Books Recommended by Mark Manson
Ego Is the Enemy
Ryan Holiday
Source: "Takes an age-old message, a message you see bandied about in a million self-help books about the ego, but gives it a serious philosophical treatment and grounds it with countless historical examples." - Mark Manson
Tiny Beautiful Things
Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar
Cheryl Strayed
Source: "Drags the reader back through the mud she lived through, reminding them that they are not alone and that yes, they will be all right." - Mark Manson
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Source: "A love letter, not just to [the author's] son, but to black people and even the United States, in the truest sense of the genre." - Mark Manson
Incerto (5 books)
Nassim Taleb
Source: "A totally insufferable asshole. And wrong about tons of his analogies and examples. But still brilliant somehow, despite himself." - Mark Manson
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert
John Gottman
Source: "Set off into territories unknown and brought quantifiable metrics and scientific rigor to an exotic academic subject: relationships." - Mark Manson
The Singularity Is Near
When Humans Transcend Biology
Ray Kurzweil
Source: "Shows that the processing power of computers and technology has increased exponentially through history and is likely to continue doing so." - Mark Manson
Give People Money
How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World
Annie Lowrey
Source: "I'm not 100% convinced but I see no alternative given the imminent mass automation around the corner." - Mark Manson
Hold Me Tight
Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Dr. Sue Johnson
Source: "[The author] realized that romantic relationships were largely driven by unconscious emotions and desires." - Mark Manson
Civilization and Its Discontents
Sigmund Freud
Source: "Basically arguing that we’re all fucked and there’s no hope for any of us. And doing it convincingly." - Mark Manson
The Denial of Death
Ernest Becker
Source: "Making you contemplate your own non-existence and kind of making you feel okay about it." - Mark Manson
The True Believer
Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
Eric Hoffer
Source: "One of the most quotable books I've ever read. I think about it often." - Mark Manson
Getting the Love You Want
A Guide for Couples
Harville Hendrix Ph.D.
Source: "I read [this book] about 10 years ago and it blew me away." - Mark Manson
On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo
Friedrich Nietzsche
Source: "Perhaps his shortest and most influential work." - Mark Manson
Eichmann in Jerusalem
A Report on the Banality of Evil
Hannah Arendt
Source: "Overall an incredibly important book, imo." - Mark Manson
The 5 Love Languages
The Secret to Love that Lasts
Gary Chapman
Source: "Like the Harry Potter of relationship books." - Mark Manson
Stumbling on Happiness
Daniel Todd Gilbert
Source: "The red-headed stepchild of happiness books." - Mark Manson
Democracy for Realists
Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government
Christopher H. Achen
Source: Mark Manson recommended this book on his website.
The Dictator's Handbook
Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita
Source: Mark Manson recommended this book on his website.
Three Women
Lisa Taddeo
Source: Mark Manson recommended this book on his website.
Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches
The Riddles of Culture
Marvin Harris
Source: Mark Manson recommended this book on his website.
FAQ
Has Mark Manson recommended every single one of these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Mark Manson must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
Did Mark Manson actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Mark Manson, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
What is the best book Mark Manson read?
We're not sure, but we don't think there is one "best book." Although if we had to pick, we'd say Eric Hoffer's "True Believer" because Mark Manson's review called it "one of the most quotable books [he] ever read." (and he reads a lot!)
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