I believe in making wisdom widely accessible.
I believe in the magic of books and the power of reading to change lives.
And I believe that the right book at the right time can alter the entire direction of a person's life.
I also know that the world is awash in information, conflicting messages, and cheap, garbage book summaries, and that people need a little help sometimes finding the perfect book for them.
That's why I created the Stairway to Wisdom, and that's why I'm giving you a free preview of 50 of the expert book breakdowns that are currently available there - out of more than 100+ right now!
Hi, my name's Matt Karamazov.
The following 50 books have dramatically improved the quality of my life and the lives of millions of others, and that's why I picked them for the Stairway to Wisdom in the first place.
Stairway is a collection of book breakdowns (and a weekly, premium newsletter) that has the power to change you. To transform your very existence at a deep, meaningful level.
Unlike other book "summaries" that feel like they were written in 6 minutes and designed to be "absorbed" in 2, the book breakdowns at the Stairway to Wisdom respect both your time AND your intelligence.
They give you the key ideas without wasting your time, yes, but they also don't rush to the end so you can get to the next "thing," trying to cram wisdom down your brain at warp speed.
I obsess over the people (you!) who are going to be reading these breakdowns, and I make them as clear, valuable, and actionable as I can because wisdom deserves to be accessible to everyone!
These books...these ideas...they changed my life.
I know that everybody says "changed my life" nowadays, but from Awareness, by Anthony de Mello, to Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis - and every book in between - these are the books that gave me my life back, that helped me discover my real life...and now I want to help you discover yours.
"Great newsletter—love it! It's good to know that the authors of the summaries share similar values and are deeply interested in the topics—unlike mass productions like Blinkist, etc."
— Robert, USA
I won't say anything more - I'll let these 50 amazing books do the talking. There are nearly 500,000 words of wisdom contained in the following 50 free book breakdowns, and they are now YOURS to discover.
And if you like these and want more?
Well, then you can always join the Stairway to Wisdom with your 14-day free trial.
We'd love to have you! Enjoy these free book breakdowns, and happy reading!
Awareness, by Anthony de Mello:
Most people are not NEARLY as alive and awake as they COULD be. This classic book teaches why waking up is much closer and easier than you might think. You'll also learn to experience the gorgeous reality of everyday life that was always available if you only had eyes to see.
30-Minute Read | 7,700 Words
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Badass Habits, by Jen Sincero:
Our thoughts become our words, our words become our beliefs, our beliefs become our habits, and our habits become our realities. But even if you agree that healthy habits are the key to upgrading your reality, how do you lock in lasting change? Easy! Start with this book!
30-Minute Read | 7,900 Words
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Be Your Future Self Now, by Dr. Benjamin P. Hardy:
“Every little action you take toward your Future Self enhances your level of commitment and knowing. Every little action toward your Future Self is the evidence of your faith. Every little action toward your Future Self is you more fully being your Future Self now."
46-Minute Read | 12,300 Words
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Discipline Equals Freedom, by Jocko Willink:
In this book, retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink shows you how to declare martial law on your own mind, and how to bring more of your potential out of yourself than anyone thought you ever had inside - including you.
32-Minute Read | 8,300 Words
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Discipline is Destiny, by Ryan Holiday:
Everything that most people believe about self-discipline is wrong. In this book, through inspiring stories and using fundamental truths and hard-won insights, Ryan Holiday illustrates the true power of self-discipline to shape our destinies.
48-Minute Read | 12,600 Words
Discover the Immeasurable, by Jiddu Krishnamurti:
“To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still; if I think I am going to achieve stillness at some future date, I have destroyed the possibility of stillness. It is now or never. But we are all thinking of heaven in terms of time.”
25-Minute Read | 6,400 Words
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Do Hard Things, by Steve Magness:
Olympic performance coach Steve Magness reimagines the very idea of mental toughness in this future classic about the true potential of people everywhere to rise above their circumstances and reach personal greatness.
