You don’t need a 100-book reading list to change your life.
What you really need is a **balanced reading portfolio**—a few key categories that keep you growing in money, mindset, and everyday life.
Here are seven book categories we recommend building into your year.
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## 1. Money & Wealth Basics
Books that teach you how money actually works in real life:
– Saving and investing
– Avoiding common mistakes
– Building financial freedom slowly
Think: *The Psychology of Money*, *Rich Dad Poor Dad*, simple index-investing guides.
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## 2. Habits & Behaviour
If you upgrade your habits, everything else becomes easier.
Look for books about:
– Behaviour change
– Motivation
– Tiny daily improvements
Think: *Atomic Habits*, *Tiny Habits*, *The Power of Habit*.
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## 3. Productivity & Focus
Not “hustle porn”—but practical strategies to do quality work without burning out:
– Deep work
– Time management
– Attention and distraction
Think: *Deep Work*, *Essentialism*, *Make Time*.
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## 4. Mindset & Resilience
Life will throw surprises. These books help you bounce back:
– Growth mindset
– Stoicism and philosophy
– Emotional resilience
Think: *Mindset*, *The Obstacle Is the Way*, *Man’s Search for Meaning*.
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## 5. Career & Business
Even if you’re not an entrepreneur, business thinking is a superpower:
– Negotiation
– Communication
– Systems and leverage
Think: *So Good They Can’t Ignore You*, *The Lean Startup*, *Rework*.
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## 6. Creativity & Ideas
You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from creative thinking:
– Idea generation
– Storytelling
– Learning how to think differently
Think: *Steal Like an Artist*, *Show Your Work*, *Range*.
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## 7. Light / Fun Reads
Don’t turn reading into punishment. Mix in:
– Novels
– Humour
– Light biographies
Anything that makes you *want* to pick up the book again.
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**How to use this list**
1. Look at your current reading stack.
2. Circle which of these seven categories are missing.
3. Choose *one* new book that fills a gap.
Over a year, this simple approach gives you a deep, well-rounded “curriculum” without feeling like school. That’s exactly how we organise recommendations at BluePack Journal—so your next book always fits into the bigger picture of who you’re becoming.
