The 5 books you must read to be successful

The 5 books you must read to be successfulThe 5 books you must read to be successfulI post about a lot of books. Most people dont have the time to read them all, so here are a few of my must-reads.1.InfluenceWhat is it?Most consider it the single best book on the psychology of persuasion.What did I learn from it?There are universal principles that make something influential scarcity, authority, social proof, liking, reciprocity, and consistency.This video is a great introduction to Cialdinis researchCheck out the book here.2.Drive The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsWhat is it?The best, fruchtwein accessible research-based book on what motivates us.What did I learn from it?For jobs that require creativity and problem solving, research shows were motivated by a desire for autonomy, mastery and purpose. Money is really only a motivator for work that does leid inspire passion or deep thought. The single best motivator is progress, and the best predictor of success is grit.My not es from the book arehere. Watch Dan Pinks TED talkhere.Check out the bookhere.3.The Power of HabitWhat is it?An engaging read that explains the science of how habits work - and how we can change them.What did I learn from it?About40% of the actions we perform in a dayare habits - so were on autopilot almost half our life.Identifying what triggersyour habits is key.Assigning new habits to established triggersis how you change a bad habit into a good one.Friends can be a major part of whether youre able to change for the better.Heres a great interview with author Charles Duhigg about the book.Check out the bookhere.4.The Longevity Project Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade StudyWhat is it?They studied over 1000 people for the duration of theirlives from childhood until old age - giving them regular physical and psychological tests and tracking the results.What they discovered confirmed some things we all believe about what it takes to liv e a good, long life - and more interestinglythey found out where our common beliefs are wrong.What did I learn from it?Theres a lot of overlap between what makes us happy and what promotes a long life. Stress isnt all bad. The good do not die young. Women dont live longer than men because of biology. Relationships are more important than exercise if you want to live a long life.The authors discuss the study, the book and the counterintuitive things theylearned in this videoCheck out the bookhere.5.The Happiness Advantage The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at WorkWhat is it?A Harvard researchers very practical book on how to be happier and how happiness can improve your life.What did I learn from it?Happinessincreases productivityandmakes you more successful. The20 second rulecan make you a much better person. There are a lot ofsimple little thingsthat canmake you much happier.Heres author Shawn Achors TEDx talkCheck out the book here.Again , they areInfluenceThe Power of HabitThe Happiness AdvantageDriveThe Longevity ProjectJoin 25K+ readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsWhat 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?What do people regret the most before they die?What five things can make sure you never stop growing and learning?This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.