33-Minute Read | 8,400 Words
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Essentialism, by Greg McKeown:
Discerning the "vital few" from the "trivial many" is going to be one of the most in-demand skills in the economy of the future, and those who can do this well are going to reap the majority of the rewards, while the rest of us are drowning in distraction.
39-Minute Read | 10,200 Words
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Evicted, by Matthew Desmond:
In this award-winning nonfiction account of the scourge of homelessness in the USA, Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond takes to the field and follows eight families in Milwaukee as they battle the indignities and hardships of being poor in 21st-century America.
21-Minute Read | 5,400 Words
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Finite and Infinite Games, by James P. Carse:
If you've ever wondered whether there is more to life than what most people naturally assume there is, or if you are perpetually unsatisfied with the easy answers that society often offers you and with the rules that cannot be questioned, then this entrancing philosophy book is for you.
24-Minute Read | 6,300 Words
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Four Thousand Weeks, by Oliver Burkeman:
“The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short...But you? Assuming you live to be eighty, you’ll have had about four thousand weeks.” In this book, we're reminded that the point of managing time isn't to "do," but to show up, alive, in a world that's bursting with wonder.
26-Minute Read | 6,900 Words
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G.I. Gurdjieff: The War Against Sleep, by Colin Wilson:
Do you feel as though your highest potential still lies undeveloped, repressed within yourself? As though society's mold is stifling and oppressive? Colin Wilson's introduction to Gurdjieff will shock you into full aliveness.
25-Minute Read | 6,600 Words
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How to Grow Old, by Marcus Tullius Cicero:
You fear getting older, but you want to live a long time! How does one reconcile that? In this book, one of the leading figures of the Roman Empire explains why old age can be among the best years of your life, and how you can prepare to live them well.
22-Minute Read | 5,600 Words
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Learn, Improve, Master, by Nick Velasquez:
This is the most practical, down-to-earth, yet inspiring book about learning that you're ever likely to find. Settle in for a masterclass in skill acquisition as Nick Velasquez shows you how to master anything you put your mind to.
38-Minute Read | 9,900 Words
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Make It Stick, by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel:
Most people are studying incorrectly, using outdated methods and strategies that never really worked all that well in the first place. If you want practical, science-based study techniques whose effectiveness has been verified over and over again in the real world, then you need this book.
39-Minute Read | 10,400 Words
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Make Time, by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky:
Against all the forces conspiring to steal your focus and attention, this book provides 87 strategies you can use to fight back. Not only that, but you'll also learn a 4-step strategy for reclaiming your time and energy so you can direct it toward what really matters.
47-Minute Read | 12,300 Words
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Napoleon: A Life, by Andrew Roberts:
The larger-than-life story of Napoleon Bonaparte introduces epic strategies for shaping our own life stories as well. Through this dramatic story of Napoleon's rise and fall, you'll learn timeless lessons on leadership, heroism, and, most importantly, massive action.
46-Minute Read | 12,100 Words
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On Conflict, by Jiddu Krishnamurti:
Is conflict unavoidable in modern society? Is violence to be accepted as just a part of life in today's world? In this book, one of the most explosive and thought-provoking philosophical teachers who ever lived holds up a mirror to our inner lives and calls us to imagine a different path forward.
26-Minute Read | 6,800 Words
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Personal Development for Smart People, by Steve Pavlina:
From a jail cell at age 19, charged with felony grand theft, to running the largest personal development website in the world (with more than 2 million monthly visitors), Steve Pavlina has come a long way. This book contains the collected wisdom of a lifetime of exponential growth.
27-Minute Read | 7,100 Words
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Proust and the Squid, by Maryanne Wolf:
Human beings were never meant to read. Instead, the human brain had to REARRANGE ITSELF to be able to understand written symbols, and the successful completion of this fragile process is never guaranteed. Pick up this book if you want to learn more about the awesome miracle of reading.
30-Minute Read | 7,700 Words
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Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, by Steven Pressfield:
In this wise and stirring little book, Steven Pressfield, the "patron saint" of striving artists and creatives everywhere, lights two fires. One, he ignites underneath us to get us moving in the direction of our greatest ambitions. The second, he lights ahead of us to show us the path to get there.
