101 Best Personal Growth Books

23 Comments

July 14, 2010

Must read books on personal growth. The books with a start (*) are my absolute favorites. I’ve read seventy-four of these books. The ones I haven’t read were recommended to me by close friends (and are now on my reading list).  Be sure to scroll to the bottom and add your own:

    Relationships and Communication

  1. The Complete Conversations with God ~ Neale Donald Walsch *
  2. Using Your Brain for a Change ~ Richard Bandler *
  3. Unlimited Power ~ Anthony Robbins *
  4. Awaken the Giant Within ~ Anthony Robbins
  5. Don’t Shoot the Dog ~ Karen Pryor
  6. The Psychology of Persuasion ~ Robert Cialdini
  7. How to Win Friends and Influence People ~ Dale Carnegie
  8. The Mastery of Love ~ Don Miguel Ruiz
  9. Get the Life You Want ~ Richard Bandler

    10. Spirituality and Well Being

  10. Happier Than God ~ Neale Donald Walsch
  11. A Vision of Power and Glory ~ John Kehoe
  12. The Other Side and Back ~ Sylvia Browne
  13. Creative Visualization ~ Shakti Gawain
  14. Quantum Healing ~ Deepak Chopra
  15. Your Body’s Telling You: Love Yourself! ~ Lise Bourbeau *
  16. The Four Agreements ~ Don Miguel Ruiz
  17. Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out ~ Marci Shimoff
  18. The Practice of Happiness ~ John Kehoe *
  19. The Power of Now ~ Eckhart Tolle
  20. Power vs Force ~ David R. Hawkins *
  21. Secrets for Success and Inner Peace ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer
  22. A New Earth ~ Eckart Tolle

    23. Law of Attraction and Manifestation

  23. The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham ~ Esther and Jerry Hicks
  24. The 5 Rules of Thought ~ Mary T. Browne
  25. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success ~ Deepak Chopra
  26. The Science of Success ~ James Arthur Ray
  27. Money and the Law of Attraction ~ Esther and Jerry Hicks *
  28. The Attractor Factor ~ Joe Vitale
  29. The Strangest Secret ~ Earl Nightingale *
  30. The Astonishing Power of Emotions ~ Esther and Jerry Hicks
  31. Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting ~ Lynn Grabhorn *
  32. Ask and It Is Given ~ Esther and Jerry Hicks
  33. The Power of Intention ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer
  34. The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent ~ Esther and Jerry Hicks *
  35. The Secret ~ Rhonda Byrne
  36. The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships ~ Esther and Jerry Hicks

    37. Mind Power

  37. The Lazy Way to Success ~ Frank Gratzon *
  38. Mind Power into the 21st Century ~ John Kehoe *
  39. The Mind Map Book ~ Tony Buzan
  40. The New Psycho-Cybernetics ~ Maxwell Maltz
  41. As a Man Thinketh ~ James Allen
  42. The Hidden Power ~ Judge Thomas Troward
  43. The Master Key System ~ Charles F. Haanel
  44. The Power of Self Mind Control ~ Burt Goldman
  45. The Biology of Belief ~ Bruce H. Lipton *
  46. Man’s Search for Meaning ~ Viktor Frankl
  47. The Power of Positive Thinking ~ Vincent Peale

    48. Leadership and Peak Performance

  48. The Leader Who Had No Title ~ Robin Sharma
  49. Emotional Intelligence ~ Daniel Goleman
  50. You Can Have What You Want ~ Michael Neill
  51. Do One Thing Different ~ Bill O’Hanlon
  52. The World Is As You Dream It ~ John Perkins
  53. The One Minute Manager ~ Ken Blanchard
  54. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari ~ Robin Sharma *
  55. Body Mind Mastery ~ Dan Millman
  56. You²: A High Velocity Formula for Multiplying Your Personal Effectiveness ~ Price Pritchett *
  57. A Touch of Greatness ~ Frank Tibolt
  58. People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It! ~ Larry Winget *
  59. The Saint, The Surfer and the CEO ~ Robin Sharma
  60. Remember Everything You Read: 7 Day Speed Reading ~ Stanley D. Frank
  61. The Power of An Hour ~ Dave Lakhani
  62. Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment ~ George Leonard
  63. The 80/20 Principle ~ Richard Koch
  64. It’s Not Over Until You Win ~ Les Brown
  65. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ~ Stephen R. Covey
  66. Born To Win ~ Lewis Timberlake
  67. Who Will Cry When You Die ~ Robin Sharma

