I remember the first time I held my hands on self-improvement books. I was baffled at the time, I realized that my destiny was not set in stone. I could become my own fitness teacher and trainer. the best self improvement books i read would set the training course for me to get through. all I had to do was listen to that voice that aspired to climb higher and higher.
Every time I committed to a new challenge, I knew I was going to be out of my comfort zone. but after enough iterations, I also knew that it would not only be part of my repertoire, it will be part of me.
You are reading: Books about bettering yourself
Not all personal development books are created equal. some help him start his journey, others give him a boost when he has gained experience in certain areas.
These are the best self-help books that I recommend reading no matter how old you are:
1. what are you going to do with that duck? by seth godin
This is one of the best books for self-improvement. Unlike most self-improvement books, this one focuses on an endless variety of areas where you can and ultimately should improve.
With his ruthless honesty and genuine inspiration, godin makes you ponder the tough questions you’d never dare to ask yourself. The result is a whole new perspective on the world: a fresher, more vibrant perspective, packed with bold new possibilities.
if you need a friend who understands you, a boss who forces you deep into your discomfort zone, a wise guru who tells you what to leave behind, and a wise man who heralds the arrival of a new era , then look no further; You will find all of these astute voices united in this magnificent book. make sure you get this one.
print | electronic book
2. fooled by randomness by nassim nicholas taleb
Perhaps it’s the fact that randomness played such an important role in my years as a poker player that I find this book absolutely important.
we often attribute ability where there is only luck; we confuse correlation with causation and underestimate the incredible effect that small changes can have.
this book gave me a perspective that unfortunately I rarely find in others: you can do everything right and still lose, or do everything wrong and still win. so it’s not about the result; it’s your actions that got you there.
This important message is central to many of the decisions I make in my life. Taleb’s book helps you develop that perspective so you can live in a world one cannot fully comprehend, where results are not always clear markers of performance, and where chance seems to play with our destinies. stop being fooled by randomness!
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print | electronic book | audiobook
3. robert greene’s 48 laws of power
I read this book at a time when I thought power was something you had to achieve. power for power. and although I disagree with my old self on this point, the fact is that power is very real, it forms the invisible scepter of all the hierarchical relationships that surround us.
I still recommend this book. I think it’s important to know how people use power for their own benefit and what to do to protect yourself from certain abuses of power.
plus the fact that all the stories in this book revolve around power. contains many life lessons, amazing historical anecdotes. if read in a certain light, the ability to use power for good.
From Caesar to Goethe, from Sun-tzu to Machiavelli, this insightful book covers a wide range of human development. If you, like me, prefer to be interested in something less selfish, perhaps the last mastery of Greene’s book will suffice (I haven’t read it myself).
another great personal development book in the same style, but this time; covering a broader scope, and perhaps, something that will make the world a better place.
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
4. Stephen’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. r. flock
The title of this book doesn’t capture it all. covey shares with us seven habits that one must adopt to be truly effective in what you would like to achieve.
of course, it is not as easy as it seems. he emphasizes the fact that we need to go through a paradigm shift, a fundamental change in the way we perceive the world and ourselves.
This book can be read as a guide, practices and all, to go through the stages to make that change happen. part shock therapy, part timeless spiritual wisdom, covey’s book is packed with wisdom that really makes a difference.
And as I mentioned, don’t be fooled by the book’s title; it’s about much more than simply becoming more effective. it is about becoming a whole person who not only seeks the best in oneself, but also in the people around him.
A must read for anyone who feels there is always something to learn.
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
5. the psychedelic explorer’s guide by james fadiman
While finding a book on psychedelics on this list of self-improvement books might come as a surprise, I think any metaphysical distinction between tools like books, meditation, or molecules is unfounded. all must be judged solely on their merits. and the merits of certain chemical clues, used constructively, are perhaps greater than any book on this list.
the psychedelic explorer’s guide will teach you how to prepare yourself and your surroundings, what and how much to take, and what to do when something goes wrong. so you can safely improve your thinking, creativity, introspection and emotional balance.
