29 Books like The Formula

Everything is Obvious

by Duncan J. Watts • 2011

Common sense is a reverse-engineered story: it explains the past perfectly and predicts nothing.

3.81

5k+

🌀 Complexity Science 🧠 Behavioral Economics 🔗 Systems Thinking 🔮 Hindsight Bias 🐦 Social Emergence

Everything is Obvious 95%

Common sense is a reverse-engineered story: it explains the past perfectly and predicts nothing.

by Duncan J. Watts 2011

3.81

5k+ ratings

🌀 Complexity Science 🧠 Behavioral Economics 🔗 Systems Thinking 🔮 Hindsight Bias 🐦 Social Emergence

Unreasonable Success and How to Achieve It

by Richard Koch • 2020

Extraordinary success has a blueprint. Nine patterns from the people who actually changed the world.

3.81

303

🏆 Outlier Success 📋 Success Principles ⚡ High Performance 🧠 Entrepreneurial Mindset 📚 Success Studies

Unreasonable Success and How to Achieve It Summary

Unreasonable Success and How to Achieve It 95%

Extraordinary success has a blueprint. Nine patterns from the people who actually changed the world.

by Richard Koch 2020

3.81

303 ratings

🏆 Outlier Success 📋 Success Principles ⚡ High Performance 🧠 Entrepreneurial Mindset 📚 Success Studies

Talent

by Tyler Cowen • 2022

Your best hire isn't conscientious or credentialed. An economist explains what to look for instead.

3.57

1k+

🧭 Talent Identification 🧠 Cognitive Ability 👩‍💼 Gender Bias At Work 📈 Compound Improvement 🔭 Scouting Talent

Talent 95%

Your best hire isn't conscientious or credentialed. An economist explains what to look for instead.

by Tyler Cowen 2022

3.57

1k+ ratings

🧭 Talent Identification 🧠 Cognitive Ability 👩‍💼 Gender Bias At Work 📈 Compound Improvement 🔭 Scouting Talent

How to Become Famous

by Cass R. Sunstein • 2024

The Beatles weren't inevitable. A behavioral economist on the luck behind every success story.

3.48

127

📊 Behavioral Economics 🌟 Celebrity Culture 🎯 Survivorship Bias 🍀 Luck And Success 🔄 Social Contagion

How to Become Famous 95%

The Beatles weren't inevitable. A behavioral economist on the luck behind every success story.

by Cass R. Sunstein 2024

3.48

127 ratings

📊 Behavioral Economics 🌟 Celebrity Culture 🎯 Survivorship Bias 🍀 Luck And Success 🔄 Social Contagion

Quicklet Outliers Malcolm Gladwell

by The Quicklet Team • 2011

Why your birth month and your ancestors' work habits shape your success more than your IQ.

4.18

120

📊 Sociology Of Success 🎯 Deliberate Practice 🌐 Cultural Legacies ⏱️ Timing And Luck 🧠 Practical Intelligence

Quicklet Outliers Malcolm Gladwell Summary

Quicklet Outliers Malcolm Gladwell 94%

Why your birth month and your ancestors' work habits shape your success more than your IQ.

by The Quicklet Team 2011

4.18

120 ratings

📊 Sociology Of Success 🎯 Deliberate Practice 🌐 Cultural Legacies ⏱️ Timing And Luck 🧠 Practical Intelligence

Decoding Greatness

by Ron Friedman • 2021

A method for deconstructing excellence and closing the gap between taste and skill.

4.22

1k+

🔍 Success Deconstruction 🎯 Deliberate Practice 📊 Success Metrics 🔄 Feedback Loops 🧪 Risk And Experimentation

Decoding Greatness 94%

A method for deconstructing excellence and closing the gap between taste and skill.

by Ron Friedman 2021

4.22

1k+ ratings

🔍 Success Deconstruction 🎯 Deliberate Practice 📊 Success Metrics 🔄 Feedback Loops 🧪 Risk And Experimentation

Great at Work

by Morten T. Hansen • 2018

Working harder explains little. A 5,000-person study reveals what actually moves the needle.

3.79

3k+

🧠 Knowledge Work 🎯 Prioritization 🔄 Deliberate Practice 🧭 Purpose-Driven Work 📢 Workplace Advocacy

Great at Work 94%

Working harder explains little. A 5,000-person study reveals what actually moves the needle.

by Morten T. Hansen 2018

3.79

3k+ ratings

🧠 Knowledge Work 🎯 Prioritization 🔄 Deliberate Practice 🧭 Purpose-Driven Work 📢 Workplace Advocacy

Black Hole Focus

by Isaiah Hankel • 2014

Smart but drifting: a system for naming your purpose, locking in conviction, taking real action.

