Every Book Recommended on Diary of a CEO — The Complete List
This is the most comprehensive list of Diary of a CEO book recommendations you'll find anywhere. We've combed through every episode of Steven Bartlett's podcast — over 450 conversations with the world's top entrepreneurs, scientists, psychologists, and performers — to compile every book that was specifically recommended, not just casually mentioned.
Whether you're looking for Steven Bartlett's book recommendations, the best books mentioned on Diary of a CEO, or a specific category like health, money, or relationships — this page has you covered. Every entry includes who recommended the book, why it matters, and a link to the relevant episode summary so you can go deeper.
We update this list every time a new episode drops. Bookmark it — it's the only DOAC reading list you'll ever need.
Jump to a Category
- Business & Entrepreneurship (16 books)
- Psychology & Mindset (12 books)
- Health, Sleep & Longevity (10 books)
- Money & Investing (8 books)
- Relationships & Communication (7 books)
- Leadership & Power (6 books)
- Productivity & Habits (6 books)
- Nutrition & Gut Health (5 books)
- Spirituality & Philosophy (5 books)
- Steven Bartlett's Own Books
- Steven Bartlett's Personal Top 10
- Curated Reading Paths
- Frequently Asked Questions
Business & Entrepreneurship Books Recommended on DOAC
Business is the beating heart of Diary of a CEO. These are the books that guests and Steven himself credit with building companies, closing deals, and thinking about markets differently. If you're an entrepreneur, start here.
$100M Offers: How to Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No
The single most-referenced business book in Diary of a CEO history. Hormozi's "Grand Slam Offer" framework teaches you to increase perceived value through stacking bonuses, guarantees, and urgency — rather than lowering your price. If your business has a "too expensive" problem, this book is the fix.
Recommended by: Alex Hormozi, Steven Bartlett, and referenced by multiple guests
Alex Hormozi Episode Summary →The Lean Startup
The foundational text on building companies through validated learning. Build-measure-learn feedback loops, minimum viable products, and the pivot-or-persevere framework. Multiple DOAC guests have called it the single most important book for first-time founders.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Daniel Priestley, multiple startup founder guests
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Thiel's contrarian thesis: the best businesses create something entirely new rather than competing in existing markets. "Competition is for losers" — monopoly is the goal. Essential reading for anyone thinking about market positioning and defensibility.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Reid Hoffman
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
Collins' research into what separates good companies from truly great ones. The Hedgehog Concept, Level 5 Leadership, and "getting the right people on the bus" are frameworks that come up repeatedly in DOAC conversations about scaling businesses beyond the founder.
Recommended by: Simon Sinek, multiple CEO guests
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
The most brutally honest book about the reality of running a company. Horowitz covers the things business schools don't teach: firing friends, managing your own psychology during crises, and leading when you have no answers. Steven has called this one of the books that most prepared him for being a CEO.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Phil Knight's memoir of building Nike from a $50 loan into a global empire. Raw, honest, and surprisingly literary. Multiple DOAC guests have called it the best business memoir ever written — and it comes up in nearly every conversation about founder resilience and the unglamorous early years of building something great.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Gary Vaynerchuk
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Sinek's Golden Circle framework (Why → How → What) for inspirational leadership and brand building. Great companies start with purpose, not product. Sinek expanded on these ideas extensively in his DOAC appearance, connecting it to why most marketing fails.
Recommended by: Simon Sinek (guest), Steven Bartlett
Simon Sinek Episode Summary →$100M Leads: How to Get Strangers to Want to Buy Your Stuff
Hormozi's follow-up to $100M Offers, focused on customer acquisition. The four core lead generation methods — warm outreach, cold outreach, content, and paid ads — provide a complete framework for any business trying to grow. Arguably more actionable than the first book for most entrepreneurs.
Recommended by: Alex Hormozi (guest)
Hormozi: $1K to $100M Episode →Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You
How to create a business that can run — and ultimately sell — without you. The core framework: specialize, systematize, and remove yourself from delivery. Essential reading for entrepreneurs who realize they've built themselves a job instead of a company.
