100 Best Personal Development Books to Read in 2021
What are the best personal development books of all time?
What self-help books are must-reads for personal growth in 2021?
There are so many good books. Books to motivate, books to inspire you, and books that will change your life.
With no shortage of options for your personal growth and development in 2021, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. No wonder we feel as if it will take a lifetime to read them all.
So, where do you start your personal development journey?
What self-help book should you read first?
Table of Contents:
- Best Self Help Books on Success
- Books on Goal Achievement
- Productivity and Self-Motivation Books
- Best Self Discovery Books
- Top Books for Self-Acceptance
- Build Your Self-Confidence Books
- Books on Happiness and Positivity
- Best Books for Millennials
- Perseverance and Mental Strength Books
- Law of Attraction and Abundance Books
- Best Books for Mind, Body, and Spirit
- Finding Your Purpose Books
- Books about Belonging and Relationships
- Best Self-Help Books for Changing Habits
- Transform Your Health Habits Books
- Mindfulness Books for Personal Growth
- Inspirational Stories for Self-Improvement
- Personal Development Books for Entrepreneurs
- Best Leave the 9 to 5 Behind Books
- Top Personal Finance Self-Help Books
I want every book you read in 2021 to change your life – to impact you, your mindset, and your life in a fundamental way. To encourage you that achieving your dreams and goals is possible for you. Because it so is!
Personal development is a lifelong pursuit of betterment and just one book isn’t enough to get you there. It’s not just about growing your skills and talents, but about connecting with who you really are. It’s a pursuit of self-discovery, of purpose, and of greater understanding.
Each and every book in this best personal development book roundup has impacted lives. Instead of reading a synopsis of each book title, you’ll read recommendations from real people who have selected this book as their favorite personal development book of all time.
Here are the 100 best personal development books to read in 2021, organized by topics. Get started on your journey of self-growth today.
Plus, be sure to grab this awesome freebie by Jordan Gross. He summarized his 61 favorite personal development books in one sentence (many of which are on this list).
Best Self Help Books on Success
You want to be successful in life. Of course, you want to achieve your goals. But exactly, how do you succeed? What are the steps to success? The following are the best personal development books on success. They each teach you principles and practical strategies to achieving success in your life. So, if you’re frustrated, feel like giving up, or stressed out that things aren’t working out, these self-help books are for you to get your success mindset and actions right.
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The ONE Thing by Gary Keller
Want to know the number one secret to success?
“In the world of self-help and personal development, it seems everyone has a message to make your life better. It can get really noisy, really fast. That’s why my favorite personal development book is The One Thing by Gary Keller.
No matter where you are in your life, this book is all about helping you focus. By asking the focusing question, it keeps your eyes set on what needs to be done next to reach your goals. I love this book. It’s impacted my life in a powerful way.”
– Eric Sztanyo, We Buy NKY Houses
“This book literally changed my life. I had read it a few years back and whilst I thought it was good it didn’t really resonate with me. In 2018, after a very bad year, I read the book again and it hit me, I suddenly knew what it was about. I went on to write my own goal-setting book, launch my website and the rest is history.”
– Paul Gallagher, The Amazing Me Project
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The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
Want actionable advice that actually works?
“The Success Principles by Jack Canfield is filled with easy-to-implement actions. You can open any page to get inspiration and guidance.
I was using his flashcard method and soon found myself in a hotel lobby signing a big account, I knew it was because of the flashcards. We shook hands and I turned around, and there, right in front of me was Jack Canfield! Many things confirm that positive principles actually work, but this experience is one I’ll remember forever.”
– Becca Starr
“I bought this book 5 years ago, and every time I open it up I find a new way to improve my attitude, destroy my fears, or change my limiting beliefs. I have so many sticky notes in my copy that some of the pages are stuck together between them. This is the one book that I always go back to when I feel stuck because I know that I will find help.
Each of the 64 chapters has stories, quotes, and inspiration from successful people. It is easy to pick up the book and open it to a random page and find a nugget of wisdom to help me move forward.”
– Irma Stretch, Fearless Affiliate
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Mastery by George Leonard
Want to know the number one secret to success?
“This book shows the right path to success that many people do not know and it is practice for the sack of practice.
It helped me figure out the number 1 mistake I was making while perusing my goals, I was dabbling around things and mastering none. Geroge Leonard uncovers the real secret behind success and that continues practicing even if you don’t see any apparent progress. In other words, don’t quit too early because oftentimes the success is 3 feet away from the point you decide to quit.
I personally think everyone needs to read this amazing personal development book by George Leonard because it gives you the keys to success.”
– Subha Malik, Positive Blaze
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The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
Do you feel like you don’t have enough time?
“If you feel like you have absolutely no time or motivation to get everything done, then you need to read The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. As a mom of 3, with 2 blogs, and a full-time job, I felt like I couldn’t keep up.
After reading The Slight Edge, I realized there were little things I could be doing every day that would add up to major success over time. This book will show you that it’s just as easy to succeed as it is to fail. Your path depends on a series of small decisions that you make every day. It’s a must-read for every goal digger and entrepreneur.”
– Shannon Cairns, That Marketing Mama
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The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Do you need to level up?
“We know mindset is everything. This book helps you determine where your own blocks are and how you are self-sabotaging yourself from breaking through to the next level. Hendricks coined the term Zone of Genius, and he takes you through some fundamental questions to uncover where your genius lies. Recommended reading at least once a year.”
– Leili Heidema, Mint Studio Creative
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Personal Development Books on Goal Achievement
You’ve set goals, but how do you actually achieve them? Living the life you want isn’t just about setting achievable goals, but also overcoming obstacles and challenges. The goal setting is the easy part, so the following best personal development books for 2021 are here to help you achieve your goals. If you’ve got big dreams to live an amazing life, but not sure how to make it happen, these self-help books offer a great place to start.
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Goals! by Brian Tracy
Want to be a goals master?
“This book has literally changed my life and the manner in which I approach goal setting/goal accomplishing. It’s an incredibly detailed book that goes over practically every way possible that you can accomplish a goal and instructions on how you can consider implementing it to become a goals master. Ever since I read this book, I’ve been able to accomplish every goal I’ve set.”
– Rosie Chuong
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Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
Ready to overcome every obstacle?
“If you’re like me and you are all about those New Year’s goals then you have to get your hands on Your Best Year Ever by Micheal Hyatt – and the reason I said ‘hands’ is because you’re definitely going to want the hard copy.
This is one of those books that you’ll want to do plenty of highlighting, dog-earing, and sticky notes. In Your Best Year Ever, Michael Hyatt lays out a foolproof five-step plan to help you overcome every obstacle that has ever prevented you from achieving your goals. Hyatt encourages readers to tackle limiting beliefs that hold us back and adopt liberating truths to push through obstacles. If you perennially make New Year’s resolutions and don’t achieve them, this book can change your life!”
– Jacinta Grand, Social Circle Inc.
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Start Right Where You Are by Sam Bennett
Tired of stressing about being a perfectionist?
“Start Right Where You Are by Sam Bennett gives us perfectionists permission—and the tools—to move past the sometimes paralyzing pressure to do A+ work 100% of the time.
Each mini-chapter is only a few pages, so reading the lessons doesn’t end up as one more task on our already long to-do lists. I constantly think of Bennett’s advice as I move through my life (like reminding myself ‘nothing bad is happening right now’ whenever I feel my stress levels rise) and it’s a book I’ll reread regularly. Do yourself a favor and do the same!”
– Catherine Ryan Gregory, To & Fro Fam
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Best Productivity Books for Self-Motivation
Want to know how to get motivated? Having a hard time beating procrastination? You’ve set goals, you even have a plan, but how do you take action? The following best personal development books for 2021 help with self-motivation. If you’re tired of the struggle to get started, and looking for the best productivity tips, the following self-help books are for you!
