20 Must-Read Success Books to Get More From Life

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Success. The word has different meanings for different people.

For some people success is the same as making lots of money. For others success is doing something you love and doing it well. While still other may say that success is all about trying to achieve something difficult and making it work.

There is business success, personal success, relationship success and of course the physical success you get from winning in athletics. The exact success we are talking about derives from context and the viewpoint of the person talking.

For the purpose of these success books, the books lean mostly toward success in the business, entrepreneur and personal development areas of life.

Most of these books on success give ideas on how to succeed regardless of what you are working at, they just lean a bit toward the professional world.

So if success, in whatever area you desire, is something that you want, the 19 best books on success on this list will be a great place to start.

NOTE: These success books are not collected in any particular order.

The first book listed is not necessarily the one I think of as “best success book”.

All the books on success have important points to discuss and are all worth reading.

Reading the reviews of these books will help you find the book that is right for you. Not the position on the page.

20 Books on Success to Help You Achieve More

The Only Skill That Matters by Jonathan A. Levi 1.by Jonathan A. Levi

The sheer amount of information bombarding us every day is overwhelming. How do we stay on top of everything in order to keep our jobs or adapt to the new demands of modern life?

This book equips you with what you need to take on the challenges of the future – whether in your professional or personal life. And it’s offered for free. All you need to pay for is shipping and handling.

In the book, Jonathan Levi shares an approach that promises to help you become a super learner. This approach is anchored in neuroscience. Athletes and top performers have used the techniques to propel them to success.

Within the pages, you’ll learn the techniques for reading faster and improving your ability to recall information.

People who have already read this book call it a game changer. If you’re ready to unlock your potential greatness, get the free book.

Written by one of the world's most popular experts on success and personal achievement, this book provides the reader with a powerful and proven system that anyone can use to improve their life.

Maximum Achievement includes ideas and concepts that have been used by successful people in a variety of fields. It helps the reader find his or her own potential for greatness, positivity, persuasion, and focus.

This book is based on a successful seminar program that has dramatically increased the income of thousands of people and improved many areas of their lives. Tracy offers a step-by-step guide to success with proven principles that have been drawn from psychology, business, economics, politics, religion, philosophy, history, and even metaphysics.

These ideas are put together to help raise the reader's self-esteem, improve personal performance, and allow the reader to gain complete control over their personal and professional life.

Brian Tracy's writing is both clear and concise. The ideas that he presents in this book are practical and reasonable for anyone to handle. He spends some time in the book offering information on how people's personalities are formed, which is a great look into psychology that helps the reader think about how their past has formed who they are today. Additionally, the sections of the book on relationships and parenting are especially useful for those who are looking to improve their lives in those areas.

A number of readers who consider themselves to be successful contribute a lot of their success to this book. One of the best things that readers say this book teaches is that one's subconscious mind is not able to determine if the conscious mind is telling the truth. For example, if you always tell yourself that you are thin, rich, physically fit, or whatever your goal is, your subconscious mind will eventually believe it and make it happen. This is a simplistic summary of the deeper things that this book is able to teach.

This book teaches people how they can achieve everything that they have always wanted, from financial security to getting an ideal job, having power and influence, maintaining satisfyin​g relationships, and living a rewarding life. The author motivates the readers to not only set their goals high, but to then exceed them.

Dr. David J. Schwartz has been long regarded as a top expert on motivation, and is a great teacher to help people sell and manage better, earn more money, and find happiness and peace of mind in their lives.

The Magic of Thinking Big details a carefully designed program that will help the reader get the most out of their career, marriage, community, and family life. It focuses on the fact that people do not need to have great talent to be successful and satisfied in life, as it is more important to learn and understand new habits of thinking and behaving that will lead to success.

This success book helps change the reader's mindset, and many have found it to be useful to read at least once a year. Schwartz includes real stories in the book so the reader is able to relate to other people's successes and experiences.

Some of the topics that are addressed include not being afraid to fail, dreaming creatively, thinking positively, turning defeat into victory, thinking like a leader, and making effective goals that will help you grow.

Readers have called this book a modern classic for a variety of reasons:

Swartz adds a lot of anecdotes and stories from his personal life to help the reader relate to the message. The book appeals to one's common sense. It is well written. The topics are very convincing and offer both proof and lively anecdotes. It is a quick and easy read.

Michal Stawicki is a guy I met online a few years back. It has been great to watch his growth as an author. He is hard-working and dedicated. When I think of him, I think one word: perseverance. So when I saw the title of this book, I immediately knew it was going to be great.

In 99 Perserverance Success Stories Michal shares stories of success and perseverance from every walk of life, every level of success, and across many different cultures. I love this. This is not just a dry recitation of the thoughts of a few millionaires on success. It is wide ranging, and therefore much more useful.

This is great book to read when you feel a little bit down and unmotivated and want to get the motivational equivalent of a shot of adrenaline strait to your heart.

If you want to learn more about the habits of the rich, check out our post on the success habits of self-made millionaires.

This book shares author David Bach's secrets to financial success.

It begins with the story of an average American couple with a mediocre income who manage to live a lavish lifestyle.