3.87

399

🧭 Purpose Discovery ✏️ Life Design 🎯 Deliberate Practice 🔬 Positive Psychology 🏃 Action Orientation

Black Hole Focus 94%

Smart but drifting: a system for naming your purpose, locking in conviction, taking real action.

by Isaiah Hankel 2014

3.87

399 ratings

🧭 Purpose Discovery ✏️ Life Design 🎯 Deliberate Practice 🔬 Positive Psychology 🏃 Action Orientation

The Serendipity Mindset

by Christian Busch • 2020

The luck that changes careers isn't random: it follows rules anyone can learn.

3.68

649

🍀 Career Luck 👀 Opportunity Spotting 🔄 Cognitive Reframing 🤝 Network Building 😊 Positive Psychology

The Serendipity Mindset 94%

The luck that changes careers isn't random: it follows rules anyone can learn.

by Christian Busch 2020

3.68

649 ratings

🍀 Career Luck 👀 Opportunity Spotting 🔄 Cognitive Reframing 🤝 Network Building 😊 Positive Psychology

The 80/20 Principle and 92 Other Power Laws of Nature

by Richard Koch • 2013

Work less and win more: the 93 laws from nature that multiply your business results.

3.66

524

🏢 Business Strategy 📊 Power Laws 🔗 Systems Thinking ⚔️ Competitive Strategy 🧬 Business Evolution

The 80/20 Principle and 92 Other Power Laws of Nature Summary

The 80/20 Principle and 92 Other Power Laws of Nature 94%

Work less and win more: the 93 laws from nature that multiply your business results.

by Richard Koch 2013

3.66

524 ratings

🏢 Business Strategy 📊 Power Laws 🔗 Systems Thinking ⚔️ Competitive Strategy 🧬 Business Evolution

8 Steps to High Performance

by Marc Effron • 2018

Ditch management fads. The science on the few behaviors that actually predict top performance.

3.68

234

💼 Corporate Leadership 🚀 Career Acceleration 📊 Evidence-Based Practice 🔬 Scientific Self-Help 🎭 Behavioral Adaptation

8 Steps to High Performance 94%

Ditch management fads. The science on the few behaviors that actually predict top performance.

by Marc Effron 2018

3.68

234 ratings

💼 Corporate Leadership 🚀 Career Acceleration 📊 Evidence-Based Practice 🔬 Scientific Self-Help 🎭 Behavioral Adaptation

Do Over

by Jon Acuff • 2015

Before you need a new job, stockpile four things no resume can list.

4.04

4k+

🔄 Career Reinvention 📈 Career Advancement 🤝 Professional Networking 🛠️ Skill Building 💪 Work Ethic

Do Over 94%

Before you need a new job, stockpile four things no resume can list.

by Jon Acuff 2015

4.04

4k+ ratings

🔄 Career Reinvention 📈 Career Advancement 🤝 Professional Networking 🛠️ Skill Building 💪 Work Ethic

The Success Indicator Acceleration Report

by MaryEllen Tribby • 2013

Success is built on a few daily behaviors. This book gives you the checklist.

3.25

🚀 Career Success 🎯 Goal Setting 🛡️ Personal Accountability 🌿 Adaptability 📚 Continuous Learning

The Success Indicator Acceleration Report Summary

The Success Indicator Acceleration Report 94%

Success is built on a few daily behaviors. This book gives you the checklist.

by MaryEllen Tribby 2013

3.25

4 ratings

🚀 Career Success 🎯 Goal Setting 🛡️ Personal Accountability 🌿 Adaptability 📚 Continuous Learning

Manage Your Day-to-Day

by Jocelyn K. Glei • 2013

Reclaim your best creative hours from email and distraction with one rule that puts the work first.

3.98

28k+

🎨 Creative Workflow 🔕 Attention Management 🔄 Habit Design 📵 Digital Minimalism 🚧 Creative Constraints

Manage Your Day-to-Day 94%

Reclaim your best creative hours from email and distraction with one rule that puts the work first.

by Jocelyn K. Glei 2013

3.98

28k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Workflow 🔕 Attention Management 🔄 Habit Design 📵 Digital Minimalism 🚧 Creative Constraints

A Bigger Prize

by Margaret Heffernan • 2014

Competition sharpens, we're told. In business, science, and schools, the evidence says it dulls.

