The 5 books you must read to be successful

The 5 books you must read to be successful The 5 books you must read to be successful I post about a lot of books. Most people don’t have the time to read them all, so here are a few of my must-reads.1.  InfluenceWhat is it?Most consider it the single best book on the psychology of persuasion.What did I learn from it?There are universal principles that make something influential: scarcity, authority, social proof, liking, reciprocity, and consistency.  This video is a great introduction to Cialdini’s research:Check out the book here.2.  Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsWhat is it?The best, most accessible research-based book on what motivates us.What did I learn from it?For jobs that require creativity and problem solving, research shows we’re motivated by a desire for autonomy, mastery and purpose. Money is really only a motivator for work that does not inspire passion or deep thought. The single best motivator is progress, and the best predictor of success is “grit.”My notes from the book are  here. Watch Dan Pink’s TED talk  here.Check out the book  here.3.  The Power of HabitWhat is it?An engaging read that explains the science of how habits work - and how we can change them.What did I learn from it?About  40% of the actions we perform in a day  are habits - so we’re on autopilot almost half our life.  Identifying what triggers  your habits is key.Assigning new habits to established triggers  is how you change a bad habit into a good one.  Friends can be a major part of whether you’re able to change for the better.Here’s a great interview with author Charles Duhigg about the book.Check out the book  here.4.  The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade StudyWhat is it?They studied over 1000 people for the duration of their  lives â€"  from childhood until old age - giving them regular physical and psychological tests and tracking the results.What they discovered confirmed some things we all believe about what it takes to live a good, long life - and more interestingly  they found out where our common beliefs are wrong.What did I learn from it?There’s a lot of overlap between what makes us happy and what promotes a long life. Stress isn’t all bad. The good do not die young. Women don’t live longer than men because of biology. Relationships are more important than exercise if you want to live a long life.The authors discuss the study, the book and the counterintuitive things they  learned in this video:Check out the book  here.5.  The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at WorkWhat is it?A Harvard researcher’s very practical book on how to be happier and how happiness can improve your life.What did I learn from it?Happiness  increases productivity  and  makes you more successful. The  20 second rule  can make you a much better person. There are a lot of  simple little things  that can  make you much happier.Here’s author Shawn Achor’s TEDx talk:Check o ut the book here.Again, they are: Influence The Power of Habit The Happiness Advantage Drive The Longevity Project Join 25K+ readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.Related posts:What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?What do people regret the most before they die?What five things can make sure you never stop growing and learning?This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.