Recommended by: Daniel Priestley
Key Person of Influence
Priestley's five-step framework for becoming the go-to expert in your industry: perfect your pitch, publish, productize, profile, and partnerships. He broke this down in detail during his DOAC episode — a masterclass in personal brand as business strategy.
Recommended by: Daniel Priestley (guest)
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work
Why most small businesses fail and what to do about it. Gerber's distinction between working in your business vs. working on your business remains the most important mental model for entrepreneurs who feel trapped. Build systems, not just products.
Recommended by: Multiple entrepreneur guests
Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence
Gary Vee's playbook for building a personal brand and business through social media, with case studies of people who used content to build seven-figure businesses. He expanded on these strategies during his DOAC appearance.
Recommended by: Gary Vaynerchuk (guest)
Gary Vee Episode Summary →Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies
How to grow a startup at breakneck speed by prioritizing speed over efficiency in winner-take-all markets. Hoffman explains why sometimes the right move is to scale chaotically fast and fix problems later.
Recommended by: Reid Hoffman, Steven Bartlett
Rework
The anti-hustle-culture business book. Smaller teams, fewer meetings, less funding, more focus. A refreshing counterpoint to the "grow at all costs" mentality that dominates startup culture.
Recommended by: Tim Ferriss
The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers
A short, practical book on how to validate business ideas by asking the right questions. The core rule: never ask people if they'd buy your product. Instead, ask about their existing behavior and problems. Referenced in multiple DOAC episodes about product-market fit.
Recommended by: Multiple startup guests
Oversubscribed: How to Get People Lining Up to Do Business with You
Priestley's framework for creating demand that exceeds supply — making your business "oversubscribed" so customers compete for your attention, not the other way around.
Recommended by: Daniel Priestley (guest)
Want the best books without digging through 500+ episodes?
These are the safest first picks from the DOAC canon — high-signal books that keep showing up across business, money, health, and mindset episodes.
Disclosure: This section includes affiliate links. If you buy through them, DOAC may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Subscribe Free →Psychology & Mindset Books From Diary of a CEO
DOAC's psychology episodes are consistently the most popular on the show. These are the books guests recommend for understanding your own mind, overcoming self-sabotage, and building mental resilience.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
The most-recommended book across all Diary of a CEO episodes — period. Clear's four-law framework (make habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying) is referenced by guests across business, health, and personal development. Steven says he re-reads it every year.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, James Clear (guest), 10+ other guests
James Clear Episode Summary →Thinking, Fast and Slow
Kahneman's Nobel Prize-winning research on cognitive biases and decision-making. Understanding System 1 (fast, intuitive) vs. System 2 (slow, analytical) thinking is foundational for entrepreneurs who need to make better decisions under uncertainty.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Rory Sutherland, multiple guests
Man's Search for Meaning
Frankl's account of surviving the Holocaust and finding meaning in suffering. The core thesis — we can't control what happens to us, but we can always choose our response — is the most-quoted idea in DOAC's discussions about resilience and perspective.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Simon Sinek
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
The definitive book on how trauma affects the body and mind. Van der Kolk's research on how unprocessed trauma manifests as physical symptoms is referenced in nearly every DOAC mental health episode. If you've experienced trauma of any kind, this book explains what's happening in your nervous system.
Recommended by: Bessel van der Kolk (guest), Gabor Maté
Bessel van der Kolk Episode →Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Dweck's research on fixed vs. growth mindset — the belief that your abilities can improve through effort leads to dramatically better outcomes in business, relationships, and health. One of the foundational ideas discussed across hundreds of DOAC episodes.
Recommended by: Carol Dweck (guest), Steven Bartlett
Carol Dweck Episode Summary →Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
Goggins' memoir of extreme self-discipline and mental toughness. His approach — "callousing the mind" through voluntary discomfort — is divisive, but multiple DOAC guests credit it as a turning point. The 40% Rule alone (when you think you're done, you're only at 40%) has changed how thousands of listeners approach hard things.
Recommended by: David Goggins (guest), multiple performance guests
David Goggins Episode Summary →12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
Peterson's practical philosophy for living with meaning and responsibility. His DOAC episode was one of the most-watched, and the book's emphasis on personal accountability and "cleaning your room before criticizing the world" resonates deeply with the podcast's audience.