This book contains everything you need to know about using psychedelics as a tool for self-improvement while drawing on extensive scientific literature and personal wisdom. A must for both beginners and experienced psychonauts.
print | electronic book
6. eat that frog! by brian tracy
We all know what that destructive downward spiral feels like.
We have some important tasks to do where the very thought generates resistance. we are not sure how and where to start and feel overwhelmed before we even start. we are easily distracted to get rid of that feeling, only to suddenly realize that hours have passed, precious hours, and then we find ourselves in the same position as before, still not knowing where or how to begin, but now, feeling guilty over of her that is expressed in more desire for distraction.
to infinity.
To break this spell of procrastination before it paralyzes us, Tracy advises us to eat that frog: get our priorities straight, deconstruct larger tasks into smaller tasks, learn when to tackle the big frog first, or start with something else.
tracy is truly a motivational speaker and one of the best personal development writers. Though she wishes she’d delved a little deeper into the psychological reasons why people procrastinate, she’s still a must-have for anyone looking to break the spell and get some shit done.
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
7. think and grow rich napoleon hill
From 1937, this book by Hill is a masterpiece. don’t bother with the edited versions as they all leave out important and controversial information: something historical and something related to the point of the book, which is to think and get rich.
The word rich could imply that this book is about material gain, and while it certainly covers that area, it is about much more than that.
This is perhaps the first explicit mention of positive thinking about worrying not only about the cash in your pocket, but also about the thoughts in your head.
This self-development book has been able to withstand the destruction of time. It covers all the basics, from planning, decision-making, and persistence, to more advanced techniques like autosuggestion, transmutation, and what we can learn from fear.
This is not a get-rich book, but a timeless guide to discovering what really matters. as it clearly says at the beginning “riches cannot always be measured in money!”
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
8. the attention revolution by alan wallace
In a world dominated by increasingly powerful technologies designed to grab your attention, one way to empower yourself is to bring that attention back to where you want it to shine. this book offers just that.
In The Mindfulness Revolution, Wallace describes the path to attaining Shamatha, a Buddhist meditative state of mind that is free from any distracting blinks. it is a long and hard road, probably impossible for us to reach in this life. however, even getting to stage two or three will make everything in life easier.
A wonderful introduction to meditation, The Mindfulness Revolution will inspire you to take on the challenge and see what you can really achieve by training your mind.
once you have reached that level of concentration, you can use it to open your heart with the practice of the four immeasurables or deepen the practice with this wonderful commentary by dudjom lingpa, both by alan b. wallace.
Before reading this book, you may want to take a look at this guide to get a better idea on how to prioritize your life:
the definitive guide to prioritize your work and your life
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
9. john durant’s paleo manifesto
Over the last 10,000 years, we seem to have been propelled into an increasingly fast-paced world forged by our own hands and minds. Only recently have we been able to rebuild our journey and reflect on our humble beginnings.
This amazing book is a great reflection. goes back to the Paleolithic in search of answers to health and longevity.
Between science and his personal experiments, Durant weaves a mind-blowing story that will convey the importance of an evolutionary perspective on how to live well.
covers everything from nutrition to exercise, sleep to fasting, ancient practices to modern biohacking, and even sketches a vision of the future where depression and obesity have become obsolete.
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If you only have room for a couple of books on this list, be sure to include this one.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
10. mental vision by daniel j. siegel
As my Burmese meditation teacher used to proclaim, “mindfulness alone is not enough.” as he himself says, a powerful combination of emotional and social intelligence.
we all deal with one disorder or another, something that seems to disturb the very core of our being comfortable; and although it may not always be the best strategy to want to get rid of it certainly helps to understand and have compassion for that small aspect that upsets that perfect image of ourselves.
Bursting with techniques, insights, and epiphanies, this book contains everything you need to know to rewire your brain and optimally use its capacity for neuroplasticity. a great book for spiritual and scientific seekers alike.
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
11. how to win friends & influencing people by dale carnegie
This is the first self-improvement book I’ve ever read and it’s also probably one of the oldest in this category.