    68. Business and Entrepreneurship

  68. The Road to Wealth ~ Robert G. Allen
  69. Six Thinking Hats ~ Edward de Bono
  70. Rules for Renegades ~ Christine Comaford-Lynch
  71. The Purple Cow ~ Seth Godin
  72. Ben Franklin: America’s Original Entrepreneur ~ Blaine McCormick
  73. Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got ~ Jay Abraham
  74. Multiple Streams of Income ~ Robert G. Allen
  75. Multiple Streams of Internet Income ~ Robert G. Allen
  76. Nothing Down for the 2000’s ~ Robert G. Allen
  77. E Myth Mastery ~ Michael E. Gerber
  78. How I Made My First Million on the Internet ~ Ewen Chia *
  79. Make Real Money on the Internet ~ Stephen Pierce
  80. The E Code ~ Joe Vitale and Jo Han Mok
  81. Good to Great ~ Jim Collins
  82. Unleashing the Ideavirus ~ Seth Godin

    83. Money and Wealth

  83. You Were Born Rich ~ Bob Proctor
  84. Money, Success and You ~ John Kehoe
  85. The Science of Getting Rich ~ Wallace Wattles
  86. Busting Loose from the Money Game ~ Robert Scheinfeld *
  87. Think and Grow Rich ~ Napoleon Hill *
  88. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind ~ T. Harv Eker *
  89. Speed Wealth ~ T. Harv Eker
  90. The Millionaire from Nazareth ~ Catherine Ponder
  91. It’s Not About the Money ~ Bob Proctor
  92. One Minute Millionaire ~ Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen
  93. Richest Man in Babylon ~ George Clason
  94. Rich Dad, Poor Dad ~ Richard T. Kiyosaki
  95. How to Get Lots of Money for Anything Fast ~ Stuart Lichtman
  96. The 4 Hour Work Week ~ Tim Ferris

    97. Quantum Physics Reality

  97. Take the Quantum Leap ~ Fred Alan Wolf
  98. Parallel Universes ~ Fred Alan Wolf
  99. The Holographic Universe ~ Michael Talbot *
  100. Mind into Matter ~ Fred Alan Wolf
  101. The Field ~ Lynn Mctaggart

These books are linked to an affiliate program that I earn a commission on if you buy them.  I don’t care if you buy them or not, I just wanted to share this list of awesome books with you :)

See my Affiliate Disclosure here.

23 Comments

  • Linda A

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    My recommendation – Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay). If he doesn’t get you fired up to go work for his company, Zappos.com, then he’ll inspire you to work to make your company (where you work or where you own) a place that ‘delivers happiness’. That’s the latest in a long line, but it’s hot right now.

  • Steve

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    Hey Linda,

    Thanks for the resource – he sounds similar to the Robin Sharma-type where these guys motivate and inspire you to be the better you in a job, business or wherever you are – to show your true colors… :)

  • Cathy Vaught

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    A book by Tom Wootton called Bipolar In Order will change everything you believe about mental illness. It is about what bipolar looks like when it is an advantage in your life and includes a clear path to get there. The concepts apply to everyone bipolar or not.

  • Melanie Gordon Sheets, Ph.D.

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    Check out “Out-of-Control: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Workbook for Getting Control of Our Emotions and Emotion-Driven Behavior” by Melanie Gordon Sheets, Ph.D. – (2009). It’s a 432-page workbook based recovery program packed with insight-generating text, questions, worksheets, tools, skills, attitudes, and plans for GETTING CONTROL of OUT-OF-CONTROL emotions, behaviors, and thinking.

    It explains the dynamics of Emotional Mind and why we enact destructive emotion-driven coping behaviors to numb out painful feelings and to “white-out” upsetting thoughts. The nature of the problem is the things we do to feel better end up causing us to feel worse and our problems multiply and intensify in a “cycle of suffering.” This workbook helps us to gain control of ourselves and our life outcomes. It’s a life-changing experience that inspires people to make the life changes that will change their lives. It has turned many defeated hearts into empowered spirits that are psychologically prepared to take on the challenges of GETTING ON and STAYING ON the Recovery Path.

    It focuses on REAL LIFE and the issues and struggles of a recovery population: anger, depression, anxiety, desperation, multiple losses, substance abuse, suicide attempts, cutting, verbal and physical aggression, temper tantrums, eating disorders, relationship problems, codependency, etc. It focuses on severe coping disorders yet applies to other problematic coping habits (smoking, overeating, overshopping, rebound relationships, etc).