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5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
Having a hard time getting started?
“Can you change your life in 5 seconds? According to Mel Robbins, you can. With her 5 Second Rule which is easy to follow and anyone can do it, you can use it to stop procrastinating, stop your anxiety and be more confident. Did it work for me? Yes, it is simple and powerful and you can use the simple rule of ‘5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Go!’ in different situations. Just remind yourself you’re never going to feel like it, count down from five, and then get to it!.”
– Jo Larsen, i40Club
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Deep Work by Cal Newport
Easily distracted by social media?
“Deep Work drills down on how technology and social media are changing the keys to success. This book explains basic tasks are being automated or outsourced to the lowest cost labor possible due to technology and electronic communication. Even for advanced work, businesses can hire the ‘best of the best’ anywhere in the world.
Average doesn’t cut it. You need to dedicate intense periods of ‘deep work’ to master a complex skill. However, the interruptions of social media and network tools make focusing a rare talent. Before reading Deep Work, I was on social media daily, constantly checking my texts, and heavily distracted. Now, I am actively focused on getting valuable work done and our revenues have nearly doubled.”
– Earl White, House Heroes LLC
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Getting Things Done by David Allen
Tired of endless to-do lists?
“Are your to-do lists and project lists scattered all across your life, with multiple homes, so much so that you often forget about one list or another? Getting Things Done by David Allen has seriously changed how I look at my to-do lists. Instead of all those multiple piles of things, the idea is to get every single action task and project into one central place regardless of how you first capture the task. With one place to go for all your to-dos, it’s easy to get things done.”
– Colleen Mitchell, Inspired Forward
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Scrum by Jeff Sutherland
Want to get more done, in less time?
“I recommend reading Jeff Sutherland’s book ‘Scrum’. In it, he talks about sprint cycles. A sprint cycle is a time period, usually two weeks, in which you solely focus on one project, and start and complete it during that time period. Each sprint should have the same duration, and bring you closer to achieving your ultimate goal.
So, in practical terms, what does this mean? It means that you’ll take your goal, break it down into subcategories, and work on each of these subcategories for two weeks. For instance, let’s take create a profitable blog as an example. One sprint can be to do all of the research and brainstorming to get your blog live. Another sprint can be to write blog posts for the next two months, while another can be to create all of the graphics that you’ll need.”
– Marina Lotiaf, Yes to Tech
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Focus by Daniel Goleman
Struggling to focus on your work?
“It ‘focuses’ on our lack of attention these days with the smartphone empire and how we suffer as a result due to our inability to concentrate on any single task at a time without our attention being pulled in many different directions without even realizing it. We’re never really 100% there for our work projects, the ones we love, even our kids are noticing and they’re calling parents out on it. Life in this day and age is like a series of quick hits and dopamine fixes.
We rely on our devices more than on our minds and that has left us with an attention span that’s less than that of a goldfish. He also discusses ways to improve your willpower by actually doing what you love. ‘If work reflects your goals it becomes effortless.’ And how meditation and letting your mind wander can drum up more creativity, idea, and awareness. This book really honed in on some important realizations for me in terms of how I was operating and forced me to step back and make some changes in my routines so I would be less distracted. I’ve become much mindfully aware and productive as a result.”
– Emily Standley, Social Buzz Hive
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Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden
How do you acheive daily success?
“One of the best personal development books is Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden. He talks about how self-discipline plays a major role in your success and tangible ways to help motivate yourself. His best quote in that book, ‘Success is never owned, it’s rented.’ And the rent is due every day. By taking in what Vaden lays out in his book, one can get motivated and do whatever it takes to become successful.”
– Gene Caballero, Your Green Pal
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Self Discovery Books to Get to Know Yourself Better
What are your strengths and weaknesses? What’s your personality like? Do you know your superpower? Your personal development is all about getting to know yourself and discovering more about yourself. The following best personal development books help you on your journey of self-discovery. Whether finding the best career or life path, these self-help books will help you find the way. Why not figure out who you are in 2021?
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Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Want to know your strengths?
“Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath is a must-read and forever a great reference to skyrocket your success in whatever you are working towards, as it helps you find and follow your strengths. While we all tend to tell ourselves we have to be good at everything, the fact is that if we try to be good at everything, we won’t ever be great at anything.
This book is the definitive book and accompanying online questionnaire on strengths-based leadership, helping you find your top strengths, identifies hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, and will get you on the road to leveraging your strengths to the max. It’s the reference I find myself going back to again and again for practical strategies and approaches, as I encounter new challenges and new personalities to work with. It has enabled me to effectively and successfully work through a multitude of challenges in both my professional and personal life.”
– Lisa Purvis, Brilliantly Balanced Life
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The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
What’s your tendency?
“When it comes to personal development, I highly recommend The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. The Four Tendencies is a framework created by Gretchen Rubin that puts everyone into 1 of 4 categories: Obliger, Upholder, Questioner, and Rebel. Knowing your tendency teaches you how to interact with the world around us and can help you create better habits for a healthier, happier, better you!“
– Alexandra Weisser, The Happy Life Formula
“The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. This book tackles a specific trait we all have — how we respond to outer and inner expectations. Knowing what my tendency is and how it affects my habit-making and goal-setting attitude was a LIFE CHANGER! Through this book, I am better able to set personal goals as well as create boundaries on other people’s demands. Highly recommended!”
– Kate Ashley, All the Trinkets
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What Color is Your Parachute? By Richard N Bolles
What’s the best career for you and your skills?
“When the recession hit the U.S. economy in 2008, the workforce changed drastically. The typical routine of getting a degree, submitting a ton of resumes, and landing a job shortly after is not the best way to get a job anymore – especially not your dream job. Through a unique self-inventory called the ‘Flower Exercise,’ you’ll discover and examine your passions, skills, and traits to design a career that works for you. There are also a ton of tips on networking, interviewing, resumes, and cover letters to make sure you’re set up to succeed in your newly designed career!”
– Olivia Sod, the DIY Feminist
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Mindset The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Do you have a growth or fixed mindset?
“Everyone must read Stanford University Psychologist, Carol Dweck’s book: Mindset The New Psychology of Success. This book impacted me as a parent and a professional, in building a growth mindset in myself and the people around me. Dweck demonstrates how people’s attitude, mindset, can overcome their talents and abilities. She teaches how to create a love of learning and resilience in the people around us. She provides great advice that anyone can follow and really impact your life.”
– Miki (Michal) Feldman Simon, I Am Back at Work
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Best Self Acceptance Books
Are you a perfectionist who is always aiming for your best? Do you constantly feel like you’re not good enough? Personal growth is also about self-acceptance, and not just your strengths and talents, but your imperfections and humanness as well. The following best personal development books encourage you to be compassionate and to accept all the parts of yourself. Not just that, be open to showing and sharing your vulnerabilities with others as well.
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The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford
Tired of trying or not feeling good enough?
“One of the most fascinating aspects of pursuing goals and personal growth is that it oftentimes is coming from a place of feeling ‘not good enough’ or like we have something to ‘prove’ about our value as a human being. The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford really cracked that wide open for me.
What I’ve discovered from her teachings is how to feel whole and complete no matter what I accomplish. It might seem like that would be a detriment to growth but actually, the opposite is true. Now, I grow in pursuit of the goals and intentions that are deeply fulfilling and joyful, instead of having something to prove.”
– Christie Inge
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The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Afraid of not being enough?
“One of the best personal development books, that helped me tremendously to understand how to be courageous and authentic in human relationships is by one of my favorite authors: Dr. Brené Brown. The Gifts of Imperfection is a wonderful guide about choosing courage and living a wholehearted life. It’s a gentle reminder that we are enough and worthy the way we are.”
