“Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection.” — Kim Collins
I’ve read a lot of personal development & self-improvement books over 25 years at Microsoft to help me get ahead and stay ahead.
The world changes fast, and Microsoft changes even faster.
As my mentor taught me, the fastest thing you can change in any situation is yourself. To keep up, I had to learn how to change myself faster and learn new skills.
I’m sharing the books that have helped me the most around personal change, self-improvement and personal development.
Happy learning and growing!
10 Best Personal Development Books
Here is a list of my top 10 personal development books you might find helpful in your quest for personal growth and development …
- Brilliant NLP by David Molden and Pat Hutchinson: This is a beautifully concise book on how to use (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) to get better at everything you do.
- How To Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono: This book helped me learn how to be more interesting and how to cultivate my curiosity. His argument goes – if you are a good thinker, you can be beautiful … and anyone can be beautiful.
- Overachievement by John Eliot, Ph.D.: Dr. Eliot helps you figure out what brings out your best performance so that you can do that in more of your everyday scenarios. It’s one of the best books on how to think, feel, and do your best, based on real science and proven in practice with athletes – as well as corporate warriors.
- Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina: Rather than a bunch of habits and practices, Steve Pavlina takes a principle-based approach to give you a simple framework for personal growth. This book will stand out as one of the few that really leans in and acknowledges the hard work of personal development – but also will remind you all along the way, why your journey is worth it.
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey: This is a true classic on personal transformation. Stephen Covey does a brilliant job of honing on the 7 habits that really differentiate effective people. He also gives you a wealth of new ways to look at old problems so you can be more effective and make more conscious choices towards a more effective you.
- The Inner Edge: The 10 Practices of Personal Leadership by Joelle Jay: This book felt to me like a dojo of personal growth and greatness in a box. It is filled with extreme insight, along with incredibly pragmatic method, models, and mindsets for self-leadership. It’s one of the greatest books on the planet in terms of structuring your journey of personal development.
- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: I couldn’t believe the first time I discovered this book. I read it fast once, then re-read it slow, multiple times. I couldn’t believe that here in my hands was the secrets of the most successful, all under one volume. Canfield does a great job demystifying success and turning it into a set of principles that anybody can master, if they set their mind to it.
- Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins: I don’t know if there’s any book that shook my mind more, or redefined what’s possible for me in this lifetime, than this book. You can tell that Tony Robbins was on fire when he wrote this book. It’s like he tried to do a Vulcan mind-meld with the world and share the greatest secrets he figured out about unleashing your potential.
- Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman: This is one of the most helpful books for helping you learn how to truly be in the moment and how to do what makes you come alive, even when it’s not easy. It’s a book about moving forward, with anticipation, and joy, while at the same time, noticing what’s all around you. Check out my Lessons Learned from Peaceful Warrior.
- What You Can Change and What You Can’t by Martin Seligman, Ph.D.: Psychologist Martin Seligman shares his insights on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to change, based on outcome studies and a lifetime of observations in how people change (or don’t.) You will learn interesting things about fears and phobias, as well as some of the inner workings of your personality.
Getting Started with Personal Development
- 180 Climbing the Two Ladders to Inner Strength & Outer Freedom by Rob White
- Getting Results the Agile Way by J.D. Meier
- Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
- The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey
- The Success Journey by John Maxwell
- Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Best Personal Development Books on Acceptance, Self-Love
- Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
- Becoming Flawesome by Kristina Mänd-Lakhani
- Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
Best Personal Development Books on Achievement and Goals
- Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
- Be All You Can Be by John Maxwell
- Goal-Free Living by Stephen M. Saipiro
- Goals! by Brian Tracy
- Living an Extraordinary Life by Robert White
- Living at the Next Level by John Maxwell
- Overachievement by John Eliot
- Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy
- Patterns of High Performance by Jerry Fletcher
- Success 101 by John Maxwell
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
- Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
- Your Road Map for Success by John Maxwell
Best Personal Development Books on Attitude, Character
- Art of Living by Epictetus
- Attitude 101 by John Maxwell
- Be the Hero by Noah Blumenthal
- The Winning Attitude by John Maxwell
Best Personal Development Books on Biohacking
- Boundless by Ben Greenfield
- Exercising in Bed by Sanford Bennett
- Super Human by Dave Asprey
- The Bulletproof Diet by Dave Asprey
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferris
Best Personal Development Books on Change & Transformation
- A Philosopher’s Notes by Brian Johnson
- Be Your Future Self Now by Dr. Benjamin Hardy
- Fat, Forty, Fired by Nigel Marsh
- Mind Magic Techniques for Transforming Your Life by Marta Hiatt
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
- The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Inner Edge: The 10 Practices of Personal Leadership by Joelle K. Jay
- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
- Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Best Personal Development Books on Confidence
- Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
- Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
- Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
- Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons in Life and Business by Richard Branson
- Unleash the Warrior Within by Richard J. Machowicz
Best Personal Development Books on Communication Skills
- Dealing with People You Can’t Stand by Dr. Rick Kirschner
- How to Communicate by Martha Davis
- Lifescripts by Stephen M. Pollan
- The Exceptional Presenter by Timothy J. Koegel
- Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson PhD
Best Personal Development Books on Creativity and Imagination
- How to Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono
- Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono
- Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques by Michael Michalko
Best Personal Development Books on Decision Making, Choice
- Choices That Change Lives by Hal Urban
- Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions by Gary Klein
Best Personal Development Books on Emotional Intelligence
- Emotional Capitalists: The New Leaders by Martyn Newman
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
- Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns
- Learned Optimism by Martin E. P. Seligman
- The Emotional Energy Factor by Mira Kirshenbaum
Best Personal Development Books on Focus
- Simple Zen: A Guide to Living Moment by Moment by C. Alexander Simpkins
- The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr
- The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield
- The Power of Less by Leo Babauta
Best Personal Development Books on Grit, Perseverance, and Resilience
- Grit by Angela Duckworth
- Mindset by Carl Dweck
- The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
Best Personal Development Books on Habits
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Getting Results the Agile Way by J.D. Meier
- Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Success by Napoleon Hill
- Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina
- Tactics: The Art and Science of Success by Edward de Bono
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
- The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey
- The 80/20 Individual by Richard Koch
- The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
Best Personal Development Books on Influence, Persuasion
- Get Them on Your Side by Samuel B. Bacharach
- How To Click with People by Dr. Rick Kirschner
- How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Influence by Robert Cialdini
- Influence Without Authority by Allan R. Cohen
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Best Personal Development Books on Interpersonal Skills
- Antipatterns: Identification, Refactoring, and Management by Phillip A. Laplante
- Coping with Difficult Bosses by Robert Bramson
- Crucial Confrontations by Kerry Patterson
- Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
- Dealing with People You Can’t Stand by Dr. Rick Kirschner
- How To Click with People by Dr. Rick Kirschner
- Masters of Networking by Ivan R. Misner
- Personal Village by Marvin Thomas
- Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
- The Art of Talking to Anyone by Rosalie Maggio
- The Likeability Factor by Tim Sanders
Best Personal Development Books on Intuition
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
- Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions by Gary Klein
- The Power of Intuition by Gary Klein
Best Personal Development Books on Learning
- Limitless by Jim Kwik
- Mastery by Robert Greene
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- The 4-Hour Chef by Tim Ferris
- The First 20 Hours by Josh Kaufman
- The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne
- The Seven Sins of Memory by Daniel L. Schacter
- Ultralearning by Scott Young
Best Personal Development Books on Life & Living
- A Philosopher’s Notes by Brian Johnson
- The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
- IKIGAI-KAN: Feel a Life Worth Living by Nichoals Kemp
- Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons in Life and Business by Richard Branson
- The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Willis Barnstone
- The Power of Less by Leo Babauta
Best Personal Development Books on Money and Financial
- 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness by Jim Rohn
- Getting Rich Your Own Way by Brian Tracy
- Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
- The Book on Making Money by Steve Oliverez
- Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
Best Personal Development Books on Mind
- 7 (Seven) Kinds of Smart by Thomas Armstrong
- Brain Rules by John Medina
- How Successful People Think by John Maxwel
- How to Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono
- Limitless by Jim Kwik
- Managing Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide by Gillian Butler
- Mind Hacks: Tips & Tools for Using Your Brain by Tom Stafford
- Mind Performance Hacks by Ron Hale-Evans
- Power Thinking by John N. Mangieri
- Smart Questions by Gerald Nadler
Best Personal Development Books on Mindset
- Learned Optimism by Martin E. P. Seligman
- Mindset by Carl Dweck
- The Greatness Mindset by Lewis Howes
Best Personal Development Books on Mindfulness
- Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan
- Simple Zen: A Guide to Living Moment by Moment by C. Alexander Simpkins
- The Power of Less by Leo Babauta
- Work from the Inside Out by Nancy O’Hara
Best Personal Development Books on Personal Leadership
- Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell
- The Inner Edge: The 10 Practices of Personal Leadership by Joelle K. Jay
Best Personal Development Books on Positivity & Optimism
- Attitude 101 by John Maxwell
- How to Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono
- Learned Optimism by Martin E. P. Seligman
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
Best Personal Development Books on Productivity and Time Management
- Getting Results the Agile Way by J.D. Meier
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath
- Overachievement by John Eliot
- Patterns of High Performance by Jerry Fletcher
- Self-discipline in 10 days: How to go from thinking to doing by Theodore Bryant
- The Now Habit by Neil A. Fiore
- The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr
Best Personal Development Books on Purpose & Fulfillment
- IKIGAI-KAN: Feel a Life Worth Living by Nichoals Kemp
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope
Best Personal Development Books on Relationships
- For Men Only by Shaunti Christine Feldhahn
- For Women Only by Shaunti Christine Feldhahn
- Forgiveness Is a Choice by Robert D. Enright
- Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray
- Should I Stay Or Go? by Lee Raffel
Best Personal Development Books on Self-Awareness
- 180 Climbing the Two Ladders to Inner Strength & Outer Freedom by Rob White
- egonomics: What Makes Ego Our Greatest Asset by David Marcum
- Lifetypes by Sandra Krebs Hirsh
- What You Can Change and What You Can’t by Martin Seligman
Best Personal Development Books on Spiritual Intelligence
- Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan
- The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
- Work from the Inside Out by Nancy O’Hara
Best Personal Development Books on Strengths
- Character Strengths and Virtues by Chris Peterson and Martin Seligman
- Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
- Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham
- StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Best Personal Development Books on Stress Management
- 10 Simple Solutions to Stress by Claire Michaels Wheeler
- Learn to Relax by Mike George
- Overachievement by John Eliot
Best Personal Development Books on Success & Achievement
- 180 Climbing the Two Ladders to Inner Strength & Outer Freedom by Rob White
- How Successful People Think by John Maxwell
- Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Success by Napoleon Hill
- Success 101 by John Maxwell
- Success Principles by Jack Canfield
- Tactics: The Art and Science of Success by Edward de Bono
- The Success Journey by John Maxwell
- Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
- Who Are You? What Do You Want? by Mick Ukleia
- Your Road Map for Success by John Maxwell
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