We all look for some form of motivation in our daily lives, be it personal development, productivity, anxiety management, creativity or many other things. However, it can be difficult to find a truly motivational book in a genre that seems so full of stereotypical manuals and cookie cutters.
While it’s certainly good that readers have a wide variety of motivational books to choose from, it can be difficult to determine where the quality of self-help really lies. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 21 best motivational books to inspire and prepare you for your self-improvement journey and motivate you.
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- We need Carnegie’s help more than ever
- Dale Carnegie and Associates
- Reframing Carnegie’s insights about communication
- Self-expression, and leadership
- Theme: Money
- Brand: Artist Unknown
- Shape: Rectangular
- Orientation: Portrait
- Not genius
- But a unique combination of passion
- Long-term perseverance
- Regardless of IQ or circumstances
1. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Psychologist Angela Duckworth, founder and CEO of Character Lab, writes that the secret to success is something she calls “grit.” Throughout the book, he describes his relationship with a parent who did not appreciate his intelligence.
Now a successful professor and researcher, Duckworth wants readers to understand that true intelligence is driven not by talent or genius, but by a combination of passion and tenacity. He takes them around the world and explores adversity in its many forms and how people from all walks of life recover from their worst days.
2. You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
This is a great self-help book for people who may be uncomfortable with the idea of self-help. It’s an easy-to-use, fun and inspiring guide to personal transformation that will make you forget you’re on the path to personal development. Bestselling author and Coach Jen Sincero combines her unique humor with sage wisdom (and some swear words) to help readers create the life they want to live.
3. How to Win Friends & Influence People
In this classic bestseller, readers will learn six ways to get people to like them, twelve ways to win people over, and nine tips for healthy change in others. Although it may seem pointless or trivial to some, the need for pleasure has been reduced to a basic need that exists in each of us and confronts the ultimate professional.
Basically, author Dale Carnegie looks at all the ways to make life your own. It suggests that almost anything is possible if you can change your thinking, take control of a difficult situation and create a path forward.
4. The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work
In The Happiness Advantage, author Shawn Achor uses years of research and time spent teaching at Harvard University to crack the code of happiness. He argues that contrary to conventional thinking that success is the key, happiness is based on hard work and positivity.
Echoing the philosophy of positive psychology, Anchor shares seven practical steps that increase our chances of achieving and maintaining happiness.
5. The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Whether you consider yourself a practicing Stoic or not, the ancient Stoic philosophers have much to offer in human endeavors to make better choices, act courageously, overcome negative thoughts, and act according to truth.
The Daily Stoic offers information for every day of the year, with translations from great philosophers such as Marco Aerelius and Epictetus, as well as wisdom, useful metaphors and references from authors Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. It teaches calmness, self-awareness, and mental resilience, and includes a Greek vocabulary to guide readers.
6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
There’s a reason people keep coming back to this book: 30 years later, it’s still a staple of the world of self-help, whether for business or personal use. You’ve probably heard or read most of these ways, but this updated edition features modern additions from successful executive and entrepreneur Sean Covey. These additions recognize the changing face of today’s world and contextualize classical lessons for the modern world.
The best motivational books to overcome anxiety and anxiety
If you struggle with anxiety or fear, these books can help you get out of that lane and go free.
7. The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt
According to this book by Russ Harris, self-confidence is an underutilized skill that, once mastered, will help us overcome all the challenges that life throws at us. Harris believes that while we can’t get rid of our fear, we can build a healthier relationship with it. Like quicksand, if you stop fighting, you have a real chance to escape.
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, The Confidence Gap addresses common misconceptions about self-love, mindfulness techniques for dealing with negative thoughts, and guidance to use their values as inspiration.
8. 100 Days to Brave: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self
We all grew up reading stories of superheroes and white knights and soon learned that courage has always saved the day. But as we got older, fear crept in, until one day asking for a promotion seemed like too much of a chore. 100 Days to brave is a devotional that helps readers gain the confidence and courage to be the hero you need to be.
Author Annie F. Downs draws on her own faith and spirituality to encourage you to create daily habits that eliminate fear and loneliness.
9. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parents, and Lead
Daring Greatly by famed author, speaker and researcher Brené Brown rejects the myth that vulnerability is weakness, arguing instead that it is the best measure of our courage. He says, “When we close ourselves off to vulnerability, we move away from the experiences that give our life purpose and meaning.”
While it may be uncomfortable, the courage to propose is a powerful tool in our quest to be seen, understood and realized. Brown wants his readers to take risks and dare big.
10. A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage
If you are tired of people telling you that “thinking positively” will solve all your problems, then you are right: positive thinking alone will not improve your life.
