Self-improvement changed my life forever. And today, I list the best self-help books that contributed most to my transformation.
Theyâre so good that Iâve read many of them several times.
But besides personal experience, Iâve also looked at other criteria whilst creating my list of favorite books for personal growth. Every option must meet the following:
- I gained tons of value from each book;
- It contains many insights and practical nuggets;
- The book sold at least a million copies worldwide;
- And has an average 4+ star review on Amazon.
Let’s dive in!
P.S. Check out my Audible review if you prefer audiobooks.
Summary overview of the best self-help books
- Best self-help book overall: Awaken the Giant Within
- Best book about beliefs: The Four Agreements
- Best to gain perspective: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- Best book on purpose: Manâs Search for Meaning
- Best habits book: Atomic Habits
- Best fictional self-help book: The Alchemist
- Best for interpersonal skills: How to Win Friends and Influence People
- Best to start conversations: How to Talk to Anyone
- Best on success habits: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- Best on success mindset: Think and Grow Rich
- Best book on developing skills: Mastery
- Best beginnerâs book on money: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
- Best book on happiness: The Art of Happiness
- Most relatable fable: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
- Best spiritual book on happiness: The Power of Now
Most popular books on self-empowerment
I felt stuck and frustrated during my teenage years.
And it wasnât until book number one in this section turned my life around forever. But that book only ignited my self-improvement journey. Several other self-help books altered my perspective and behavior.
Today, Iâm 100% in control over myself and my destiny.
And if youâre looking for the best self-help books to better yourself and experience a transformation, you will love the following books.
#1. Awaken the Giant Within
Okay, I will be honest â Iâm biased.
I vividly remember how reading this book opened my eyes and ignited an inner change. It was as if the blueprint of life was unfolding before my eyes.
I regained hope.
This book explained why I did, felt, and believed the way I did. But, more importantly, it provided practical tools to regain control over myself and, ultimately, my life.
Itâs jam-packed with golden insights.
And the value of this book may overwhelm you at first. I had to read it for a second and third time to grasp all its concepts.
Hereâs what youâll learn:
- A simple system to regain control if you feel stuck or lost;
- How beliefs, self-talk, and decisions shape your actions;
- Different strategies to improve mental resilience;
- A 6-step system to change anything in your life;
- A 7-day kick-starter guide to reshape yourself;
- And so much moreâŚ
This book is great for you if you want to feel empowered, take back control, and unlock your potential. Yes, you too have a giant within, and itâs time to unleash it.
#2: The Four Agreements
Do you want to shatter self-limiting beliefs and explore new empowering ones that will set you free?
Then this is the best self-help book for you.
Don Miguel Ruiz explains the most common beliefs that almost everyone suffers from.
Think about beliefs that hold you back from realizing your full potential. For example, not asking someone on a date because you fear rejection. Or allowing anxiety to get in the way of speaking up at work.
But also think about the many judgements and prejudices we hold over others â even if we donât personally know these people.
The four agreements unlock a version of yourself that experiences more joy and fulfillment. The four agreements are:
- Be impeccable with your word;
- Donât take anything personal;
- Donât make assumptions;
- Always do your best.
This book is great for you if you want to shatter self-limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones. This book is eye-opening, and the agreements led me to more personal freedom.
#3: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
If youâre longing for advice that cuts through the crap and provides a realistic yet refreshing perspective, I recommend this self-help book.
Mark Mansonâs writing is down to earth and takes a zero-BS approach to bettering yourself. And he will explain whatâs wrong with common self-improvement ideas.
Think about the following topics:
- Why happiness is a problem;
- Why you arenât special â and why thatâs okay;
- How to appreciate the value in suffering;
- How to make better choices;
- Why youâre wrong about everything (and everyone else too);
- Why failure is essential for success in life;
- And why you should say no.
This book is great for you if youâre skeptical of common self-help advice or seek a refreshing perspective. Warning: you may binge-read this book in one session as I did.
#4: Manâs Search for Meaning
The story about the man in this book will blow you away.
And it will put your entire life into perspective.
The author Victor Frankl was a captured jew during World War II. And he spent time in several Nazi death camps, including Auswitch, living under the most inhumane conditions imaginable.
And yet, he arguably enjoyed more freedom than his captors.
Let that sink in for a moment.
He had zero physical freedom and most other captives gave up. The daily situation was desperate at best. And yet, Frankl enjoyed more freedom than his captors?
Howâs that even possible?
Thatâs exactly what youâll learn about in his book, which he wrote after surviving the Holocaust. His teachings include:
- How to find meaning in life;
- How to transform your suffering into strength;
- Why freedom is a choice and how to choose it at any time, no matter how dire the situation.
This book is great for you if you lack purpose or struggle with the meaning of life. But in my opinion, itâs one of the best self-improvement books to gain perspective that benefits everyone.
#5: Atomic Habits
I was always looking to hit big, like talking to the most beautiful girl at the party or finding the best way to make money online fast.