– Nina Grey, A Gorgeous Soul
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Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
Do you need to show yourself some compassion?
“People are notoriously hard on themselves. Some for fear of failure, some are perfectionists and some just cannot focus on a task at hand. Their fears come from believing they are not good enough in some way. This is where Kristin Neff’s book comes in. Her take-home is: it’s time to ‘stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind.’ The book offers advice on how to help pull yourself out of the crazy cycles we put ourselves in (like procrastination for instance) and focus on the now. You have the tools you need to be successful and work to your highest potential right now. Cut yourself some slack and put those negative thoughts where they belong, in the garbage.”
– Candess Zona-Mendola, Make Food Safe
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Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Wish you could open up more?
“Contrary to every self-defense mechanism our brains and bodies have, vulnerability gets us what we want and to where we want to be. Only by risking our perfect image can we really let our audiences get to know us, trust us, buy from us. In an era where your personality is your brand, feeling confident in sharing both your skills and ‘faults’ is the foundation of building a relationship with your audience. Daring Greatly gets you started feeling comfortable with that vulnerability.”
– Kathryn Hunter, Compass Pod
“Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown was a game-changer for me. The gift of this book is that it brings to life the importance of being vulnerable to strengthen connections, build self-trust, and be willing to take more risks. Brene’s power is in her delivery – her insights are supported by her years as a researcher on this topic and her wonderful authenticity (“y’all’) meant I could not put the book down.”
– Clare Kinsey, Clare Kinsey Coaching
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Top Books to Build Self-Confidence
Wish you were more confident? That you have the motivation to go for the life you’ve always wanted? You can with the best personal development books to build self-confidence in 2021. Each of these self-help books will light a fire in your belly and inspire you to make achieve your dreams and goals.
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Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Need to be energized to reach your goals?
“My #1 choice would be definitely ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ by Tony Robbins. I actually read this book a couple of times by now, as it gives me so much energy and power to take steps into making my goals a reality. You have a feeling Tony is speaking directly to you, you feel like you have a friend with him as he has felt down as well, but he never gave up and always was looking for a better version of himself. I love the part where you have to define your goals, in very specific (like financial, emotional, and material areas). You are guided step by step. That’s how I have created my dream board, which I am proud of, and every time I look at it, I know what I have to do to get there”
– Justyna Poreba, Sparkles of Creativity
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The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle Laporte
Need the confidence to go after what you want?
“When I was in my mid-twenties, totally burnt out on the corporate grind I knew I’d lost my creative spark. Over Thanksgiving break, I read the book The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle Laporte cover to cover. Within weeks I’d enrolled in a life coaching certification program because I’d finally remembered my calling to help others. Within a year I’d founded a new life and profitable business.
This book helps you definitively answer that elusive question of ‘what do I want’ and ‘what is my purpose’. It is the perfect combination of woo and actionable steps. It also gives you the essential piece for a life change: a dose of permission to go out and do what YOU want. Not what the world wants. Read it if you dare (it will turn your life upside down in the best way).”
– Brynn Johnson, Swan Dive Life
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48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Wish you understood how the world works?
“The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a must-read if you’ve ever felt like there’s a hidden set of social rules and you don’t know what they are. This book will change your understanding of the world and give you the confidence to go after what you want and actually get it. This book is easily one of the best personal development books of all time!”
– Kristen Raney, Shifting Roots
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You Can Win by Shiv Khera
Need to get motivated?
“This is one of the first books I read on self-development and success. All the short stories that he shares are motivational and teach us a lesson in life. My favorite lines have been ‘winners see the gain; losers see the pain’. What I REALLY loved about the book is the to-do section at the end of each chapter. It gives you a direction to work on yourself!”
– Chhavi Agarwal, Mrs Daaku Studio
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Self Help Books on Happiness and Positivity
Tired of being miserable and complaining every day? Wish you could be a happier person? You can be more positive in life with the best personal development books to ready in 2021 on happiness and positivity. These self-help books are filled with strategies for looking on the bright side.
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The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Ready to just be happy already?
“I believe that true personal development can only be done when you’re in a certain state of mind. Preferably, a happy state of mind. In The Happiness Project, Gretchen explores the depths of happiness and which practical things we all can do make life a whole lot easier and more pleasurable. By doing so you learn to see how everything in your life influences your happiness. In the light of becoming a happier you, you will learn tools to grow mentally, emotionally, intellectually, socially, and physically. Highly recommended for all those growth mind setters!”
– Loura Sita van Krimpen, Nomad Soulzz
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365 Days of Happiness by Jacqueline Pirtle
Ready to be more happy starting today?
“I’m a technology leader, serial entrepreneur, and open source pioneer. The space I live in is very slanted to problem solvers, which provides the side-effect of being negatively-focused. 365 Days of Happiness has taught me on a daily basis how to rewire my awareness to that of positivity, mindfulness, and independence. The format is unique – daily snippets of genius that, over the course of a year, I learned to reprogram my mindset to gain freedom from my past, family history, and many other things that negatively impact my performance and wellness.”
– Mitch Pirtle, Morning Consult
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Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
Wondering what happiness even looks like?
“We have all become very confused about what happiness is and how to achieve it. We undoubtedly all want to be happy, but seem to go way off course in our attempts to achieve it. This book draws a road map to help us get back on track and puts into perspective what the final destination even looks like.”
– Josée Perron, You Choose The Way
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How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
Struggling with stress and anxiety?
“The #1 personal development book that I recommend is ‘How to Stop Worrying and Start Living’ by Dale Carnegie. I haven’t met anyone who, after getting to know them on a more personal level, hasn’t dealt with stress or anxiety. Because I’ve struggled with mild anxiety in the past, this book has become my nightly reading to help combat it. The stories Mr. Carnegie tells are timeless and relatable. His book has helped me overcome worry in many aspects of my life. I am so grateful for the suggestion I was given to read it; his methods have helped me tremendously.”
– Lettice Barnum, Achieving Family Goals
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Complaint Free World by Will Bowen
Wish you could stop complaining?
“Will Bowen’s Complaint Free World is one of the most impactful and actionable self-development books I’ve read. He explains how detrimental complaining is to your health and gives a clear process, using a bracelet, for becoming ‘complaint-free.’ Taking on the 21-day complaint-free challenge changes your approach to life by making you really think about what you say before opening your mouth! As you stop voicing complaints, they gradually leave your mind, too, making you physically and mentally healthier and happier.”
– Natasha Nunez, The Artisan Life
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Best Personal Development Books for Millennials
Are you unhappy in the same old life? Want to do what you love and live a life you’re passionate about? You’re not alone! Almost all millennials strive for more and the following are the best personal development books to help you do just that. Forget what anyone says or tells you to do, live your best life as you see fit.
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Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Wish you were more creative?
“Choosing my most life-changing personal development book is one of the hardest tasks to do because, in the last year, I’ve read over 50+ self-help books to get to know myself better. Big Magic transformed the way I look at creativity. I use to think I wasn’t creative at all, but it turns out I just wasn’t an artist. Elizabeth’s conversational style makes you feel like you’re just having coffee with a friend.
This is a must-read book for anyone who believes they’re non-creative, in a creative rut, or needs to hear some big magic principles they’ve forgotten. The chapters are short and easy to read and digest and there are plenty of golden nuggets for both old and new creatives, bloggers, and entrepreneurs. I think the best thing is that Elizabeth is very apt at putting into words some things I can’t articulate.
My biggest takeaway from the book is that ideas come to us and it’s up to us to sign a contract with the idea; if we say ‘yes’, then we are the very person to turn this idea into physical form. Now that’s ‘big magic’.”
– Judy, Sea of Bliss
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You Are Badass by Jen Sincero
Ready to stop doubting yourself?
