This is the book the course is based on. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide a sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a superpower in our increasingly competitive twenty-first-century economy. And yet, most people have lost the ability to go deep-spending their days instead of a frantic blur of e-mail and social media, not even realizing there's a better way. The book is divided into two parts. He first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four "rules," for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill.

Flow provides the reader with a guide on how to find success, growth, and happiness in one’s life by spending time in a state of flow-- “The state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter.”. By placing emphasis on being present in the moment and finding enjoyment in your life, you, too, can immerse yourself in the state of flow.

Within this novel, Winifred Gallagher elaborates on his argument that the quality of one’s life relies heavily on what you choose to pay attention to, not the amount of fame, money, or intelligence you acquire throughout life. Gallangher challenges the reader to rethink their perception of attention and push them to think of attention as a way one can be fully alive. 
Brock found interest in Chapter 1 and Will recommends reading Chapter 7 closely as well. 

Thinking, Fast and Slow gives an inside look as to how the two systems within your brain, conscious and automatic, constant fight for total control can lead to intellectual errors. The novel can be a guide on how one can be aware of the errors and false decisions they make as a result of this battle while providing information on how to make more mindful decisions in the future. 
Brooke Tannehill recommends paying special attention to the discussion of the Lazy Controller or cognitive ease.

The big idea of Why We Sleep focuses on the incredible ability sleep has in enhancing our mental capacity, regulating our emotions, and maintaining overall health, including one’s appetite and immunity. Trent Menzer says, “Why We Sleep is more than just an opinion on the importance of sleep, but rather a scientific look at it’s benefits and drawbacks. Walker then uses this experimental data to provide suggestions on how to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep”. 
Cora recommends reading Part 2 of Why We Sleep while Trent also encourages one to look at the “12 Tips for Healthy Sleep” listed towards the end of the book.

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Peak Performance provides a simple equation for maximizing productivity: stress + rest = growth. By promoting a balance of stress with adequate rest, a high level of performance is possible

What separates the elite from amateurs? The art of deliberate practice. In this article, Ericsson and colleagues explain how performing effortful activities can enhance one’s improvement and challenge the belief of solely having “innate talent”. Through learning, adaptation, and consistent practice, one can become an expert in their field.