Develop Good Habits

31 Best Personal Development & Self Improvement Books [2024 Update]

Interested in personal development and self improvement?

If so, there are hundreds, even thousands of books to choose from.

That's why we've boiled down the options to 31 of the best personal development books.

For the sake of simplicity, my choices for this section all revolve around books that are more about igniting passion and giving ideas rather than a step-by-step action plan.

This list includes the grandfathers of all self-help books, and it also has some of the modern masters of inspiration, education, and self-empowerment .

In the following list, you will discover a quick synopsis of our favorite personal development books with a brief synopsis for each one.

If any title piques your interest, then I recommend clicking the link and checking it out on Amazon where you can read the reviews and purchase it.

Let's get to it…

Table of Contents

31 Best Personal Development and Self-Improvement Books

1.  the only skill that matters  by jonathan a. levi.

top 10 books for self development

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  • The book emphasizes the importance of meta-learning, which involves learning how to learn, as the most valuable skill in the modern world.
  • It provides practical strategies and techniques for improving memory, speed reading, and accelerated learning to help readers become more efficient learners.
  • Levi discusses the concept of “flow state” and how to harness it to enhance focus, productivity, and creativity.
  • The book highlights the significance of mindset and motivation in the learning process, offering insights on how to cultivate a growth mindset and stay motivated.
  • It emphasizes the role of self-directed learning and provides guidance on creating a personalized learning path to achieve one's goals.

The sheer amount of information bombarding us every day is overwhelming. How do we stay on top of everything in order to keep our jobs or adapt to the new demands of modern life?

This book  equips you with what you need to take on the challenges of the future – whether in your professional or personal life. And it’s offered for free. All you need to pay for is shipping and handling.

In The Only Skill That Matters , Jonathan Levi shares an approach that promises to help you become a super learner. This approach is anchored in neuroscience. Athletes and top performers have used the techniques to propel them to success.

Within the pages, you’ll learn the techniques for reading faster and improving your ability to recall information.

People who have already read this book call it a game changer. If you’re ready to unlock your potential greatness, get the free book.

Want to build a new habit that will stick for the rest of your lifetime? In this video, you will discover a simple 9-step process about building habits that you can immediately implement.

2. The Success Principles by Jack Canfield

top 10 books for self development

  • The book offers timeless principles and practical strategies for achieving success in various areas of life, including personal development, career, and relationships.
  • Canfield emphasizes the power of taking responsibility for one's life and outcomes, encouraging readers to adopt a proactive mindset.
  • It outlines the importance of setting clear goals and provides a comprehensive framework for creating and achieving both short-term and long-term goals.
  • The book emphasizes the significance of perseverance, resilience, and continuous learning as essential components of success.
  • Canfield shares inspiring stories and actionable advice to motivate readers to overcome obstacles, develop self-confidence, and create a fulfilling life.

Any avid reader of self-help books will recognize Jack Canfield. Creator of the popular motivational “ Chicken Soup for the Soul ” series, Jack has been inspiring people for years.

In “ The Success Principles ”, Jack gives 65 methods for transforming your life. If you are looking for a single self-help book that gives you a ton of great ideas on how to improve your life and your success, this would be the one.

However, die-hard personal development fans may find some of these ideas to be rehashed versions of ideas they have heard before, not fresh new ideas. The principles are repeated here due to the simple fact that they work!

Even if you know all 65 principles before buying the book, I believe it can be an excellent refresher on things you need to do to achieve the success you desire.

If you want to learn more about this book, here is a brief review of my favorite Success Principles that are covered in this book .

3.  Think and Grow Rich  by Napoleon Hill 

top 10 books for self development

  • The book emphasizes the power of mindset and the role of thoughts in shaping one's financial success, highlighting the importance of a positive mental attitude.
  • Napoleon Hill outlines the concept of “definiteness of purpose” and the significance of setting clear, specific goals to achieve wealth and success.
  • It delves into the principles of persistence, faith, and desire, stressing their crucial roles in attaining riches and prosperity.
  • The book explores the idea of “mastermind” and the benefits of surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals to leverage collective knowledge and support.
  • Hill presents the concept of “transmutation of sexual energy” as a means to channel creative energy and drive towards achieving financial abundance.

It could be very easy to think that a book about achieving success written 80 years ago and based on the success principles of men like Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford would be stale and out of date, like a dry history lesson.

This simply is not true.  While there are admittedly parts where you have to substitute modern methods of execution for old fashioned counterparts, the basic principles themselves are based on human nature and just as true today as they were 80 years ago.

The book “ Think and Grow Rich “ is a classic and for good reason. Over the past 80 years many successful people have read this book and gained from it knowledge and insight that have helped them to achieve their own success .

When a self-improvement book sticks around for as long as this one has, there has to be a reason for its longevity and success.  

[Are you a woman looking for some personal development books geared toward helping women succeed in life? Check out this list of self-help books for women .]

4. The Power of Positive Thinking  by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

top 10 books for self development

  • The book emphasizes the transformative impact of maintaining a positive mindset and outlook on life, highlighting the role of positive thinking in achieving success and happiness.
  • Dr. Norman Vincent Peale provides practical techniques and strategies for overcoming negative thoughts and cultivating a positive mental attitude.
  • It delves into the power of faith and belief in oneself, offering insights on how to harness these qualities to overcome challenges and achieve personal growth.
  • The book emphasizes the importance of visualization and affirmations as tools for reprogramming the mind and attracting positive outcomes.
  • Dr. Peale shares inspiring stories and anecdotes to illustrate the profound influence of positive thinking on individuals' lives and experiences.

Most people who achieve any degree of success will tell you that attitude is a big part of the success equation.

Positive thinking will not magically make success happen, as this book's “successor” The Secret , would have you believe, but positive thinking can put you into a position to make the most of it when it happens.

So skip “The Secret” and go write to the first (and best) book on getting your mind right for success.

One slight negative is that many people complain because of some of the religious overtones of the book. While Dr. Peale is clearly a faithful Christian, I believe this book “ The Power of Positive Thinking ” has merit for you regardless of personal faith. Just listen to good advice.

Note: some of you may like The Secret . I mean no offense to you in this review.  The positivity aspect of the book is fine, I simply have a problem with the idea that the “universe will deliver” success. I believe the only way you get success is to go out and work for it. Let’s agree to disagree.

5. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

top 10 books for self development

  • The book explores the factors that contribute to extraordinary success, highlighting the role of opportunity, cultural background, and timing in shaping individuals' achievements.
  • Malcolm Gladwell introduces the “10,000-hour rule,” suggesting that deliberate practice and extensive time investment are essential for mastering a skill and attaining expertise.
  • It delves into the concept of cultural legacy and its impact on shaping individuals' behaviors, work ethic, and success trajectories.
  • The book discusses the role of timing and external factors, such as birth date and historical context, in influencing an individual's likelihood of success in various fields.
  • Gladwell challenges the traditional notion of success being solely attributed to individual merit, emphasizing the complex interplay of environmental, social, and circumstantial factors in shaping outliers' success stories.

Outliers The Story of Success take a scientific look at what it actually takes to achieve success in life . Unlike some of the other books on this list, it does not give a specific list of the things you need to do to achieve success.

It looks at very interesting anecdotes that support the main point of the book, that success is not achieved by luck, attitude or even skill, but that the only real measurement is the time we put into our skills.

People who achieve higher degrees of success almost always have more time building the skills they use for their success.

This book is quite interesting with some really good stories and anecdotes. It is an enjoyable read.

6. Getting Things Done by David Allen

top 10 books for self development

  • The book introduces the “Getting Things Done” (GTD) methodology, which emphasizes capturing, clarifying, organizing, and reviewing tasks to achieve stress-free productivity.
  • David Allen highlights the importance of maintaining a clear and organized external system to free up mental space and enhance focus on meaningful work.
  • It provides practical techniques for managing commitments, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining a sense of control and clarity in a fast-paced, information-rich environment.
  • The book emphasizes the value of defining actionable next steps for all commitments and leveraging technology to support efficient task management.
  • Allen advocates for regular reviews of one's commitments and projects to ensure alignment with goals and values, ultimately leading to increased productivity and reduced stress.

I am not by nature an organized person. Due to this fact, I would say that reading GTD for the first time was a life-changing experience. Allen gives solid advice on how to plan all the aspects of a hectic life (both business and personal).

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity comes with a solution to all the chaos life throws your way. It can help you stay organized and on top of everything. I do not currently follow all the tenants of GTD.

I have incorporated a more web-based approach as I discuss in my book on Evernote .  But I still feel Getting Things Done is a must-read, even if you discard his specific approaches, the core ideas will still shed light on many ways to be more productive.

7. The Power of Full Engagement  by Jim Leohr and Tony Schwartz

top 10 books for self development

  • The book emphasizes the significance of managing energy, rather than time, as the key to high performance and personal renewal.
  • Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz introduce the concept of “full engagement,” highlighting the importance of balancing energy expenditure with regular periods of renewal and recovery.
  • It delves into the four key energy sources – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – and provides strategies for optimizing and replenishing each source.
  • The book advocates for the implementation of rituals and routines to sustain energy levels, enhance focus, and foster resilience in the face of challenges.
  • Loehr and Schwartz stress the importance of aligning actions with core values and purpose to achieve sustained high performance and fulfillment.

Everyone thinks time is the enemy. I can’t count how many times I have heard, “I don’t have time for that” or “I wish I had the time”. The central idea of this book is that people have it backward. Loehr and Schwartz state that energy is the key , not time.

Success is about creating a series of “life-sprints”, not a marathon.

By laser focusing on tasks, then completely resting, you actually can get a lot more done in less time and live a happier and more fulfilling life at the same time.

The book “ The Power of Full Engagement ” makes some excellent points. The next time you hear yourself saying, “I don’t have time” to do something important, you should reach for a copy of this book.  Unless you don’t have time for that… then I can’t help you

8.  How to Win Friends & Influence People  by Dale Carnegie

top 10 books for self development

  • The book emphasizes the importance of building genuine, positive relationships by showing interest in others and understanding their perspectives.
  • Dale Carnegie provides practical advice on effective communication, including the power of listening, giving sincere appreciation, and avoiding criticism or condemnation.
  • It highlights the value of influencing others through empathy, understanding their needs, and appealing to their interests and motivations.
  • The book underscores the significance of fostering cooperation and collaboration by acknowledging others' viewpoints and making them feel valued.
  • Carnegie emphasizes the impact of a friendly, respectful approach in winning people over and building lasting, mutually beneficial connections.

Just like the previous entry, “Think and Grow Rich” Carnegie's book is another classic from the 1930s that still packs a ton of truth bombs in it’s nearly 90-year-old pages.

In How to Win Friends & Influence People , Carnegie discusses the personal habits that lead to success. Included are the twelve ways to convert people to your way of thinking, six ways to make people like you, and the nine ways to change people’s opinions without arousing resentment.

Regardless of what you intend to do with your life, other people will always be there. Carnegie gives you the tools to effectively recruit others to your cause, rather than have them potentially be obstacles. A must-read classic on dealing with other people.

9. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris s

top 10 books for self development

  • The book challenges the traditional notion of work and advocates for lifestyle design, focusing on maximizing freedom and flexibility while achieving professional success.
  • Timothy Ferriss introduces the concept of “lifestyle arbitrage,” emphasizing the possibility of achieving more by leveraging international differences in cost of living and currency exchange rates.
  • It provides strategies for automating and outsourcing tasks to create more leisure time and achieve location independence.
  • The book encourages redefining productivity by focusing on high-impact activities and eliminating time-wasting tasks through the principles of “Pareto's Law” and “the low-information diet.”
  • Ferriss shares insights on creating a fulfilling life by pursuing personal passions, embracing adventure, and redefining the traditional concept of retirement through “mini-retirements.”

I have to admit, I have a few mixed feelings about The 4-Hour Workweek .

While there is some great information in this book, it might not pertain much to people who just want more from their 9-5 lifestyle, and are not really into the idea of a “digital lifestyle”.

On the other hand, however, this book does an excellent job of challenging people to rethink the status quo and evaluate how to make the most of their time.

Tim does a great job of explaining how to make the most of the digital lifestyle, how to get started with this business and does it all with a fierce energy that will get you motivated.

If the idea of making living online appeals, this book should be a must-read and is likely already on your bookshelf. If you are just looking for tidbits to develop your personal productivity, attitude or health, this might be a book you can miss.

10. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk 

top 10 books for self development

  • The book emphasizes the potential for individuals to turn their passions into successful businesses by leveraging digital platforms and social media.
  • Gary Vaynerchuk advocates for authenticity and transparency in personal branding, encouraging individuals to showcase their unique interests and expertise.
  • It highlights the importance of creating valuable content and engaging with audiences to build a loyal following and monetize one's passion.
  • The book underscores the significance of embracing new media and technology to amplify personal brand visibility and reach a global audience.
  • Vaynerchuk encourages individuals to capitalize on the current digital landscape, emphasizing the opportunities for entrepreneurial success and fulfillment by pursuing one's passion.

Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion has a few problems these days. Mainly is that the core idea of the book,  fresh and new when it was first released, has become a bit dated.

Most people have come to understand the revolutionary power of Social Media and the effect this can have on any and every single business.

However, a good portion of this book is also about following your dreams and turning your passion into a career. While this book no longer imparts what I would call “new” information, it is still extremely motivational.

Gary Vaynerchuk has an incredible amount of energy and reading what he has to say is sure to get you motivated to get out and conquer the world.

11.  Let Go by ​Pat Flynn

top 10 books for self development

  • Pat Flynn's Let Go emphasizes the importance of embracing change and overcoming fear to pursue new opportunities and personal growth.
  • The book chronicles Flynn's journey from job loss to successful entrepreneurship, offering insights on resilience, adaptability, and finding purpose in adversity.
  • It delves into the power of embracing failure as a learning opportunity and leveraging setbacks to fuel personal and professional development.
  • Let Go highlights the significance of authenticity and transparency in building trust and meaningful connections with an audience or community.
  • Flynn provides practical strategies for cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, taking calculated risks, and creating a sustainable and fulfilling career path.

“ Let Go: Expanded Edition ” is Pat Flynn’s inspiring story.  If you do not know Pat, he is a normal guy, trained as an architect who began to work as an online entrepreneur when the architect business got rough.

In this inspiring story, Pat shares the challenges he faced and the keys to his success.

Much like “Crush It” the value of the specific lessons is of less value than the inspiration it can give you to achieve success. If you want specifics for achieving success through Pat’s methodology, his podcasts and website are chocked full of actionable information.

12. Habit Stacking by Steve Scott

top 10 books for self development

  • Habit Stacking introduces the concept of stacking small, positive habits to create significant and lasting change in various areas of life.
  • Steve Scott emphasizes the power of consistency and incremental improvement, advocating for the integration of new habits into existing routines for long-term success.
  • The book provides a comprehensive list of 127 small habits that can be combined and stacked to enhance health, wealth, and overall well-being.
  • It highlights the importance of creating a personalized habit-stacking plan tailored to individual goals, preferences, and lifestyle. Scott offers practical guidance on how to design and implement habit stacks effectively, enabling readers to make sustainable improvements in their daily habits and routines.

Yes, that’s me. I won't give any qualitative review of this book since I am biased. But I do think it is a good one.

Habit Stacking: 127 Small Changes to Improve Your Health, Wealth, and Happiness is based on a method to incorporate small habits into daily life. These small habits are easy individually but are often the sort of things that “fall through the cracks” in a hectic life .

Habit stacking makes it possible when you add DOZENS of small changes to your daily routine. Rather than trying to make dozens of individual habits part of your routine (something next to impossible) you only have to work to incorporate each “stack”.

By doing these small tasks in a block you can plan for the time to act on these tasks in your daily schedule and stick firmly to implementing these habits on a daily basis.

These habits don’t require much effort. In fact, most of these habits ONLY take five minutes or less to complete . by doing these small tasks in a block you can plan for the time to act on these tasks in your daily schedule and stick firmly to implementing these habits on a daily basis.

And if you'd like to learn more about this concept, here is a 13-step process to building a habit stacking routine .

13. Choose Yourself! by James Altucher

top 10 books for self development

  • Choose Yourself! encourages individuals to take control of their lives and pursue personal fulfillment and success on their own terms.
  • James Altucher emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, creativity, and resilience in navigating the new landscape of entrepreneurship and career opportunities.
  • The book advocates for embracing failure, learning from setbacks, and cultivating a mindset of continuous reinvention and adaptation.
  • Altucher highlights the value of generating ideas, creating value, and leveraging new technologies to carve out one's path to financial and personal freedom.
  • It emphasizes the significance of prioritizing mental and physical well-being, fostering meaningful relationships, and pursuing passions as essential components of a fulfilling life.

The climate of business and personal success is changing. The times when going to college, working a job for 40 years and retiring a success are evaporating before our eyes. Altucher shows a path to creating art, make money and achieve success through non-traditional methods.

Altucher’s sense of humor and brutal honesty makes Choose Yourself! Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream a great read. He doesn’t pull any punches even sharing many of his personal failures as well as successes.

Choose yourself. Choose this book.

14. Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

top 10 books for self development

  • Awaken the Giant Within emphasizes the power of taking control of one's thoughts, emotions, and actions to create lasting change and achieve personal fulfillment.
  • Tony Robbins delves into the concept of “neuro-associative conditioning,” highlighting the influence of beliefs and habits on shaping one's destiny.
  • The book provides practical strategies for setting and achieving compelling goals, emphasizing the importance of clarity, purpose, and consistent action.
  • It delves into the significance of mastering one's emotions, cultivating empowering beliefs, and unleashing one's full potential for success and happiness.
  • Robbins advocates for embracing responsibility, resilience, and continuous growth as essential elements of personal transformation and creating an extraordinary life.

Awaken the Giant Within is another book I struggled with the decision of whether to place on this list.

On one hand, Tony Robbins has always seemed to me to be as much of a salesman of change as he is someone with fresh ideas. However, there is no denying that this book covers some important ground while still being inspirational.

Robbin’s point with this book is to take charge of your life in all the important ways: emotional, physical, mental and financial.

All of these important parts dovetail together and work with each other for you to achieve greater success. Only when you are at the peak of performance in all categories can you truly be your best self.

15. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly

top 10 books for self development

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  • Flow explores the concept of optimal experience, highlighting the state of flow as a key to happiness and fulfillment in various activities.
  • Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi emphasizes the importance of fully immersing oneself in challenging tasks that match skill level, leading to a state of deep concentration and enjoyment.
  • The book delves into the elements of flow, including clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between skill and challenge, offering insights into how individuals can cultivate flow in their lives.
  • Csikszentmihalyi discusses the impact of flow on enhancing creativity, productivity, and overall well-being, providing a framework for achieving optimal experiences in everyday life.
  • It highlights the potential for individuals to shape their environments and activities to foster more frequent experiences of flow, leading to greater satisfaction and meaning in life.

Have you ever felt at the top of your game? Answers and ideas flow freely. You feel energized and alert. You feel happy and content. You are in control. This is a state Dr. Csikszentmihaly refers to as “flow” .

The flow state happens to everyone from time to time, but it can be engineered to happen more frequently and when it does the happiness, content, and satisfaction it brings can have a lasting halo effect on our lives.

Part science and part philosophy Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience does an exceptional job of relating to us not only how to get more done , but how to live happier and fuller lives due to having an understanding of the “Flow.”

16.  177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class  by Steve Siebold

top 10 books for self development

  • 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class delves into the mindset and habits of high achievers, offering insights into the mental toughness required for success.
  • Steve Siebold emphasizes the importance of developing a resilient mindset, embracing discomfort, and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
  • The book provides practical strategies for building mental toughness, including maintaining focus, managing emotions, and cultivating a relentless pursuit of goals.
  • It highlights the significance of self-discipline, perseverance, and a strong sense of purpose in achieving extraordinary results in various endeavors.
  • Siebold offers insights into the psychology of success, outlining the mental strategies and attitudes that distinguish world-class performers and leaders.

177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class is great at what it is, a summary of all the current thinking in the realm of peak performance.

While not groundbreaking, it digests hundreds of self-help and personal development books and relays the important pieces succinctly and clearly.

A wonderful book that will save you time and money giving you the highlights of the best modern thinking on the subject of improving your personal performance in all aspects of life.

17. Why We Do What We Do by Edward L. Deci

top 10 books for self development

  • Why We Do What We Do delves into the psychology of self-motivation, exploring the factors that drive human behavior and performance.
  • Edward L. Deci discusses the concept of intrinsic motivation, emphasizing the role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering self-motivation.
  • The book highlights the impact of external rewards and control on intrinsic motivation, offering insights into how to create environments that support and nurture individuals' natural drives.
  • Deci provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and enhancing self-motivation, emphasizing the importance of aligning goals with personal values and fostering a sense of choice and agency.
  • It delves into the implications of self-determination theory for various aspects of life, including education, work, and personal relationships, offering practical guidance for promoting intrinsic motivation and well-being.

One of the keys to success in life is self-motivation. Most people will perform when they have to work or at home. Self-motivation means going that extra mile and not needing the external commitments to get things done.

When you can become self-motivated, the achievement will follow as surely as the sun rises in the east.

But self-motivation is not something that is always as easy as it might sound. Deci showcases all the current science on the subject of motivation and explains the hows and whys in a simple to understand terms. 

You likely have ideas of what motivates you already, but reading Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation will give you a clean and clear understanding of your motivation.

18. Quiet by Susan Cain

top 10 books for self development

  • Quiet sheds light on the strengths and contributions of introverts, challenging societal norms that favor extroverted traits.
  • Susan Cain explores the value of introversion, emphasizing the unique qualities of deep thinking, creativity, and leadership that introverts bring to various contexts.
  • The book delves into the impact of cultural and workplace dynamics on introverts, offering insights into creating environments that honor and leverage introverted strengths.
  • Cain discusses the power of solitude and reflective time for introverts, highlighting the benefits of embracing quiet and introspection in a fast-paced, extrovert-centric world.
  • Quiet advocates for a more inclusive, balanced approach that recognizes and values the diverse contributions of both introverts and extroverts in society and organizations.

Being an introvert I kept saying. “That’s right” and “So True” constantly while reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking .

Another book on this list, “ How to Win Friends and Influence People ” does a great job of showcasing the importance of being a “people person” and how this can lead to success.

However, this advice introverts (myself included) have a hard time following. Being the loudest and driving your ideas home to others does not necessarily make your ideas the best.

Susan Cain has a book that can make any introvert proud of their nature. She shows ways many introverts have achieved high levels of success, even in “people person” positions of authority.

This is an important read for introverts to understand why we act the way we do and an important book for extroverts to help them understand the remaining 1/3 of the population.

19. Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker

top 10 books for self development

  • Virtual Freedom advocates for leveraging virtual assistants and remote teams to delegate tasks and achieve greater efficiency and productivity.
  • Chris Ducker emphasizes the importance of outsourcing non-core business functions to focus on high-impact activities, ultimately leading to business growth and personal freedom.
  • The book provides practical guidance on hiring, training, and managing virtual teams, offering strategies for effective communication and collaboration across remote work environments.
  • Ducker highlights the potential for leveraging technology and global talent to build a scalable and sustainable business, enabling entrepreneurs to achieve work-life balance and pursue their passions.
  • Virtual Freedom underscores the transformative impact of delegating tasks and responsibilities, enabling individuals to reclaim time, reduce overwhelm, and achieve greater success in their professional endeavors.

Virtual Freedom is a personal development book for a fairly narrow niche. These days many tasks can be outsourced and delegated, specifically, if you have your own business or side hustle.

Trying to do everything yourself is not a growth mindset. This book lays out clear paths to outsourcing a significant amount of work in a methodical manner.

If you have no need for outsourcing this book is not for you. However, if you have ever thought about the possibilities of outsourcing mundane tasks, then this book should be a must-read.

20. Influence, New and Expanded by Dr. Robert Cialdini

top 10 books for self development

  • Influence, New and Expanded delves into the psychology of persuasion, offering insights into the principles and tactics that influence human behavior.
  • Dr. Robert Cialdini discusses the six universal principles of influence, including reciprocity, commitment, social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity, providing a framework for understanding and applying these principles in various contexts.
  • The book highlights the impact of these principles on decision-making and compliance, offering practical examples and case studies to illustrate their effectiveness in influencing others.
  • Cialdini emphasizes the ethical considerations of influence, urging readers to use these principles responsibly and with integrity.
  • Influence provides valuable strategies for recognizing and resisting manipulative tactics, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and guard against undue influence.

Why do people say yes? Why do they buy things? Dr. Cialdini’s classic book “ Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion ” shows the science behind why people are persuaded.

This book will help you understand the importance of social proof, scarcity, authority, reciprocation and more on others and how it can help you to get the important “yes” or purchase in your business or at work.

People’s decisions are often not made by a rational argument and well laid out plans.  It is important to truly understand why people really choose the way they do.

21. The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

top 10 books for self development

  • The Now Habit explores strategies for overcoming procrastination and cultivating a healthier approach to work and productivity.
  • Neil Fiore emphasizes the significance of addressing underlying psychological barriers to procrastination, such as fear of failure and perfectionism, to achieve lasting change.
  • The book provides practical techniques for prioritizing tasks, managing time effectively, and creating a balanced approach to work and leisure.
  • Fiore highlights the importance of scheduling guilt-free play and relaxation, emphasizing their role in fostering creativity, motivation, and overall well-being.
  • The Now Habit offers insights into building a positive relationship with work, cultivating resilience, and overcoming the cycle of procrastination to achieve greater productivity and satisfaction.

Procrastination is a problem that plagues many people. I might even be bold enough to say that MOST people suffer from procrastination from time to time. It is human nature.

However, there are good scientific reasons why people procrastinate and just as many good science-backed methods to overcome procrastination. Dr. Neil Fiore gives an exhaustive overview of why we procrastinate and what we can do about overcoming procrastination.

22. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

top 10 books for self development

  • Man's Search for Meaning chronicles Viktor Frankl's experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, offering profound insights into human resilience and the quest for meaning.
  • Frankl emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the face of extreme suffering and adversity, as a fundamental driver of human existence.
  • The book delves into logotherapy, Frankl's psychotherapeutic approach centered on helping individuals discover meaning in their lives, enabling them to endure and transcend challenging circumstances.
  • Frankl highlights the power of attitude and inner freedom, emphasizing that individuals have the capacity to choose their responses to life's challenges, regardless of external circumstances.
  • Man's Search for Meaning offers a poignant reminder of the human capacity for resilience, hope, and finding meaning even in the darkest of times.

Viktor Frankl’s book “ Man's Search for Meaning ” was first published in 1946. In it, he chronicles his personal experiences while he was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during WWII. Despite the long span of time from its first publication to the present, this book is still relevant today.

Frankl’s narrative provides clues on how we can find our purpose and the will to survive when we’re in the midst of terrible moments in life, especially in today’s confusing times.

In this book, Frankl introduced his theory of logotherapy, which is based on the belief that human suffering can be eased when a person finds meaning or purpose even in the direst of situations.

Frankl tells us that things that happen to us, such as tragedies, are not within our control. What is within our control, however, is the way we react or respond to these situations.

If you want to find out more about a true account of human resilience and triumph over adversity, this book is for you.

23. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

top 10 books for self development

  • The Obstacle Is the Way draws on Stoic philosophy to present a framework for transforming adversity into opportunity and growth.
  • Ryan Holiday emphasizes the power of perseverance, resilience, and adaptability in facing challenges and using them as a path to success.
  • The book provides practical strategies for reframing obstacles, leveraging them as stepping stones for personal and professional development.
  • Holiday highlights the importance of maintaining a proactive and resourceful mindset, enabling individuals to navigate adversity with strength and determination.
  • The Obstacle Is the Way offers timeless wisdom and actionable insights for embracing obstacles as a means to cultivate resilience, creativity, and lasting success.

Published in 2014, The Obstacle Is the Way: The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage is an actionable guide to transforming obstacles into opportunities for success.

It is inspired by the wisdom of the Stoics, who developed the philosophy of perseverance and resilience in the midst of suffering.

In this book, Holiday shares anecdotes about influential people throughout history who applied stoicism during difficult moments in their lives to come out on top.

Through these accounts, Holiday shows that embracing the principles of stoicism opens up our lives to more opportunities for success than good fortune, talent, and intelligence.

24. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

top 10 books for self development

  • Essentialism advocates for a disciplined approach to focusing on what truly matters, eliminating non-essential activities, and making a meaningful impact.
  • Greg McKeown emphasizes the importance of discerning between what is truly essential and what is trivial, enabling individuals to allocate their time and energy more purposefully.
  • The book provides practical strategies for prioritizing and executing essential tasks, while learning to gracefully say “no” to non-essential commitments.
  • McKeown highlights the value of creating space for reflection and renewal, enabling individuals to make deliberate choices and lead more fulfilling lives.
  • Essentialism offers a compelling framework for simplifying one's life, reducing overwhelm, and achieving greater satisfaction and contribution through the pursuit of less but better.

People these days often overcommit, overwork, and overthink. If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to accomplish everything that’s expected of you, here’s Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less that introduces you to the concept of essentialism.

Essentialism is not a time-management hack promising to improve your productivity. Rather, it is discernment obtained through a disciplined pursuit of the things that really matter.

It teaches readers to enjoy the process of doing something rather than just focusing on the end goal.

The book is divided into four sections. The first section, Essence, introduces the concept of Essentialism. Meanwhile, the three remaining sections (Explore, Eliminate, and Execute) walk readers through the process of developing discernment for things that matter and eliminating those that don’t.

25. Rising Strong by Brené Brown

top 10 books for self development

  • Rising Strong explores the process of overcoming setbacks and embracing vulnerability as a path to personal growth and resilience.
  • Brené Brown delves into the importance of reckoning with emotions, owning one's story, and cultivating the courage to rise strong after failure or disappointment.
  • The book provides a framework for navigating difficult emotions and challenging experiences, offering insights into the transformative power of vulnerability and self-compassion.
  • Brown highlights the significance of integrating lessons from failures and setbacks, enabling individuals to emerge stronger and more wholehearted in their personal and professional lives.
  • Rising Strong offers valuable strategies for embracing discomfort, cultivating empathy, and harnessing the power of vulnerability to lead more authentic, connected, and fulfilling lives.

In this Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead , Brené Brown helps readers find wisdom and wholeheartedness amidst their struggle to overcome mistakes, rise from failure, and face the hurt brought on by painful events in their lives.

She shares a three-step process for learning more about ourselves:

  • Reckoning – Recognizing our emotions and becoming curious about what triggers them instead of ignoring or repressing these emotions.
  • Rumbling – Working out what lessons can be taken from a situation. We need to be open to the idea that others are also doing the best they can in their own life situations.
  • Revolution – Re-writing the ending of our personal stories to reflect the growth and learning that took place during this three-step process.

This book shows us how we can own our stories so that they no longer define us, but instead open the doors to better endings and new possibilities.

26. Grit by Angela Duckworth

top 10 books for self development

  • Grit emphasizes the significance of passion and perseverance in achieving long-term goals and success, challenging the notion that talent alone leads to achievement.
  • Angela Duckworth delves into the psychology of grit, highlighting the role of sustained effort and resilience in surpassing obstacles and achieving excellence.
  • The book provides insights into cultivating grit, including the importance of developing a sense of purpose, maintaining hope in the face of adversity, and embracing a growth mindset.
  • Duckworth emphasizes the impact of grit on personal and professional accomplishment, offering practical strategies for nurturing grit in individuals and organizations.
  • Grit offers a compelling perspective on the power of determination and resilience, inspiring readers to harness their grit to pursue their passions and achieve long-term fulfillment and success.

What makes people successful? Is it pure talent? High IQ? Economic status?

In this eye-opening work, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance , Angela Duckworth reveals that these factors are not the main drivers of success. 

Instead, it is people’s grit—their passion for something they believe in and their willingness to persevere to see things through—that often sees them through and helps them reach the top.

Duckworth asserts that grit is a learned trait. Thus, it is accessible to everyone. The way to develop grit is through deliberate practice.

This book is a guide and a source of inspiration for developing grit, as well as for changing one’s mindset.

We can go from thinking that success is limited by the amount of talent we’re born with to believing that we can achieve anything as long as we are interested in seeing our goals manifest, willing to do the necessary things to achieve it, and committed to seeing things through.

27. Deep Work by Cal Newport

top 10 books for self development

  • Deep Work advocates for the value of intense focus and concentration in producing high-quality work and achieving professional success in the modern age.
  • Cal Newport emphasizes the need to cultivate the ability to engage in deep, undistracted work, highlighting its impact on productivity, creativity, and skill development.
  • The book provides practical strategies for integrating deep work into one's daily routine, including time-blocking, minimizing distractions, and embracing solitude to maximize cognitive output.
  • Newport discusses the implications of deep work for professional advancement, offering insights into how it can lead to mastery, innovation, and competitive advantage in the knowledge economy.
  • Deep Work offers a compelling framework for rethinking one's approach to work and productivity, empowering individuals to achieve more meaningful and impactful results through sustained, focused effort.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World is your guide to developing your ability to focus, working deeply, and achieving more than you ever thought you could.

In a world filled with distractions, it is difficult to achieve a deep sense of focus in order to accomplish tasks that require intense concentration.

But with this book, you’ll be presented with a training regimen that teaches you how to cultivate “deep work,” which includes quitting social media and embracing boredom.

Carl Newport’s book gives you the opportunity to develop a rare skill that helps you achieve a sense of fulfillment in everything you do.

28. Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

Ikigai | personal development books | personal development

  • The concept of Ikigai centers on finding purpose and meaning in life, emphasizing the pursuit of activities that bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of contribution.
  • The book explores the intersection of passion, vocation, profession, and mission, encouraging individuals to seek activities that align with these elements to achieve a sense of Ikigai.
  • It delves into the lifestyle and mindset of the residents of Okinawa, known for their longevity and well-being, offering insights into their habits and values that contribute to a fulfilling life.
  • Ikigai emphasizes the significance of mindfulness, gratitude, and connection to nature and community as essential elements of a purposeful and contented life.
  • The book provides practical guidance for individuals seeking to uncover their Ikigai, offering exercises and reflections to help readers align their daily pursuits with their deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.

29. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

The Power of Habit | personal development books | self improvement

  • The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg delves into the science of habits, explaining how they form and influence individual and organizational behavior.
  • Duhigg introduces the habit loop—cue, routine, reward—and emphasizes its role in shaping and changing habits.
  • The author illustrates how companies and individuals can harness the power of habits to drive productivity and success, using real-life examples and case studies.
  • The book explores the concept of keystone habits and how identifying and modifying these pivotal behaviors can lead to widespread positive changes.
  • Duhigg offers practical strategies for changing habits, emphasizing the importance of belief and willpower in the process of habit transformation.

30. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind | personal development books | development books

  • The subconscious mind has immense power and can influence our thoughts, behaviors, and outcomes, often without our conscious awareness.
  • By harnessing the power of positive affirmations and visualization, individuals can reprogram their subconscious mind to manifest desired changes and goals.
  • The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mental attitude and avoiding negative thoughts, as these can shape our experiences and circumstances.
  • Murphy discusses the role of faith and belief in unlocking the potential of the subconscious mind and achieving personal growth and success.
  • Understanding the connection between the conscious and subconscious mind can lead to greater self-awareness and the ability to overcome limitations and achieve transformation.

31. Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King

Good Vibes, Good Life | personal development books | top self development books

  • Self-love is the foundation for personal growth and fulfillment, and it involves accepting oneself and prioritizing mental and emotional well-being.
  • Cultivating a positive mindset and practicing gratitude can lead to a more fulfilling and joyful life, as highlighted in the book.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and surrounding oneself with supportive and uplifting individuals to enhance overall well-being.
  • Good Vibes, Good Life promotes the idea that embracing change and learning from challenges can lead to personal empowerment and transformation.
  • Vex King encourages readers to embrace a holistic approach to self-love, incorporating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being into their daily lives for a more balanced and fulfilling existence.

Looking for More Books to Read?

Also, if you'd like to discover more books that you can check out, then I suggest you check out some of the lists we've compiled:

  • 9 Best Books to Read About Life
  • 29 Books for Changing Habits
  • 20 Motivational Books to Read
  • 15 Books on Procrastination
  • 27 Books on Productivity and Time Management
  • 17 Best Leadership Books to Advance Your Career
  • 22 Personal Finance Books
  • 18 Happiness Books

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

daily habit and routine books

Are there books missing from this list? Are there books that shouldn't be here? Do you find this list useful? Do you have any favorites? Make sure to let me know in the comments on the main page of the 250+ Best Habit Books List

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Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

The 12 Best Self-Improvement Books

It is the tried and tested, timeless models from which we have most to learn..

Posted December 30, 2021 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

  • We have much to learn from ancient models of self-improvement that have survived the test of time.
  • These texts contain timeless wisdom that remains relevant across the centuries and in different cultural contexts.
  • Ancient wisdom traditions place more emphasis on virtues, humility, purpose, and altruism.

Shiromani Kant @ Unsplash

It is easy to dismiss self-help books and those who read them. But not only do we need serious self-help, we must also take self-help more seriously. Valued at $11 billion worldwide, self-help is a major global industry. It both reflects and generates many of our prevailing ideas about the self and about the cultures in which we live. The self-help industry not only seeks to shape the way in which we think, feel and behave, but also provides many of the core metaphors on which we rely to talk about our inner lives. Many of those metaphors, not least that of the mind as a computer that might require reprogramming, are at best unhelpful.

Critics of self-help believe that its current popularity is part of an all-pervasive neoliberal imperative to maximize efficiency. They see it as a sinister plot to direct all responsibility for our wellbeing back upon ourselves. Self-help, they feel, casts all our problems as personal, and our failures as owing to a lack of willpower and resilience , when they are in fact caused by the politics of capitalism. While this may be true of some self-help, the idea of self-improvement has a long and rich history, extending back to ancient wisdom traditions. The wish to improve ourselves is bound up with our need for self-knowledge, for mastery and for transformation. It is a timeless desire and an essential part of what makes us human.

And some self-improvement literature really can help us to become better people. I mean better not in a competitive but in an ethical sense: the improved self is more able to direct attention outwards, towards projects, other people, and the communities of which we are a part.

1. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. The Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) believed that all suffering is in our minds. Suffering is caused not by external events but by our reactions to those events — by faulty judgments and unrealistic expectations. Given that most external events are beyond our control, Aurelius argues in his Meditations that it is pointless to worry about them. Our evaluations of these events, by contrast, are completely within our control. It follows that all our mental energies should be directed inwards, with a view to controlling our minds. The key to a happy life, then, lies in adjusting our expectations, because “Only a madman looks for figs in winter.”

2. David D. Burns, Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (1980). The science underpinning David Burns’s Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy may no longer be cutting -edge, but its core message remains a powerfully relevant one. A more down-to-earth version of Stoicism, it is based on the premises of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Feeling Good illustrates how our feelings are shaped by our thoughts, and contains some great techniques for training our minds to question negative thinking about ourselves and others.

3. Russ Harris, The Happiness Trap (2007). We are, of course, not purely rational creatures. Sometimes our attempts to control our thoughts can become counterproductive. In The Happiness Trap , the Australian psychologist Russ Harris explains the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He invites us not to try to control our negative thoughts or uncomfortable feelings, but simply to de-fuse with them, to accept them, and then to let them go. That way we have more energy to commit to value-based action.

4. Lao-Tzu, Tao te Ching (ca. 4th century BCE). Spiritual self-cultivation through the art of letting go is the central theme of Lao-Tzu’s Tao te ching (The Classic of the Way and Virtue). In Daoism, letting go centers on the idea of offering no resistance to the natural order of things. It promotes a sophisticated form of submitting our will to cosmic forces, by accepting what is and loosening our attachments to our desires and expectations of specific outcomes. The Tao suggests that we can improve ourselves by returning to a simpler, more authentic and intuitive way of life. A key concept is wu wei – “non-action” or “effortless action.” Wu wei can perhaps best be described as a spiritual state marked by acceptance of what is and the absence of selfish desire. It is also a subtle but highly effective mode of soft power.

5. Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide Book to Spiritual Enlightenment (1998). We are not our thoughts, argues Eckhart Tolle in his bestselling The Power of Now . Most of our thoughts, Tolle writes, revolve around the past or the future. Our past furnishes us with an identity , while the future holds “the promise of salvation.” Both are illusions because the present moment is all we ever really have. We therefore need to learn to be present as “watchers” of our minds, witnessing our thought patterns rather than identifying with them. That way, we can relearn to live truly in the now.

6. Matthieu Ricard, Altruism: The Science and Psychology of Kindness (2013). In many theologies and wisdom traditions, altruism is the highest moral and spiritual value. More recently, psychologists have shown that altruistic acts not only benefit the recipient but also lead those who perform them to be happier. Moreover, practicing altruism, the French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard argues, is the key not just to our personal happiness but also to solving our most pressing social, economic and environmental problems. Altruism enables us “to connect harmoniously the challenges of the economy in the short term, quality of life in the mean term, and our future environment in the long term.”

7. Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854). The American transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau famously withdrew to a cabin in the woods near Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, where he sought to live simply and “deliberately.” It was there that he developed the intriguing notion of “life cost” — the perfect antidote to unthinking materialism and the toxic Protestant work ethic to which so many of us are still enslaved. Most of us find it normal to trade our life time against goods, believing that productivity and success are secular signs of grace. Thoreau saw paid work as a necessary evil to which we should dedicate as little time as possible. His aim was not to work a single minute more than was necessary to cover his most basic living expenses, and to spend all his remaining time doing what he truly cherished.

top 10 books for self development

8. Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning: The Classic Tribute to Hope from the Holocaust (1946). According to the Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl, our most important task in life is to furnish it with meaning. Indeed, we must find meaning even in our suffering. In his deeply moving book, Frankl observes that those who managed to do this when they were interned in Nazi concentration camps had a much higher chance of survival. If there is a powerful “why” that drives us, he writes, we can tolerate almost any “how.” While meaning making can take many forms, including loving, creating and contributing to the well-being of others, Frankl insists on one limitation: meaning has to be situated in the world rather than in our own psyches. Our life’s purpose cannot just be the desire to become our best possible self, for the self is a very poor site for meaning.

9. Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy (1308–21). This fourteenth-century poem chronicles the gradual overcoming of the middle-aged and burned-out Dante’s spiritual weariness. Guided by his mentor Virgil, he journeys from Hell to Paradise, where he is eventually reunited with his beloved Beatrice. The epic can be read as a cautionary Christian tale or as an extended revenge fantasy in which many of Dante’s personal enemies get their gruesome comeuppance. But we can also read it as an archetypal story of spiritual growth and self-overcoming. The doubting Dante is systematically re-educated by his many encounters in Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. The inhabitants of Hell show him how not to live his life, and the costs of their bad choices. In the end, purged of his own weaknesses, Dante reaches a higher spiritual plane and glimpses the divine.

10. Anonymous, The Epic of Gilgamesh. Almost all forms of self-improvement resemble a quest narrative or a heroic journey. Such narratives entail the hero(ine) venturing into the unknown — a dark wood, an underground kingdom or the belly of a beast. There they encounter obstacles and often have to engage in battle with an enemy or a temptation. Having overcome these challenges, they return from their adventures transformed and ready to share with others what they have learned, the true function of the hero(ine) being to help others. The oldest surviving narrative of this kind recounts how the formerly selfish Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh returns from the wilderness into which he ventured, bearing the plant of eternal life. Rather than eating it himself, he shares his boon with his people.

11. Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936). Written during the Great Depression , How to Win Friends and Influence People is still in print for a reason, teeming with sensible and practical tips for making the best of human relations. Key to Carnegie’s method is the art of mentalizing — stepping into the shoes of others and trying to see the world from their point of view. Very few of us master this art, because it requires the ability to imagine what lies beyond our own cognitive maps. As Carnegie argues, however, this beyond is not exactly complex: Human beings are above all defined by their unquenchable thirst for attention, sympathy and respect. For others to like us, we simply have to find ways of giving them what they most need.

12. Angela Duckworth, Grit: Why Passion and Resilience are the Secrets to Success (2017). According to psychologist Angela Duckworth, grit tops talent every time. That is music to the ears of anyone inclined to identify with Aesop’s plodding tortoise rather than the effortlessly speedy hare. “Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another,” Duckworth writes. Grit is a drive to improve both our skills and our performance by consistent effort. Gritty people are always eager to learn and are driven by an enduring passion. They learn from their mistakes, have direction, and live more coherent lives.

A slightly shorter version of this post appears in The Guardian .

I discuss these and many other texts in greater depth in The Art of Self-Improvement: Ten Timeless Truths .

Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

Anna Katharina Schaffner, Ph.D. is a burnout and executive coach and the author of Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary .

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The 40 Best Self-Help & Personal Growth Books to Read in 2024

blonde person reading a book in a bright library

Reading good self-help books is the most reliable way to change your life for the better. While the self-improvement and personal growth industry has a mixed reputation, it’s undeniable that if you build the habit of reading self-help books, taking notes, and actioning valuable lessons, you can transform your life in profound ways.

As someone who has read  200+ books  in the last five years, including dozens of self-improvement books and personal development books, I’m a firm believer that you can use books to improve almost any area of your life, including finding a fulfilling career, becoming more productive, learning how to navigate difficult times, developing new skills, and learning how to manage your money.

Given the volume of great works available from the world’s leading thinkers across disciplines, it’s clear that books can help you solve almost any problem in your life. But when it comes to self-help books, the most important thing you can do is  choose the best books  to read. With millions of personal development books available on the market, that task is easier said than done.

This article exists to help make the task of selecting the right self-help books easier. Below, you will find 40 of the best self-improvement books of all time, broken down by categories so that you can find the book that fits your life and current needs. If you get started with these books and put the lessons into practice, you will move closer to where you want to go.

The Best Self-Help Books To Make Your Life Better

Best self-help books for everyone, best self-help books for difficult times, best self-help books for productivity, best self-help books for women, best self-help books for men, best self-help books for your 20s, best self-help books for your career, best self-help books for relationships & romance, best self-help books for your mind, best self-help books for your finances, best self-help books for creativity, how to get more from self-help books, additional book lists, 1. awaken the giant within by tony robbins.

Awaken the Giant Within Book Cover

“Achievers rarely, if ever, see a problem as permanent, while those who fail see even the smallest problems as permanent.”

Rating : 9/10

Why it’s Great : A classic self-improvement book for people who want to embark on a deep psychological investigation of their mind, body, emotions, and finances. You’ll learn about the motivating forces of pain and pleasure, the importance of the questions you ask, and how to clarify and live by your values. Read it slowly and do the exercises.

2. The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*Ck By Mark Manson

“The rare people who do become truly exceptional at something do so not because they believe they’re exceptional. On the contrary, they become amazing because they’re obsessed with improvement. And that obsession with improvement stems from an unerring belief that they are, in fact, not that great at all.”

Rating : 9.5/10

Why it’s Great : Mark Manson provides philosophical and candid thoughts on how we can live a better life, starting with rejecting the fluffy, positive psychology obsessed self-improvement culture of the modern era. He explores what it means to embrace the negative aspects of life, take responsibility for everything that happens to us, prioritize good values, and choose the problems that we solve.

3.  How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

“The greatest mistake physicians make is that they attempt to cure the body without attempting to cure the mind; yet the mind and body are one and should not be treated separately.” – Plato

Why it’s Great : In this time-tested book, Dale Carnegie shows us how to conquer worry and anxiety. Via engaging stories that reveal helpful lessons and practical frameworks, Carnegie arms you with an array of tools that will help you start living more fully and without the harmful effects of worry. Even though this book was written in 1936, the deceptively simple lessons from this book will help you better navigate the noise of the modern era.

4.  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”

Why it’s Great : Through an elegant narrative about an Andalusian shepherd boy, Coelho communicates essential life lessons, including the importance of pursuing your passions, living in the present moment, and doing things with love and enthusiasm.

5.  Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Man's Search for Meaning Book Cover

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Rating : 10/10

Why it’s Great : In this heart-wrenching story, Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl leverages his personal experiences in Nazi concentration camps and the philosophy of logotherapy to show you that you can overcome and find meaning in the face of unimaginable tragedy. His core idea is that while we cannot control what happens to us, we can control how we respond to everything we encounter in life.

6.  When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

When Things Fall Apart Book Cover

“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again.”

Why it’s Great : This book will help you navigate the peaks and valleys of life. Buddhist Pema Chodron shares a compelling philosophy of how to live in a fundamentally shifting world and introduces many concepts from Buddhism that you can incorporate into your life.

7. The Obstacle Is The Way By Ryan Holiday

“We blame our bosses, the economy, our politicians, other people, or we write ourselves off as failures or our goals as impossible. When really only one thing is at fault: our attitude and approach.”

Rating : 8.5/10

Why it’s Great : A practical and actionable philosophy on how to perceive, act, and thrive in an uncertain and changing world. Leveraging the wisdom of the Stoics, Holiday explains how we can deliberately improve the way we perceive the world and find opportunities in the obstacles we face.

8. Meditations By Marcus Aurelius

Meditations Book Cover

“Nowhere you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul. Especially if you have other things to rely on. An instant’s recollection and there it is: complete tranquillity. And by tranquillity I mean a kind of harmony.”

Why it’s Great : This is a life-changing collection of philosophical and spiritual thoughts from the former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. The work is grounded in Stoicism, a practical philosophy that encourages us to keep our mortality in mind at all times, view things as they are, reflect thoughtfully, focus on what’s within our control, and practice virtues like generosity, honesty, and self-control.

9.  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less By Greg McKeown

“Essentialists spend as much time as possible exploring, listening, debating, questioning, and thinking. But their exploration is not an end in itself. The purpose of the exploration is to discern the vital few from the trivial many.”

Why it’s Great : A compelling philosophy about living consciously, focusing on the essential few things that fulfill you, and designing your life to achieve your highest point of contribution. McKeown highlights the danger of failing to recognize tradeoffs, the necessity of learning to say no, the value of deep work , and the importance of play and sleep.

10 .  The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

“And once you understand that habits can change, you have the freedom—and the responsibility—to remake them. Once you understand that habits can be rebuilt, the power of habit becomes easier to grasp, and the only option left is to get to work.”

Rating : 8/10

Why it’s Great : Good habits are the foundation of all personal success. The Power of Habit is a digestible and informed examination of why habits exist, how they work, and how you can change them. This book will give you the foundational understanding required to make new habits stick and break old habits that are limiting your daily life. Pair this book with  Atomic Habits by James Clear to develop more self-mastery, live a happy life, and achieve success.

11.  The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu Goldratt

“Since the strength of the chain is determined by the weakest link, then the first step to improve an organization must be to identify the weakest link.”

Why it’s Great : The Goal does not make most personal development book lists, and that’s a shame. Through an engaging fictional story about a manager who has 90 days to turn around his plant, author Eliyahu Goldratt teaches you the first principles of operating and improving any system. Reading this book will show you how to implement an effective and efficient process of ongoing improvement. His approach provides you with a valuable skill that will allow you to better approach problems in life and business.

12.  Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

“While desire naturally arises again, the wisdom of seeing that everything passes is liberating. Observing desire without acting on it enlarges our freedom to choose how we live.”

Why it’s Great : If you have ever struggled with self-compassion, self-love, or low self-esteem, Radical Acceptance is the book for you. Clinical psychologist and meditation teacher, Tara Brach, introduces a fantastic approach that will help you live life with a better understanding of your experiences and emotions.

13.  The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

“When you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment, envy, and other manifestations of insecurity… you cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others”

Why it’s Great : The 48 Laws of Power is a timeless guide that offers a dense, candid, and frightening examination of power and its many dynamics. If you want to understand human nature, get better at identifying bad actors, and avoid the pitfalls of naive positive thinking, this is one of the best personal development books to get a new perspective.

14.  The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

“To complain is always non-acceptance of what is.”

Why it’s Great : Eckhart Tolle explores presence, thinking, and spirituality to help you understand what presence means, how thinking and non-acceptance drive a lot of human pain, and how to live a life that reduces suffering.

15.   Own the Day, Own Your Life by Aubrey Marcus

“To live one day well is the same as to live ten thousand days well. To master twenty-four hours is to master your life.”

Why it’s Great : A no-nonsense book with tactical, science-backed insights on how to live a healthier, energy-filled, and fulfilling life. Many practices in this book have helped me boost my daily energy and productivity.

16.  The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant

Lessons Of History Book Cover

“So the first biological lesson of history is that life is competition. Competition is not only the life of trade, it is the trade of life—peaceful when food abounds, violent when the mouths outrun the food.”

Why it’s Great : A concise, thematic account of history that covers the core biological, social, economic, and philosophical lessons of history. The Durants introduce you to everything from the 3 fundamental biological lessons of life to the origins of racial antipathies.

17.  Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance By Robert Pirsig

“You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it’s going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it’s always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt.”

Why it’s Great : Pirsig takes us on a philosophical journey through the engaging narrative of a middle-aged man who takes his son on a motorcycle trip across America. You’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation for philosophy and the great interconnectedness of the world.

18. Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

“Life is all about growth and change. It’s not static. It’s not about some destination. It’s not about answering the question once and for all and then it’s all done. Nobody really knows what he or she wants to be.”

Why it’s Great : In this book, Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans show you how to use design thinking to create a meaningful, joyful, and fulfilling life. If you fully engage with the frameworks and self-reflection exercises, you will have a clearer path to creating a life worth living.

19. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay

“Goals direct us from the inside, but shoulds are paralyzing judgments from the outside. Goals feel like authentic dreams while shoulds feel like oppressive obligations. Shoulds set up a false dichotomy between either meeting an ideal or being a failure, between perfection or settling. The tyranny of the should even pits us against our own best interests.”

Why it’s Great : This book directly challenges the thirty-is-the-new-twenty culture. Through research and anecdotes from her time as a clinical psychologist, Meg Jay advocates for being intentional about how you spend your twenties.

20.  Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis

“We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come.” – Milan Kundera

Why it’s Great : Wanting is a transformational deep dive into the origins of desire. In it, Luke Burgis shows us how we come to want certain things in life and how we can transform our relationship with desire in ways that allow us to live a more aligned, fulfilling existence with other people. Burgis’s work builds off of the philosophy of René Girard, a French philosopher who spent his life understanding and writing about the human condition.

21.  Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot Aronson

“Our convictions about who we are carry us through the day, and we are constantly interpreting the things that happen to us through the filter of those core beliefs.”

Why it’s Great : An insightful examination of how and why we self-justify everything we do and the dangers of this human tendency to self-justify. You will walk away with a humbling skepticism about the reliability of your memory, the source of your beliefs, and the motivations behind your actions.

22.  Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”

Why it’s Great : Phil Knight recounts his struggles, victories, and lessons learned from building Nike from a small startup to a billion dollar shoe giant. He tells engaging and inspiring stories that highlight his personal philosophies on life. Knight encourages us all to seek and pursue a calling, even if we don’t yet know what that means.

23.   Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

“Persuasion is not about how bright or smooth or forceful you are. It’s about the other party convincing themselves that the solution you want is their own idea. So don’t beat them with logic or brute force. Ask them questions that open paths to your goals. It’s not about you.”

Why it’s Great : International hostage negotiator Chris Voss provides a practical guide and set of principles to improve your effectiveness in getting what you want. You’ll learn that being a good negotiator is about being an effective communicator, understanding what drives people’s decisions, and using counterintuitive techniques, such as asking calibrated questions, beginning with “no”, and listening actively and empathetically.

24.  Give And Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success By Adam Grant

“Highly successful people have three things in common: motivation, ability, and opportunity. If we want to succeed, we need a combination of hard work, talent, and luck.”

Why it’s Great : This book reshaped my understanding of what drives success. With an engaging body of research, Wharton professor Adam Grant demonstrates how, combined with motivation, ability, and opportunity, being a giver in our attitudes and actions towards others can fuel our long-term personal and career success.

25 .  How To Lie With Statistics By Darrell Huff

“‘Does it make sense?’ will often cut a statistic down to size when the whole rigmarole is based on an unproved assumption.”

Why it’s Great : We all learn statistics in school, but rarely do we apply the important and basic principles of statistics in adulthood. This book is a great primer on statistics that shows you all of the ways in which we are manipulated by data at work, in the news, and more.

26. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

Why it’s great: How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the best self-improvement books of all time. It is full of practical advice for anyone who wants to improve their relationships, influence people, and achieve success. Above all else, Carnegie teaches us that connecting with other people is a skill (not a natural talent) and that through being honest with our shortcomings and intentional in our efforts to overcome those challenges, we develop more self-confidence and rewarding relationships.

27. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Four Agreements Book Cover

“Making assumptions in relationships leads to a lot of fights, a lot of difficulties, a lot of misunderstandings with people we supposedly love.”

Why it’s great: Leveraging the teachings and wisdom of the ancient Toltecs, Don Miguel Ruiz takes you on a spiritual and philosophical path of understanding and changing the agreements you have with yourself. He first shows how you are indoctrinated with beliefs that harm your well-being and then teaches you how to reshape those beliefs. The result is that you leave the book with four new agreements that will help you create a life of connection, joy, and fulfillment.

28.  Models: Attract Women Through Honesty by Mark Manson

“…vulnerability is not a technique or tactic. It is a way of being. It’s not something you learn, it’s a mindset you practice.”

Why it’s Great : Personal development extends to all areas of life, including your romantic endeavors. If you’re struggling in your romantic life, Models is a wonderful book. Author Mark Manson will help you understand how to be less needy, express yourself in healthy ways, and get comfortable with dating in an attempt to make your dating life easier and more rewarding.

29.  Awareness: Conversations with the Masters by Anthony de Mello

“When you renounce or fight something, you become tied to it. In fighting it, you give it power. So instead of fighting, give in. You might find that what you’ve been resisting no longer holds the same power over you.”

Why it’s Great : Awareness is nourishment for the soul. In a humorous and digestible way, Anthony de Mello helps you understand yourself and the world in a way that will help you improve the quality of your life.

30.  Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Wherever You Go There You Are Book Cover

“Meditation is neither shutting things out nor off. It is seeing things clearly, and deliberately positioning yourself differently in relationship to them.”

Why it’s Great : A clear and engaging introduction to practicing meditation and cultivating mindfulness in your life as a pathway to personal development. You will learn about what meditation and mindfulness are, why they matter, how to introduce them to your daily activities and way of operating. If you’re interested in living a life with more clarity, presence, awareness, and acceptance, this book will help you get there.

31.  On the Shortness of Life by Seneca

On The Shortness of Life Book Cover

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

Why it’s Great : On the Shortness of Life is one of those self-improvement books that will make you think. Unlike books that rely on ever-changing scientific research, the Stoic philosopher Seneca uses his life experience to reveal time-tested insights about how to live a good life. Through stories, he reveals the wisdom in slowing down, the futility of worrying about the future, the importance of learning how to master your emotions, and how to act in the face of uncertainty.

32. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

“I began to realize that coming in such close contact with my own mortality had changed both nothing and everything. Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. But now I knew it acutely. The problem wasn’t really a scientific one. The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.”

Why it’s Great : What a wonderfully heavy and moving read that offers a window into the human mind grappling with the precipice of life and death. In it, neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi confronts the question of what makes life meaningful in the face of death. He wrote the book after being diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer at the peak of his career.

33.  The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Psychology of Money Book Cover

“Getting money requires taking risks, being optimistic, and putting yourself out there. But keeping money requires the opposite of taking risk. It requires humility, and fear that what you’ve made can be taken away from you just as fast. It requires frugality and an acceptance that at least some of what you’ve made is attributable to luck, so past success can’t be relied upon to repeat indefinitely.”

Why it’s Great : In the Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel teaches you how to have a better relationship with money and to make smarter financial decisions. Instead of pretending that humans are ROI-optimizing machines, he shows you how your psychology can work for and against you.

34. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: Including A Life-Cycle Guide To Personal Investing By Burton Malkiel

“The core of every portfolio should consist of low-cost, tax-efficient, broad-based index funds.”

Why it’s Great : A Random Walk Down Wall Street is a classic guide full of amazing research that blends history, economics, market theory, and behavioral finance to offer practical and actionable advice for investing and achieving financial freedom. Malkiel’s central message is abundantly clear – begin a consistent savings plan as early as possible and invest the core of your portfolio in low-cost, broad-based index funds.

35. The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

“Since money is the single most powerful tool we have for navigating this complex world we’ve created, understanding it is critical. If you choose to master it, money becomes a wonderful servant. If you don’t, it will surely master you.”

Read this book if you want to get your personal finances in order. In a simple, engaging way, Collins shares the basic wisdom you need to make your money work for you, not against you. You’ll walk away with a practical toolkit to achieving financial freedom with minimal effort.

36. Rich Dad Poor Dad By Robert Kiyosaki

“It’s fear that keeps most people working at a job: the fear of not paying the bills, the fear of being fired, the fear of not having enough money, and the fear of starting over. That’s the price of studying to learn a profession or trade, and then working for money. Most people become a slave to money – and then get angry with their boss.”

Rating : 7.5/10

Why it’s Great : In Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki gives you the crash-course financial education that you should have learned in school. If you want to accrue wealth, this self-help book is filled with solid advice and success principles for creating a better financial life.

37. The War Of Art By Steven Pressfield

The War of Art Book Cover

“The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.”

Why it’s Great : If you write or create, read this book. Pressfield names the killer of creative dreams: Resistance. He describes the many forms it takes and outlines a plan to overcome it. If you have creative dreams, Pressfield will prepare and inspire you for the war ahead.

38. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

“Creativity is not a rare ability. It is not difficult to access. Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.”

Why it’s Great : Legendary music producer Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being is a mind-bending series of meditations on what it means to be an artist and creator. Through 78 philosophical musings, Rubin shares the wisdom that we are all artists, offers helpful mental frames for creating and moving through roadblocks, and helps you develop an understanding of what it means to operate as an artist in the world.

39.  The Art Of Possibility by Rosamund And Benjamin Zander

“Gracing yourself with responsibility for everything that happens in your life leaves your spirit whole, and leaves you free to choose again.”

Why it’s Great : In this engaging read, a music conductor and an experienced psychotherapist introduce 12 unique personal development practices that will reshape how you see the world and accelerate your personal and professional growth.

40.  The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

“No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.”

Why it’s Great : This timeless, 12-week course is sure to fill your spirit and help you be more creative. Cameron offers heartfelt advice for all creatives and a medley of helpful practices like morning pages and artist dates that will make you a happier, better creative.

  • To get more out of every self-help and personal growth book you read, check out How to Read a Nonfiction Book. This article will help you get the most out of the time you spend reading, starting with the topic of choosing the right books.
  • If you read with a Kindle (highly recommend), check out Readwise , a tool that allows you to access and learn from all of the highlights and notes you make while you read.
  • If you struggle to read, try listening to audiobooks with Amazon Audible .
  • Finally, I send out a weekly Sunday newsletter, Life Reimagined , with helpful ideas and quotes from good books. If you want to receive small nuggets of wisdom and recommendations for future reading every week, you can sign up below.
  • 28 Books That Will Expand Your Mind
  • 49 Best Philosophy Books for Beginners
  • 11 Best Books On Decision Making
  • 100+ Book Summaries and Notes

25 insightful self-help books that will help you grow in all aspects of your life

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  • Self-help books aim to improve an aspect of our lives.
  • They might be business books, psychology reads, or memoirs.
  • We used Goodreads to rank the best self-help books to read in 2022.

Insider Today

Books can serve so many different purposes, from entertainment to education, but self-help books are designed to help us improve a specific aspect of our lives. Though the very idea of "self-help" books used to conjure mental images of cheesy lectures and impractical advice, the best self-help books actually offer a new perspective for readers to explore habit building, emotional growth, or gain a deeper understanding of the world. 

Goodreads is the largest platform in the world for readers to rate and review books, so we turned to Goodreads reviewers to rank the best self-help books to read in 2022. From classics like " How to Win Friends and Influence People " to Susan Cain's " Quiet ," these self-help books include business books, memoirs, philosophy reads, and so much more. 

25 of the best self-help books, according to Goodreads

"the subtle art of not giving a f*ck" by mark manson.

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.60

Mark Manson is a popular blogger who aimed to defy the norm of "positivity" in self-help books by acknowledging that, sometimes, life sucks! In his book, Manson encourages readers to recognize what is worth caring about and adjusting our perspectives based on our goals. 

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.98

" Atomic Habits " is a practical self-help book that helps readers change bad habits and develop good ones. With an abundance of practical examples, any reader can develop a system of change with James Clear's suggestions and motivational writing.

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.99

With over 700,000 ratings and averaging at 4.21 stars, " How to Win Friends and Influence People " is the best self-help book according to Goodreads members. Selling over 15 million copies since its original publication in 1936, Dale Carnegie's book includes his tried-and-true principles to help readers in their personal and professional lives. There are six principles to help people like you, 12 to help people understand your way of thinking, and nine to encourage change in others.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon , from $12.53

With over 15 million copies sold since its first publication in 1989, this self-help book uses 7 fundamental habits that guide readers toward an independent, successful, and fulfilling life. Using psychological principles, this book begs to be opened over and over again, refreshing readers with life mantras that will lead them to greatness.

"The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.95

After studying patterns across a variety of success stories, Charles Duhigg presents why habits exist — and what we can do to change them. He argues the key to reaching any of our goals lies with understanding how habits are formed and uses researched principles to help readers change habits in order to transform their lives.

"The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.58

With a book and Netflix series that changed how we organize and stay tidy, Marie Kondo is a professional organizing consultant who presents the KonMari method of organizing. In " The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up ," Kondo introduces readers to her approach to cleaning, including the idea of only keeping items that "spark joy".

"You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life" by Jen Sincero

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.45

This best-selling self-help book uses anecdotes and exercises to help readers break down the mental barriers that are keeping them from achieving their goals. It's an inspirational, motivational, and funny read that aims to instill self-confidence and leave readers feeling refreshed and ready to accomplish anything.

"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.74

In this spiritual self-help book, Don Miguel Ruiz pulls from Toltec wisdom to present four principles that, when applied in harmony with each other, can offer new experiences and happiness in our lives. This book challenges readers to apply four simple truths to their lives: Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, and always do your best.

"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.51

" The Power of Now " is a spiritual self-help book that proclaims living in "the now" is the ultimate path to happiness. More a practical guide than a traditional narrative, Tolle aims to inspire readers to become conscious of the thoughts and challenges that prevent us from living in the present moment.

"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.89

Introverts have been widely overlooked in American society. In this psychology book dubbed a favorite self-help read by Goodreads reviewers, Susan Cain uses stories from successful introverts to explain how invaluable introverts are to our community and help introverts value themselves more. To learn more about this book, check out our review of "Quiet."

"The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.47

Brené Brown's 2010 self-help bestseller is still a favorite amongst Goodreads reviewers for the revelations and impacts her reflections have had on their lives. In this book, Brown explores the psychology behind releasing our expectations of living a "perfect" life and offers 10 benchmarks readers can follow to embrace a more authentic life.

"Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead" by Brené Brown

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.99

Based on 12 years of research, " Daring Greatly " is a self-help book that encourages readers to embrace vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. With personal anecdotes and plenty of examples, this book demonstrates how vulnerability can open new avenues to courage, connection, and creativity.

"Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.99

" Deep Work " is a self-help book about productivity that aims to help readers understand how to reach a "deep work" state where we can focus on a mentally demanding task without distraction — a skill that has become harder and harder to master in an increasingly distracted world. Cal Newport argues the importance of deep work and presents four rules readers can follow to transform their productivity habits and reach more focused success.

"The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.57

" The 5 Love Languages " is a self-help book whose concepts have permeated many relationships as its popularity grows. In this book, Dr. Gary Chapman proposes that there are five main ways in which people give and receive love. By understanding your and your partner's love language, you can enrich your relationship by showing love more effectively. 

"Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.17

First published in 1998, " Who Moved My Cheese ?" is a self-help book in the form of a motivational fable of four characters who live in a maze, looking for cheese. Representing anything we may want in life, the cheese is constantly moving and only when one character successfully navigates change to reach the cheese does the reader discover how to navigate change in their own lives.

"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11

Written after the hit movie of the same name in 2006, " The Secret " is a self-help book that outlines the law of attraction, a concept Rhonda Byrne claims can change or redirect a person's entire life. With this concept, Byrne encourages readers to find the power within themselves to apply "The Secret" to every aspect of life and achieve nearly anything.

"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.29

This psychology book has helped readers understand the way we think by separating our thought processes into two systems: one that is intuitive and one that is deliberate. By knowing how these two systems work separately and together, we can better understand how we make choices and think about thinking. To learn more about this book, check out our review of "Thinking, Fast and Slow."

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.18

Though " Rich Dad, Poor Dad " is usually seen as a business or finance read , Goodreads reviewers love it as a self-help book as well for its lessons on how to make your money work for you. Author Robert T. Kiyosaki grew up with two dads — his own and his best friend's dad — who shaped his views on money and investing in very different ways. In this book, Kiyosaki explains different financial theories to change how many readers view finances.

"The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun" by Gretchen Rubin

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.19

When Gretchen Rubin realized she wasn't focusing on the things in her life that truly mattered, she decided to dedicate a year to her "happiness project." This autobiographical self-help book is a 12-month chronicle of her journey as she tried new things, focused on improving herself, and embraced happiness while encouraging others to take time and do the same. 

"Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.38

In a self-help book that aims to inspire creativity, Elizabeth Gilbert offers an honest look at the creative process — with all of its challenges and unrealistic expectations. This book reminds readers that creativity isn't linear or clean and we can be any degree of an artist, writer, or musician that satisfies our soul.

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.99

" Man's Search for Meaning " is a memoir that begins with psychologist Viktor E. Frankl's experiences in Auschwitz during World War II and how he coped with suffering in order to not just survive it, but move forward with purpose. With psychological, philosophical, and sociological influences, this moving read offers self-help advice through the author's inspirational personal account of searching for a guiding meaning in life. It's also a book that therapists recommend to read if you want to build more empathy .

"The 4-Hour Workweek" by Timothy Ferriss

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.39

Aiming to help readers escape the confines of a 9-5 job, " The 4-Hour Workweek " encourages a restructuring of our lifestyle to find fulfillment now rather than once we retire. Born of the author's three-week break from his company, this self-help book is modeled after his series of lectures on entrepreneurship given at Princeton University.

"Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" by David Allen

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.29

While many self-help productivity books encourage readers to work harder, " Getting Things Done " proposes that our productivity is directly linked to our ability to relax, as we can only reach our greatest potential when our minds are clear and organized. This book offers core principles, tricks, and advice to help readers streamline their effectiveness, overcome challenging situations, and avoid the burnout that often comes with an overwhelming workload. 

"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon  and Bookshop , from $8.55

Dr. Carol Dweck is a psychologist who, after decades of research, has discovered just how powerful and affecting our mindset can be in every aspect of our lives. In this book, she demonstrates how we can influence our success by adopting a growth mindset — and how changing the mindset of a community or organization can inspire incredible success. 

"Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell

top 10 books for self development

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $15.94

In this personal development read, Malcolm Gladwell highlights successful "outliers," the best and brightest of our society — from the Beatles to Bill Gates — and what makes them so successful. Gladwell presents the histories of our heroes, their rise to excellence, and how their beginnings carefully positioned them for success. 

top 10 books for self development

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two glass recycling containers transformed in tribute to Dante and The Divine Comedy as part of the Urban Galleries of the Ideal City in Rome, promoted by the cultural association Progetto Goldstein.

Top 10 books about self-improvement

In time for new year resolutions, a cultural historian chooses some of the best guides to making a better life, dating back to some of our earliest literature

I t is easy to dismiss self-help books and those who read them. But not only do we need serious self-help, we must also take self-help more seriously. Valued at $11bn (£8bn) worldwide, self-help is a major global industry. It both reflects and generates many of our prevailing ideas about the self and about the cultures in which we live. The self-help industry not only seeks to shape the way in which we think, feel and behave, but also provides many of the core metaphors on which we rely to talk about our inner lives. Many of those metaphors, not least that of the mind as a computer that might require reprogramming, are at best unhelpful.

Critics of self-help believe that its current popularity is part of an all-pervasive neoliberal imperative to maximise efficiency. They see it as a sinister plot to direct all responsibility for our wellbeing back upon ourselves. Self-help, they feel, casts all our problems as personal, and our failures as owing to a lack of willpower and resilience, when they are in fact caused by the politics of capitalism. But while this may be true of some self-help, the idea of self-improvement has a long and rich history, extending back to ancient wisdom traditions. The wish to improve ourselves is bound up with our need for self-knowledge, for mastery and for transformation. It is a timeless desire and an essential part of what makes us human.

And some self-improvement literature really can help us to become better people. I mean better not in a competitive but in an ethical sense: the improved self is more able to direct attention outwards, towards projects, other people and the communities of which we are a part.

1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius (AD 121–180) believed that all suffering is in our minds. Suffering is caused not by external events but by our reactions to those events – by faulty judgments and unrealistic expectations. Given that most external events are beyond our control, Aurelius argues in his Meditations that it is pointless to worry about them. Our evaluations of these events, by contrast, are completely within our control. It follows that all our mental energies should be directed inwards, with a view to controlling our minds. The key to a happy life, then, lies in adjusting our expectations, because “only a madman looks for figs in winter”.

2. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D Burns (1980) The science underpinning Burns’s book may no longer be cutting-edge, but its core message remains a powerfully relevant one. A more down-to-earth version of Stoicism, it is based on the premises of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Feeling Good illustrates how our feelings are shaped by our thoughts, and contains some great techniques for training our minds to question negative thinking about ourselves and others.

3. The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris ( 2007) We are, of course, not purely rational creatures. Sometimes our attempts to control our thoughts can become counter-productive. Here, Australian psychologist Harris explains the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). He invites us not to try to control our negative thoughts or uncomfortable feelings, but simply to de-fuse with them, to accept them and then to let them go. That way we have more energy to commit to value-based action.

‘Effortless action’ … detail from image of Lao Tzu held by the British Museum.

4. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu Spiritual self-cultivation through the art of letting go is the central theme of the Tao Te Ching (the classic study of “The Way and Virtue”, usually dated to the sixth or fourth century BC). In Daoism, letting go centres on the idea of offering no resistance to the natural order of things. It promotes a sophisticated form of submitting our will to cosmic forces, by accepting what is and loosening our attachments to our desires and expectations of specific outcomes. The Tao suggests that we can improve ourselves by returning to a simpler, more authentic and intuitive way of life. A key concept is wu wei – “non-action” or “effortless action”. Wu wei can perhaps best be described as a spiritual state marked by acceptance of what is and the absence of selfish desires.

5. The Power of Now: A Guide Book to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle ( 1998 ) We are not our thoughts, argues Tolle in this bestselling book. Most of our thoughts, Tolle writes, revolve around the past or the future. Our past furnishes us with an identity, while the future holds “the promise of salvation”. Both are illusions, because the present moment is all we ever really have. We therefore need to learn to be present as “watchers” of our minds, witnessing our thought patterns rather than identifying with them. That way, we can relearn to live truly in the now.

6. Altruism: The Science and Psychology of Kindness by Matthieu Ricard ( 2015) In many theologies and wisdom traditions, altruism is the highest moral and spiritual value. More recently, psychologists have shown that altruistic acts not only benefit the recipient but also lead those who perform them to be happier. Moreover, practising altruism, the French Buddhist monk Ricard argues, is the key not just to our personal happiness but also to solving our most pressing social, economic and environmental problems. Altruism enables us “to connect harmoniously the challenges of the economy in the short term, quality of life in the mid-term, and our future environment in the long term”.

replica of Henry David Thoreau’s house close to Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts.

7. Walden by Henry David Thoreau ( 1854) The American transcendentalist philosopher Thoreau famously withdrew to a cabin in the woods near Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, where he sought to live simply and “deliberately”. It was there that he developed the intriguing notion of “life cost” – the perfect antidote to unthinking materialism and the toxic Protestant work ethic to which so many of us are still enslaved. Most of us find it normal to trade our life time for goods, believing that productivity and success are secular signs of grace. Thoreau saw paid work as a necessary evil to which we should dedicate as little time as possible. His aim was not to work a single minute more than was necessary to cover his most basic living expenses, and to spend all his remaining time doing what he truly cherished.

8. Grit by Angela Duckworth (2017) According to the psychologist Angela Duckworth, grit tops talent every time. That is music to the ears of anyone inclined to identify with Aesop’s plodding tortoise rather than the effortlessly speedy hare. “Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another,” she writes. Here grit is a drive to improve both our skills and our performance by consistent effort. Gritty people are always eager to learn and are driven by an enduring passion. They learn from their mistakes, have direction and live more coherent lives.

9. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri ( 1308–21 ) This 14th-century poem chronicles the gradual overcoming of the middle-aged and burned-out Dante’s spiritual weariness. Guided by his mentor Virgil, he journeys from Hell to Paradise, where he is eventually reunited with his beloved Beatrice. The epic can be read as a cautionary Christian tale or as an extended revenge fantasy in which many of Dante’s personal enemies get their gruesome come-uppance. But we can also read it as an archetypal story of spiritual growth and self-overcoming. The doubting Dante is systematically re-educated by his many encounters in Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. The inhabitants of Hell show him how not to live his life, and the costs of their bad choices. In the end, purged of his own weaknesses, Dante reaches a higher spiritual plane and glimpses the divine.

10. The Epic of Gilgamesh (circa 2100–1200 BCE) Almost all forms of self-improvement resemble a quest narrative or a heroic journey. Such narratives show the hero or heroine venturing into the unknown – a dark wood, an underground kingdom or the belly of a beast. There they encounter obstacles and often have to battle with an enemy or a temptation. Having overcome these challenges, they return from their adventures transformed and ready to share what they have learned to help others. The oldest surviving narrative of this kind recounts how the formerly selfish Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh returns from the wilderness bearing the plant of eternal life. Rather than eating it himself, he shares his boon with his people.

Anna Katharina Schaffner is Professor of Cultural History at the University of Kent. Her book The Art of Self-Improvement: Ten Timeless Truths is published by Yale University Press .

  • Health, mind and body books
  • Dante Alighieri
  • Henry David Thoreau

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  • The 33 Best Self-Help Books of All Time to Read at Any Age

Best Self Help Books

Self-help books are all about change. A change of habits, character traits, or your physical appearance – you name it. The thing is, you have to make the change yourself .

Every New Year’s Eve, you commit to another version of “new year, new me.” But how does it look a few months later? Has it ever happened to you that you ended up resolving to make the same changes again the next year? Two years, three years, four years in a row? Inevitably, we’ll ask ourselves: How many times do I have to try this to succeed?

The honest answer is “Forever” – because there’ll always be new changes you want to make, a new person you’ll want to become. That’s perfectly okay. Growth is what life is all about. When it comes to making a certain set of new habits stick, however, there are proven methods, tools, tips, and tactics you can use. That way, you won’t get stuck trying to make a single transformation over and over again.

At Four Minute Books, we’ve summarized over 1,000 books , most of them in the self-improvement category. In the process, we’ve learned a thing or two about habits, and we’ve also discovered which books are most efficient at helping us adjust our behaviors to better serve our goals.

All in all, we’ve found 33 books that’ll support you in making the changes you want to make and achieving your full potential. In this list, we’ve curated them all – the 33 best self-help books of all time. These are the hardest hitters. They’ll drastically improve your life, no matter how old you are.

Self-help can be a tricky thing initially, but if you embrace it and stick with the process for the long run, it’ll yield great rewards. Changing yourself is a never-ending process. The books in our list will be a great starting point for your journey.

If you want to live your best life and become your most powerful self, here are the 33 best books you should dive into. Discover their secrets and make it happen!

Table of Contents

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2. atomic habits by james clear, 3. thinking fast and slow by daniel kahneman, 4. the four agreements by don miguel ruiz, 5. the 7 habits of highly effective people by stephen r. covey, 6. best self by mike bayer, 7. the subtle art of not giving a f*ck by mark manson, 8. girl, wash your face by rachel hollis, 9. you are a badass by jen sincero, 10. 12 rules for life by jordan peterson, 11. the 48 laws of power by robert greene, 12. the courage to be disliked by ichiro kishimi & fumitake koga, 13. man’s search for meaning by viktor frankl, 14. how to stop worrying and start living by dale carnegie, 15. daring greatly by brene brown, 16. big magic by elizabeth gilbert, 17. quiet by susan cain, 18. the magic of thinking big by david joseph schwartz, 19. how to win friends and influence people by dale carnegie, 20. the 5 love languages by gary chapman, 21. deep work by cal newport, 22. getting things done by david allen, 23. who moved my cheese by spencer johnson, 24. rich dad poor dad by robert t. kiyosaki, 25. think and grow rich by napoleon hill, 26. the 4-hour workweek by tim ferriss, 27. outliers by malcolm gladwell, 28. the power of positive thinking by norman vincent peale, 29. the secret by rhonda byrne, 30. meditations by marcus aurelius, 31. the obstacle is the way by ryan holiday, 32. the power of now by eckhart tolle, 33. the life-changing magic of tidying up by marie kondo, bonus: 2-minute pep talks by niklas göke, other book lists by topic, other book lists by author, other book lists by year, best books on self-help overall.

The Alchemist Book Cover (Best Self-Help Books)

Favorite Quote

“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.” — Paulo Coelho

The Book in One Sentence

The Alchemist is a classic novel in which a boy named Santiago embarks on a journey seeking treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream about it and on the way meets mentors, falls in love, and most importantly, learns the true importance of who he is and how to improve himself and focus on what really matters in life.

Why should you read it?

This novel presents a simple story, yet filled with wisdom. Concentrating on the theme of destiny and integrating mysterious characters, as well as important lessons, it compels the reader to wonder constantly and to come to the conclusion that destiny is what we make of it.

Key Takeaways

  • Listen to your heart if you want your dreams to come true.
  • Your fear is holding you back more than anything else.
  • “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

Atomic Habits Book Cover

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” — James Clear

Atomic Habits is the definitive guide to breaking bad behaviors and adopting good ones in four steps, showing you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound into massive, positive change over time.

What does it take to form a habit? There is a lot of information out there in regards to this, but sometimes you might just not have the time to go through all of it. James Clear has put together this useful and practical book, for you to achieve more good habits and avoid the bad ones.

  • Every time we perform a habit, we execute a four-step pattern: cue, craving, response, reward.
  • If we want to form new habits, we should make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
  • You can use a habit tracker as a fun way to measure your progress and make sure you don’t fall off the wagon.

Thinking Fast and Slow Book Cover

“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it.” — Daniel Kahneman

Thinking Fast and Slow shows you how two systems in your brain are constantly fighting over control of your behavior and actions, and teaches you the many ways in which this leads to errors in memory, judgment and decisions, and what you can do about it.

The human mind is a wonderful, yet still undiscovered place. But what Kahneman can tell you is that two systems form our thinking. If you are looking for a curious conversation about the human mind, this book will not only get you thinking but also transform the way you think.

  • The biggest leaps in progress are vertical, not horizontal.
  • Your brain is lazy and thus keeps you from using the full power of your intelligence.
  • When you’re making decisions about money, leave your emotions at home.

The Four Agreements Book Cover

“Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive – the risk to be alive and express what we really are…” — Don Miguel Ruiz

The Four Agreements draws on the long tradition of the Toltecs, an ancient, indigenous people of Mexico, to show you that we have been domesticated from childhood, how these internal, guiding rules hurt us and what we can do to break and replace them with a new set of agreements with ourselves.

Our lives are usually conducted by a set of beliefs, and they can sometimes limit us and keep us away from our true calling. According to Don Miguel Ruiz, four agreements could help us transform the way we live our lives and experience its joys to the fullest. And if you are passionate about ancient wisdom, then this book might just be what you need.

  • We’re domesticated from a young age and it leaves us living by a set of rules we haven’t chosen ourselves.
  • What people say and do to you is a reflection on them, not you. Know who you are and you won’t take things personally.
  • There are three ways to break your old agreements and live with new ones you choose yourself.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Book Cover

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” — Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People teaches you both personal and professional effectiveness by changing your view of how the world works and giving you 7 habits, which, if adopted well, will lead you to immense success.

Taking control of your life might seem like a difficult thing to do without the proper advice. But Covey has put together a few pieces of advice to help people achieve exactly what they want, from proactivity to success in both their professional and personal lives.

  • Do the funeral test.
  • Learn how to say no.
  • Practice active listening.

Best Self Book Cover

“It’s not selfish to take care of yourself.” — Mike Bayer

Best Self will help you become the hero you’ve always wanted to be by teaching you how to be honest with yourself about what you desire, identify your toxic anti-self, and discover the traits of the greatest possible version of you that you can imagine.

Do people change in order to become happier? If you are unsure how to answer this question, Coach Mike’s book might be a good starting point, as it will help you put into perspective where exactly your life is. Knowing where you stand can show you what you need to do and where to head to live a better life. Has this book made it to your “must-read” list yet?

  • Don’t worry if you never learned how to reach your full potential, simply start now by defining the version of yourself that would make you happiest.
  • Use the power of honesty to vanquish the villain of fear that is holding you back.
  • Help yourself first so you can take great care of other people.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Book Cover

“Who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for.” — Mark Manson

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck does away with the positive psychology craze to instead give you a Stoic, no bullshit approach to living a life that might not always be happy, but meaningful and centered only around what’s important to you.

Nowadays, wherever you turn your head, you hear that positivity is the key to living a happy and fulfilled life. But according to Mark Manson, this might be a flawed way of thinking and he will tell you that in a raw voice that will make you rethink all that you know about living a happy life.

  • Values you can’t control are bad values to follow.
  • Don’t believe you know anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.
  • Trying to leave a legacy might ruin your life.

Best Self Help Books for Women

Girl, Wash Your Face (Best Self Help Books for Women)

“You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.” — Rachel Hollis

Girl, Wash Your Face inspires women to take their lives into their own hands and make their dreams happen, no matter how discouraged they may feel at the moment.

Women deal with a lot of things that might not be visible to other people. In this book, Hollis makes use of a soft, yet empowering tone that helps women remove themselves from any mentality that might destroy their self-confidence and helps them stay on top of things, even when they seem to crumble. A book that is filled with honesty and humor, as well as precious advice.

  • Build the habit of keeping your promises to yourself because breaking them pulls you down.
  • Rather than fighting the river of chaotic home life, learn to embrace it.
  • Visualize your dreams and focus on them in detail to stay motivated to make them happen.

You Are a Badass Book Cover

“You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.” ― Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass helps you become self-aware, figure out what you want in life and then summon the guts to not worry about the how, kick others’ opinions to the curb and focus your life on the thing that will make you happy.

Improving your life might sound like a tedious thing to do, but it doesn’t always have to be like that. Jen Sincero has written this book exactly for those people – the ones who want to change their lives, but not in a hard way. Making use of stories and pieces of advice, as well as easy exercises, this book promises to be a good starting point in your life-changing journey.

  • Decide you’ll stop caring what other people think. Right. now.
  • Figure out what you want but don’t obsess about how you’ll get there.
  • If your habits, surroundings and friends don’t support you, it’s time to change them.

Best Self Help Books for Men

12 Rules For Life (Best Self Help Books for Men)

“It’s all very well to think the meaning of life is happiness, but what happens when you’re unhappy? Happiness is a great side effect. When it comes, accept it gratefully. But it’s fleeting and unpredictable.” — Jordan Peterson

12 Rules for Life is a stern, story-based, and entertaining self-help manual for young people that lays out a set of simple principles that can help us become more disciplined, behave better, act with integrity, and balance our lives while enjoying them as much as we can.

Sometimes, life can get rather chaotic and some things just don’t seem to make sense. Not to mention those burning questions that nobody seems to have an answer to. But according to Dr. Peterson, there are some things everybody should know and he explains them in a humorous and informative way in this stunning book.

  • Sweep in front of your own door before pointing out the street is dirty.
  • Treat yourself like a child you’re responsible for.
  • Aim to do what is meaningful, not convenient.

The 48 Laws of Power Book Cover

“Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.” — Robert Greene

The 48 Laws of Power draws on many of history’s most famous power quarrels to show you what power looks like, how you can get it, what to do to defend yourself against the power of others and, most importantly, how to use it well and keep it.

What constitutes power? Is it a set of black and white moral views? Or is it a set of gray moral views, the ones that some people never really talk about? This challenging book puts into perspective a synthesis of philosophies and historical legacies that might be surprising to the reader. Are you curious yet?

  • Always make superiors look smarter than you.
  • Confuse competitors by acting unpredictably.
  • Don’t force others to do what you want, seduce them instead.

Best Self Help Books for 20-Somethings

The Courage to Be Disliked (Best Self Help Books for 20-Somethings)

“The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you have gained that courage, your interpersonal relationships will all at once change into things of lightness.” — Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

The Courage to Be Disliked is a Japanese analysis of the work of 19th-century psychologist Alfred Adler, who established that happiness lies in the hands of each human individual and does not depend on past traumas.

Is it that easy to liberate our real selves and be happy, despite past experiences and doubts that might have shaped us differently? This book offers precious insight in terms of what we need to do to let go of any burdens that might keep us away from who we truly are.

  • It’s dangerous to believe that your past determines your future.
  • If you focus on what’s wrong with you, you might be looking for reasons to hate yourself on purpose.
  • Most of what we think of as competition is just made up and hurting our happiness.

Man's Search For Meaning Book Cover

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” — Viktor Frankl

Man’s Search for Meaning details holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s horrifying experiences in Nazi concentration camps, along with his psychological approach of logotherapy, which is also what helped him survive and shows you how you can – and must – find meaning in your life.

Do you ever wonder what is exactly that people are pursuing? Could it be anything we find meaningful or is it just something that brings us happiness and pleasure? Written by a psychiatrist, this book wants to inspire us to find something meaningful not just when it comes to things, but when it comes to your life.

  • Sometimes the only way to survive is to surrender to death.
  • Your life has its own meaning and it’s up to you to find it.
  • Use paradoxical intention to make your fears go away.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Book Cover

“Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember: Life is too short to be little.” — Dale Carnegie

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is a self-help classic which addresses one of the leading causes of physical illness, worry, by showing you simple and actionable techniques to eliminate it from your life.

Do you feel like you are constantly worrying and that this is taking its toll on you? This book might help you cope with those feelings, by making use of simple, yet effective techniques that can bring you peace. You might also find out the golden rule for conquering any kind of worry – but that will not be spoiled here.

  • Use a 3-step approach to deal with confusion and you’ll eliminate the worry caused by it.
  • Put a stop-loss on stress and grief.
  • Take criticism as compliments.

Best Self Help Books for Self Esteem

Daring Greatly Book Cover (Best Self Help Books for Self Esteem)

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” — Brene Brown

Daring Greatly is a book about having the courage to be vulnerable in a world where everyone wants to appear strong, confident and like they know what they’re doing.

Embracing our vulnerabilities can be a difficult thing to do, but once we learn how to do that, we find out that we can dare to do anything. Dr. Brene Brown has come up with a powerful vision that encourages us to do exactly that: overcome our insecurities and learn how to live our lives fearlessly.

  • Vulnerability means strength, not weakness.
  • Understand and verbalize your shame to make it go away.
  • Children can only become who you are, so be a role model.

Big Magic Book Cover

“It seems to me that the less I fight my fear, the less it fights back. If I can relax, fear relaxes, too.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic is the book that’ll give you the courage you need to pursue your creative interests by showing you how to deal with your fears, notice ideas and act on them and take the stress out of creation.

Inspiration is a mysterious thing, but that’s what makes it so interesting. And Elizabeth Gilbert knows that, which is why she has written this book. In Big Magic, she tries to show us how to embrace who we are and to find those hidden things inside us, which can help us accomplish wonderful and unimaginable things. Filled with wonder and with a sense of joy, this book might be what you need to let go of your fears and live in a way that inspires you to change.

  • Let your fears coexist with your passions.
  • Give yourself permission to create.
  • Keep your day job to fuel your creative affair.

Quiet Book Cover

“Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to.” — Susan Cain

Quiet shows the slow rise of the extrovert ideal for success throughout the 20th century, while making a case for the underappreciated power of introverts and showing up new ways for both forces to cooperate.

There are people in the world who prefer to listen, rather than talk. Or people who have greater results on their own, rather than inside a team. And those people are most likely introverts. Susan Cain presents us in this book with stories about those quiet people and promises to give us a different perspective in regards to how we perceive these quiet people.

  • Whether you like small talk or not is part of your personality type.
  • Western cultures portray extroversion as the ideal of success.
  • Companies need to adjust their workplaces to introverts as well.

The Magic of Thinking Big Book Cover

“Do what you fear and fear disappears.” — David Joseph Schwartz

The Magic of Thinking Big gives you several starting points to develop and strengthen the most important trait of successful people: believing in yourself.

What do you need in order to become successful? Is it talent or intellect or is it just a habit of thinking in such a way that all you’ve ever wanted will be sitting right in front of you? Dr. Schwartz has put together a few useful methods to achieve all those things you want but never dared to get: from a good job to a good life.

  • Always be open to new ideas.
  • Learn something new whenever you can.
  • Ask yourself “How can I do a better job today?” every day.

Best Self Help Books About Relationships

How to Win Friends and Influence People (Best Self Help Books About Relationships)

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” — Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence People teaches you countless principles to become a likable person, handle your relationships well, win others over and help them change their behavior without being intrusive.

Making things work to your advantage doesn’t have to be just a dream. All the things you have in mind can happen and all you need is to follow the solid advice Dale Carnegie has to offer in this bestseller. How to make friends, how to win people by making use of the way you think. and how to change people – these are all things you will encounter in this book.

  • You can make a great first impression just by smiling.
  • To be interesting to others, talk about their favorite topic: themselves.
  • If you want to convince people, get them to say yes a lot.

The 5 Love Languages Book Cover

“True love cannot begin until the ‘in love’ experience has run its course.” — Gary Chapman

The 5 Love Languages shows couples how to make their love last by learning to recognize the unique way their partner feels love.

Love is a curious thing, and it can even be deemed as challenging sometimes. But there is a secret to keep things going and this book contains it. Filled with practical examples, Dr. Chapman’s approach will help you experience a deeper connection with your partner and also discover the love language of both you and your partner, through a Couple’s Personal Profile assessment.

  • As your relationship matures, communication is key.
  • There are 5 different ways people give and show love.
  • Identify your and your partner’s love language to deepen intimacy.

Best Self Help Books About Productivity

Deep Work Book Cover

“If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive – no matter how skilled or talented you are.” — Cal Newport

Deep Work proposes that we have lost our ability to focus deeply and immerse ourselves in a complex task, showing you how to cultivate this skill again and focus more than ever before with four simple rules.

There is a valuable skill out there that could you get the best results in whatever you do. Being able to focus without being distracted can seem like a difficult thing to do, but it is a very powerful skill that could help you achieve your goals and unexpected results. If you want to find out more about this skill, Cal Newport’s book might be a good starting point.

  • There are 4 strategies for deep work, all of which require intention.
  • Productive meditation can help you work deeper, even while you’re taking a break.
  • Stop working at the same time each day.

Getting Things Done Book Cover

“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” — David Allen

Getting Things Done is a manual for stress-free productivity, which helps you set up a system of lists, reminders and weekly reviews, in order to free your mind from having to remember tasks and to-dos and instead let it work at full focus on the task at hand.

Things change daily and that can sometimes become overwhelming and even frustrating. But that doesn’t always have to be the case, as David Allen depicts. Filled with methods that will help our productivity reach its peak, even in the case of stressful situations, this book will help you get things done, under any circumstances.

  • Use a “collection bucket” to store things outside your mind and stay focused.
  • Create a “next actions” list for all your projects to avoid thinking in the moment.
  • Do a weekly review of everything, or else!

Who Moved My Cheese Book Cover

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” — Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese?  tells a parable, which you can directly apply to your own life, in order to stop fearing what lies ahead and instead thrive in an environment of change and uncertainty.

This is not your usual guide, but rather an amusing story that will put things into perspective. You are in a maze and there’s a block of cheese in front of you. Your life is the maze and the cheese is the prize, but there is a tricky thing about it – you constantly have to chase it. Just as it is in life, this story puts into perspective the challenges we have to deal with in order to reach our goals. But what’s the moral of the story? You’ll discover it when you read this book!

  • Thinking too much about your cheese might paralyze you, so just start looking.
  • Nothing lasts forever, so keep your eyes open for approaching changes.
  • You can always find new cheese, and the minute you start moving things will get better.

Best Self Help Books About Money

Rich Dad Poor Dad (Best Self Help Books About Money)

“The main reason that over 90 percent of the American public struggles financially is because they play not to lose. They don’t play to win.” — Robert T. Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of a boy with two fathers, one rich, one poor, to help you develop the mindset and financial knowledge you need to build a life of wealth and freedom.

As a child, growing up, your views and thoughts are usually shaped by your parents. And in this book, Robert tells the story of how his views about money and how they were shaped by his two dads, one of them being his real father and the other one, his best friend’s father. Money makes the world go round, but how do you deal with them? Read this book to find out.

  • Get a real financial education if you ever want to exit the “rat race” and stop living paycheck to paycheck.
  • Stop saying “I can’t afford it” and instead focus all your energy on answering the question “how can I afford it?”
  • Get more assets, which are anything that brings in more money, and pay off all liabilities, which are anything that takes your money away.

Think and Grow Rich Book Cover

“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” — Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich is a curation of the 13 most common habits of wealthy and successful people, distilled from studying over 500 individuals over the course of 20 years.

In life, you have to take certain steps to achieve your goals and there is also a point where you have to avoid certain steps to be successful. Filled with timeless information and pieces of advice that might take you far, this book is a must-read for your personal development.

  • Use autosuggestion to build an unshakable belief in yourself.
  • Be stubborn and always stick to your decisions.
  • Join a Mastermind group to cut the learning curve.

Best Self Help Books for Business

The 4-Hour Workweek Book Cover (Best Self Help Books for Business)

“Doing something unimportant well does not make it important.” — Tim Ferriss

The 4-Hour Workweek is the step-by-step blueprint to free yourself from the shackles of a corporate job, create a business to fund the lifestyle of your dreams, and live life like a millionaire, without actually having to be one.

The world keeps changing, but some things seem to always stay the same. If you feel that your business is trapping you in a life that is not the best for you or if you just feel overworked, while other people seem to be doing very little and are living their lives to the fullest, you might want to dive into this book and find out exactly what you might be doing wrong.

  • Be effective, not efficient.
  • Validate all of your business ideas.
  • Charge a premium to make your life easier.

Outliers Book Cover

“Who we are cannot be separated from where we’re from.” — Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers explains why “the self-made man” is a myth and what truly lies behind the success of the best people in their field, which is often a series of lucky events, rare opportunities and other external factors, which are out of our control.

Are those considered high achievers different from the rest of the world? Malcolm Gladwell answers this question and not only, in a book that puts into perspective the background of those high achieving people. According to him, being that kind of person is not just about what you are like, but so much more. Are you curious to find out the secrets of all these great people?

  • After you cross a certain skill threshold, your abilities won’t help you.
  • The month you’re born in matters.
  • Asians are good at math, because where you come from matters.

Best Self Help Books for Positive Thinking

The Power of Positive Thinking Book Cover (Best Self Help Books for Positive Thinking)

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.” — Norman Vincent Peale

The Power of Positive Thinking will show you that the roots of success lie in the mind and teach you how to believe in yourself, break the habit of worrying, and take control of your life by taking control of your thoughts and changing your attitude.

You usually hear people saying that you should have faith in yourself, and that alone will bring you to the point you want to reach. But what if you had more faith in action? Filled with practical advice, this book will help you clear your mind and realize that sometimes, you just have to let yourself believe.

  • Start with confidence and watch your problems shrink.
  • Your world is nothing more than the thoughts you have about your experiences.
  • In order to live worry-free, first imagine a worry-free life.

The Secret Book Cover

“Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable.” — Rhonda Byrne

The Secret explains how the law of attraction governs your thinking and actions, and how you can use it to achieve whatever you desire in life.

This is the seminal book on visualization, manifestation, and how to make your dreams a reality through the power of your thoughts. It’ll help you understand and unlock the true power of your mind. It’s not a cheat code for not doing any work, but it goes a long way in tackling our challenges with more optimism, vigor, and determination than ever before.

  • The law of attraction is one of the most prevalent principles in the world.
  • To use the law of attraction, you must think about what you want, not what you want to avoid.
  • The three steps of the law of attraction are asking, believing, and receiving.

Best Self Help Books About Stoicism

Meditations Book Cover (Best Self Help Books About Stoicism)

“Put an end once for all to this discussion of what a good man should be, and be one.” — Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a collection of 12 books written by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who’ll introduce you to Stoic philosophy, the concept of logic, self-discipline and give you faith that the course the world runs is a good one.

A remarkable collection of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius , this book will help you realize that simple and true ideas might be the most important things to live life to the fullest extent. Things are temporary, and so are people and their feelings, but what is not temporary is the work we put into developing ourselves. An enlightening read, this book will provide you with some challenging beliefs.

  • Logic doesn’t always make sense, but everything happens for a reason.
  • Life is too short to complain.
  • The only pain you suffer is the one you create yourself.

The Obstacle is the Way Book Cover

“There is no good or bad without us, there is only perception. There is the event itself and the story we tell ourselves about what it means.” — Ryan Holiday

The Obstacle Is the Way is a modern take on the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, which helps you endure the struggles of life with grace and resilience by drawing lessons from ancient heroes, former presidents, modern actors, athletes, and how they turned adversity into success, thanks to the power of perception, action and will.

You might ask yourself, is there a way to transform obstacles into actual opportunities? Ryan Holiday shows us in this book that there is a way for us to turn different situations into victories, as impossible as they might seem at the beginning. And all of this, by making use of different philosophical principles.

  • Imagine you’re advising yourself as a friend to keep an objective perspective.
  • Large obstacles have large weaknesses – identify them and use them against them.
  • Use your will to accept what you cannot change and change the things you can.

Best Self Help Books About Mindfulness

The Power of Now Book Cover (Best Self Help Books About Mindfulness)

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” — Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now shows you that every minute you spend worrying about the future or regretting the past is a minute lost, because really all you have to live in is the present, the now, and gives you actionable strategies to start living every minute as it occurs.

Is living in the present moment the key to a happy life? According to Eckhart Tolle, this might just be what we need – to be conscious and to live in the moment. Employing useful information and ideas which prove to be inspirational, this guidebook will inspire you to change your life for the better.

  • Life is just a series of present moments.
  • All pain is a result of resistance to the things you cannot change.
  • You can free yourself from pain by constantly observing your mind and not judging your thoughts.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Book Cover

“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” — Marie Kondo

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up takes you through the process of simplifying, organizing and storing your belongings step by step, to make your home a place of peace and clarity.

Your environment dictates your mood. And it also applies to your home. If your home is cluttered with all sorts of things, your mood will be affected by it. Tidying up your house can help you reach a feeling of calmness and change your mindset, both of which will make you happier.

  • Move from easy to hard items when considering what to keep.
  • YODO – you only declutter once (if you do it right).
  • Ask yourself a few simple questions for each item.

The 33 Best Self-Help Books of All Time (Bonus): 2-Minute Pep Talks

“Pep talks are like vitamins: You can take them every day preemptively, or you can wait until your body signals a lack of them — but sooner or later, you will need your vitamins.” — Niklas Göke

2-Minute Pep Talks is a collection of 67 short jolts of inspiration for more hope, comfort, and love in any situation, providing you with a daily dose of good-spiritedness so you can tackle each day with the lightness, excitement, and optimism we all used to feel as kids.

If you feel tired, burned out, or are going through a slump in motivation, this book is for you. It’ll reignite your inner fire, but not with rah-rah speeches and bold claims. Instead, these soothing daily messages will make you think and give you a quiet sense of strength that, yes, you can do this — whatever “this” is. If you enjoy brief stories from all walks of life that contain powerful lessons and are looking for a way to stay consistently motivated without injecting caffeine straight into your veins, get this book.

  • No matter what has happened in your life thus far, you’re still here, and that’s all that matters.
  • The secret to life is that there is no secret, except showing up on a daily basis for the things and people we care about.
  • If you’re not valued, chances are, you’re just in the wrong place.

We don’t have this one on our roster yet, but thankfully, each chapter is even shorter than a Four Minute Books summary! Grab a copy, and in just two minutes a day, you’ll feel empowered, calm, and resilient!

That concludes our list of the best self-improvement books. We hope we managed to give you a bit of insight into what self help means and how to do it right. We’re confident that these 33 books will help you figure out where to start and how to become the person you want to be.

Letting go of certain beliefs or ideas might be scary, but when you take a leap, you’ll discover parts of yourself you never knew existed. Knowing yourself and changing yourself is not a piece of cake, but it will bring out your most remarkable sides.

What idea spoke most to you in our list? Which book presented it the best? Take that idea and put it into practice, and you’ll find yourself improving immediately!

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:

  • The 60 Best Business Books of All Time (Will Forever Change How You Think About Organizations)
  • The 20 Best Entrepreneurship Books to Start, Grow & Run a Successful Business
  • The 14 Best Finance Books of All Time
  • The 21 Best Habit Books of All Time to Change Any Behavior
  • The 33 Best Happiness Books of All Time That Everyone Should Read
  • The 60 Best History Books of All Time (to Read at Any Age)
  • The 7 Best Inspirational Books That Will Light Your Inner Fire
  • The 40 Best Leadership Books of All Time to Help You Become a Truly Inspiring Person
  • The 31 Best Motivational Books Ever Written
  • The 12 Best Nonfiction Books Most People Have Never Heard Of
  • The 35 Best Philosophy Books to Live Better and Become a Great Thinker
  • The 34 Best Psychology Books That Will Make You Smarter and Happier
  • The 25 Best Sales Books of All Time to Help You Close Any Deal
  • The 22 Best Books About Sex & Sexuality to Improve Your Love Life & Relationships
  • The 30 Most Life-Changing Books That Will Shift Your Perspective & Stay With You Forever

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:

  • All Brené Brown Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • Jordan Peterson Books: All Titles in Order of Publication + The 5 Top Books He Recommends
  • All Malcolm Gladwell Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • All Michael Pollan Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • Peter Thiel Books: A Comprehensive List of Books By, About & Recommended by Peter Thiel
  • All Rachel Hollis Books: The Full List of Non-Fiction, Fiction & Cookbooks, Sorted by Popularity & the Best Reading Order
  • All Ray Dalio Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • All Robert Greene Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • All Ryan Holiday Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • All Simon Sinek Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • All Tim Ferriss Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)
  • All Walter Isaacson Books, Sorted Chronologically (and by Popularity)

Want more books sorted by the year they came out? Here are all the best-of lists we’ve made for you based on various years:

  • The 21 Best Books of 2021 (Fiction & Nonfiction)

Last Updated on January 15, 2024

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Self-Growth Books: 15 Best Personal Development and Self- Improvement Books

  • Self-development

Self-Growth Books: 15 Best Personal Development and Self- Improvement Books

Do you read self-growth books? Are you interested in personal development and self-improvement?

If so, that’s great, but the question is: which book to choose. There are probably tens of thousands of self-help, self-growth, and personal development books. From personal experiences to popular psychology, from improving your cognition and productivity to maintaining your relationships in a healthy manner: bookshelves of the 21st century are stuffed with authors intended to help each and every one of us with their insights, knowledge, or research results.

In order to help you make an informed decision, we’ve decided to share with you titles of books that made a positive impact on our lives. When we say “our” lives, we mean people from our team: the Intelligent Change team.

15 Best Self-Growth Books: Editor’s Choice

In the following paragraphs, you’ll have a chance to read a short synopsis of our favorite self-growth books. We’ll also share links to Amazon or other websites where you can get them. If you are more into audiobooks, we included Audible links as well.

Daniel Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow

thinking fast and slow

The man every psychology student knows from their textbooks, the winner of the Nobel prize for the amazing research he conducted on decision making alone and with Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman is the founder of a new discipline: behavioral economics. He dedicated his life to studying the way our psychology and cognition affect our decision-making processes.

His research is very well known among the scientific community, as it inspired a myriad of future experiments and examinations of human cognition. What makes this man special is his effort to bring cognitive science to all of us, using the language and storytelling everyone can understand.

Thinking Fast and Slow is a book of prose where Kahneman explains how our thinking is split into two systems: one fast and one slow. The fast one is actually our hardwired instincts, the remnants of our evolutionary past. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to remove our hand off a burning stove, nor to run away when we notice danger. It’s like our subconscious, not-so-rational, but still efficient machine.

The other one is our evolutionary advantage. The self-reflexive, logical, deliberate path. The conscious path we have a lot of control over, however, it also calls for a lot of effort and concentration (which is why we tend to use it less often).

In his book, Kahneman explains in plain words how these two systems work, why and how the slow system sometimes fails us, and why we often don’t use the slow one properly.

He backs these explanations up with his mind-blowing experiment results, teaching us how to make rational, logic-based judgments and gain the most out of both systems.

Get your printed , kindle , or audio version now.

Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

man's search for meaning

If we had to choose a book everyone should read during their lifetime, it would be this one. We already praised this book in Finding Your Purpose in Life article, emphasizing its importance for personal development and growth.

After spending three years in brutal conditions of Nazi concentration camps, thinking that every day could be his last day, neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl explains in simple, at times even playful language, that the search for meaning lies at the core of every human being.

Thanks to his professional background, this book is more than a memoir about surviving Holocaust. It’s also a psychological investigation and the base for creating a new school of thought and therapy: logotherapy.

The bottom line of this book is that if we’re able to find meaning in life, we’ll be able to move forward even after experiencing the worst experiences imaginable to the human mind. Inspirational, life-changing and eye-opening book.

You can find this book in the printed , Kindle , or audio format.

Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens

Sapiens

Do you ever wonder how humans became what they are today? What are the exact differences between us and other animals? Why do we rule today's world?

In his best selling piece Sapiens , Yuval Noah Harari retells the history of our species, gives amazing insights and offers an in-depth perspective on our behavior, habits, emotions, relationships, etc. He explains how we got where we are now regarding animal exploitation, and why we aren’t happier than our ancestors.

Through the use of vivid and understandable language, Harari takes his readers on an unforgettable journey through the history of humankind. An absolute must-read.

Check out his website for more info and book purchase.

Shawn Achor, The Happiness Advantage

The Happiness Advantage

Most people think that happiness is achievable through hard work and professional and personal accomplishments that accompany it. That’s a kind of common wisdom, something our culture and society teach us. If you get a good job, achieve desired weight, or get a promotion, you’ll be happy.

As honest this motto is, have you ever wondered whether the other way around actually makes more sense?

Recent research in positive psychology has revealed that the backward formula is much more closer to the truth and that it is happiness that actually fuels success.

When we’re happy, positive, and open-minded, our brains become more susceptible to creativity, motivation, and inspiration. We become more productive, resilient to stress, and energetic.

This is what Shawn Achor’s book is all about. After spending more than a decade researching and lecturing about happiness at Harvard University, he decided to share the formula for reprogramming your brain that will lead you towards happiness and success.

If you want to find out about verified success principles, learn about the Tetris Effect of retraining our brains, or how to build a social support network, check out The Happiness Advantage book. After all, this book was the inspiration for creating The Five Minute Journal.

Available in all formats on Amazon .

Seth Godin, Linchpin

Linchpin

Seth Godin, the author we admire here at Intelligent Change, wrote one of the best self-growth books you’ll find on the market.

A traditional workplace used to have two teams of people: management and workforce. Today, there’s a third team: linchpins. Linchpins are people – artists as Godin calls them – who are indispensable, creative, innovative, and who resolve problems “outside the box.” They jump in when there’s no rule book or clear instruction, they create their own path.

Their role at the workplace is to do emotional work, to challenge fixed mindset and inspire their colleagues and customers, as they love doing their jobs. By giving 100% of themselves into it, they manage to turn their jobs into art.

These creatives are an essential part of every successful company. They have a lot to give, they come up with their own rules and play by them.

Linchpins are system-changers, and if the idea of being one inspires you, we strongly recommend you to read this book.

The book is available in all formats on Amazon .

David Allen, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Creativity

Getting Things Done

Do you ever wish someone could simply give you a step-by-step recipe for how to get things done no matter what?

Well, that’s what David Allen is offering in his book. A unique approach to productivity and time- management based on years of experience and experimentation.

People are rarely well-organized by nature. There are so many underlying processes responsible for our success or failure with time- management. In his book, David Allen shares with you all of the organizational tricks and perks that can help you get your things together on both personal and professional plans.

This book is truly special among self-growth books, as it gives you a 100% accurate, many times successfully tested step-by-step tips and guides on how to get a hold of your life. Getting Things Done is a serious time- management methodology, and you can even convince yourself by clicking on this link and visiting David Allen’s website.

Get your fresh hard copy or audiobook of David Allen’s masterpiece today.

Jack Canfield, The Success Principles

success principles

If you’re into self-help and self-growth books, you probably know Jack Canfield from his Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

In this book, he shares with his readers 65 ways of achieving a transformation in life. If you want straight, direct tips on how to change your life, this is the right book.

Success principles the author mentions are pretty straightforward, and you might realize that you already knew many of them. Still, we believe it’s always good to remind ourselves of the things we know and see them in a different perspective.

Here are some of the examples of Jack Canfield’s success principles:

If you want to be successful, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything that you experience in your life.

You have control over only three things in your life—the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take (your behavior).

The only thing that will change your results is to change your behavior.

These principles may seem like common knowledge to most people, it’s good to go through them one more time and hear them in a rather elaborated form, mixed with real-life examples and logical explanations.

You can purchase the hard-copy version of this book, or listen to it on Audible .

Tim Ferriss, The Four-Hour Workweek

The Four-Hour Work Week

Tim Ferriss has been a rising star in the field of productivity, organization, influence, and digital labor for years now. What does he do?

Tim Ferriss spent the last 10 years of his life learning everything about the “new rich”, a whole subculture that’s abandoning the standard lifestyle and exchanging it for a digital career, mastering new skills, and creating mobile, luxury lifestyles.

If you’re interested in changing the status quo and dropping out from your 9-5 job, this is the book for you. Tim Ferris will teach you everything about pursuing a digital career, making the most out of the “digital nomad” lifestyle, starting your own business, and staying motivated.

Ferriss is an inspiring character, an advocate of productive habits and healthy lifestyle. Find out more about him in an article on blog, where he explains how he uses The Five Minute Journal to make the most out of it.

If you’re searching for a major change in your life, if you’re tired of being bossed around and want to start a career in dropshipping or affiliate marketing, gain more control of your working hours, location, and workload, then Tim Ferriss is the best person to consult.

Get your fresh printed copy of the book, or, if you prefer listening, there’s an audiobook available on Audible as well.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Flow

When we say “flow”, you say…?

What’s your first association? Perfectly in-tune musical improvisation conducted by a couple of well-practiced musicians? A great conversation between friends or partners where two people are so in sync they finish each other’s sentences? Or maybe the feeling you get when you’re working on something and it’s flowing?

