Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
Choosing the top self development books wasn’t an easy task. We’ve read the top 50 personal development books rated online and brought it down to our top 10!
We know that self-help books are extremely popular and their popularity is only going one way.
It’s fair to say that the majority of us will have read a self-development book at one time or another. When it comes to those who haven’t taken the plunge, there’s a very good chance that they will at least recognise the titles.
When we started this we found there are literally hundreds of thousands to choose from. While it could have been tempting to opt for the newest releases, thinking that they’ll have the most up-to-date information, that isn’t always the best course of action.
As you’ll see, as we work through our list, there are plenty of classic titles that remain as relevant today as they were the day that they were published.Â
We hope you enjoy them!
Table of Contents
Why Do People Read Self Development Books?
People read self-development books for numerous reasons. These books have the power to lead to real change in your life.
Of course, the change that you’re seeking will depend upon where you are in your life right now. It could be that you need help with relationships, with business, or perhaps you’re just seeking to improve your overall happiness levels.
Regardless of what you’re seeking, the top self-development books can help.
The self-development books that we’re going to look at are ones that have stood the test of time. Their sales, their reviews, and the impact that they’ve had on people’s real lives mean that they’re worthy of being listed as the very best.
1) The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is an allegorical novel. It seeks to grab the reader’s attention through a story about a young shepherd who is pursuing treasure and riches.
The reader follows the shepherd on his journey and learns why it’s important to follow their heart and dreams.
This is a book that is fairly indirect, and could even be described as a work of fiction, but it is still one of the top self-development books that exists.
2) You Can Heal Your Life - Louise L. Hay
Released in 1984, You Can Heal Your Life is one of those self-development books that has stood the test of time.
As a best-seller, this book tells the reader about the connection between the mind and the body.
Hay goes on to describe how adopting healthy thought patterns can directly impact physical health.
3) Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff - Richard Carlson
As one of the top self-development books, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff features 100 tips that help the reader to put things into perspective.
The focus here is on the fact that stress has a hugely negative impact and can quickly take away any sense of pleasure.
By putting things into perspective, we are able to lead fuller and happier lives.
4) Who Moved My Cheese? - Spencer Johnson
With over 23 million copies sold, Who Moved My Cheese is one of the most popular self-development books.
This book uses a fable to describe how people react to any change that occurs. It also covers changes you might experience in both personal and professional life.
We found the story is there to teach the reader about reacting positively to change and about how that will help to live a life that is fulfilled.
5) The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
When we looked at the top self-development books, The Celestine Prophecy was undoubtedly unique to read.
In this book, the author shares their spiritual and psychological journey. By deciphering a Peruvian manuscript, the author provides insights into Eastern traditions.
It provides a great introduction to New Age spirituality. For us, we’ve included this because we implemented some of the psychological lessons and saw great results.
6) The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of Positive Thinking is all about the quality of our life and achieving personal satisfaction.
The author shows how the reader can achieve anything that they want to by harnessing the power of their mind.
By using visualisations alongside affirmations, Peale teaches you that nothing is out of reach. Published back in 1952, this is a book that remains ever-popular and one we loved reading.
7) The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
As a relative newcomer, The Secret was published in 2006 but quickly became one of the best-selling self-development books of all time.
You may be wondering what secret is being referred to here. Well, it is based on the idea that our thoughts have a lot to answer for.
The power of thought can attract good and evil and we need to master taking control of what we choose to attract into our lives.
8) Eliminate Negative Thinking - Derick Howell
We loved this book, it’s delves deep into how you can switch off and and promote positive thinking.Â
You go to place where you can get rid of the negative thoughts and display a positive outlook on life.Â
It’s about taking control of our overactive brains and ensuring they work for our benefit rather than against us.Â
9) Own Life With Confidence: How To Grow Into the Best Version of Yourself - Todd Eden
Own Life With Confidence certainly deserves its place among the top self-development books.
The aim here is to get the readers to a happy place. This is a place where they believe in themselves, feel excited when looking into the future, and feel an abundance of confidence.
With practical steps to follow, this book really does have the power to help change your life.
10) Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway - Susan Jeffers
Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway has to be one of the most recognisable titles that exists. This book teaches us that fear is everywhere!Â
It shows that, ultimately, fear doesn’t matter. It’s what we do and how we act that decides our future. By facing our fears we can lead a happier life.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading through our best self development books list.Â
We put over 6 months worth of reading into this top 10 list so we hope you get as much value out of this as we have.Â
If you have any further suggestions about self-development / self-growth books that people should be reading be sure to let us know in the comments below.Â
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Disclaimer: Content on this page is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making a financially related decision.
