For as long as we can remember, books have been a window to the world and all it holds. From science to arts and everything in between, there’s no limit to the knowledge you can gain by reading books. And the best part is that you can get all this knowledge right from the comfort of your home.
The benefits of reading are endless. You can gain knowledge about anything by reading, and doing so can strengthen — and create — neural pathways in the brain. Furthermore, reading improves your vocabulary, grammar, and thinking process.
There are infinite books out there, so you need to figure out what you’re looking for in a book before you start searching for one. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of books from great authors that you can read to expand your knowledge and boost your intelligence.
12 Books to Expand Your Knowledge
Trying to pick just 12 books out of the countless options available is a tough task, but we’ve sorted through the masses and selected some favorites that are bound to please.
The Art of War – Sun Tzu
At first glance, and from the title, you might think that this book is solely for military strategy and should be read-only by those planning to engage in a battle. However, the process highlighted in The Art of War (on Amazon) transcends the battlefield into every area of our lives — business, career… the whole nine yards.
If you want to arm yourself with the necessary knowledge to succeed in your endeavors, you need to read this book.
Atomic Habits – James Clear
To become the best version of yourself, you need to build solid habits. That means breaking the bad ones and strengthening the good ones. In the book Atomic Habits (on Amazon), James Clear provides excellent tips and workable methods to improve your life by building good habits.
Quiet – Susan Cain
Over the years, extroverts have always enjoyed the spotlight, with introverts taking the backseat. However, Susan Cain changed that perspective in Quiet (on Amazon) when she brought forth thought-provoking reasons why introverts are also powerful.
She also describes several issues that this group of people faces and how they can overcome them. After reading this book, you’ll learn to appreciate both introverts and extroverts and get insight into an introvert’s mind.
Think Again – Adam Grant
As humans, it’s essential to be able to move with the trend so that we don’t get left behind with an archaic way of thinking. In Think Again (on Amazon), Adam explains the need for us to reexamine our mode of thinking as often as we can.
According to him, our beliefs often turn into habits, and unless we stop getting attached to these beliefs and identities, we might lose our creativity. With explicit explanations, the writer explains how you can spend time rethinking and changing your thought patterns.
The Courage to Write – Ralph Keyes
Writing has become one activity that we can’t do without. From casual writings to professional papers, there’s always the need to put your pen on paper or type something on your computer, as the case may be.
Still, as common as this activity is, not everyone is a good writer, and it’s been said that those who write well are more intelligent who can’t. To get the inspiration to write well, you need to pick up The Courage to Write (on Amazon).
Not only will you develop the courage to write, as the book’s name implies, but you’ll also learn everything you need to improve your grammar, style, and tone.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business – Charles Duhigg
Habit is powerful — it can make or mar us. And throughout our lifetime, we all develop both good and bad habits, and sometimes we don’t know how much impact these habits can have on our lives.
In this book, Charles Duhigg helps us understand how our habits determine our actions and how these actions affect us, our relationships, and our business or career. Reading The Power of Habit (on Amazon) will teach you to channel your habits into becoming more successful and influential.
Think Like a Freak – Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt
To be smarter, you need to change perspectives and upgrade how you think, talk, and make decisions. That means you need to understand different thought patterns and processes to know precisely how to adjust accordingly, as the situation requires it.
Think As a Freak (on Amazon) exposes you to various examples of thought processes used by different people. No doubt, this book will help you to start thinking differently.
Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
You can only be successful when you have the right mindset. In Thinking, Fast and Slow (on Amazon), Daniel Kahneman takes you on a journey of the pros and cons of thinking fast, with intuition and emotion, and thinking slow, with logic and deliberation.
Knowing when you should be quick on your feet without rushing to make a decision is a skill you need to succeed in life. Thankfully, a copy of this book will expose you to the fast and slow thinking systems and when and how you need either of them.
Tiny Habits – BJ Fogg
Considering the fact that many writers have dedicated their time to writing about habits, it’s safe to say that one way that you can be smarter is to focus on your habits. BJ Fogg brings a whole new dimension to this topic by explaining how tiny habits can go a long way in getting you a better life.
In Tiny Habits (on Amazon), you’ll learn to take things slowly and efficiently, ensuring that whatever you’re doing fits your lifestyle and is rewarding. Definitely a must-read!
This Will Make You Smarter – John Brockman
This Will Make You Smarter (on Amazon) will certainly do its job. Reading this book will not only refine your decision-making skills but also improve your cognitive toolkit.
What makes this book even better is that it brings together the knowledge and contributions of great thinkers and leaders, so leaders of tomorrow will definitely profit from reading this.
Brief Answers to the Big Questions – Stephen Hawking
Just before he died, Stephen Hawking left us a great gift in the form of a book, Brief Answers to the Big Questions (on Amazon). This book provides answers to some of the big questions in life.
Anyone who reads this piece will have a general understanding of some mind-boggling questions.
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
Just as the name implies, A Short History of Nearly Everything (on Amazon) shares information about almost everything relating to science and how human history has placed us where we are right now.
Bill Bryson reached out to some great minds to receive valuable information on several topics, from physics to chemistry, human civilization, the big bang theory, and more. If you want to hold meaningful conversations with people about our purpose here as humans, then this is a book you need in your library.