Whatever you’re thinking – you’re right. Hear it from one of the most important contemporary psychologists and a leading researcher in the field of positive psychology, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. After years and decades of scientific research, he decided to share his knowledge about productivity, happiness, self-control, creativity – everything the term “flow” encompasses – with a wider, non-professional audience.

Flow is a special state of mind, an optimal experience that can’t just happen to you. You need to prepare for that state, cultivate it, and defend. And how do you do that? By taking control over your inner world.

This book is not a typical self-help and personal growth piece of literature. It’s a half-philosophical half-scientifical work, based on real data and scientifically derived conclusions about happiness, content, productivity, and, most importantly, flow.

The book is available as paper-back on Amazon , as a second hand book, or as audio .

Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within

Awaken the giant within

For decades now, Tony Robbins has been one of the leading American authors, coaches, motivational speakers, and philanthropists. People know him from his infomercials, seminars, and self-growth books.

Awaken the Giant within is a book where Robbins explains how to take immediate control over your life: your mental, physical, emotional, and financial reality.

Over the years, Robbins has become an acknowledged expert in the field of psychology of change, and this book is a step-by-step program intended to teach his readers some of the fundamental laws of self-mastery. You will learn how to discover your purpose, how to take control over your life, and how to awaken and nurture the forces that will shape your future in a more positive and productive way.

The book is available on Amazon , SeconSale , and Audible .

Brene Brown, Daring Greatly

daring Greatly

If you’re looking for a book to help you improve your personal traits and gain a better, deeper self-understanding, here’s the perfect piece for you.

In her influential book Daring Greatly, thought leader and researcher, Dr Brene. Brown encourages the readers to embrace and discover their vulnerability, imperfections, and a variety of emotions we experience daily.

This book focuses on one core idea: you can live a brave and courageous life by exploring your inner world and getting to know yourself better.

Each day we face a variety of risks and uncertainties. As Dr Brown says, we need to face these vulnerabilities and deal with them in order to “dare greatly.” What she means by this is that we need to challenge everything we know about vulnerability and transform it into our greatness, and this is exactly what she does in her book.

Whether it’s about a new relationship in life, an important job decision, or a complex family situation, it’s always important to reflect on our vulnerability and find courage to deal with it.

David R. Hawkins, Letting Go

Letting Go

If you want to learn how to deal with and let go of emotions such as anger, resentment, pain, sorrow, uncertainty, guilt, who better to ask for advice than a clinical psychiatrist?

David R. Hawkins shares his knowledge and insights gained through many years of experience working with his clients and patients. Using a simple and understandable language, he takes the readers on a journey through depression, guilt, shame, but also love, courage and personal growth.

The book is filled with anecdotes, personal or professional examples, and descriptions of different states of being.

If you’re ready to explore different sides of your psyche, learn from it, transform them into growth, and align with your inner self, then this book is the perfect choice.

It’s available on Amazon in audible, hard-copy, and Kindle format.

Susan Cain, Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking

Quiet

Sometimes, being the loudest one to communicate their ideas, seeking constant contact with other people, telling jokes, or being at the center of attention in a social group isn’t what everybody enjoys.

In this book, Susan Cain sheds new light on introversion . She reveals how many introverts have achieved success in their life, even if it means reaching the position of authority and being a “people person”.

If you’re tired of feeling like there’s something wrong with you, or that you should somehow change your personality to fit in the society, this is the book you need to read. It will help you understand why you act the way you do and how to utilize your strong sides to move forward.

It would also be good for extroverts to read this book and get a better understanding of how introverts live, think and feel in this world.

Get your hard copy or audio version today.

John C. Maxwell, Failing Forward

Failing Forward

You know what differentiates a person with a growth mindset from a person with a fixed mindset ?

Among many other things, is their approach to mistakes . Living a life without making mistakes is already an impossible sentence, as we all make them sooner or later.

However, failures and mistakes are not what matters, per se. It’s our approach to them. Are we going to give up or can we use our mistake as a valuable lesson necessary for future improvement?

In his book, John C. Maxwell teaches his readers to treat mistakes and failures as stepping stones to success. The more you fail, the bigger the odds that you’ll make it next time.

And because persistence is not our natural reaction to failure, we need to be reminded of this.

The book is available in print , Kindle , and audio format.

Col. Chris Hadfield, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth

an astronaut's guide to life on earth

When we were kids, many of us dreamt about becoming astronauts. But little did we know about the unconventional philosophy one has to build and live in order to succeed in such a quest.

If you want to enjoy one of the best self-growth books ever written, along with amazing space stories, take it from this inspiring man.

Colonel Chris Hadfield spent more than 4000 hours in space. During that time he experienced unexpected situations we only expect to see in movies: breaking into a Space Station only with a Swiss knife, being temporarily blinded while holding onto the exterior of a spacecraft, or getting familiar with a snake while piloting a plane.

This inspiring man reveals the strange philosophy that he learned at NASA: being ready for the worst to happen in any given moment and enjoying it to the fullest.

Through humoristic and reflective stories about everything he’s been through, one of the most accomplished astronauts in history shares valuable lessons about life every adventurer would enjoy.

The book is available in printed and Kindle format.

Thank you for reading this review on the best self-growth books of our choice. Since a variety of people with different characters, personality traits, vocations, and general interests were involved in writing this article, we’re confident that everyone can find something for themselves. From business oriented self-growth books to science-based factual knowledge on how to improve your lifestyle, find purpose and unleash your full potential.

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The 7 Best Self-Help Books to Change Your Life

Find yourself in one of these versatile, mind-changing reads

Mary K. Tatum is a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist and has worked in the field of psychology for over 15 years, with seven years in the private practice setting.

top 10 books for self development

Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

top 10 books for self development

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

top 10 books for self development

Until proven otherwise, it’s safe to assume that—as the saying goes—nobody’s perfect. That means we have room for at least some improvement in our lives . And no, we’re not talking about getting a higher-paying job or a new haircut: we’re referring to inner improvement . This involves working on managing some of our less-than-desirable habits and traits—things like being unable to trust other people, having difficulties with interpersonal communication, or lacking self-confidence. 

That’s where self-help books can come in handy. It’s basically like someone has thought extensively about the general challenge you’re facing, and then walks you through steps to help you figure it out—or at least think about it more clearly. To be clear: self-help books are not a replacement for working with mental health professionals. If you’re dealing with a mental illness, seek out a credentialed person you can speak with in person (or over a video call). But for situations without a clinical element, a self-help book can make a difference.

To help you narrow down your options, here are the best self-help books according to the experts.

"A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle

Can be helpful to reivist certain passages, as needed

Discusses how to effectively process and find meaning in suffering

A lot of overlap with content found in the author's previous book

Many consider Eckhart Tolle one of the great thought leaders our time. Prior to " A New Earth ," Tolle wrote "The Power of Now," a best seller and must-read. The reason "A New Earth" makes this list is quite simple: it goes beyond teaching how to live in the moment and helps readers learn how to turn their suffering into peace. All types of suffering are addressed in the book, from anger and grief to jealousy and anxiety.

Tolle talks a lot about the ego and how to separate ourselves from it. His examples and recommended exercises are not just hocus pocus; they really work and are something anyone can do. Whether your suffering is rooted in jealousy, anger, grief, sadness, anxiety, or depression , Tolle will help you see life from varied perspectives, awakening you to your life’s purpose.

This book is great as a reference point, too. Those who pick up a copy will read it front to back then revisit Tolle's words over and over again. Others will keep it by their nightstands and flip to a chapter when they’re feeling some excess baggage creep in and could use some words of wisdom.

Price at time of publication: $18

"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero

Engaging exercises

Accessible writing style

Not the most empathetic towards people with depression

Contains some microaggressions and fat shaming

Far too often, fear gets the best of us. Jen Sincero helps readers go beyond that fear in her New York Times best seller " You Are a Badass ." What sets this self-help book apart from the others are the engaging end-of-chapter exercises.

Instead of casting the book aside and letting it collect dust after you read the last page, you'll be inspired to go back and reflect on the previous exercises you responded to. The exercises also drive home the points Sincero makes through her writing. When you feel a dip in your confidence, going back to your entries will put a positive spin on your day and remind you why you should show yourself more self-love . Also make sure to check out Sincero's follow-up book, "You Are a Badass at Making Money."

Price at time of publication: $8

Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD, psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry.

Some self-help books include daily therapeutic activities and provide comfort and guidance to individuals who are suffering. I recommend individuals meet with a psychiatrist and therapist, and concurrently utilize self-help books to expedite their healing.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey

Text is broken up using cartoons and quotes

Could be beneficial for both teens and parents

Updated in 2014, but still can feel outdated

Unnecessary references to dieting and losing weight

Many have read, or at least have heard about, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. Covey's son Sean followed in his footsteps, making a spinoff version for teenagers that uses the same principles to help young adults master formative areas of their lives.

To make this self-help book age-appropriate and downright fun to read, Covey breaks up the text with cartoons, quotes, brainstorming ideas, and stories from real teens to bring the book together. " The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens " covers   topics like  body image , friendships, relationships, goal-setting, peer pressure, bullying, internet safety, and so much more. Gift this book to your teenage son, daughter, niece, nephew, or grandchild. It's the perfect keepsake to pass down to future generations of teens too.

"What Are You Hungry For?" by Deepak Chopra

Helps readers understand their reasons for certain types of eating

More than simply a guide to healthy eating

Even though it’s not a traditional weight loss book, that component being included at all might turn some people off

Can feel like any other book on weight loss and our relationship with food

Deepak Chopra is the self-help guru of our time, and any one of his books could be recommended for various reasons. " What Are You Hungry For? " will help you see your relationship with food in an entirely new light.

While this self-help book could be considered a guide to help with weight loss, it’s really so much more. Chopra does talk about losing weight and also gives a pretty regimented recommendation on what to eat. But he also digs deeper into the reasoning behind our desire to seek this transformation, and fulfillment is at the center of this argument.

Since change isn’t easy for most, the book offers a lot of intention-setting tips to help readers determine the motives behind their goals. Attaching an emotion to the things you want in life, health-related or otherwise, makes it easier to stay the course when the going gets tough.

Price at time of publication: $16

"Declutter Your Mind" by S.J. Scott

Tackles negative thinking patterns—something a lot of people struggle with

Includes helpful, actionable exercises

May not feel as applicable to people who aren’t self-employed

Writing can feel self-promotional at times

The subtitle of this book provides great insight into the heart of the book: How to stop worrying, relieve anxiety and eliminate negative thinking. " Declutter Your Mind " is a book that is very hands-on with its reader and full of various exercises to engage your mindset. You will learn the causes of mental clutter, how to change negative thoughts to positive ones, strategies to help with rocky relationships, how to identify what’s important to you, the importance of meditation, how to goal set, and much more.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, worry, or anxiety, this powerful book will do its part in offering various techniques, tips, and tricks to cope with an overactive mind. Reviewers consistently note how much they enjoy the actionable exercises in the book and that the co-authors offer more than a sermon on the importance of living mindfully and in the moment.

Price at time of publication: $15

"Big Magic: Create Living Beyond Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Great for creative people (or those who want to be more creative)

Accessible and conversational writing style makes it easy to read

Gilbert’s “tough love” approach doesn't always translate

Reads more as a memoir than a self-help book in parts

For one reason or another, some were turned off by Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling "Eat Pray Love". But don’t let that turn you away from reading her other material, in particular, " Big Magic ". If you’re an artist or creator of any type and have struggled with a blockage that prevents you from pursuing your calling to its fullest, you’ll want to give this a read.

From creating new habits (and ridding yourself of old ones) to overcoming fear and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, Gilbert hits the nail on the head as she dissects the obstacles a creative person may face in pursuing their dreams. Her honest, conversational, no-BS tone will light a fire in your soul and help you be upfront with yourself about what you want from life. A highlight of this book is the usage of real-life examples from regular men and women across the country who have endured in their creative feats.

Price at time of publication: $21

"The Wisdom of Sundays" by Oprah Winfrey

Full of what Oprah Winfrey considers “life-changing insights”

It’s like sitting in on a conversation between Oprah and major thought leaders

Print can be small and hard to read at times

Oprah is the queen of interviewing spiritual gurus, world leaders, therapists, doctors, and other thought leaders. " The Wisdom of Sundays " takes the best-of-the-best from these conversations and combines them into one uplifting read.

The book has 240 pages full of snippets from what Oprah refers to as "life-changing insights". Authors in The Wisdom of Sundays include   Shonda Rimes, Cheryl Strayed, Tony Robbins, Thich Nhat Hahn, Wayne Dyer, and so many more. Take your time with each individual page to make sure you don't skim over any of the wonderful and thought-provoking insights inside.

Price at time of publication: $28

Final Verdict

This one’s tricky, because a self-help book that one person hated could be the one that changed another person’s life. Having said that, if you’re new to the genre, you probably want to stick with a book with a broader appeal, like "Declutter Your Mind" ( view on Amazon ). While not everyone is looking to mold a highly effective teen, everyone does have something that makes them anxious, and this book provides a manageable way of identifying and addressing some of the ones that are holding you back. 

What to Look for in a Self-Help Book

Selecting a self-help book is, for the most part, a highly personal decision (with the exception  being cases when a book is so popular you feel the need to read it, even if you wouldn’t have done so on your own). Given that this genre is not one-size-fits-all—and that people respond to a wide range of styles, topics, and tones—finding the right self-help books for yourself can be a process of trial and error. But, to help guide you through that process, here are a few general things to look for when purchasing a self-help book:

Writing style and tone:

First, think about what kind of book that is likely to be the most helpful in your current situation, as well as the kind you’d actually like to read. These two categories don’t necessarily overlap. For example, you may think you want a clinical-sounding, research-backed guide through a particular condition or situation, but in reality, would find it so boring that you’d never pick it up. And a self-help book just sitting on the shelf isn’t helping anyone.

If you think you’d respond well to something funny, or that it would help hold your interest, look for a self-help book that injects humor into its pages. (And yes, highly qualified experts with fancy degrees can also be hilarious.)

Something your therapist recommends:

If you are working with some type of therapist or counselor , ask them for recommendations for self-help books. Not only are they probably very familiar with this genre, but they also have gotten to know you during your sessions, and may have a good idea of the type of book that you’d benefit from the most.

In addition to tone, self-help books also come in several different formats. “Some individuals fare better with more structure and guidance, while others excel with more creative and fluid feedback,” Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry explains. “Some people enjoy reading about concepts, while others prefer completing daily tasks and worksheets.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Like many things in life, what you get out of self-help books depends on the time and effort you put into not only reading them, but also doing the work. And no, that doesn’t necessarily include actual worksheets: the “work” also involves taking what you’ve read, sitting with it, processing it, and figuring out how you can use it in your own life (if applicable). 

“Self-help books can, in truth, be very helpful if an individual puts forth the effort to integrate the information learned from the book into their daily life,” Summer R. Thompson , DNP, PMHNP-BC, a mental health nurse practitioner at Community Psychiatry explains.

When someone finds the right self-help book and puts the time into reading it and doing the work, it can have a number of benefits. One is that they can “provide a concrete blueprint for an individual who has identified an issue in their life to navigate addressing it in a healthy manner on their own,” Thompson explains.   

In addition to providing a general blueprint for how a person can approach some of their biggest challenges, self-help books can add structure to individuals’ day-to-day life. “They can motivate individuals to try different strategies and venture into uncomfortable territory,” says Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry .

Beyond that, Magavi notes that self-help books can lead to more fluid and healthy communication at work and at home, and many allow individuals to remain introspective and practice self-compassion. “It helps individuals identify ways in which they can respond to inevitable stress in a more positive way, and reiterates the fact that they have the power to write their own story and determine their own emotional experience,” she explains.

What the Experts Say

“Self-help books have helped many men and women initiate the often-daunting task of processing their thoughts and assessing their insecurities and weaknesses. Self-help books allow individuals to try different techniques and find what works the best for them to assuage anxiety and confront tumultuous times with grace.” — Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry . 

“When looking at self-help books, it is important to look for books that provide clear and attainable goals in the context of the issue you are addressing. If a book makes recommendations that you do not feel are achievable in the context of your life, the book will likely not be very helpful to you and end up collecting dust rather than being an effective self-improvement tool.” — Summer R. Thompson , DNP, PMHNP-BC, mental health nurse practitioner at Community Psychiatry

Why Trust Verywell Mind?

Erinne Magee is a freelance writer covering health, wellness and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Yuko

As a seasoned health writer and editor with a special focus on mental health and well-being, Elizabeth Yuko understands how powerful stress-relieving activities can be for many people—as well as the fact that they’re not one-size-fits-all. With decades of first-hand experience dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, she’s always on the lookout for new (and research-backed) products, techniques, and services that can help people cope with stress and other mental health challenges. 

By Mary K. Tatum, MS, LMHC Mary is a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist with 15 years of experience working in the psychology field. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Bluefield College and a Master of Science in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She began in social work and then moved to drug rehab settings, working as a therapist, group facilitator, and clinical director. She specializes in family dynamic systems, trauma recovery, improving resilience, addiction recovery, and the psychology of successful business management.

Tolstoy Therapy

14 best new self-improvement books of 2023

I only share books I know and love. If you buy through my links, I may earn a commission (learn more).

best new self improvement books 2023

One of the best ways to boost your motivation and get out of a rut? Reading a good self-improvement book .

There have been so many inspiring self-help books and productivity guides published in the last few years, but I especially love the new releases of 2023.

In this collection of the best new self-improvement books of 2023 , I’ve curated both the popular bestsellers and hidden gems that I’ve been reading, recommending, and re-reading lately.

Including new non-fiction releases from authors including Kevin Kelly, Oprah Winfrey, and Peter Attia, I think these are the best books for self-help, personal development, and transformation right now.

P.S. Looking for the latest bestsellers? You might also like…

  • 11 best new personal growth books to read in 2024
  • 5 books to help you set your resolutions in January

The best new personal development books of 2023

Hidden potential: the science of achieving greater things by adam grant.

top 10 books for self development

Read Hidden Potential for… the thought-provoking new self-improvement book by Adam Grant, the bestselling author of Think Again .

In a world that’s obsessed with talent and natural “gifts”, what about the skills we can learn and nurture over time? And what if anyone can rise to achieve incredible things?

Hidden Potential is a reminder of the skills and opportunities we have access to if we commit to improving . Tennis champion Serena Williams has shared about the book : “I wish I could go back in time and gift it to my younger self. It would’ve helped me find a more joyful path to progress.”

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger

top 10 books for self development

Read Be Useful for… a motivational must-read inspired by the extraordinary journey of the world’s greatest bodybuilder, highest-paid movie star, and Former Governor of California.

A personal development book by Arnold Schwarzenegger should be incredible. Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life absolutely is. This inspiring book brings together seven rules to bring you to your true purpose in life , starting with 1. Have a clear vision and closing with 7. Break your mirrors .

Although the book is concise at 257 pages, it’s brimming with insights. If you prefer to listen to self-help books, the audiobook is excellent (and narrated by Arnold).

Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

top 10 books for self development

Read Build the Life You Want for… one of the best new self-help books of 2023, penned by two powerhouses of self-transformation.

If you’re at a turning point in life – or ready to make big changes in the months ahead – Build the Life You Want is a wise and inspiring guide to your next steps. With insights from Harvard’s Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey, this new self-help book invites you to set out on your journey toward greater happiness, peace, and purpose .

You can also complement this with Arthur Brooks’s 2022 book, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life .

The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today by Lewis Howes

top 10 books for self development

Read   The Greatness Mindset  for… encouragement and tools to transform your mindset and your life.

You might’ve heard of Lewis Howes and his podcast,  The School of Greatness , especially if you’re interested in optimizing your mindset and focus. His new self-help book for 2023,  The Greatness Mindset , is a fantastic starting point to wake up the ideas, dreams, and potential inside you  and step closer to the life you dream of living.

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia MD with Bill Gifford

top 10 books for self development

Read Outlive for… a refreshingly accessible overview of the latest science-backed ways to get your body and mind in the best shape for longevity.

If you want to live better – and longer – I’d wholeheartedly recommend Outlive , Peter Attia’s groundbreaking new manifesto on the science and art of longevity. It’s one of the best new self-improvement books of 2023 to transform your health (and I can especially vouch for the audiobook narrated by Peter Attia).

Like Peter’s popular podcast , this book will challenge conventional medical thinking and reveal a new approach to health. Learn how to prevent chronic disease and extend healthspan , not just lifespan.

Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier by Kevin Kelly

top 10 books for self development

Read Excellent Advice for Living for.. easy-to-read and inspiring snippets of wisdom in one of the best personal development books of 2023.

If you hang around in tech circles, you’ve probably heard of Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired, author, and technology thinker. But that said, his new bestseller about living well, Excellent Advice for Living , is fantastic for all readers.

Pick up the motivational book for a collection of ideas and proverbs that started on Kevin’s 68th birthday, when he began to write down for his young adult children what he wish he knew earlier about life . If you’re anything like me, your copy will soon be covered in highlights, annotations, and Post-it notes.

The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work by Simone Stolzoff

top 10 books for self development

Read   The Good Enough Job   for…  a refreshing look at the alternatives to being chained to our jobs, working long hours, and putting work ahead of life.

What would it take to  reframe work as a part of life , rather than the centre of existence? What could we gain by striving for a “good enough” job? Is it even possible?

That’s what Simone Stolzoff asks in this new non-fiction book for 2023 , looking closely at Wall Street bankers, overwhelmed teachers, and others to expose what we lose when we expect work to be more than a job – and to show how things can be different.

The Half-Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World by Pico Iyer

top 10 books for self development

Read   The Half-Known Life   for….  a mesmerizing investigation of the different ideas of paradise and what they can teach about living well.

Sitting at the boundaries between philosophy, travel, and personal development, this book of journeys by Pico Iyer – many of them inwards – upends conventional ideas of genre.

As you read The Half-Known Life , you’ll follow the author’s exploration of  the paradoxes of paradise  and get a chance to reflect on what utopian living means to you.

Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within by David Goggins

top 10 books for self development

Read Never Finished for … the motivation to stop making excuses and get in the right state of mind to achieve big things.

David Goggins’s first book, Can’t Hurt Me, is one of the most popular self-improvement books of the last few years, offering unbeatable motivation to push harder and find more resilience.

For more tough love and harsh truths about why you’re not where you want to be (and how to change that in record speed), read Goggins’s new book from December 2022, Never Finished .

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

top 10 books for self development

Read The Creative Act for… the best new book about creativity, written by legendary music producer Rick Rubin.

If, like me, you adore books about creativity , add The Creative Act to your reading list. As with Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic , you’ll discover ponderings on the more spiritual nature of creativity, but there’s also plenty of actionable advice on building a more creative life .

As Rick Rubin shares in the book, “ I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.”

Finding Your Way: Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life by Sharon Salzberg

top 10 books for self development

Read Finding Your Way for… a gently inspiring illustrated book (and perfect gift for the holiday season) that’s packed with wisdom by the world-renowned meditation teacher.

If you love Sharon Salzberg’s quietly transformative writing, her new book for October 2023 should absolutely be on your reading list. Finding Your Way is a wonderful collection of bite-sized tidbits of wisdom and life advice from the beloved meditation teacher to read in small moments and share with loved ones.

The Well-Lived Life: A 102-Year-Old Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age by Gladys McGarey M.D

top 10 books for self development

Read The Well-Lived Life for… an excellent overview of how to honour your body, health, and time on earth from a woman who knows this better than anyone.

Here in one of the best new self-help books of 2023, 102-year-old Dr Gladys McGarey shares what she’s learned about transforming the health and life of her patients.

The Well-Lived Life a book that will not only change the way you think about health and longevity, but also what it means to live a life full of joy and satisfaction .

Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday

top 10 books for self development

Read Discipline is Destiny for …  philosophical wisdom to inspire your next step on the path to self-mastery, upon which all the other virtues depend. 

Discipline is Destiny is Ryan Holiday’s September 2022 addition to his bestselling Stoic Virtues Series, inspired by the stories of historical figures we can emulate to live our best lives.

With this new book from one of the best personal growth authors, make 2023 the year you become laser-focused on your goals and the deep work you need to reach them, inspired by those who mastered the power of self-control to live incredible lives.

The Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change

top 10 books for self development

Get your copy of   The Productivity Planner  for…  the best productivity journal I’ve come across to guide your focus and prioritise what’s most impactful each day. It’s so wonderfully  simple .

After reading stacks of productivity books, what really matters is  taking action . This bestselling planner from Intelligent Change is an indispensable tool for keeping your time, focus, and priorities on track.

You might have also heard of their bestselling  Five Minute Journal , which I was given years ago and still use every morning and evening. With the coupon code TOLSTOYTHERAPY, you can enjoy 10% off any purchases on  Intelligent Change .

top 10 books for self development

Looking for more of the best self-improvement books about personal growth and transformation? Complement these books with:

  • 28 best self-improvement books of all time
  • 15 best productivity books for 2023 (& all time)
  • The most inspiring books that will change your life
  • The best books about living well and being a good human

Lucy Fuggle is a professional writer, reader, and creator of Tolstoy Therapy. Drawing on her love for books and a degree in English Literature, she started Tolstoy Therapy in 2012 and has shared the most feel-good, cozy, and beautiful books for over a decade. After working as a content specialist with leading companies for nearly 10 years, she now focuses on her own websites and books ( Mountain Song , Your Life in Bloom , and Simple Business ). She grew up in England and now lives in Denmark with her husband. For more book recommendations, subscribe to Tolstoy Therapy's weekly email to inspire your reading list.

top 10 books for self development

10 Must-Read Personal Development Books by Bestselling Mindvalley Authors

  • June 14, 2022

Vishen reading personal development books

In the world of innovation, the ultimate goal to focus on is your personal development. Although there are many training courses and certifications, the good old method of reading personal development books might be the simplest way to skyrocket your growth.

Not only they’re cost-effective and easy to get your hands on them, but many of these self-improvement reading resources are written by Mindvalley authors.

So here’s a list of the ten must-read personal development books, handpicked just for you by Mindvalley community members and employees.

Ready, steady…and read on.

#1: Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch

Conversations with God

About the author: A globally celebrated spiritual teacher, Neale Donald Walsch started his spiritual journey at a rock-bottom point of his life. After several failed marriages, health issues, and financial lack, he scratched a series of angry, spiteful questions on his notepad. “ What does it take to make life work for God’s sake? ” he asked.

To his surprise, a soft and loving voice replied. He wrote down the answers and asked even more questions. This divine conversation felt “ exactly like taking dictation. ” 

This is how the world-famous Conversations with God was born.

Key takeaways: If you’re looking for profound answers to your most burning questions , this is an eye-opening book for you.

  • From philosophical topics such as the meaning of life and your soul’s purpose on Earth to specific questions regarding money, love, and power , you will find clarity written in black and white. 
  • Extending to three volumes, the books cover all aspects of our day-to-day life , spiritual beliefs, the influence of religion on society, historical events, life after death, and the journey of human beings through all times and dimensions. 

This is one of the masterpiece books on personal development that you won’t regret taking your time to enjoy.

#2: The Silva Mind Control Method by José Silva

The Silva Mind Control Method

About the author: After building a successful electronic-repair business, José Silva got interested in psychology and wanted to see if he could increase his children’s IQ. After discovering that his daughter showed clairvoyant abilities, he started to learn more about psychic capacity.

He experimented with brain wave activity and began developing The Silva Mind Control Method, which he later started teaching to a large audience of people. This method has become a widely known mind-control technique, one of Vishen’s pillars of his personal development.

Key takeaways: The book takes you through a revolutionary mind control program that helps you:

  • alleviate stress
  • increase creativity
  • develop concentration
  • strengthen your relationships
  • nurture feelings of gratitude and love within

What’s truly great about this technique is that it can be applied to any area of your life where you want to see powerful transformation in.

Today, Mindvalley is the world’s biggest publisher of the Silva Method programs, which teaches you how to open your mind to self-healing and intuition.

You can access more guided meditations by reading this article: 5 of the Best Guided Meditations by Mindvalley Authors .

#3: The Law of Attraction by Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks

The Law of Attraction

About the author: Through divine guidance from non-physical beings who call themselves Abraham, Esther and Jerry Hicks have shared with the world powerful teachings regarding the Law of Attraction. They have traveled to approximately 50 cities a year since 1989 to share this knowledge with those passionate about the fundamental universal laws.

Key takeaways: One of the world’s famous personal development books, The Law of Attraction, presents: 

  • the mechanisms behind how all the wanted and unwanted are drawn into our lives
  • how to use the principles of this law for your benefit and program the Universe to work in your favor

“What goes around comes around,” “Birds of a feather flock together,” “Like attracts like” — are only a few of the familiar sayings we frequently use in the colloquial language.

Maybe we haven’t been aware that they all refer subtly to the law of attraction that draws the whole portray of how our lives are going to look like.

mindvalley-freemium-pencil-banner

#4: Limitless by Jim Kwik

Limitless

About the author: Before Jim Kwik was recognized as one of the foremost experts in speed-reading, memory improvement, brain performance, and accelerated learning, he was known as “the boy with the broken brain”.

At the age of five, Jim suffered a head injury that left him with severe learning challenges, and as a result, he would struggle throughout his schooling years. An epiphany hit him when he was in college, as he realized the system was only telling him what to learn. 

However, never once has he been taught anything about how to learn.

Key takeaways: In this book, Jim unravels:

  • how the brain truly works
  • strategies to improve mental performance
  • powerful methods to increase mental expansion
  • how to achieve ultimate brain fitness
If knowledge is power, learning is your superpower. — Jim Kwik, bestselling author and trainer of Mindvalley’s Superbrain Quest

Through his book, Jim teaches you all you need to know about how to upgrade your mindset, level up your motivation game, and successfully apply new methods of learning to bring you the best results.

#5: Happy Money by Ken Honda

Happy Money

About the author: Ken Honda is Japan’s most influential money teacher. Fondly known as ‘The Zen Billionaire’, Ken has sold eight million copies of his books on teaching people how to achieve ultimate financial success. 

He spent years of his life researching what the principles of making money flow easily into your life truly are. After surveying over 12,000 self-made millionaires in Japan, while being mentored by the late Wahei Takeda (the ‘Warren Buffett of Japan’), he began noticing a common pattern among the richest, happiest, and most fulfilled people. 

Key takeaways: Ken conveyed his knowledge in his book, Happy Money, where you’ll discover:

  • the most efficient ways to heal your relationship with money
  • how to allow it to come and go with respect and contentment

What he believes to be the secret of financial prosperity , Ken will take you through the core elements of Money EQ and show you how to eradicate the myth of scarcity. Money is flowing energy that should be let free and in turn, will come back more abundantly than ever.

#6: The Energies of Love by Donna Eden and David Feinstein

The Energies of Love personal development books

About the author: Donna Eden was born with the gift of seeing people’s energy bodies (the invisible forces that animate the human body). After suffering from an illness at the age of 27, Donna discovered that she can use her innate abilities to heal herself.

For the past 40 years, Donna has been relentlessly proclaiming, teaching, and demonstrating that our bodies are a collection of energy systems and that there are ways to naturally and systematically reclaim our health and vitality.

As you embrace your deepest nature, the energies of your being shine forth into your body, your mind, and your world. — Donna Eden, NYT bestselling author and trainer of Mindvalley’s The Energies of Love Quest

Key takeaways: She shares her experiences in the book The Energies of Love , written alongside her husband, David Feinstein (a pioneer in Energy Psychology).

The Energies of Love reveals:

  • real-life stories from the author’s workshop attendees of how they worked with their energy bodies to heal dysfunctional relationship patterns
  • how to create a stronger and more loving connection with their partners by better understanding each other’s energy bodies

#7: A Radical Awakening by Dr. Shefali Tsabary

A Radical Awakening

About the author: Dr. Shefali Tsabary is a world-renowned clinical psychologist with expertise in family dynamics and personal development. She teaches courses and seminars around the globe, focusing on merging western philosophy with eastern wisdom.

Key takeaways: A Radical Awakening is one of the best personal development books for women that shows:

  • dr. Shefali’s story of how she connected to her conscious self and discovered a new way of living aligned with her purpose
  • a realistic perspective on how to unlock the power to connect with your most authentic self
  • how to become who you’ve always wanted to be: more aware, more present, more loving, and more connected to your never-ending feminine wisdom

You can find more women-empowered inspiration by reading this article: In the Spirit of Empowerment: Quotes by Mindvalley’s Female Authors .

#8: I Am Enough by Marisa Peer

I am Enough personal development books

About the author: Marisa Peer , named the ‘Best British Therapist’ by Tatler and Men’s Health magazines, has spent nearly 30 years working with an extensive client list including royalty, Hollywood actors, Olympic athletes, CEOs, and political leaders.

As a hands-on therapist to her clients, Marisa uses Rapid Transformational Therapy®️ to unlock the brain’s neuroplasticity. She helps her clients rewrite their brains for performance, overcoming challenges, greater joy, and complete freedom.

Key takeaways: Through her book, I Am Enough , Marisa presents:

  • a model of thinking that will free you from self-judgment, self-sabotage , and undesirable thoughts or behaviors
  • how to liberate yourself from these mental constraints and have the chance to a new way of living, full of energy and joy
  • how to tap into our infinite potential but also to realize that we’ve already done enough and been enough at any point we are in our lives

When you start resonating with your enoughness, your life will get so much better from the inside out.

Your potential expands as you move towards it. You could never know what you are capable of because as you get to it, your potential allows you to go even further. — Marisa Peer, world-renowned therapist and trainer of Mindvalley’s Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapy for Abundance Quest

#9: Conscious Uncoupling by Katherine Woodward Thomas

Conscious uncoupling personal development books

About the author: Before she was a bestselling author, Katherine Woodward Thomas decided to consciously evolve beyond her painful patterns in love when she was in her 40s. She miraculously manifest a beautiful marriage and became a mother for the first time. 

For many years, she and her husband were happy together. A decade later, however, they realized that they’d grown apart and, after much discussion, decided to end their marriage.

Key takeaways: This is how the idea of Conscious Uncoupling came into action. Katherine decided to share with the world:

  • a 5-step process that would help both involved in a couple to part ways lovingly and respectfully
  • how to use a breakup as a powerful catalyst for a positive, life-altering breakthrough and change

#10: The 6 Phase Meditation Method by Vishen

The 6 Phase Meditation Method personal development books

About the author: Founder of Mindvalley, an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author, Vishen is a certified Silva instructor and credits this method as a core base of his personal development. His journey with Mindvalley led him to explore the science behind helping people achieve their highest potential.

Key takeaways: The 6 Phase Meditation Method shows you:

  • a 6-step magic-making protocol to increase creativity, focus, and overall joy in your life
  • six unique mind programming exercises that you can do every day from the comfort of your home
  • how to experience peak states of mental clarity in just a few minutes a day

What’s special about this personal development book is the complexity of the simplicity it brings into your day-to-day life. Written with a touch of humor, it’s impossible to get bored while uncovering this hyper-efficient method of improving your life quality right away.

Recommended: 8 Most Anticipated New Book Releases in 2022 by Mindvalley Trainers & Guests

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If you’ve already gone through these powerful personal development books and you’re ready to step into your greatness, you’ve come to the right place.

Mindvalley opens the door to dive deeper into the presented authors’ wisdom through carefully designed quests that will support you throughout your self-discovery journey. Welcome in.

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10 of the best self-development books to read now

Our edit of modern-day guides will help you live your best life

self help books

'Ten Times Calmer', Dr Kirren Schnack

'Ten Times Calmer', Dr Kirren Schnack

Clinical Psychologist Dr Kirren's popular Instagram account has become a go-to for honest, actionable anxiety advice and useful information on how our minds work. If you're a fan of her work, this book will be a welcome addition to your shelves.

With so many guides available claiming to help us beat our anxieties and face our biggest challenges, it can be confusing to know which to go for. Dr Kirren's warm, practical advice is what sets her book apart for us. If you want insight into how anxiety works and what really goes on in our minds, alongside tips and takeaways that you can immediately implement, add this to your basket.

'The Pivot Year', Brianna West

'The Pivot Year', Brianna West

If you like your self-help clearly defined and prefer goal-setting to feeling your way step-by-step, try The Pivot Year , which focuses on the idea of a "pivot period": the space between where you are, and where you want to be. Containing 365 daily meditations on finding the courage to become who you’ve always wanted to be, this year-long guide will be a helpful companion for anyone who needs an extra dose of motivation. Like an encouraging friend cheering you on from the sidelines, it might just help you finish that project or land that new job by encouraging a different way of thinking.

'Manifest for Kids', Roxie Nafousi

'Manifest for Kids', Roxie Nafousi

Fans of Roxie Nafousi's iconic orange bible, Manifest , will understand how exciting it could be to get the children in our lives harnessing the power of manifestation and self-belief from a young age.

As a parent herself, Nafousi knows that teaching children to understand and articulate emotions is challenging for any caregiver, and so in her latest book designed for children ages 8-12, our little ones can learn the power of gratitude and goal setting – which will help both them and you to build better habits.

'Atomic Habits', James Clear

'Atomic Habits', James Clear

Understanding how our minds work is key to adapting them, and James Clear absolutely understands this in his million-copy bestseller, Atomic Habits , which will not only motivate and inspire you to change your daily life for the better, but show you how.

The misconception that we must 'think big' to create change often prevents us from doing anything at all but, as Clear shares, it is in understanding our small daily habits that real change happens. You'll learn how our brains form habits – positive ones and negative ones – and how we can use this knowledge to create lives we truly love.

'Untamed', Glennon Doyle

'Untamed', Glennon Doyle

“Who were you before the world told you who to be?” asks Glennon Doyle in Untamed , a thoughtful exploration of the conditioning of women that acts as a real wake-up call. Encouraging all of us to be brave, Doyle shares stories from her own life to help us unleash our true inner selves, untamed.

Written with both extreme sensitivity and powerful force, the messages Doyle shares in Untamed provide life-changing revelations for readers who are open to the idea that the true you may not be present in your day-to-day life – and once you know this, you will want to find her.

'The Body Keeps the Score', Bessel van der Kolk

'The Body Keeps the Score', Bessel van der Kolk

We all carry past emotions within us, and Bessel van der Kolk has dedicated his life to exploring the impact this has on us – and how we can overcome it. Each of us has experienced things we’d rather leave in the past; but our brains and our bodies don’t forget. In The Body Keeps the Score , van der Kolk shares his life’s work in understanding the very real impact that serious stress can have on us long after it’s passed, sitting in our bodies and often wreaking havoc on our lives.

