I am preparing for my talk at Quantified Self about my work on Programmable Self. I was asked to make a “reading list” for the people who were interested in this subject so I wanted to create that here. Please add links in my comments section for titles that I have omitted!! Requirements for inclusion are simple. Anything that applies to using technology to change your own behavior.

Programmable Self Reading List

Great reading list. I read about 1/3rd of it, another 1/3rd was in my “to read” list (link goes to GoodReads, where I keep track of my books) and I added the rest. Good catch!

I’d also add few of my favorites:

• Personal Development for Smart People   – really good “foundation” book for many personal development techniques, theories and practices. As a side note: Holy crap! This book is just $1.79 for Kindle version now. I think I paid something like $25 for hardcover and another $10-$15 for the Kindle version.
• The Now Habit – how to deal with the procrastination, probably the worst enemy of the habit change.
• The Procrastinator’s Handbook – another book on procrastination that I really like

Just a quick comment – I’m listening to the new episode of Kevin Rose’s “Foundation” show, where he talks to Jesse Jacobs, founder & owner of San-Francisco-based “Samovar” tea lounge. He is talking about the genesis of his business and he mentioned that during his time as IT consultant he was reading Gandi and Seneca and two quotes really resonated with him.

One is a quote from Gandi – “Life doesn’t get better by going faster” and another is from Seneca – “It’s not like we don’t have enough time in our life, it’s that we waste most of it”.

Both quotes are really good and I think they form probably the shortest possible essence of the “168 Hours” book. It’s like that famous phrase that all books on procrastination & personal productivity can be described in 11 words – “One thing at a time. Most important thing first. Start now!”. Same principle.