2023 Best Non Fiction Books

James Clear is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Habits and a leading expert on habit formation, decision-making, and continuous improvement.

A writer and speaker with a biomechanics degree from Denison University, Clear blends scientific research with practical strategies to help individuals and organizations master small, sustainable behavior changes. His work is rooted in personal experience, having rebuilt his own habits after a severe baseball injury ended his athletic career.

Clear’s insights are featured in major publications like Time, The New York Times, and Forbes, and he regularly advises Fortune 500 companies. His widely acclaimed "3-2-1" newsletter reaches over 1 million subscribers weekly, cementing his status as a trusted voice in personal development. Atomic Habits, a cornerstone of modern self-help literature, has sold over 7 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages, establishing Clear as a transformative figure in the science of human behavior.

1. 1% daily improvements compound into transformative long-term results through consistent habit stacking.
2. Systems surpass goals: design processes that make success inevitable by focusing on daily routines.
3. Identity shapes habits: act as the person you aspire to become to drive lasting behavioral shifts.
4. Habit formation follows four laws: make cues obvious, cravings attractive, actions easy, and rewards satisfying.
5. Environment design outperforms willpower: optimize spaces to prompt desired behaviors automatically.
6. Two-minute rule: start small to overcome inertia and build momentum for complex habits.
7. Habit tracking reinforces consistency by transforming abstract goals into visible progress markers.
8. Identity over outcomes: every action is a vote for the person you wish to be.
9. Plateau of latent potential: breakthroughs follow persistent small gains, not single efforts.
10. Habit stacking builds routines by anchoring new behaviors to existing ones.
11. Satisfying habits repeat: immediate rewards solidify long-term behavior changes.
12. Atomic habits leverage tiny changes that create mismatched outcomes over time.

Yuval Noah Harari, the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, is an Israeli historian, philosopher, and public intellectual renowned for his ability to distill complex historical and scientific concepts into accessible narratives. A professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a PhD from the University of Oxford, Harari specializes in macro-historical questions spanning biology, technology, and societal evolution. His groundbreaking work in Sapiens explores humanity’s journey from early Homo sapiens to modern civilizations, blending anthropology, sociology, and futurism.

Harari’s authority extends to his other influential works, including Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, which examine existential risks and ethical dilemmas posed by artificial intelligence and global crises. A sought-after speaker, he has addressed global audiences at the World Economic Forum and collaborated with world leaders. Co-founder of Sapienship, a social-impact organization, Harari advocates for solutions to 21st-century challenges.

Sapiens has sold over 45 million copies worldwide, been translated into 65 languages, and inspired adaptations like the Unstoppable Us illustrated series for children. Its interdisciplinary approach has made it a staple in academic and public discourse, cementing Harari’s status as a leading voice in understanding humanity’s past and future.

1. Shared myths enabled sapiens to cooperate at scale beyond biological limits
2. Agriculture’s surplus trapped sapiens in longer work hours for diminishing returns
3. Money, empires, and religion became humanity’s unifying forces despite cultural differences
4. Scientific progress emerged from admitting ignorance rather than claiming divine knowledge
5. Happiness evolution contradicts sapiens’ assumption that technological advances improve wellbeing
6. Cognitive Revolution’s fictional storytelling outcompeted Neanderthal brute strength for species dominance
7. Homo deus future looms as sapiens design immortality through biotech and AI
8. Imagined hierarchies of race, class, and gender persist as cultural adhesives
9. Consumerism replaced communal bonds as capitalism’s ultimate imagined order
10. Why sapiens replaced Neanderthals: intolerance, not interbreeding, defined early human dominance
11. Luxuries become necessities through societal expectations in Harari’s progress paradox
12. Post-truth era echoes sapiens’ ancestral reliance on unifying collective fictions

David Elliot Grann, the bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and staff writer at The New Yorker renowned for his gripping narrative nonfiction. A Connecticut College and Tufts University graduate, Grann specializes in unearthing forgotten historical injustices, blending meticulous research with propulsive storytelling.

