23 Books Like Atomic Habits
If you’re a fan of James Clear’s groundbreaking book “Atomic Habits,” you already understand the power of small changes for big results.
But what if you’re hungry for more insights and strategies to supercharge your habit formation journey?
In this blog post, we’ll explore some books that complement and expand upon the principles of “Atomic Habits,” offering fresh perspectives and actionable advice to help you level up your habits and achieve your goals.
Whether you’re aiming to enhance productivity, boost health and wellness, or cultivate positive relationships, these reads are sure to inspire and empower you on your path to personal growth and success.
Let’s dive in!
Books Like Atomic Habits
1. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
This book explores the science behind why habits exist and how they can be changed, delving into the neurology of habit formation. Duhigg presents numerous case studies and stories to illustrate his points, making complex topics accessible. The book also provides practical advice on how to transform habits in personal life, business, and society.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “The Power of Habit” focuses on the impact of daily habits on achieving success and improvement. Both books use scientific research and case studies to explain how habits are formed and changed, offering actionable insights for readers to apply in their lives.
2. Deep Work by Cal Newport
“Deep Work” advocates for the importance of focused work in an increasingly distracted world. Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare and valuable, and teaches readers how to cultivate this skill. The book provides strategies for minimizing distractions and maximizing productivity.
Major Similarities: Both “Deep Work” and “Atomic Habits” emphasize the significance of daily practices and focus for achieving long-term goals. They offer practical advice on habit formation, focusing on improving productivity and the quality of one’s work.
3. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Carol Dweck introduces the concept of “fixed” vs. “growth” mindsets, explaining how our beliefs about our abilities affect our success. The book covers how adopting a growth mindset can lead to personal and professional growth. Dweck provides insights into overcoming obstacles and challenges through persistence and resilience.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “Mindset” emphasizes the power of small, consistent changes in thinking and behavior over time. Both books focus on the psychological aspects of achieving success and improvement.
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Covey’s book is a classic in the self-help genre, offering a principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. It introduces seven habits that can help individuals become more effective in achieving their goals. The book emphasizes the importance of character ethics and personal integrity.
Major Similarities: Both books highlight the importance of habits in achieving success. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “Atomic Habits” offer a step-by-step approach to habit formation and personal development.
5. Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
“Make Time” focuses on creating time for work, hobbies, and rest in today’s busy world. The authors, both former Google designers, share strategies for prioritizing tasks, avoiding distractions, and making time for personal passions. The book is practical and filled with actionable tips.
Major Similarities: Like “Atomic Habits,” “Make Time” emphasizes the importance of daily habits and routines in achieving personal and professional goals. Both books provide readers with tools to improve productivity and focus.
6. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
“Essentialism” is about finding the most essential tasks and giving them your full attention, rather than spreading yourself too thin. McKeown argues that by focusing on less, we can achieve more. The book provides a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential and eliminating what is not.
Major Similarities: Both “Essentialism” and “Atomic Habits” focus on the power of simplification and focus in achieving long-term success. They advocate for making intentional choices about where to direct your energy and attention.
7. Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters by Michael Bungay Stanier
Stanier’s book focuses on identifying and focusing on work that is truly impactful, rather than being bogged down by busywork. It offers practical exercises to help readers find and do more work that matters to them, leading to more fulfillment and success.
Major Similarities: Both “Do More Great Work” and “Atomic Habits” advocate for the significance of focusing on meaningful activities and habits for personal and professional development. They provide actionable advice for making the most of one’s time and efforts.
8. Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool
“Peak” delves into the science of expertise, offering insights into how anyone can achieve peak performance with the right kind of practice and effort. Ericsson and Pool debunk the myth of innate talent and instead focus on the power of deliberate practice.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “Peak” emphasizes the importance of consistent, focused practice and small improvements in mastering skills and achieving success.
9. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Duckworth explores the importance of grit—a combination of passion and perseverance—in achieving success. Through research and personal stories, she demonstrates how grit can be a more important predictor of success than talent or IQ.
Major Similarities: Both “Grit” and “Atomic Habits” focus on the psychological aspects of success, emphasizing the importance of persistence, habit formation, and daily practice in achieving long-term goals.
10. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
Rubin’s book explores how habits can transform our lives in significant ways. She presents an analytical and thoughtful approach to understanding habits and offers practical advice for making positive changes. Rubin emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself to effectively change habits.
Major Similarities: Like “Atomic Habits,” “Better Than Before” focuses on the transformative power of habits in personal development. Both books provide insights into how habits are formed and how they can be changed to improve one’s life.
11. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
“The One Thing” argues that focusing on a single task can lead to extraordinary results. Keller and Papasan emphasize the importance of narrowing focus, identifying priorities, and eliminating distractions. The book provides actionable strategies for increasing productivity and achieving goals.