Recommended by: Jordan Peterson (guest)
Jordan Peterson Episode Summary →The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme
Peters' model for understanding the emotional brain ("the chimp") vs. the rational brain ("the human"). Originally written for elite athletes, it's become a favourite among DOAC's high-performance guests for managing emotions under pressure. Steven credits it with helping him manage his reactions as a CEO.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, sports and performance guests
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Tolle's guide to present-moment awareness. Multiple DOAC guests — particularly those discussing mental health, burnout, and anxiety — credit this book with fundamentally changing their relationship to stress.
Recommended by: Jay Shetty, multiple wellness guests
Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
Goleman's groundbreaking argument that emotional intelligence — self-awareness, empathy, social skills — is a stronger predictor of success than IQ. Referenced across DOAC episodes on leadership, relationships, and personal development.
Recommended by: Multiple psychology and leadership guests
The Courage to Be Disliked
A Socratic dialogue exploring Alfred Adler's psychology — the idea that all problems are interpersonal and that seeking approval is the root of unhappiness. Referenced in DOAC episodes about people-pleasing and confidence.
Recommended by: Mo Gawdat, multiple guests
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment
The science of adult attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, secure) and how they shape every romantic relationship you'll ever have. Referenced in DOAC's relationship and psychology episodes as essential reading for understanding your patterns.
Recommended by: Multiple relationship and psychology guests
Health, Sleep & Longevity Books From DOAC
Diary of a CEO's health episodes have become cultural moments — some of the most-listened episodes in the show's history. These are the books recommended by the doctors, scientists, and researchers who've appeared on the podcast.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Walker's research-backed argument that sleep is the single most important thing you can do for your health — more important than diet or exercise. His DOAC episode was one of the most-listened health episodes ever. The takeaway: if you're sleeping less than 7 hours, nothing else you're optimizing matters.
Recommended by: Matthew Walker (guest), Steven Bartlett
Matthew Walker Episode Summary →Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
Attia's comprehensive guide to "Medicine 3.0" — proactive health optimization rather than reactive disease treatment. Covers the four pillars: exercise (cardio + strength), nutrition, sleep, and emotional health. The most thorough longevity book recommended on DOAC.
Recommended by: Peter Attia, multiple health guests
Peter Attia Episode Summary →Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food?
Van Tulleken's investigation into how ultra-processed food is engineered to be addictive and is driving the obesity, diabetes, and mental health crises. His DOAC episode was a watershed moment — listeners completely changed their shopping habits overnight.
Recommended by: Chris van Tulleken (guest)
Chris van Tulleken Episode →Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
Nestor's investigation into the lost art of breathing. The research on nasal breathing, CO2 tolerance, and how modern humans breathe wrong was a revelation for DOAC listeners. Simple, free health intervention that most people are doing wrong.
Recommended by: Multiple health guests, Wim Hof
Wim Hof Episode Summary →Lifespan: Why We Age — and Why We Don't Have To
Sinclair's research into the biology of aging. Covers NAD+, sirtuins, fasting, and cutting-edge interventions discussed in DOAC's longevity episodes. The thesis: aging is a disease, and it can be treated.
Recommended by: David Sinclair (guest), longevity guests
The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential
Hof's guide to cold exposure and breathwork for immune function, mental clarity, and stress resilience. His DOAC episode was one of the most popular health episodes, and the method — cold showers + specific breathing — is one of the most-tried protocols by listeners.
Recommended by: Wim Hof (guest)
Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age
Dr. Gupta's evidence-based guide to maintaining cognitive function as you age. Covers exercise, nutrition, sleep, social connection, and cognitive challenges — the five pillars of brain health discussed across multiple DOAC health episodes.
Recommended by: Multiple neuroscience and health guests
The 4-Hour Body
Ferriss' self-experimentation guide covering rapid fat loss, muscle gain, sleep optimization, and more. His "minimum effective dose" approach to health — getting 80% of results from 20% of effort — resonates with time-pressed entrepreneurs.
Recommended by: Tim Ferriss (guest)
Tim Ferriss Episode Summary →Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
Lembke's exploration of how modern pleasure-seeking (social media, porn, drugs, sugar) hijacks your dopamine system. The concept of "dopamine fasting" discussed extensively in DOAC episodes on addiction, focus, and mental health.
Recommended by: Anna Lembke (guest), Andrew Huberman
Anna Lembke Episode Summary →Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
Maté's compassionate view of ADHD as a response to early childhood stress rather than a purely genetic condition. His DOAC episode on childhood trauma and its lifelong effects was one of the most emotionally powerful episodes in the show's history.
Recommended by: Gabor Maté (guest)
Gabor Maté Episode Summary →Money & Investing Books From Diary of a CEO
Financial literacy is a recurring theme on DOAC — some of the best money episodes have changed how millions of listeners think about wealth. These are the books guests recommend for building and keeping money.
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
Housel's thesis that financial success is more about behavior than knowledge. Twenty short lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness — the most-recommended money book on DOAC. The key insight: wealth is what you don't spend.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Morgan Housel (guest), multiple finance guests
Morgan Housel Episode Summary →Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money
Kiyosaki's foundational book on assets vs. liabilities and passive income. While some specifics are dated, the fundamental mental model shift — from earning a salary to building assets that generate income — remains the starting point for most entrepreneurs' financial awakening.
Recommended by: Multiple entrepreneur guests
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
A compilation of Naval's wisdom on creating wealth through "specific knowledge" — skills that can't be trained for and that feel like play to you. His distinction between renting your time vs. owning equity is one of the most influential ideas discussed on DOAC.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Naval Ravikant (guest)
Naval Ravikant Episode Summary →I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Sethi's practical system for automating your finances — bank accounts, investing, and conscious spending — so you can focus on earning more rather than cutting lattes. His DOAC episode on money guilt and "invisible scripts" around wealth was a standout.
Recommended by: Ramit Sethi (guest)
Ramit Sethi Episode Summary →The Intelligent Investor
Graham's value investing classic, recommended for entrepreneurs who want to understand markets and build long-term wealth beyond their business. Warren Buffett calls it "the best investing book ever written."
Recommended by: Finance and investing guests, Ray Dalio
Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
Perkins' contrarian argument that saving too much is as dangerous as saving too little. His framework for optimizing life experiences rather than net worth challenges the default "accumulate forever" mentality common among entrepreneurs. Steven has referenced this idea multiple times.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett
Principles: Life and Work
Dalio's codified decision-making system from building Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. His approach to "radical transparency" and using principles as algorithms for life and business decisions has influenced how multiple DOAC guests think about systematic decision-making.
Recommended by: Ray Dalio (guest), Steven Bartlett
Ray Dalio Episode Summary →Total Money Makeover
Ramsey's step-by-step plan for getting out of debt and building wealth. While more conservative than most DOAC guests' approach to money, the debt snowball method and emergency fund framework provide a solid foundation for anyone starting from zero or negative net worth.
Recommended by: Multiple finance guests
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Subscribe Free →Relationship & Communication Books Recommended on DOAC
Some of the most emotionally powerful Diary of a CEO episodes focus on relationships — here's our full guide to the best relationship episodes. These are the books guests recommend for deeper connections and healthier partnerships.
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts
Chapman's framework for understanding how different people express and receive love: words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, and physical touch. Referenced in nearly every DOAC relationship episode as the starting point for understanding your partner.
Recommended by: Gary Chapman (guest), Matthew Hussey
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
Perel's exploration of desire and domesticity in long-term relationships. Her DOAC episode was one of the most popular relationship episodes, challenging conventional wisdom about maintaining passion in committed partnerships. The central tension: security and desire pull in opposite directions.
Recommended by: Esther Perel (guest)
Esther Perel Episode Summary →Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Johnson's emotionally focused therapy (EFT) approach to improving romantic relationships. The framework for understanding "demon dialogues" — the destructive patterns that erode relationships — is referenced in DOAC's deeper conversations about love.