“Without a doubt, my #1 personal development book recommendation (that should be on every woman’s bookshelf) is Jen Sincero’s New York Times bestseller ‘“You Are Badass – How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life’. This fun-to-read book is filled with Sincero’s funny and inspiring stories and encourages you to consider concepts that you’ve maybe never considered before. You are a Badass is an empowering call to action and a motivating personal development book that I go back to again and again!”
– Jen Winsor, Waves & Willows
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The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson
Does everything bother you?
“The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck is unconventional, to say the least. However, it’s the unique perspective of Mark Manson that makes this book so enlightening. Through his honesty, he highlights an important need: the need to stop the quest for the supposed “perfect” life. By learning to care about the things that matter more in life and not giving a f*ck about the things that ultimately don’t, we are then able to strive not to have the best of everything, but instead to make the best of everything.”
– Gabby Cruz, Ocio Lifestyle
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Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
Wish you were more passionate?
“These two Stanford men have taught a course on how to use ‘design thinking’ to formulate your career plan. They tell us that designing is what you do when there is no one correct answer, but many possibilities and they walk you through exercises to train yourself in the same ways of thinking so you can apply them to this part of your life. They also help you replace ‘dysfunctional’ thoughts with more productive ones.
This book can really change your mindset, from letting life happen to you, to understand that you have multiple good choices. Interesting quote: ‘The research shows that, for most people, passion comes after they try something, discover they like it, and develop mastery – not before. To put it more succinctly: passion is the result of good life design, not the cause.'”
– Kacie Mischler Bass, Sight Seeker Travels
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Normal Gets You Nowhere by Kelly Cutrone
Sick of trying to fit in?
“The book that changed my life is Normal Gets You Nowhere by Kelly Cutrone. She illustrates beautifully how going through life as a status quo and not being true to yourself does a disservice. In the book, she talks about how she used her differences to stand out from the crowd, and how she’s made money by being different than the mainstream. It’s a great book if you’re always the outcast and a book to lift your spirits.”
– Andrea Bazemore, The Black Apple
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Self Help Books about Perseverance and Strength
Does achieving your goals feel too difficult? Are you struggling to keep going? If you wish you had grit, perseverance, and persistence then here are the best personal development books for you in 2021. Each of these will help you build your mental strength and toughness to face challenges and never give up.
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Grit by Angela Duckworth
Want to know the defining trait for success?
“What if I told you that your success in life is not determined by how smart you are but instead by how much grit you have? Well-researched and full of interesting stories, Angela Duckworth’s Grit will open your eyes to the awesome power of perseverance. The best part, grit is a trait you don’t have to be born with; you can develop it if only you are willing to work hard.”
– Rachael, Pingel Sisters
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Relentless by Tim Grover
Wish you were unstoppable?
“Tim Grover Attack Athletic’s CEO and worked with Pro athletes like Michael Jordan and Koby Bryant. He isn’t just a trainer, he has a no BS approach in training the athletes’ minds. He knows how to attack the mental side of the game which is also very easy to associate in daily life and in everything we want to do. This book’s last page left me in tears while feeling so moved to continue with what I have started.”
– Dani Panganiban, This Village Girl
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The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday
Are you facing challenges and obstacles right now?
“One of my all-time favorite personal development books is ‘The Obstacle Is The Way.’ So many times we get caught up in all the things that are going wrong that sometimes we can’t step back and see that maybe that snag is actually pushing us in the right direction. It has totally changed my perspective on problems that come up in life. I find myself quoting this book to others at least weekly and would highly recommend it!.”
– McKinzie Bean, Moms Make Cents
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The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Tired of making excuses for not getting it done?
“The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is not only going to change the way you look at life, but it’s also going to change the way you look at yourself. In a world where we demonize things like ‘time’, our circumstances, or even the people that surround us, Pressfield challenges you to look at things through a new lens so that you can cut the excuses and finally get whatever it is that you’re working on doing.
Don’t read this book if you’re not ready to feel super inspired to take action on whatever creative projects you have before you. That book you’ve been meaning to write? Yeah, you’ll probably start writing it. Or that digital product you’ve been toying around with creating? You’ll probably make that, too. This is a MUST read for any creative who is struggling to ‘get stuff done’.”
– Eden Fried
177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class by Steve Siebold
Need to renew your mindset?
“A great read, especially if you’re new to self-development books. Each chapter is about a page long and includes an inspirational quote, an action step for the day, and another resource for more related information. Quick, easy to digest chapters that break down the differences between an ‘average’ and ‘world class’ way of thinking. One of the first personal growth books that I read which led me down a path to reading many, many more!”
– Heather Hannigan, Well Red
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Feel the Fear… And Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Are you trapped by fear and self-doubt?
“One of the best books is Feel the Fear…And Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers. This book changed the way I approach life. I live with anxiety and there were certain things I avoided years ago because I didn’t like to feel so scared or anxious. I thought that meant I shouldn’t do it. After reading this book I started to challenge myself to get more comfortable with the feeling of fear – and do the thing that I wanted to do anyway. Absolutely life-changing!”
– Suchot Sunday, The Curious Frugal
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Law of Attraction Books for Personal Growth
You’ve heard of the Law of Attraction, but wonder how it works. You want to live abundantly, but have no idea how. If that sounds like you, then these are the best personal development books for you. Collectively these self-help books will help you think positively, attract abundance, be thankful, and raise your frequency.
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Thank and Grow Rich by Pam Grout
Wish you had an attitude of gratitude?
“Thank and Grow Rich by Pam Grout is my #1 personal development book. It’s about how being thankful can help you create a rich, happy life. Gratitude is such a simple concept but it can really transform your mind and your life if you’re open to it. This book helped me change my mindset and when I started practicing what Pam talks about in it, I really felt like I was attracting more positivity. I recommend it to literally everyone!”
– Tami Walker
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The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer
Want to start setting intentions?
“This book talks about an overall awareness and knowledge of what they can create with the clarity of their Intention. I feel people sometimes struggle to get clarity of what they truly want and the book talks in deep about setting the right intention for your life, purpose, tranquil life, attracting the ideal people, appreciating self, and respecting the power that is within us. This book has helped me to maintain a beautiful integration of energy work, breaking belief system and working towards being the best version of myself.”
– Raksha Bhatti
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The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes
Wish you could think more positively?
“I was introduced to this book 11 years ago by a friend and colleague. This book encourages you to regain control of your thoughts which in turn helps you regain control of your life. It teaches you the habits that you need to form in order to have the life you always dreamed of. Your thoughts = your life. If you are thinking positively you will have positive results. It also teaches the importance of perspective, as you will always run into issues in life but how it turns out results from how you view it.”
– Angel Evenson, Angel’s Keen Angels
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Abundance Now by Lisa Nichols
Want to know how to have abundance in your life?
“Lisa Nichols book abundance now talks about the framework she is created to create abundance in your life and live your best life which I am all about. The framework is called the four E’s, and covers enrichment, engagement, enchantment, and endowment. It also includes actionable lessons that you can implement into your life immediately so you can start building that abundance now.”
– Jessica F. Walker
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The Creation Frequency by Mike Murphy
Ready to raise your frequency?
“This book forces us to focus on how we think, perceive, and navigate through life & business situations. Whether you are a mom in the thick of parenting or a CEO scaling a business to obtain its first 6 figure month or a person on a mission to make an impact around the globe. If you’ve never truly slowed down to understand how to change your world, start with your mind.“
– Andrea Thomas, Andrea Thomas Collective
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Mind, Body, Spirit Books for Spiritual Growth
Want to become more spiritual? There is so much more to you than you know. Your personal development can also be a spiritual journey to discover your mind, body, and spirit. Here are the best personal development books for spiritual growth. They help you tap into something greater and deeper. Read these self-growth books in 2021 to invest in your spiritual life.