The Body Keeps the Score gives us practical tips and information on how we can release the past from our bodies, enjoy more fulfilling lives, and truly leave our past experiences behind.

'Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?', Dr Julie Smith

'Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?', Dr Julie Smith

Clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith became a social media sensation by providing actionable, practical insights and tips to improve mental health. In her book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? , Dr Smith follows the same blueprint, making therapy techniques accessible for all and claiming that the tools provided are “not therapy skills, [but] life skills”.

The book aims to educate readers on the ins and outs of how our minds work in an understandable, digestible way, to empower us to take control, build resilience and nurture good mental health. If you’re looking for lightbulb moments (and practical tips on what to do with them) this is a good place to start.

'That Little Voice In Your Head', Mo Gawdat

'That Little Voice In Your Head', Mo Gawdat

Mo Gawdat’s personal story of the loss of his son is tragic and inspirational. Gawdat is full of wisdom on how we can optimise our minds for happiness – because unfortunately, it’s not always the default for many of us.

The premise of Gowdat’s message is that in understanding how our brains work, we can engineer happiness for ourselves: beat negative self-talk, change thought processes, and use the predictability of our brains to reprogram them for positivity. Based on neuroscience, That Little Voice in Your Head brings simplicity to our most complex of functions and what it means to be human, and empowers us to “adjust the code” running our brains.

'The Course of Love', Alain de Botton

'The Course of Love', Alain de Botton

As one of the world’s greatest thinkers, we’re always intrigued by whatever Alain de Botton has to say. Debunking the myth of the ‘happily ever after’ we’re all sold, The Course of Love explores marriage in its most messy, beautiful, modern-day form, and is a must-read for anyone in a romantic relationship.

The book provides a safe sense of familiarity through relatable, real-life anecdotes and learning opportunities, to help all of us nurture our relationships in ways which are real. It’s not all hearts and flowers, it’s not always pretty – and that’s the best thing about it.

'The Discomfort Zone', Farrah Storr

'The Discomfort Zone', Farrah Storr

It’s human nature to favour things within our comfort zones – but is that really where we thrive? The former editor-in-chief of Elle UK , Farrah Storr , has penned this eloquent guide to moving towards the things that scare us and finding power in facing challenges head on. Her book teaches an adaptable method to allow you to feel the fear and do it anyway.

Storr shares that “brief moments of discomfort” are what help us to grow and get to where we need to be, and how exploring our discomfort zones can propel us to achieve great things.

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top 10 books for self development

The Best Personal Growth Books for Becoming Your Best Self

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You don’t have to wait until January to change your lifestyle and habits for the better, but it’s as good a time as any! The best personal growth books will help you become the person you envision at any time. We’ve rounded up a list of the 15 best personal growth books and best self help books to help you unlock your dreams!

top 10 books for self development

Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

Social scientist Brené Brown explores what it means to truly belong, especially in a society and culture that relies on outside markers of success, which can often be polarizing. By leading readers through the wilderness of self-reflection, she can help people connect to their true selves—and their communities.

top 10 books for self development

Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani

If you’re feeling weighed down by the ridiculous expectations of others and the impossible standards perpetuated by social media and our society, Saujani has written the book for you. Inspired by her popular TED Talk, Saujani breaks down how girls are conditioned to be afraid, and inspires readers to be brave rather than perfect.

top 10 books for self development

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

You are a badass, and Jen Sincero will make sure that you won’t forget it in this impassioned, witty, and sometimes curse word–laden manifesto on how to stop doubting yourself and live your best life. This book is full inspirational quotes and practical advice for you to change your ingrained bad habits today.

top 10 books for self development

My Friend Fear by Meera Lee Patel

Author of the bestselling journal Start Where You Are , Patel brings readers into a deeper exploration of themselves and fear, so that they can find the courage to make important changes in their lives. With her beautiful watercolor artwork, Patel gives readers reflections, questions, and quotations to inspire them to face their fears and embrace changes.

top 10 books for self development

A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel

If you’re looking for a close guide to help you change your outlook and mindset, this book of daily affirmations if just the thing. It offers inspiration and tools based in self development and neuroscience to help you think more positively and get in the mindset to achieve your goals.

Year of Yes cover

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Written by the trailblazing TV writer and producer, this book is about the power of challenging yourself to say yes to every unexpected thing that comes your way. Part memoir and part self-help book, Rimes chronicles how saying yes to the things that intimidated her transformed her life—and how it can transform yours, too! 

top 10 books for self development

Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup

If you’re dealing with a lot of fear in your life, Ruth Soukup can help. By identifying your Fear Archetype and adopting her Principles of Courage, you can begin to build the life that you want. Soukup delivers a book and a bold plan that’s inspirational, but also full of tough love.

top 10 books for self development

The Self-Love Workbook by Shainna Ali

Conventional wisdom says you have to know how to love yourself before you can take care of others, but if you’re stuck on figuring out how to get there, this workbook can help. With activities that will help you deepen your understanding of yourself, Ali gives you practical tools to embrace self-love.

top 10 books for self development

How to Stop Feeling Like Shit by Andrea Owen

If you like your self-help books with a side of sarcasm and a big serving of no-nonsense, this straightforward manual is for you. Owen isolated 14 habits that hold women back, and offers solutions to break those habits once and for all.

top 10 books for self development

The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu draw on their experiences working with the South African Truth and Reconciliation Council to offer a path to forgiveness and ultimate healing. By outlining practical guidelines on how to ask for and offer forgiveness and either maintain or release relationships, they give readers a healthy framework for healing through forgiveness.

top 10 books for self development

The Self-Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser

If you have a tendency to self-sabotage, or feel as though you’re holding back from living your life, Kaiser makes a case that self-love can be the key to transforming your life. By sharing her own story and offering 15 principles to help you overcome your own setbacks, she makes a strong case for self-love and offers a path to achieving your goals.

top 10 books for self development

Be Fearless by Jean Case

If you want to know what makes a great leader and change maker, Case offer evidence that it isn’t wealth or power, but the courage to be fearless and take bold risks. With profiles, personal stories, and practical advice, Case presents an inspiring manifesto that anyone can take to heart.

top 10 books for self development

An Invitation to Self Care by Tracey Cleantis

Often when we talk about self-care, it’s in the terms of indulgence: a massage, a fancy latte, an extravagant  purchase. Cleantis wants to reframe the discussion of self-care to move beyond these indulgences to including aspects that will help you nourish your body and mind in every area of your life, and build a lifelong practice that is more than just dessert.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin book cover

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin spent a year studying science, philosophy, and exploring real-life situations to try and understand how to be happier. Her discoveries are relatable and applicable to everyone’s lives, and include finding outer order, spending wisely, and trying new things. Part self-help, part-memoir, her story is inspirational and practical.

Find More Personal Growth Books

If you want more suggestions for nonfiction books or your own personal reading journey, check out TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations . TBR offers readers personalized book recommendations, taking in account what they’ve already read and what they’re looking to read more of! Simply fill out a survey about your reading life, and we’ll match you up with an expert Biblioligist who will recommend three books each quarter. You can choose to receive your recommendations only via email, or have three new books delivered to you from our partner bookstore. Get started now!

top 10 books for self development

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top 10 books for self development

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Stephen R. Covey | 5.00

top 10 books for self development

Dustin Moskovitz [I] was surprised at how familiar the topics felt. (Source)

Dave Ramsey [Dave Ramsey recommended this book on his website.] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Kishore Biyani Immensely helpful and influential during my early years, it explained some of the basic mindsets required to succeed in any profession. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

top 10 books for self development

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie | 4.89

top 10 books for self development

Dustin Moskovitz Seek to be understood. (Source)

Scott Adams [Scott Adams recommends this book on his "Persuasion Reading List."] (Source)

Daymond John I love all the Dale Carnegie books. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor E. Frankl, William J. Winslade, et al. | 4.69

top 10 books for self development

Tony Robbins Another book that I’ve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life. (Source)

Jimmy Fallon I read it while spending ten days in the ICU of Bellevue hospital trying to reattach my finger from a ring avulsion accident in my kitchen. It talks about the meaning of life, and I believe you come out a better person from reading it. (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Power of Habit

Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Charles Duhigg | 4.68

top 10 books for self development

Naval Ravikant I also recently finished The Power of Habit, or close to finish as I get. That one was interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are. [...] I think learning how to break habits is a very important meta-skill that can serve you better in life than almost anything else. Although you can read tons of books... (Source)

Blake Irving You know, there's a book called The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Simple read book about just how to build positive habits that can be I think I what I'd call you know whether in your personal life or whether in your business life to help you build you know, have a loop that can build your success and that's one I mean there are so many great books out there. (Source)

Santiago Basulto Another book with great impact was “The power of habit”. But to be honest, I read only a couple of pages. It’s a good book, with many interesting stories. But to be honest, the idea it tries to communicate is simple and after a couple of pages you’ve pretty much understood all of it. Happens the same thing with those types of books (Getting things done, crossing the chasm, etc.) (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

Mark Manson, Roger Wayne, et al | 4.68

top 10 books for self development

Ryan Holiday I loved Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck. There’s a reason this book is blowing up. It’s that good. (Source)

Ella Botting You’ll meet a lot of d*ck heads at work. This book helps you prioritise how you spend your energy. I liked how Mark used examples from his real life to explain his points, means you can relate to his whole ideology more. (Source)

Chris Goward Here are some of the books that have been very impactful for me, or taught me a new way of thinking: [...] The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Kahneman | 4.67

top 10 books for self development

Barack Obama A few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Marc Andreessen Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill | 4.67

Daymond John The main takeaway from [this book] was goal-setting. It was the fact that if you don't set a specific goal, then how can you expect to hit it? (Source)

Mark Moses [ listing the books that had the biggest impact on him] (Source)

Sa El Another book all about how to obtain financial success by changing how you think and how to change your actions based on that thinking pattern, mindset is the first thing that must change if you want to build a business. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Atomic Habits

An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

James Clear and Penguin Audi | 4.63

Cal Newport I recently read an advance copy of James Clear’s new book, Atomic Habits. His thesis is that small but carefully selected habits can, over time, create massively positive results — not just in terms of what you accomplish, but also in terms of the type of person you become. James’s exposition rings true with what’ve I learned hanging around interesting people and high achievers. I recommend you... (Source)

Mark Manson A lot of people email me asking about habits - how to form good ones, how to break bad ones, how to stop doing the dumb shit we always do. I've got a friend named James Clear. He's an accomplished author and business owner and is kind of a "habit guru." He's probably forgotten more habits research than I've ever brought myself to look at. He just launched his first book. It's called Atomic Habits... (Source)

Ryan Holiday This book is out on Tuesday and it's also very good. An atomic habit is a tiny habit or change that can have an enormous impact on your life. Getting up a little earlier, deleting social media from your phone, automating your savings, developing a system, these are atomic habits. Me personally, I don't feel like I am particularly talented or even that disciplined, but I have a number of atomic... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck | 4.55

Tony Robbins [Tony Robbins recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Bill Gates One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because it’s solutions-oriented. In the book’s final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that ‘just learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

You Are a Badass

How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

Jen Sincero | 4.54

Stacey Minton That book helped me realize I wasn’t alone in not necessarily having direction or all of the answers, but as long as I put one foot in front of the other, I would get to where I wanted to be. (Source)

Chelsea Frank I read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. (Source)

Jessica Lauria I bought this book because I was curious about the title. I loved it and bought it for my entire team. The universe matches the energy you put out. It’s so true. If you put out positivity, you get it back. It’s a great reminder that you are in charge of your destiny. Another point in this book that I love - if someone has a problem with you, it’s their issue. Not yours. We put some much weight on... (Source)

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top 10 books for self development

The Four Agreements

A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

Don Miguel Ruiz, Janet Mills | 4.53

top 10 books for self development

Jack Dorsey Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading! (Source)

Charlamagne Tha God These are the books I recommend people to listen to on @applebooks. (Source)

Karlie Kloss I just think it’s got a lot of great principles and ideas. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Power of Now

A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Eckhart Tolle | 4.53

top 10 books for self development

Roxana Bitoleanu [One of the books that had the biggest impact on ] The power of now, as time is a limited resource and we should spend it as wonderfully as possible. (Source)

Darrah Brustein Others include The Power Of Now which is powerful reminder that all we have is the present and helps give you meaningful ways to live in it, not in the past or the future. (Source)

Valeria Mercado @Ye_Ali The best book (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The 4-Hour Workweek

Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

Timothy Ferriss, Ray Porter | 4.51

top 10 books for self development

Eric Weinstein [Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

Tim Draper With this kind of time management and focus on the important things in life, people should be able to get 15 times as much done in a normal work week. (Source)

Marvin Liao SUCH a hard question to answer because there are so MANY favorite books of mine. For Business, i'd say either 80/20 Principle (Koch) or 4 Hour Work Week (Ferriss) for the principles it teaches on how to optimize work & life. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Story of Success

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.51

top 10 books for self development

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

James Altucher Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? And so on. (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar The books that I've talked the most about with friends and colleagues over the years are the Malcolm Gladwell series of novels. Glorious stories that mix science, behaviours and insight. You can't go wrong with the "The Tipping Point", "Outliers", "Blink" or "David & Goliath". (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Getting Things Done

The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

David Allen, James Fallows | 4.50

top 10 books for self development

Dustin Moskovitz Put first things first. (Source)

Tony Hsieh Getting Things Done by David Allen. He recently spoke at our Zappos all-hands meeting and gave me a signed copy of his book. (Source)

Eric Rose When I'm flat-out stressed about the volume and complexity of my work, I open this book and find immediate ways to gain a sense of control. That's really a critical need for decision making. David made me what I am today: headstrong and proud of it. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport | 4.48

top 10 books for self development

Marvin Liao The Joy of Not Working (Zelinkski), Flash Foresight (Burrus), The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Gracian), Sapiens (Yuval), The End of Jobs (Pearson), Deep Work (Newport), Sovereign Individual (Davidson), The Fourth Economy (Davison) & The Monk & the Riddle (Komisar). Every single one of these books completely changed how I looked at everything in the world & literally pushed my life in a new direction.... (Source)

Daniel Pink As automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today. (Source)

Seth Godin Cal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Psychology of Persuasion

Robert B. Cialdini | 4.48

top 10 books for self development

Charles T. Munger Robert Cialdini has had a greater impact on my thinking on this topic than any other scientist. (Source)

Dan Ariely It covers a range of ways in which we end up doing things, and how we don’t understand why we’re doing them. (Source)

Max Levchin [Max Levchin recommended this book as an answer to "What business books would you advise young entrepreneurs read?"] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Susan Cain | 4.47

top 10 books for self development

Simon Sinek eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',164,'0','1'])); Leaders needn’t be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. It’s not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we needn’t try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... (Source)

Jason Fried A good book I’d recommend is “Quiet” by Susan Cain. (Source)

James Altucher Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. It’s not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, “uh-oh. I just shut down. I can’t talk anymore and there’s a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.” Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Let’s try to lock eyes at the party. “Quiet” shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

12 Rules for Life

An Antidote to Chaos

Jordan B. Peterson | 4.45

top 10 books for self development

Marc Andreessen A bracing disassembly and reconstruction of a theory of individual progress in the modern world. Fascinating compare and contrast with The Courage To Be Disliked. (Source)

James Altucher Just look at the table of contents: Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back Rule 2: Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping Rule 3: Make friends with people who want the best for you Rule 4: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today Rule 5: Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them Rule 6: Set your house in... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Andrew Price @stewheckenberg @jordanbpeterson Thanks mate. I almost wish the book was published under a different author so more people would give it a chance. It’s really one of the best “how to fix your life” books around. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Who Moved My Cheese?

Spencer Johnson, Kenneth Blanchard | 4.43

Daymond John [Daymond John said this is one of his most-recommended books.] (Source)

Darren Chua When asked what books he'd recommend to young people interested in the same career path, mentioned Who Moved My Cheese. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Magic of Thinking Big

David J. Schwartz | 4.42

top 10 books for self development

Sharon Hayes @Persephiroth There's a great book I'd suggest reading for expanding your thinking - The Magic of Thinking Big. It's an old book but you can download the pdf online or get it on Amazon. Believe in yourself & figure out the next step. You've got this! Message me if you're ready to talk later. (Source)

Theresa Evanoff Here are some of my favourites around purpose, positive habits, positive thinking, and business goals. I’m a firm believer that subject expertise can be learned, but character-building traits, like perseverance and purposefulness, must be honed. “Purpose Driven Life”, Rick Warren “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey "The Magic of Thinking... (Source)

John Shea Currently my favorite book is The Magic Of Thinking Big, this was a recommendation by one of my first mentors and the book always resonated with me as a personal development book to want to dream big and do bigger things with my life. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Essentialism

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Greg McKeown | 4.40

top 10 books for self development

Casey Neistat This is a great book. I've read it, I've bought it for a friend. (Source)

Noah Kagan [Noah Kagan recommended this book in the book "Tools of Titans".] (Source)

Gilles Bernhard Essentialism is a mindset. It is a combination of discipline, long term thinking, identifying goals and the pursuit of less. This is a book I will definitely read again and again, until mastered, because it resonated very much with me. It is also an easy to read book. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The 48 Laws of Power

Robert Greene | 4.40

Marvin Liao My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... (Source)

Ryan Holiday There is no living writer (or person) who has been more influential to me than Robert Greene. I met him when I was 19 years old and he’s shaped me as a person, as a writer, as a thinker. You MUST read his books. His work on power and strategy are critical for anyone trying to accomplish anything. In life, power is force we are constantly bumping up against. People have power of over us, we seek... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Start with Why

How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Simon Sinek | 4.40

top 10 books for self development

Tony Robbins The basis of this book is so important to anyone looking to increase their influence, profits or impact. People won't truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. When you start with the why, everything else falls into place. This book is so impactful, I consider it required reading. (Source)

Richard Branson Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Tony Hsieh Over the years he’s [] recommended well over 20 business books — including his own, the 2010 bestseller Delivering Happiness and you can always find what he’s currently reading atop his cluttered desk. Start with Why is amogst those titles. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Angela Duckworth | 4.40

Benjamin Spall [Question: What five books would you recommend to youngsters interested in your professional path?] [...] Grit by Angela Duckworth (Source)

Bogdan Lucaciu Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - it was frustrating to read: “Where was this book 20 years ago!?” (Source)

Stephen Lew When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned Grit. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The War of Art

out of 5 stars4,70 | 4.39

James Altucher When a writer or an entrepreneur, or a manager, or an employee, or a…whatever…sits down to get to work, he or she is often met by “the resistance”. The excuses that come up: I can’t do this. I am too old. I don’t have enough money. I’m scared. “The War of Art” is the guide to getting through that block. The comfort zone is papered up and cemented shut by our excuses. Learn to blast through that... (Source)

Seth Godin Also hard to find on audio. I find Steve's voice to be fascinating, and even before I knew him, I was fascinated by listening to him speak his own work. The War of Art is one of those books, at least for me when I finally was exposed to it, I said, 'Why wasn't I informed? Why did it take this long for this book to land on my desk?'... You need to be clear with yourself about what you are afraid... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Brian Koppelman Talks about resistance. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The 5 Love Languages

The Secret to Love that Lasts

Gary Chapman and Oasis Audi | 4.39

Kaci Lambe Kai The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman impacted how I interpret and receive love. Not just romantically, but in my friendships and business relationships. I had several personal and professional relationships that improved when I could appreciate that their "love language" was different than mine. I could at least see their efforts as an attempt at showing me love and kindness, even if it wasn't... (Source)

Pedro Cortés The books that had the biggest impact are the ones that are controversial and challenge people's beliefs around work, relationships, life, and money most of them were things I already thought about (that's how I found them or decided to read them) but just by putting it in an actionable and structured way it made me think 100x more clearly about my goals and beliefs. Such examples could be the... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Marie Kondō | 4.37

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed...

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

top 10 books for self development

David Heinemeier Hansson On a lighter note, I finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. It’s a short book, but it still manages to repeat itself a lot. And yet the core patterns it covers are as effective as they are simple. I’ve been on a decluttering kick at home and feel so much better because of it. It was also the kickstarter for the conversation... (Source)

Benjamin Spall The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo [...] I started reading on vacation. I interviewed Marie for my own book and while the translation is somewhat quirky in places, her book is worth the hype. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Annie Loves Covfefe @Benny29143790 @Thereal_ssteele Oh how I love Kondo cleaning. Her first book is fantastic too!! (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The One Thing

The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

Gary Keller and Jay Papasa | 4.35

top 10 books for self development

Gennady Batrakov Reading improved my self-discipline and consistency. It helped me to focus on the right things. This book, in particular, opened my eyes to how extraordinary results can be achieved – The ONE Thing by Gary Keller. (Source)

Erik Rostad For career books, I'll focus on more overarching themes. You can get books on particular skills you need for a given job, but these books will help having the right mindset for a career and how work should fit into the greater story of your life. For focus: The One Thing by Gary Keller. (Source)

Charles Poliquin [Charles Poliquin recommended this book in the book "Tools of Titans".] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Richest Man in Babylon

George S. Clason | 4.34

Grant Cardone This book emphasized the need to get reliable income streams and to never ever confuse your necessary expenses with the things you want. It’s a timeless classic that every school in America should have in their curriculum. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson This is a 1920s classic version of How To Get Rich. The ancestor of all the pale imitations, like Rich Dad/Poor Dad, that came since. And while I scoffed at plenty of the allegories from ancient Babylon that presents the lessons, it was still a neat package. And at least ancient Babylon is a more interesting backdrop for teaching lessons about money than some suburban house flipper. I ended up... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Tipping Point

How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.34

top 10 books for self development

Kevin Rose Bunch of really good information in here on how to make ideas go viral. This could be good to apply to any kind of products or ideas you may have. Definitely, check out The Tipping Point, which is one of my favorites. (Source)

Seth Godin Malcolm Gladwell's breakthrough insight was to focus on the micro-relationships between individuals, which helped organizations realize that it's not about the big ads and the huge charity balls... it's about setting the stage for the buzz to start. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Andy Stern I think that when we talk about making change, it is much more about macro change, like in policy. This book reminds you that at times when you're building big movements, or trying to elect significant decision-makers in politics, sometimes it's the little things that make a difference. Ever since the book was written, we've become very used to the idea of things going viral unexpectedly and then... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Secret (The Secret, #1)

Rhonda Byrne | 4.33

top 10 books for self development

Ntwana Kasi. @Sibongubuhle_N Don't you have pdf of it i love this book (Source)

Woman In Purpose @Anele_Nks Best book ever! (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Emotional Intelligence

Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Daniel Goleman | 4.33

top 10 books for self development

Drew Houston It’s nonfiction, but it spelled out something that I just didn’t know you could kind of break down in a logical way. And, suddenly, I had this understanding about the world that I didn’t have before. (Source)

Sharon Salzberg [Sharon Salzberg recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Roxana Bitoleanu [One of the books recommends to young people interested in her career path.] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Compound Effect

Darren Hardy | 4.32

top 10 books for self development

Never Split the Difference

Chris Voss, Tahl Raz | 4.32

Daniel Pink Emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence without sacrificing deal-making power. From the pen of a former hostage negotiator—someone who couldn’t take no for an answer—which makes it fascinating reading. But it’s also eminently practical. In these pages, you will find the techniques for getting the deal you want. (Source)

Adam Grant eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_6',164,'0','1'])); This book blew my mind. It’s a riveting read, full of instantly actionable advice—not just for high-stakes negotiations, but also for handling everyday conflicts at work and at home. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Eat That Frog!

21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

Brian Tracy | 4.31

top 10 books for self development

Raul Pachecovega I recently finished reading @BrianTracy's "Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time". It took me FOREVER to finish his book (hard to eat THAT frog, I'm sorry Brian!) but if there's ONE frog I always eat is: MAKING MY BED IN THE MORNING. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Good to Great

Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

Jim Collins | 4.30

top 10 books for self development

Jeff Bezos "Collins briefed Amazon executives on his seminal management book before its publication. Companies must confront the brutal facts of their business, find out what they are uniquely good at, and master their fly wheel, in which each part of the business reinforces and accelerates the other parts," Stone writes. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel H. Pink | 4.29

top 10 books for self development

Tobi Lütke [Tobi Lütke recommended this book in an interview in "The Globe and Mail."] (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Takes some of those same ideas about motivations and rewards and extrapolates them in a little bit. (Source)

Mike Benkovich I'd recommend a sprinkling of business books followed by a heap of productivity and behavioural psychology books. The business books will help you with principals and the psychological books help with everything else in your life. Building your own business can really f!@# you up psychologically. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life

Hal Elrod and Rob Acti | 4.29

top 10 books for self development

Why We Sleep

Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

Matthew Walker PhD | 4.29

top 10 books for self development

Bill Gates Explains how neglecting sleep undercuts your creativity, problem solving, decision-making, learning, memory, heart health, brain health, mental health, emotional well-being, immune system, and even your life span. (Source)

Brad Feld Several friends, who know I both love to sleep and am intrigued with how sleep works, recommended that I read Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It was excellent. While my self-assessment of my sleep habits are very positive, I learned a few things. More importantly, I now have a much better understanding of the “Why” surrounding sleep, especially around sleep’s importance to... (Source)

Alexis Ohanian Sr. Agree! Best book I've read this year. Wasted so many hours just proving to myself I'd be the last one up working at @reddit and for what??? Stupid. Diminishing marginal returns after enough hours without sleep. https://t.co/cT7fDNBF3A (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Awaken the Giant Within

ANTHONY ROBBINS | 4.29

top 10 books for self development

Derek Sivers When I was 18, [this book] changed my life. (Source)

Brian Koppelman This book was the first of [Tony Robbins books] I read, and it asked me crucial questions about the stories I was telling myself that were limiting my growth. (Source)

Gennady Batrakov In the business category, my #1 book is Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. It has been over 20 years since I read the book for the first time. I reread it a few times since. I even keep extra copies of this book on my bookshelf to give away to my friends. Awaken the Giant Within has helped me in many ways. It aided me to deal with the habits I wanted to stay away from. It was easy to... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Life and Work

Ray Dalio | 4.28

top 10 books for self development

Mark Cuban The book I wish I had as a young entrepreneur. (Source)

Tony Robbins I found it to be truly extraordinary. Every page is full of so many principles of distinction and insights—and I love how Ray incorporates his history and his life in such an elegant way. (Source)

Bill Gates Ray Dalio has provided me with invaluable guidance and insights that are now available to you in Principles. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Daring Greatly

How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Brené Brown | 4.27

top 10 books for self development

Chase Jarvis [Chase Jarvis recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

AnneMarie Schindler I suggest these [books] because they really open up 'how' you think about life and in turn work, success/challenges/setbacks, and in general, yourself. I believe that the more you can understand yourself and broaden your approach to work, the easier it will be to find work that energizes you. Finally, I'm a team player at heart, and love working with others to achieve a huge goal so a portion of... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.26

top 10 books for self development

Mike Shinoda I know most of the guys in the band read [this book]. (Source)

Marillyn Hewson CEO Marilyn Hewson recommends this book because it helped her to trust her instincts in business. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Dale Carnegie | 4.24

top 10 books for self development

Terry Crews Such a great book. (Source)

Ola Olusoga There was a moment where I was on a quest for self-discovery. I felt lost and wasn't sure if I was who I was because I made the decision to be me, or if my identity was programmed by culture, society and setting. Because of that, I started reading self-help books to reconstruct identity and mold who I wanted to be. This book helped me. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Rich Dad Poor Dad

What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!

Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter C.P.A | 4.24

top 10 books for self development

Will Smith [Will Smith mentioned sharing this book with his son.] (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Art of War

Sun Tzu | 4.24

top 10 books for self development

Reid Hoffman Reid read Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu as a boy, which informed his strategic thinking. (Source)

Neil deGrasse Tyson Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on planet? [...] The Art of War (Sun Tsu) [to learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art]. If you read all of the above works you will glean profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the western world. (Source)

Evan Spiegel After meeting Mark Zuckerberg, [Evan Spiegel] immediately bought every [Snapchat] employee a copy of 'The Art Of War'. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho | 4.23

top 10 books for self development

Daniel Ek It was fascinating to talk to [the author] about how this book came to be such a hit—he never backed down, and he allowed people to read it for free in order to then boost sales—much like how Spotify’s freemium model was perceived in the early days. (Source)

Eric Ripert Speaks of everyone having an ultimate goal in life, but most of us are too afraid to pursue it. The encouragement to fulfill your dreams is very inspirational! (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Brené Brown There's a great quote in [this book]: When you're on the right path the universe conspires to help you! (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Extreme Ownership

How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win

Jocko Willink, Leif Babin | 4.23

Casey Neistat My favorite Jocko book. (Source)

Timothy Ferriss Jocko is also the co-author of Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win — which I loved. (Source)

Roger Ailes This is the SEAL Leadership book we have been waiting for. Poignant, powerful, practical. A must read for every leader. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Tools of Titans

Timothy Ferriss, Arnold Schwarzenegger | 4.23

Tony Robbins Tim is a brilliant thinker. The way he approaches mastery is inspiring in many ways. His latest book is no exception. What I loved about Tools of Titans is that it distills key tactics, routines and habits of the ultra-successful in actionable ways that anyone can take advantage of. Highly recommended. Every chapter is a valuable lesson. (Source)

Kamal Ravikant I’m reading Tools of Titans which is just amazing. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Crucial Conversations

Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

RON MCMILLAN JOSEPH GRENNY, AL SWITZLER, KERRY PATTERSON | 4.22

top 10 books for self development

Max Levchin A now-venerable guide to having tough conversations in a way that engages the debaters. (Source)

Deke Bridges Picked up this great book @Powells to read. Better conversation and listening enables you to get deeper into subjects at hand. When talking with people, this makes your communication skills a very powerful tool. Always be learning. #growth #education #leadership https://t.co/r0ujX9IPqh (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Power of Positive Thinking

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale | 4.22

-- Norman Vincent Peale

The precursor to The Secret, The Power of Positive Thinking has helped millions of men and women to achieve fulfillment in their lives. In this phenomenal bestseller, Dr. Peale demonstrates the power of faith in action. With the practical techniques outlined in this book, you can energize your life -- and give yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes. You'll learn how...

The precursor to The Secret, The Power of Positive Thinking has helped millions of men and women to achieve fulfillment in their lives. In this phenomenal bestseller, Dr. Peale demonstrates the power of faith in action. With the practical techniques outlined in this book, you can energize your life -- and give yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes. You'll learn how to:

top 10 books for self development

Donald J. Trump Norman Vincent Peale - the great Norman Vincent Peale - was my pastor. "The Power Of Positive Thinking" - everybody's heard of Norman Vincent Peale. He was so great. (Source)

Sam Gichuru As an entrepreneur I wake up everyday positively optimistic, the most powerful book I read in my 20s was the power of positive thinking. Entrepreneurs, founders, innovators are driven by optimism, one must get a good dose of that in the morning. Then they open twitter... https://t.co/kzD046B4zy (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brené Brown | 4.22

top 10 books for self development

Zero to One

Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

Peter Thiel; Blake Masters | 4.21

top 10 books for self development

Elon Musk Peter Thiel has built multiple breakthrough companies, and Zero to One shows how.” - Elon Mus (Source)

Mark Zuckerberg This book delivers completely new and refreshing ideas on how to create value in the world. (Source)

Eric Weinstein If you really understand something that the rest of the world is confused about, and it’s an important truth, [this book] says here are all the ways you might want to make that work. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Ego is the Enemy

Ryan Holiday | 4.21

Charlamagne Tha God This is one of my favorite authors on the planet @ryanholiday one of his many books is titled “Ego Is The Enemy.” So if you want more from him on the subject of ego than what’s in this 60 second clip that’s the book… https://t.co/0QDe9V69KV (Source)

Robert Greene Inspiring yet practical... teaches us how to manage and tame this beast within us so that we can focus on what really matters - producing the best work possible. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Obstacle Is the Way

The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

top 10 books for self development

James Altucher My life has been beset with obstacles. It takes practice (and pain) to surmount them and achieve success. [This author]’s book is a how-to guide for just that. (Source)

George Raveling [One of] the books that I’ve given away the most lately. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Robert Greene | 4.20

top 10 books for self development

James Altucher What better way to learn about success then the minute paths taken by 100s or 1000s of successful people.It feels like Robert takes everyone in history and dissects the exact moments and decisions that led to their great success. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Tobias S @Oliver_Rankin @Ashthorp Great book, read it twice! (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Checklist Manifesto

How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande | 4.19

The New York Times bestselling author of Better and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist

We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies‚neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists...

We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies‚neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple ninety-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third. In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from homeland security to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds. An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential reading for anyone working to get things right.

top 10 books for self development

Bill Gates A great read. (Source)

David Allen Atul is really talking about how absolutely powerful checklists are, and I think he makes a very creative point: that checklist are not just some static, boring thing. They actually allow you to do excellent work and free up your brain by not having to keep remembering what you need to do when. That then allows your brain to be a lot more creative about whatever it is you’re doing. (Source)

Timothy Ferriss Ramit and I are both obsessed with checklists and love a book by Atul Gawande titled The Checklist Manifesto. I have this book on a shelf in my living room, cover out, as a constant reminder. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Sheryl Sandberg | 4.19

Mark Zuckerberg For the past five years, I've sat at a desk next to Sheryl and I've learned something from her almost every day. She has a remarkable intelligence that can cut through complex processes and find solutions to the hardest problems. Lean In combines Sheryl's ability to synthesize information with her understanding of how to get the best out of people. The book is smart and honest and funny. Her... (Source)

Oprah Winfrey Honest and brave... The new manifesto for women in the workplace. (Source)

Richard Branson If you loved Sheryl Sandberg's incredible TED talk on why we have too few women leaders, or simply believe as I do that we need equality in the boardroom, then this book is for you. As Facebook's COO, Sheryl Sandberg has first-hand experience of why having more women in leadership roles is good for business as well as society. Lean In is essential reading for anyone interested in righting the... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

A New Earth

Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Editorial América, Eckhart Tolle, Roque Marley | 4.18

top 10 books for self development

Abid Zaidi Day 1 : #30Days of posting cover of books I love (1 book a day for 30 days). No expectations, no reviews, just the covers #MyFavouriteBooks Not invited by @rekha_bhardwaj ji or @virtual_opinion but still posting: 😊 https://t.co/rDKfaLADsm (Source)

Patricia Reed "The Power of Now", by Eckhart Tolle, as well as "A New Earth". Understanding the ego, and being able to separate it from self, is a powerful thing. It has changed my outlook on people and situations, and made me able to see my inner critic for what it is, and choose how I want to engage or respond to situations. (Source)

Catherine Molloy I am an experiential learner I need to see it, feel it, etc. so the book must move me to do something, feel something. With A New Earth I even read snippets to my students as I have experienced a lot of these concepts and write and train in similar concepts. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari | 4.17

Richard Branson One example of a book that has helped me to #ReadToLead this year is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. While the book came out a few years ago now, I got around to it this year, and am very glad I did. I’ve always been fascinated in what makes humans human, and how people are constantly evolving, changing and growing. The genius of Sapiens is that it takes some daunting,... (Source)

Reid Hoffman A grand theory of humanity. (Source)

Barack Obama eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',164,'0','1'])); Fact or fiction, the president knows that reading keeps the mind sharp. He also delved into these non-fiction reads. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Can't Hurt Me

Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds

David Goggins | 4.16

top 10 books for self development

Joe Rogan David Goggins is a being of pure will and inspiration. Just listening to this guy talk makes you want to run up a mountain. I firmly believe people like him can change the course of the world just by inspiring us to push harder and dig deeper in everything we do. His goal to be 'uncommon amongst uncommon people' is something we can all use to propel ourselves to fulfill our true potential. I'm a... (Source)

Barbara Oakley This week’s astonishing book is Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, by David Goggins. David grew up in an unbelievably tough environment with a deeply abusive father. He experienced prejudice and poverty, and suffered learning difficulties that left him graduating from high school barely able to read or do math. He became a depressed, overweight young man with an attitude. But... (Source)

Wes Gray @davidgoggins , excited to hear you will be at @LTRaceSeries alongside the CAF team. Myself, @patrickcleary01 and @RyanPKirlin look forward to the challenge and we'll see you there. We all love your book and thanks for signing our copies! (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Creative Living Beyond Fear

Elizabeth Gilbert | 4.16

Mark Manson I read a bunch of books on writing before I wrote my first book and the two that stuck with me were Stephen King’s book and “On Writing Well” by Zinsser (which is a bit on the technical side). I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic.” (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Give and Take

A Revolutionary Approach to Success

Adam Grant | 4.16

top 10 books for self development

Susan Cain As brilliant as it is wise, this is not just a book—it’s a new and shining worldview. (Source)

Tony Hsieh Defines a road to success marked by new ways of relating to colleagues and customers as well as new ways of growing a business. (Source)

Arianna Huffington “I love [this book], which shows that givers get ahead and nice guys don’t finish last. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

John Gray | 4.16

Once upon a time Martians and Venusians met, fell in love, and had happy relationships together because they respected and accepted their differences. Then they came to Earth and amnesia set in: they forgot they were from different planets.

Based on years of successful counseling of couples and individuals, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus has helped millions of couples transform their relationships. Now viewed as a modern classic, this phenomenal book has helped men and women realize how different they really are and how to communicate their needs in such a way that...