30-Minute Read | 7,800 Words
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Reader, Come Home, by Maryanne Wolf:
The Bureau of Prisons in states across America project the number of prison beds they will need in the future based on third- or fourth-grade reading statistics. This book is about the state of reading in the digital age, and what we stand to lose.
22-Minute Read | 5,700 Words
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Regarding the Pain of Others, by Susan Sontag:
Does constant exposure to human pain and misery dull our sensitivity and compassion? What does viewing these images do to our worldview, sense of responsibility, and commitment to take action? The brilliant essayist Susan Sontag tackles those questions and others in this profoundly moving book.
24-Minute Read | 6,200 Words
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Spent, by Geoffrey Miller:
Modern consumer capitalism is all about making us believe that we need something else - something that, by definition, we don't already have - to display our underlying traits and signal to others that we would make attractive mates and relationship partners. But what if there's a better way?
34-Minute Read | 9,000 Words
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Stolen Focus, by Johann Hari:
You haven't lost your ability to focus - it was stolen from you. In this book, you'll learn about the 12 contributing factors to declining attention spans across the world, who and what is behind them, and how you can reclaim your mind.
49-Minute Read | 12,900 Words
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The 10 Pillars of Wealth, by Alex Becker:
By wanting to become rich, you are also saying that you want to accept the challenge to be better at making money than 99 percent of the people on this planet. Just by attempting this, you are going to have to accept the fact that you must not just be good, you must be incredible. Are you ready?
37-Minute Read | 9,800 Words
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The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, by Eric Jorgenson:
Never before collected in one place, this book is a valuable repository of the transformative wisdom of investing icon Naval Ravikant. He shares everything he knows about wealth and happiness, as well as what he believes is one of the most important skills.
29-Minute Read | 7,500 Words
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The Bed of Procrustes, by Nassim Taleb:
This is a collection of 500+ aphorisms that are like lightning bolts to your prefrontal cortex, challenging you to reconsider your received opinions about life, love, money, religion, and everything else that we can't stop thinking about.
25-Minute Read | 6,300 Words
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The Education of Millionaires, by Michael Ellsberg:
Doing well in school has very little to do with how successful you become. In this new economy, the biggest factor in your success will not be abstract, academic learning but whether you develop the real-life success skills evinced by the people on these pages, and how early you do.
33-Minute Read | 8,600 Words
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The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin:
Learn from legendary music producer Rick Rubin about deepening and strengthening your creative instincts, producing great work, and discovering your authentic self through artistic expression.
46-Minute Read | 12,100 Words
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The Go-Giver, by Bob Burg and John David Mann:
Those who work together, win together, and this “helping” thing isn’t just a nice thing to do, but it's actually the way that wealth and success are created in the modern economy. This wonderful little book will show you the ins and outs.
22-Minute Read | 5,600 Words
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The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, by Maxwell King:
For more than 50 years, Fred Rogers brought his message of care, affection, and unconditional love and acceptance to millions of children in America and all over the world. But there's more to his story. Much more. And it's finally told here in this book!
26-Minute Read | 6,700 Words
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The Great Rat Race Escape, by M.J. DeMarco:
An extraordinary life is won on offense and then preserved on defense. This book is about increasing your offensive capacity and about creating an income that will enable you to live free forever. The creator economy is booming right now, entrepreneurship is “hot,” and our time is now.
32-Minute Read | 8,400 Words
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The Long Game, by Dorie Clark:
The greatest Grand Masters in chess plan many, many moves ahead, and the best players in the game of life tend to do the same thing. That's what The Long Game is all about. Multiply your success in all areas of life with this success toolkit from a world expert in leadership.
28-Minute Read | 7,200 Words
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The ONE Thing, by Gary Keller:
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but if you travel a mile in a thousand different directions, you'll never end up anywhere. The ONE Thing is about taking massive action on your most important work and traversing those 1,000 miles in record time.
