Personal growth books aren’t a be-all-end-all solution to progressing in life, but they can undoubtedly help. As such, the ones that contain timeless wisdom and usable lessons are a great way to gain inspiration for your journey and get going. On this basis, here are six of the best self-development books from different eras.
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There are many ways to become a better version of yourself. Whether it’s through no-nonsense self-improvement, personal challenges, or the elimination of negativity, advancing in life is not sorcery.
Enter personal growth books. Reading a book won’t make you a different person overnight, but it can kickstart your efforts.
6 of the best self-development books to become a better version of yourself
The following are some of the best self-development books to inspire, complement your efforts, and help you achieve your goals.
The Art of Non-Conformity – Chris Guillebeau (2010)
If you’re trying to accomplish a unique feat, taking on a challenge, or simply into unconventional activities, Chris Guillebeau’s 2010 bestseller is a must-read.
Guillebeau wrote this book while visiting every country in the world – giving him ample opportunities to chronicle some of the journey’s lessons. But this book is much more than a bible for adventure travelers. It’s a collection of stories and tips for people who want to break out of routines and try novel experiences.
No matter if you’re building a business, traveling the world, or trying to become more sociable, you’ll find takeaways in Guillebeau’s first bestseller.
- The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau on Amazon
All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success – Wayne Baker (2020)
When it comes to self-improvement, many people struggle with one primary skill: asking for help.
Whether it’s general advice, financing, or ideas, we tend to face obstacles that prevent us from gathering the courage to ask.
That’s where Wayne Baker’s 2020 book comes into play. In a lively and highly readable style, the book provides various techniques, games, and principles that will help you turn the act of asking for help into a habit.
- All You Have to Do Is Ask by Wayne Baker on Amazon
Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (1937)
When it comes to classic books about money, wealth, and self-improvement, Think and Grow Rich should be on your shelf.
Written in 1937, many of its principles still hold true, and lots of 21st-century business magnates cite Hill’s masterpiece as one of their favorite books.
Napoleon Hill spent years studying the habits, practices, and ideas of individuals who amassed fortunes. He compiled the results in this book, giving the reader an insight into the minds of some of the most successful people of the period.
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill on Amazon
The Power of Now: a Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment – Eckhard Tolle (1997)
When it comes to the best self-development books, Eckhard Tolle’s 1997 book The Power of Now is among the all-time greats.
The message of this book is straightforward: to attain happiness, success, and productivity, we need to live in the now.
As such, mindfulness and focus are some of the book’s cardinal topics. Consequently, if you struggle with distractions, worries, or general laziness, Tolle’s book is one of the best manuals to improve.
- The Power of Now by Eckhard Tolle on Amazon
The Happiness Advantage – Shawn Achor (2010)
Positive psychology expert Shawn Achor starts his 2010 book with a simple mantra: happiness fuels success, not the other way round.
In our uber-connected, busy lives, we tend to believe that the harder we work, the happier we’ll become.
That promotion will boost my career and fill my bank account. I’ll be so much happier in the future.
Achor’s book explains why it’s the opposite. You first need to be happy and confident before becoming successful. The concept isn’t new, but Achor’s decade-long research at companies like KPMG and UBS adds new perspectives.
On this basis, if you’re wondering whether that shiny new business card will make you happy, this book will help you understand the science behind positivity and the correlation between happiness and success.
- The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor on Amazon
Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell (2008)
Finally, Outliers is among the best self-development books because it takes a different approach to analyze success.
Many self-help books assess the tactics and routines of billionaires to give tips to the reader. All well and good, but Gladwell chooses a different route.
In his 2008 bestseller, he doesn’t ask what successful people do. He analyzes where they came from. As such, the book emphasizes successful people’s culture, upbringing, and values.
Throughout the book, he finds out why Asians are better at maths than Americans, why software billionaires take such immense risks, and how the Beatles became a worldwide sensation.
In a world of repetitive self-help literature, Gladwell’s book is a breath of fresh air and an interesting viewpoint on the notion of “success.”
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell on Amazon
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