10 Best Time Management Books Of 2025
Here’s my list of the best time management books for professionals and industry leaders that want to learn how to better manage their time at work and get more done with their days. I’ve broken down my favorite takeaways from each book and why they are worth a read.
Best Time Management Books Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best time management books that are worth reading:
- Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- First Things First by Stephen R. Covey
- Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
- The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi
- Organize Tomorrow Today by Jason Selk
- The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
- Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing by Laura Mae Martin
Find more details about each book below.
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Overviews of The Best Time Management Books
1. Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Summary:
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy is designed to help readers overcome procrastination and increase productivity. The book centers on the idea of "eating a frog"—a metaphor for tackling the most challenging tasks or the one thing you need to do first.
Drawing on over 30 years of time management statistics and research, Tracy provides 21 actionable strategies for prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively and helps you focus on the tasks that yield the most significant results. He also emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals and using the "3Ds of New Habit Formation"—decision, discipline, and determination.
What You'll Learn:
- The importance of prioritizing tasks and focusing on high-impact activities
- Effective goal-setting techniques, including writing objectives and setting deadlines
- The "10/90 Rule" for efficient planning, which suggests that a small amount of planning can significantly reduce execution time
- The "80/20 Rule," which highlights that 20% of activities yield 80% of results
- Practical strategies to improve productivity and take immediate action for success
Why You Should Read It:
The book is ideal if you want to improve your productivity and time management skills. Brian Tracy provides practical, easy-to-implement strategies that can be applied to both personal and professional life. You’ll be able to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in reaching your goals.
Quote From The Book:
"Your 'frog' is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it."
About The Author:
Brian Tracy is a renowned motivational speaker and author, specializing in personal development and time management. For more information about Brian Tracy, you can visit his LinkedIn and personal website.
2. Getting Things Done by David Allen
Summary:
Getting Things Done by David Allen is a seminal work on personal productivity. The book introduces the Getting Things Done (GTD) method, a comprehensive system for managing tasks and projects with clarity and efficiency.
Allen describes how to capture all tasks and responsibilities in a to-do list or trusted system outside the mind, which lets you focus on the task at hand without distraction. The book is structured around five key stages: capture, clarify, organize, reflect, and engage. Allen provides readers with the practical advice, time management techniques, and tools to help you achieve stress-free productivity.
What You'll Learn:
- The GTD method and its five stages for effective task management
- Techniques for capturing and clarifying tasks to reduce mental clutter
- Methods for organizing tasks and projects to keep them actionable and manageable
- Strategies for reflecting on priorities and engaging with tasks
- Insights into achieving a "mind like water" state, where one can respond to challenges with calm and clarity
Why You Should Read It:
The book is a must-read if you want to boost your productivity and manage your workload with less stress. The GTD method offers a structured approach to organizing tasks and projects that makes it easier to focus on what truly matters. Whether you're a professional, entrepreneur, or student, the principles in this book can help you be more efficient and have peace of mind.
Quote From The Book:
"Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them."
About The Author:
David Allen is a productivity consultant and author known for his expertise in time management and organizational skills. For more information about David Allen, you can visit his LinkedIn and personal website.
3. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Summary:
Atomic Habits by James Clear covers how small changes can lead to remarkable results. The book explores the science of habits and how they can be transformed to achieve personal and professional goals. Clear introduces the concept of "atomic habits," which are tiny daily routines that, when compounded over time, yield significant improvements.
The book is structured around the four laws of behavior change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. Clear combines insights from psychology, neuroscience, and biology to offer practical strategies for forming good habits and breaking bad ones.
What You'll Learn:
- The power of small habits and how they compound over time
- The four laws of behavior change and how to apply them to build good habits
- Techniques to design your environment to support positive habit formation
- Strategies for overcoming a lack of motivation and willpower
- Methods to track progress and maintain consistency in habit building
Why You Should Read It:
Atomic Habits is essential reading if you want to make lasting changes in your life. Clear provides actionable insights and strategies that can be applied to all aspects of your life. The book's focus on small, incremental changes makes it accessible and practical for readers seeking sustainable growth.
Quote From The Book:
"Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement."
About The Author:
James Clear is an author and speaker focused on habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement. For more information about James Clear, you can visit his LinkedIn and personal website.
