Great Inspirational Books to Read for Personal Growth

Think and Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill

This book is a guide to success that was published during the Great Depression.  It was immediately welcomed as an antidote to hard times and remained a bestseller for decades.  Everyone should know what they want most.  The choices are usually money, fame, contentment, power, personality, peace of mind, and happiness.

Many people still find the philosophy of positive thinking and the specific steps for achieving wealth to be both relevant and life-changing.  Regardless of what you want most, the thirteen steps to riches described in this book offer the shortest dependable philosophy of individual achievement ever presented for the benefit of anyone who is searching for a definite goal in life.

Ninja Selling
by Larry Kendall

This book will transform the way you think about selling.  It points out the problems with traditional selling methods and offers a science-based selling system that will give you predictable results regardless of your personality type.   The book will teach you how to shift your approach from chasing clients to attracting clients.  You will learn how to stop selling and start solving by asking the right questions and listening to your clients. ​ It is an invaluable step-by-step guide that will show you how to be more effective in your sales career.  We believe it will increase your income-per-hour so that you can lead a full life.

Atomic Habits
by James Clear

No matter your goals, this book offers a proven framework for improving yourself every day.  It reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.  If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you.  The problem is your system.  Bad habits repeat themselves again and again.  It’s not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change.  You do not rise to the level of your goals.  You fall to the level of your systems.  Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

The 16 Undeniable Laws of
Communication by John C. Maxwell

You should never be afraid to speak to a group of people again.  It’s been said that public speaking is the number one fear of most people, Death is second.  Jerry Seinfeld once said that “This means if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.”  This book tells you how to overcome fear or ineffectiveness as a speaker.  You will learn the laws of communication!  The author has been a public speaker and motivational teacher for more than fifty years.  He is one of only eight people on the planet who have been awarded Toastmaster’s Golden Gavel and been inducted into the National Speakers’ Association Hall of Fame.  By reading this book, you will benefit from everything he learned from a lifetime of communication.

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
and John David Mann

Most people laugh when they hear that the secret to success is giving.  Then again, most people are nowhere near as successful as they wish.  This book tells the story of an ambitious young man who yearns for success.  He is a true go-getter, although sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be.  He is desperate to land a key sale at the end of a bad quarter and seeks advice from a legendary consultant.  Over the next week, he is introduced to a series of “go-givers.”  They are a restaurateur, a CEO, a financial adviser, and a real estate broker.  He is taught the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success.  When he opens himself up to the power of giving, he learns that changing his focus from getting to giving leads to unexpected returns.

Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman
and Mark C. Winters

Visionaries have groundbreaking ideas.  Integrators make those ideas a reality.  This explosive combination is the key to getting everything you want out of your business.  This book provides details about the integral roles of the Visionary and Integrator.  It explains how an effective relationship between the two can help your business thrive.  You will read advice to help Visionary-minded and Integrator-minded individuals find one another.  It also features assessments so you’re able to determine whether you’re a Visionary or an Integrator.

The Richest Man in Babylon
by George S. Clason

This book started in 1926 as a series of informational pamphlets distributed by banks and insurance companies.  By 1927, several of these pamphlets were compiled into a book.  The collection has been in print ever since.

The book has helped millions of people, and has been hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works.  It discussed the subjects of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth.  It dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.  These famous “Babylonian parables” offer an understanding of, and solution to, a lifetime’s worth of personal financial problems.  It hold the secrets to acquiring money, keeping money, and making money.

The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene

People magazine proclaimed this book to be “beguiling” and “fascinating.”   It distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws.  The book draws from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.

Some laws teach the need for prudence, while others teach the value of confidence.  Many recommend absolute self-preservation.  Every one of these laws, though, has one thing in common.  That is an interest in total domination.  It is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.

Rich Dad Poor Dad
by Robert T. Kiyosaki

This has become the #1 Personal Finance book of all time.  The book has been translated into dozens of languages and sold around the world.

It is the story of a man growing up with two dads; his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad.  The book discusses ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.

Miracle Morning
by Hal Elrod

What if you could miraculously wake up tomorrow and any, or every, area of your life was transformed?  What would be different?  Would you be happier? Would you be healthier?  Would you be more successful?  Would you be in better shape?  Would you have more energy?  Would you have less Stress?  Would you have more money?  Would you have better relationships?

