Motivation, we all struggle with it from time to time.
And that’s okay.
Motivation is like energy that comes and goes. You can’t expect it to be there all the time. However, what you do when you feel unmotivated matters.
And that’s when the best motivational books are helpful.
Top motivational books provide insights that propel you forward or, at least, serve as a source of inspiration. And I’ve only included books that have proven their value to many people.
Also, I’ve selected a variety of topics. So there is going to be a great motivational book for you, whether you want to:
- Overcome anxiety, self-doubt, or limiting beliefs.
- Develop new habits and achieve more.
- Build unshakeable self-confidence.
- Find a reason to live and fight for.
- Seek inspiration for success and prosperity.
So, let’s dive in!
P.S. If you prefer audiobooks, you must know about Audible. Learn if Audible is worth it for you.
#1: Awaken the Giant Within
Awaken the Giant Within is the best motivational book to change your life. Or at least, that’s what it did for me. This book opened my eyes when I felt hopeless and frustrated.
And I’ve been excited about life ever since.
This book is very insightful and contains many strategies and tactics for self-discovery and mastery. It will teach you why you think, feel, and act the way you do. And how you can regain control over it.
And it’s written by the great Tony Robbins.
For those who don’t know Tony, he is one of the best motivational and self-help speakers of all time.
The material in his book helped him become a successful entrepreneur, best-selling author, and life & business strategist, empowering more than 50 million people.
Some of the things you will learn:
- How to regain control over yourself and your future.
- How to change your limiting beliefs forever.
- The forces that shape your life – and how to use them.
- How to use words and questions for reconditioning yourself.
- And a 7-day challenge to unleash your true potential.
I loved this book because every few pages contained eye-opening insights and practical tips and strategies.
This is one of the best books on personal change that everyone should read at least once. And if you feel stuck and frustrated like me, it may just change your life forever.
#2: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Do you feel like you care too much about stupid things? Like the opinions of others? Or do you worry about living your life the way you think you should, rather than how you want?
If so, this is the most encouraging book for you.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a book that gives you the truth without the bullsh*t. Rather than positively spinning the information, Mark simply tells you how it is.
The counter-intuitive writing of Mark Manson makes it a very thought-provoking and refreshing self-help book to read.
Some of the things Mark writes about:
- Why happiness is a problem.
- Why you aren’t special – and why that’s a good thing.
- What’s really holding you back, and how to overcome it.
- Why suffering is good and how you can appreciate its value.
- Why everyone is wrong about everything – and how to deal with it.
You will love this book if you’re struggling with self-doubt and self-esteem. But, it’s also a fantastic option if you seek a refreshing perspective that’s different from most other books.
#3: Man’s Search for Meaning
Lacking motivation often comes from a lack of clarity. Figure out why you do what you do, and you will become unstoppable.
And that’s exactly what this book is all about.
Victor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist. During World War II, he got captured by the Nazis and split from his wife and kids (whom he would never see again). Frankl then had to work under the most dehumanizing conditions in the concentration camps.
What’s so fascinating about his story?
Though his life looked bleak and utterly hopeless, he not only survived but thrived in the death camp. And he arguably experienced more freedom than his captors.
How is that possible?
That’s what you will learn in his book. I loved reading it and recommend it to everyone for various reasons:
- A fascinating story about how finding your purpose will give you unbreakable and ever-lasting motivation.
- Understand the true meaning of life.
- Learn how you can always choose your freedom.
- And how you can let go of judgement and suffering.
Read this book if you’re in pain, suffering, or lack a bigger purpose in your life. But again, it’s one of those books I recommend everyone to read at least once.
#4: Make Your Bed
Do you struggle with procrastination, and do even the tiniest tasks feel like a burden on your life?
How can you change that?
Well, you might want to read this book. It’s one of the best motivational books to regain your momentum.
Admiral William McRaven is an ex-Navy SEAL with tremendous life experience. And in his book, he turns his wisdom into valuable and practical advice for everyday life.
Here’s what I like about this book:
- Practical advice for self-discipline and motivation.
- Inspiring examples from an ex-Navy SEAL.
- A thought-provoking yet very uplifting read.
- Simple lessons to implement in your life.
This is the best motivational book if you want to develop more discipline, taught by an ex-Navy SEAL.
#5: Tiny Habits
Do you have moments when you feel motivated, set goals, and take action? But then struggle to stay consistent?
New Years’ resolutions are a great example.
