←

The Focus Course

Bibliography

Here is a list of the 53 books, plus all the other articles, podcasts, and talks that I have read, watched, and listened to as part of my research in creating The Focus Course.

Personal Favorites

First is this list of personal favorites — the books which were the most influential and helpful as I shaped the flow and content of the Focus Course. These are also the books which have most influenced my own mindsets and approach to living a focused life and doing my best creative work.

Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster

What To Do When It’s Your Turn, by Seth Godin

Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment, by George Leonard

The One Thing, by Gary Keller

Essentialism, by Greg McKeown

First Things First, by Stephen Covey, A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill

Deep Work, by Cal Newport.

The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor

Getting Results the Agile Way, by J.D. Meier

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

Do the Work, by Steven Pressfield

Turning Pro, by Steven Pressfield

The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield

Manage Your Day to Day, by Jocelyn K. Glei and 99U

How to be Motivated All the Time, by Peter Daniels

The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy

Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The Crossroads of Should and Must, by Elle Luna

The Effective Executive, by Peter F. Drucker

Also great

Making Ideas Happen, by Scott Belsky

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo

The Sweet Spot, by Christine Carter Ph.D.

Leadership: The Power of a Creative Life, by Rick Joyner

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin

Focus, by Leo Babauta

If I’m So Successful, Why Do I Feel Like A Fake? The Imposter Phenomenon, by Joan C. Harvey and Cynthia Katz

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey

Achieving Inner Balance in Anxious Times, by Barbara Killinger

Over the Top, by Zig Ziglar

Grooming the Next Generation for Success, by Dani Johnson

The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren

Notes From a Friend: A Quick and Simple Guide to Taking Charge of Your Life, by Anthony Robbins

Better Than Good, by Zig Ziglar

Inner Excellence: Spiritual Principles of Life-Driven Business, by Carol Osborn

Workaholics: The Respectable Addicts, A Family Survival Guide, by Barbara Killinger Ph.D.

See You At the Top, by Zig Zigler

How to Reach Your Life Goals, by Peter J. Daniels

Do More Great Work, by Michael Bungay Stanier

Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, by Richard Swenson

Enough is Enough, by Carol Osborn

What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done, by Matt Perman

Choose Yourself!, by James Altucher

Getting Things Done, by David Allen

The Progress Principle, by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer

Maximize Your Potential, by Jocelyn Glei and 99U

Make Your Mark, by Jocelyn Glei and 99U

Good to Great, by Jim Collins

So Good They Can’t Ignore You, by Cal Newport

Do Over, by Jon Acuff

Other Resources

Articles, reports, talks, podcasts, etc. which were helpful in the creation of the Focus Course and its ideas and content. Listed here in no particular order.