Balance and Calm: 8 Books That Help Businessmen Switch Off

Running a company. Leading teams. Making endless decisions. It’s a treadmill that rarely stops spinning for businessmen and entrepreneurs. Many admit they find it hard to switch off, even after working hours. According to the World Health Organization, stress-related illnesses are costing the global economy an estimated $1 trillion every year in lost productivity. That’s not just numbers—it’s lives being drained, minds getting burned out, and creativity evaporating.

So, where does the solution hide? Surprisingly, between the covers of books. Yes, a simple page-turning ritual can become the gateway to calm. In the modern world, there is also a worthy alternative - a reading app, like FictionMe. There are too many advantages to ignore: accessibility, a large selection, various filters, ratings, ratings, etc. For example, you want to find a contract marriage love story and this is the simplest task in the app. Just select a filter and a list of books in this genre is available to you. In a physical library, you will either rely on the librarian's opinion, or you will have to search for information on the Internet. But the choice, of course, is yours.

What follows is a list of must-read books. Each one is designed not to sharpen the hustle, but to balance it. To slow down a restless mind. To remind every business owner that switching off is not weakness—it is strength.

1. The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer

Short. Meditative. Unapologetically simple. Pico Iyer takes the reader into the world of quiet. He argues that being still, in an age of noise, is a radical act. Businessmen who feel trapped by the endless stream of emails and notifications will find relief in his words. This is not a book about strategies; it is a book about stopping. About listening to silence. About realizing that calm can fuel productivity far more than restlessness ever could.

2. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Yes, it is a children’s book. And yes, it belongs on this list. The story of the curious prince traveling from planet to planet may seem whimsical, but businessmen will discover profound lessons hidden inside. It whispers truths about friendship, imagination, and what really matters in life. For every business owner who has forgotten why they work so hard, this book offers a gentle reminder: numbers are not the only measure of success.

3. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Sometimes the best way to calm the mind is to zoom out. Harari takes the reader on a journey through thousands of years, from hunter-gatherers to tech-driven societies. For a businessman, this book offers perspective. Problems in boardrooms suddenly feel smaller when compared to the vast sweep of human history. Reading this isn’t just educational; it’s grounding. It encourages readers to stop, breathe, and realize they’re just one thread in a much larger fabric.

4. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Imagine business lessons coming not from a management guru but from Winnie-the-Pooh. Hoff uses Taoist philosophy, blending it with the lovable bear’s simple wisdom. Businessmen, often trapped in overthinking and overplanning, will find joy in Pooh’s effortless way of being. This book is playful, light, and deeply philosophical without trying too hard. It reminds us that calmness isn’t earned—it already exists if you allow it.

5. The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu

Two spiritual giants. One week of conversations. The result: a celebration of joy, resilience, and laughter. Business owners often live with pressure—financial, emotional, social. But this book highlights the power of perspective. Even in suffering, joy can be chosen. The dialogue between these two leaders is human, humorous, and healing. It’s the kind of book that businessmen can return to, especially when stress threatens to overwhelm. And you can get acquainted with it right now if you download the application from the AppStore or Play Store. E-books are a couple of taps away from your smartphone.

6. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Escaping the office is one thing. Escaping society entirely? That’s the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who abandoned comfort to seek freedom in the wilderness. While tragic, the book pushes businessmen to reflect on their own choices. Do profits and deals matter more than personal fulfillment? This isn’t a manual for success—it’s a warning and an invitation. A reminder that stepping away can sometimes be more valuable than charging ahead.

7. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Few books carry the weight this one does. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, shares how even in the darkest times, meaning can be found. For business leaders, this book is humbling. It strips away illusions of control and teaches resilience from the deepest level. Reading it at night, after a hectic day of negotiations or deadlines, can shift the entire perspective of what is truly important.

8. Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Written in the 19th century but still speaking loudly today, Walden is Thoreau’s account of living simply in nature. The pace of this book itself is calming—slow, reflective, filled with observations. Businessmen who feel suffocated by the constant race can breathe again within these pages. It shows that simplicity is not regression; it is liberation.

The Power of Turning Pages

So why these eight? Because they are not about quarterly targets or leadership hacks. They are books for businessmen who want to reclaim their evenings, their weekends, their sanity. Reading them is not about becoming better at business—it’s about becoming better at being human.

The list of must-read books above works like a toolkit. Some lighten the heart (The Little Prince). Others expand perspective (Sapiens). A few ask tough questions (Into the Wild). Together, they offer balance.

Consider this: a study by the University of Sussex found that reading lowers heart rate and eases muscle tension more effectively than listening to music or drinking tea. That means a single chapter before bed may calm the mind more than scrolling through late-night emails.

For every business owner chasing the next deal, the next milestone, or the next big idea, these books whisper a different truth: pause, rest, reflect. Success is sweeter when the mind is steady. Calm is not the enemy of ambition—it is its greatest ally.