Recommended by: Relationship and therapy guests
How to Win Friends and Influence People
The original communication book, still relevant 90 years later. Carnegie's principles — show genuine interest, remember names, make others feel important — are referenced across both business and personal development episodes.
Recommended by: Steven Bartlett, Gary Vaynerchuk
No More Mr Nice Guy
Glover's guide for people who suppress their own needs to please others. Comes up in DOAC's conversations about people-pleasing, boundaries, and authentic masculinity. The core idea: "nice guys" aren't actually nice — they're manipulative.
Recommended by: Multiple psychology guests, Chris Williamson
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
Rosenberg's framework for expressing needs without blame or criticism. Useful for both personal relationships and business — several entrepreneur guests have credited it with transforming how they manage teams and navigate conflict.
Recommended by: Multiple guests
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
Gottman's research-based framework for predicting divorce and building lasting relationships. His DOAC episode (with Julie Gottman) was a masterclass in relationship science — the "Four Horsemen" (criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling) are referenced across multiple episodes.
Recommended by: John & Julie Gottman (guests)
Gottman Episode Summary →Leadership & Power Books From DOAC
Leadership is a thread that runs through almost every Diary of a CEO episode. These books go beyond management tactics to the deeper dynamics of influence, persuasion, and power.
The 48 Laws of Power
Greene's controversial exploration of power dynamics throughout history. Love it or hate it, it's one of the most-discussed books on DOAC. His episode with Steven was a deep dive into seduction, mastery, and why understanding power — even if you don't pursue it — protects you from those who do.
Recommended by: Robert Greene (guest), Steven Bartlett
Robert Greene Episode Summary →The Laws of Human Nature
Greene's guide to understanding why people behave the way they do — envy, narcissism, conformity, shortsightedness — and how to navigate these forces. Deeper and more psychologically rich than The 48 Laws of Power.
Recommended by: Robert Greene (guest)
Mastery
Greene's thesis that mastery is available to everyone through the right apprenticeship, creative engagement, and 10,000+ hours of deliberate practice. He discussed the modern path to mastery extensively in his DOAC appearance.
Recommended by: Robert Greene (guest)
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
Sinek's exploration of what makes great teams — it starts with leaders who prioritize their people's safety and well-being. The "Circle of Safety" concept comes up repeatedly in DOAC's leadership episodes.
Recommended by: Simon Sinek (guest)
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Cialdini's six principles of persuasion (reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, consensus) — the foundation of modern marketing and sales psychology. His DOAC episode was a masterclass in ethical influence.
Recommended by: Robert Cialdini (guest), Steven Bartlett
Robert Cialdini Episode Summary →Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
The core principle: leaders must own everything in their world. No blaming, no excuses. This military leadership philosophy applied to business has been referenced by multiple DOAC guests who credit it with transforming how they run companies and teams.
Recommended by: Multiple leadership and entrepreneur guests
Productivity & Habits Books From DOAC
How do the world's highest performers actually get things done? These books — recommended by DOAC guests — go beyond generic productivity tips to the science of deep work, energy management, and high performance. See also: our full productivity tips from DOAC guests.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Newport's argument that the ability to perform deep, focused work is becoming increasingly rare and increasingly valuable. His frameworks for eliminating distraction and producing high-quality output are referenced across DOAC's entrepreneurship and productivity episodes.
Recommended by: Cal Newport (guest), Steven Bartlett
Cal Newport Episode Summary →The 4-Hour Work Week
Ferriss' blueprint for escaping the 9-to-5 through automation, outsourcing, and lifestyle design. While the "4-hour" promise is aspirational, the frameworks — elimination, automation, delegation — are referenced by multiple DOAC entrepreneur guests as foundational to building businesses that don't consume your life.
Recommended by: Tim Ferriss (guest)
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Keller's central question: "What's the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" A powerful focusing framework for entrepreneurs drowning in to-do lists and "urgent" distractions.
Recommended by: Multiple productivity and business guests
Feel-Good Productivity
Abdaal's evidence-based approach to productivity that starts with feeling good rather than grinding harder. His argument: sustainable productivity comes from play, power, and people — not discipline alone. He expanded on this in his DOAC appearance.