Major Similarities: Both “The One Thing” and “Atomic Habits” stress the importance of focus and simplification in achieving success. They offer practical advice on how to prioritize tasks and create effective habits.
12. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
“The Compound Effect” is based on the principle that decisions shape your destiny. Little, everyday decisions will either take you to the life you desire or to disaster by default. Hardy demonstrates how small changes and decisions can result in significant life improvements over time.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” this book emphasizes the cumulative power of small, everyday habits and choices in achieving long-term success. Both advocate for the incremental approach to personal development.
13. Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg
Fogg introduces a method to change behaviors by starting with tiny, easy-to-do habits and naturally building them up to bigger changes. “Tiny Habits” focuses on the simplicity of starting small to achieve lasting change. The book provides a step-by-step guide for developing new habits.
Major Similarities: “Tiny Habits” and “Atomic Habits” both highlight the significance of small actions in creating significant life changes. They provide practical frameworks for habit formation, focusing on ease and simplicity.
14. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
Pink examines the elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose. He argues that the secret to high performance and satisfaction is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.
Major Similarities: Both “Drive” and “Atomic Habits” explore the psychological factors behind motivation and habit formation. They offer insights into how understanding and harnessing these factors can lead to personal and professional growth.
15. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
“Switch” addresses the difficulties of change, providing a framework for effecting transformative change in our lives, businesses, and society. The Heath brothers use engaging stories and scientific studies to show how to overcome obstacles to change.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “Switch” focuses on the process of making lasting changes to habits and behaviors. Both books offer practical advice and strategies for navigating the challenges of change.
16. The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal
McGonigal explores the science of willpower, offering insights into how self-control works and how it can be improved. The book combines scientific research with practical exercises to help readers increase their willpower, self-discipline, and ability to achieve their goals.
Major Similarities: Both “The Willpower Instinct” and “Atomic Habits” examine the psychological and physiological aspects of habit formation and self-improvement. They offer evidence-based strategies for strengthening willpower and making lasting changes.
17. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Csikszentmihalyi introduces the concept of “flow,” a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities. “Flow” explores how individuals can achieve this state to improve performance and increase happiness. The book discusses how to structure life for more flow experiences.
Major Similarities: Both “Flow” and “Atomic Habits” address the importance of focus and engagement in activities for personal development. They offer insights into how structured habits and activities can lead to higher levels of achievement and satisfaction.
18. Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal
Eyal provides a framework for managing distractions and focusing on what truly matters. “Indistractable” offers practical advice for controlling your attention, managing your time, and ultimately living the life you want. The book includes strategies for overcoming common distractions.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “Indistractable” emphasizes the importance of managing daily habits and routines to improve focus and productivity. Both books provide actionable tips for achieving more by controlling where your attention goes.
19. The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
The Zanders present a set of practices for creativity in personal and professional life. “The Art of Possibility” offers inspirational stories and techniques for breaking out of traditional frameworks to achieve more. The book focuses on the power of shifting perspectives and embracing opportunities.
Major Similarities: Both “The Art of Possibility” and “Atomic Habits” focus on the transformative power of changing perspectives and behaviors. They emphasize the role of mindset and habit in achieving personal growth and success.
20. The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor
Achor explores how happiness significantly affects success. The book presents seven principles that leverage the brain’s capacity for change, improve productivity, and result in success at work. Achor uses research from positive psychology to show how a positive mindset can lead to better outcomes.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “The Happiness Advantage” focuses on the impact of small, daily practices on overall success and well-being. Both books emphasize the importance of positive habits and mindset in achieving personal and professional goals.
21. Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
In this book, Duhigg explores the science of productivity and how certain practices can improve efficiency and achievement. Using real-life stories and scientific research, the book delves into the principles of motivation, goal setting, and decision making.
Major Similarities: Like “Atomic Habits,” “Smarter Faster Better” focuses on the strategies that can lead to improved habits, productivity, and success. Both books offer insights into the processes that underpin effective action and change.
22. So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport
Newport challenges the common advice to “follow your passion” and argues that cultivating rare and valuable skills is the key to loving what you do. The book provides evidence and strategies for developing mastery in your work, leading to passion, not the other way around.
Major Similarities: Both “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” and “Atomic Habits” emphasize the importance of consistent practice, skill development, and small improvements in achieving professional success and personal fulfillment.
23. The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
Holiday draws on Stoicism to present a framework for turning obstacles into advantages. The book showcases historical figures who’ve succeeded in the face of adversity and offers practical strategies for overcoming challenges.
Major Similarities: Similar to “Atomic Habits,” “The Obstacle Is the Way” focuses on the power of perspective and resilience in achieving success. Both books highlight the importance of embracing challenges and making incremental progress.