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The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Do you need inner peace in all situations?
“Hands down the best personal development book I have ever read is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It gives you the perfect template to deal with any situation that life gives you. I go back to it weekly to help me figure out different situations. It has given me the ability to own my reaction to everything that happens to me. Plus, solve each situation in the healthiest way possible. I am more at peace and feel like I can handle any situation.”
– Andrea Travillian, Aspirify
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The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
What are you putting out into the world?
“This book explains, in very understandable terms, that the amount of unhappiness, and despair you feel in your life, is in direct proportion to how far you’ve strayed from your souls’ true purpose. That every intent, action, or feeling of yours, has an equal effect. Gary teaches how you get back what you put out into the world. Karma! If you put out hatred, you’ll get hatred back. If you put out compassion, that’s what you’ll get back.
You ARE, in every way, responsible for your own actions, and what you put out there, WILL come back to you. And it’s not just as simplistic as if your rude, people will be rude to you. It also means that your intentions play a big role. So, if you’re a people pleaser, a person who can’t say no, your intention is to be liked/loved by all. And that intention causes you to be in situations where you’re being asked to do things you don’t want to do. If your intention was to only do the things that made you happy, that you truly wanted to do, then you would find yourself in those situations. This is a book that I think should be mandatory for all adults to read.”
– Sunita Durral
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You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
Ready to learn how to be successful?
“For me, this was a life-changing book. Thoughts are things, change your thoughts, change your life. When I first read this, over 20 years ago, it just clicked for me. As Anis Nin says, We see things, not as they are, but as we are so we see everything through our own filter based on our belief system. Our mind is wired to keep us safe and find patterns. We want to avoid pain, both physical and mental pain, and, without realizing it, we create stories around what happens to us.
If we wake up on the wrong side of the bed, we may think, That person intentionally cut me off in traffic. I am surrounded by jerks. If we are taking good care of ourselves and noticing the stories that automatically come up for us, we can change the story we tell ourselves. The example above may be changed to, I bet he/she didn’t see me or I know I’ve done that before and I was grateful no one honked at me. We all make bad decisions sometimes and just I happened to bear witness to this person’s bad decision. Is either story true? It’s hard to say so why not pick the story that makes you feel better.”
– Helen Godfrey, The Authentic Path
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The Self Care Project by Jayne Hardy
Do you need to take better care of yourself?
“The self-help book I recommend to everyone at the moment is The Self Care Project by Jane Hardy. I find the people who often need the most help are those who are great at caring for and thinking about everyone else, but not so great at looking out for themselves. This is the first book I’ve read that’s helped me stop feeling guilty about taking time for myself and saying ‘no’ to things.”
– Ben Taylor, Home Working Club
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Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani
Want to focus on self-love and care?
“My #1 that I would recommend is called Dying To Be Me by Anita Morjani. This book had a profound effect on me and I can’t recommend it enough! Anita’s book is all about being yourself. She tells this via her personal story and it’s amazing. It’s honestly the ultimate self-care/self-love and personal development book that I’ve ever read. Once you read it, your thinking will change completely and you’ll value yourself a lot more! This needs to be on your reading list.”
– Giulia, Searching For Better
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Best Books for Finding Your Purpose and Passion
Do you wonder, who am I and why am I here? What’s my purpose and passion? If these are questions you have then here are the best personal development books for finding your purpose. When you read any of these self-help books you won’t be able to look at your life the same way again.
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The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra
Ready to overcome your personal struggles?
“Warning! This one can be a bit overwhelming – but in a good way. I’d pick it up to read it, read a few sentences, and had to put it back down for the day due to the sheer amount of processing I’d have to do. It hit super close to home on various points and helped me go deeper with my personal struggles (which is necessary to take your purpose and goals to the next level). Chopra did well with this self-help book, and it’s one I think should be in every personal development library.”
– Brit Taylor, The Happiness Agreement
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You Are the One by Kute Blackson
Waiting for someone to come and save you?
“Too often, people, especially women (sadly) sit back and think someone else is going to swoop in and make their life better. The truth is, there are no lifeguards or rescue floaties coming. It’s up to each and every one of us – up to YOU – to change your life. And how this book shows you how! For me, it reminded me of the deep fires burning within and helped me reconnect with my passion – why I do what I do. You need to read this book!”
– Sarah Woodard, Stone Bridge Transformation
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Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels
Want to know what your purpose in life is?
“This book is for the woman who wants to learn what her purpose is in life, but doesn’t know where to start. Marshawn breaks down finding purpose and the universal process of living it out in a way that’s easy to understand and take practical steps toward. If you’re ready to live a life on purpose with impact, this book is a must-read! This book inspired me to continue to live out my purpose to impact the world.”
– Fo Alexander, Girl Talk With Flo
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A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Do you need to wake up inside?
“For those who have already read Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, A New Earth basically expands on the idea that it’s our ego that is the cause of all of our discontentment, pain, suffering, and conflict. Where The Power of Now was an explanation of this, A New Earth helps us put his teachings into effect.
It’s a book that helps you realize that true wealth and happiness, come not from material possessions, or from how people perceive you, or, even how you perceive yourself, but from a transformation of your conscious mind that brings about peace. You begin to recognize the beauty in everything around you and have more compassion for those you once perceived as not being on the same ‘level’ as you.
Imagine what your world would be like if you no longer worried about ‘keeping up with the Joneses‘, or if you’re wearing the right kind of clothes. A world where you can see the good in everyone and are able to realize that the way a person acts towards you, has absolutely nothing to do with any flaw on your part? That’s the type of thing this book will help you to start realizing. In Eckhart’s own words: [It] “Shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow a path to a truly fulfilling existence.”
– Sunita Durral
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Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Do you feel like you’re on the wrong path in life?
“It’s no exaggeration to say that Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl changed my life. It taught me the key principles for finding meaning in life and showed me the only two ways to achieve it: through love and through a passion for a cause greater than oneself. It opened my eyes to where I was going wrong and put me on a better path toward a happy and content life. I’ve read it from cover to cover several times and, needless to say, I’ll read it many more times to come.”
– Steve Phillips-Waller, A Conscious Rethink
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Personal Development Books about Belonging and Connection
Do you feel alone and living a life filled with fake and shallow relationships? Wish you could connect better with people? Then here are the best personal development books for creating a connection. These self-help books for 2021 will help you communicate better, love better and build better relationships.
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Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Do you feel like you just don’t belong?
“If you’ve ever wondered where you really belong or why you can’t help but feel you’re in the wrong place, this inspiring book is for you. In a kind and gentle way, Brené sheds light on what it means to belong and how each and every one of us can find belonging in ourselves and our community. Her vivid examples of personal experiences make the book entertaining and offer real-life examples of challenges she herself faced. This also helps build the understanding that we are not alone in facing these challenges and there is a way through if we are willing to do the work.”
– Juliana Hahn, The Curious Butterfly
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How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Ready to learn how to be successful?
“Even though it’s an old book, the lessons there are timeless and will help you make connections and learn to understand people. I used the techniques presented in the book to really work on my social skills and that has helped me immensely in my career and personal life. People underestimate the impact your interpersonal skills have in many aspects of life and I think this book does a great job of helping you hone those abilities in a way that’s honest and works.”
– Jarek, Time in the Market
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The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
Are you a socially awkward introvert?
“If you’ve ever wanted to be more charismatic, memorable, or confident you need to read this book. Featuring concrete, actionable techniques that make sense, this book will show you how little outward appearance has to do with charisma and the way people see you. It’s all about how you carry yourself. It will change the way you interact with those around you. It’s a must-read for introverts!”
– Sawyer MacKenzie, Love Sawyer
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Return to Love by Marianne Williamson
Having trouble opening your heart?