You can learn that there is a “not-so-obvious” secret guaranteed to transform literally every area of your life faster than you ever thought possible?  It would only take 6 minutes a day.  This could perhaps be the simplest approach to creating the life you’ve always wanted.

The One Thing
by Gary Keller

People are using this simple, powerful concept to focus on what matters most in their personal and work lives. 

Companies are helping their employees be more productive with study groups, training, and coaching.  Sales teams are boosting sales. Churches are conducting classes and recommending for their members.

If you focus your energy on one thing at a time, you can live a more rewarding life by building your career, strengthening your finances, losing weight and getting in shape, deepening your faith, and nurturing stronger marriages and personal relationships.

The Tipping Point
by Malcolm Gladwell

This book uncovers the captivating science behind viral trends in business, marketing, and human behavior.  The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.

Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. 

This book will change the way you think about selling products and disseminating ideas.  It is a fascinating idea that should affect the way every thinking person looks at the world.

The Compound Effect
by Darren Hardy

This book reveals the core principles that drive success. It contains the essence of what every super-achiever needs to know, practice, and master to obtain extraordinary success. Inside you will find strategies on:

• How to win — every time!
• Eradicating bad habits that are derailing your progress.
• Painlessly installing the few key disciplines required for major breakthroughs.
• The real, lasting keys to motivation.
• Capturing the elusive, awesome force of momentum to make you unstoppable.
• The acceleration secrets of super-achievers.

Anyone who is serious about living an extraordinary life can use the power of this book to create the success they desire.

The Greatest Salesman in
the World by Og Mandino

This book offers a set of precepts that salespeople should follow to achieve happiness and success.  It is written as a parable about a Biblical-era man who inherits a set of ancient scrolls that teach him the right way to live and sell.

He begins life tending to camels and goes on to become the best salesman of his time.  As a boy, he receives the sacred scrolls containing teachings on salesmanship, from his mentor, who is the greatest salesman in the land.   The mentor bestows the scrolls upon the boy when he demonstrates his worthiness by giving the baby Jesus a robe he was supposed to sell.

The 10 teachings in the scrolls can help you to become rich and happy.

How to Win Friends and Influence
People by Dale Carnegie 

You can go after the job you want and get it!   You can take the job you have and improve it!   You can take any situation you’re in and make it work for you!

This is one of the best-selling books of all time and provides rock-solid, time-tested advice.  It has carried thousands of now-famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.

With this truly phenomenal book, you will learn:

• The six ways to make people like you;
• The twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking;
• The nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.

Deep Kindness
by Houston Kraft

Practicing kindness is an essential step in helping to repair a world that has grown to be more divisive, lonely, and anxious than ever.  Unfortunately, quotes like “Just be kind” or “Throw kindness around like confetti” have oversimplified what it takes to actually demonstrate kindness in a world that desperately needs it.

This book pairs anecdotes with actions.  Together, they can make real change in our own lives, the lives of others, and throughout the world.  Diving into the types of kindness the world needs most today, the book takes an honest look at the gap between our belief in kindness and our ability to practice it well.  It shows us how to put intention into action.  It explores everything from the empathy gap to the skill of emotional regulation.  It is a great read for anyone who believes in a kinder world and recognizes that there is a lot of work to do before we achieve it.

The Energy Bus
by Jon Gordon

This book takes readers on an enlightening and inspiring ride.  It reveals 10 secrets for approaching life and work with the kind of positive, forward thinking that leads to true accomplishment.  It will help both at work and at home.

The engaging story is infused with keen insights.  It provides a powerful roadmap to overcome adversity.  It will help readers bring out the best in themselves and their team.  

Difficult Conversations by
Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton
and Sheila Heen

This book provides help to people who may be dealing with an under-performing employee, who is disagreeing with a spouse about money or child-rearing, negotiating with a difficult client, or simply saying “no,” or “I’m sorry,” or “I love you.”  Everyone attempts to avoid difficult conversation every day.  The book will walk you through a step-by-step proven approach to having your toughest conversations with less stress and more success.  You will learn:

• how to start the conversation without defensiveness
• why what is not said is as important as what is
• ways of keeping and regaining your balance in the face of attacks and accusations
• how to decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation

It is filled with examples from everyday life.  The book will help you on your job, at home, or out of the world.  It is a book you will turn to again and again for advice, practical skills, and reassurance.