Written in 1937, primarily for the door-to-door salesman of that day, this Carnegie book can truly be called a classic. shows what we all know intuitively:
It doesn’t matter what your line of work is or what you want to accomplish. if you are doing business of any kind, you must do it about the other person.
being kind helps a lot. And while I may not fully defend the premise of this book because I don’t distinguish between genuine interest and faking it to get what you want; it still contains a treasure chest full of timeless wisdom.
everyone wants to feel appreciated, and rightfully so. learning to make a little effort to brighten someone’s day will make the world a better place, no matter what your goal is.
I still spontaneously remember part of his guide, and perhaps this quality is why this book still attracts millions of readers to this day.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
12. feel good by david d. burns
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective therapy used by psychologists today. it involves identifying thought patterns that have a detrimental effect on your self-image and mood; and deconstruct them to get out of these destructive cycles.
if you want to know how this works, what moods are central in your life, what thought patterns are causing your depression, how to overcome self-criticism and guilt, how to overcome addiction to approval and love and how your self-perfectionism is holding you back, then look no further.
cognitive behavioral therapy has helped millions of people and it can help you, and this is the best book for the job. Packed with scientific research, exercises, and examples, this is the best upgrade you’ll ever get.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
13. maxwell maltz’s new psychocybernetics
What can a plastic surgeon tell us about happiness?
In dealing with his patients, Dr. Maxwell Maltz experienced firsthand that living up to his expectations doesn’t automatically translate into a more positive life experience. His outward appearances certainly changed but his inner insecurity remained.
this caused him to look for other means to help his patients, which resulted in visualization techniques. discovered that a person’s outward success can never rise above the internally visualized one.
This book tells a very honest and humble story, loaded with fundamental truths about our psychology and how our own philosophy affects us. all this is told by a very compassionate writer.
Some books can be said to be valuable for years to come, and I’m absolutely sure this is one of them.
print | audiobook
14. thinking, fast and slow by daniel kahneman
This brilliant book by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman is a lucid account of all the incredible research he has done over the years. he is the founder of behavioral economics, the way our psychology affects our decisions, and explains in simple prose how our thinking is divided into two systems: one fast and one slow. (Here’s an explanation of how these two systems work).
fast is almost instantaneous; it consists of the hardwired instincts that govern the emotions, a remnant of an evolutionary past, an unconscious irrational machine.
slow is deliberate, self-reflective, and logical, but can be easily distracted and requires a lot of effort.
both play an important role in our lives and kahneman explores when the fast system fails and why the slow system often goes unused.
Packed with mind-blowing examples and crisp analysis, this book teaches you how to learn to make sound judgments and use the best of both worlds.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
15. an astronauts guide to life on earth by chris hadfield
some extraordinary people travel to the edge of our world and return with a unique story to tell. Colonel Hadfield is one of those people, and his story is perhaps the most important on this list.
While the other books on this list teach you to be independent, envision your future, and dream big, this guide for astronauts turns it all upside down.
a truly remarkable book, packed with amazing stories illustrating the life lessons he learned as one of the most successful astronauts who ever lived.
full of compassion, warmth and genuine self-reflective humor, it tells us that we should be prepared for the worst and never allow ourselves to enjoy every moment.
Part action story, part hard-nosed truth, and part timeless spiritual wisdom, this book makes you feel like stepping into a rocket ship and experiencing what it did while learning the most valuable lessons along the way.
electronic book
16. perfect health diet by paul jaminet & shou-ching jaminet
No self-improvement list is complete without a nutrition book, and The Perfect Diet for Health is quite possibly the best diet book on the market right now.
whether you’re overweight or not, feeling sick, or just looking to improve your health (and keep it that way), look no further.
After reading decades of studies, the authors build the optimal way to eat, destroying popular food fads in the process. They explain in sufficient detail the optimal macro ratios of which starches are safe, which vitamins and supplements to take and what foods, or what they call toxins, to avoid.
This book is a great complement to the paleo manifesto as it shares its basic evolutionary perspective; we were evolved to eat moderate, high-fat, non-toxic carbohydrates and protein.
and sometimes going without food can be a very healthy thing. if your body is not in optimal health, then it is almost useless to read the other books. make this your number one priority.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
17. Failing Forward by John C. maxwell
At one time or another, we will all fail. the most important thing is how you deal with it once you do.