Based on years of successful counseling of couples and individuals, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus has helped millions of couples transform their relationships. Now viewed as a modern classic, this phenomenal book has helped men and women realize how different they really are and how to communicate their needs in such a way that conflict doesn't arise and intimacy is given every chance to grow!!!!

top 10 books for self development

As a Man Thinketh

James Allen | 4.15

top 10 books for self development

Tony Robbins I’ve read this book more than a dozen times and often give it as a gift. (Source)

Shay Carl One of my favorite books. I think that we so undervalue the power of thought. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | 4.14

top 10 books for self development

Austin Kleon While re-reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s wonderful book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, I came across this passage on working crossword puzzles. I think he could just as well be talking about making blackout poems: "There is much to be said in favor of this popular pastime, which in its best form resembles the ancient riddle contests. It is inexpensive and portable, its challenges... (Source)

Tom Chatfield The notion of flow is the idea that there is a state that is characterised by complete immersion in an activity, by a constant response to stimuli, and a perfect match between your ability and the challenge in front of you. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Getting to Yes

Negotiating Agreement Without Giving in

Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, Bruce Patton | 4.14

Charles T. Munger recommends this title in the book "Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger". (Source)

Drew Houston About principled negotiation, and I still think about and apply a lot of those concepts today. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Travis Bradberry, Jean Greaves, Patrick M. Lencioni | 4.14

Stephen R. Covey Gives abundant, practical findings and insights with emphasis on how to develop EQ. Research shows convincingly that EQ is more important than IQ. (Source)

Patrick Lencioni This book can drastically change the way you think about success...read it twice. (Source)

Deke Bridges Current read... fascinating IQ vs EQ. Worthy book. #books #education #growth #LifeLessons @LeadersBest https://t.co/j0fjFstOWb (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius | 4.13

top 10 books for self development

Arianna Huffington I find [this book] so inspirational and instructive, it lives on my nightstand. (Source)

Chip Conley I have given [this book] away to a number of people. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Make Your Bed

Little Things That Can Change Your Life... And Maybe the World

Admiral William H. McRaven | 4.11

If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. I you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.

- From Admiral McRaven's University of Texas Commencement Speech

top 10 books for self development

Morgan Palmer My mother got me this little book. I’m in my 40s and she’s still telling me to make my bed! 😂 (j/k I love short books of life hacks) https://t.co/wTdptRtkvi (Source)

top 10 books for self development

So Good They Can't Ignore You

Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

Cal Newport | 4.11

Reid Hoffman Entrepreneurial professionals must develop a competitive advantage by building valuable skills. This book offers advice based on research and reality--not meaningless platitudes-- on how to invest in yourself in order to stand out from the crowd. An important guide to starting up a remarkable career. (Source)

Seth Godin Stop worrying about what you feel like doing (and what the world owes you) and instead, start creating something meaningful and then give it to the world. Cal really delivers with this one. (Source)

Daniel Pink Do what you love and the money will follow' sounds like great advice -- until it's time to get a job and disillusionment quickly sets in. Cal Newport ably demonstrates how the quest for 'passion' can corrode job satisfaction. If all he accomplished with this book was to turn conventional wisdom on its head, that would be interesting enough. But he goes further -- offering advice and examples that... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

How Non-Conformists Move the World

Adam Grant, Fred Sanders, Sheryl Sandberg | 4.11

Tony Hsieh It's always interesting just to learn different perspectives, but to be careful of not trying to just say, 'Oh this book is the Bible, and we should copy that,' [...] Instead, I want us t0 take the parts that make sense for Zappos and try to incorporate them." (Source)

Arianna Huffington A fascinating, eye-opening read that will help you not just recognize your own unique gifts, but find the strength to challenge conventional wisdom to bring them to life. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Girl, Wash Your Face

Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be

Rachel Hollis | 4.10

top 10 books for self development

Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

Richard H. Thaler | 4.10

top 10 books for self development

Dan Ariely Nudge is a very important book. One of the reasons Nudge is so important is because it’s taking these ideas and applying them to the policy domain. Here are the mistakes we make. Here are the ways marketers are trying to influence us. Here’s the way we might be able to fight back. If policymakers understood these principles, what could they do? The other important thing about the book is that it... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Eric Ries A pioneer in behavioral economics and just recently awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, his classic book on how to make better decisions. (Source)

Ryan Holiday This might feel like a weird book to include, but I think it presents another side of strategy that is too often forgotten. It’s not always about bold actors and strategic thrusts. Sometimes strategy is about subtle influence. Sometimes it is framing and small tweaks that change behavior. We can have big aims, but get there with little moves. This book has excellent examples of that kind of... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Willpower Instinct

How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It

Kelly McGonigal | 4.10

top 10 books for self development

Made to Stick

Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Chip Heath, Dan Heath | 4.10

top 10 books for self development

Cristian-Dragos Baciu I highly recommend all the books written by the Heath brothers, especially Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive And Others Die. This one's a must-read for marketers. The reason I enjoyed their work so much is because they offer real-life stories and insights that makes it so much easier for the reader to imprint that information in his mind (Source)

Tudor Mihailescu First thing first, finance people need to be decent communicators, ideally awesome communicators. There is an art in building a case or in delivering a presentation and we need to treat this step as seriously as we have treated the other steps. I do believe this is a top priority for an aspiring or practicing CFO - There are plenty of books on this topic, I would recommend the works of Chip and... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Steve Lance Made to Stick is about what makes a message memorable. Why is it that we can all say ‘Call me Ishmael’ and remember this opening line to Moby Dick, and yet none of us can say the second sentence. Made to Stick is a thoughtful, fact-based empirical study about this idea of stickiness. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

Anders-Ericsson | 4.10

top 10 books for self development

Seth Godin This book is a breakthrough, a lyrical, powerful, science-based narrative that actually shows us how to get better (much better) at the things we care about. (Source)

Sergey Sapelnyk PEAK by Anders Ericsson phenomenally explains how experts develop their skills. The author makes a profound claim: you can get significantly better at almost anything. This includes your job, a specific skill, or a hobby. From a career perspective, in most instances, the only barrier to personal development and success is effective effort. This book isn’t specific to a career, however it’s highly... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The 10x Rule

The Only Difference Between Success and Failure

Grant Cardone | 4.09

Mark Struczewski I love what Grant Cardone writes in The 10X Rule, "wouldn't coming up short on a 10X target accomplish more than coming up short on one-tenth of that goal?" In other words, he says it's better to fall short of a one million dollar goal than a $100,000 goal. (Source)

Haris Siddique I would say because it influenced me and created an imperial impact on my career path. An amazing book to read as it teaches you How to reprogram your mind in minutes to eliminate fears and phobia. Being a sales and marketing professional. I adopted many great changes in me and used some of the best techniques which are explained very well in this book by Grant Cardone. I would definitely... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Last Lecture

Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow, et al | 4.09

Gabriel Coarna I read "The Last Lecture" because I had seen Randy Pausch give this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Dare to Lead

Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.

Brené Brown | 4.09

top 10 books for self development

Sheryl Sandberg With Dare to Lead, Brené brings decades of research to bear in a practical and insightful guide to courageous leadership. This book is a road map for anyone who wants to lead mindfully, live bravely, and dare to lead. (Source)

Ed Catmull Brene visited Pixar to talk with our filmmakers. Her message was important, as movies are best when they come from a place of vulnerability, when the people who make them encounter setbacks and are forced to overcome them, when they are willing to have their asses handed to them. It is easy to sit back and talk about the values of a safe and meaningful culture, but extraordinarily difficult to... (Source)

Marie Forleo Don’t miss one of my favorite human beings @BreneBrown, discuss her book #DareToLead on this #MarieTV: this is for every one of us that wants to show up, contribute, and lean into our purpose 💪🏼💗 https://t.co/QVgSpZe9e9 (Source)

top 10 books for self development

First Things First

Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill | 4.08

Abid Zaidi Day 10: #30Days of posting cover of books I love (1 book a day for 30 days). No expectations, no reviews, just the covers. Inspired by @rekha_bhardwaj #MyFavouriteBooks https://t.co/zppiZGMPN2 (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Happiness Hypothesis

Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

Jonathan Haidt | 4.07

top 10 books for self development

David Brooks He argues that most of our moral decisions are that kind of an instant reaction. It’s like aesthetics: when we see a scene we know instantly if it’s beautiful or not. (Source)

Mike Benkovich Honourable Mentions: Four Hour Work Week, The Happiness Hypothesis, Meditations, Catch 22, A Guide To The Good Life. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Follow Them and People Will Follow You

John C. Maxwell | 4.07

top 10 books for self development

Lex Na Wei Ming I remember during the days when I was in National Service, between the ages of 19 to 21. I had a lot of time on my hands. I managed to stumble upon the author by the name of John C Maxwell. He was really popular during that period of time and he had so many good titles like “Developing the leader with you.”, “Today Matters.”, “The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.”. These series of books really... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Untethered Soul

The Journey Beyond Yourself

Michael A. Singer | 4.06

top 10 books for self development

Deepak Chopra eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',164,'0','1'])); In the book The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer takes you step-by-step through the process of Gyana, the yoga of the Intellect, to the Source. Moreover, he does it with elegant simplicity. Read this book carefully, and you will get more than a glimpse of eternity. (Source)

Ray Kurzweil East is East and West is West, but Michael A. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. Freud said that life was composed of love and work. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singer’s brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless... (Source)

James Altucher Michael moved to an empty patch of forest, set up his trailer, and started to meditate in the early 70s. He surrendered to whatever happened in his life. Well...what ended up happening is that he created a multi-billion dollar company. His book is about the spiritual beauty of surrender. And how that can go hand in hand with financial success. I was so astonished by the book that I contacted him... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Smarter Faster Better

The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

Charles Duhigg | 4.06

top 10 books for self development

Mike Benkovich Last year I read the book 'Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business' by Charles Duhigg. Look passed the click-baity title and you'll find one of the best books on productivity I've ever read... And I've read a lot of them. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Success Principles

How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer | 4.06

Jack Canfield, cocreator of the phenomenal bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul ® series, turns to the principles he's studied, taught, and lived for more than 30 years in this practical and inspiring guide that will help any aspiring person get from where they are to where they want to be.

The Success Principles â„¢ will teach you how to increase your confidence, tackle daily challenges, live with passion and purpose, and realize all your ambitions. Not merely a collection of good ideas, this book spells out the 64 timeless principles used by successful men and...

The Success Principles â„¢ will teach you how to increase your confidence, tackle daily challenges, live with passion and purpose, and realize all your ambitions. Not merely a collection of good ideas, this book spells out the 64 timeless principles used by successful men and women throughout history. Taken together and practiced every day, these principles will transform your life beyond your wildest dreams!

Filled with memorable and inspiring stories of CEOs, world-class athletes, celebrities, and everyday people, The Success Principles â„¢ will give you the proven blueprint you need to achieve any goal you desire.

top 10 books for self development

Randy Murray "One of the most powerful ways to learn anything is to teach it to others." @JackCanfield in his very helpful book The Success Principles. (Source)

Shaen Yeo The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. Distilling the principles into bite sized pieces showed me that anyone could succeed. It wasn't that people got lucky or that success is only for the deserving few, but that we could all share a piece of the pie, if we believed in it and took action. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Joseph Murphy | 4.05

The CEO Library Community (through anonymous form) One of the best 3 books I've read in 2019 (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Unfu*k Yourself

Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life

Gary John Bishop | 4.05

top 10 books for self development

Barnacules Nerdgasm This book was recommended to me by @RealJennJ originally and she has recommended some other amazing books also I'll share with you later. I never thought a book could have as positive of an impact on me as this one did. But it's like medicine, you need to revisit it over and over (Source)

top 10 books for self development

10% Happier

How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works

Dan Harris | 4.05

top 10 books for self development

Peter Attia Modulating hormones as necessary - we’ve not really talked about that. Fixing anything that needs to be fixed, on top of that pharmacologically, and I’m a huge proponent of pharmacotherapy under the right setting. The final component is managing your stress. So as a guy who’s thinking about this, I became really interested after actually reading Dan Harris’s book. (Source)

Chris Goward I remember reading 10% Happier by Dan Harris on one of my many flights to speak at a conference a couple years ago. I had been practicing meditation for a few years, and had tried to get deeper into learning about it, I struggled with the religious aspect many Buddhist authors brought, which seemed to bring more confusion than clarity. The way Dan described his process of skepticism and discovery... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Veronica Belmont Made me totally rethink mindfulness and meditation. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Nonviolent Communication

A Language of Life

Marshall B. Rosenberg, Deepak Chopra | 4.04

top 10 books for self development

Satya Nadella Upon becoming CEO, Nadella confronted Microsoft’s legendarily combative culture by urging his new reports to read this book, which preaches the power of empathy, self-awareness, and authenticity in collaboration in the workplace, at home, and beyond. Like many of his favorites, it was first recommended to him by his wife, Anu: “I’m heavily influenced by the books she reads more than the books I... (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz Seek first to understand. (Source)

Esther Perel I think that this book is a classic for anyone who is thinking relationships. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren | 4.04

top 10 books for self development

Sergey Brin had “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer J. Adler as one of his most recommended books. (Source)

Ben Chestnut I also love How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler. I’m teaching its tips to my children while they’re young, so they can consume books much faster and have more fun reading. (Source)

Kevin Systrom [The author's] thesis is that the most important part of reading a book is to actually read the table of contents and familiarize yourself with the major structure of the book. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams and Reaching Your Destiny

Robin Sharma | 4.03

Shaen Yeo I have borrowed "The Monk who sold his Ferrari". I can't believe I have not gotten down to reading this book. I believe I will have lots to learn from it! (Source)

Iqbal Ameer The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma is a great read especially when I feel burnt out or when the business is going through hard times. This book made me realize that sometimes I need to prioritize myself before the business as my overall health will affect how I manage my team. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Predictably Irrational

The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

Dan Ariely | 4.02

top 10 books for self development

Nick Harkaway Predictably Irrational is an examination of the way in which we make decisions irrationally, and how that irrationality can be predicted. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Jonah Lehrer Dan Ariely is a very creative guy and was able to take this basic idea, that humans are irrational, and mine it in a million different directions. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Rising Strong

Brené Brown | 4.02

AnneMarie Schindler I just started Rising Strong by Brene Brown. I'm turning 35 this year, and emotional intelligence isn't something that comes naturally to me. Brown's previous books have always pushed me into a space that's uncomfortable and rewarding. As a wife, parent, and entrepreneur, I'm expecting the book to help uncover some blind spots in each of those roles. (Source)

Shaen Yeo Non-business - Rising Strong, because it is so real, vulnerable AND full of wise nuggets which inspire me to be resilient in my life. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Creativity, Inc.

Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Ed Catmull, Amy Wallace | 4.01

top 10 books for self development

Mark Zuckerberg This book is written by the founder of Pixar and is about his experience building a culture that fosters creativity. His theory is that people are fundamentally creative, but many forces stand in the way of people being able to do their best work. I love reading first-hand accounts about how people build great companies like Pixar and nurture innovation and creativity. This should be inspiring to... (Source)

Timothy Ferriss No matter your circumstances, storytelling and creativity are two 'meta-skills' that can take your business and life to the next level. Ed is a master. (Source)

Ezra Klein An amazing, amazing book. (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Braving the Wilderness

The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Brené Brown | 4.01

Cat Williams-Treloar This year when I read "Braving the Wilderness" by Brene Brown it had a tremendous impact on how I behaved as an entrepreneur. Coming from a corporate world where it's about the brand to a startup world where it's a brand with your face was scary. Brene Brown helped with my confidence. (Source)

Ashley Hathaway One thing I have learned is that some books don’t stick or I’m not ready for them at that time and that’s ok. Now if I get 50 or 100 pages in and lose interest I don’t struggle through the rest of it. I put it down and find another book. I try to just stick with books that I think about when I’m not reading. When I’m standing in line somewhere or walking and think “I wonder what’s next.” That’s a... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Talking to Strangers

What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.01

top 10 books for self development

Ryan Holiday I'll put here what I emailed Malcolm when I finished the book: "Just finished your new book in one sitting yesterday. So good. You are at the height of your powers and remain an inspiration to all of us trying to master an un-masterable profession." It's a little less practical or self-improvement oriented than his previous books, but far more thought provoking. (Source)

Nilofer Merchant An interesting analysis/ essay re Gladwell’s latest book —> https://t.co/5Ey1maNRyI (Source)

top 10 books for self development

The Slight Edge

Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness

Jeff Olson | 4.00

Nick Loper The Slight Edge - Consistent progress over time adds up to some compounding results. (Source)

Benjamin Spall From a business perspective, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is one of the best explorations on the importance (both in the positive and the negative) of the habits we do every day that I've ever read. (Source)

Catherine Plano Talks about what are those little things that we can do on a daily basis that have a high impact. Jeff talks about the importance of 'how' we do what we do. In other words, we can have this big audacious goal, dive into it and then leave it. So... the how is important because it’s those little daily things that build up to your end goal, it’s just that most individuals don't keep our ideas... (Source)

top 10 books for self development

Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

Joshua Foer | 4.00

top 10 books for self development

Bill Gates Of the five books I finished over vacation, the one that impressed me the most – and that is probably of broadest interest – is Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by science writer Joshua Foer. This is an absolutely phenomenal book that looks at memory and techniques for dramatically improving memory. Foer actually mastered these techniques, which led him to... (Source)

Chelsea Handler It has changed my life and made me embarrass myself much less when meeting someone twice. (Source)

Deborah Blum This book focuses not so much on the scientists but more on the consequence and meaning of memory for the rest of us. Within the framework of a memory championship, Foer looks at this almost obsessive interest in learning, how to remember everything. He asks the really interesting philosophical question, which is, are we defined by what we remember? (Source)

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  • Entertainment

Top 13 Best Self Improvement Books to Win at Life (2023 Edition)

We all want to be happy and win in this life , and self improvement books can be a vital catalyst for many such victories.

Self-help books contain precious nuggets penned by experts and people who love to share strategies that worked for them. You can glean wisdom from them to catapult you to your next level in life.

Self improvement books

Whether it’s a battle with depression, a marriage in the doldrums, parenting challenges, or a dilemma over a career choice. Name it. A therapeutic self-help book will prove almost as valuable as a life coach.

With so many books in print, choosing the right self-help book can be a problem added to the one you’re trying to solve. But don’t worry. We’ll help you navigate through the maze of multiple publications and offer you the finest selection of the best self improvement books for men and women alike.

How we picked the best self improvement books

Type in “the best self-help books” on Amazon. What do you get? Pages and pages of books promising to help you help yourself. At this point, you’re probably spoilt for choice. And rightly so. There are so many options to pick from, right?

Unfortunately, not all the options are great reads. Some are a collection of recycled information regurgitated in a non-inspiring way. Some promise but deliver air. And some are more demoralizing than they are empowering.

Related Reading: How to Make Friends as an Adult

Thankfully, we’re here to help you sift the wheat from the chaff.

  • Picking a self-improvement book depends on the problem you’re trying to solve. There are texts dedicated to solving money problems, others offer guidance on love matters and some speak on family issues among other areas. So before you make your purchase, ascertain that the self improvement book addresses your concerns.
  • Next, conduct a background check on the authors to verify their experience, background, or professional expertise on the subject matter. For instance, a book authoritatively promising to make you a millionaire, authored by a person reeling from bankruptcy should be a red flag.
  • Lastly, pick a book written in a style suitable for your consumption. Grasp a book whose content delivery is easy to understand, relatable, and the examples or principles applicable. Look out for content that’s actionable, fluff-free, and that has valuable reviews from an authentic audience.

Top Self Improvement Books

Here’s our list of the top 13 proven confidence boosters from some of the best self-help authors. Sit back, read and enjoy.

#1 – If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy? – Raj Raghunathan

If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy_ - Raj Raghunathan

This mind-opening book is based on research. Research that attempts at answering the time-honored question, if you’re smart, why aren’t you happy.

Raj analyzed his old MBA classmates’ lives fifteen years after their graduation to find out whether their academic success translated to career success . The results showed pretty little correlation between the two.

He went further to investigate whether career success led to “life success” or happiness. He discovered the relationship here was even more dismal. Hence begging the question, “Why are men so successful in business yet not happy?”

People generally presume that intelligent people are capable of making better decisions in life. Decisions that should lead to a happier life. But the reality, according to Raj’s findings, was proving otherwise.

He delves into seven common tendencies that successful people need to be wary of and proposes seven alternative habits they need to embrace.

The author concludes that generosity and appreciating uncertainty can go a long way in boosting your happiness. He also asserts that success rarely determines one’s level of happiness.

Get this self improvement book for fresh perspectives on how to enjoy a happier life today.

#2 – Make Your Bed – Admiral William H. McRaven

Make Your Bed - Admiral William H. McRaven

The book sprung from a Texas University graduation speech that hit the social media scene like a wild bushfire.

Admiral Willian H. McRaven is a retired navy seal who makes a passionate argument drawn from accessible and relatable examples on the building blocks to a successful life.

He emphasizes how the little conquest through the mundane tasks of everyday life builds up to your holistic success.

The book’s approach is compassionate and realistic. He encourages you to conquer the little things, like making your bed, to step out in confidence on the path to success. The approach demystifies success as an unattainable ideal in the distant future making it accessible to everyone who dares to try.

The book lists 10 simple tasks that can change you and possibly impact the world. You can change the world one step at a time, with the first step at your bedside.

A good read for anyone seeking inspiration and victory in everyday life.

#3 – Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones – James Clear

Atomic Habits_ An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones - James Clear

Old habits die hard. But not so hard for James Clear .

In Atomic Habits, he draws a clear roadmap to breaking free from old habits and establishing a successful routine.

A proven expert in habit development, Clear employs scientific reality sprinkled with a generous amount of humor to help you understand how to break free from old habits.

He provides practical tips for breaking free from a toxic habit and how to adopt a more desirable habit.

Embracing a new mindset towards the habit you intend to obliterate from your life is crucial. Whether it’s the need to adopt a new diet, fitness routine, or to quit drinking or smoking, he proposes a better way at attaining a breakthrough.

His approach is both practical and persuasive.

It’s not that your goals are unattainable, or that you’re incapable of reaching your desired peak performance. It’s the system you’re using to reach them that needs fixing.

James Clear makes a compelling case for his strategy using an assortment of case studies from accomplished olympian sportsmen, global business magnates, successful comedians, and world-class physicians.

Read with caution; you might never be the same again.

#4 – How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends & Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie’s masterpiece How to Win Friends & Influence People has sold over 45 million copies since it was published in 1936. There must be a compelling case for the text to remain so popular ever since.

Carnegie’s main point is to be good to people and you’ll be likable and have influence over them. Sounds rather pedestrian. Doesn’t it?

He goes ahead to demonstrate how that actually works. That’s where the rubber meets the road. In this text that concentrates classical wisdom, Dale unlocks principles for creating influence and impact that seem hidden in plain sight. He encourages people not to criticize, condemn, or complain in order to be likable.

Dale furnishes you with 6 rules that will make people like you and 12 tips on making people follow your way of thinking. He then suggests 9 ways to influence people to do what you want them to do willingly.

By changing your habits, happier life at home, in the office, managing a team, in business, or politics is within reach.

Warren Buffet is one of the beneficiaries of Dale’s wisdom which he credits for success in his life and business.

Dale’s admonitions were brewed in the pot of real-life experience as a successful businessman. He was a proficient speaker and a prolific salesman.

This book is one of the greatest bestsellers of all time ; a must-read.

#5 – Declutter Your Mind – S. J. Scott and Barrie Davenport

Declutter Your Mind - S. J. Scott and Barrie Davenport

A masterpiece on how to dispel negative thinking and create room in your mind for positive vibes.

This book is best suited for those whose lives are typified by endless worrying. Scott and Barrie draw their reasoning from a scientific backdrop to conclude that your anxieties are offsprings of a cluttered mind.

The authors prescribe practical steps you can take to declutter your mind. You begin by focussing on those aspects of your life that deserve your attention; set your priorities right. You proceed to declutter your mind by waving off your mind those thoughts that do not warrant your concern.

The reason you’re bogged down in thought, worry, and stress is because the mind is cluttered with unnecessary items that need to be hurled over to the trash bag. By learning to apply these principles, you free up “free” space in your mind for inner peace. With such a mindset you can stay calm and make better decisions in life.

An essential resource to teach you how to eliminate the unnecessary mental load of worry and anxiety…together with its accompanying emotional consequences.

#6 – Beyond Mars and Venus – John Gray

Beyond Mars and Venus - John Gray (self improvement book)

“ Beyond Mars and Venus ” is John Gray’s follow-up book to his 1992 classical book on relationships, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”. The book stands out as one of the best self improvement books ever written on relationships.

Although the mainstay of the book is romantic relationships, the understanding of how women and men uniquely communicate has found application in formal business communication.

Over time, relationships have evolved. The traditional definitions of men and women in relationships have undergone certain levels of change. This book by John Gray attempts to make updates on these changes.

Women are learning to optimize their masculine capabilities while men are also learning to tap into their feminine potential. These complexes bring with them fresh challenges as partners in a romantic relationship are no just seeking a “role mate” but a “soul mate”.

A man will learn the art of being better at romance while being more thoughtful and dependable to his partner.

#7 – Awaken the Giant Within – Tonny Robbins

Awaken the Giant Within - Tonny Robbins' self improvement book

Tonny Robbins is a world-famous motivational speaker, author, coach, and philanthropist. He is a self-help master wizard.

Robbins has a way around provoking you to greatness. That’s why his books are hot cake. Wildly popular. Among the best self improvement books you could ever read.

The pages of this book are an invitation to greatness by calling you out from a slumber of mediocrity. A proven peak performance guru, and internationally sought speaker, Tonny demonstrates what you need to do to have the steering wheel over your emotions, finances, body, and relationships.

The techniques to unlocking the best that you can be are practical and effective. In this step-by-step guide, you will discover what you’re here for, and you’ll take charge of your life, and be an active participant in your destiny.

Take hold of life NOW.

#8 – Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – David Goggins

Can’t Hurt Me_ Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds - David Goggins

David Goggin ’s very life is inspirational having come from a background of extreme poverty and painful abuse. He has emerged from the shadows to become a powerful motivational speaker and author who not only tells us it can be done but demonstrates how in this read that’s perhaps one of the best self-improvement books.

David is a bundle of endurance, resilience, and motivation. He’s a great marathoner and a retired navy seal. The virtues he exhibits seem contagious as you devour the contents of this inspirational book.

This book will shock you off any self-pity cocoon and stretch you up to overcome the limitations of a twisted-world.

#9 – Get out of Your Own Way – Dr. Mark Goulston and co-author Philip Goldberg

Get out of Your Own Way - Dr. Mark Goulston Self improvement book

Deal a death blow to your self-limiting habits. Here’s the weapon.

Dr. Mark Goulston , a psychiatrist, and Philip Goldberg hand you actionable tips that have been tried and tested.

Through the pages of this self improvement book, they help you overcome 40 self-defeating behaviors and come out victorious. By tackling common issues that we all face on a day-to-day basis, the text is practical, relevant, and relatable.

Some of the vices that the book helps you confront include fear, procrastination, lethargy, self-pity, anger, guilt, obsession, rebellion, jealousy, and many more.

#10 – The Man in the Mirror: Solving the 24 Problems Men Face – Patrick M. Morley

The Man in the Mirror_ Solving the 24 Problems Men Face - Patrick M. Morley

This award-winning book has remained a timeless gem since it was first published in 1989. With over 4 million copies in print, it’s definitely an indispensable resource worth reading.

Drawing many of his lessons from Biblical references, Patrick M Morley urges men to have a look at themselves in the mirror with a view of fixing whatever areas fall short. As you look into the mirror and make amendments, you become a better man in the family and society.

Patrick zooms in on 24 specific problem areas for men. With insightful wisdom and practical tips, he helps men confront wide-ranging issues that are common landmines for men; finances, making choices, accountability, temperamental challenges, and handling broken relationships.

As you read this book, you’ll appreciate why it’s appeared on the bestseller list close to 20 times with over 4 million copies in print.

#11 – You are a Badass – Jen Sincero

You are a Badass - Jen Sincero

Jen delivers this refreshing 27- chapter-guide spiced up with humor. As you get entertained, you’re getting made into this awesome person who takes charge of their lives.

The book digs deep touching on insecurities and their root causes.

Create the kind of life you’d like to live. Learn to embrace with humility the things that you can’t change while working on those things you’d rather not live with.

At the end of the day, the book, one of the best self improvement books in the market, will help you realize more personal success and satisfaction, as you boost your earnings. Who wouldn’t want that?

#12 – Who Moved my Cheese? – Spencer Johnson

Who Moved my Cheese_ - Spencer Johnson

A fun-filled golden-oldie with an interesting twist on managing change. Anyone going through any major change in life must have this book .

The simple story brings out profound revelation about change. It revolves around 4 characters living in a maze, which depicts our world. They’re busy chasing around for cheese to stay happy. The cheese is an equivalent of the daily necessities we seek after; money, power, relationships, job, status, and the like.

The gist of the story is based on their reaction when unanticipated changes deprive them of their cheeses. Profound lessons can be learned from their reactions to help us cope wi8th changes in our everyday lives.

The only thing that’s constant in our fast-paced world is change. The book provides an excellent lesson in change management.

Rather than dwell on the past, identify change and prepare for it so that you make the most out of it with less stress.

#13 – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey

A timeless classic by Stephen R. Covey buttressed on solid principles that have stood the test of time.

You’ll thank yourself for getting the insights propounded by Covey for confronting and solving personal and professional challenges.

The book centers on an inward quality that produces a positive habit. The focus is on increasing an individual’s effectiveness thus making them more successful in life.

Covey lays down seven habits that if well employed can propel any individual to success. The principles are: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; prioritizing first things first; embracing a win-win mindset; endeavoring to understand others first than to be understood; synergizing; sharpening the saw.

It’s a step after step roadmap to living a dignified life characterized by fairness and virtue.

Parting words

While merely reading a book cannot automatically change you and make your life better, the best self-improvement books have a way of stirring within you the urge to get up and take action to improve yourself.

Have you read any of these books that we’ve listed above? How did it impact your life? Share with us in the comment section below. And feel free to recommend any other great self-help book we may have missed on our list.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey

You’re right. That Atomic Habit is a powerful book. I ended up here reading your comment just after I finished reading the book, and plan to continue my reading habit in the future

He mentioned good books. But, there is no place for Brian Tracy’s books in this list. Eat that frog Time Management

At the moment, I’m reading Atomic Habits book, by James Clear. I’ve also decided to make reading a habit and researching for books to read led me here.

Mostly I wanted to leave a comment so I can thank you for this perfect article. It was exactly what I was looking. A list of great self improvement books with explanation on how you come up with the list and what each books focuses on.

So thank you for doing hard work and researching this instead of me, Catherine Nyorani, and thank you thecoolist!

Very good article. The Aware Self: A Compendium Of Conscious Living is another great self-help book. Different from the rest.

Have you read my recently released book, “I’m Old, I’m Wise & I Know My Sh*t”? I was an agony aunt for 7 years as part of my duties as magazine editor. The tear-stained letters I received 20 years ago are still relevant today. Which was why I wrote this book and rewrote it 21 times. Could you vet my book? ISBN 9789390924769. Published in India by Amaryllis, English wing of Manjul Publishing House, which has signed a contract with me to publish a Hindi translation.

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Book Reviews

The 27 Best Books about Self Development: The Beginner’s Guide

June 20 |  0 comments

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Written by   Terencio White

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I dedicate this blog to providing information, insights, and instructions for improving your life. Whether you're new to self development or have been following the path for some time now, this blog has a book for you.

What is self development?

Self development is growing your own skills, knowledge, and talents. We can do it in a variety of ways - through reading books, attending seminars, taking online courses, or practicing regularly.

The best way to find what works best for you is to experiment and find what gets you the results you're looking for. Keep in mind that self development is a lifelong journey, and there is always something to be learned!

The different levels of self development

Self development is a journey that starts with self-awareness and ends with personal fulfilment. We can describe it in various ways–from self-improvement to personal growth. However, the different levels of self development have their own benefits and drawbacks.

If you're not sure where to start, try starting with the least intense level and work your way up as you feel comfortable. Remember that the key is to find what works best for you and to stick with it–even when it gets tough. With self development, you'll be able to achieve your goals and reach your full potential!

What are the benefits of self development?

Self development is developing and improving your personal abilities and skills. It can help you relieve stress, grow as a person, and achieve your goals faster. There are many self-development programs out there, but the best way to find the right one for you is to work today!

Once you work on self-development, you'll soon realize that it has many benefits that you never expected. You'll be able to learn new things quickly and improve your skills significantly.

Plus, self-development is a great way to connect with people from all over the world, and develop strong social skills. So what are you waiting for? Start work on your self-development programs today!

How can you implement self development techniques in your life?

Self development is all about growing and learning to become the best version of yourself. There are many ways to achieve this, from reading books to taking courses online.

Ultimately, it is up to you how you want to develop yourself - do what makes you happy and fulfil your goals. Whether you are looking for a way to improve your personal relationships, increase your productivity at work, or simply feel more fulfilled in your life, self-development can help you achieve these goals.

So don't wait any longer - start implementing self development techniques today and see the incredible results for yourself!

How does self development work?

Self development is a process done on your own or with the help of a coach or tutor. The benefits of self development depend on what you choose to focus on, but they are always positive.

Some benefits you may experience from self-help books include personal growth, career development, better self-esteem, and increased self-awareness.

Self development is a journey that leads to continuous personal growth and learning. It is an essential part of life, and it's important to start it now so that you can enjoy all the benefits of the future.

The 27 Best Self Development Books for Right Now

The Best Self development books can be a great way to improve your life in several ways. They can help you grow and learn in the areas of personal growth, happiness, and stress relief. To decide of which self-development books to read easier, the 27 best self-development books for right now have curated for you.

These self-help books are to provide you with the best advice and guidance on how to improve your life. So, whether you're looking for self-help or want to read something that will make you laugh and cry, these books are for you!

1. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - Best for spiritual awakening

top 10 books for self development

Eckhart Tolle's book "A Guide to the Now" talks about our true essence. It is that which exists beyond the mind. It transcends time and space. Meditation is key to accessing the Now.

What are the key takeaways of the book?

In order for us to live in the now, we must release our analytical mind. This analytical mind causes most of our suffering. The analytical mind is constantly thinking about the past or the future with the constant need for more. We need to detach from this analytical mind. We attain this detachment through practicing mindfulness .

2. The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh

top 10 books for self development

Thich Nhat Hanh offers profound meditations that expand our view of existence, our connections, and our interconnectivity with the surroundings. Thich Nhat Hanh discusses how these seven meditations may free us to live a joyful, calm, and active life, and cope with aging and death with curiosity and pleasure while avoiding dread by drawing on personal experiences.

Key takeaway of the book

The Art of Living provides a spiritual dimension to our lives, combining the essence of the Buddha's teachings with Thich Nhat Hanh's heartfelt, timeless, and clarifying prose. This is not a quest for everlasting life or to live in a fantasy realm beyond reality.

This way, we'll be able to see where we've come from and where we're going. So that we may live fully in each present moment of our existence, it will also stimulate joy, comprehension, and love.

3. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

top 10 books for self development

The Four Agreements are based on ancient Toltec wisdom and provide a powerful code of conduct that may quickly change our lives in a new direction of freedom, authentic joy, and love.

The knowledge of the ancient Toltecs has been the focus of Don Miguel Ruiz's life. He has guided others toward personal freedom for over two decades. Through excursions to holy sites across the globe, he continues to blend his distinct combination of ancient wisdom and current-day awareness.

What is the key message of The Four Agreements?

"The Toltec Way offers us the opportunity to put an end to our suffering and inner conflicts. By applying The Four Agreements, we can become a source of joy in the world."

What are the four agreements in The Four Agreements?

  • Be impeccable with your word–Speak only truth
  • Take nothing personally–Nothing you say is a criticism of me
  • Don’t make assumptions about people -They are not better than you, nor are they worse than you
  • Always do your best–Your effort will serve as bright proof that there is an intelligent and caring Creator who cares for each of us.

What are some benefits of practicing each agreement in The Four Agreements?

  • We can see everything from a different perspective
  • We could avoid many conflicts in life by knowing how we react without our thoughts getting involved
  • You will hurt no one’s feelings anymore with your words or actions when you practice the fourth agreement and always do your best.

4.Whatever It Takes by Brandon Bornancin - Best for Millenials

top 10 books for self development

Brandon Bornancin was a college grad who had no money. He created an epic flop enterprise. He also created two billion-dollar businesses, the second of which was dubbed "LinkedIn's top 50 startups," before he was 30 years old.

How did he do it? By any means necessary.

You'll learn the winning beliefs and life-transforming habits required to achieve anything you desire in business and in life with this no-nonsense guide to success. You'll learn the techniques of exceptionally successful individuals, including how they think, what they say, and what they do to make their ambitions a reality.

  • Learn how to think like a winner
  • Find success through personal discipline and hard work
  • Create habits that will help you achieve your goals

5. Atomic Habits by James Clear - Best for changing habits

top 10 books for self development

Uniting the latest breakthroughs from neuroscience with the most inspiring ideas from philosophy, psychology, and behavior change, Atomic Habits presents an easy-to-understand guide for creating habits that stick and eliminating those that don't.

One of the greatest hurdles in developing good habits, and breaking bad ones, is building a welcoming environment for change in your life. The self-control strategies in this book will help you build new habits, break old ones, and forge lasting behavioral change.

  • Habits are more than just doing things, they're also about making them consistent
  • You can't change what you don't acknowledge
  • It's not about willpower, it's about understanding the power of habits and how to use it to your advantage

6. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary RESULTS by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan - Best for goal setting

top 10 books for self development

People are using this simple, powerful concept to focus on what matters most in their personal and work lives. Companies are helping their employees be more productive with study groups, training, and coaching . Sales teams are boosting sales. Churches are conducting classes and recommending for their members.

What are the key takeaways from the book?

  • The One Thing is the most important thing
  • Change one thing and everything else changes automatically
  • You can't do it all. Delegate and focus on what you're good at
  • Make a commitment to yourself and then keep it
  • Get clear about your goal, set measurable milestones along the way, celebrate progress (even if small), and don't give up

7. How To Win Friends And Influence People By Dale Carnegie

top 10 books for self development

"To be interesting, be interested." - Dale Carnegie

This enlightening self-book offers a detail study of how a person can be interesting. The ideas presented here will help one become more personable and influential.

  • Don't Criticize.
  • Engage In The Other Person's Interests.
  • Talk In Terms of The Other People's Interest.
  • Remember Names.
  • Become Genuinely Interested In Other People.
  • Avoid Arguments.

8. You are a Badass By Jen Sincero

top 10 books for self development

You Are a Badass, compels with humor, inspiration, and advice that will teach you how to do things the right way.

Each bite-sized chapter contains stories, sage advice, simple exercises, and swear word optional, all of which are helpful in helping you become a more successful individual.

Whether you're studying for an exam or wanting to get ahead at work, these tips will have you on your way to being a badass for sure!

  • Learn how to become fearless and self-assured
  • Stop apologizing for who you are
  • Build better habits and break bad ones
  • Embrace change, even when it's scary

9."The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" By Mark Manson

top 10 books for self development

A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life" (first released in 2016), expands on these ideas and teaches readers how to live their lives without giving a f*ck about what other people think or say.

