9 books that make you smarter

By Alex Monaco July 24, 2022

Just look at this list of books that make you smarter and squeeze the maximum out of it!

Let’s begin!

1. The Art of Reading Minds: How to Understand and Influence Others Without Them Noticing, by Henrik Fexeus

As you know, smart people are smart because they make smart decisions. But smart decisions are possible only after you understand the people who surround you. Consequently, the ability to form and maintain positive connections, whether with business or private associates, is among the most valuable abilities one can possess. Learn how to do it if you don’t already know how. And you can learn it from this book.

In order to create a deeper connection with the person you are in a relationship with, whether it be your spouse or the lovely police officer who handed you a ticket for jaywalking, you need to discover what it’s like in their world. The closer relationships become, the more support you get on your way to success. And the more you achieve, the smarter others perceive you to be.

The book has a list of references in addition to several images (especially monochrome photographs and diagrams), which are included whenever they are required to effectively express instances. When it comes to nonverbal communication, it goes without saying that a picture is sometimes worth more than a thousand words.

2. Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell

This book is about fast, smart choices.

In “Blink,” we meet a psychologist who has developed a method for predicting whether a marriage will last by watching a couple for a short period of time; a tennis coach who can predict a double-fault even before the racket even makes contact with the ball; and antiquities experts who can spot a fake at a glance.

This book will help you answer some eternal questions:

– Why do people make excellent decisions while others continuously fail to do so?
– Why do some individuals act on instinct and succeed while others make mistakes by doing so?
– Is there a difference between how our brains function in a professional setting and how they function at home?

According to “Blink,” outstanding decision makers aren’t those who digest the most information or spend the most time discussing it, but those who have mastered the skill of “thin-slicing”—sifting out the very few aspects that matter from an overwhelming number of variables.

Malcolm Gladwell delves into the decisions we make without thinking, focusing on split-second decisions that may have long-term implications. Gladwell will make you rethink how you think with amazing examples such as specialists who can recognize a fake at a glance and why New Coke was such a disaster.

So read it and use it, but remember, when I speak about “using a book” I mean practice. Oh yes, it’s not enough to get a theory. You need to experiment with the information you receive.

3. The Art of War, by Sun Tzu

“The Art of War” has to be on any list of books that make you smarter. This ancient book by Sun Tzu about Chinese military strategy is still useful today, whether you are fighting your enemy in a boardroom or in the middle of a warzone.

Why do I offer this book about clever military strategy? Because our lives are like war. Some people fight in offices (with their co-workers). Some fight with neighbors. And you, dear reader, fight with your biggest enemy—your thoughts. So what if you use military strategy for fighting modern enemies?

Oh yes, you can use this book for smart decisions in everyday life. Because this book has been viewed as a valuable guide to competing successfully in any business.

4. A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking

Once, Mr. Hawking contacted a literary agent and said he hoped to write “the sort of book that would sell in airport bookstores.” The agent agreed to help, and the rest is history.

When “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking came out in 1988, it was an instant hit and sold more than 10 million copies.

But writing this book was difficult. Stephen W. Hawking turned his years of groundbreaking theoretical physics research into a book. His aim, he added, was to “show how far we have gone in our knowledge of the world” and how humanity could be on the verge of discovering a unified theory of the universe.

Reasons to read this masterpiece:

1. Begin discussing complex topics. For example, it will be easier for you to talk to other people about how the universe began and where it is going.
2. Master the art of speaking confidently about the theory that explains everything in the universe.
3. Read the thoughts of a genius to see where you should go next.

Anyone who is curious about his or her own existence. “A Brief History of Time” is a fantastic book to read. It’s not like other books that concentrate on technical words; instead, it’s a book that everybody can understand. The author has described everything so clearly that you will fall in love with it.

5. Atomic Habits, James Clear

As you know, clever people have clever habits. So it means that if you want to be so clever as Alex Monaco (:)), you should change your habits.

“But how?” you will ask.

“Atomic Habits” (2018) has an answer!!!

This is a guide to developing healthy habits and breaking negative ones.

“Atomic Habits” gives a realistic and tried-and-true framework for developing good habits. It demonstrates, through scientific research and real-life examples, how little adjustments in behavior may result in the establishment of new habits and help you achieve major goals.

