11 Must-Read Books for Ambitious Students

Good books can be the signposts that guide you on the way to exploring your innate qualities and traits, understanding the world and people around, and enhancing your skills. They can inspire you to follow your ambitions and pave the path to success. If you are ready to set off on that journey, this reading list can be a good start.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

What made The Beatles the greatest band of all time? How did Bill Gates become one of the wealthiest men in the world? Who is Christopher Langan, and why you (likely) never heard of him? In his book, Malcolm Gladwell not only offers answers to all those questions but also artfully mixes human stories and advanced scientific data to create a captivating narrative about the factors that determine success.

The Defining Decade by Meg Jay

Psychologist Meg Jay questions the popular concept that "30 is the new 20." She calls on the young generation not to treat their 20s as a quick-and-dirty time, somewhat extended adolescence. Dr. Jay explains why this period is the most transformative decade of our life and how to use it to get off to a good start in career, love, partnership, and marriage.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

This New York Times bestseller offers fascinating insights into the patterns that govern every aspect of human behavior. It helps to understand why we act the way we do and how that affects the progress we make both in the personal and professional sphere. This book is a profound guide on the nature of habits, explaining how gradual changes in your daily routine can revolutionize your life course.

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Multitasking might seem a good approach to get the job done, but it is not as beneficial as we think. Greg McKeown notes that the urge to accomplish everything at once actually diverts us from the things that really matter. He promotes the principle "less but better" and gives practical advice on how to streamline your efforts to vital staff.

Quiet by Susan Cain

Susan Cain debunks a popular myth that to succeed in life, one has to be out-going, assertive, talkative, and action-oriented... that is, to be an extravert. She demonstrates that you don't have to fit that "ideal image" to follow your deepest ambitions. In fact, some of the most influential and creative individuals in the history of mankind - from Frederic Chopin to Albert Einstein, from Mahatma Gandhi to Bill Gates - are introverts.

How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport

Contrary to popular belief, rising to the top of your class has nothing to do with cramming, all-nighters, and slogging away in the library hall. Cal Newport argues that the secret to acing the college system is studying smart, not studying hard. In his book, he teaches clear and viable strategies for learning more in less time to achieve first-tier results. This student manual will also help you to determine which assignments are critical for your overall performance and which you can easily outsource.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

This autobiographical piece is a story of a woman who endured race discrimination, gender prejudice, physical and emotional trauma. And yet, her perseverance and ambition helped her to surmount those hurdles and turn them into the source of her creative genius, and become one of the most famous black authors.

Getting Things Done by David Allen

When deadlines are approaching, and new tasks keep rolling in, it seems that the only way to do everything on time is to go faster than light. While that is not possible, David Allen suggests a more realistic solution for personal and organizational productivity. He has created an elaborate time-management technique that helps to establish an efficient and stress-free workflow.

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Champions aren't born, they become so. And according to Angela Duckworth, the secret to remarkable attainments lies not so much in high IQ or special gift but is rather a combination of passion and persistence in pursuing one's goals. That is the quality she calls "grit."

The Shallows by Nicholas Carr

This book has expanded from the ideas Carr first expressed in his oft-cited 2008 essay, Is Google Making Us Stupid?. In his works, he laments over the daunting impacts the Internet has on the way we process information. He also discusses how being wired is jeopardizing our capacity to think deep, maintain prolonged concentration, and make sound decisions.

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Another bestseller by Georgetown University professor Cal Newport, Deep Work, centers on the major superpower every success-oriented person of the 21st century has to foster. That is the ability to focus on the demanding task for a fixed period without getting distracted.