Category: Book recommendation

  • Steven Pinker: The sense of style

    The Sense of Style, by Steven Pinker, is an evidence-based guide on writing that blends linguistics, cognitive psychology, and practical techniques to help writers achieve clarity and readability. This modern approach, suited for academics and professionals, emphasises the “classic style” that presents ideas conversationally to engage and inform readers.

  • Tony Fadell: Build

    Build, by Tony Fadell, combines career insights and product innovation advice from the creator of the iPod and Nest thermostat. His book provides a blueprint for high-impact career choices, iterative development, and leadership, making it valuable for anyone interested in innovative design or who is looking for a radical perspective on academic career development.

  • Cal Newport: Deep work

    Deep Work by Cal Newport explores how focused, undistracted work boosts productivity and fulfillment in a world filled with digital distractions. Through strategies and routines, Newport shows how cultivating deep work can lead to higher quality output, helping professionals, especially busy academics, achieve more meaningful results in their work.

  • Oliver Burkeman: Four thousand weeks

    In Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman reframes time management, focusing on our 4,000-week lifespan to challenge the relentless pursuit of productivity. Burkeman’s insights encourage readers to embrace limits, focus on meaningful work, and find satisfaction in life’s finite nature, offering a refreshing perspective for today’s overwhelmed professionals.

  • Paul Silvia: How to write a lot

    How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia is a practical guide for academics struggling to boost their writing productivity. Silvia emphasizes disciplined scheduling, self-monitoring, and overcoming perfectionism to make writing a consistent part of one’s routine. His strategies empower scholars to publish more without compromising personal time.

  • James Clear: Atomic habits

    Atomic Habits explores how tiny changes can lead to remarkable personal transformations. Using a four-step method—cue, craving, response, and reward—Clear shows how to design productive habits and eliminate negative ones. This book offers academics practical tools for sustaining progress in high-stakes, fast-paced environments.

  • Sönke Ahrens: How to take smart notes

    How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens provides a practical overview of the Zettelkasten method, a structured approach to note-taking that streamlines the writing and learning process for academics. By capturing, refining, and interlinking ideas, this method enhances creativity, productivity, and critical thinking, transforming the way scholars engage with complex research.

  • Jason Fried and David Hansson: Rework

    Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson challenges conventional approaches to work and management, advocating for a minimalist, practical mindset. By focusing on essential tasks, rejecting unnecessary meetings, and embracing constraints, the book empowers readers to maximise productivity and create a sustainable, impact-driven work culture.

  • Fried & Hansson: It doesn’t have to be crazy at work

    It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson champions a “calm company” approach, where productivity doesn’t equate to relentless busyness. By minimising distractions, protecting time, and setting realistic expectations, the authors propose a sustainable work culture that prioritises well-being alongside impactful results.

  • Stephen King: On writing

    On Writing, by Stephen King, blends memoir and practical advice, giving writers a glimpse into the creative process while offering valuable tools. From embracing authentic voice to developing a daily writing routine, King’s insights help writers—especially busy academics—cultivate a productive, disciplined approach to their craft.