Reading List:
The Best Books to Read
Looking to expand your fitness knowledge? I’ve curated a list of the best fitness books to date. If you want some quick suggestions and don’t want to waste your time, the choices below are for you.
Further down the page, you’ll also find a list of the best personal development books. If you want to expand your knowledge well beyond fitness, you’ll find excellent options that are worth your time. Enjoy!
Fitness
Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger
by Mike Matthews
Print | Kindle | Audio
This is a very well-written and structured book on training, eating, recovering and supplementing for everyone who wants simple and actionable information with no fluff. Mike’s story on how he finally got smart about fitness after 6 years in the gym is inspiring and deeply relatable to a lot of us.
How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy!
by Paul Chek
Print
This is the best book for biomechanics out there. Period. If you want to deeply increase your knowledge and performance in the gym, Starting Strength is invaluable. You’ll obtain a deeper understanding of the deadlift, bench press, squat, overhead press, the power clean, as well as some excellent assistance exercises.
You’ll also get a good understanding of proper programming, why you should use barbells, how to learn the movements, and much more.
The Art and Science of Lifting
by Greg Nuckols & Omar Isuf
eBooks
The Art and Science of Lifting books go hand in hand:
In the Art of Lifting, you get introduced to the most important aspects of lifting, as well as things you shouldn't bother yourself with.
In the Science of Lifting, you deepen the knowledge and learn how to practically apply the information into your training.
Together, these two books help you become a self-sufficient athlete.
Personal Development
The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)
by Hal Elrod
Print | Kindle | Audio
I read this book back in 2015 and was deeply impressed with Hal’s story and how he stumbled upon what he later referred to “The Miracle Morning”. In the book, the author shows us how to start focusing on improving ourselves, how to approach waking up early, and how to set a routine that will elevate your energy levels, productivity, and enthusiasm for success.
The 10X Rule
by Grant Cardone
Print | Kindle | Audio
The first time I read this book, I was very impressed with Cardone’s energy and enthusiasm. He preaches the importance of setting targets much higher than you think you can reach and take action that is 10x greater than you think is needed to reach the goal. Most of us set small, conservative goals and make small and inconsistent progress.
This books shows you how to reframe your way of thinking and start taking massive action to fulfill your potential.
How to Win Friends & Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
Print | Kindle | Audio
Being likable and having an easy time making new friends are two crucial factors that influence how our lives shape up. In this book, the author teaches us how to handle people, make them like us, and win them our way of thinking gracefully.
The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
by Ryan Holiday
Print | Kindle | Audio
This, perhaps, is the most impactful book I’ve ever read. It introduces us to stoic philosophy and how to approach obstacles in our lives. Most of the time, what we face isn’t that bad and the author does an excellent job at helping us expand our perspective and become world-class problem-solvers.
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness
by Jeff Olson
Print
In this book, the author preaches the importance of small, consistent actions that, over time, shape our lives for the better. He gives us practical examples of how seemingly easy and insignificant disciplines (that are easy to do and easy not to) can build into something massive.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change
by Charles Duhigg
Print | Kindle | Audio
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
by Gary Keller
Print | Audio
We live in a world full of distraction. This books shows us how to build a vision for our lives and then identify what the most crucial steps to take are. By identifying and focusing on them, we can kill the most birds with one stone, make progress at a much faster pace in life and avoid falling for meaningless tasks and distractions.