Recommendations based on Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Isby Eric Barker

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

    by Dan Ariely
    An exploration of why humans make irrational decisions, and how to overcome them.

    Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin? Why does recalling the Ten Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn't ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

    by Charles Duhigg
    Uncovering the science of habit formation and how to use it to achieve success.

    A young woman walks into a laboratory. Over the past two years, she has transformed almost every aspect of her life. She has quit smoking, run a marathon, and been promoted at work. The patterns ... (Goodreads)

  3. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

    by Angela Duckworth
    Examining how passion and perseverance can unlock hidden potential, and the power of resilience in achieving success.

    In this must-read book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, students, and business people both seasoned and new that the secret to ... (Goodreads)

  4. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

    by Jocko Willink
    How to lead and win through the lessons learned by the U.S. Navy SEALs.

    The #1 New York Times bestseller "An incredible book... you teach guys and gals about leadership and you've helped not only military guys but families." - Megyn Kelly "You show in the book how to ... (Goodreads)

  5. Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow

    by Yuval Noah Harari
    An exploration of humanity's future, and the potential paths of our species.

    Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed, New York Times, bestseller and international phenomenon, Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning ... (Goodreads)

  6. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

    by Chip Heath
    Exploring why certain ideas are remembered and others are forgotten, focusing on practical ways to make ideas ‘stick’.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER - The instant classic about why some ideas thrive, why others die, and how to improve your idea's chances–essential reading in the "fake news" era. Mark Twain once ... (Goodreads)

  7. Skin in the Game: The Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life

    by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    Taleb argues that people should have "skin in the game" when making decisions that affect others, and that asymmetries in risk and reward can lead to negative consequences.

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan, a bold new work that challenges many of our long-held beliefs about risk and reward, politics and religion, finance and personal ... (Goodreads)

  8. The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

    by Brad Stone
    The story of Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos, from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the world's largest companies.

    The definitive story of Amazon.com, one of the most successful companies in the world, and of its driven, brilliant founder, Jeff Bezos. Amazon.com started off delivering books through the mail. But ... (Goodreads)

  9. Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers

    by Timothy Ferriss
    Strategies and insights from top performers to help you reach your fullest potential.

    The latest groundbreaking tome from Tim Ferriss, the #1, New York Times, best-selling author of, The 4-Hour Workweek,.,, From the author:, , “For the last two years, I’ve interviewed more than 200 ... (Goodreads)

  10. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

    by John Carreyrou
    The rise and fall of Theranos, a fraudulent blood-testing startup, and the deceitful actions of its founder Elizabeth Holmes.

    The full inside story of the breathtaking rise and shocking collapse of a multibillion-dollar startup, by the prize-winning journalist who first broke the story and pursued it to the end in the face ... (Goodreads)

  11. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

    by Cal Newport
    Strategies and techniques to help readers stay focused on tasks and achieve greater success.

    One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on ... (Goodreads)

  12. The 4-Hour Workweek

    by Timothy Ferriss
    A guide to creating a lifestyle of financial and personal freedom by optimizing work and lifestyle.

    What do you do? Tim Ferriss has trouble answering the question. Depending on when you ask this controversial Princeton University guest lecturer, he might answer: "I race motorcycles in Europe." "I ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

    by Ben Horowitz
    A practical guide to navigating the challenges of building and leading a successful business, with insights from a seasoned entrepreneur.

    Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley's most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, offers essential advice on building and running a startup—practical wisdom for ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

    by Ed Catmull
    An exploration of the principles and strategies that drive success in the creative process.

    “What does it mean to manage well?” From Ed Catmull, co-founder (with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter) of Pixar Animation Studios, comes an incisive book about creativity in business—sure to appeal to ... (Goodreads)

  15. What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures

    by Malcolm Gladwell
    Collection of essays about the surprising connections between seemingly unrelated topics.

    What is the difference between choking and panicking? Why are there dozens of varieties of mustard but only one variety of ketchup? What do football players teach us about how to hire teachers? What ... (Goodreads)

  16. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

    by Chris Voss
    A former FBI hostage negotiator shares his tactics and strategies for successful negotiations in both personal and professional settings.

    A former FBI hostage negotiator offers a new, field-tested approach to negotiating – effective in any situation. After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Voss joined ... (Goodreads)

  17. Thinking, Fast and Slow

    by Daniel Kahneman
    An exploration of the two systems of the mind, and how they influence decision-making.

    In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow , Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

    by Eric Ries
    Systematic approach to launching and managing successful businesses in an ever-changing market.

    Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism

    by Olivia Fox Cabane
    A guide to developing charisma, with practical tips and exercises to improve communication skills and personal presence.

    What if charisma, could, be taught? The charisma myth is the idea that charisma is a fundamental, inborn quality—you either have it (Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Oprah) or you don’t. But that’s simply ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future

    by Ryder Carroll
    A guide to organizing your life through a customizable journaling system. Learn to prioritize tasks, set goals, and reflect on personal growth.

    New York Times, bestseller! , There’s a reason this system for time management, goal setting, and intentional living has been adopted by millions around the globe: it works. Not only will you get ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

    by Phil Knight
    The story of one man's dream to start a business and the obstacles he encountered along the way.

    In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of ... (Goodreads)

  22. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

    by Peter Thiel
    A guide to launching a startup, exploring the power of entrepreneurship.

    If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets. The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

    by Priya Parker
    A guide to creating meaningful gatherings, from dinner parties to conferences, that foster connection and purpose.

    A transformative exploration of the power, purpose, and benefits of gatherings in our lives: at work, at school, at home and beyond. Every day we find ourselves in gatherings, Priya Parker says in ... (Goodreads)

  24. A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science

    by Barbara Oakley
    A guide to help readers overcome math anxiety and improve their learning abilities in math and science.

    Whether you are a student struggling to fulfill a math or science requirement, or you are embarking on a career change that requires a higher level of math competency, A Mind for Numbers offers the ... (Goodreads)

  25. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

    by James C. Collins
    A guide to building a successful company, examining the practices and values of leading organizations.

    To find the keys to greatness, Collins's 21-person research team read and coded 6,000 articles, generated more than 2,000 pages of interview transcripts and created 384 megabytes of computer data in ... (Goodreads)

  26. Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman

    by Yvon Chouinard
    Reflections on the journey of an environmentally conscious businessman, and the lessons learned along the way.

    In his long-awaited memoir, Yvon Chouinard-legendary climber, businessman, environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia, Inc.-shares the persistence and courage that have gone into being head of one of ... (Goodreads)

  27. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

    by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
    An exploration of the concept of 'flow' and how it can be used to enhance optimal experience.

    Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow. During flow, ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

    by Robert Iger
    Robert Iger shares his journey and leadership lessons learned during his tenure as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.

    #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER •, A memoir of leadership and success,: The executive chairman of Disney,, Time,’s 2019 businessperson of the year, shares the ideas and values he embraced, during his ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time

    by Jeff Sutherland
    Strategies for boosting productivity and efficiency in the workplace.

    In the future, historians may look back on human progress and draw a sharp line designating “before Scrum” and “after Scrum.” Scrum is that ground-breaking. It already drives most of the world’s top ... (Goodreads)

  30. Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

    by Charles Duhigg
    Strategies for using science and psychology to maximize individual and organizational productivity.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER •, From the author of, The Power of Habit, comes a fascinating book that explores the science of productivity, and why managing, how, you think is more important than, ... (Barnes & Noble)