9 Books That Will Make You a Smarter Person

I’ve read over 1,000 non-fiction books in my lifetime and today I’ve summarized 9 of the most impactful ones I’ve ever come across.

These books are guaranteed to make you smarter about a whole range of subjects, from climate change to the history of mankind. Enjoy.

I am Mark Manson, 3x #1 NY Times bestselling author of:

I share other types of content to make you a less awful human in these places:

#grammarly

[noctrl]

-"The mosquito", Timothy Winegard
-"Science Fictions" Struart Richie
-"Democracy for realists" Christopher Achen, Larry Bartels
-"The Denial of death" Ernest Becker
-"Understanding Media" Marshall McLuh
-"The Lessons of History" Will & Ariel Durant
-"The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" Thomas S.Kuhn
-"The WEIRDest People in the World" Joseph Henrich
-"Apocalypse Never" Michael Shellenberger

[joebradshaw]

"The User Illusion" by Tor Norretranders
"Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein
"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl
"Middle Age" by Joyce Oates
"The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin

[mik]

please continue to do videos on books you like. I always appreciate the suggestions

[JamieSaives]

Try "When Lovers Are Friends" by Merle Shain (1978). Won't make you smarter, but it will let you see the inner you and make choices that will improve the way you see and live your life. Here's an excerpt: "There is no perfect person who can make you whole. You have to do that yourself, and if you wait for someone to fill you up you always wait in vain, because no one is ever equal to the task. Waiting for another to give to you always makes you feel vulnerable and insecure. The only way you ever feel strong and sure is when you are giving to others instead of wishing that they would give to you."

[voswell]

I recently read 'Quit: The Power of knowing when to walk away' by Annie Duke.
It has become my top book that changed part of my world. It put a well needed crack in my tendency to stay with things for too long, with some great insights on why sticking with something is not always the best path.

Grit is not always the answer. Sometime quitting is.

[PaGeonDE]

The book that recently absolutely blew my mind was Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregmann. Why Humans are actually good, deep within. A really easy read, highly recommended.

[whatiswithsteph]

As a youth, three of the most impactful books I read were:
Jessica Mitford’s “The American Way of Birth” and “The American Way of Death”. Also “Crumbling Walls: why prisons fail” by Ruth Morris. I worked as a shelver in a public library from ages 13 to 19 and was constantly exposed to works I never would have thought to look for myself. 🤯

[ThomasWht]

I would just tell you to read The 21 former doctor secrets book, trust me struggled with same problems before

[Spitzmaus]

Factfulness by Hans Rosling changed my view on the world and gave me a slightly more positive perspective on humankind

[SteveChambers-brit]

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman
Cosmic Banditos, AC Weisbecker
Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein

[AnticitizenOneC]

"Punished by Rewards" by Alfie Kohn completely changed my approach to parenting, business, and almost every human interaction. Behaviorism--the psychological view that we are basically rats in cages that can be trained and controlled via conditioning, punishments, and rewards--was embraced and championed by society to such a degree that most people don't realized it is only ONE way (and far from the best way, given it was developed by research on rodents, not human beings) of treating other humans. Gold stars for toddlers, honor roll for school kids, bonus programs for workers: all based on an assumption that human beings are little different from lab rats, which is why these programs often feel so condescending, dehumanizing, and humiliating, and yet, they are everywhere!

[JazzyArtKL]

I would add A New Earth by Eckardt Tolle and The Why Are You Here Cafe by John Strelecky.

[j.f.almeida]

I love Discourses and selected writings by Epictetus. As I love history, I'll check the Lessons of history and The Mosquito. Thanks

[DKBarie]

One of my faves: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values" by William Pirsig. A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, it is a profound, personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions on how to live.

[QuynhToLien]

Hidden Time Wealth is so unique. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard about it sooner. It’s amazing how life-changing this can be for anyone battling procrastination.

[aliyamathiesen]

Just found your channel and so excited! I love reading non fiction and these sound so interesting!

[teblar]

please keep making more videos like these:)))) I began buying every single book you recommended were life-changing and they're sooo amazing

[TrịnhKiênThương]

There's a book called Hidden Time Wealth, and it talks about how using some secret techniques, you can overcome procrastination and accomplish anything in life. It's not just a bunch of empty promises; it's the real deal.

[matthewhermon]

One book I would recommend, especially in the morass of choice we find ourselves in, 'The Paradox of Choice' by Barry Schwartz.

[karenhikesalot]

Victor Frankle's A Man's Search for Meaning