Every book Steven has recommended, quoted, or discussed with guests on the show — and why each one is worth your time.
Steven Bartlett is a voracious reader. Across hundreds of Diary of a CEO episodes, he's referenced, recommended, or discussed dozens of books that shaped his thinking on business, psychology, health, and relationships. Many guests have also shared their own essential reads.
Here are 22 books that come up most often — organized by category, with context on why each one matters.
The book that shaped how Steven built Social Chain. Build, measure, learn. Don't spend years perfecting a product nobody wants — ship fast, get feedback, iterate. Steven has called this the most practical business book he's ever read.
Thiel's contrarian thesis: the best businesses create something entirely new rather than competing in existing markets. Steven has quoted the core question repeatedly: "What important truth do very few people agree with you on?"
Collins studied why some companies make the leap to sustained greatness while others don't. The "flywheel" concept and "Level 5 Leadership" are ideas Steven has referenced when discussing what separates good founders from great ones.
The Nike origin story. Raw, honest, and unglamorous. Steven loves this book because it shows entrepreneurship as it really is — messy, uncertain, and full of near-death moments. Required reading for anyone who romanticizes startups.
No MBA teaches you how to fire your friend or manage a company on the edge of bankruptcy. Horowitz does. Steven has recommended this for anyone in the dark, lonely middle phase of building something.
Steven's memoir-meets-manifesto about the lies society sells about success. It's not strictly a business book — it challenges the assumption that money, status, and achievement will make you happy. A deeply personal read that sets up the philosophy behind the entire podcast.
Kahneman's masterwork on the two systems of thinking — the fast, intuitive one that's often wrong, and the slow, deliberate one that's hard to engage. Steven references this in conversations about decision-making, cognitive biases, and why smart people make dumb choices.
The 1% improvement framework. Clear appeared on the podcast and broke down how tiny habit changes compound into massive results. The "habit stacking" and "environment design" concepts have been referenced in dozens of subsequent episodes.
How trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. This book comes up whenever guests discuss PTSD, childhood experiences, or why talk therapy alone sometimes isn't enough. Essential context for understanding the health episodes.
Frankl's account of surviving Auschwitz and discovering that meaning — not pleasure — is what keeps people alive. Steven and several guests have called this the single most important book they've ever read. Short, devastating, and life-changing.
Tolle's argument that most suffering comes from living in the past or future rather than the present. Multiple guests have credited this book with transforming their relationship to anxiety and overthinking.
Peterson's guide to finding order in chaos. "Clean your room" became a cultural meme, but the deeper ideas — about responsibility, meaning, and confronting suffering — resonated strongly with Steven's audience.
Peters' model of the emotional brain (the "chimp") vs. the rational brain (the "human") and how to manage the conflict. Hugely popular with athletes and entrepreneurs — Steven has credited it with helping him manage emotional reactivity in business.
Walker appeared on the podcast and made the case that sleep is the single most important thing you can do for your health. This book is a wake-up call (pun intended) — poor sleep is linked to cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and obesity. After reading it, Steven overhauled his sleep routine.
Nestor's investigation into how modern humans have forgotten how to breathe properly — and the extraordinary health benefits of relearning. Nasal breathing, slower breathing, and breath-hold exercises are all covered. Pairs perfectly with the Huberman and Wim Hof episodes.
Attia's framework for "Medicine 3.0" — proactive, personalized health optimization rather than waiting for disease. Covers exercise, nutrition, sleep, and emotional health as the four pillars of longevity. Frequently referenced in health advice discussions.
Simple hacks to flatten your glucose curves — eat fibre first, add vinegar, walk after meals. Inchausp— made blood sugar management accessible to non-diabetics and showed how glucose spikes drive cravings, fatigue, and weight gain.
Spector's guide to eating for your microbiome. The "30 plants per week" rule, the case for fermented foods, and why calorie counting misses the point. A foundational text for anyone interested in the gut-health episodes.
Perel's provocative thesis: love and desire are fundamentally different needs, and satisfying both in one relationship requires deliberate effort. The tension between security and mystery is at the heart of every long-term relationship.
The accessible guide to attachment theory in adult relationships. Helps you identify your style (anxious, avoidant, secure) and understand why certain relationship patterns keep repeating. Multiple guests have called it essential reading before dating seriously.
Chapman's framework — words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, physical touch — helps partners understand that they may express and receive love differently. Simple but powerful, especially when couples feel disconnected despite both "trying."
The granddaddy of social skills books. Steven has mentioned reading this as a teenager and crediting it with shaping how he builds relationships in business. The principles — genuine interest, listening, making people feel important — are timeless.
"A book is the most patient teacher you'll ever have. It waits for you, it doesn't judge you, and it gives you exactly what you're ready for." — Steven Bartlett
These are the safest first picks from the DOAC canon — high-signal books that keep showing up across business, money, health, and mindset episodes.
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Hear Steven and his guests discuss these books — and hundreds more ideas — across 400+ episodes of Diary of a CEO.
Browse All Episodes →Don't try to read all 22. Pick the category that matches where you are in life right now. Starting a business? Go with the top 7. Struggling with relationships? Start with Perel and Attached. Feeling burnt out? Walker and Attia will change how you think about your body.
The best book is the one you'll actually read. Start there.