This book’s author (James Clear) contends that minor modifications in your routines may have a significant effect. He is right. However, we must begin with small steps. For example, if you want to get into the habit of drinking water every day, start by drinking two cups of water every day. After a good week, you will be used to it and will be able to increase the amount of water. This is easier to get into the habit than to start drinking 2.5 liters straight away.

Same with sports!

To be more clear, I will say it in other words. When you first begin your self-improvement journey, it’s advisable to concentrate on your daily routines and processes rather than long-term objectives. Goals are useful for charting a course, but systems are how you get there.

And the main point is not to learn to drink more water (which is good). The point is to learn to change yourself and develop habits. Therefore, focus on learning to change yourself and not on the material goal. Oh yes, focus on being the person you want to be! Reading a book isn’t the aim; being a reader is. Having something isn’t the goal; the goal is to become someone. Every action you do counts as a vote for the person you want to be.

6. Quiet, Susan Cain

Quiet by Susan Cain has been on the best-seller list for more than 5 years now. The book explores what Cain calls “the extrovert ideal,” where our society values charisma and teamwork. If you prefer working in solitude or prefer listening over speaking, you may find your efforts underappreciated… especially at work. We’ve moved to what Cain calls a “culture of personality,” where being charismatic and magnetic can often be valued over intelligence and even character.

Susan Cain combines facts, figures, and her own case studies to illustrate that introverts are immensely successful and strong, not in spite of their introversion but because of it. She analyses different types of firms and teamwork to highlight how extroverts and introverts both succeed in different types of business situations. For example, extroverts frequently lead enterprises better when there is little input from other team members, but introverts thrive in situations that rely on the input of a team since they are more inclined to listen to the other members and incorporate their ideas.

This book is intriguing due to the fact that it examines all of the wonderful aspects of introverts as well as the ways in which our society is harmed as a result of undervaluing them.

7. The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg, an award-winning business reporter for the New York Times, takes us to the cutting edge of recent scientific discoveries that explain why some behaviors develop and how they might be changed. Not only does Duhigg have a profound comprehension of the human condition, but he is also an exceptional storyteller who is able to condense vast amounts of information into fascinating narratives.

Along the way, we discover why some people and businesses struggle to change despite years of effort, while others appear to reinvent themselves instantaneously. We go to laboratories where neuroscientists study how habits work and where they live in our brains. We learn how good habits aided the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civil-rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. We journey inside Procter & Gamble, Target superstores, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, NFL locker rooms, and the nation’s largest hospitals to learn how keystone habits can make billions of dollars and mean the difference between failure and success, life and death.

The Power of Habit contains a thrilling argument at its core: knowing how habits function is the key to exercising regularly, reducing weight, raising outstanding children, becoming more productive, developing revolutionary enterprises and social movements, and achieving success.

Habits are not fate. As Charles Duhigg demonstrates, we can alter our businesses, communities, and lives by leveraging this new science.

8. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie

This book is highly recommended; it has assisted me in improving some elements of my relationships and interactions with others. Here are some of the most important takeaways from the book. If you want to improve your relationships or be someone who everyone enjoys being around, I recommend you read this book.

4 ways to leave a long-lasting impression

1. Put a smile on your face 🙂

People who are happy attract other people who are happy.

2. Remember names.

A person holds their name in high regard. Remember people’s names and try to use them as much as you can.

3. Take an interest in the interests of others.

Talk about them instead of always talking about yourself. Ask them about their hobbies, jobs, or other things that interest them. They will feel like you care about them, have a lot of respect for you, and like talking to you.

4. Create a better place.

Surprise someone with an act of thoughtfulness. Do nice and make people happy, and they will never forget you.

The book is a major work on how to get along with others, how to develop yourself and your relationships with others, how important it is to see the other side of the story, and how to be happy in your job and personal life. Carnegie basically teaches us the golden rule: treat people as you would like to be treated. While How to Win Friends is on almost every list of “excellent books for managers,” it’s also perfect for you if you’re looking for books that make you smarter. I promise you. Want more books like this one? Read my article: “5 books like How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

9. Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell’s fascinating book takes us on an intellectual voyage through the world of “outliers”—the smartest and brightest, the most renowned and successful. He asks a question, “What distinguishes outstanding achievers?”

His response is that we focus too much on what successful individuals look like and too little on where they come from: their culture, family, generation, and the unique experiences of their childhood. He discusses the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are strong at math, and what made the Beatles the best rock band.

Outliers, a brilliant and amusing work, is a landmark work that will both delight and illuminate.