3.81

184

📎 Collaborative Models 🔥 Intrinsic Motivation ☣️ Toxic Competition ⚖️ Meritocracy Critique 💻 Open Source Innovation

A Bigger Prize 94%

Competition sharpens, we're told. In business, science, and schools, the evidence says it dulls.

by Margaret Heffernan 2014

3.81

184 ratings

📎 Collaborative Models 🔥 Intrinsic Motivation ☣️ Toxic Competition ⚖️ Meritocracy Critique 💻 Open Source Innovation

The Clever Connector

by Ali Scarlett • 2020

The networking rules that work when you have no name, no money, and no connections yet.

3.89

🧵 Professional Networking 📈 Career Advancement 🏷️ Personal Branding 🧭 Mentorship 🧠 Emotional Intelligence

The Clever Connector 93%

The networking rules that work when you have no name, no money, and no connections yet.

by Ali Scarlett 2020

3.89

28 ratings

🧵 Professional Networking 📈 Career Advancement 🏷️ Personal Branding 🧭 Mentorship 🧠 Emotional Intelligence

Outliers

by Malcolm Gladwell • 2008

Success is not a solo act: birth timing, cultural legacies, and hidden practice determine who rises.

4.19

874k+

🎭 Success Fallacy 🏋️ Deliberate Practice 📈 Cumulative Advantage 🌍 Cultural Legacies 🗣️ Cross-Cultural Communication

Outliers 93%

Success is not a solo act: birth timing, cultural legacies, and hidden practice determine who rises.

by Malcolm Gladwell 2008

4.19

874k+ ratings

🎭 Success Fallacy 🏋️ Deliberate Practice 📈 Cumulative Advantage 🌍 Cultural Legacies 🗣️ Cross-Cultural Communication

Smarter Faster Better

by Charles Duhigg • 2016

Productivity relies on meaningful choices, safe teams, and stretch goals that drive real growth.

3.90

36k+

🏢 Organizational Psychology ⚡ Workplace Productivity 🎯 Goal Setting Frameworks 🛡️ Psychological Safety 🧠 Mental Models

Smarter Faster Better 93%

Productivity relies on meaningful choices, safe teams, and stretch goals that drive real growth.

by Charles Duhigg 2016

3.90

36k+ ratings

🏢 Organizational Psychology ⚡ Workplace Productivity 🎯 Goal Setting Frameworks 🛡️ Psychological Safety 🧠 Mental Models

Bluefishing

by Steve Sims • 2017

A concierge to the ultra-rich reveals the unpolished truth about getting impossible things done.

3.97

2k+

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Relationship Networking 🏷️ Personal Branding 🚀 Bold Action 🔄 Failure As Feedback 🎯 Unconventional Success

Bluefishing 93%

A concierge to the ultra-rich reveals the unpolished truth about getting impossible things done.

by Steve Sims 2017

3.97

2k+ ratings

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Relationship Networking 🏷️ Personal Branding 🚀 Bold Action 🔄 Failure As Feedback 🎯 Unconventional Success

Edgy Conversations

by Dan Waldschmidt • 2013

Loving your work and giving without expectation are the most cutthroat strategies you haven't tried.

3.81

1k+

🏆 Extreme Performance 📈 Career Advancement ⏰ Extreme Discipline 🎁 Giving Mindset 😱 Overcoming Fear

Edgy Conversations 93%

Loving your work and giving without expectation are the most cutthroat strategies you haven't tried.

by Dan Waldschmidt 2013

3.81

1k+ ratings

🏆 Extreme Performance 📈 Career Advancement ⏰ Extreme Discipline 🎁 Giving Mindset 😱 Overcoming Fear

The Power of Giving Away Power

by Matthew Barzun • 2021

Chain of command is a bottleneck. How sharing authority makes teams smarter and momentum renewable.

3.86

518

🕸️ Distributed Leadership 🏗️ Organizational Design 🤝 Collaboration Culture 🌿 Ecosystem Thinking 🌊 Uncertainty Management

The Power of Giving Away Power 93%

Chain of command is a bottleneck. How sharing authority makes teams smarter and momentum renewable.

by Matthew Barzun 2021

3.86

518 ratings

🕸️ Distributed Leadership 🏗️ Organizational Design 🤝 Collaboration Culture 🌿 Ecosystem Thinking 🌊 Uncertainty Management

10X Your Focus

by Dhritiman Chakraborty • 2023

Distraction is the invisible ceiling on your career. The evidence-based system for breaking through.