4. First Things First by Stephen R. Covey
Summary:
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey (and co-authors A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca R. Merrill) challenges the conventional approach to prioritizing tasks. The authors emphasize the importance of aligning your daily activities with your personal values and long-term goals.
The book introduces the concept of the time management matrix, which helps you distinguish between tasks that are urgent and important. By focusing on what truly matters, you can have a better balance between work and personal life, leading to greater fulfillment and effectiveness.
What You'll Learn:
- The difference between urgency and importance, and how to prioritize effectively
- The time management matrix and its applications in daily life
- Strategies for setting goals that align with personal values and long-term objectives
- Techniques for achieving a balanced lifestyle by focusing on what truly matters
- Insights into living a principle-centered life
Why You Should Read It:
The book offers a fresh perspective on time management by focusing on importance over urgency. Stephen R. Covey and his co-authors provide a framework for achieving personal and professional success without compromising on life's essential values. This book is ideal if you want to manage your time more effectively and maintain alignment with your core values.
Quote From The Book:
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
About The Author:
Stephen R. Covey was a renowned author, educator, and speaker known for his work on leadership and personal development.
5. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland
Summary:
Scrum by Jeff Sutherland introduces you to the Scrum framework, a revolutionary approach to project management and product development. Sutherland, one of the co-creators of Scrum, shares how this agile methodology can transform the way teams work.
The book explains the principles behind Scrum—collaboration, flexibility, and efficiency. Through real-world examples and case studies, Sutherland demonstrates how Scrum can be applied beyond software development and improve productivity in various industries and organizations.
What You'll Learn:
- The core principles and practices of the Scrum framework
- How to implement Scrum in your team or organization to improve productivity
- Techniques for improving communication, collaboration, and accountability within teams
- Strategies for adapting to change quickly and effectively
- Insights into achieving faster delivery of high-quality products and services
Why You Should Read It:
Jeff Sutherland’s book is essential reading for managers, team leaders, and anyone interested in improving efficiency and productivity. Jeff Sutherland provides a compelling narrative showing how Scrum can revolutionize work processes, and it’s a valuable resource if you want to implement agile methodologies in your organization.
Quote From The Book:
"The problem with traditional project management is that it assumes you can know enough to get it all right up front. But you can’t."
About The Author:
Jeff Sutherland is a pioneer in the field of agile project management and one of the co-creators of the Scrum framework. For more information about Jeff Sutherland, you can visit his LinkedIn.
6. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Summary:
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman challenges the conventional wisdom of time management. Instead of focusing on efficiency and productivity, Burkeman explores the philosophical implications of our finite time on Earth (which is approximately four thousand weeks if you live to be eighty).
The book encourages you to embrace your limitations and prioritize what truly matters. Burkeman argues that the pursuit of perfect time management is futile and that a more meaningful approach to living is one that acknowledges the constraints of time and focuses on what is genuinely significant to you.
What You'll Learn:
- A philosophical perspective on time management that emphasizes meaning over efficiency
- Insights into accepting the limitations of time and prioritizing what is truly important
- Strategies for overcoming the anxiety of trying to do everything
- An understanding of how to live more intentionally and focus on meaningful experiences
- The importance of embracing uncertainty and the unknown in our daily lives
Why You Should Read It:
Four Thousand Weeks offers a refreshing take on time management by shifting the focus from productivity to living a meaningful life. Oliver Burkeman's thought-provoking insights challenge you to reconsider how you spend your time and what you truly value. This book is ideal if you’re looking for a deeper understanding of time and a more fulfilling approach to life.
Quote From The Book:
"The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short."
About The Author:
Oliver Burkeman is a journalist and author known for his writings on psychology and self-help topics. For more information about Oliver Burkeman, you can visit his personal website.
7. The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi
Summary:
The PLAN by Kendra Adachi offers a compassionate approach to time management that emphasizes integration and intentionality over mere optimization. The book introduces the PLAN framework—prepare, live, adjust, and notice—which helps you focus on what matters most in different seasons of life.
Adachi challenges the conventional productivity mindset by encouraging you to align your time management with personal well-being and priorities for a more sustainable and fulfilling practice.
