Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to The Books Project

Book recommendations by some of the greatest thinkers.

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. The Books Project launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Idea Makers▲53

   Personal Perspectives on the Lives & Ideas of Notable People

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Book Advisor▲77

   Stop wasting time searching for the next great book.

   2023 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Bill's Bookshelf▲214

   75+ books recommendations by Bill Gates

   2021 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Mindset▲84

   How You Can Fulfil Your Potential

   2016 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Sapiens▲185

   A brief history of humankind

   2015 · its alternatives →

6. 6BD
   Booknshelf – Discover great books on different topics▲89

   2017 · booknshelf.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Essentialism▲80

   The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

   2016 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   How to Read a Book▲92

   The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

   2016 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   The Checklist Manifesto▲108

   How to get things right

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Paul Rand: Conversations with Students▲69

    Paul Rand's words and thoughts on varied topics

    2016 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Talk Like TED▲92

    The 9 public-speaking secrets of the world's top minds

    2015 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Compare! 📚▲190

    See the overlap of top founders' recommended books

    2021 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Riffle's Book Expert▲79

    Inspired book suggestions from real experts, not algorithms.

    2016 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Reater▲76

    Find books that great leaders have in common

    2016 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    TED Books box sets▲73

    Small books, big ideas

    2016 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Which Book Should I Read?▲104

    A recommendation tool to find your next book

    2017 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Envisioning Information▲87

    A remarkable range of examples of visual thinkinking

    2015 · its alternatives →

18. 18MB
    Mutual book recommendations from top visionaries▲6

    2016 · mutualreads.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Problem Solving 101▲70

    A simple book for smart people

    2016 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Puzzleskill▲109

    Book recommendations from industry leaders

    2019 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Sparks of Genius▲64

    Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People

    2016 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    The Knowledge▲62

    A too close to true novel

    2017 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood▲67

    Where the big ideas of the modern era came from

    2016 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Tao Te Ching▲90

    Wisdom in action

    2015 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →