Books can be a great place to start in your self development journey. You can learn so much from another person’s experience and the lessons they have to share. To avoid reading lots of unhelpful content, we have narrowed down the best self development books so you can get right into the good stuff.
We’ve got a wide range of different recommendations here from helping you stress and worry less, to improve your financial position. There is something for everyone to take away and learn no matter where you are in your self-improvement journey.
8 Best Self Development Books
Let’s look into some of the best self-improvement books. A lot of these are classics and will introduce to you some great ideas that will get you thinking and can help to transform your life.
1. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Martin Manson
A well-known book to all, Martin Mason’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*CK was a life and game changer for many readers.
This isn’t your typical self-help book because Manson essentially goes against the usual positivity mindset. The book focuses on his life experiences and how he learnt not to care about the things he can’t control or things that aren’t important to him.
This book helps you to find meaning in your experiences and everyday struggles. This is a great book to open your mind and to help you think differently to find joy at the moment.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
How to Win Friends and Influence People is a classic self-improvement book. This book has helped so many people to be better communicators and accelerate in their relationships, whether that be with colleagues or friends.
You might think you already have friends and can influence them, but this book really teaches you how to value other people and show them that you care.
This is a great book for someone who wants to improve their relationships with others.
3. Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
By the same author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie came back with another lesser known but equally amazing book.
Stop Worry and Start Living does exactly what it says on the tin, it helps you to enjoy your life without the fear of worry. This book is perfect for anyone who often finds themselves worrying about situations before they have happened.
4. The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
Transform your work and career with Tim Ferris’ The 4-Hour Work Week.
This self-development book is really aimed at anyone who wants to change their career path and get out of the standard 9-5. It motivates you to actually start the company you might have been dreaming of, or finally quit the job you hate to start a digital nomad life of travelling.
At the end of each chapter, this book gives you actional steps to take away so by the end of the book you could be travelling the world with your own company, and be working a 4-hour workweek.
5. Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed
Matthew Syed, the author of the popular Black Box Thinking, brings another amazing self-development book called Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking.
This explains how diversity in decision making can make a big impact on solutions and problems. Syed demonstrates how to have effective and successful results, they need to be born out of diverse minds and ideas.
This book is essential for the workplace, teams and groups of people to help them reach the best outcomes. You should read this if you are ready to start thinking differently and make a change in your decision making.
6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is the godfather of all self-development books. Dare I say this is where it all began.
This book gives you 7 habits to transform your life and become that person you’ve always wanted to be. It starts with being proactive and going out to do what you want and ends with constant improvement and developing your skills.
This one is great if you want to learn or develop your skills in something. It’s a great motivating tool to make the most out of you and your capabilities.
Because this book is so highly rated, you can find all different kinds of training sessions online and other resources to help you put the 7 habits into your daily life.
7. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This book will make you reevaluate your finances and how you think about money.
Rich Dad Poor Dad explores the different attitudes to money and how to actually make it. It challenges the usual school of thoughts surrounding assets and outgoings and also works and how you utilise money.
This book is great for anyone wanting to improve or learn about their finances. Be prepared to be open-minded and think differently.
8. The Secret by Ronda Bryne
Anyone who has read The Secret knows it is a mammoth of a book or rather a bible should we say. But before you shy away it is worth the read, or you can watch the film.
The Secret introduces a concept called manifestation and the law of attraction. This essentially means if you want something and believe you can get it, you will.
This book shows examples of people who have believed and received and will tell you how to get anything you want in your life if you let it.
Go into this open-mindedness and you will not be disappointed, this book and all it has to give will blow your mind.