Unfortunately, it was a recipe for disaster.
Rather than taking massive action, I kept looking for the next best opportunity.
âNext time, I will go for it.â
The biggest thing Iâve learned?
Taking small but consistent actions is the ultimate secret to winning big. Habits lead to success, no matter your goals or how small you start.
And Atomic Habits is my favorite self-help book on the topic.
Not only does it provide a foundational understanding of how habits work, but itâs also extremely action-oriented. It teaches:
- The compounding effect that changes lives;
- The circle of change and why identity is the strongest force if you successfully want to change or develop habits.
- 4-Step framework to create habits;
- And a deep dive into each of those steps.
- Practical ways to make habits more obvious, attractive, satisfying and easy to stick with.
- Plus, advanced techniques.
This book is great for you if youâre looking for practical ways to build habits in any area of your life.
#6: The Alchemist
The Alchemist is the first fictional book on this list, yet it contains many hidden life lessons. Perhaps thatâs why this book sold over 150 million copies worldwide.
So, whatâs the story about?
Itâs a tale about a shepherd named Santiago. He seeks the ultimate treasure and travels the world to find it, encountering many troubles along the way.
Itâs an easy read, and hereâs what youâll learn:
- The story contains many metaphors for life;
- Many hidden life lessons. You will be ready for some while you might discover others at a later stage.
- Overall, itâs an inspiring and fun story to read.
This book is great for you if you prefer a story-based fictional self-help book that provokes thoughtfulness to extract its essential lessons.
Best self-help books for interpersonal skills
Although Iâm introverted and enjoy living independently, Iâve also learned that relationships are essential for an optimal life.
But as a shy person, I struggled with that aspect.
Fortunately, there are many great self-help books on this topic. And while a few stood out, the next one exceeded all expectations.
#7: How to Win Friends and Influence People
At first, I struggled with the title of this book. It sounds a bit manipulative, doesnât it? Yet, I gave this book a chance.
And boy, was I blown away.
This book provides all the fundamentals you need to know when dealing with people.
The strangest part?
Most of these principles are common sense and straightforward.
Yet, almost everyone forgets about these principles or overlooks them, especially in the heat of a moment.
If you follow these principles, I guarantee that youâll improve your relationships. And the benefit of principles is that they apply to all sorts of relationships, from work to intimate ones.
What will you learn?
- Fundamental techniques in handling people;
- Six ways to make people like you;
- How to win people to your way of thinking;
- And how to change others without being offensive or arousing resentment.
This book is great for you if you want a bible to improve your interpersonal skills and build better relationships. I re-read this book many times and will continue to do so.
#8: How to Talk to Anyone
While How to Win Friends and Influence People dominates this section for its foundational and universal principles, starting a conversation may be something you want help with.
I certainly did.
And in that case, How to Talk to Anyone is one of the best self-help books on the market. The reason is simple: itâs practical and provokes action, which is how you develop social confidence.
This book bridges the gap between wanting to talk to others and actually talking to others.
So, how does this book help you overcome the scariest step of making the initial connection?
- You will learn how to start conversations;
- Gain practical ideas to continue conversations;
- Learn how you can increase your value by praising others;
- And how you can blend into any crowd and talk to everyone;
- And finally, how to deepen your connection instantly.
This book is great for you if you want to talk to people and often let your fears get in the way. This book encourages action, which leads to social confidence.
Best self-help books for success
While success means different things to everyone, you’ll need success to achieve your goals, dreams, or desires.
That could mean a specific career, financial independence, building a business, attracting the perfect mate, or traveling the world.
What do you desire?
What would you like to achieve?
If youâve got an answer, then youâll enjoy the best self-help books in this section.
#9: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
While I placed this book in the success section, itâs more than that.
The seven habits are about supercharging yourself to improve your personal and professional effectiveness. Part of it focuses on the self, whereas the rest relates to interpersonal habits.
What I love most is the simplicity of this book.
And the lessons and examples are crystal-clear.
I often mention this book in my articles. And Iâve read it more than five times â and will continue to do so at least once a year. Itâs that good.
Here are the habits you will learn:
- Being proactive;
- Begin with the end in mind;
- Put first things first;
- Think win/win;
- Seek first to understand⌠then to be understood;
- Synergize;
- And sharpen the saw.
This book is great for you if you want to increase your effectiveness in all areas, from private to professional and personal to relationships. In other words, I recommend you read this book.
#10: Think and Grow Rich
While the title of this book screams âhow to make moneyâ, itâs much more about the mental framework for success.
Itâs all about mindset.
Napoleon Hill studied the greatest of his time, including Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, and Charles Schwab. And he extracted the mental attitudes that earned them a spot at the table of the super-rich.
While the book was published in 1937, it remains one of the best self-help books to date regarding achieving success.
Hereâs what you will learn:
- The power of desire and how to awaken it within yourself;
- How to build fate and create unlimited self-belief;
- How to improve your decision-making skills;
- The role of the subconscious mind in success;
- How to develop a sixth sense to thrive in life;
- And how to use your mind to become wealthy.