40-Minute Read | 10,400 Words
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The Outsider, by Colin Wilson:
If ordinary life usually seems a bit...well, ordinary...it may be because the way most human beings live their lives can be compared to an extraordinarily powerful jet airplane flying on only one engine.
27-Minute Read | 7,200 Words
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The Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufman:
In this book, you'll get a world-class business education for about $200,000 less than going to business school. You'll learn the universal principles behind every successful business, then use these ideas to make more money, get more done, and have more fun in your life and work.
44-Minute Read | 11,700 Words
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The Power of Regret, by Daniel H. Pink:
Regret may be our most misunderstood - and yet also our most valuable - emotion. In this book, Daniel Pink explores how we can tap into its power and wisdom and use it to help us live differently, and better, from this day forward.
41-Minute Read | 10,800 Words
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The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel:
Doing well with money has a little to do with how smart you are and a lot to do with how you behave. The hard part is that knowing what to do tells you nothing about what happens in your head when you try to do it! This million-copy bestseller can help.
36-Minute Read | 9,600 Words
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The Science of Money, by Brian Tracy:
The universe follows a natural order and the law of cause and effect. If you wish to produce certain effects in your life - i.e., earning money - then you must repeat the natural causes. This book will help you identify them and put them to use in getting rich.
35-Minute Read | 9,000 Words
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The Second Mountain, by David Brooks:
If you've ever felt as though there's more to life than the relentless pursuit of money, success, and fame - you're right. There is. But even if you DO climb to the top of that first mountain and get everything you're supposed to want, your real climb awaits you on the "second mountain."
39-Minute Read | 10,400 Words
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The Status Game, by Will Storr:
Many hidden psychological forces secretly direct our lives, and the relentless drive for status, virtue, and prestige is one of the most powerful. In this book, you'll learn about the giant social game that we're all playing, its rules, its possibilities, and its deadly consequences.
39-Minute Read | 10,200 Words
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Transcend, by Scott Barry Kaufman:
This book will make you stand up straighter with pride in humanity, as Dr. Kaufman uses the latest research from humanistic psychology to show how we are valuable beyond measure.
27-Minute Read | 7,000 Words
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Wanting, by Luke Burgis:
Who controls your desires? In this book, you will learn how we can transform our relationship with desire in order to step into our full humanity, relate to each other more harmoniously, and intelligently select our desires in such a way that we enlarge ourselves, rather than diminish ourselves.
24-Minute Read | 6,200 Words
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What's In It For Them? by Joe Polish:
In the book that many call "How to Win Friends and Influence People for the 21st-Century," serial entrepreneur Joe Polish, "the most connected businessman on the planet," distills his absolute best advice for creating and sustaining win-win relationships that last a lifetime.
32-Minute Read | 8,200 Words
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Win Bigly, by Scott Adams:
Your success and happiness in life depend in large part on your ability to get others to see things your way. This book is a masterclass in persuasion that, once downloaded into your brain, will enable you to get everything you've ever wanted...and defend against what you don't want.
30-Minute Read | 7,900 Words
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Winning, by Tim Grover:
In this book, one of the world's most sought-after experts on elite performance lays out 13 key principles for winning at the highest levels in sports and business. He trained Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and hundreds of others, so he should know! This is what winning looks like.
24-Minute Read | 6,200 Words
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Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, by Viktor Frankl:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
25-Minute Read | 6,500 Words
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Your Next Five Moves, by Patrick Bet-David:
In this business classic, one of the biggest breakout entrepreneurial success stories of the modern era lays out his personal playbook for how you can out-think, out-plan, and out-execute your competition in the fight they never even saw coming.
34-Minute Read | 8,700 Words
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Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis:
Zorba the Greek is one of the most powerful, life-affirming books you’re ever likely to come across, and I don’t think that anyone who is somewhat alive and breathing can read this book and sit still. Read this breakdown and let Zorba teach you how to love life, and not to fear death.
29-Minute Read | 7,700 Words
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