    It’s a practical blend of understandings of human nature and techniques of change from DBT, CBT, Psychodynamic theory, and AA. Some mechanisms and tools of change include: radical acceptance of self, others, and what’s “coming at us;” willingness; distress tolerance; “Mindfully Protecting My Peace and Stability;” prioritizing; boundaries; using Rational Mind to Think Through self-defeating thoughts and impulses; Wise Mind problem-solving; the Wise Mind Worksheet; ”participating effectively;” Following Through with recovery plans “Game Plans;” Leaning Into pain and problems; life-enhancing coping skills; and productivity.

    It’s a one-of-a-kind work by a Ph.D! The informal, down-to-earth language and style is unique. Her warm, humorous, southern character and her passion for connecting with those she serves permeates this work. It captures the dynamic process of the Group she leads for general, forensic, and VA inpatients. It is emotionally penetrating, if you have difficult issues, seek qualified help to process and work through this book.

  • Winifred

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    Thanks Steve, good stuff for reading… I have a few books to add on :

    Leadership and self-deception
    The autonomy of peace
    Quiet leadership
    Crucial confrontation
    Positive No

  • Diane Marie Pinkard

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    I just received an email from you and I have been looking at your site. You menioned that I could add my book at the bootom of the page, and that is what I am doing right now.

    I would love for you to consider to add my book: Just Treat Me Like I Matter: The Heart of Sales. I would be great for your Business and Entrepreneurship section.

    Thank you for your email. I am delighted to be learning about your sight. You have some great material!

    I look forward to hearing back from you! Diane

  • Steve

    Reply Reply July 19, 2010

    Hi Diane,

    Thanks for your comment and getting in touch regarding your book. Please send me a quick email (just reply to the one I sent you) and we can review some options for sharing your book.

  • Cybil Smith

    Reply Reply July 20, 2010

    In my opinion, the list would only be complete with John Maxwell’s Failing Forward. Thanks for the list!

  • Patricia Clason

    Reply Reply July 20, 2010

    I suggest that you add
    Money is My Friend by Phil Laut
    It is a classic like Think and Grow Rich and practical as well.

    Thanks for the list. I’ve read most and am now curious about the others.

  • Gary Spinell

    Reply Reply July 20, 2010

    I highly recommend you adding It Was YOU, All Along as a best read in the law of attraction and manifestation category. Why? Because too often these books state the same concepts heard all too often. What they miss are the nuances of how anyone can understand how to implement them into our complex lives. The book has received 22 outstanding reviews on Amazon. Thank you for your time. Understand the fundamentals, but master the nuances. Warm regards, Gary Spinell

  • CJ

    Reply Reply July 20, 2010

    Steve,

    “How To Stop Worrying And Start Living” by Dale Carnegie is another great book.

  • Teri Johnson

    Reply Reply July 22, 2010

    This is a great list! I would add The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. It’s a common sense and practical approach to dealing with the limiting beliefs that keep you from your greatness!

  • Steve

    Reply Reply July 22, 2010

    Hey Teri – thanks for adding to the list!!

  • Nancy

    Reply Reply July 23, 2010

    “The 55 Concepts, A Guide to Conscious Living” by Michael Cavallaro.

    A really simple read, but I’ve been living it for the past 5 years and I keep finding deeper and deeper levels. That’s the true test of a classic.

  • Talei

    Reply Reply June 18, 2011

    “The wisdom of Florence Scovel Shinn”
    ” Magnificent Obsession” by Lloyd C. Douglas
    We had the pleasure of seeing John Kehoe in New Zealand many years ago. I still refer to his books. Another awesome Canadian. Thank you!:-))

  • Steve

    Reply Reply June 18, 2011

    I love John Kehoe!

  • Aishah Hamid

    Reply Reply May 18, 2012

    Hiya Steve,

    Great stuff here so far!

    Wanted to add one more book by Vijay Eswaran – In the sphere of silence

    It’s an amazing book about bringing out the best of each of us!

    Looking forward to my 7 day manifestation starting tomorrow!

    Cheers,
    Aishah

  • Tamara

    Reply Reply June 4, 2012

    Dear Steve,
    Thank you for the recommendations and for the articles. What a pleasure reading and learning.

    Here is my must book: Man’s Search for Meaning is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as a concentration camp inmate (WWII) and describing his psychotherapeutic method of finding a reason to live.

    : http://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0671023373

    Keep doing good and helping others,
    Tamara

  • Jacelyn

    Reply Reply June 30, 2013

    Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as
    though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what
    youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog
    when you could be giving us something enlightening to
    read?

  • louise

    Reply Reply November 26, 2013

    How do I find the link for the free book the Magic of Believing that you mentioned?

  • Steve

    Reply Reply November 27, 2013

    Hey Louise… you can find it here: The Magic of Believing

  • Vannessa Gromley

    Reply Reply December 29, 2013

    I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I am hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own, personal website now ;)

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