“In the book, a Return to Love Marianne Williamson teaches us how to recognize the true essence of love, the purity of unconditional love, and how to return to love. As we mature we become conditioned by the world around us and we lose the ability to return to love as easily. Often, we actually lose the desire to return to love. Rather than taking an action to welcome love back in, we shut down and try to convince ourselves we don’t need it anyway. A Return to love is a must-read. A book that will warm your heart and empower you to choose love.”
– Sandra Francisco, Rare Privilege
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Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
Wish your relationships were more authentic?
“Marshall Rosenberg is A GENIUS. He’s the creator of this method and he’s teaching you how to have more authentic relationships. By a simple 4 steps technique, you will be able to express how to effectively communicate and finally, fulfill all of your needs! It also will make you more empathetic so you never, ever, will take things personally again.”
– Tamara Pflug, Personal Development Zone
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Better Apart by Gabrielle Hartley and Elena Brower
Is your marriage ending?
“Better Apart, the Radically Positive Way to Separate is the first book of ALL time to combine the life-changing magic of meditation and yoga with grounding insights and legal wisdom designed to help anyone going through the perils and heartbreak of divorce with grace and dignity. The New York Post compares Better Apart to Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up. While breaking up does not typically spark joy, the methods, and frameworks proposed by attorney Gabrielle Hartley and yogi, Elena Brower, your separation can be your springboard to the beautiful rest of your life. People Magazine calls Better Apart the conscious uncoupling how-to. Better Apart is the one to watch as it sweeps the nation and circles the globe. Transforming lives, one re-imagined household at a time.“
– Susan Guthrie, Divorce a Better Way
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Pre-suasion by Dr Robert Cialdini
How do you connect with your tribe?
“Everything we do is about filling a need or a gap in the market, but how do you really get to stand out on the marketplace and truly understand the psychology of what matters to your tribe? This book revolutionizes how I run my business and understand my community. Most fortune companies require their marketing staff to read this book.”
– Maggie Lamarre, Cascade Avenue
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Best Books about Changing Habits
Are you focused solely on goal setting and your to-dos? The truth about success is that it’s our habits that make or break us. The following are the best personal development books for creating new habits that make success so much easier. These self-help books are also filled with scientific evidence and relatable examples.
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The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Ready to create new habits for success?
“Oh my gosh, this book is AMAZING!! Understanding the science behind habit formation will not only hand you the tools to overhaul the aspects of your life you’re still struggling with, but it will also help you understand how to use your new insights to improve your marketing and increase your sales. The information presented is all based on research and science which makes this a great book for those skeptical minds that usually find the self-help book category intolerably cheesy. It’s also fantastic to listen to as an audiobook.”
– Claudia Garbutt, Pear Tree Pod
“It forces you to deconstruct your habits (good or bad) and take a look at what’s triggering them, and how you can rebuild them to benefit you. After quitting my job to start my own business, I often found times where I lacked motivation and would find myself wasting time on unnecessary activities – The Power of Habit helped me break away from these habits and focus on what really matters.”
– Nabil Beirouty, Affios
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Want to know the best habits to start?
“The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is a self-help book that changed my life. The book takes you through 7 key habits and through a path of starting from dependence to interdependence to finally independence. The habits tie into life skills, one of the most important is seeking to understand before being understood, key in any relationship and life. Reading it improved my relationships 10 fold after I implemented just a few of the key ideas.”
– Stacy Caprio, Stacy Caprio Inc.
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High-Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Curious about what separates successful people from the rest of us?
“I always recommend ‘High-Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way’ by Brendon Burchard. Why? Because the basic premise of the book is that successful people are not successful because they are somehow special, but because they have developed habits that led them to success. These are habits that any person can develop and employ in their life to push to the next level. This book is supported by tons of research and provides steps and tools to help you develop these habits.”
– Jill Krefft, Organizational Toast
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Atomic Habits by James Clear
Do you feel stuck in your personal development journey?
“I can almost guarantee it’s because you are busy creating goals when it’s not really about goal-setting. It’s about everyday habits, we either do or don’t do, to get to those goals. In the brand new book, Atomic Habits, James Clear actually gives steps to creating those everyday habits. No more lists. No more reasoning. This book gives the actual how-tos of habits.“
– Rose Barnett
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Healthy Habits to Transform Your Life Books
You want to live a healthy lifestyle. To wake up early, get enough sleep at night, and eat healthily, but it’s hard to get started. Here are the best personal development books for transforming your life with healthy habits. Your personal growth would not be complete without taking care of your health goals.
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The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
Want to start every day the right way?
“The Miracle Morning, the not-so-obvious secret guaranteed to transform your life before 8 am by Hal Elrod. Starting your morning well can set you up for a day. Starting your morning with the six actions that Hal explains can transform your life. The reason this book is a must-read is it is so life-changing. By just claiming between 6 minutes and an hour of your day and with only a few simple actions you really can take positive steps towards your goals.”
– Angie Emde, Lifestyle Anytime
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The 5 am Club by Robin Sharma
Ready to be a morning person?
“The most recent book to have a significant impact on me, my work and whole life are Robin Sharma’s 5 AM CLUB. I am a self-confessed sleep lover – stay up late, get up late and no way was 5 am ever a time for waking, let alone exercising and meditating. This book is a truly intriguing read, told in a story format that makes you WANT to get up at 5 am and create your victory hour. I have been following this for a month and honestly, I am healthier, happier, and more grounded – and those early starts helped me earn a works trip to Switzerland.”
– Alexandra and Scott, Wick Free Candles
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Eat, Move, Sleep by Tom Rath
Need to make positive changes in your life?
“One of the best self-help books I’ve ever come across is Tom Rath’s Eat, Move, Sleep. Subtitled ‘How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes,’ this book is effectively an instruction manual for making positive changes in your life. The structure of the book is ingenious: Rath notes that the brain actually remembers things better when they’re grouped together. So, rather than break the book into three separate sections on eating, moving, and sleeping, he divides it thematically, with chapters about decision-making, quitting bad habits, and increasing your energy. The result is a hand guide for becoming healthier and happier.”
– Dave Bowden, IrreverentGent
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Mini Habits for Weight Loss by Stephen Guise
Tired of failing to achieve your goals?
“Personally, I think this is a great book for any kind of habit you are trying to create. What I found most helpful about this book was the validation that this technique can work for any habit, not just weight loss. My biggest takeaway was the strategy is not the goal. That is, maybe you want to lose weight or learn a language but you have to give yourself small, obtainable steps to get there. The author started a dedicated workout program by starting small. I mean really small. One push-up a day was his goal and because he knew that, no matter what happened he could always do 1 push-up, he was encouraged on many occasions to do more. So, we make our goals small, maybe even pathetic as the author says, and that starts the momentum to keep going.”
– Helen Godfrey, The Authentic Path
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Mindfulness Books for Personal Growth
Do you find it difficult to just live in the moment? Is your mind preoccupied with thoughts of the past, or obsessing over the future? If this sounds like you then these are the best personal development books to become more mindful of. These self-help books teach you how to practice mindfulness, which enables you to just be here, in the now, and to find happiness and joy in being present.
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The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Are you always focused on the future?
“One of my favorite self-help books is ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle. The reason this book changed my life is that it reminded me that there truly is ‘only this moment’ and the importance of living day-to-day in the now, versus living in some imagined future – which may not even come. The key takeaway is to be fully aware of what we are doing in every single moment – and this brings fulfillment and inner joy, that cannot be found in external places.”
– Leon Turetsky, Passion 4 Dancing
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How To Be Here by Rob Bell
Wish you were more passionate every day?
“Rob Bell’s wisdom helps you get back in touch with your True Self. What are you passionate about? How can you find your passion(s) and allow them to drive your life? How can you present in your day-to-day interactions with others? He answers all these questions and more. It’s a quick read and you’ll find yourself making changes to your life immediately.”
