Chris Williamson is one of the hypnotizing experts mentioned by a Modern Wisdom podcast. He is an ex-Love Islander, podcaster, and club promoter. Other topics his explorations were to touch on include: health and lifestyle, such as psychology and philosophy, available to students.
Atomic Habits
Chris WilliamsonsourceA must read for everyone. The most accessible, comprehensive, practical habit book I’ve found
The book reveals the power of small changes in routine actions which bring enormous results in the long run. It emphasizes how small changes can aggregate to immense leaps of personal or professional improvement. It describes ways of breaking bad habits and building good ones with a combination of science and real-life stories. It has a core message in that success is not to be found in massive overnight changes but in the consistency of small actions driving us toward our goals. Therefore, it is offering practical advice as to how behavior changes stick and transform habits into a track leading to achieving lasting success.
Man's Search for Meaning
Chris WilliamsonsourceA harrowing, hopeful, insightful journey which is doubly satisfying as you get to hear the story AND his proposed psychological explanation for why these situations occurred within one book. A serious contrast effect occurs upon reading too
Sapiens
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe seminal breakdown of how human civilisation was founded, evolved, matured and developed. Basically a story book of our species’ own history
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe OG of cognitive biases and rationality. If you’re interested in how the
mind works and why you have the decisions, opinions and beliefs that you do, this is a fascinating read
Can't Hurt Me
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you’re stuck in a rut and need a kick up the arse, this is the one
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you haven’t read this then you really need to as it’s completely essential to being a functioning adult
The Psychology of Money
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you want to improve your understanding of how to become & stay wealthy - start here
Why we sleep
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe only book on sleep you need in my opinion. Single-handedly changed my view of rest and recovery
Essentialism
Chris WilliamsonsourceThis is a book which brobably changed my fundamental big picture approach to life more than anythink else and it`s one of the very few life design books which actually delivers on it`s promise
The Obstacle Is the Way
Chris WilliamsonsourceMy favourite book from Ryan, I’d strongly recommend starting here if you’ve wanted to get into Stoicism
Deep Work
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you haven’t already, this is a must read for all knowledge-workers
The Untethered Soul
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you’re interested in why our internal world is the way it is - this is a great
book
Mindset
Chris WilliamsonsourceAnother must-read
Never Split the Difference
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe Ex-Lead International Kidnapping Negotiator for the FBI gives you his best tips for effective communication and negotiation in business and your personal life
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf I’d read this 15 years ago I would have avoided a lot of errors and probably be a millionaire. You must read this
Endurance
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe story tracks the full narrative in brutal detail. Such a powerful, inspiring
story which will remind you just how far human potential can go. Perfect bedtime book
The War of Art
Chris WilliamsonsourceYou have no reason not to commit a couple of hours to this book. I highlighted something on nearly every page. It's that good
The E-Myth
Chris WilliamsonsourceMandatory reading for any fledgling entrepreneur
The Way of the Superior Man
Chris WilliamsonsourceA classic insight into masculinity, the challenges of living as a male, what it means to be a man and how you can grow spiritually while juggling all the other requirements of your life like work, women and sexual desire
The Daily Stoic
Chris WilliamsonsourceIt’s a great introduction to Stoicism but the single-page format means you tend to only spend a short amount of time exposed to each concept
Range
Chris WilliamsonsourceA great insight into the advantages of being a generalist rather than a specialist
Into the Wild
Chris WilliamsonsourceGreat bedtime read
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It
Chris WilliamsonsourceA short, 100-page read on why loving yourself is so important
Models
Chris WilliamsonsourceProbably the first book you need as a man to become effective at dating
The Madness of Crowds
Chris WilliamsonsourceAn easy to read breakdown of how our relationship to reality has been eroded, illustrated with some absurd examples from the last few years
Lost Connections
Chris WilliamsonsourceA really fantastic dive into depression’s causes
Indistractable
Chris WilliamsonsourceA great psychological breakdown of what causes us to become distracted, how we can counteract it and some novel techniques to control your time and attention
Getting Things Done
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe original productivity method manual
Waking Up
Chris WilliamsonsourceTHE Sam Harris book to read
Superintelligence
Chris WilliamsonsourceIntellectually challenging and not a light read, but outrageously fascinating, terrifying and rewarding. If you like Sci-Fi, this is basically a non-fiction Sci-Fi read
The Personal MBA
Chris WilliamsonsourceThis one book gives a more practical, applicable overview of every area of business education that you need
Loving What Is
Chris WilliamsonsourceA friend called this “the most important book I’ve ever read”. Makes for an interesting insight into how your emotions and cerebral monologue interact
Turning Pro
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you’re ready to Turn Pro, dedicate a couple of hours to this
The Forgotten Highlander
Chris WilliamsonsourceBrutal and painful but an amazing reminder that our own problems pale in comparison with how bad life could be. A jaw dropping story, definitely
one of the must-reads
The Happiness Hypothesis
Chris WilliamsonsourceJonathan breaks down how our minds work and how our cognitive, conscious processes are constantly battling with our underlying, ancient
motivations. Insights into depression, happiness, love, meaning and more
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you’re looking for an itemised breakdown of the Stoic philosophy, this isn’t for you
Why Buddhism is True
Chris WilliamsonsourceBlending EvPsych with Buddhist teachings was never going to be a simple task but Bob Wright nails it here. If you’re interested in why the texture
of your mind is the way it is and how you can improve it, this is for you
Lying
Chris WilliamsonsourceA 1-hour read on why you should never lie. There’s no reason not to pick this one up
Endure (Alex Hutchinson)
Chris WilliamsonsourceJust a fantastic, inspiring read
Effortless
Chris WilliamsonsourceAnother counter to the pervasive “work harder” mentality
Boyd
Chris WilliamsonsourceA book if you want to imagine what it’s like to be a fighter pilot in the golden era of Top Gun, and be reminded of the power of sticking to your principles
The Elephant in the Brain
Chris WilliamsonsourceRobin strategically breaks down the underlying signals that hide in many of the things we do every day
The Moral Animal
Chris WilliamsonsourceOne of the most important books I’ve ever read
How to Be a Stoic
Chris WilliamsonsourceA very practical journey into Stoicism and how to apply Stoic principles and learnings to your everyday life
The Precipice
Chris WilliamsonsourceThe best insight into Existential Risk I’ve ever found. It will alter your view of the world in a fundamental way. Makes a nice change from reading non-fiction which is just about personal development
Blueprint
Chris WilliamsonsourceProfound and insightful
Alchemy
Chris WilliamsonsourceAlchemy is a must read for anyone fascinated with psychology or consumerism and advertising
Human Compatible
Chris WilliamsonsourceA deep dive into The Control Problem of aligning artificial intelligence’s goals with those of humanity
The Ape that Understood the Universe
Chris WilliamsonsourceIt’s an endless barrage of jaw dropping discoveries and incredibly accessible. You’ll be highlighting every other paragraph
If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
Chris WilliamsonsourceIf you like thinking about aliens and space and potentials for other civilisations, this is a really good read
Book recommendations taken from Chris Williamson's social media posts, podkasts and his Modern Wisdom Reading List: 100 books to read before you die.