Crucial Conversations by
Kerry Patterson, Steven R. Covey
and Joseph Grenny

When the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, we have three choices.  They are to avoid a crucial conversation and suffer the consequences, handle the conversation badly and suffer the consequences, or discover how to communicate best when it matters most.

This book will give you the tools you need to step up to life’s most difficult and important conversations.  It will teach you to say what’s on your mind and achieve the positive resolutions you want. You’ll learn how to:

• Prepare for high-impact situations with a six-minute mastery technique
  Make it safe to talk about almost anything
• Be persuasive, not abrasive
• Keep listening when others blow up or clam up
• Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want

The Emigrant Edge
by Brian Buffini

This book is written by an Irish immigrant who went from rags to riches.  Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he arrived in San Diego, California at nineteen years old with just $92 in his pocket.  He has since become one of his new nation’s top real estate moguls and a founder of the largest business training company.  Immigrants compose 13% of the American population, but they are responsible for creating a quarter of all new businesses.

So what are the secrets?  You will read about seven characteristics that successful immigrants have in common.  They can help anyone reach a higher level of achievement, no matter their vocation.  Readers will be challenged to leave the comfort of their current work conditions to apply these secrets and achieve the success of their dreams.

The 5 Second Rule
by Mel Robbins

This book shares the secret rule that can help you change anything about your life.  You can use it and its countdown method to break any bad habit, interrupt self-doubt and negative self-talk, and push yourself to take the actions that will change your life.  The secret to changing your life isn’t knowing what to do.  It is knowing how to make yourself do it.  This is a simple tool, backed by research, that has changed the lives of millions.  

The book uses the science of habits, riveting stories, and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history.  It will explain the power of a five second decision.  In the book, you’ll learn the inspiring and relatable story of how the Rule was created   When you read this book, you are just five seconds away from a totally different life.

What to Say When You Talk
to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter

Negative programming prevents individuals from becoming and doing exactly what they want.  Any amount of inspirational reading will only provide us with techniques that could work if we put them into practice.

This book explains the principles of self-talk.  It is a unique way of reversing negativity, optimizing outlook, focusing plans, and achieving success.  The key to succeeding is in affirming or telling yourself the right things which then reflect in a more positive lifestyle.

The 12-Week Year by
Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

This book is your guide to shortening your execution cycle down from one year to 12 weeks.  Most organizations and individuals work in the context of annual goals and plans; a 12-month execution cycle.  Instead, you will learn to avoid the pitfalls and low productivity of annualized thinking.  This book redefines your “year” to be 12 weeks long.

In 12 weeks, there just isn’t enough time to get complacent, and urgency increases and intensifies.  You will learn to create focus and clarity on what matters most and a sense of urgency to do it now.  In the end, more of the important stuff gets done and the impact on results is profound.  The book explains how you can leverage the power of a 12-week year to drive improved results in any area of your life 

How to Be a Great Communicator
by Nido R. Qubein

This book will give you the knowledge you need to excel at all types of business communication.  You will be shown that all successful business communication stems from the same basic principles.

It doesn’t matter whether it is a speech from a podium or a face-to-face conversation.  The Five Keys to Successful Communication in this book can help anyone unlock the potential to become a great communicator in any medium.

Joy at Work by Marie Kondo
and Scott Sonenshein

The workplace is a magnet for clutter and mess.  Who hasn’t felt drained by wasteful meetings, disorganized papers, endless emails, and unnecessary tasks?  These are the modern-day hazards of working, and they can slowly drain the joy from work.  This can limit our chances of career progress, and undermine our well-being.

There is another way. This book offers stories, studies, and strategies to help you eliminate clutter and make space for work that really matters.  Using the world-renowned KonMari Method and cutting-edge research, the book will help you overcome the challenges of workplace mess and enjoy the productivity, success, and happiness that come with a tidy desk and mind.

Tuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch Albom

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague.  I was someone who was older, patient, and wise.  That person understood you when you were young and searching.  They gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

Maybe you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded.  Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you?

This is a story about a man who reconnected with his mentor as he was near death from ALS.  They were able to rekindle their relationship and it turned into one final ‘class’ about lessons in how to live.