His work on Killers of the Flower Moon—a harrowing exploration of 1920s Osage Nation murders and FBI corruption—reflects his expertise in true crime and investigative journalism, earning it a National Book Award nomination and the Edgar Award.

Grann’s other acclaimed works include The Lost City of Z, which traces an Amazonian explorer’s doomed quest, and The Wager, a nautical tale of shipwreck and survival. A George Polk Award winner, his stories have influenced Supreme Court deliberations and inspired major film adaptations, including Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning Killers of the Flower Moon. Translated into over 30 languages, Grann’s books have collectively spent more than 200 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.

1. Osage Reign of Terror exposed systemic greed in 1920s oil murders
2. FBI's controversial origins tied to solving Osage murders for legitimacy
3. William Hale's conspiracy revealed racial exploitation in Oklahoma land grabs
4. Headrights system made Osage heirs targets of orchestrated lethal greed
5. David Grann uncovers hundreds of unrecorded Osage deaths post-FBI trials
6. Mollie Burkhart's family tragedy epitomized complicity in Native genocide
7. Legal guardianship policies enabled white exploitation of Osage wealth
8. J. Edgar Hoover weaponized Osage case to build FBI power
9. Killers of the Flower Moon redefines true crime through colonial injustice
10. Burkhart-Hale trials exposed judicial corruption in Native rights cases
11. Oil-rich Osage land triggered conspiracy of silence and mass death
12. Grann challenges historical amnesia about Native American genocide patterns

David Goggins, author of the bestselling memoir Can't Hurt Me, is a retired Navy SEAL and renowned endurance athlete celebrated as "the toughest man alive." The book combines memoir and self-help, detailing Goggins’ traumatic childhood marked by abuse and poverty, his transformation from obesity to elite military service, and his record-breaking feats in ultramarathons.

His narrative emphasizes mental resilience, confronting pain, and harnessing inner dialogue to exceed perceived limits—themes rooted in his experiences as a Navy SEAL and Air Force veteran. Goggins expands on these principles in his follow-up Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, offering further strategies for personal mastery.

A sought-after motivational speaker, Goggins shares his philosophy through podcasts, social media, and high-profile talks, including appearances on platforms like The Huberman Lab Podcast. His work is endorsed by military professionals and athletes, underscoring its practical impact. Can't Hurt Me has sold over three million copies worldwide and maintains a 4.36-star rating from nearly 180,000 readers, cementing its status as a modern classic in personal development.

1. David Goggins’ 40% Rule: When your mind quits, you’ve only used 40% of your potential
2. Build mental calluses through deliberate exposure to discomfort and suffering
3. Use the Cookie Jar method to fuel resilience with past victories
4. Confront weaknesses daily using Goggins’ Accountability Mirror reflection practice
5. Replace self-limiting stories with an “animalistic mindset” to break barriers
6. Train your inner voice to reject mediocrity and embrace suffering
7. Pursue “soul-taking” victories by converting others’ doubts into personal motivation
8. Fail forward by treating setbacks as necessary feedback for growth
9. Destroy complacency through relentless pursuit of tougher challenges
10. Your Governor lies – pain signals growth, not actual physical limits
11. Write and revisit your “List of Hardships” to fuel transformation
12. Never celebrate finish lines – immediately set harder next objectives

Jordan B. Peterson, clinical psychologist and international bestselling author of 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, merges academic rigor with practical wisdom in this self-help classic. A Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, Peterson draws on decades of research in psychology, mythology, and philosophy to address themes of personal responsibility, meaning, and balancing order with chaos.

His work as a Harvard lecturer, creator of the SelfAuthoring personality assessment platform, and host of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast (topping iTunes’ Education charts) reinforces his authority in behavioral psychology.