– Ryan Tahmaseb, Spiritual Parent
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Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Struggling to discover what really matters?
“My favorite personal development book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown, is an inspiring book that helps you achieve the life you desire. While some books are specific to bloggers or those running their own businesses, Essentialism is a way of living. This book revolutionized my husband and my way of thinking. It truly empowers and teaches its readers to regain control of their life, professionally and beyond. Essentialism makes it possible for you to make your biggest contributions in life towards the things that really matter- everyone should read this book!”
– Haley Barry, Let’s Mama
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Happier Now by Nataly Kogan
Ready to find happiness in everyday moments?
“She shares her story about starting an entire business based on being happy, but still found herself extremely unhappy. She talks about how she turned her life around and gives tips on what every day changes you can make to become an overall happier person.”
– Chelsea Day, Just Sea For Yourself
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Loving What Is by Byron Katie
Does every little thing stress you out?
“Loving What Is by Byron Katie is all about changing your perspective to stop fighting reality. The simple change to begin loving what is will revolutionize how you face difficult seasons in your life. You will learn that thoughts that start with ‘it should be’ or ‘it shouldn’t be’ are just thoughts that argue reality and cause you stress.
In the simplest terms, if you are late to an appointment and hit traffic, you are likely to think ‘there shouldn’t be traffic right now.’ But that thought only causes you the stress and anguish because the reality there is traffic right now. Put yourself in this traffic situation (we’ve all been there) and try to imagine how freeing it would be to just accept the traffic and the fact that you are going to be late!
She walks you through the 4 questions process to apply this theory to everything in your life so that you can work to accept the reality of a situation and focus on the things you can control rather than creating more stress by trying to control things you can’t.”
– Lauren Brockman, Live By the Sunshine
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The Power of Less by Leo Babauta
Need to simplify your life?
“I highly recommend reading ‘The Power of Less by Leo Babauta. He is a master at bringing minimalism and simplicity into all areas of your life, including setting and achieving big goals. ‘The Power of Less’ is broken down into two parts: The Principles and The Practice. ‘The Principles’ section focuses on WHY choosing less is essential. Whereas, ‘The Practice’ section identifies HOW to implement simplicity in various areas of your life, including goals, time management, and your online life. This book inspires minimalism and is a great tool for anyone looking to simplify their life and achieve great things along the way.”
– Tara Dubiel, I Dream of Simple
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Inspirational Stories for Personal Growth
Want to invest in your personal development, but not a fan of self-help books? Or perhaps you just love an inspirational story with life lessons? If so, here are the most inspirational stories for your personal growth. Sometimes the best personal development books are just really good stories.
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Life’s Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard
What if you had a second chance, to do it all over again?
“Life’s Golden Ticket by Brendon Burchard is an allegory about a man trying to overcome the trials of his past, forgive and be forgiven, and make a fresh start toward a more promising future. You can read it story-style (read it like a novel) or pen-in hand ready to make notes and mark your favorite passages. The story addresses powerful topics such as ‘limiting beliefs’, ‘negativity vs optimism’ and creating good in the world. Reading this short book empowers readers to push toward their dreams, nurture important relationships, and see themselves in a more positive light.”
– Janeal Steed, Vibrance and Bliss
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The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews
Love a good story of success?
“My favorite book of all time is The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews. The story is exceptional because the main character goes back in time and meets famous people in very difficult situations and each one will tell him their number one secret to become a resounding success. In it, you as a reader will learn the 7 secrets of what it takes to become successful even today. I’m reading it for the 5th time it is so profound. Because of this book, I continue to persevere and break down the imaginary walls. I even eat fear for breakfast and bounce out of bed daily.”
– Alvern Bullard, Success Unscrambled
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Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Not great with life’s changes?
“Who moved my cheese is a MUST have. First of all, it’s a fast read with a powerful impact. Because it tells a story, it’s easy not to get defensive as most people do when they are reading personal development books. It’s helped me make it through many changes in my life. I’ve faced close family losses, moving between states, a job layoff, and more but whenever I start to get overwhelmed with the changes, I reread Who Moved My Cheese and I’m able to cope again.”
– Jennifer Anastasi, Parent Smarter Not Harder
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The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Love an inspiring story of teamwork?
“This book not only offers great insight for any individual reader but also benefits the team as a whole. One of the biggest takeaways from this book is working as a team. It is important to be aware of who you work alongside and who makes up your respected team. By having this understanding about all the personalities and abilities that make up your team, this will give you more opportunity for success.
The second takeaway is the importance of practice. There is a lot of practice that goes into achieving goals, as a team. You can practice all you want on an individual level, but it won’t be comparable to working with a team that practices with one another. This pressure ensures that everyone within the team is held accountable for producing as best as they can. Applying these few tips to your respected team will grow your chances of success for both the team and the individual. This book shows the right path to success that many people do not know and it is Practice for the sack of practice.”
– Chris Eckstrum, House Call Pro
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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Want to read a story that changes you?
“To me, this book is like my spiritual guide. I have read it twice at two very different points in my life. The first time I really enjoyed it, but the second time I feel like it changed me. I completely fell in love with the journey that Santiago, the young shepherd took. He came across challenges, found truth, and fought for love. There is a scene in the book that made me so happy I literally cried huge happy tears. I can’t wait to read it for the third time, as I know I will get something different from this book this time around too. The Alchemist touches the heart and soul in ways I haven’t experienced in a book before. Such a heartfelt, beautiful story with so many life lessons.“
– Yolanda Ridley, Put the Kettle On
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Best Personal Development Books for Entrepreneurs
Ready to become an entrepreneur? Want to start a profitable business? Being an entrepreneur is not easy. Having your own business isn’t either. But with the help of the best personal development books for entrepreneurs, you can achieve your business goals.
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The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
Ready to take action to achieve your goals?
“I devoured its pages, captivated by its razor-sharp observations, wise advice, and highly practical tips. Its many real-life stories educate, demonstrating how thinking big and building confidence underpin success. Not to be missed are the cautionary stories about the destructiveness of making excuses. This book is packed with all the wisdom we need to improve. Harness the power of self-belief. Build confidence and destroy fear. Think creatively. Develop winning attitudes and action habits. Snatch victory from defeat. These empowering lessons have made me more optimistic, confident, and successful. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz is a priceless self-transformation book. You must read it.”
– Jo Anna, More Money Tips
“This book I am presently reading has prompted me to take a lot of action towards achieving my goals. In this book, David Schwartz tells us of numerous situations in which various people began thinking bigger than they initially believed possible. This change in thought pattern was followed by inspiration with ideas which made them achieve what they initially thought impossible. He makes us reflect on the actions we are presently taking which are a result of our present thought limitations and how we can begin making a change for the better.”
– Josephine Etah, Cross Mountains
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Start with WHY by Simon Sinek
What’s your why?
“For me, the title explains it all. There is always a reason we are going to get back up or look fear in the face. You are doing something or wanting change because you believe it will be better than before. The reason, or WHY has to be strong enough to support you. Whenever I think I can’t do something or feel the opportunity is too great, I go back to my WHY. If I want to quit and pursue something else, I go back to my WHY. My WHY is the reason I get through them. It’s the reason I didn’t allow childhood trauma and abuse to define me. My WHY gets me up at 4 am each morning because I am pushing for the day when it comes into reality for me.”
– Amy Johnson, Amy J Co.
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The Entrepreneur Rollercoaster by Darren Hardy
Want to know the number one secret to success?