This allows you to focus on what matters most, your own happiness, which ultimately makes you happier overall.

  • Not caring isn't the same as being totally indifferent.
  • To stop caring about trivialities, you need to care about something more important.
  • Consciously or unconsciously, you are constantly choosing what to care or not care about.

10. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking By Malcolm Gladwell

top 10 books for self development

Blink is a book about choices that appear to be solved in an instant—in the blink of an eye—but are actually much more difficult than they seem. Why are some people's good decision-makers, while others are poor?

  • We make snap decisions all the time, based on a small amount of information ( such as a first impression or an instinctive feeling), which Gladwell refers to as "thin slicing."
  • We mistrust these decisions. However, Gladwell argues that we're often wrong, and this can shortchange our lives in innumerable ways. We're rarely in the moment, even when we should be.

You may also like: Can Personal Development Book Inspire Greatness?

11. Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman

top 10 books for self development

Thinking Fast and Slow is a book of prose written by Nobel Laureate David Kahneman about how our thinking broken into two systems: one fast and one slow.

  • The fast system is intuitive and emotional, while the slow system is more logical and analytical.
  • Personal experience biases thinking in the fast system and can be unreliable.
  • Thinking in the slow system is more aim and less influenced by personal factors.
  • This book offers insights into how people make poor decisions, why we are difficult to influence, and how self-control works.

In Thinking Fast and Slow, Kahneman explains how these two systems affect our judgment, making us more prone to errors in judgment, more subject to biases, and more apt to decide based on emotion rather than reason.

12."The 4-Hour Workweek" by Timothy Ferriss

top 10 books for self development

The 4-Hour Workweek is a book written by Timothy Ferriss. The book, published in 2007, details how he went from a full-time job working 80 hours a week to a part-time job working 4 hours a week.

  • The key to success is to work less and achieve the same or better results.
  • By working fewer hours, you can soar to your quality of life.
  • You don't need a lot of money or special skills to work this way; all you need is creativity and determination.

13. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking By Susan Cain

top 10 books for self development

This book to highlights the problems of introverts in the society and to explain why introverts are undervalued. She has also written this book to highlight the problems of society and to show how introverts often cannot express themselves and their needs and wants. She has written this book to show the positive side of introverts and to highlight the advantages of being an introvert.

What was the key takeaway of the book?

  • Introverts need to value their own strengths rather than conforming to the societal norms.

14. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th Anniversary Edition (The Covey Habits Series)

top 10 books for self development

The book should provide a framework for achieving personal and professional excellence, and to encourage readers to act and think in a positive and productive manner. The idea of the book is to help readers learn how to recognize the habits, or habits of highly effective people.

The habits of highly effective people are:

  • Be Proactive: Act first, then react; plan your work and work your plan.
  • Put First Things First: The first and the last of a person’s priorities should be self-improvement. "The way to get good things done is to start by getting good things started."
  • Think win-win: "It’s good to be self-confident, but self-confidence without self-knowledge is a dangerous thing."
  • Seek first to understand, then to be understood: This means you should listen carefully before giving your opinion and people will appreciate the fact that you really heard them.
  • Synergize: When people work together, they accomplish more than when they try to accomplish the same task individually.
  • Be Proactive: "Never let people know what you are thinking." And “If people cannot hear your ideas, it’s probably because they have to work too hard to listen.”
  • Sharpen the Saw: "A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week."

15. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

top 10 books for self development

"The 48 Laws of Power" is a book about the application of power in people's lives. It is about how power and influence apply to both personal and social gain. It is about how to access, use, and exercise power to accomplish goals.

The 48 Laws of Power are not laws per se, but principles and behaviors which are used by those who have power. They are not black and white, but shades of grey that can manipulate others.

What are some of the key takeaways of the book?

  •  It is essential to know the rules of the game and how to play with them.
  • Power comes from knowing your opponents and understanding their motivations.
  • Never outshine the master.
  • Win through your actions, never through argument.
  • When asking for help, appeal to people's self-interest, never to their mercy.

16. Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial by Tony Robbins

top 10 books for self development

"Awaken the Giant Within" is a self-help book by Tony Robbins . It was first published in 1999 and has since translated into over 30 languages. It discusses how to use personal development techniques, such as visualization, affirmations , and self-talk to change one's life for the better. 

This book is popular among people who are looking for personal change, emotional stability, physical health, and financial prosperity.

  • If a person is to change for the better, it is necessary to take conscious control of their mindset and self-talk.
  • Learning how to empower people and influence others takes time and practice.

17. Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

top 10 books for self development

"Can't Hurt Me" is a self-help book written by David Goggins. The book discusses how to use personal development techniques, such as visualization, affirmations , and self-talk, to improve one's life.

The book is popular among people who are looking for ways to increase their mental well-being, emotional stability, physical health, and financial prosperity.

  • Personal development techniques are effective if used correctly.
  • A person's mindset is the key to success.
  • It takes time and effort to change one's life for the better.

18. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

top 10 books for self development

"The Alchemist" is a self-help book written by Paulo Coelho. The book discusses the journey of Santiago, a young man who sets out to find his fortune.

Along the way, Santiago meets people who help him learn how to use personal development techniques, such as visualization and self-talk, to achieve his goals.

  • The journey of self-improvement is often difficult, but rewarding.
  • Follow your heart's desires.
  • Although you may fail, learn to see your mistakes as stepping stones towards your success.
  • Be present at every moment. You'll see the signs the universe has in store.

19. Principles by Ray Dalio

top 10 books for self development

Dalio discusses what he has learned throughout his extraordinary career in Principles. He claims that rules may simplify life, management, economics, and investing in the same way that computers can.

Dalio lays out the most effective ways for people and organizations to decide, approach challenges, and build strong teams in the book's hundreds of practical lessons, which are built around his cornerstones of "radical truth" and "radical transparency."

  • Surround yourself with great people that don't always have your perspective.
  • Strong employees are difficult to find. Provide additional incentive that most would offer to keep them at your company.
  • Your culture should understand that it's okay to make mistakes but unacceptable not to learn from them.

20. Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness By Vex King

top 10 books for self development

Self-love is the key to unlocking your greatness. According to Vex King, author of Good Vibes, Good Life, self-love is the key to transforming negative emotions into positive ones and living a greater life.

Besides being an inspirational message for anyone looking for a change in their life, King's book provides practical advice on how to love yourself and live a better one.

  • Self-love is the key to unlocking your greatness.
  • Be your best version. You are competing with your version of yesterday.
  • Start your day be being grateful for all you have, even if it's not much.
  • Your longest relationship is with yourself. Learning how to manage yourself well will transfer into all relationships.

21. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! By Robert Kiyosaki.

top 10 books for self development

In Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki tells the story of his two dads—his real father and his best friend, the man who helped him learn about money and investments.

Both men had different ideas about how to make money and invest it, but what they had in common was their belief in using money as a tool for wealth development.

  • Robert explains how your residence may not be an asset on its own, debunking the myth that being born into a wealthy family is all you need to become wealthy.
  • He also explains why certain assets are more valuable than others, and why understanding these differences is key to becoming financially independent.

22. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience By Brene Brown

top 10 books for self development

If you're looking for a book that will help you understand and improve your connection to yourself and others, Atlas of the Heart is a great read. Brown covers eighty-seven human emotions, providing science-backed information on what each one means.

She also offers helpful tips for expressing and understanding these feelings in both personal and professional settings. If you're interested in deepening your understanding of emotions, this book is definitely worth adding to your shelf!

  • Brown identifies the five essential elements of emotional intelligence and explains how to cultivate each one. She also provides tips for self-care and self-development, including strategies for managing stress and reducing anxiety.

23. Make your Bed by Admiral William McRaven

top 10 books for self development

Make your bed is one of the simplest things you can do to improve your quality of life. Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired Navy SEAL and author of Make Your Bed, outlines ten basic tasks that will help you transform your life and possibly the world.

What are some key takeaways of the book?

  • Making your bed every day can improve your mood and stress levels
  • Putting your clothes in the correct drawer can boost self-esteem
  • Showering regularly not only hygienically but also mentally and spiritually

24.12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos By Jordan B. Peterson

top 10 books for self development

Jordan B. Peterson’s new book, 12 Rules for Life, is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their life. The book is based on Peterson’s clinical work and tells young people how to achieve personal betterment through discipline and good habits.

The rules are simple but effective, and can help young people enjoy their lives while also avoiding unnecessary human suffering.

  • Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
  • Treat Yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.
  • Make Friends with people who want the best for you.

25. Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life By Jim Kwik

top 10 books for self development

Limitless by Jim Kwik is a comprehensive guide that will help you learn anything faster, with greater focus and recall. By following his advice, you'll be on your way to reaching your remarkable goals in life.

  • Take the time to learn and understand the basics of any subject
  • Master self-discipline and focus
  • Develop a personal strategy for studying
  • Remember to use effective study strategies, such as breaking down information into manageable chunks

26. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

top 10 books for self development

Big Magic is a book about discovering, finding, and living a creative life every day. Elizabeth Gilbert shows readers how to live a creative life in whatever form they choose. She is an author, wordsmith, and creativity chaser.

The author makes a point of emphasizing that creative living is not just for artists; it is for everyone, in whatever form of creative activity they may be interested in. It is intended to give motivation and support to readers who are hesitant to embrace creative living or the "Big Magic" day-to-day.

  • Creative people Live in the Now
  • You Are a Creative Being, and You Deserve to Know It
  • Every Day is an Opportunity for Creative Living
  • Create from What You Know

27. Think and Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill

top 10 books for self development

If you're looking to achieve financial stability and a life of happiness, then you should definitely consider Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich.

The author lays out a step-by-step plan for achieving success in all areas of your life, including money, relationships, and experiences.

By focusing on what's most important to you and taking action based on your goals, you can reach your full potential!

  • The only thing separating you from the riches you want is your own mind. You can actualize your desires into a monetary gain in the sense that you have control over the information you repeat to yourself, choose, and base decisions on.

Final Thoughts:

Self development is growing and improving your personal abilities in order to achieve your personal goals. It is a lifelong journey you may organize in any way that you choose.

The 27 best self-development books aimed at beginners offer a wealth of knowledge and insights that can help you on your self-development journey.

So, what are you waiting for? Start reading today and see what self-development offers you!

Some links on our blog may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them.

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10 personal development books to embark on a self-help safari in 2024

10 personal development books to embark on a self-help safari in 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of personal development, the quest for self-improvement is an eternal pursuit that goes beyond time and trends. The desire to unlock our full potential and develop a profound sense of well-being is a shared aspiration. In this era of constant change, where the world is shaped by rapid advancements in technology, global challenges, and an increasing awareness of mental health, the significance of personal development has never been so immense. Let us sift through the best personal development books to read in 2024.

Amidst this rapid evolution, it’s common to experience a sense of losing control. While we have manuals for appliances like dishwashers and cars , what we truly lack are guides on navigating our own lives. Fortunately, top-notch personal development books offer the tools and strategies—essentially, instruction manuals—that empower us to operate at our optimal levels.

12 of the best psychology books for beginners to understand the basics and more

Personal development books to read in 2024

Jump to / table of contents.

  • Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
  • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
  • The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
  • Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
  • The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
  • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
  • The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
  • Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
  • How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

This personal development book is a timeless masterpiece. Published in 1989, this influential book has stood the test of time, providing readers with profound insights into the principles that govern success and personal effectiveness . Covey outlines a transformative framework centred around seven habits that guide individuals on their journey to becoming highly effective. The book emphasises on the significance of proactively shaping one’s life based on principles and values rather than reacting to external circumstances. Covey’s holistic approach encourages readers to cultivate habits that transcend mere productivity, delving into personal growth, interpersonal relationships, and long-term success.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

This book is a transformative guide that transcends traditional notions of time and self. Tolle invites readers to break free from the shackles of past regrets and future anxieties, urging them to embrace the present moment as the key to true happiness and spiritual awakening . A blend of spiritual teachings and personal experiences, this personal development book explores the concept of mindfulness and the profound impact it can have on one’s life. The book encourages a shift in perspective, inviting readers to detach from the incessant chatter of the mind and connect with a deeper, more authentic sense of self. This seminal work continues to be a guiding light for those on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

This personal development book is a compelling exploration of the science behind habits and the remarkable impact they have on our lives. Duhigg delves into the neurology and psychology of habit formation, unraveling the intricate patterns that shape our behaviours, both positive and negative. The book introduces readers to the habit loop- cue, routine, and reward, and demonstrates how understanding and manipulating this loop can lead to transformative changes. Through a mix of scientific research, real-life examples, and engaging narratives, Duhigg illustrates how habits influence individuals, organisations, and societies at large.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

Renowned psychologist Carol S. Dweck introduces readers to the transformative concept of mindset and its profound implications on achievement and personal development. Dweck argues that individuals can be classified into two primary mindsets- the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Dweck demonstrates how adopting a growth mindset can lead to resilience, increased motivation, and a willingness to embrace challenges, leading a path to greater success and fulfillment. The book offers practical insights and strategies for cultivating a growth mindset in various aspects of life, including education, business , and personal relationships.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

This personal development book is a delightful and relatable exploration of a woman’s quest to find greater joy and fulfillment in her everyday life. Fuelled by a desire to understand and enhance her own happiness, Rubin embarks on a year-long experiment, dedicating each month to a specific theme or aspect of her life that she believes contributes to overall well-being. Throughout the book, Rubin combines personal anecdotes, research findings, and practical advice to create a blueprint for happiness that is accessible to readers. From tackling clutter and cultivating gratitude to nurturing relationships and pursuing passions, this book is a guide to finding happiness amidst life’s daily challenges.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman takes readers on a captivating journey through the two systems that govern human thought processes. Drawing on decades of groundbreaking research in psychology and behavioural economics, Kahneman introduces the concepts of System 1 and System 2 thinking, representing the automatic and deliberate modes of cognition, respectively. Through this personal development book, readers gain a deeper understanding of the factors that shape human behaviour and decision-making, making this book a fascinating and enlightening exploration of the mind’s complexities.

The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma

This is a motivational and transformative guide that advocates for starting each day with intentionality and purpose. Through a fictional narrative, Sharma introduces readers to the concept of the 5 AM Club- a group of individuals committed to waking up at 5:00 am to dedicate the first hour of their day to personal development and self-improvement. Sharma introduces the 20/20/20 Formula, encouraging readers to spend 20 minutes exercising, 20 minutes reflecting, and 20 minutes learning each morning. This personal development book is more than just a guide to time management, it’s a philosophy that promotes holistic growth and peak performance. Sharma explores the impact of mindset, discipline, and daily rituals on one’s ability to achieve success and fulfillment.

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

A soul-stirring exploration of embracing vulnerability and imperfection as pathways to wholehearted living, this book draws inspiration from Brown’s extensive research on shame, vulnerability, and human connection, Brown invites readers to let go of the pursuit of perfection and instead embrace authenticity and self-compassion. In this empowering guide, Brown shares ten guideposts for cultivating a wholehearted life, with together personal anecdotes, research findings, and practical exercises. She encourages readers to embrace their imperfections, cultivate resilience, and build meaningful connections with others. This personal development book delves into the power of vulnerability as the foundation for courage, creativity, connection, challenging societal expectations, and bringing a sense of belonging.

Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Robbins, a renowned life coach and motivational speaker, distills decades of experience and wisdom into this book, offering readers practical strategies for taking charge of their lives and creating lasting positive change. The book explores various aspects of personal development, including mastering emotions, taking control of one’s finances, and cultivating fulfilling relationships. Robbins introduces powerful tools such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques and goal-setting principles to empower readers to break through limitations and overcome challenges. This personal development book serves as a catalyst for individuals seeking to unlock their inner potential and lead a life of purpose and fulfillment. Robbins emphasises the importance of mindset, belief systems, and consistent action in shaping one’s destiny. Through a blend of motivational anecdotes, actionable advice, and transformative exercises, the book provides a roadmap for personal empowerment and self-discovery. Whether you’re striving for career success, financial abundance, or improved well-being, Robbins’ insights and strategies offer a comprehensive guide to awakening the giant within and creating a life that aligns with your deepest desires and aspirations.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

This timeless self-help classic offers practical advice and strategies for managing and overcoming worry and anxiety. Carnegie draws on his vast experience in public speaking and interpersonal skills to provide readers with actionable insights into cultivating a more positive and fulfilling life. This personal development book is divided into various sections, each addressing different aspects of worry, stress, and personal well-being. Through a combination of psychological principles and common-sense wisdom, Carnegie empowers readers to take control of their thoughts and emotions, fostering a mindset that promotes peace, productivity, and lasting happiness.

Hero Image: Courtesy Alliance Images/Shutterstock; Featured Image: Courtesy Amazon

10 personal development books to embark on a self-help safari in 2024

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A journalism student who studied the subject only to meet SRK in person, she settled for the best way to meet him. Covering Entertainment throughout her career, and now Food, Health and Lifestyle as well, Sreetama is also a self-proclaimed plant mom. In love with all things slow and quiet, she can often be found hunting for quiet corners with a glass of wine in hand. Other loves include little, inconsequential things, like neatly tucked-in bedsheets and big, significant things, like whole cheesecakes. She dreams of being a baker and writing about food someday.

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27 Books to Improve Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, and Self-Image

best self-esteem books

From the charismatic doctor to the energetic motivational speaker or the loving and friendly teacher, at each level and each age, people are more driven toward those who come across as self-reliant and confident.

Self-esteem, self-worth, and self-image are all counterparts of the umbrella term ‘self-love.’ They are constructs that denote the way we look at ourselves, perceive ourselves as individual entities, and portray our personalities to the world. Confidence is the key to a fulfilling life, and having high self-esteem is where it all begins.

Self-esteem develops from childhood. The way we interact, observe, and listen to others’ communication patterns can play a significant role in shaping how we see and feel about ourselves.

Building self-esteem and self-reliance is a matter of concern today, and thanks to the recent advancements in science and literature, we now have the right answers to it.

This article lists some of the best books available on self-esteem and related topics. The resources are practical and evidence based, and suggest effective ways we can implement the knowledge in our everyday lives.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will not only help you increase the compassion and kindness you show yourself but will also give you the tools to help your clients, students, or employees show more compassion to themselves.

This Article Contains

The 10 best books on self-esteem for adults, 3 good books that address low self-esteem, 3 self-esteem books for kids (incl. picture books), what books on self-esteem are recommended for teenage girls, 3 books on self-worth, 3 recommendations on self-image, 2 audiobook recommendations, a take-home message, frequently asked questions.

Carmen Jacob, a famous life coach and holistic counselor, presented a list of the best books on self-esteem that shouldn’t be missed. Here are the top 10 from her list.

1. The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem: The Definitive Work on Self-Esteem by the Leading Pioneer in the Field – Nathaniel Branden

Six Pillars Of Self-Esteem

The author has creatively presented the benefits of developing self-esteem based on six pillars. The book explains why self-esteem is an essential requirement for a healthy body, mind, and personality, and suggests practical ways for nurturing it.

The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem is a highly recommended book for mental health professionals, teachers, and parents who wish to empower themselves and others with a definite sense of self.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are – Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection

The book pleasantly invites readers to know that they are more than what they think themselves to be. The author explains how normal it is to feel unworthy and ‘low’ at times.

Brown offers some meaningful and scientific strategies to accept our inner critic and use it to embrace our ‘imperfect’ life in the best possible way.

Find the book on Amazon  or find more self-acceptance books here .

3. What to Say When You Talk to Your Self – Shad Helmstetter

What to Say When You Talk to Your Self

This accessible self-help guide is filled with cutting-edge information on how to practice positive self-talk . It provides practical tips on how to counter feelings of low self-worth and take charge of your happiness.

The book follows a smooth and straightforward approach and is relatable for readers of all ages.

4. Ten Days to Self-Esteem – David D. Burns

Ten Days to Self-Esteem

Ten Days to Self-Esteem by David Burns takes readers through a glorious journey of acknowledgment and self-discovery. The book talks about acceptance, compassion, and innovation as vital components to building a secure self-belief system within oneself.

The methods and examples mentioned here are individualized and embrace human fallibility. The book is practical, evidence backed, and effectively applicable in today’s context.

5. What’s Right With Me: Positive Ways to Celebrate Your Strengths, Build Self-Esteem, and Reach Your Potential – Carlene DeRoo and Carolyn DeRoo

What's Right with Me

The book is inspirational and helps readers cultivate a firm sense of self. It scientifically explains why positive thinking is the starting point to healthy self-esteem and talks about the different small or big lifestyle tweaks that can help us get there.

6. Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! – Tony Robbins

Awaken the Giant Within

The book follows a step-by-step approach to becoming more self-dependent and in control of ourselves. For those struggling to find meaning in their lives, this book can be an eye-opening guide for increased self-love and acceptance.

7. The New Psycho-Cybernetics – Maxwell Maltz

The New Psycho-Cybernetics

This book by Dr. Maxwell Maltz is helpful for goal setting and executing vital life plans. He has frequently updated his work to include contemporary aspects of the resources.

As readers say, ‘from weight management to professional success,’ there is no aspect that is left untouched here.

It is a recommended read for professionals in demanding jobs or students who are about to start their work life.

8. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind – Joseph Murphy

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

This book follows an entirely new approach, blending parts of religion, culture, literature, and science to explain what happiness means and suggest ways to cultivate it within ourselves.

This enlightening book on self-love and self-power is an excellent read for people from all walks of life.

9. Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – Steven C. Hayes

Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life

The process of ACT helps us differentiate between pain and suffering, and the book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life focuses on this aspect of wellbeing. Author Steven Hayes has brought forth some of the most useful scientific techniques to overpower temporary struggles and look at the bigger picture.

This book is a revolutionary approach to dealing with depression, anxiety, and stress disorders. It helps readers learn how we can positively address our pains and discover our strengths within the suffering to enjoy a fulfilling life.

10. Healing Your Emotional Self: A Powerful Program to Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem, Quiet Your Inner Critic, and Overcome Your Shame – Beverly Engel

Healing Your Emotional Self

Healing Your Emotional Self addresses a wide range of early life experiences that profoundly affect a child’s self-esteem and suggests successful ways of dealing with them.

The book is insightful for parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone who deals with childhood and adolescent issues and wants to delve deep into the underlying causes of low self-esteem.

Dr. Berni Sewell, an experienced health scientist, energy healer, and established author, mentioned the following books in her articles on self-love and self-power. These books, as she suggests, are great reads for anyone who wishes to explore their true potential and make the most of their lives.

1. You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay

You Can Heal Your Life

Author Louise Hay has shared some significant first-hand experiences, including her life situations, about how people can turn things to their favor by merely thinking and feeling positive about themselves.

2. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living – Dalai Lama

The Art of Happiness

The Art of Happiness is a collection of the Dalai Lama’s stories, meditations, and messages on the ways we can invite happiness back into our lives.

The book presents a series of one-on-one conversations the author had with different people at different points in life. It is a cornerstone book for endless inspiration, self-love, and meaningful existence – a must-read for all.

3. Matrix Energetics: The Science and Art of Transformation – Richard Bartlett

Matrix Energetics

After experiencing a life-changing event, the author discovered the science of energy transformation, which, according to him, could be a quick and permanent heal for people struggling with self-esteem issues.

The book talks about his research and how readers can apply his rules to get rid of their insecurities and thrive. A different yet exciting approach to building self-esteem, you can find this book on Amazon .

top 10 books for self development

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top 10 books for self development

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Recommended by The New York Times and other prestigious magazines and newspapers, here are some self-help books that aim to help parents and professionals raise confident and self-reliant kids.

1. It’s Okay to Be Different – Todd Parr

It's Okay To Be Different

His book, It’s Okay To Be Different , is an easy-to-read, accessible, pictorially represented manual with stories and illustrations on how children can love and trust themselves.

The book encourages kids to build character strength, embrace diversity, and learn to accept their minds and bodies.

2. The Lion Inside – Rachel Bright

The Lion Inside

The primary aim of author Rachel Bright is to cultivate the habit of talking about what a child feels and what drives their actions or reactions.

With inspiring texts that promote self-esteem and confidence, The Lion Inside is a recommended read for kids aged 5–12 years.

3. I Am Enough – Grace Byers

I Am Enough

Keeping humanity above everything, author and activist Grace Byers has brought us the most essential tips on how children can learn their purpose of living and use rational thinking to perceive life events.

Teenagers are often victims of low self-esteem. From having an attractive body to having an ideal relationship, adolescents carry a considerable burden of being ‘perfect.’

Thankfully, we have an affluence of books and resources that address low adolescent self-esteem and suggest scientific ways to overrule them.

The following list of books was advocated by Denise Witmer, a famous parenting coach and author, as some good reads for uplifting self-esteem in teenage girls.

1. Chocolate for a Teen’s Soul: Life-Changing Stories for Young Women About Growing Wise and Growing Strong – Kay Allenbaugh

Chocolate For A Teen's Soul

From first love to first jobs and first heartbreak, Chocolate for a Teen’s Soul offers an energetic approach to looking at teenage troubles and preventing them from taking a toll on self-confidence .

2. The Real Rules for Girls – Mindy Morgenstern

The Real Rules for Girls

The book addresses issues like parental discord, love life problems, menstrual and hormonal ups and downs, and emotion management.

3. Get Over It! How to Survive Break-ups, Back-Stabbing Friends, and Bad Haircuts –  Beth Mayall

The Real Rules for Girls

From coping with stress to dealing with academic under-achievements and familial expectations, this book offers straightforward and practical steps that girls can follow to feel better about themselves.

Matt Valentine, a self-published and renowned self-help author, mentioned the following books as some of the best resources for enhancing a sense of self-worth .

1. The Magic of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz

The Magic of Thinking Big

Author David J. Schwartz believes that unless we are ready to acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses, we can never break loose from the trap of under-confidence.

Written in accessible English and a conversational tone, this book is excellent for self-empowerment at the very core.

2. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich

Author Napoleon Hill has talked about building confidence and generating happiness in life by enhancing mental faculties. The book is all about developing a strong self-system that won’t be easy to break.

An insightful and motivating resource for all ages, this book is available in paperback and digital forms.

Find this book on Amazon .

3. The Power of Positive Thinking – Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

The Power of Positive Thinking

The Power of Positive Thinking has a modern approach and follows a personal tone. The author has beautifully explained the value of having our own space and how we can use it for the betterment of ourselves.

From goal setting to executing life plans, this book has everything you need to stand up on your feet again.

Find the book on Amazon or find more goal-setting books .

Self-image , or the way we perceive ourselves, is a significant component of our identity. The following books have been suggested as useful resources on improving self-image by eminent authors and researchers like Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jessica Smith, and Diane Ackerman.

1. Who Moved My Cheese? – Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese

The book has components of realism, spirituality, positive interventions, and lifestyle modification tips, all of which aim to show readers how they can adapt to life more efficaciously.

With the quirky metaphor of cheese, the author has taken a deep dig into successfully driving ourselves to a happier life. A highly recommended read and a personal favorite self-help book, this can truly get the ball of self-motivation rolling.

2. Mindsight: Change Your Brain and Your Life – Daniel J. Siegel

Mindsight Change Your Brain And Your Life

He introduced the term ‘mindsight’ to refer to the integration of brain science and psychotherapeutic techniques. Through his writing, Siegel has conveyed how we can use inclusive approaches to address real-life problems and successfully come out of them.

The book comes with a selection of case studies from the author’s practice, and each example is followed by practical measures on how readers can implement the steps in their lives.

Siegel has taken into consideration the problems that come with a poor self-image, including social phobia and relationship distress, and has offered reliable ways to deal with them through mindsight.

3. Body Confidence: The Scientific Approach on How to Shine From Within – Dr. Katherine E. Iscoe

Body Confidence

Dr. Katherine Iscoe’s book sheds light on cultivating positive body image and celebrates radical self-acceptance . The book is divided into three segments, each addressing a crucial aspect of the self-system.

The author has scooped out vital points on the emotional impacts of criticisms and bullying, and has offered state-of-the-art measures to minimize the harm. It is recommended for adolescents, women, and anyone who wishes to identify their strengths and look beyond short-term failures.

Recommended as top self-help audiobooks by The New York Times and the BABCP Magazine, here are some all-time favorite resources for bringing out the best in yourself.

1. Overcoming Low Self-Esteem –  Melanie Fennell

Overcoming Low Self-Esteem

The book emphasizes the importance of self-care and self-recognition.

It runs through the different aspects of high self-esteem and guides listeners to learn and administer the rules on themselves.

2. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone – Brené Brown

Braving the Wilderness

The author strongly points at the fact that if we are happy with ourselves and do not wait for others to approve or disapprove of our actions, we can call on our high self-esteem and courage.

The book navigates through all the mundane problems that can damage the self-system, including money, obesity, relationship abuse, and bullying. It has provided a clear roadmap to dealing with each of them for a better self-understanding. With a personal touch and a storytelling tone, this book can be the silver lining to anyone struggling to thrive.

Self-esteem and confidence hold in all aspects of our lives. From academic achievements to social bonds, with the right self-system, we can flourish and seek happiness from within. As the saying goes, “ To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness .”

Knowing about self-reliance and self-esteem can prepare us for the journey and accelerate our success. The books and resources in this article can mark the beginning of building our inner potential and giving ourselves a realistic view of the true meaning of self-contentment.

Whether it’s related to goal setting or self-acknowledgment, the real power lies within us, and this is what most authors and researchers have tried to express in their works. To learn from our mistakes, utilize the learning for future actions, and respect ourselves before we expect others to respect us: that is the real power of self-esteem.

For more practical applications to improve your self-esteem , read our article detailing self-esteem worksheets and activities.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Self Compassion Exercises for free .

The five areas of self-esteem, according to Nathaniel Branden’s theory, are (Moss & Maki, 1998);

  • self-awareness,
  • self-acceptance,
  • self-responsibility,
  • self-assertiveness, and
  • self-transcendence.

These areas reflect different aspects of self-esteem and can be cultivated through various means, including self-reflection and personal growth activities.

Yes, self-esteem is related to self-image from a scientific perspective. Self-image refers to a person’s perception of themselves, while self-esteem refers to their overall evaluation of their worth or value as a person, and research has found that there is a strong correlation between the two constructs (Matsuba et al., 2012).

The four types of self-esteem are (Bosson et al., 2000);

  • high explicit and high implicit self-esteem,
  • high explicit and low implicit self-esteem,
  • low explicit and high implicit self-esteem, and
  • low explicit and low implicit self-esteem.
  • Allenbaugh, K. (2000). Chocolate for a teen’s soul: Life-changing stories for young women about growing wise and growing strong. Fireside.
  • Bartlett, R. (2009).  Matrix energetics: The science and art of transformation. Atria Paperback.
  • Bosson, J. K., Swann, W. B., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2000). Implicit and explicit self-esteem: A review of conceptualizations, measures, and controversies. European Review of Social Psychology, 11(1) , 1-63.
  • Branden, N. (1995). The six pillars of self-esteem: The definitive work on self-esteem by the leading pioneer in the field. Bantam.
  • Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are. Hazelden.
  • Brown, B. (2017). Braving the wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone.   Vermilion.
  • Burns, D. D. (1999). Ten days to self-esteem. William Morrow.
  • Byers, G. (2018). I am enough. Blazer + Bray.
  • Dalai Lama. (2009). The art of happiness. Riverhead Books.
  • DeRoo, C. (2006). What’s right with me: Positive ways to celebrate your strengths, build self-esteem, and reach your potential. New Harbinger.
  • Engel, B. (2007). Healing your emotional self: A powerful program to help you raise your self-esteem, quiet your inner critic, and overcome your shame. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Fennell, M. (2016). Overcoming low self-esteem: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques (2nd ed.). Constable & Robinson.
  • Hay, L. L. (1984). You can heal your life. Hay House.
  • Hayes, S. C., & Smith, S. (2005). Get out of your mind and into your life: The new acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger.
  • Helmstetter, S. (2017). What to say when you talk to your self. Park Avenue Press.
  • Hill, N. (2009). Think and grow rich. Sanage.
  • Iscoe, K. E. (2019). Body confidence: The scientific approach to how to shine from within. MyFiziq.
  • Johnson, S. (1999). Who moved my cheese? Vermilion.
  • Maltz, M. (Author), & Kennedy, D. S. (Ed.). (2002). The new psycho-cybernetics. Prentice Hall Press.
  • Matsuba, R. K., Fassett, K. M., & Smith, J. J. (2012). The relationship between self-concept clarity and self-esteem. Self and Identity, 11(4) , 409-427.
  • Mayall, B. (2000). Get over it! How to survive break-ups, back-stabbing friends, and bad haircuts. Scholastic Paperbacks.
  • Morgenstern, M. (2000). The real rules for girls. San Val.
  • Moss, W. L., & Maki, D. E. (1998). Nathaniel Branden’s self-esteem theory. Journal of Counseling & Development, 76(4) , 394-404.
  • Murphy, J. (2011). The power of your subconscious mind. Martino.
  • Parr, T. (2009). It’s okay to be different. Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
  • Peale, N. V. (2003). The power of positive thinking: A practical guide to mastering the problems of everyday living. Touchstone.
  • Robbins, T. (1992). Awaken the giant within: How to take immediate control of your mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny. Simon & Schuster.
  • Schwartz, D. J. (1987). The magic of thinking big. Fireside.
  • Siegel, D. J. (2012).  Mindsight: Change your brain and your life. Scribe.

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What our readers think.

sean lewis

awesome list!

Kc

Thanks to you for publishing such an amazing article. I have trouble finding good book recommendations in one place but you listed everything in this one article.

Gift

Thank you so much, from my heart.

Jenny

Thank you for your lovely list. I realised I badly needed to work on my self worth but needed a guide through the many books on the subject. Thanks to you I have whittled many down to six. So far so good. Onward and upward.

Rae Smith

I work with women out of jail and in recovery. I also have a nine year old granddaughter that I would like to help with self esteem

Vanessa Johnson

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I need.

Sinclair

Thanks for the list. Found so many book that are helpful Which i have added to my own reading list as well.

John

Thanks for putting this list together! Many useful books I’ve added to my reading list 🙂

Ioana

Very good list! All of your book recommandtaions articles are amazing! I would also add Kristin Neff’s books here, but other than that the list is very good.

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Top 10 Personal Development books for Self Growth

Self-development books act as friendly mentors on the journey of personal growth, offering invaluable insights into resilience, goal setting, and self-improvement..

Top 10 Personal Development books for Self Growth

Self-development books act as friendly mentors on the journey of personal growth, offering invaluable insights into resilience, goal setting, and self-improvement. They’re like guidebooks filled with practical strategies, nurturing self-awareness and emotional intelligence. These resources, distilled from experienced minds, empower individuals to unlock their potential, boost productivity , and form positive habits.

Personal development significance lies in fostering a mindset of continual growth, helping people adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. Their friendly guidance inspires transformative change, encouraging us to lead more purposeful, enriched lives through ongoing learning and development. Join me as we explore the top 10 self development books that pave the way for personal growth and self-development.

  • 1 “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey
  • 2 “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
  • 3 “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck
  • 4 “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear
  • 5 “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins
  • 6 “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle
  • 7 “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
  • 8 “Best self” by Mike Bayer
  • 9 “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life” by Mark Manson
  • 10 “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey

Plunge into ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen R. Covey for an incredible journey! Explore how to prioritize, take control, and build meaningful relationships in both personal and professional life. Covey’s insights reveal the keys to proactive living, visualizing your objectives, and nurturing partnerships. Embrace continual self-improvement and discover how to steer through life with intent, harmony, and remarkable efficiency. Prepare to unearth your true potential and adopt a more fulfilling lifestyle with one of the most influential personal development books available.

top 10 books for self development

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie

Uncover life-altering insights from personal development books like ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie! This timeless gem offers a deep dive into fostering genuine connections, effective communication , and impactful influence. Discover powerful strategies for understanding others, mastering social skills, and becoming a better communicator. Embrace the transformative power of empathy and appreciation to nurture lasting relationships and personal growth. Prepare to unlock the secrets of influence and ignite positive change in your life and interactions through this invaluable read on personal development.

top 10 books for self development

“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck

Begin an adventure of personal growth with ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ by Carol S. Dweck! This insightful book unravels the influence of mindset on achieving success and fulfillment. Discover how embracing a growth mindset unleashes potential, builds resilience, and sparks a love for learning. Dweck’s revelations show how tackling challenges and fostering a belief in one’s capacity to improve leads to profound personal development. Embrace the transformative power of a growth mindset, an essential gem among personal development books, and witness its incredible impact on the direction of your life.

top 10 books for self development

“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear

Engage with life-transforming wisdom found in personal development books like ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear! This treasure trove provides practical guidance for cultivating good habits and shedding unwanted ones. Explore the profound impact of small changes, learning how tiny habits create substantial transformations. Clear’s insights unveil the power of consistent, positive actions and their compound effect on personal growth. Use this book as your roadmap for significant change, unlocking the potential for a fulfilling life centered around transformative habits.

top 10 books for self development

“Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins

Join the extraordinary journey of self-discovery with ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ by Tony Robbins . This empowering book acts as a guide to unlock your inner potential. Robbins navigates readers through the path of self-discovery and sparks personal transformation. Uncover tools to sculpt your fate, overcome fears, and harness your strengths. Within Robbins’ insights, grasp the art of mastering emotions, habits, and mindset, empowering yourself for remarkable growth. As a cornerstone among personal development books, this journey leads to a life filled with fulfillment and purpose.

top 10 books for self development

“The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle

Experience a transformative journey with ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle. This remarkable guide is a gateway to spiritual enlightenment, teaching the art of living in the present moment. Dive into Tolle’s wisdom to discover the peace and power found in the ‘now.’ Learn to release the grip of the past and future, fostering a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. Embrace this book to cultivate mindfulness, find inner peace, and embark on a journey of profound personal growth.

top 10 books for self development

“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

Enter the world of ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill , a timeless beacon for personal-development. Hill’s classic provides a step-by-step guide to materializing success and wealth. It unravels the secrets of the mind, illuminating the power of thoughts in achieving prosperity. Learn the art of setting goals, fostering determination, and embracing a success-driven mindset. This book empowers you to unleash your potential, guiding you through actionable steps towards personal growth and the achievement of your dreams.

top 10 books for self development

“Best self” by Mike Bayer

Enter the realm of personal growth with ‘Best Self’ by Mike Bayer, a guiding light among self-development books. This transformative guide provides practical tools to navigate life’s hurdles, elevate confidence, and nurture resilience. Bayer’s compassionate approach creates a roadmap for self-discovery , urging the unlocking of your complete potential. Immerse yourself in this empowering resource for a fulfilling journey of personal growth, enabling you to become your most authentic, empowered self. This book stands as a vital cornerstone in the world of personal development books, igniting your journey towards self-empowerment.

top 10 books for self development

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life” by Mark Manson

A standout among top personal-development books is “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” this refreshingly honest guide challenges conventional thinking, urging readers to embrace life’s complexities without sugar-coating realities. It’s a game-changer, teaching the art of prioritizing what truly matters, letting go of the unimportant, and finding resilience through adversity. Manson’s witty, no-nonsense approach ignites self-awareness , inspiring personal growth by reshaping perspectives. Embrace this book for a raw, authentic guide to living a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

top 10 books for self development

“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl

Embark on the profound odyssey within ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl , a treasure among top personal development books. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, reveals the indomitable human spirit in the darkest times. This book acts as a guiding beacon, highlighting the significance of discovering purpose amidst adversity. Readers explore the transformative strength of perspective, resilience, and finding meaning within life’s trials. Join this insightful exploration to unveil profound wisdom, nurturing a more purposeful and resilient self. Among self-development books, this journey is a key to unlocking personal growth and resilience.

top 10 books for self development

Personal development books are amazing tools to improve yourself. They have valuable advice for personal growth, resilience, and success. Find all this wisdom in one place: the Wizdom app . It’s like a treasure chest full of the best ideas from top self-help books. Take the chance to make your life better and shape your future. Start your journey to be a better you by downloading the app today!