Peterson’s prior academic work Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief laid the groundwork for his exploration of belief systems, while his follow-up Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life expands on these principles. With over 400 sold-out global lectures and 55 million podcast downloads, his ideas reach audiences worldwide.

12 Rules for Life has sold more than 7 million copies and been translated into 45 languages, cementing its status as a modern guide to navigating life’s complexities.

1. Stand tall to boost confidence chemicals and command respect like dominant lobsters
2. Treat yourself with the same care you’d give someone you’re responsible for helping
3. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow rather than enabling stagnation
4. Measure progress against your past self instead of comparing to others’ highlight reels
5. Clean up your own life before trying to fix society’s problems
6. Pursue meaningful goals despite suffering rather than chasing fleeting happiness
7. Tell uncomfortable truths to avoid building destructive "life-lies" over time
8. Listen with the assumption every person knows something you don’t
9. Define problems precisely to transform overwhelming chaos into solvable challenges
10. Let children take calculated risks to build resilience through natural hierarchies
11. Balance life’s suffering by noticing small joys like petting curious street cats
12. Sacrifice immediate gratification for long-term meaning through disciplined daily choices

Morgan Housel, bestselling author of The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness, is a renowned expert in behavioral finance and investment strategy. A partner at The Collaborative Fund and former columnist for The Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool, Housel blends insights from economic history, psychology, and storytelling to decode how human behavior shapes financial decisions. His work has earned prestigious accolades, including the New York Times Sidney Award and multiple Society of American Business Editors and Writers honors.

Housel’s expertise extends beyond his writing—he hosts a widely followed podcast and frequently speaks at global conferences, distilling complex financial concepts into actionable wisdom. His follow-up book, Same As Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes, further explores enduring principles in an unpredictable world.

The Psychology of Money has achieved remarkable traction, selling over seven million copies worldwide and being translated into 60+ languages. MarketWatch recognizes Housel as one of the 50 most influential voices in finance, cementing his status as a leading thinker in modern economic discourse.

1. Money’s highest purpose is buying freedom to control your time
2. Wealth hides in unspent savings, not visible luxuries like cars
3. Compounding requires consistency more than extreme returns to succeed
4. Staying wealthy demands different skills than acquiring wealth initially
5. The "Man in the Car Paradox" proves possessions don’t earn respect
6. Risk what you don’t need, never what you can’t lose
7. Enough means stopping goalpost-moving before it destroys your satisfaction
8. Room for error matters more than optimism in financial plans
9. History shows money’s rules evolve faster than human psychology does
10. Long-term growth comes from surviving failures, not avoiding them
11. Humility beats financial IQ when managing luck and risk
12. Saving buys options regardless of income level or market conditions

David Goggins, author of Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within, is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, ultramarathon champion, and bestselling motivational speaker renowned for his uncompromising philosophy on mental resilience.

Born in 1975 to a poverty-stricken, abusive household in Buffalo, New York, Goggins transformed himself from an obese, struggling young adult into one of the world’s most enduring athletes, setting records in ultra-distance events like the 24-hour pull-up challenge (4,030 reps) and Badwater 135.

His work, including the New York Times bestseller Can’t Hurt Me, blends memoir and self-help to dissect themes of trauma, discipline, and exceeding perceived limitations. A sought-after speaker, Goggins reaches over 2.6 million followers across Instagram, Facebook, and X, where he shares raw insights on conquering fear and mediocrity.

Never Finished expands his blueprint for relentless self-improvement, drawing from his military service and extreme athletic feats. His books have collectively sold over 3 million copies worldwide, solidifying his status as a modern icon of extreme personal transformation.