Gyms see a steep increase in memberships at the beginning of each year – just to see 80% of these unsubscribe within months.
That will no longer happen after you read Tiny Habits.
BJ Fogg is a behavioral scientist who has studied such phenomenona for decades. And in his book, he explains the simple yet profound formula: B = MAP.
“Here’s the simplest way to explain it: Behavior (B) happens when Motivation (M), Ability (A), and a Prompt (P) come together at the same moment.”
Here’s what I like about this book:
- Practical tactics based on decades of research.
- A simple yet effective method to create lasting change.
- Top motivational book to change your behavior.
Look no further if you’re seeking a motivational book to develop new habits that last. The methods are simple, practical, and super effective for personal transformation.
#6: The Obstacle is the Way
Are your fears crushing your motivation and holding you back from achieving your goals?
Then you will love this book for motivation.
While the ideas are not unique, the way Ryan Holiday combines them is. Many of his insights come from Stoicism, a philosophy that teaches the development of self-discipline.
That’s also why this book contains the perfect combination of philosophical wisdom with practical tips and strategies.
Some things I liked:
- It dives into the crucial areas of perception (or mindset), self-motivation (or action), and willpower (or discipline).
- Many practical ideas wrapped in age-old wisdom.
- Based on Stoicism: a philosophy that promotes logical and unbiased thinking to improve self-control.
A top motivational book if you want to conquer your fears and crush your goals. And it’s especially great for people who enjoy using logic and reason.
#7: The Alchemist
Do you want a motivational book that reads like a novel instead of a traditional non-fiction book?
The Alchemist is the best motivational novel.
But it’s much more than that.
The book tells the simple tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy who pursues his dreams of finding treasure in the Egyptian pyramids.
And on his journey, you will learn many life lessons about purpose, self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, motivation, etc.
Here’s what I enjoyed:
- Learn many life lessons through a simple tale.
- Helps you focus on the areas that matter most in life.
- Inspires you to follow your heart and dreams.
- Teaches how to overcome everyday challenges.
Many people love reading this book because it’s a simple story that contains many (hidden) life lessons.
#8: Mastery
Do you seek success but feel frustrated because you’re not seeing progress fast enough?
Then Mastery is the best book on motivation for you. It’s also one of my favorite books of all time.
Why?
Because it explains the essential ingredients for success through the stories of the most successful people ever lived. Think about Wolfgang Mozart, Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, and Paul Graham.
This book will shift your focus from “quick results” to achieving mastery and long-term and lasting success.
And that’s highly needed in society today.
What I enjoyed about this book:
- Understand the foundational pillars for success.
- Illustrative examples from highly successful people.
- Learn how to find your life’s task.
- Learn how to persevere through challenges, seek the right guidance, and stay consistent in your craft.
- Many different strategies and tactics to unlock your true potential and achieve mastery.
This book is for everyone who truly wants to live up to their full potential – not just get quick results. So if you desire greatness in a specific area, you should read this book.
#9: Total Recall
Are you a fan of biographies?
I could have listed many books, but the best one I found was this one about Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Why?
He is self-made and did defeat the odds many times. Some of his achievements include:
- First, he became one of the legends in bodybuilding.
- Second, he achieved massive success in Holywood, despite his funny German accent, for which he was ridiculed.
- Third, he became the governor of California.
- And during his journey, he achieved many successes in business.
- Finally, he is an author, an investor, a producer, a director, a philanthropist, and more.
If you find a more motivational story than this, let me know.
What fascinates me most is that you will learn about the human side of Arnold. While legendary, he also acknowledges his mistakes, making him very relatable.
So if you enjoy biographies and seek one that will motivate you, I highly recommend you pick up Total Recall.
#10: You Are a Badass
The title of the book says all you need to know. But the subtitle explains why you want to read this book:
“How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life.”
Jen Sincero is a success coach who focuses on female entrepreneurs. She teaches how you can embrace your inner badass and overcome self-doubts, anxiety, and many other challenges.
While I haven’t read this book myself yet, here are some of the common mentions in the reviews:
- Simple but truthful lessons about motivation and success.
- Especially great for those who struggle with depression, anxiety, self-doubts, limiting beliefs, and self-love.
- A very motivational and inspirational read, especially for female entrepreneurs.
If you are a woman looking for the best book on motivation, you may relate to this book. It has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews from female readers.
#11: The One Thing
Do you lose motivation because you’re getting distracted or lose focus easily?
Then you should read The One Thing.