4.58

📈 Professional Development 🎯 Attention Management 🧱 Habit Design 🌱 Growth Mindset 🧠 Brain Optimization

10X Your Focus 93%

Distraction is the invisible ceiling on your career. The evidence-based system for breaking through.

by Dhritiman Chakraborty 2023

4.58

52 ratings

📈 Professional Development 🎯 Attention Management 🧱 Habit Design 🌱 Growth Mindset 🧠 Brain Optimization

The Power of Preeminence

by Paul Rulkens • 2017

Small edges in the right places create disproportionate rewards. Here is where to find yours.

4.40

🏔️ Marginal Gains 🧠 Cognitive Biases ⏰ Time Management 👁️ Visualization ⚡ High Performance

The Power of Preeminence 93%

Small edges in the right places create disproportionate rewards. Here is where to find yours.

by Paul Rulkens 2017

4.40

20 ratings

🏔️ Marginal Gains 🧠 Cognitive Biases ⏰ Time Management 👁️ Visualization ⚡ High Performance

The 80/20 Principle

by Richard Koch • 1997

Most of what you work on barely matters. The playbook for finding the fraction that does.

3.98

31k+

🤑 Profit Optimization 📊 Power Laws 🎯 Selective Focus ⏰ Time Leverage 🔍 Complexity Reduction

The 80/20 Principle 93%

Most of what you work on barely matters. The playbook for finding the fraction that does.

by Richard Koch 1997

3.98

31k+ ratings

🤑 Profit Optimization 📊 Power Laws 🎯 Selective Focus ⏰ Time Leverage 🔍 Complexity Reduction

Beyond Talent

by John C. Maxwell • 2011

Your talent got you here. The choices that take you further are learnable by anyone.

4.10

256

🎯 Talent Development 🏢 Leadership Development 🏋️ Deliberate Practice 🧠 Growth Mindset 🦾 Grit And Perseverance

Beyond Talent 93%

Your talent got you here. The choices that take you further are learnable by anyone.

by John C. Maxwell 2011

4.10

256 ratings

🎯 Talent Development 🏢 Leadership Development 🏋️ Deliberate Practice 🧠 Growth Mindset 🦾 Grit And Perseverance

Talent is Overrated

by Geoff Colvin • 2008

Forget talent. World-class skill comes from a demanding, feedback-rich practice no one enjoys.

3.93

21k+

🧪 Expertise Research 🎭 Talent Myth 🏋️ Skill Development 🧠 Performance Psychology 🔥 Intrinsic Motivation

Talent is Overrated 93%

Forget talent. World-class skill comes from a demanding, feedback-rich practice no one enjoys.

by Geoff Colvin 2008

3.93

21k+ ratings

🧪 Expertise Research 🎭 Talent Myth 🏋️ Skill Development 🧠 Performance Psychology 🔥 Intrinsic Motivation

Bounce

by Matthew Syed • 2010

World-class performance is earned, not inborn: ten years of structured, feedback-driven failure.

4.06

10k+

🎭 Talent Myth 🏋️ Deliberate Practice 🌱 Growth Mindset 😰 Choking Under Pressure 👁️ Expert Intuition

Bounce 93%

World-class performance is earned, not inborn: ten years of structured, feedback-driven failure.

by Matthew Syed 2010

4.06

10k+ ratings

🎭 Talent Myth 🏋️ Deliberate Practice 🌱 Growth Mindset 😰 Choking Under Pressure 👁️ Expert Intuition

101 Crucial Lessons They Don't Teach You in Business School

by Chris Haroun • 2015

The MBA skips people, politics, and burnout. These 101 lessons don't.

3.83

207

🛤️ Career Development 💡 Entrepreneurial Mindset 🤝 Networking Strategy ⚖️ Work-Life Balance 🏢 Corporate Politics

101 Crucial Lessons They Don't Teach You in Business School Summary

101 Crucial Lessons They Don't Teach You in Business School 93%

The MBA skips people, politics, and burnout. These 101 lessons don't.

by Chris Haroun 2015

3.83

207 ratings

🛤️ Career Development 💡 Entrepreneurial Mindset 🤝 Networking Strategy ⚖️ Work-Life Balance 🏢 Corporate Politics

The Gold Mine Effect

by Rasmus Ankersen • 2012

Talent is scattered evenly. The places that produce champions know how to mine it.

4.03

673

🧬 Talent Development 🧠 Sports Psychology 🎯 Deliberate Practice 🔬 Expert Performance 🌱 Growth Mindset

The Gold Mine Effect 93%

Talent is scattered evenly. The places that produce champions know how to mine it.

by Rasmus Ankersen 2012

4.03

673 ratings

🧬 Talent Development 🧠 Sports Psychology 🎯 Deliberate Practice 🔬 Expert Performance 🌱 Growth Mindset

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M