A year of thinking better, slowing down, and getting lost in stories
2025 was not a year where I chased reading targets or tried to finish a book every week. I picked books based on where I was mentally—confused at times, curious at others, and occasionally tired of noise. Some books helped me organise my work and thoughts, some challenged how I define success, and fiction gave me quiet moments where nothing needed fixing.
This blog is not a recommendation list driven by hype. It’s a reflection on what these books taught me and why they are worth carrying into 2026.
10 self-help books that changed how I think and work
1. Atomic Habits – James Clear
What I learned:
This book made me realise how much I overestimated motivation and underestimated systems. Progress doesn’t come from sudden discipline spikes; it comes from shaping your environment so good behaviour becomes the default. Small habits feel harmless in the moment, but over time they quietly decide outcomes. I also learned that identity matters more than goals—when you start acting like the person you want to become, habits follow naturally.
Why you should read it in 2026:
If you’ve tried and failed to stay consistent with goals, this book shows a calmer, more reliable path.
2. Measure What Matters – John Doerr
What I learned:
Hard work without direction creates exhaustion, not results. This book taught me the value of defining what truly matters before chasing action. Clear objectives bring alignment, accountability, and better conversations—both in teams and personal work. I also learned that progress tracking isn’t about control; it’s about learning faster and adjusting early.
Why you should read it in 2026:
Ideal for founders, managers, and self-driven professionals who want clarity instead of constant firefighting.
3. The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel
What I learned:
Financial decisions are shaped by personal history, not intelligence. This book helped me see how fear, ego, patience, and timing affect money choices more than logic ever does. Wealth is not just about earning more, but about avoiding mistakes that wipe you out. Long-term thinking beats clever strategies almost every time.
Why you should read it in 2026:
It builds emotional maturity around money, something most finance books ignore.
4. Deep Work – Cal Newport
What I learned:
Busyness has become an easy escape from meaningful work. This book showed me how shallow tasks slowly erode creativity and satisfaction. Real value is created in uninterrupted stretches of focus, yet we design our days to avoid them. I also learned that focus is a skill that can be trained, not a personality trait.
Why you should read it in 2026:
If your days feel full but unfulfilling, this book helps you reclaim attention.
5. Buy Back Your Time – Dan Martell
What I learned:
Time scarcity is often self-created. I learned how control issues, fear of delegation, and false efficiency keep people trapped in overwork. The book reframes growth as removing yourself from tasks that drain energy and handing them to systems or people who can do them better.
Why you should read it in 2026:
Especially useful if you’re building something and feel stuck doing everything yourself.
6. Ikigai – Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
What I learned:
A meaningful life isn’t built through dramatic changes but through consistency, community, and purpose-driven routines. This book reminded me that joy often hides in repetition and simple daily practices. Longevity, both mental and physical, comes from staying engaged with life, not chasing constant excitement.
Why you should read it in 2026:
A grounding read if life feels rushed or disconnected.
7. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – Eric Jorgenson
What I learned:
Long-term success comes from calm thinking, leverage, and self-awareness. I learned that chasing status is a losing game, while building specific skills compounds quietly. The book also reinforced how peace of mind is a real form of wealth.
Why you should read it in 2026:
Great for slow reading and reflection. Each page offers something worth sitting with.
8. Feel-Good Productivity – Ali Abdaal
What I learned:
Productivity improves when work feels aligned with energy, curiosity, and enjoyment. I learned that guilt-driven systems rarely last, while curiosity-driven ones do. Sustainable output comes from designing work that feels rewarding, not punishing.
Why you should read it in 2026:
A helpful reset if productivity advice has started feeling heavy.
9. Build the Life You Want – Arthur C. Brooks
What I learned:
Happiness is built intentionally through values, relationships, and habits. This book helped me see emotions as signals, not problems to suppress. Fulfilment grows when work, friendships, and inner life are nurtured together.
Why you should read it in 2026:
It offers thoughtful guidance without preaching or shortcuts.
10. The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferriss
What I learned:
Many limits we accept are socially inherited, not real. This book pushed me to question default career paths, work hours, and success definitions. Even if every idea doesn’t apply today, the mindset shift is valuable.
Why you should read it in 2026:
It challenges assumptions and opens space for alternative thinking.
5 fiction books that made reading feel effortless
1. The City and Its Uncertain Walls – Haruki Murakami
This novel feels like a return to Murakami’s quieter, more introspective storytelling. It moves between memory, imagination, and isolation, following a narrator who enters a strange walled city that exists somewhere between reality and the mind. The story unfolds slowly, focusing more on atmosphere and inner experience than traditional plot, which is typical of Murakami’s reflective style.
Why I enjoyed reading it:
The quiet, surreal tone pulls you inward. The story feels less like a plot and more like walking through a dream that mirrors loneliness, memory, and identity. It stays with you without demanding answers.
2. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
This novel traces the long, complicated friendship between two creative partners who build video games together over decades. Set against the backdrop of art, success, failure, and personal loss, the story explores how ambition and love often collide. It’s a deeply human look at creativity and connection.
Why I enjoyed reading it:
The emotional depth of friendship, ambition, and creative partnership felt deeply real. It captures how relationships evolve over time—sometimes beautifully, sometimes painfully.
3. Fourth Wing – Rebecca Yarros
Set in a brutal military academy where survival is never guaranteed, this book follows a reluctant heroine navigating power, loyalty, and fear. With dragons, rivalry, and constant danger, the story moves at a fast pace while still building strong character arcs.
Why I enjoyed reading it:
Fast pacing, strong characters, and constant tension made it hard to put down. It’s the kind of book that reminds you how fun reading can be.
4. Iron Flame – Rebecca Yarros
The sequel deepens the world introduced in Fourth Wing, expanding both the political conflicts and emotional complexity. Characters are pushed harder, trust is tested, and the cost of power becomes more visible. The story balances action with emotional growth.
Why I enjoyed reading it:
The stakes feel higher, emotions run deeper, and character conflicts grow more complex. It maintains momentum while adding depth.
5. The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
This novel centres around a library that exists between life and death, where each book represents a different version of the protagonist’s life. Through these parallel lives, the story reflects on regret, choice, and the weight of “what ifs.”
Why I enjoyed reading it:
The concept is simple but emotionally rich. It gently explores regret, choice, and self-worth without becoming heavy or depressing.
Closing note
Looking back, these books didn’t just fill time—they shaped decisions, softened thinking, and offered clarity when I needed it. If you’re building your 2026 reading list, choose fewer books, read them slowly, and let them do their work. That’s where the real value lies.