Since time immemorial, human beings have always been on a personal development quest – whether consciously or subconsciously. One way or another, people are wired to assess their qualities and skills, set goals, and aim to realize their full potential. As a result, personal development is one of the phrases used fairly often, but rarely explained.
Personal development can be defined as self-care or investing in oneself through activities such as increasing consciousness, expanding knowledge, and improving personal skills with the intent to effectively remain in control of one’s life regardless of all the obstacles that might come your way. In other words, it happens when you’re dedicated to becoming a better person.
Self-help enables individuals to be proactive and approach life with a positive attitude. Rather than give up when things don’t pan out, you learn from your failures and continue to pursue your objectives. It should be no surprise to you that the world is always evolving. To keep up, it is imperative that you strive to learn something new every day. And what better way is there to hone your self-development than to use excellent personal development books that can guide the way?
10 Outstanding Personal Development Books To Put On Your Wish List
Regardless of your profession, self-development plays a vital role in determining your success. Unfortunately, there are many personal development books out there that make big promises but never deliver.
Though some of these books are well intended, they turn out to be a complete waste of time and money. Luckily, the following list presents hand-picked must-read personal development books that have proven to have an immediate and lasting impact on the reader’s life.
1. The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
If you are an avid reader, then you have probably come across the name Jack Canfield. Canfield has been an inspirational author for several years, and plenty of people from all over the world love his work. The Success Principles focuses on 65 methods through which an individual can instantly transform his or her life.
In the book, Canfield provides readers with numerous ideas on how to not only improve their existence, but also excel on every level. However, if you are a dedicated fan of personal development books, some of the principles mentioned might seem as rehashed versions of what you already know. Nonetheless, the book is an excellent starting point for those new to the genre.

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
A classic that first came out in the 1930s, this book still mesmerizes self-improvement readers. Carnegie gets into great detail regarding personal habits that bring about success and also educates readers on how to deal with all sorts of people, from co-workers to strangers.
The book is packed with tales and anecdotes from some of history’s greatest achievers, making the content quite enlightening. Carnegie stresses that regardless of your objectives, there will always be third parties who can affect the outcome of your actions. Instead of ignoring them or antagonizing them, you are better of recruiting them to your cause. And this book will guide you through all the steps you need to take to do just that.

3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century)
Via this book, Napoleon Hill tries to explain to the audience how to unleash their full potential, overcome obstacles, and achieve guaranteed success in all circles of life. The book also educates the reader on how to conquer day-to-day fears such as criticism and poverty. Hill does not focus a lot on financial wealth, but rather on leading a productive life. When that happens, money will follow.
What makes this book fascinating is that it is based on data and knowledge acquired by the author as he studied over 500 brilliant and successful individuals. After 20 years of thorough research, Napoleon Hill compiled the results and came up with 13 extraordinary principles for successful living. Start following them and you’ll be on the right path towards leading your best life.

4. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
What is there to say about Steve Jobs that hasn’t already been stated? Even Hollywood released an award-winning movie based on this release.
The enthralling self-development book is a biography based on more than forty interviews with Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs, conducted over two years by author Walter Isaacson. The book is a riveting narration of the searing, intense life of the driven and creative entrepreneur, whose passion for the impossible revolutionized several industries.

5. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Tolle methodically makes the reader understand that there isn’t a better moment in life than the now. The author seeks to help individuals enjoy every minute of their life rather than spend most of their time lamenting about the past and worrying about the future. An eye-opening and fulfilling read, The Power of Now is guaranteed to change your life for the better.

6. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Admittedly, there are numerous personal development books available that revolve around how decisions affect a person’s future. However, a huge percentage of these books do not come close to Darren Hardy’s work. The book is easy to read and has a step-by-step structure, allowing readers to keep track of their progress as they move forward towards greater things.

7. The Biology of Belief by Bruce H. Lipton
This book will definitely change your perspective about thinking. It revolves around the findings of leading scientists such as Dr. Lipton, on how cells receive and interpret information.
Dr. Lipton uses humor and simple language to explain to the reader how DNA signals are affected by messages from an individual’s thoughts. The book will immediately change our understanding of life, enabling you to learn how to grow as a person at the same time.

8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Covey’s unique approach to human behavior redefined personal development books and still inspires people to cultivate productive habits. The book is based on the philosophy that better habits can change a person’s daily life and that positive change within has the same effect on the outside world. If you’re looking to spice up your routine, this book is an excellent tool to help you kick-start the process.

9. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
This book is the perfect introduction to finance. Clason emphasizes the idea of financial freedom and teaches you how to achieve it. Also, he reveals to readers how planning for the future acts as a guide for making smarter decisions. Apply the lessons from this book and you will be able to build a more financially secure future for yourself and your family.

10. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
Another classic in the self-development genre, The Magic of Thinking Big first came out in in 1959, but both its advice and anecdotes have a timeless feel that make the book an enjoyable read to this day. The author doesn’t make empty promises; instead, he offers readers proved methods on how to get the most of their lives, whether you’re looking to become better at your job or play a more vital role in the local community.
You don’t have to be an intellectual to achieve great success. In fact, it’s all about attitude, and learning and how to be kinder to yourself and set better goals is the first step towards a more abundant lifestyle.
Schwartz is a strong believer in the fact that when you actually think that something is possible, that objective becomes much simpler to accomplish. Just take it one step at a time, ignore the haters, and focus on building confidence every time you manage to get something done. You’ll be surprised on how quickly one can make their dreams come true when they don’t let other people’s doubts stand in their way.

To Sum Things Up
There are plenty of great personal development books out there. The task of narrowing down the list wasn’t easy, but we strongly believe that the books mentioned above are ones that have a comprehensive approach to life, finance, and self-development. Plus, a lot of people seem to like them, based on general reviews.
At the end of the day, personal development books play a pivotal role when it comes to mental wellness, self-improvement, and growth. If you are a huge advocate of continuous learning, then picking up a self-development book every now and then should definitely be on your to-do list. Start with the options from out list and take it from there. You’ll become a better version of yourself in no time.