A 2026 book by Chris Bailey that distills a decade of productivity research to reveal that the secret to finishing what you start isn't willpower or hacks, but intentionality—structuring daily actions around what's most important and letting go of the rest.
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"Intentional: How to Finish What You Start" is a productivity book by Chris Bailey published on January 6, 2026 by Penguin Life. The book contains 272 pages and distills a decade of deep research on productivity to deliver a profound, practical, and counterintuitive road map to getting things done.
The secret to finishing what you start isn't willpower or the latest productivity hack—it's intentionality. To reach your goals, you must structure your daily actions around what's most important to you—and let go of the rest.
The book integrates the science of desire, values, and procrastination with the wisdom of Buddhist monks, laying out step-by-step strategies for intentional accomplishment:
Chris Bailey is a productivity expert and bestselling author of four books: Intentional, Hyperfocus, The Productivity Project, and How to Calm Your Mind—which have been published in more than 40 languages.
The book received praise from notable authors including Cal Newport and Charles Duhigg. Duhigg called it "A powerful guide to turning ambition into action—by focusing not on willpower but on what matters most."
Available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.