Recommended by: Ali Abdaal (guest)
Ali Abdaal Episode Summary →Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Duckworth's research showing that grit — sustained passion and perseverance for long-term goals — predicts success better than talent, IQ, or resources. Her DOAC episode expanded on how to develop grit in yourself and your children.
Recommended by: Angela Duckworth (guest)
Angela Duckworth Episode Summary →High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way
Burchard's research into the six habits that separate high performers from everyone else: clarity, energy, necessity, productivity, influence, and courage. His DOAC episode was a practical masterclass in levelling up.
Recommended by: Brendon Burchard (guest)
Nutrition & Gut Health Books From DOAC
Gut health and nutrition have become breakout topics on Diary of a CEO, with several episodes going viral. Read our complete gut health guide from DOAC for more.
Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar
Inchausp—'s practical guide to managing blood sugar spikes through simple food ordering hacks. Her DOAC episode went viral. The advice — eat fibre first, add vinegar before meals, move after eating — is among the most immediately actionable health advice ever discussed on the podcast.
Recommended by: Jessie Inchausp— (guest)
Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program
Dr. B's guide to gut health through dietary fiber diversity. The gut microbiome is a recurring DOAC topic, and this book provides the most comprehensive food-based approach to improving it — diversity of plants is the key metric.
Recommended by: Will Bulsiewicz (guest)
Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet
Hyman's argument that our food system is broken and how to fix it — from personal nutrition to food policy. His DOAC episode connected individual health choices to systemic problems in how food is produced and marketed.
Recommended by: Mark Hyman (guest)
Spoon-Fed: Why Almost Everything We've Been Told About Food Is Wrong
Spector's challenge to nutritional orthodoxy — calories in/calories out is oversimplified, the microbiome matters more than macros, and most nutrition "rules" are based on bad science. His DOAC episode fundamentally shifted how listeners think about dieting.
Recommended by: Tim Spector (guest)
Tim Spector Episode Summary →The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
Fung's argument that obesity is a hormonal problem (primarily insulin), not a caloric one. His framework for intermittent fasting as a tool for insulin management has been referenced across DOAC's health and weight loss episodes.
Recommended by: Jason Fung (guest)
Spirituality & Philosophy Books From DOAC
Beyond business and health, some of the most transformative DOAC episodes deal with deeper questions of meaning, consciousness, and how to live a good life.
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
Singer's guide to consciousness and inner freedom — learning to observe your thoughts rather than be consumed by them. Referenced by multiple DOAC guests as a book that permanently shifts your relationship with your own mind.
Recommended by: Jay Shetty, multiple wellness guests
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day
Shetty's guide to applying monk-like principles to modern life — purpose, routine, gratitude, and service. His DOAC episode was a deep exploration of how ancient wisdom applies to modern anxiety, career confusion, and relationship problems.
Recommended by: Jay Shetty (guest)
Jay Shetty Episode Summary →The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Holiday's accessible introduction to Stoic philosophy through daily meditations. The Stoic principles of focusing only on what you can control, embracing obstacles, and practicing gratitude run through countless DOAC episodes.
Recommended by: Ryan Holiday (guest), Steven Bartlett
Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy
Former Google X executive Gawdat's engineering approach to happiness — a mathematical model for why we're unhappy and how to fix it. Written after the tragic loss of his son, this book is both intellectually rigorous and deeply personal.
Recommended by: Mo Gawdat (guest)
Mo Gawdat Episode Summary →Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy
Sadhguru's guide to inner transformation through yoga, meditation, and self-awareness. His DOAC episode was one of the most-watched spiritual episodes, blending Eastern philosophy with practical guidance for Western audiences.
Recommended by: Sadhguru (guest)
Sadhguru Episode Summary →Steven Bartlett's Own Books
Steven has written two bestselling books of his own — both drawing on the thousands of conversations he's had on the podcast and his own experience building companies from age 22.
The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life
Steven's magnum opus — 33 principles distilled from 500+ podcast conversations and his own entrepreneurial journey. From "you must out-fail the competition" to the importance of building systems over setting goals, this is the closest thing to a DOAC textbook. Sunday Times #1 bestseller.
