Recommended by Dmitriy Ostapenko

Books on
personal growth

The books I recommend to clients and read myself. Every one of them tested by practice and by real stories of real people.

RelationshipsPersonal GrowthBusiness & Finance
Cover of the book “Atomic Habits”
James Clear 2018

«Atomic Habits»

James Clear argues that you do not need big goals — you need the right systems. Improving by 1% every day leaves you 37 times better off by the end of the year. A book about how tiny changes in behaviour become the foundation of remarkable results.

Why it is worth reading

  • Explains why willpower is an unreliable tool, and how to replace it with a system of environment and cues.
  • Gives a concrete algorithm for building a new habit and breaking an old one — the habit loop and the two-minute rule.
  • Helps you understand why results are not visible immediately — and how not to quit on the “plateau of latent potential”.
  • Written concisely and practically: every chapter ends with a ready tool you can apply today.
Cover of the book “Vitamins for the Mind”
Jim Rohn 2018

«Vitamins for the Mind»

Jim Rohn was one of the most influential business philosophers of the 20th century. This book is a concentrate of his best thinking: on personal responsibility, on discipline, on building a life by your own design rather than by circumstance.

Why it is worth reading

  • Every page is a separate thought you can come back to again and again.
  • Shifts the angle: not “what is happening to me”, but “who do I need to become to get what I want”.
  • Speaks simply about difficult things — personal philosophy, responsibility and meaning, with no filler.
  • Easy to keep nearby as a source of daily inspiration and self-examination.
Cover of the book “Getting Things Done”
David Allen 2001

«Getting Things Done»

David Allen created GTD (Getting Things Done), one of the best-known task-management methods in the world. The idea is simple: unload your head from the anxiety of unfinished business, move everything into an external system, and start acting clearly and calmly.

Why it is worth reading

  • Explains why your head cannot both store tasks and solve them — and how to fix that once and for all.
  • The GTD system works for any kind of occupation, from a manager to a creative professional.
  • Removes the chronic anxiety of incompleteness — one of the main sources of stress for a modern person.
  • Practical tools: the inbox, the next-actions list, projects, contexts — all explained with examples.
Cover of the book “Show Your Work!”
Austin Kleon 2014

«Show Your Work!»

Austin Kleon makes the case that you do not need to be a recognised genius to share your creative work. You just need to share the process. The book is a manifesto for anyone who makes something and wants it to find its audience.

Why it is worth reading

  • Removes the fear of “I am not ready yet” — it shows that the process of making is valuable and interesting to people in itself.
  • 10 concrete principles: short, no filler, illustrated — you can read it in one evening.
  • Changes how you see social media: from a place of comparison into a tool for growth and for finding your people.
  • Especially useful for entrepreneurs, coaches, authors and anyone who sells knowledge or creative work.
Cover of the book “Steal Like an Artist”
Austin Kleon 2012

«Steal Like an Artist»

Austin Kleon's first book is about the nature of creativity. The core idea: nothing comes from nothing. Every great artist, writer and thinker learned from others and transformed it into something of their own. Being influenced is not weakness — it is honesty.

Why it is worth reading

  • Dissolves impostor syndrome: it gives you permission to draw on others' work — consciously and with respect.
  • Explains the difference between “stealing” (transforming, reinterpreting) and “copying” (simply repeating).
  • 10 principles written vividly and wittily, with real examples from art and literature.
  • Inspires you to begin: stop waiting for an original idea and act right now with what you have.
Cover of the book “The ONE Thing”
Gary Keller, Jay Papasan 2013

«The ONE Thing»

Gary Keller, founder of the world's largest real-estate company, revealed the secret of his success: one main task. Not a list of priorities, but a single focus that moves everything else. A book about clearing away the extra and doing what matters.

Why it is worth reading

  • Destroys the cult of multitasking: it shows that productivity is not about “more” but about “more precisely”.
  • Gives you the focusing question: “What can I do right now that would make everything else easier or unnecessary?”
  • Practical tools: time blocking, protecting your priority, managing energy — not only time.
  • The ONE Thing principle works in your career, your relationships and your health at the same time.

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