15 Books to Read in 2019

These are the books that significantly improved my year. They span technology, health, psychology, and behavioral economics. Here's my curated list across product development, business growth, fitness, and design.

Product & Technology#

Creative Selection#

*by Ken Kocienda*

Ken was the engineer who built the iPad keyboard at Apple. This book gives you an insider's view of how Apple actually builds products. It's not magic—it's iteration, taste, and relentless refinement.

Inspired#

*by Marty Cagan*

If you work in product, this is essential reading. Cagan breaks down what separates great product teams from mediocre ones. I reference this book constantly.

Hacking Growth#

*by Sean Ellis*

Actionable growth strategies with real frameworks you can implement. Not theory—actual tactics that work.

High Growth Handbook#

*by Elad Gil*

A comprehensive guide to scaling startups. Gil compiles wisdom from dozens of successful founders and operators.

Business & Work#

Blitzscaling#

*by Reid Hoffman*

How to scale a company at breakneck speed. Hoffman shares the strategies that built LinkedIn and what it takes to grow from startup to global company.

Rework#

*by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson*

This book fundamentally changed how my team operates. It challenges conventional business wisdom and offers refreshingly practical alternatives.

Remote#

*by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson*

The definitive guide to distributed work. More relevant than ever.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing#

*by Al Ries & Jack Trout*

Classic marketing principles that still hold up. Short, punchy, and immediately applicable.

Mindset & Creativity#

The War of Art#

*by Steven Pressfield*

About overcoming creative resistance. If you've ever struggled to ship something, this book will resonate. Pressfield names the enemy (Resistance) and shows you how to fight it.

Health & Performance#

Body by Science#

*by Doug McGuff*

A science-based approach to exercise and fitness. Changed how I think about training.

The Power of When#

*by Michael Breus*

Understanding your chronotype and optimizing when you do different types of work. Practical and backed by research.

Bulletproof#

*by Dave Asprey*

Biohacking and nutrition strategies. Take what's useful, leave what isn't.

Meat is for Pussies#

*by John Joseph*

Don't let the title fool you. A hardcore punk rocker's guide to plant-based fitness. Entertaining and surprisingly informative.

Design#

Atomic Design#

*by Brad Frost*

Essential reading for anyone building design systems. Frost's methodology for creating modular, scalable UI has influenced how the entire industry thinks about component design.

Designing for Touch & Responsible Responsive Design#

*by Josh Clark & Scott Jehl*

Two excellent books on modern web design. Understanding touch interfaces and building responsibly are non-negotiable skills.

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That's the list. Pick one, start reading, and crush it in the new year.

*Originally published on HackerNoon.*