Available wherever books are sold — Steven's own episode
Happy Sexy Millionaire: Unexpected Truths About Fulfilment, Love, and Success
Steven's first book, challenging the narrative that money, looks, and status lead to happiness. A candid look at what actually matters — vulnerability, self-awareness, and meaningful relationships — from someone who achieved conventional success young and found it hollow.
Sunday Times bestseller — Read Steven's full bio →
Steven Bartlett's Personal Top 10 Book Recommendations
Across various episodes, Steven has shared his personal reading list. These are the 10 books he references most frequently and credits with shaping how he thinks about business, life, and relationships.
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight — "The best business memoir ever written"
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz — "The most honest book about being a CEO"
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — "Changed how I make decisions"
- Atomic Habits by James Clear — "I re-read it every year"
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl — "Puts everything in perspective"
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel — "The only money book most people need"
- Zero to One by Peter Thiel — "Made me think about competition differently"
- Start With Why by Simon Sinek — "Shaped how I build brands"
- Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker — "The book that changed my health"
- The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters — "Helped me manage my emotions as a CEO"
Curated Reading Paths — Where to Start Based on Your Goals
With 75+ books on this list, the worst thing you can do is try to read them all. Pick the path that matches your biggest challenge right now:
"I'm Starting a Business"
- The Lean Startup — Learn to validate before building
- $100M Offers — Make an offer people can't refuse
- The E-Myth Revisited — Build a system, not a job
- Atomic Habits — Build the daily habits that compound
"I Want to Build Wealth"
- The Psychology of Money — Fix your money mindset first
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich — Automate your finances
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant — Understand leverage and specific knowledge
- Die With Zero — Know when enough is enough
"I Want to Fix My Mental Health"
- Atomic Habits — Small changes create momentum
- The Body Keeps the Score — Understand how trauma lives in your body
- The Power of Now — Learn to stop ruminating
- Dopamine Nation — Fix your reward system
"I Want Better Relationships"
- Attached — Understand your attachment style
- The 5 Love Languages — Learn to speak your partner's language
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work — Research-based relationship science
- Mating in Captivity — Maintain desire in long-term relationships
🏃 "I Want to Optimize My Health"
- Why We Sleep — Fix sleep first (everything else builds on this)
- Outlive — The comprehensive longevity playbook
- Glucose Revolution — Quick wins for energy and weight
- Breath — The simplest free health hack
Never Miss a DOAC Book Recommendation
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- Who Is Steven Bartlett? Full Biography
- Steven Bartlett Net Worth 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About Diary of a CEO Book Recommendations
What books does Steven Bartlett recommend?
Steven Bartlett's most-recommended books include Atomic Habits by James Clear, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, and Zero to One by Peter Thiel. He has also written two bestselling books of his own: Happy Sexy Millionaire and The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life.
What is the most recommended book on Diary of a CEO?
Atomic Habits by James Clear is the most frequently recommended book across all Diary of a CEO episodes, referenced by Steven and over 10 different guests. For business specifically, $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi is the most-referenced title. For health, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker holds the top spot.
Has Steven Bartlett written a book?
Yes — Steven has written two books. Happy Sexy Millionaire (2021) challenges society's definition of success, and The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life (2023) distills lessons from 500+ podcast conversations into 33 actionable principles. Both were Sunday Times bestsellers. Read our full Steven Bartlett biography for more.
What health books are recommended on Diary of a CEO?
The top health books from DOAC include Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, Outlive by Peter Attia, Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchausp—, Breath by James Nestor, Lifespan by David Sinclair, and Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke. See our complete DOAC health episodes guide.
Do I need to read all these books?
Absolutely not. Pick 3-5 books that address your current priority and read them deeply. It's better to fully absorb and implement the ideas from 5 great books than to skim 50. Use our curated reading paths above to find the right starting point for your goals.
Where can I find Diary of a CEO episode summaries?
We publish free summaries of every Diary of a CEO episode at diaryofceo.online/episodes, including key takeaways, quotes, and book recommendations. We cover all 450+ episodes and update weekly as new ones air.