“Darren doesn’t provide you with motivational content and fluff in this book. He acknowledges that entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster and that a majority of people fail at it. However, with the acknowledgments, he teaches the reader how to thrive against each of the odds that you are going to face when starting and running your own business. He teaches you how to sell more easily, how to recruit a great team to scale up, how to be a great leader, how to scale your business, and how to face your fears. If you want to get into the realm of entrepreneurship, but are unsure how to handle the ups and downs, this book will teach you how to develop yourself and your business to withstand those rollercoaster rides.”
– Shawn Breyer, Breyer Home Buyers
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Boss Life by Paul Downs
Does having your own business scare you?
“Every small business should have this ‘self-help’ book on a shelf somewhere in their office. By tracking the successes and horrors of his custom-made furniture business, Paul Downs, the writer of the blog ‘You’re the Boss’ for The New York Times wrote a book that discouraged many people from starting their own businesses. ‘Boss Life: Surviving My Own Small Business’ shares no secret formula for success and is full of warnings against romanticizing entrepreneurship. The message of the book is refreshingly real, building and maintaining a successful business is terribly difficult and you need help wherever you can get it.”
– Dewayne Hamilton, Web Cosmo Forums
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Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
What are your core beliefs?
“The number one personal development book to read right now is Principles by Ray Dalio because having principles is the foundation to achieving your goals. Your principles are your values and beliefs before you can create a plan of action, your current paradigm of beliefs must be assessed. Having clear principles will set you up for success in any endeavor.“
– Jasmine and Phrieda Bogere, J & P Living
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Best Leave the 9 to 5 Behind Books
Want to escape the 9 to 5 life and be your own boss? Tired of being trapped in a negative money mindset? Here are the best personal development books to reframe your beliefs about money and work. You can retire early, you can quit that job you hate if you learn and implement the principles in these self-help books.
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The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Tired of that 9 – 5 grind?
“The Four Hour Workweek changed the way I manage everything in my life. It’s a must-read for everyone who is tired of feeling stuck. Not only does it teach you ideas about how to accomplish more with batching, but it also teaches you how to outsource almost everything there is to do with your job. It teaches you to think differently about work so you have the time and money to pursue whatever you want.”
– Katie Evans, Perfectly Employed
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Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier
Wish you were financially independent?
“Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier is a book I’d been able to read 20 years ago. I would have made some decisions differently. It’s much more than a personal finance book. It will change how you think about money (time>money!) and the possibilities for your life. While not everyone may want to go to the extremes that the author did to become a millionaire in only 5 years at age 30, there are valuable lessons for just about anyone in here, including on entrepreneurship, financial independence, habits, and building a life you love.”
– Olivia Hall, Happy In the Hollow
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Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin
Do you need to change your relationship with money?
“This book is a step-by-step guide on how to reach early retirement. There are real success stories. It’s not just about saving and investing money tips, it’s also focused on life philosophy. Your Money or Your Life changed my outlook on money and jobs. It gave me new goals in life; it was actually the catalyst for my blog Mom Money Map. The 1992 original was recently updated for a 2018 release so it’s timely.”
– Jacqueline Gilchrist, Mom Money Map
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10 Pillars of Wealth by Alex Becker
Looking for a blueprint to business success?
“This book made major, actionable mindset shifts for me. Alex teaches you concepts, provides an example, and then breaks down actionable steps for new business owners and veteran ones. All of the topics that he teaches is immediately implementable. He covers separating your time from your income, how to focus on money-producing activities for your business, the importance of competitive friends and mentors, taking responsibility for everything you do (or don’t do), and mapping out actions that achieve your big goals. If you believe that the traditional mindset of going to school and get a good job leaves more to be desired in your life, but you’re not sure how to build a foundation for a successful life as an entrepreneur, this book will teach you the blueprint for success.”
– Shawn Breyer, Breyer Home Buyers
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The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
Refuse to just be another employee?
“MJ’s book is one of the first wealth and personal development books I read in college. It got me on track to study finance and have aspirations for entrepreneurship in the future. No one wants to be a cog in the rat race system forever, right? Millionaire Fastlane turns the old adage of ‘graduate college, get a job, work until 65, retire, die’ on its head. This book is a contrarian approach to a lot of what we teach here but provides a fresh perspective on the financial markets. MJ is very much focused on get rich young and get rich quickly. There are two sides to every story, and this side is quite motivating.”
– Joe, Home at 30
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Top Personal Finance Self Help Books
Do you spend too much and have too much debt? Wish you were better at managing your finances? If that sounds like you then here are the best personal development books for improving your personal finance. These self-help books not only teach you how to make more money, but how to break down your negative beliefs about money and wealth.
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Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Are you wasting your money on liabilities?
“Rich Dad Poor is a great book that taught me a lot about money and finance and how can we use our money to make more money. In this book, Robert teaches that the school system never teaches us anything about finance and that becomes a problem in the future. Robert taught the new difference between Assets and Liabilities according to which Assets are all the things that put money in your pocket, but liabilities are all things that take out money from your pocket.
After reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, I was fully convinced that I should not waste my money on anything that is not my asset. So I never bought anything on Loan, EMI or did anything that creates a liability for me. I used all my money in creating more assets that help me in being self-independent.”
– Mukeshwar Singh, Snakes in Dreams
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I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sehti
Want to learn how to be rich?
“As an accountant turned entrepreneur, I appreciated Ramit’s fresh no-BS perspectives on personal finance: saving, budgeting, and making more money through entrepreneurship. It spoke to me as a millennial living in a materialistic digital age! This book gives you a solid, actionable plan to get a good handle on your finances, and set you up for future wealth! Every entrepreneur must read this book!”
– Charlene Li, Crazy Cute Co.
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Million Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy
Curious about what the habits of millionaires are?
“Brian Tracy is a well-known motivator and writer. This book will truly transform you in ways you can’t imagine! You will learn some of the best-proven habits of millionaires and how to be one! I found it easy to read and no matter what stage of your life you are at, you will benefit from the tips and action steps provided in the book to help you achieve greater results.
In my experience, this book not only helped me so much in my business but also in my personal growth. Everyone has some ‘bad habits’ and often, we don’t even realize that we need to evolve and replace our ‘bad habits’ with ‘good habits.’ This book really helped me get rid of my “bad habits” and as a result, I am much more productive and happy every day. It has taught me that our habits have a direct correlation with our happiness and success in life!“
– Amira Law, A Self Guru
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Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Ready to become rich?
“Think and Grow Rich Think and Grow Rich is the #1 Personal Development book out there. It was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill. It is the manual that encourages any person at any stage of life to develop certain characteristics which will lead him/her to success and wealth. The book outlines the success formula that each individual needs to possess to come triumph on the other side. I read this book when I was about to lay off from a well-paid job in Stockholm. It helped me to lay out what I need to do to hold my nerve and it also helped me start and launch my own technology startup.”
– Prashant Dang, The Lifestyle Habit
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You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
What are your limiting beliefs about making money?
“This book addresses the number one reason why most people don’t attract a life of abundance – their negative mindsets and relationship with money. These limiting beliefs are fed from childhood and subconsciously affect our decisions with money. Sincero uses exercises throughout the book for readers to identify fears or doubts that played a role in their life and upbringing.”
– Kimberly Ihekwoaba, Kihek Creations
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Money a Love Story by Kate Northrup
Are you really bad with money?
“If you’re terrible with money, never have any, have loads of debt, or just don’t believe you’ll ever be rich, this is the book for you. Through sharing her own story and offering easy-to-follow, practical journal prompts and exercises, Kate Northrup completely changes your attitude towards money and earning in this book. It’s completely changed my life and has made me value myself more, take care of my money, appreciate what I have, and attract more abundance in every way. A must-read!”
– Vicky, The Flourishing Pantry
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What are the best personal development books to read in 2021? What self-help books will change my life? Click here to start reading. #Books #PersonalDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #SelfHelp
What’s the best personal development book everyone needs to read?
Last Updated on December 22, 2025