Will you give up? Or will you use it as a springboard to success?
I recently read an article about new start-ups in silicon valley. his hypothesis was that the more you failed in the past, the more likely you were to get funded.
why?
Because failure teaches you invaluable lessons, and if you decide to continue after hitting the pavement, you will have more to deliver.
Now, this is by no means our knee-jerk reaction to failure. most of us fear it, avoid it, or refuse to fail at all costs. all three are by far suboptimal. it is much better to accept failure where it arises, accept responsibility and use it as a way to learn about yourself and your weaknesses.
Only when you are absolutely honest with yourself about failure can you hope to grow. this wonderful book will teach you how to do exactly this. an honest book for all those who are looking for a clean mirror.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
18. the power of now by eckhart tolle
The power of now hardly needs an introduction. It is perhaps the book that has had the most impact on our collective consciousness in recent years.
inspired millions of people around the world to live more fulfilling and compassionate lives, all through the practice of mindfulness. mindfulness is moment-to-moment nonjudgmental awareness.
is a technique that relieves depression, increases emotional intelligence and develops compassion. And only recently has the West arrived, remaining weary and skeptical until science validated a wide range of its claims.
The brain can be trained. The Power of Now teaches you how to let go of your attachment to certain thoughts and states of mind, thus clearing your mind to fully embrace the present moment.
See Also: 17 Best Dating Books for Guys | Ranked by A Player | The Power Moves
If you have already read this book and are looking for a deeper understanding, read wherever you go, there you are.
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print | electronic book | audiobook
19. randy pausch’s last lecture
at some point or another, almost all of us have come across randy pausch’s latest lecture. (if you haven’t, check out this powerful message here).
what would you say when you only have a few months to live? This was probably Pausch’s question that he posed to himself when he had to give his lecture a week later.
but being confined to an academic setting and a short period of time, he felt he had more to share, which marked the birth of this book.
Filled with stories from his childhood, it’s a very realistic exploration of what it means to pursue your dreams, be a good person, and live a life that values others.
A beautiful mix of humor and optimism, her tender voice will be a source of inspiration for all who take the time to listen, something she tried to convey to her readers.
A very charming read. And don’t forget, ‘it’s not about the cards you’re dealt, it’s about how you play the hand.’ print | electronic book | audiobook
20. daring too much by brené brown
I love Brené Brown’s books. she writes about an idea that I found terrifying but true at the same time.
vulnerability, contrary to what we have been taught, is not a weakness, but a power to be harnessed. growing up with the idea that we have to hide certain parts of ourselves, to appear strong and persevere at all costs always seemed like a facade to me. And now you have the research to back that up.
From that place of vulnerability comes a sense of dignity, which for most of us, needs to be cultivated every day. Only by getting in touch with that tender spot in our hearts can we connect with others and develop genuine compassion, which are prerequisites, Brown tells us, to living a “wholehearted life.”
The reality, however, is that we often shut down, feel abandoned and misunderstood, and rather want the vulnerability and perhaps even ourselves to go away.
This book is an incredible antidote to that common instinct. Do you want to be really convinced? check out his amazing ted talk here.
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
21. the world haunted by demons by carl sagan
We all find UFOs fascinating. we all really want to believe in magic or visiting aliens. (surely crop circles are conclusive proof!) and some of us believe that the government is poisoning us with chemtrails.
at the same time we are fascinated by the progress made by science, by all the new technologies and medicines and the fascinating discoveries that are being made
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
22. jules evans philosophy for life
as the philosopher sloterdijk says; ‘philosophy is a beautiful daughter of an ugly mother’.
philosophy first emerged when the ancient Greek polis states were on the verge of destruction. philosophy, according to sloterdijk, was not just a way of making sense of the world, of arriving at knowledge or truth, but of serving as a psychological immune system.
This book is an amazing expression of this perspective. From the Stoics to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jules Evans writes about some of the amazing philosophical techniques we can use to train and enhance our cognitive immune systems.
weaves ancient stories with modern applications, from heroism to cosmic contemplation. Philosophy for Life is a beautifully written book that makes it easy to understand the practical nature of philosophy.