1. Confront self-deception with the Accountability Mirror for radical personal growth.
2. Build mental resilience through intentional suffering and “callousing” your mind daily.
3. Turn childhood trauma and abuse into unrelenting motivation for self-mastery.
4. Embrace soul-wringing challenges to unlock untapped physical and mental potential.
5. Replace self-doubt with relentless action and obsessive discipline as non-negotiables.
6. Leverage journaling to weaponize inner turmoil and rewrite self-limiting narratives.
7. Adopt the “Never Finished” mindset: growth has no endpoint or comfort zone.
8. David Goggins’ 40% Rule: When exhausted, recognize you’ve only tapped 40% capacity.
9. Suffering is a gateway to self-discovery, not an obstacle to avoid.
10. Lead with savage ownership: Blame nothing, demand everything from yourself.
11. Transform external hate and internal criticism into fuel for relentless progress.
12. Win the war within by rejecting false summits and manufactured limitations.

Robert Greene is the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and a renowned expert on strategy, power dynamics, and human behavior. Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Greene studied classical studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a foundation that informed his analytical approach to dissecting historical figures and timeless social tactics.

His works, including The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, and Mastery, blend historical analysis with practical insights, establishing him as a leading voice in self-help and strategic thinking. Co-authored with rapper 50 Cent, The 50th Law further cemented his influence across diverse audiences, from entrepreneurs to cultural icons.

Greene’s books, translated into over 30 languages, distill lessons from military leaders, philosophers, and influential figures, offering readers tools for personal and professional dominance. The 48 Laws of Power alone has sold millions of copies worldwide and remains a staple in business and political circles, praised for its unflinching examination of manipulation and control. His work is frequently cited by celebrities, CEOs, and thought leaders, underscoring its enduring relevance in understanding ambition and human nature.

1. Never outshine superiors to secure favor and avoid insecurity triggers.
2. Cultivate loyal allies from former enemies rather than trusting friends.
3. Mask true goals with decoy objectives to control negotiations.
4. Protect reputation fiercely—perception shapes power more than reality.
5. Master scarcity tactics to become indispensable in professional ecosystems.
6. Deploy selective honesty as a Trojan horse for long-term manipulation.
7. Let rivals exhaust resources while you conserve strategic energy.
8. Mirror opponents' tactics to destabilize their psychological advantage.
9. Frame brutal power grabs as necessary societal improvements.
10. Engineer controlled crises to justify sweeping authority expansion.
11. Alternate unpredictability patterns to keep adversaries perpetually off-balance.
12. Neutralize enemies completely—half-measures breed vengeful comebacks.

Napoleon Hill (1883–1970), the pioneering self-help author of Think and Grow Rich, dedicated over two decades to studying the habits of successful individuals like Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison.

Born into poverty in Virginia, Hill’s work bridges practical success strategies and mindset development, crystallizing his research into 13 principles that include desire, faith, and organized planning.

A cornerstone of the personal development genre, Think and Grow Rich builds upon his earlier 1928 work The Law of Success, which outlined 16 foundational laws of achievement. Hill’s philosophy emphasizes the subconscious mind’s power and collaborative mastermind groups as keys to unlocking prosperity.

With over 20 million copies sold worldwide, this enduring classic continues to influence entrepreneurs and motivators, cementing Hill’s legacy as a foundational voice in success literature.

1. Definite purpose precedes riches—vague goals breed financial stagnation.
2. Auto-suggestion shapes reality: visualize wealth daily to reprogram subconscious drives.
3. Persistence outweighs talent—consistent action breaks resistance’s grip.
4. Mastermind alliances amplify success: surrounding yourself with experts accelerates goal attainment.
5. Specialized knowledge + organized planning > general intelligence in wealth creation.
6. Burning desire transcends fear: obsession with your “why” overcomes obstacles.
7. Indecision attracts failure—Napoleon Hill’s 500 interviewees shared decisive urgency.
8. Faith in unseen outcomes activates subconscious problem-solving for financial breakthroughs.
9. Procrastination reflects weak desire: Hill’s “definite chief aim” formula kills delays.
10. Money magnetism starts with giving value first—riches follow service excellence.
11. Brain as “broadcasting station”: focused thoughts attract opportunities and resources.
12. Ego dissolution for wealth: Hill’s success blueprint requires cooperative leadership.