10 Best Books On Focus & Concentration

Standing in the middle of the bustling coffee shop, you have come all prepared to dive deep into that book you have been planning to read for so long. All of a sudden, you hear “Oops! I did it again!” blasting loudly on the speakers. Your focus disappears faster than Harry Potter Apparating out of a sticky situation! Have you experienced this before? Well, if you have, then we have something for you. We will explore books that will help you channel your inner Jedi faster than Luke Skywalker reaching for his lightsaber. Let’s embark on this journey in the world of focus and concentration and know what all are the best books on focus to begin with!

Best Books on Focus 

Self-help books aren’t a foreign concept to the world anymore. “Self-help” has actually become one of the most liked genres of books throughout all age groups. The best books on focus usually include the ancient wisdom of sages from the cultures around the world to dynamic insights of the modern-day motivational gurus. From real-life experiences and examples, these books on focus will help you get a hold of your scattered thoughts and help you attain a laser-like focus in no time.  

1. Hyperfocus

Author: Chris Bailey

Rating: 4.4/5

Chris Bailey has deeply analysed numerous minute insights on how the human brain focuses. Focus is a key element of productivity. Hyperfocus is a book that primarily emphasises helping the readers in improving their focus. The book uses neuroscientific principles and various scientific studies as their base and trains readers to be more attentive. This book on focus has listed down the best practices for turning off autopilot and doing things with the intention of acting upon them with proactive problem-solving skills. 

2. Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence

Author: Daniel Goleman

Rating: 4.4/5

Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence is one of the best books on focus and concentration, which sheds light on understanding the need to improve one's focus and attention. Having a steady focus is directly proportional to having a more productive and healthier life. As a psychologist and science journalist, he has worked in-depth on emotional intelligence and leadership. In this book, the author has named attention as a convoluted and undermined concept that society often doesn’t pay much heed to. Although, if this resource is used rightly, it affects all aspects of your life most positively.

3. Deep Work

Author: Cal Newport

Rating: 4.5/5

Deep Work is another best book to read for focus which basically discusses how multitasking kills productivity. Cal Newport basically discusses the need for people to stop multi-tasking as it serves as one of the best distractions. This book has also used Sophie Leroy’s study where she demonstrates how switching tasks A to B can hamper the focus as you are only half focused on the task at hand. Because of this, in the end, nothing gets done, and the person is tired. The book navigates the reader through how one can do much more in a given time through deep concentration. 

4. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less

Author: Greg McKeown

Rating: 

This is rated one of the best books on focus as it talks about simplifying it for everyone by training individuals to focus on what is really important. Here, the reader learns how to prioritise their work or life in general and spend their time and energy on things that truly matter. You can also learn to say no to nonessential things in a stern way. This provides clarity as to what the reader should pick up, choose what needs to be done, and do less and better with the task at hand. By far, Essentialism is one of the best books to improve focus.

5. Your Brain At Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long

Author: David Rock

Rating: 4.4/5

This book on focus by David Rock works around the concept of how the human brain functions under pressure and how we can optimize productivity. The book circles around the ways in which one can minimize distractions and increase focus. Firstly, the book talks about how one's ability to think and think well is a very scarce resource, which one should always use very mindfully. Additionally, the book also emphasises the right arousal of the brain to perform optimally and how the feelings of uncertainty and no control can lead the brain to get distracted a lot. Your Brain At Work by David Rock thus is one of the best books to read for focus. 

6. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Author: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi 

Rating: 4.1/5

This book on focus by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about ‘flow’ as a concept where one is completely indulged in a single activity and enjoys it thoroughly. This book shares an in-depth insight into how one can be extremely focused on one thing. The book circles around how to develop new skills and grow in life; one needs to face challenges that, in return, provide personal rewards. Continuous focused attention also helps in calming our anxiety on things that don’t matter as much by helping us gain newer perspectives as we unveil new ways to learn through them. This is rated one of the best books to improve focus and also tells us how to use our time well by living in newer and more fruitful dimensions.

7. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity 

Author: David Allen

Rating: 4/5

Are you overflowing with work, which is, in turn, overwhelming you to a level where nothing is getting done? Worry not! This book on focus and concentration, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen, is a simplified version of a complex process to increase productivity in your daily life. The methods used in this book are used by millions of people around the world, influential or not. This is one of the best books on focus, which helps an individual simplify their life by helping them understand how they can master their workflow, organize all the tasks, and maintain a positive perspective in life. The system is referred to as GTD (Getting Things Done) and enhances productivity by asking a simple question, which is, “What is the next concrete step which will bring me closer to my goal?” It just keeps an individual going.

8. Thinking Fast & Slow

Author: Daniel Kahneman

Ratings: 4.2/5

Authored by Daniel Kahneman, this book on focus, Thinking Fast & Slow talks, breaks down the two important systems - the fast system and the slow system. The first system is fast, where the mode of thinking for an individual is typically based upon their emotions and subconscious reactions to the situations. It is also considered a bit impractical; it is highly based upon the gut instinct of a person. The second system boasts a more logical approach as it uses slow thinking to reach a deliberately thought conclusion. Using both of these systems in a balanced way can help an individual get powerful results. As one of the best books to improve focus on things that matter, it trains individuals to make better decisions.

9. 80/20 Principle

Author: Richard Koch

Rating: 4/5

The 80/20 principle is not just a concept used by individuals, but it is also a principle used by big businesses. It is basically a way where an individual can achieve better and more results by focusing their energy, time, and efforts on the calculated 20 per cent of the task that really counts. The author Richard Koch has mentioned in this best book on the focus that if this principle is implemented systematically, it can vastly improve one's productivity and result in effective outcomes. It is considered one of the best books to improve focus by understanding what exactly one should be spending their time and efforts on.

10. First Things First

Author: Stephen R. Covey

Rating: 4.1/5

The thing about First Things First is that it tells you to stop planning and just get going and get started with what you wish to do. First Things First, being one of the best books on focus, tells how to prioritize important things in life and do it on the basis of what is expected out of the future. The book basically talks about how one can go about managing their time well while accomplishing most. The author, Stephen R. Covey helps the reader understand the need to focus on the important things “first things” and then get working around it. This book on focus tells you to utilise your time effectively rather than efficiently by helping you focus on what you are spending your time. Then, it teaches you to focus on how you are spending your time in the later stage.

So these were all the best books to read for focus if you are wanting to concentrate and scale in a single dimension. These books will help you achieve your dreams and goals by training you to prioritise and decide where you wish to spend your time and energy. These books on focus will not only help you understand your priorities but also assist you in planning your tasks well so the best output can be attained.

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