Mark Manson believes authentic storytelling is key to a successful writing career. His books, among which The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Everything Is F*cked, are engaging and practical. Reading them is like talking to your bestie who isn’t afraid of telling you the truth, no matter how harsh it is. But Mark Manson isn’t the only one out there writing about life’s difficulties and myths about “positive thinking.” Here are a few authors who prove that self-improvement is achievable, but you need to be ready, willing, and able to take some action.
Gary John Bishop
Gary John Bishop’s writing style is unique but still has much in common with Mark Manson’s. Let’s just look at the titles of Bishop’s recent books: Stop Doing That Sh*t, Wise As F*ck, Love Unf*cked, and Unf*ck Yourself. Pretty many f*cks, isn’t it? Words in his books aren’t the only thing that’s unfiltered. No topic is off-limits for him, be it money, relationships, or the fact that your life isn’t as hard as a child’s in Somalia. If you want to know “why you really do the sh*t you do,” start with reading our summary of Unf*ck Yourself and continue unf*cking yourself with other bestsellers by Gary John Bishop.
James Clear
James Clear’s works are about being true to yourself and setting realistic goals. Have you heard of his #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits? If not, it’s high time to read it or our summary of it. James Clear’s style is special because when you get down to reading his works, you immediately understand what’s important. You don’t have to scrape through hundreds of pages to grasp a few simple ideas. That’s what has put him on this list in the first place.
We also recommend reading James Clear’s articles, and there are a few reasons for that. First, he includes a “Source” section at the end of articles, which is quite useful in the age of misinformation. Second, his content is based on reliable, large-scale studies. Third, you will find loads of hand-drawn images, which make complex ideas more engaging.
Ryan Holiday
A Stoic salesman sounds rather controversial, but this is who Ryan Holiday is. His books The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic, and Stillness Is the Key have become bestsellers mostly because Ryan Holiday translates such complex topics as Stoicism into the language everybody understands. He knows how to sell his works, uses words that appeal to people, attract their attention, and end up influencing their lives. If you are unsure whether Ryan Holiday’s books are similar to Mark Manson’s, you could listen to their common podcast and check it out yourself.
If you have no doubts, dip into Ryan Holiday’s world through our summaries of The Daily Stoic and Stillness Is the Key.
Cal Newport
What’s so similar between Cal Newport’s writing style and Mark Manson’s? For one, Cal Newport books are also about quality, not quantity. He isn’t obsessed with word counts because busyness isn’t the same as productivity. Newport trusts the process, as deadlines and rushing to meet them don’t bring any satisfaction from your work, don’t add meaning to your writing, and in no way make the process rewarding.
To make your work more meaningful, start by reading Deep Work by Cal Newport. In this book, he gradually explains deep work’s secrets, including scheduling focused time, time blocking, shutdown rituals, etc. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Then, you should read our summary of Deep Work this instant.
Tim Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss is the author of #1 NYT/WSJ bestseller The 4-Hour Workweek. Simplicity and consistency can definitely describe his writing process. He starts small, but he is persistent, writing one hour a day. It seems like you have to work more to become a successful writer, yet as soon as you set yourself big goals, you lose your power to sluggishness.
If you are still unfamiliar with Timothy Ferriss’ books, our summary of The 4-Hour Workweek might help you catch up a bit. In case you’ve already read this book, we have amazing news: Tim Ferriss is back with his first book in over seven years — THE NO BOOK. What’s even more exciting is that this book will be released in serial format. Early readers will be able to form a community to experiment with the book’s ideas and provide feedback. To know more, click here and get firsthand information from Tim Ferriss himself.
The authors you read influence your worldview, actions, and even future. So, if you’re trying to find helpful companions, use this list to help you. By the way, check out our other lists of authors like Tim Ferriss and Cal Newport, and have a pleasant reading experience.