What You'll Learn:
- How to implement the PLAN framework for managing time effectively
- Techniques for integrating personal values and priorities into daily planning
- Strategies for adjusting plans as life circumstances change
- Insights into noticing and appreciating the present moment while managing tasks
- Methods for balancing productivity with self-care and personal well-being to avoid burnout
Why You Should Read It:
The book is a valuable read if you want to manage your time more mindfully and compassionately. Kendra Adachi provides a refreshing perspective that helps you prioritize well-being and personal values over relentless productivity. This book is particularly beneficial if you feel overwhelmed by traditional time management systems and want a more balanced approach to your daily life.
Quote From The Book:
"Productivity should not come at the cost of your well-being."
About The Author:
Kendra Adachi is the creator of The Lazy Genius Collective, where she shares insights on living life with intention and simplicity.
8. Organize Tomorrow Today by Jason Selk
Summary:
Organize Tomorrow Today by Jason Selk, along with co-authors Tom Bartow and Matthew Rudy, provides actionable strategies to improve performance and productivity. The book introduces eight key principles designed to help you retrain your mind and organize your life for optimal success.
The authors focus on mental discipline and daily planning to teach you how to achieve your professional and personal goals. The principles in the book are based on techniques used by top athletes and executives and emphasize the importance of mental toughness and strategic thinking.
What You'll Learn:
- Eight principles for improving focus, discipline, and productivity
- Techniques for effective daily planning and prioritization
- Strategies for fostering mental toughness and resilience
- How to create a mindset that supports continuous improvement
- Methods for balancing work and personal life to achieve overall success
Why You Should Read It:
Organize Tomorrow Today is ideal if you want to boost your productivity and performance in both work and life. Jason Selk and his co-authors provide practical tools and techniques that are easy to implement, and the book is a valuable resource for professionals, athletes, and anyone who wants to optimize their daily routines and achieve their goals.
Quote From The Book:
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."
About The Author:
Dr. Jason Selk is a renowned performance coach and speaker known for his expertise in mental toughness training. For more information about Jason Selk, you can visit his LinkedIn and personal website.
9. The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
Summary:
The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey details his experiments with productivity and their impact on his time, attention, and energy. Bailey tested various productivity strategies, and his book offers insights into what works and what doesn't in the quest for efficiency.
With a focus on practical application, Bailey shares personal anecdotes, research findings, and actionable tips to help you accomplish more in your daily life. The book discusses how to determine your individual productivity style and tailor strategies to fit your personal needs.
What You'll Learn:
- Effective techniques for managing time, attention, and energy
- Insights into what productivity strategies are most effective
- The importance of understanding personal productivity styles
- Methods for setting priorities and focusing on high-impact tasks and the right things
- Practical tips for reducing distractions and maintaining focus
Why You Should Read It:
The Productivity Project is an engaging and relatable resource if you want to improve your productivity. Chris Bailey's hands-on approach and willingness to experiment with different strategies provide you with valuable insights so you can achieve more with less stress.
Quote From The Book:
"The single most important change you can make in your working habits is to switch to single-tasking."
About The Author:
Chris Bailey is a productivity expert and author known for his research and writing on productivity and efficiency. For more information about Chris Bailey, you can visit his personal website.
10. Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing by Laura Mae Martin
Summary:
Uptime by Laura Mae Martin offers a holistic approach to productivity that combines personal well-being with effective work strategies. The book emphasizes the importance of balancing work demands with self-care so you can achieve sustainable productivity.
Martin provides practical hacks, tips, and techniques for managing your time, energy, and focus, and addresses the mental and emotional aspects of productivity. She aims to help you foster a healthy work-life balance and thrive both personally and professionally.
What You'll Learn:
- Strategies for balancing productivity with personal well-being
- Techniques for managing time and energy efficiently
- Insights into deep work techniques and reducing distractions
- Methods for integrating self-care into daily routines
- The importance of mental and emotional health in being productive
Why You Should Read It:
This book is an essential read if you want to boost your productivity without sacrificing your well-being. Laura Mae Martin's comprehensive approach provides tools to manage your work and personal lives effectively.
Quote From The Book:
"True productivity is not about doing more; it's about doing what truly matters."
About The Author:
Laura Mae Martin is a productivity and well-being expert known for her work in helping individuals achieve balance and efficiency. For more information about Laura Mae Martin, you can visit her LinkedIn and personal website.
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