Six Must-Read Books that Will Make You Much, Much Smarter

How would being a little smarter help you?

It’s widely believed that intelligence is a static quality. However, there are a lot of different ways we can become smarter -- and a lot of different types of intelligence.

From developing insights into emotional intelligence to advancements in our knowledge of neuroplasticity, our understanding of what makes someone “smart” has expanded greatly over the past several decades.

And one of the best ways to make yourself smarter? It’s always been, and might always be, thought-provoking books.

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.

– Walt Disney

There are countless books released every year about new ways to see the world, understand ourselves, and become smarter.

It’s hard to narrow down a list of the top books that can make you smarter, however, we’ve put together a collection of what we consider to be some of the best.

Here they are 6 must-read books to make you smarter:

1. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

Daily Rituals is an incredibly insightful book that peeks into the brain of history’s most successful artists, scientists, musicians, and writers.

Want to know what Einstein’s daily schedule was like? How about Thomas Jefferson? What were the daily rituals of the world’s smartest people? This book will teach you all about that and make you smarter and more productive at the same time.

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2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich, as it pertains to becoming smarter, is less about making money and more about understanding the fundamental elements that make someone successful at anything.

Further down the rabbit hole, it’s about knowing what moves the world, what creates change, and what drives us. That, in and of itself, is valuable beyond measure.

Read Think and Grow Rich if you want to learn how to move yourself to action and change the world.

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3. The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Tim Ferriss

Learning and productivity are far more about how you learn and do something thing than they are about your skill or talent in doing it.

That’s exactly the lesson that The 4-Hour Chefteaches and author Tim Ferriss, creator and host of “The Tim Ferriss Show”, explains so effectively within the book.

If you want to become smarter about how you do, well, everything, then this is the book for you (no, it’s not just about cooking, but you’ll learn a lot about that too).

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4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

While, on the surface, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is about human conflict, its applications span across virtually all forms of human interaction, from business and marketing to relationships in general.

For that reason, it’s no surprise it’s become required reading for many high-level CEOs and executives alike.

Read The Art of War if you want to understand human interaction on a fundamental level and how to achieve victory without conflict (ironically).

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5. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow is a great book for teaching you how to think in a particular situation.

Most of us believe that thinking is simply about processing thoughts, and that there’s only one kind. However, there are different ways you can use your brain to think depending on the situation. And, as the title implies, sometimes thinking fast is more productive, while other times thinking more slowly and intentionally is better.

Read this book to find out how to use your brain more effectively.

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6. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

A Short History of Nearly Everything is one of those books that everyone should read. Preferably sooner than later.

The book offers a condensed review of all of history up to modern times and covers much of what we know about life and the universe, delving deep into questions such as why are we here and what is our purpose?

It’s the kind of book you’d imagine would be a really good idea to read in school, however, you were stuck reading Of Mice and Men…

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