The core thesis is simple: focus on one thing. But the challenge lies in the implementation.
How to determine your priorities? What should you focus on? And how can you practically maintain that focus in the real world?
Well, that’s what Gary Keller explains in his book. He dives into purpose, prioritization, productivity, and success.
Here’s what I enjoyed most:
- Simple yet powerful concepts.
- Practical tips to improve your focus and motivation.
- And how to set up your priorities in life.
I will keep this one simple: this is the best book on motivation if you struggle with focus or juggle many things.
#12: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Do you experience negative self-talk or limiting beliefs that hold you back from being your best self? Or perhaps you procrastinate and fail to understand why?
Then Mindset is the book you need.
Carol Dweck is a psychologist who focuses on motivation and personality development. And she is most known for her work about a fixed and a growth mindset.
A fixed mindset causes people to believe that intelligence is fixed, which affects your motivation. But with a growth mindset, you know that can change if you were to put effort into it.
Everyone experiences both mindsets.
You may experience a growth mindset in your career but then have a predominantly fixed mindset in your relationships.
And your mindset determines your success in each of those areas in life.
What I liked about this book:
- It provides valuable insights to combat self-limiting beliefs, self-doubts, and negative self-talk.
- Explains the link between mindset and motivation.
- Provides tools to help you develop a growth mindset.
- Based on research with many examples.
If your mindset is the main reason holding you back from achieving your greatness, you will love this book.
#13: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Do you wonder if you should pursue your passion?
Then you will love this book.
Angela Duckworth is a psychologist with interest in self-control and grit. Grit refers to the psychology between the passion for a specific goal and one’s perseverance in pursuing that goal.
Simply said, how does passion affect perseverance?
What I enjoyed:
- Scientific insights into passion and perseverance.
- Understanding the link between doing what you love and achieving success.
- Many examples illustrate these points.
This book is most useful for parents and teachers who seek to get the most out of children. But also a good read if you want to learn more about the link between passion and motivation.
#14: Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable
Are you an athlete or a high-achiever in need of some tough love?
Then you will love Relentless.
The author Tim Grover is the legendary trainer of the greatest athletes in history, like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
And in his book, he gives you direct and unfiltered advice on becoming unstoppable. It’s a great read if you’re not easily offended and ready to step up your game.
The things I enjoyed most:
- Direct and honest advice for self-improvement.
- Wisdom and tips from a legendary coach on success.
- Learn how to adopt the mindset of high-achievers.
- And learn how to unleash your inner beast.
If you’re an athlete or high-achiever and seek inspiration through some tough love, this is the best book on motivation.
#15: Think and Grow Rich
This book has a catchy title that might stir up strong feelings. But it’s more about self-improvement than getting rich.
Think and Grow Rich is also one of the classics.
In the book, Napoleon Hill observes the most successful people of his time, mainly Andrew Carnegie. And from his observations, he drew 14 principles about success.
Here’s what I like most:
- A timeless book despite being written in 1937.
- Reveals basic yet profound traits for success, mainly about mindset, personal beliefs, and planning.
- Practical insights for personal success.
- Positive and inspiring.
If you want to achieve more success, you should read this classic book for motivation.
#16: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
This book is a classic in the list of personal development. And if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
The principles are timeless, simple, and yet powerful.
That’s why it continues to be one of the best-sellers. It’s also one of the books that I’ve enjoyed reading several times and will continue to do so.
While this book is more transformational, it’s still a great option to increase motivation. And adopting these habits will improve the quality of your life.
Some of the things I liked:
- A timeless book with transformational ideas.
- Simple yet inspiring ideas to increase your effectiveness.
- Very clear and relatable examples.
- Actionable strategies and tips.
While everyone should read this book, it benefits you most if you look to improve personal and social effectiveness.
Closing thoughts
This selection of the best motivational books will inspire you to keep going, even through challenging times.
And they are worth reading more than once.
Each book contains a ton of value and will inspire you. That’s also why I read many of the books once a year.
However, not always from cover to cover.
The first time I read a book, I take notes and highlight insightful sections. Then, when I re-read the book, I’ll skim through it and pay extra attention to the notes I made.
If you do that, too, that will inspire you again. And it also increases the amount of information you retain.
So what are you waiting for?
Get your top motivational books today, become inspired, and achieve some personal breakthroughs. Additionally, check out these books on overcoming fear. And check out the free 30-day trial with Audible to listen to the best audiobooks.
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