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One of the things that millionaires do differently from average people is that they spend a large amount of time on self-improvement. Finding a great self-improvement book is a way to change your life for the better. Sadly, many books in the self-improvement category are pretty much useless.
Here’s a guide that should serve to eliminate a lot of the clutter and point you in the direction of living a dramatically improved life. Click on the book's cover to take you directly to the Amazon page. |
1. Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy
I’m placing this book at #1 because out of all the self-improvement books I've read, this one has been the easiest to read, the most applicable, and filled with concise information. Brian Tracy is a superstar in the genre and is an inspirational individual. Out of 168 reviews on Amazon, 149 are 5-stars. Everything from positive affirmations to goal setting is in the book. This is by far my favorite self-improvement book and it’s the one I recommend whenever someone asks. I would rank this book: 10/10 |
2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
This book is almost tied with #1. It’s been changing lives for almost a hundred years and my life is no exception. This book opened my mind to exploring a definite aim in life and making purposeful decisions. These two things sound so simple but many people don’t do them. The book also opened my mind to goal setting and actually writing my goals down, or bringing them into physical existence. Napoleon Hill dedicated his life to studying successful people and if anyone can show you the way, it’s him. This book provides 13 principles of personal achievement that are sure to change the way you think… so you can grow rich. I would rate this book: 10/10 |
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Even though I read this book a few years ago, I still remember the core ideas from it. Coming from someone like me, who has difficultly remembering super-specific details, it means a lot. Today, whenever I read I take notes so I can review them later and refresh my memory. With this book, it wasn’t necessary. The book is truly timeless. Carnegie held that success comes from the ability to communicate effectively and understand others. The bottom line is: you need other people to be successful. It’s hard to find a rich hermit! With this book, you can learn how to value people and help them feel appreciated. If you can make someone else feel worth a million bucks, you’re sure to get treated the same way. With almost 2,500 five-star reviews, thousands of people are ready to testify that this book is well worth the read. I would rate this book: 9.5/10 |
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
I actually just finished this book and I was very impressed! I loved the easy-to-read style and anecdotes (many of which involve his children) that Dr. Covey provides. The book is filled with wisdom about personal responsibility, developing good habits and creating win-win situations. He outlines a pathway for living with fairness and integrity, as well as awakening the power within us to take advantage of the opportunities in the world around us. It’s easy to see why this book has been selling so much for so long. I would rank this book: 9/10 |
5. Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins wrote this best-seller in the 90s and even in 2015 he has his new “Money: Master the Game” book on the best-seller lists. His longevity should be a clue as to how well he can write and inspire others. I would have listed this book higher except for the sole reason that I have not personally read the book. The reason it’s here because it’s almost exclusively the book I get recommended when I ask about self-improvement. At 548 pages, it’s a bit long, but I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback about this book and Tony Robbins in general. I would rate this book: I haven’t read this book but many people tell me it’s a 10/10. |
6. He Who Thinks He Can by Orison Swett Marden
Although “He Who Thinks He Can” is just one essay in the book, it was enough to radically change my thinking. I got the book for 99 cents on Kindle and within ten minutes of reading it, I thought, “Holy crap! This is heavy stuff.” Marden talks about the importance of being a man and keeping your integrity. All his essays are filled with quotable pieces such as, “Be sure that your success will never rise higher than your confidence in yourself.” Orison Swett Marden has a ton of self-improvement books, but if I were to recommend just one, this would be it. I would rate this book: 9/10 |
7. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
I am a big believer in the law of attraction, which states that “like attracts like” and that your positive thoughts can bring positive things into your life. Likewise, your negative thoughts (which too many of us have) can bring negative things into your life. I’ve made a big change in my personal life by eliminating most of my negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. I feel healthier, happier and more productive. This classic reveals how our thoughts shape our reality and how it is truly possible to master your thoughts in order to create the life you want. It’s another 99 cent book and only about 60 pages long, so take an afternoon to read it. One afternoon is a small price to pay for changing the course of your life. I would rate this book: 8/10 |
8. See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar
I’m a big fan of Zig Ziglar. I’ve listened to many of his seminars and read his books, including “Secrets of Closing The Sale”, which will make you an immensely better salesperson. But, if you want to improve your life and learn from one of the masters, look no further than “See You at the Top”. This is Ziglar’s masterpiece. It’s a little long at nearly 400 pages but it’s worth the read. Ziglar will tell you that you must improve your self-image, find the good in other people and to keep going. One of my favorite takeaways from the book is that successful people look for the good in others – Zig Ziglar reinforces the fact that you can have anything you want in life if you’re willing to help others get what they want. I also remember a cool fact about working with others to accomplish great things… geese fly 72% farther by flying together. Zig Ziglar changed my thinking and my life. I hope he can do the same for you. I would rate this book: 8/10 |
9. Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
If you read the first habit of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, you don’t really need to read this book but it will deepen your understanding of our unique ability to choose our responses to situations. The entire world is stimulus-response, and while we can’t choose the stimuli that we encounter (for the most part), we can choose our response. Victor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who witnessed the horrors of Nazi death camps. He realized that even though couldn’t avoid the suffering, he could choose how he coped with it and find meaning in it. He holds that our biggest drive in life isn’t pleasure, but the discovery and pursuit of what we find meaningful. At $2.99 on Kindle, it’s a steal for the lessons it provides. I would rate this book: 7.5/10 |
10. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
This is another book that I read years ago but it still has an influence on me. The title is pretty self-explanatory, as the book outlines 48 laws that will help you to achieve success in your life. A few of the laws are “always say less than necessary”, “use absence to increase respect and honor”, and “stir up waters to catch fish”. There are many online lists and YouTube videos discussing the laws but in order to get the full effect you should read the book. Once you’re done with this one, you can move on to the sequel, written by rapper 50 Cent and aptly named, “The 50th Law”. I would rate this book: 7/10 |