This book is great for you if you want to learn the mentality of the most remarkable business people of all time. After all, your mindset forms the foundation on which you build success.
#11: Mastery
Trust me when I tell you that thereâs no shortcut to success. And youâre wasting your time if you look for it like I did.
Instead, mastering skills is the fastest way to success.
And thatâs exactly what this book is about.
Robert Greene studied the masters of all time. Think about Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Charles Darwin.
And he discovered that although their fields differ, their paths have many similarities. This framework applies to any skill, from professional to hobbies, like making music.
Youâll learn fundamental concepts that will short-track your path to mastery, including:
- How to find your lifeâs task;
- The best way to start learning through the ideal apprenticeship, including practical strategies to learn your craft fast;
- How to find a great mentor to enhance your learning;
- How to develop the social intelligence to build the connections needed for success;
- And how to fuse the intuitive with rational practice to awaken your creative mind and make any craft your own.
This book is great for you if you want to build skill sets that lead to lasting and meaningful success. It explains the journey from A to Z.
#12: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, was the first book that taught me about personal finances. Even though I studied Finance in college, I had yet to learn how to build wealth or, at the very least, achieve financial independence.
Thatâs why I enjoyed this book so much.
The book is about the two role models Robert Kiyosaki had; his poor biological father and the rich father of his friend.
The latter taught him the secrets of the wealthy, including:
- How money really works;
- Why the rich donât work for money;
- Why you should work to learn â not for money;
- Why cash flow is more important than net worth;
- And the best assets you need to become wealthy.
This book is great for you if you lack financial education and wonder what wealthy individuals do differently from everyone else. This book is a starting point to build the financial foundation schools fail to teach.
Best self-help books for happiness
Ultimately, everything we do is to increase happiness.
And while you may be chasing some external goals, the truth is that happiness never appears in the result.
Instead, itâs the journey that matters most.
You can be happier now â and the following books teach how.
#13: The Art of Happiness
Who better to learn happiness from than the master, the Dalai Lama. But it gets better. The interviewer is none other than Dr. Cutler, an expert in the science of happiness.
In other words, you get the best insights on happiness from a Western scientific perspective combined with ancient Eastern beliefs.
In even simpler terms, you get two books in one.
Some even go as far as calling it the handbook for living. But what exactly will you learn?
- Western scientific evidence on how to become happier;
- An Eastern Buddhist perspective about happiness;
- How to achieve lasting inner peace;
- How to become more compassionate;
- And how to deal with suffering.
This book is great for you if you want to optimize for happiness. Itâs a great book that tackles the two most dominant perspectives of modern science and ancient wisdom.
#14: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
Do you learn best through stories?
If the answer is yes, pick up this book because itâs a spiritual yet inspiring fable about fulfilling dreams and reaching your potential.
And the story is relatable to many people.
Julian Mantle strived his entire life to become a successful attorney. And he did achieve that. Yet, while society considers him successful, he still feels unfulfilled.
It takes a heart attack for Julian to change his path.
He decides that he canât waste any more time chasing money. He wants to escape the rat race in pursuit of truth. And he travels to the Himalayas, where he finds a guide who teaches him the essentials of life.
The book is a delightful read that teaches:
- How to master your thoughts and mind;
- Why you should pursue purpose and how to find it;
- Why you should strive for self-mastery if you want happiness;
- How to live a more disciplined life and why you should;
- How to maintain the perfect balance;
- And why selfless service is vital.
This book is great for you if youâre ambitious and want to achieve success without sacrificing happiness or joy. Too many people focus on one, but only both will truly fulfill you.
#15: The Power of Now
The final book in this list touches on spirituality. And itâs one of the best self-help books if you want to glimpse what it means to achieve enlightenment.
Eckhart Tolleâs journey is quite inspiring too.
He suffered from depression until 29 years old and almost killed himself several times. However, he experiences an inner transformation that turns his life around and makes him peaceful forever.
So, what changed?
Thatâs what you will learn about in his book, including:
- How to view yourself in the grand scheme of things;
- How to detach yourself from what you cannot control;
- What the pain-body is and how to dissolve it;
- How to let go of stress and focus on the now;
- And how to forever let go of fear.
This book is great for you if you enjoy a more spiritual book and want to experience less stress, fear, and anxiety.
Conclusion
Reading is one of the most helpful habits that transformed my life. And this list includes the best self-improvement books on my bookshelf.
Choose the one that best matches your needs.
Or, simply read them all.
Regardless of your choice, youâll gain great value from each option. I will certainly read all these books a couple more times.
Accelerate your self-improvement journey
Whatâs the fastest way to maximize self-improvement?
While reading the best self-improvement books is a great start, you must apply what you learn.
I read a lot early on but didnât put it into practice. And while I felt like I was making progress, I barely did.
Avoid that mistake at all costs.
Take action on what you learn.
And if you prefer audiobooks, you can get your free 30-day trial with Audible.
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