However, this book is still a good start. This book builds on proven psychology and real-life examples of positivity to make “positive thinking” a little more realistic.
11. Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness
Social influencer and lifestyle entrepreneur Vex King says for those looking for a healthy dose of wellness in their lives. You rely heavily on mindfulness, meditation, and other techniques to create self-care routines and prioritize your well-being.
12. The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery
Self-sabotage can be one of the most powerful obstacles for anyone trying to live their life. So why are we doing this?
Unprocessed trauma, harmful habits, and a lack of emotional intelligence are all symptoms of a bigger problem. This book provides the foundation for creating a more lasting and emotionally aware state of mind that allows you to let go of your past.
The best motivational books to increase productivity
From organizing your space to creating the best pace for concentrated work, these books will increase your productivity and well-being.
13. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Cal Newport’s Deep Work teaches methods for intense cognitive focus, a skill that allows people to perform at their best in the face of intense competition. Most of us spend our days on the surface, reading emails, scrolling through social media, and checking things out on a basic list, but there’s a better way.
Dividing the book into two parts, Newport argues that thorough work can improve your performance in any field or profession. It then provides a training plan within the four rules to change your habits and cognitive skills.
14. Atomic Habits
Sure, you could try to revamp your whole life at once, and you might succeed, but you’d have a lot of work ahead of you. A better way to do it? By creating better habits step by step.
Atomic Habits is a crowd favorite. If you’re having trouble sticking to the habits you want to see in your life, whether it’s exercising regularly or reading more, it’s more about breaking bad habits than creating new ones. Often these bad habits are the result of bad systems, and atomic habits provide a better structure for the stronger systems you need to create lasting and impactful habits.
15. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Japanese home economics consultant Marie Kondo may be best known for her Netflix series Tidying up with Marie Kondo, but this book — about the magic of life-changing cleaning — is where it all started. It promises that both productivity and happiness come from the way we take care of our environment, namely our homes and living spaces.
In this room-by-room guide, Kondo teaches the KonMar method of organizing, which leads to results in the form of productivity, a calm and motivated mindset, and most of all, joy.
16. The Miracle Morning: The 6 Habits that will Transform Your Life Before 8 a.m.
Author Hal Elrod believes that everything good starts in the morning and as such has created a practice that combines morning routines with six personal development activities. Miracle Morning helps its readers reach milestones on the road to success, make decisive progress, and achieve balance and high levels of health.
Readers call it “perfect for busy people” and “paradigm-shifting” by focusing on teaching good breakfast habits like reading, silence, visualization and exercise.
17. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World
It’s just a small thing: can it really have such a big impact? Admiral William H. McRaven shares the simple yet innovative advice he learned during his years as a naval officer. They are based on a 2014 virus keynote at the University of Texas at Austin. Told with compassion, optimism and a healthy dose of humility, this book illustrates the power of small things even in the face of impossible odds.
Motivational books for creativity
We all have the urge to create. If you’re itching but don’t know how to proceed, these books can help you think in new ways and find your creative side.
18. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Steal like an Artist outlines ten principles to help readers connect with their creative side and emphasizes the importance of influence. Author Austin Kleon wants all artistic types to unleash their creativity in ways that may seem contradictory or unrelated at first, like stealing (like an artist), taking on a side project, being nice and boring, just to name a few.
Readers and reviewers call it “a quick and easy-to-digest book that is especially relevant in today’s digital world.”
19. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
In this book, author Steven Pressfield touches on self-love. Since its original publication in 2002, The War of Art, a combination of Sun-Tzu’s The Art of War and Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, has been a guide to overcoming resistance to change, ignoring negativity, channeling creative energy, and achieving success. To achieve.
While the primary creative audience is writers, anyone can benefit from the content, including business owners, members of the military, instructors, dancers, and more.
20. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
From the bestselling author of Eat Pray Love, Big Magic takes a dive into a woman’s creative life, sharing wisdom, perspective, and insight into her creative process. It serves as a celebration of creative life and a roadmap for coping with fear and anxiety.
With deep empathy, Gilbert emphasizes the importance of curiosity and what she calls the “strange gems” we all have within us. Whatever art you are trying to create, Big Magic fills the process with awareness and passion.
21. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life
Renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp believes that creativity is the result of hard work and preparation, and is within the reach of anyone who wants to achieve it. As such, a willingness to be creative and a plan to do so is paramount
Whatever your creative expression, Tharp can help you orient yourself in a career or ease the fear of starting. She provides mind games, exercises, meditations and observations to restore peace and preserve creative magic.
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