting better results in the process. That’s the stuff I find delicious, and it’s what I speak and write about.

Scott's book list on managing employees and building teams

Scott Greenberg Why Scott loves this book

What I loved about this book was its very systemized approach to evaluating and improving an organization.

I’m interested in the human elements of business, and this book places great emphasis on aligning the right people with the right roles, totally gelling with my philosophy. It simplifies the process of strategic planning. EOS has become quite common in the business world, and this book spells out exactly how to move through it.

Really good stuff here.Ā 

By Gino Wickman ,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Traction as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Do you have a grip on your business, or does your business have a grip on you? All entrepreneurs and business leaders face similar frustrations--personnel conflict, profit woes, and inadequate growth. Decisions never seem to get made, or, once made, fail to be properly implemented. But there is a solution. It's not complicated or theoretical.The Entrepreneurial Operating System(R) is a practical method for achieving the business success you have always envisioned. More than 2,000 companies have discovered what EOS can do. In Traction, you'll learn the secrets of strengthening the six key components of your business. You'll discover simple yet…


Book cover of The Fortune Recipe: Essential Ingredients for Creating Your Best Life

Mark B. Murphy Author Of The Ultimate Investment: A Roadmap to Grow Your Business and Build Multigenerational Wealth

From my list on investing in yourself.

Why am I passionate about this?

As the Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Private Client Group, a national financial planning and wealth management firm, Mark B. Murphy is a highly sought-after key business strategist and critical thinker. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to achieve multigenerational wealth by providing personalized strategies that focus on emotional fitness, wealth accumulation, and a plan that can work under all circumstances. Mark's expertise in strategic planning and financial engineering has benefited a diverse range of clients, including closely held businesses, mid-size companies, celebrities, athletes, hedge fund managers, doctors, dentists, and other high-net-worth individuals. His unwavering commitment to delivering a "wow" experience has earned him a reputation as a trusted expert in the industry.

Mark's book list on investing in yourself

Mark B. Murphy Why Mark loves this book

This book is a powerful guide to creating a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Stoltz draws on his years of experience as a coach and mentor to provide readers with practical tools and strategies for achieving their goals and realizing their full potential. His insights into the power of positive thinking, the importance of setting goals, and the value of taking risks have inspired me to pursue my dreams with greater confidence and determination.

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to improve their outlook on life and create a better future for themselves.

By Bernie Stoltz ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Fortune Recipe as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Is there really a recipe for success and happiness?

Bernie Stoltz has been leading companies and advising top business executives for more than four decades. The Fortune Recipe draws on the full wealth of that experience, giving you all the tools you need to create a rich, fulfilling life.

No matter what goals you're pursuing, both personally and professionally, there is a proven formula to get there. The Fortune Recipe will help you make your own unique life the best it can be, laying out the essential life lessons, strategies, and effective behaviors that have proven effective in one life…


Book cover of The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer

Madhur-Nain Webster Author Of The Stressless Brain

From my list on creating inner and outer change in your life area.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been practicing psychotherapy since 1999. I started reading self-help books when I was 19 years old in college because I wanted to know more about myself, why I felt the way I did at times, why I felt stuck at times and how I could feel empowered to make changes. Sadly many books don’t tell you what you can do to change and that is why I wrote my book. The books I am sharing with you have had big effects on my thinking and therefore my behavior. For it is in how we think, we act in our lives and with others. These books help you look at you.

Madhur-Nain's book list on creating inner and outer change in your life area

Madhur-Nain Webster Why Madhur-Nain loves this book

I am recommending this book, The Art of Impossible, because it creates a deep thinking of ā€œwhat do I stand for? Where am I going? And How do I get there?ā€ It has science, spirituality, and self-awareness in one place.Ā 

I loved this book so much I went to the store and bought every copy and gave it out to friends and family. When I would read it I felt empowered to think deeply and look at my life with new insight. I was reading this book during the start of covid. It helped me stay focused. Stay engaged in my life path and learn tools on how to stay focused.

By Steven Kotler ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of Impossible as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times Bestseller

Bestselling author and peak performance expert Steven Kotler decodes the secrets of those elite performers-athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs and more-who have changed our definition of the possible, teaching us how we too can stretch far beyond our capabilities, making impossible dreams much more attainable for all of us.


What does it take to accomplish the impossible? What does it take to shatter our limitations, exceed our expectations, and turn our biggest dreams into our most recent achievements?

We are capable of so much more than we know-that's the message at the core of The Art of…


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Book cover of Old Man Country

Old Man Country by Thomas R. Cole,

This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.

In these and other intimate conversations, the book…

Book cover of Advances in Flow Research

Nils Salzgeber Author Of Mastering Flow

From my list on the flow state and how to achieve it.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about flow for two reasons. First, I find the concept utterly fascinating. Second, I’m convinced that flow is an absolute key to happiness, success, and well-being. If I can learn to experience more flow, that can make a big positive difference in my life. If I could learn to enter and exit flow at will, that would be powerful beyond belief. I need flow, and lots of it, for my growth and fulfillment (I think we all do).

Nils' book list on the flow state and how to achieve it

Nils Salzgeber Why Nils loves this book

I love reading scholarly articles and books. In my opinion, this book is the #1 academic book on the subject of flow. It’s absolutely packed with information on the subject.

Some of my favorite chapters were those on the autotelic personality (which character traits facilitate or hinder flow?), the psychophysiology of flow (what’s happening in the brain and body during flow?), and flow in the context of work (what are the benefits and what are the factors that make flow at work more or less likely?).

By Stefan Engeser (editor) , Corinna Peifer (editor) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Advances in Flow Research as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This second edition provides a review of the current flow research. The first, thoroughly revised and extended, part of the book, addresses basic concepts, correlates, conditions and consequences of flow experience. This includes the developments of the flow model, methods to measure flow, its physiological correlates, personality factors involved in the emergence of flow, social flow, the relationship of flow with performance and wellbeing, but also possible negative consequences of flow. The second, completely new, part of the book addresses flow in diverse contexts, in particular, work, development, sports, music and arts, and human computer interaction. As such, the book…


Book cover of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Book cover of Outliers: The Story of Success
Book cover of Rich Dad Poor Dad

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5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in cooperation, success in life, and capitalism?

Cooperation 19 books
Success In Life 279 books
Capitalism 231 books