Manjula Devkatte

Manjula Devkatte

Avid writer passionate about life’s wisdom, seeking knowledge and crafting insightful narratives..!!

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10 Best Personal Development Books to Read

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We need to start publishing more articles that highlight awesome personal development books on Wealthy Gorilla.

They’re so powerful, and provide such a great amount of knowledge. In this article I want to highlight the 10 best books to read, in my own opinion, for personal development.

Why should you read personal development books?

When it comes to personal development, thousands of authors have transferred all their accumulated knowledge into something that you can simply just pick up and read.

Think of some of the things you’re struggling with in life at the moment, or have been at some point in time. Now think about this: the answers you’ve been seeking to help you through those situations have been lying in a book store or library this entire time.

Somebody who’s already gone through everything you’re going through, has written down their advice for others to pick up.

That’s why you should read personal development books.

Why should you read these books regularly?

I’ve had the opportunity to speak to many amazing people over the past couple of years; and more recently, people have said that they read a certain book every month. There’s one book that they read every single month, without fail.

Although the book varies, the principle is the same.

Reading a book every single month constantly reinforces the knowledge and the morals within the book in your mind. Sometimes we read these books, and a couple of months later all this information is gone. We forget. And that’s natural.

So here’s the thing. If you read a book that empowers you, and you read it regularly, you will never lose that empowerment. You will never lose that knowledge. You will take it and act upon it everyday without a slip or hitch.

Table of Contents

The 10 Best Personal Development Books

Best Personal Development Books to Read

The books I’m about to list are based on my own opinion. However, they’re constantly coming up whenever I get interviewed or interview others. They’ve also been best sellers, and are continuously read again and again because of the power and knowledge they can provide.

Here are Wealthy Gorilla’s recommendations of the 10 best personal development books we think you should read regularly.

1. The Magic of Thinking Big

The Magic of Thinking Big - Best Personal Development Books

The Magic of Thinking Big is a book that I’m planning on reading once a month.

And it’s number one on this list because it provides something that everybody needs to be successful: the belief that you can achieve big things in life.

Believing in yourself, and being able to see the bigger picture are the major topics that this book covers. For any dreamers, you can’t not read this book. It’ll leave you with a much more positive and confident mindset .

I spoke to someone who challenged his students to read this book every month for the next 5 years. And if they weren’t doing well in life by that time, he would personally write them a cheque for $10,000.

Only one of his students took and completed the challenge, and he is now doing very well for himself. And he definitely hasn’t asked for that cheque.

Amazon Review

“If you are truly seeking the kind of success and abundance that makes your life 100% livable – you must read this book.”

2. Never Eat Alone

Never Eat Alone - Best Personal Development Books

I’m halfway through Never Eat Alone, despite it being published many years ago.

It’s another incredible self-development book, that focuses on helping people become more social, build connections with others, and improve the way they communicate.

You know how the old saying goes; it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. By reading Never Eat Alone , you’re able to pick up the knowledge to do just that.

“Keith has long been a leading marketing innovator. His way with people truly makes him a star. In Never Eat Alone, he has taken his gift and created specific steps that are easily followed, to achieve great success.” – Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision

3. Think and Grow Rich

Think and Grow Rich - Best Personal Development Books

Think and Grow Rich is another of the classic personal development books, that was actually brought up recently when I interviewed Ashley Zahabian, a 21 year old motivational speaker.

Ashley mentioned to be that Think and Grow Rich was the book she read every month!

Napoleon Hill studied many millionaires to find out the ways in which they were different than others. What made them who they are, and able to have the financial freedom they have.

Many people think of this book as the original self-development book, and what an incredible and motivational book it is.

“If you asked me to recommend to you the single best ‘success’ book I have ever read, my answer would be a very definite ‘Think and Grow Rich’.”

4. How to Win Friends & Influence People

How to Win Friends & Influence People - Best Personal Development Books

How to Win Friends & Influence People is an incredible book for those looking to develop their social skills a lot!

This book is something like 3rd or 4th on Tai Lopez’s top 100 book recommendations .

In this book, you’ll learn all the essential techniques to making people like you, being able to deal with them better, and also becoming more persuasive.

Thousands of people have used the principles in this book to change their lives, ever since it was released. And people are still continuing to do so.

“When I was 12 years old my best friend gave me a copy of this book and told me that I might find it interesting. He could not have been more right, for I delved deep into the book and I finished it in a matter of 2 weeks.”

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Best Personal Development Books

Exactly as the title suggest, Covey dives into the 7 habits high achievers have in life. He also lists different techniques you can use to adopt those habits, and also become a highly effective individual.

The important thing to mention, which makes this book so brilliant, is that Covey isn’t just targeting how to become wealthy.

The habits in this book are to become “effective”, both in your personal life and your career. They apply to all areas of your life.

“Simply put: motivational and life changing. Even as an efficient individual, this will give you the drive that we all sometimes loose. Very organized and well written.”

6. The Alchemist

The Alchemist - Best Personal Development Books

The Alchemist is an inspiring story, that follows a boy wishing to travel the world in search of treasure.

During his journey, he recognizes and experiences the other types of riches this world has to offer.

This story teaches people all about recognizing opportunity, and being able to follow our dreams.

This is definitely one of the best personal development books for dreamers and ambitious individuals.

“If you like to ponder the meaning of life, then let your mind and spirit mull over the lessons in this book. It’s a quick and enjoyable read that will provide some new insights, or remind you of some old one’s that you’ve forgotten.”

7. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do

The Power of Habit - Best Personal Development Books

We act out of habit the majority of the time during our daily lives. The question is, why do we do this? And how we change our daily habits to healthier and more effective ones.

The Power of Habit explains why habits exist, and how we can all begin to adopt new habits that will helps us achieve our goals.

The key to achieving success is understanding how habits work, and this book outlines everything clearly.

“This is a great book about the power of habit and what we can do to change our habits in business, life, and society.”

8. The Charisma Myth

The Charisma Myth - Best Personal Development Books

The myth is that charisma is not something you can adopt. You either have it or you don’t.

‘The Charisma Myth ‘ sets out to tear this myth to shreds, and prove that anyone can become charismatic, influential and more persuasive.

There some great life skills you can pick up from this book, and it’s definitely worth reading for higher personal development.

“So many self help books are ‘all gong and no dinner’ but I found this book to be a refreshing exception.”

9. Managing Oneself

Managing Oneself - Best Personal Development Books

The king of personal development books; Managing Oneself is out there to show you that regardless of how low down on the ladder you start, you can rise to the top.

To do this, you’ll need to take control of your life, in every aspect.

You need to keep yourself at the top of your own game, to rise to the top of your career. Give it a read, you won’t be disappointed.

“I couldn’t put this one down, and gleamed much wisdom from it. I would almost call this book Drucker’s personal insight on how to manage your life.”

10. The Selfish Gene

The Selfish Gene - Best Personal Development Books

Inheriting the mantle of revolutionary biologist from Darwin, Watson, and Crick, Richard Dawkins forced an enormous change in the way we see ourselves and the world with the publication of The Selfish Gene .

Suppose, instead of thinking about organisms using genes to reproduce themselves, as we had since Mendel’s work was rediscovered, we turn it around and imagine that “our” genes build and maintain us in order to make more genes.

That simple reversal seems to answer many puzzlers which had stumped scientists for years, and we haven’t thought of evolution in the same way since.

“I believe that unless we wish to rely on luck throughout our lives we need to embrace reality as closely as possible, which is what a first-rate book like Dawkins’ helps us to do.”

Wow, what an amazing collection of the best personal development books! Let’s quickly list them again for anybody doing some quick reading:

  • The Magic of Thinking Big
  • Never Eat Alone
  • Think and Grow Rich
  • How to Win Friends & Influence People
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  • The Alchemist
  • The Power of Habit
  • The Charisma Myth
  • Managing Oneself
  • The Selfish Gene

In Conclusion

We strongly recommend that you read these books as soon as you can!

As for the likes of The Magic of Thinking Big, Never Eat Alone and Think & Grow Rich, pick one or two and read them every month. Without fail!

Your life will begin to change! Trust me.

How many of these best personal development books have you read? Leave a comment below.

10 Reasons to Stop Watching Television Immediately

50 Real Life Lessons From an 80 Year Old Man

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Dan Western is the founder of Wealthy Gorilla . Dan has been running Wealthy Gorilla and studying self-development, personal finance, and investment for the last 7 years. To this day, Wealthy Gorilla has become one of the fastest growing wealth infotainment sites in the world; with over 300 million views worldwide. Dan doesn't use personal social media anymore, so you won't be able to find him on Instagram, or Twitter.

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Success Learned

Jun 17, 2016 at 3:07 pm

Nice list. I’d add Personal Power by Tony Robbins and The Richest Man in Babylon. I wouldn’t read the Selfish Gene, In my opinion Dawkins is far too God Obsessed to come out with anything worth reading.

Dan Western

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:17 am

Great stuff, thanks for stopping by to comment!

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Jun 18, 2016 at 1:30 am

I strongly recommend The Magic of Thinking BIG, it is really a great book and it will inspire you to take action. Besides that, I love The ONE Thing from Gary Keller as well. Great books will only be great if we read them, understand the ideas within and apply them. 🙂

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:16 am

Thanks for the comments! Completely agree about The Magic of Thinking Big. I’ll have to check out The One Thing.

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Jul 2, 2016 at 4:32 am

Awesome choice of books, self-development and knowledge are truly the keys to succeeding more. Just so happened to purchase The Magic of Thinking Big recently haha. Am excited to read it!

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Bhavik Sarkhedi

Oct 13, 2016 at 1:25 pm

Dan, I would definitely read this book. It’s cool that the article is ranking in the first page. Overall, I loved the blog and I am emailing you to be a contributing/freelancing author to your blog.

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Axtschmiede

Apr 27, 2018 at 10:59 am

Nice list. I already read some of them, the rest is on my “to-read” list now. Thanks!

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Jun 11, 2018 at 8:37 am

Wow thats the list I wanted, after few of the books you recommended, always used to wonder from where will I get similar, thanks

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The 30 Major Causes of Failure By Napoleon Hill

The 30 Major Causes of Failure By Napoleon Hill

Have you ever read the book ‘Think & Grow Rich’?

If you’re a regular visitor to Wealthy Gorilla, then you definitely should have read the book by now!

Think & Grow Rich was written by Napoleon Hill and is considered to be one of the best self-development books of all time.

The book teaches the 13 principles of turning your desires into riches and contains hundreds of golden nuggets you can use to transform your life…

The 30 Major Causes of Failure

Within one of the chapters of Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill lists the 30 major causes of failure. These are the reasons why 99% of people are failing in their lives.

The purpose of featuring and explaining these ‘major causes of failure’ within this article, is to show you why people fail, and how you can avoid doing the same thing in your own life.

Here are the 30 major causes of failure as described by Napoleon Hill:

1. Unfavourable Hereditary Background

The reason why this was put first on the list, was because Hill says it’s one of the toughest issues for people to overcome.

This basically means that someone is perhaps not naturally intelligent, and lack’s certain brainpower. They can take all the measures needed to improve their knowledge and become smarter, but they are still at a disadvantage.

2. Lack of a Well Defined Purpose in Life

If you don’t have a definitive goal that you’re setting out to achieve, a purpose that you’re trying to fill, you won’t become successful. You have nothing to hit, nothing to aim at. And therefore your direction is unidentified.

3. Lack of Ambition to Aim Above Mediocrity

There are many reasons why people might not have the ambition to aim above mediocrity. Whether it’s that they’re too lazy, too comfortable, too spoilt, or have no belief in “success”.

If you never have the ambition the aim higher, you never will aim higher than average. This means, you guessed it, you will never achieve more than average.

4. Insufficient Education

Another one of the major causes of failure is insufficient education. Don’t get this wrong. This does not solely mean a lack of formal education leading up to adulthood.

In many cases, and especially in various parts of the world, formal education is an issue. However, another big issue is that many individuals leave school and decide that they’ve done all the learning they needed to do.

When it comes to your career, specialized knowledge is a must, and it can only be learnt through experience on the job, and studying outside of working hours. Just turning up to work every day isn’t enough education.

5. Lack of Self-Discipline

Becoming successful isn’t easy. It takes a lot of discipline to consistently work hard at something until you finally start to achieve success from it.

There’s a lot of productive habits that need to be adopted in order to get the most out of your day, and therefore your week, month, and year.

6. Ill Health

Nobody can enjoy their success without good health, and in fact poor health can still hold you back from achieving it in the first place.

Here’s what causes ill health:

  • Lack of exercise
  • Over-eating junk foods
  • Poor daily habits
  • Over-indulgence in sex

7. Unfavourable Environmental Influences During Childhood

This essentially means that many people fail due to the environment they grew up in. Poor parenting, bad neighbourhoods, born into poor families etc.

It’s not a death sentence, but more people than not let these circumstances dictate their future. Something can be done, no matter what.

8. Procrastination

Everybody has a dream, but when it comes to taking action, most procrastinate. They wait until they’re ‘ready’, or until the ‘perfect time’.

Time goes by, but they’ve gone nowhere. Truth is, that they’ll never be a perfect time to start working on your dreams. You have to stop procrastinating  and create a sense of urgency within your life.

9. Lack of Persistence

You won’t get anywhere without persistence. And persistence can be tough when you’re not seeing immediate results from all the hard work you’re putting in.

The truth is. Persistence is the key to everything. Every successful individual has had their own failures during their lifetime, but persistence meant that they got back up, and didn’t have to remain a failure.

10. Negative Personality

You know those people that always seem to complain about things, but never change them? How about the people who always tell you that they can’t do something?

Thinking negatively will only ever bring you a negative life . This is one of the biggest causes of failure, and changing your mindset from negative to positive should be a very high priority.

11. Lack of Controlled Sexual Urge

Most people will deny that this one affects them, but it does. The sexual stimulus has the power to influence people into action more than any other type of energy.

This means you’re likely to be spending a lot of your time chasing this, becoming distracted, and losing sight of your goals.

12. Uncontrolled Desire for ‘Something for Nothing’

Ever come across people who want something for nothing?

They believe that they can try and get what they want without helping anyone else get what they want. And that’s a big mistake.

You see, you only start to get the things you want in life when you’re able to help other people . Every business that succeeds, does so because it is helping enough people to be profitable.

13. Lack of a Well Defined Power of Decision

Napoleon talks about how good decision-makers are able to make quick decisions and then change them slowly, as opposed to the other way around. The ability to make quick decisions is incredibly important for success.

After all, if you’re unable to make decisions, then you’re not going to be able to build a business, that’s for sure. We make thousands of decisions every day, so this ability is key.

14. One or More of the Six Basic Fears

In Think & Grow Rich, Hill also describes the basic fears that all humans have in life. The basic fears are:

  • Fear of poverty
  • Fear of criticism
  • Fear of ill health
  • Fear of loss of love
  • Fear of old age
  • Fear of death

Possessing one of these six basic fears may also be one of the major causes of failure. It’s important to remember in this circumstance, that we all eventually die. Therefore we have nothing to lose, and the fear above should not keep us from living our dream life.

15. Wrong Selection of a Mate in Marriage

Your marriage is going to affect your career. That’s a given. If you’re in a marriage where your partner supports you, and you are both happy, then it’ll be beneficial to your career.

If however, you’re always arguing, then it’s going to affect your performance during work. Choose your life partner wisely.

16. Over-Caution

In order to get far in life, you have to take risks . You’ll only get so far by playing it safe. Risks are often necessary, and they don’t always work out. But eventually, they do.

Those who are too cautious, and afraid to venture into the unknown, will often fail.

17. Wrong Selection of Associates in Business

Who you choose to do business with can often be another huge cause of failure. Choosing someone who lacks the right qualities can often end up in them making the wrong decisions, and ruining all your hard work in business.

Another choice you need to make wisely.

18. Superstition & Prejudice

Superstition is a big issue people face with their mindset. In fact, if you follow Tai Lopez , you’ll know that he likes to give away free cars every so often.

Many of the people who have won the free cars, did not believe they’d really won. They thought it was fake. So guess what? Tai gave the car to someone else.

19. Wrong Selection of a Vocation

So many people make this common error. Picking the wrong line of work. Unless it’s something you can’t go a day without thinking about, then you shouldn’t be doing it.

However, 95% of people hate waking up on Monday because they have to travel to jobs they do not like. They are only there to get that paycheck. Why?

I’ll never understand. Find something you love.

20. Lack of Concentration of Effort

Do you know how long the human attention span is?

It’s not very long at all. This means concentrating on something for a long period of time is ridiculously hard. And it’s even harder if you’re trying to concentrate on something you don’t like.

21. The Habit of Indiscriminate Spending

Do you often buy things you don’t really need?

How much money has that new T.V made you recently? $0? That’s strange…

Wasting money instead of investing it in yourself, is what separates the rich from the poor. Think about that the next time you want to buy a whole new wardrobe.

22. Lack of Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a key to achieving success with anything you do. Without enthusiasm or a real passion for your work, you will be unable to go the distance.

This is the same reason why people who chase money will never find it. When money is a driving force, instead of passion, you will give up on the activity long before you become successful at it.

Passion for something means you want to do it every single day, regardless of how much money you’re earning, or the number of setbacks you’re experiencing.

23. Intolerance

Being open-minded is something every good businessman should be. Open to new ideas, new ways of thinking, new types of people.

Intolerance of others, and their ideas, is going to hurt your reputation. Especially when the people you’re intolerant of are people you work with or do business with.

24. Intemperance

Intemperance, similar to intolerance in many ways, is another one of the major causes of failure. If you’re someone who has a tendency to get angry, you’re going to end up annoying a lot of people. You’re also going to end up ruining your productivity.

25. Inability to Cooperate With Others

Collaboration with others is inevitable. After all, every business is in the business of people. If you are unable to cooperate with other people, then you won’t get very far at all.

The only way to get what you want is to help other people get what they want; and that won’t happen for anybody who refuses to cooperate with others.

26. Possession of Power Not Acquired Through Self-Effort

People who have been given power, and not earned it themselves, are destined to fail.

They are destined to fail because in most cases they will not have adopted and mastered the essential habits and skills required to earn this power in the first place.

They also most likely lack the experience and knowledge required to use their power properly.

People who acquire power without this effort will not be able to control it, use it efficiently, nor should they be trusted with it.

27. Intentional Dishonesty

It doesn’t matter whether you’re lying to yourself or to other people. A lack of honesty will come back to haunt you in the end. People won’t want to work with you. They won’t trust you. You won’t be true to yourself.

The whole thing’s a house of cards.

28. Egotism & Vanity

Ego often gets in the way of people improving their knowledge and education. It also gets in the way of collaboration.

I’ve come across many people who are either too stubborn to understand why they’re wrong or collaborate with other people because they think they’re bigger than everyone else.

29. Guessing Instead of Thinking

If you’re guilty of this, you’re just asking for failure. Guessing instead of thinking? Come on.

There are a lot of people who start arguments because they have this type of mindset. They just assume, and then forget to actually do the research before forming their opinion.

Don’t be one of these people.

30. Lack of Capital

Lastly, lack of capital is 30th on the list of major causes of failure. Money is obviously an issue for many people who have dreams and ideas, in most cases to build the business they desire.

Often, if their business plan is good enough, they’ll be able to seek investors or be able to start smaller with lower costs.

Here’s a recap on the 30 major causes of failure from Think & Grow Rich:

  • Unfavourable Hereditary Background
  • Lack of a Well Defined Purpose in Life
  • Lack of Ambition to Aim Above Mediocrity
  • Insufficient Education
  • Lack of Self-Discipline
  • Unfavourable Environmental Influences During Childhood
  • Procrastination
  • Lack of Persistence
  • Negative Personality
  • Lack of Controlled Sexual Urge
  • Uncontrolled Desire for ‘Something for Nothing’
  • Lack of a Well Defined Power of Decision
  • One or More of the Six Basic Fears
  • Wrong Selection of a Mate in Marriage
  • Over-Caution
  • Wrong Selection of Associates in Business
  • Superstition & Prejudice
  • Wrong Selection of a Vocation
  • Lack of Concentration of Effort
  • The Habit of Indiscriminate Spending
  • Lack of Enthusiasm
  • Intolerance
  • Intemperance
  • Inability to Cooperate With Others
  • Possession of Power Not Acquired Through Self-Effort
  • Intentional Dishonesty
  • Egotism & Vanity
  • Guessing Instead of Thinking
  • Lack of Capital

How many major causes of failure have you been guilty of? Leave a comment below.

Famous success lessons, 10 success lessons from lionel messi.

Want to hear some of Lionel Messi’s success lessons?

One of my favorite inspirations is Lionel Messi, the world famous professional football player.

Messi is considered one of the best football players of all time. He’s won a lot of awards in the past proving just how good he is, including number #1 football player in the world.

Lionel Messi’s Success Lessons

Like most extraordinary people, Lionel Messi’s remarkable success did not come from pure luck or accident. In fact, he worked extremely hard and trained almost every single day to become who he is today.

Here’s 10 of Lionel Messi ‘s success lessons:

1. Fight For What You Believe In

If you have a dream, you have to work hard to achieve it. Success will not come easy. There’s a price to pay and you must be willing to pay it.

Most people are not successful because they are not willing to do what it takes to produce the extraordinary results.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little ‘extra’ . Extra means you must do more; go the extra mile, put in more effort, wake up earlier and stay later to produce more for what you truly desire to achieve in life.

“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” – Lionel Messi

2. Success Takes Time

This is one of my favorite quotes from Messi. It reminds me that success is a long-term process and it is not something that you can achieve overnight. So stop looking for shortcuts or get-rich-quick schemes.

Rome was not built in a day and Steve Jobs did not start Apple in just one night. It is going to take a lot of effort and consistency to produce amazing results.

Therefore, commit to working hard on your dream and never give up. The journey may not be easy, but the reward will be well worth it.

“It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.” – Lionel Messi

3. Just Do What You Love

Does this ring a bell to you? Great people are able to produce great results because they love what they do.

And when you love what you do, you will do great work. Michael Jordan would never have excelled in basketball if he didn’t have love for the sport. Warren Buffett made billions through investing because he has an intense passion for doing just that.

Jack Ma can’t stop himself from thinking and talking about his business because it is in his blood. He sleeps, drinks, talks, walks and dreams his business at all times.

You have to be the same if you want to create something amazing in life. Love what you do and live your life with passion.

“What I do is play soccer, which is what I like.” – Lionel Messi

4. Improvement is Always Possible

You have to focus on improvement every day. If you are in business, you need to improve your business knowledge and skills. If you are a writer, you need to improve your writing skills every day.

As Tony Robbins , one of the best life coaches worldwide has coined it, commit to CANI or Constant-And-Never-Ending-Improvement .

The only way to become better in what you do is to commit to improvement every day .

So do something that will make you better every day. Read a book to improve your knowledge, level up your skills, write more, seek help from a mentor, etc.

“The day you think there are no improvements to be made is a sad one for any player.” – Lionel Messis

5. Give Your Team the Credit they Deserve

No one can succeed alone in this world. In fact, there’s no such thing as a real ‘self-made’ millionaire or billionaire. You need your clients and customers to support you. You need your staff and your partners to help you.

Walt Disney had Roy Disney, and Steve Jobs had Steve Wozniak, to help build their business empires. What about you?

“I’m lucky to be part of a team who helps to make me look good, and they deserve as much of the credit for my success as I do for the hard work we have all put in on the training ground.” – Lionel Messi

6. Don’t Ever Chase the Money

Stop chasing the money. Money is just the score from living your dream. It is a byproduct from your achievements.

The real winning comes from your progress. As long as you are moving forward every day, you will eventually reach your goals.

And stop chasing for the next shiny object. You do not have to compare yourself with others . Just be yourself and do what you are supposed to do.

“Money is not a motivating factor. Money doesn’t thrill me or make me play better because there are benefits to being wealthy. I’m just happy with a ball at my feet. My motivation comes from playing the game I love. If I wasn’t paid to be a professional footballer I would willingly play for nothing.” – Lionel Messi

7. Don’t Forget What’s Most Important to You

Sometimes we over obsess with something, and we neglect other more important things in life. I have seen people who chase money and they start to completely ignore their family members.

Never let this happen to you. Yes, winning is important, but you cannot win all the time and winning is not the only thing you have in life.

Always be grateful for what you have and appreciate those who are around you.

“There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game.” – Lionel Messi

8. Remember That It’s Not All About You

Always focus on winning as a team, instead of it being a one man show. Elon Musk , the guy behind Tesla, said this, “I don’t create companies for the sake of creating companies, but to get things done.”

You are in a team, regardless of whether you are in business or in sports, so work as a team .

Put your main priority on your team’s objectives rather than your own personal mission. This is how your team can grow and move forward.

“When the year starts the objective is to win it all with the team, personal records are secondary.” – Lionel Messi

9. Always Give Everything You’ve Got

You have to trust yourself and believe in your dream. When you have doubts, you will never put in your 100%.

People who truly believe in their dreams are willing to do whatever it takes because they know that their dreams will come true somehow. And this makes them pour in their 100% and give it their best effort.

Are you putting in 100% and do you believe in yourself and your dreams?

“There’s no doubt. It’s certain that I will be 100 percent.” – Lionel Messi

10. Learn to Accept Your Failures

Nobody can win all the time. Sometimes you make more progress and learn more from losing and experiencing failure.

You don’t have to feel frustrated or upset when you fail. It is just part of the cycle. You cannot have the sunshine every day.

Sometimes it will rain, sometimes it will be cloudy and sometimes the sun will shine up high. Things will come and go. So appreciate what you have right now and enjoy every moment , whether you are winning or losing.

When you win, work hard and continue to move forward. When you lose, work even harder and learn from your mistakes.

“Sometimes you have to accept you can’t win all the time.” – Lionel Messi

Here’s a quick recap on Lionel Messi’s success lessons:

  • Fight for what you believe in
  • Success takes time
  • Just do what you love
  • Improvement is always possible
  • Give your team the credit they deserve
  • Don’t ever chase the money
  • Don’t forget what’s most important to you
  • Remember that it’s not all about you
  • Always give everything you’ve got
  • Learn to accept your failures

These are my favorite lessons from Lionel Messi that inspired me to go further in life.

How many of Lionel Messi’s success lessons do you resonate with? Leave a comment below.

5 success lessons from kobe bryant.

Kobe Bryant's Success Lessons

Want to hear some of Kobe Bryant’s success lessons?

Kobe Bryant is a beast;

I remember reading a story where he was called up his trainer at 4am to come and help him practice, and 20 minutes later when his trainer arrived, Kobe was already drenched in sweat .

They trained for a few hours on court and in the weight room, until his trainer went back to get some practice before the team practice at 11am.

When he came back, Kobe was on the other side of court practicing jump shots. He’d only just finished his morning training, right before team practice. Kobe had been there for at least 7 hours before the team training had even begun.

Kobe Bryant’s Success Lessons

There are many success lessons we can learn from Kobe Bryant and his sickening work ethic. And I’m not just talking about within basketball, but within life itself. Here are 5 of Kobe Bryant’s success lessons.

1. Reach Out to People in Different Areas

Besides the obvious ritual of reaching out and connecting with people in the same industry as you, something we can learn from Kobe Bryant is reaching out to those in different areas.

It would be foolish to narrow down the people you listen and learn from to just those on the same career path as you. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur etc.

Since Kobe’s NBA career may be coming to an end within the next couple of years, he’s been reaching out to the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington . In order to find out more about what they do, why they do it and how they became successful in their fields.

Kobe Bryant’s continuing his learning process and planning his future after the NBA by reaching out to others for great inspiration. Which brings me onto my next point, after his official quotes on the subject.

“I cold call people and pick their brain about stuff. Some of the questions I ask seem really really simple and some of them seem stupid, quite honestly, for them. But if I don’t know, I don’t know. I have to ask. I’ll just do that and ask questions. I want to learn more about how they build their business and how they run their companies and how they see the world.” – Kobe Bryant

2. You Can Always Learn More

It doesn’t matter how good you become at your chosen skill or craft, there is always potential for more learning and development. Many successful people might let their achievements go to their head, and make them think there’s nothing they can improve upon.

This really isn’t true; there’s always room for people to improve and learn more, which is exactly why Kobe Bryant and many other people have continued to grow year by year. It’s all about being hungry to learn more, always.

“It’s really about wanting to learn and feeling like your cup is always empty, because there’s always more that you can fill it with. That’s really the important thing and just continuing to learn, learn, learn.” – Kobe Bryant

3. Respect People Close to You

Earlier on in Kobe’s career, he was very aggressive towards his team mates, and would often give them plenty of orders that they didn’t seem to happy about, because he knew the game and knew what had to be done.

However, as he progressed through his career and got older, he realized it was more about respecting his team mates and communicating better. Not only to produce better results, but also to have happy relationships with everyone else.

“Oh, God. I was barking orders left and right. And these grown men are looking at me, like “Who the hell are you?” But I had studied the game so much. As I got older, I started understanding it’s not just about the game. People carry emotions with them. They have lives off the court. That helped me communicate better.” – Kobe Bryant

4. Where There’s Challenge, There’s Opportunity

A challenge is your opportunity to show the world what you can do, and that you can overcome any obstacles in your way. Where there’s a challenge, there’s a chance to prove people wrong.

Not only that, but it means your constantly bettering yourself and giving yourself more opportunities in the future. When you overcome challenges you grow stronger as a person, and that can only be a good thing.

In Kobe’s case, the strongest example of this was when he came back from his Achilles tendon injury, proving everybody wrong. Kobe had the confidence and belief that he could come back from the injury, and he did just that.

The fact that the chances of coming back after such an injury were low, made the challenge even more exciting, said Kobe.

“I have moments and I have days where I doubt myself. But to me, that’s the exciting part of the challenge.That’s when I realize this is a great opportunity to come out and show everybody this is how you bounce back. This is how you respond to a challenge.” – Kobe Bryant

5. Break Your Problems Down Into Smaller Pieces

If you have an incredibly big problem that looks too large to be solved, chop it down into smaller pieces. This way, it allows you to focus on specific issues individually which gives you a better chance of fixing them.

As Kobe explains below, this is what he did back in 2003, after all the endorsements he had dropped him and told him the situation couldn’t be fixed.

And this problem also relates back to the “where there’s challenge, there’s opportunity” success lesson. This was a big challenge for Kobe to overcome, but he did it and proved people wrong.

“In 2003, I was going through the Colorado situation, and it was very tough. I had to ask myself what I wanted to accomplish. I want to keep my family together. Have to focus on that. I’m a good basketball player: I want more championships. Focus on that. Every endorsement I had, they dropped me. Every marketing person said, “You can’t be fixed.” So I start chopping the problem into smaller pieces, and I focus on them. What else are you going to do?” – Kobe Bryant

Here’s a quick recap of Kobe Bryant’s success lessons:

  • Reach out to people in different areas
  • You can always learn more
  • Respect people that are close to you
  • Where there’s challenge, there’s opportunity
  • Break your problems down into smaller pieces

How many of Kobe Bryant’s success lessons do you agree with? Leave a comment below.

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17 Inspiring Self Improvement Books To Read For A Year Of Growth

Posted: January 10, 2024 | Last updated: January 10, 2024

Luvvie Ajayi Jones hilariously and honestly asks you to evaluate how you approach your life so you can achieve the career goals you have in mind. She begins with helping you get clear about your identity and weaves in tales of personal experience to give you some of the most relatable advice you'll read.

Mental Health

This is a book for anyone who's ever needed a little more self-love in their life. In Schuster's book, she recalls how reaching great success as a young adult didn't negate her deeper need for self-love and nurturing. From this guide to reparenting yourself, you'll learn how to cultivate gratitude, how to identify and combat self-limited beliefs, and ultimately, how to create a life you love.

Relationships

In <em>How to Be an Adult in Relationships</em>, David Richo takes Shetty's advice one step further by teaching you how to be more mindful about love. He lays out steps for how to attract the love you deserve <em>and</em> how to maintain it.

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6 Self-Help Books That Therapists Read Themselves

Experts recommend these contemplative texts and workbooks to help shift your perspective.

An illustration of a person holding a paddle and standing on a book that is a raft on a dark blue river with large rocks that must be steered around.

By Carolyn Todd

Of the thousands of self-help books on the market, which ones are truly helpful? “It’s uncommon to find a self-help book that feels different,” said Vienna Pharaon, a marriage and family therapist in New York City.

But genuinely useful titles abound. The best of the genre invite reflection or offer practical tools to promote emotional, psychological or spiritual well-being. And there are some that therapists personally turn to or suggest to their patients.

“Almost every therapist I know has a whole list of self-help books to recommend,” said Daniel Tomasulo, a counseling psychologist and the academic director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.

When sorting through the self-help stacks, who better to help than mental health professionals? We asked seven to share their picks.

1. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World , by the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams

How do we experience joy in the face of personal and collective suffering? The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu spent five days reflecting on their own lives to answer that question, and they compiled their stories and guidance in this 2016 book.

“The Book of Joy” is an opportunity to learn from two spiritual leaders in an intimate, accessible way, said Sona Dimidjian, director of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Through their dialogue, which is punctuated with laughter and tears, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu teach readers how to cultivate joy and work through difficulties like illness and despair. Dr. Dimidjian recommends the book to “anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by the realities of our world and daily life today,” she said.

2. The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living , by Russ Harris

This book, first published in 2007, teaches you to accept your negative thoughts and feelings as they arise, instead of resisting or being consumed by them — a refreshing approach known as acceptance and commitment therapy.

Diana Garcia, a South Florida-based therapist, says this easy-to-read primer made her “first fall in love” with ACT. She has clients use the book as a supplement to their sessions and recommends it to friends who are feeling stuck. It teaches you how to keep taking actions that move you in a positive direction regardless of how you’re feeling, she explained.

3. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion , by Gregory Boyle

Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest who founded Homeboy Industries, a rehabilitation and re-entry program for former gang members. His 2011 book is a collection of real, raw stories about people he worked with and the lessons we can all draw from their experiences.

“Each chapter reads like a Sunday sermon to be savored and meditated upon,” said Jacob Ham, director of the Center for Child Trauma and Resilience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. While faith is woven throughout the book, Dr. Ham recommends the title to anyone who feels “that their traumas and all the ways they’ve coped with them have left them broken and unredeemable.”

4. The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity , by Julia Cameron

This 1992 workbook from Julia Cameron, a teacher and author, is a 12-week guide to recovering your sense of childlike creativity. And it’s not just for artists and writers, said Britt Frank, a trauma specialist in Kansas.

“Of all of the books I have ever used with clients, this one has the most staying power,” she said. “Because everyone is creative, and creativity is medicine.”

For years, Ms. Frank has returned to the book’s tools — like the “morning pages,” a stream-of-consciousness journaling practice. And she uses “The Artist’s Way” when treating clients with issues like depression and addiction. But skimmers beware, Ms. Frank cautioned: “It’s not a book you read. It’s a book you work.”

5. Homecoming: Healing Trauma to Reclaim Your Authentic Self , by Thema Bryant

Thema Bryant is a trauma therapist, ordained minister and professor who offers a “distinctive lens on health, hope and healing trauma,” said Ayanna Abrams, a psychologist in Atlanta.

Drawing on her clinical work, spirituality and personal recovery from trauma, Dr. Bryant shares stories, reflections and exercises in this 2022 title. She helps people believe in their capacity to heal, Dr. Abrams explained. Dr. Bryant also avoids the “gimmicky, bypassing or vague” language that so many self-help books lean on, she added.

6. The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate and Ignite Your Positive Personality , by Ryan M. Niemiec and Robert E. McGrath

This 2019 guide helps people recognize, honor and nurture their brightest qualities, Dr. Tomasulo said. The idea of cultivating your “character strengths” comes from positive psychology, which centers on promoting well-being, he explained. “It’s about moving from focusing on ‘what’s wrong’ to ‘what’s strong.’”

People who lean into their character strengths tend to be happier , Dr. Tomasulo said. This book, he explained, is a good pick for “people who are doing OK, but want to have more joy and well-being in their life.”

Carolyn Todd is a freelance health journalist who covers wellness, mental well-being and diabetes.

How to Be Happy

Happiness can predict health and longevity, but it doesn’t just happen to you..

Small changes in your behavior and surroundings can set you on course for happiness.  Here ’s how .

Our seven-day Happiness Challenge  will help you focus on a crucial element of living a good life — your relationships .

Finland has been ranked the happiest country on earth for six consecutive years. What’s the secret? The answer is complicated .

Cultivating a sense of wonder can be a salve  for a turbulent mind. Here is how to make it part of your everyday life .

It can seem impossible to be optimistic about the future. But these questions  will help you understand what all optimists have in common.

Exercise, even in small doses, can improve your mood. Try our eight-minute routine  that's based on movements researchers say are inspired by joy.

COMMENTS

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