Perhaps the book would have been better if it had gone deeper into the subject, but it nonetheless captures the essence of what philosophy can mean to the modern person. a must read.
print | electronic book
23. man’s search for meaning by victor. me. frank
If I had to choose one book on this list as required reading, I would pick this one.
For three years, Viktor Frankl worked in four different Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz. He tells us about his experience and that of his fellow prisoners.
both chilling and uplifting, confronted with the thought that they would be stuck there for the rest of their lives; tells us about those who found meaning and those who succumbed to nihilism.
a cross between a memoir, psychological research and a self-help book, frankl conveys a powerful message:
finding meaning is at the core of being human.
from his own experience as a psychiatrist, combined with anecdotes from his time in concentration camps, he tells us how important it is to find meaning in our own lives and what we can become if we don’t.
suffering, it conveys to us, is inevitable. but how we deal with it is up to ourselves. If we can find meaning in even the worst acts our species has inflicted on its fellows, we will be able to move forward with renewed purpose.
I also recommend that you check this article to help you discover your purpose and passion that will motivate you to live in a meaningful way: how to motivate yourself and be happy every day when you wake up
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
24. simplify by joshua becker
this is a fun little book written by joshua becker, a great advocate of minimalist living. We all know that quote from fightclub: “advertising makes us chase cars and clothes, work jobs we hate so we can buy things we don’t need.”
well, this is over.
Little by little we are outgrowing an era where the unquestionable mantra “more is always better” dictates our behavior. rather, we now find ourselves, our lives, and our homes cluttered with too much information, too much stuff, and too much shit that we don’t need.
This simple book helps you become aware of the freedom that comes from living with less. It is a small book, easy to read in less than an hour, but it has a persuasive touch to start living live in a very different way.
electronic book
25. love yourself like your life depended on it by kamal ravikant
The fundamental foundation on which all true self-improvement is built is called self-love. because in the end, no matter which way you look at yourself, if you don’t love yourself, at some point you will sabotage yourself. you will think that, for one reason or another, you are not worthy . And if you think that, why would you really want to achieve anything?
And this isn’t just about achievements. it’s about how you approach yourself every day; this is what you see when you look in the mirror.
We make so many snap judgments about ourselves, often without being aware of them, that they are filled with negativity, stopping us before we can even begin to heal. this powerful book shows you the antidote.
self love. Not to be confused with creating a narcissistic image of ourselves that some earlier books on this list implicitly endorse, but self-love, that inner appreciation that no external condition can take away.
self love, that infinite source that you can share with others.
See Also: Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images
print | electronic book | audiobook
26. rich dad poor dad by robert kiyosaki
This is a great timeless book that focuses on the money mindset rather than making money. Despite that, it remains the best personal finance book in the world for the last 20 years and for good reason. dispels the myth that you need to have a high-paying job to make a living. that statement is truer now than ever thanks to the gig economy and a variety of other opportunities for people to earn money.
This book offers a series of timeless quotes and lessons that are still relevant today, as people’s views on money haven’t changed much over the years. This book gives you the opportunity to challenge your views on money in unique ways that other personal finance books don’t.
27. smarter faster better by charles duhigg
a somewhat recent book, but one with many lessons on productivity, finding purpose, teamwork, and more. it’s all relevant as our careers and lives become more and more connected with other people and many people are still trying to figure out what they want to do in life.
Even if you have a lot of things figured out, this book still offers a lot in terms of setting goals, making better decisions, and reminding you that managing how you think is more important than what you think. duhigg pulls from real-world examples to emphasize 8 key productivity concepts. He researched neuroscience while interviewing a wide variety of people, including Broadway composers, a professional poker player, a four-star general, an FBI agent, airline pilots, educational reformers, CEOs, and more.
final thoughts
Now that you have a list of the best self-improvement books to transform your life, what should you do next? read them all?
Of course, it is better to read them all, but we only have so much brain power to take in all this knowledge. What if I told you that there is a way to increase your brain power? here it is:
how to increase brain power, boost memory and become 10 times smarter
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