I haven’t always been a huge fan of reading books. When reading them, I often became tired and fell asleep. Until I started listening to audiobooks. They give me an opportunity to do something productive and learn something new while I’m commuting or just relaxing in my bed. That’s why all of the books in this list are available as both – printed books and audiobooks.
Personal development is a topic I am truly passionate about. Not only it can help you to increase happiness and self-love. It can also increase your productivity, improve your relationships with others and balance your work life. All you need to do is to work on yourself. I sincerely hope that you find at least some of the books in this list useful to you. Let’s make 2019 a great year for personal development! 🙂
1. Not Nice by Dr. Aziz Gazipura
If you find it difficult to be bold and assertive, to ask for what you want and to say “no” to others, this is the right book for you. In this book, Dr. Aziz uses engaging and disarming stories of his life to cut through the nice conditioning and liberate the boldest, expressive and authentic version of you. After reading this book and doing the exercises mentioned, you will feel more confident and free in your daily life.
In “Not Nice”, Dr. Aziz has the most compelling and insightful idea, that he’s then conveyed in a way that will help millions of nice people take back their lives and live from freedom. The bastard.
– John Parkin
2. Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Awaken the Giant Within is a book for you to take control of your mental, emotional physical and financial freedom.
Tony Robbins is one of the great influencers of this generation. In this book, he provides a step-by-step program for you to take control of your body, emotions, relationships, and life. In this book, Toby Robbins keeps inspiring and guiding the reader to improve his life dramatically.
Yet another profound and powerful tool in Robins arsenal of self-awareness. It has been an enormous source of strength and insight for me both personally and professionally.
– Peter Guber
3. Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
In this New York Times bestseller, Gary John Bishop gives you the tools and motivation to live your best life. Unfu*k Yourself will help you to be honest with yourself, uncover your true potential and stop negative self-talk, so you can change your life and unleash your own greatness.
The only difference between you and the person who’s living the life you want is that they’re doing it.
They’ve built that life, and they are living it.
– Gary John Bishop
4. The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
This is the ideal book to read when starting a new year. The 12 Week Year teaches us how to be more productive and reduce our execution cycle from 12 months to 12 weeks. Instead of setting your goals for one year, the book teaches us how to improve your results in any area of your life and get important things done.
The 12 Week Year is a book you can open to any chapter and find valuable insights and practical actions you can put into practice today. Read it; study it; apply it!
– Tom Izzo
5. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
The main principle of this New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller is simple – every little decision you make today will cause its effect and will either lead to the life you desire, or to a life you hate. In this book, you will find the keys to lasting motivation, eradicating your bad habits and reaching success in your life. There is no magical formula, it all depends on your actions.
Simple, direct, and to the point – these are the principles that have guided my life and every top business leader I know. This book will show the way to your own greater success, happiness, and fulfillment.
– Donny Deutsch
6. The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
We live in a digital world, and nowadays it can be difficult to find time for everything. In this book, the authors state that managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance.
The Power of Full Engagement contains a practical approach to managing your energy to create lasting changes in your everyday life. The next time you hear someone saying “I don’t have time”, you can be sure they haven’t read this book.
A remarkable application of the athletic metaphor to high-performing people and organizations.
– Stephen R. Covey
7. Habit Stacking by S.J. Scott
Habit Stacking will teach you how to improve your life and overcome obstacles by changing one small habit at a time. All of the actions you are making every morning create small chain reactions that will affect the rest of your day.
The habits described in this book don’t require much effort, however, they can have a positive impact on your goals and make you feel more fulfilled and accomplished.
This common sense approach to building better habits into everyday life is well written, easily implemented, and motivating.
– Randy Harshbarger
8. Quiet by Susan Cain
I am an introvert myself, and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking is a book written specifically for us – people who prefer listening instead of speaking. In this book, Susan Cain introduces the reader to successful introverts and changes how we perceive introvert people.
This is a good read both for introverts and extroverts to understand the nature of introvert people better.
A smart, lively book about the value of silence and solitude that makes you want to shout from the rooftops.
– Daniel Gilbert
9. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
In Daring Greatly, Brené Brown describes a transformative new vision for our lives, that teaches us to be more genuine and vulnerable. The author argues that vulnerability isn’t a weakness. Instead, it is our most accurate measure of courage that brings purpose and meaning to our lives.
If you’d like to set your course on being more courageous and connected, engaged and resilient, leave the GPS at home. Daring Greatly is all the navigation you’ll need.
– Maria Shriver
10. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
In this book, the author explains the psychology of persuasion and how to apply these understandings in your life. You will learn 6 principles on how to become a better persuader, and not be so easily persuaded by others.
It is important to understand other people both in your personal and professional life, and this book will make it clearer how everyone makes their decisions.
Influence should be required reading for all business majors.
– Journal of Retailing
These are just a couple of personal development books I have discovered. Do you have any feedback about them? Or maybe you would like to suggest a book that you have enjoyed? Feel free to leave a comment below!
I wish you all the best in 2019, and have a great personal development journey! 🙂
