What books does BJ Fogg recommend?
As the Stanford scientist who mapped how motivation, ability, and prompts produce behavior, BJ Fogg makes book recommendations that double as a syllabus on human change. The founder of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab and originator of the Fogg Behavior Model reads across behavioral science, persuasion, and practical self-improvement. This collection of 8 titles is sourced from his Stanford curriculum, his verified Twitter, and podcast interviews, with themes centered on psychology and human behavior, self-improvement, and business and strategy. A staple of his teaching is Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog!, which he calls a "great book" that will help you "understand behaviorism inside out." He also folds contemporary titles into his Stanford course, saying he liked Jennifer Aaker's Humor, Seriously "so much that I'm making it part of my Stanford course," and praising Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich as "smart, practical & FUNNY."
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
Don't Shoot the Dog!
The New Art of Teaching and Training
byKaren Pryor
1999202 Pages“Great book. ... [It is] a staple in BJ Fogg's Stanford curriculum. It's on animal training, but you'll understand behaviorism inside out from this gem.”
— BJ Fogg
Source: Stanford Behavior Design Lab Curriculum
What's in It for Them?
9 Genius Networking Principles to Get What You Want by Helping Others Get What They Want
byJoe Polish
2022280 Pages“This book will improve your career and your life. Highly recommended at any price.”
— BJ Fogg
Source: Official Book Blurb
Humor, Seriously
Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)
byJennifer Aaker, Naomi Bagdonas
2021272 Pages“I like this book so much that I'm making it part of my Stanford course this fall: Tiny Habits for Humor and Happiness.”
— BJ Fogg
Source: BJ Fogg's Verified Twitter
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works
byRamit Sethi
2019352 Pages“The new edition of Ramit Sethi's book is smart, practical & FUNNY. Really. I laughed out loud about every other page. Great work.”
— BJ Fogg
Source: BJ Fogg's Verified Twitter
Your Time to Thrive
End Burnout, Increase Well-being, and Unlock Your Full Potential with the New Science of Microsteps
byMarina Khidekel
2021272 Pages“Today @ariannahuff and her editors at @thrive launched a success manual for better health in our new normal. This book is both timeless and tailored to our moment.”
— BJ Fogg
Source: BJ Fogg's Verified Twitter
Read by Naval Ravikant, Mark Manson, Tobias Lütke and 8 others
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
New and Expanded
byRobert Cialdini
2021592 PagesSource: Read to Lead Podcast Interview
The Principles of Psychology
A monumental work on the human mind and behavior
byWilliam James
18901393 PagesSource: Read to Lead Podcast Interview
byNeal E. Miller, John Dollard
1941341 PagesSource: Read to Lead Podcast Interview
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Frequently asked questions
What books does BJ Fogg recommend?
His 8 recommendations include Don't Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor, Humor, Seriously, I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi, Influence by Robert Cialdini, and William James's The Principles of Psychology.
What is BJ Fogg's top book recommendation?
Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog!, a staple of his Stanford curriculum. He calls it a "great book" on animal training that lets you "understand behaviorism inside out from this gem."
Where do BJ Fogg's book recommendations come from?
They come from his Stanford Behavior Design Lab curriculum, his verified Twitter, and interviews such as the Read to Lead Podcast, mixing foundational psychology texts with modern practical titles.
Has BJ Fogg written any books?
Yes, one: Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, published in 2019, which applies his behavior model to building lasting habits through small actions.
What genres does BJ Fogg read most?
His recommendations concentrate on psychology and human behavior and self-improvement, extending into business and strategy, leadership and management, and personal finance, all tied to how behavior actually changes.
All 8 Books BJ Fogg Has Recommended
- Don't Shoot the Dog! · Karen Pryor
- What's in It for Them? · Joe Polish
- Humor, Seriously · Jennifer Aaker
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich · Ramit Sethi
- Your Time to Thrive · Marina Khidekel
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion · Robert Cialdini
- The Principles of Psychology · William James
- Social Learning and Imitation · Neal E. Miller