Automatic Millionaire is different from other financial books because it does not focus on having a budget or willpower, and does not require the reader to make a large income. The plan provided is simple and will work automatically once it is set into place.

Bach's system is based on timeless principles that have proven themselves to be successful. Readers have found this book to be an easy read, and love the simplistic plan it explains for people to start saving for retirement early on in life.

The Automatic Millionaire can be read quickly in an afternoon and the information can be put to use right away. While some other books offer tips for retirement, most fail to explain how to take the steps that are necessary to achieve success. This book offers the resources and information that people need to know where to start and the questions that need to be asked. It tells the reader about specific companies, and explains various investment options.

While the book is a little bit dated, it is still very helpful. It is a great tool to help people set themselves up for retirement.

While in the past success has been largely focused on talent, hard work, passion, and luck, today it is more about how you interact with other people. This success book explains the difference between takers, matchers, and givers, which are all personality types in the workplace that have a large impact on one's success.

Using evidence and true stories, the author shows the reader how to develop personal connections that can help lead to success. It highlights the effectiveness of networking, working in groups, influence, leadership skills, and negotiation. This book is great for individuals as well as groups and larger organizations.

Readers have found Give and Take to be very inspiring. While some think that the writing could be more concise, the information that is offered is thought-provoking.

48 Laws od Power takes 3,000 years of history and puts them into 48 essential laws of power. It takes information and ideas from people such as Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz to teach the value of confidence, the need for wisdom, and the need for self-preservation.

Each law is related because they focus on an interest in complete domination.

While this is a slightly controversial book due to people's desire for the world to be a peaceful place with very little competition, it takes a realistic look at the world and how people can view it in order to get ahead.

48 Laws of Power may not be for everyone, due to its underlying, “do what you have to do to succeed” mentality. But the book speaks a hard, and sometimes brutal truth about what it takes to win that many other books are too scared to say.

This is a success book written by my writing partner, Rebecca Livermore and myself.

Our main point in this book was that to succeed as an entrepreneur you don’t need to follow a series of cookie cutter moves. Most entrepreneur’s paths to success are very different after all.

What is common amongst nearly all entrepreneurs are specific habits. (IE: things like waking up early with a morning routine to start their day)

If you want train yourself to be more entrepreneurial, the best way to do it is to start building more entrepreneurial habits. The book is separated into a few major sections. Rather than continue to review my own book, let me snippet an amazon review from Teri Hanna:

1. Failing to Achieve Challenging Goals offers 5 Habits to Succeed, like Waking Up Early with examples of people who start their day early.

2.Not Getting Things Done: 11 Habits to overcome this challenge like Focusing on Your Strengths

3. Increasing Competition: 4 Habits to stand out above the noise of the competition-such as reading 30 minutes a day-to stay in the forefront of your field.

4. Poor Business Relationships: 6 Habits to build positive business relationships, like the power of saying no.

5. Stress and Burnout: 7 Habits to keep you sharp like helping others.

I highly recommend The Daily Entrepreneur: 33 Success Habits for Small Business Owners to all entrepreneurs and business owners who want to overcome everyday challenges and who want to get more done and increase your bottom line.

Steve Scott and Rebecca Livermore produce a highly actionable set of habits to focus strengths and dispel weakness.

Don't hesitate – Get your copy now!

The Traveler's Gift tells the story of one man's choices to offer the reader some insight into what makes the difference between success and failure. It looks to historical figures for guidance on the quest for strength and success. The author presents seven decisions for success that can turn one's life around, despite how hopeless it may seem.

This book is a great combination of self-help tools and fictional stories that are able to keep the reader interested throughout. The book is able to keep up its momentum while it is giving the reader instructions on how to create positive thinking.

Although this book is written from a Christian perspective, the message is universal and can be inspirational to all readers. Some people may find the storyline to be a bit simplistic, but the author does a great job of giving the reader positive suggestions for moving past some of life's most difficult obstacles.

This narrative book uses scholarly research, experimental evidence, and strategies and techniques that get people to say “yes.” It is all about gaining power over others by understanding how they are influenced.

This might be the right book for you if you work in sales, business, or any position where you are aiming to get people on board with your goal and to follow your lead in some way. But success for some may seem a bit tainted, since it is not about getting ahead by merit, but by using some ninja neurolinguistic techniques.

The Psychology of Influence is often used in classrooms and sold to people who are operating successfully in their business.

Cialdini organizes his techniques into six categories to gain compliance, all of which are based on psychological principles aimed at directing human behavior. While the premise of this book could be offered in a much shorter version, its inclusion of stories, examples, and the explanation of principles is vital to its effectiveness. People have found this book to be very inspiring and insightful, and a fun read.

Simon Sinek, the speaker of the third most popular TED talk of all time, has written this book to answer the question of why some people are more influential and successful than others. How do some companies gain customer loyalty while others cannot? He argues that people have to understand the purpose of a product or service, or the “why”, in order to buy into it and become loyal consumers.

This success book shows that great leaders all have things in common when it comes to how they think, communicate, and act. This idea creates the framework that organizations need to be successful and profitable.

While some readers say that one can listen to the author's TED talks to get all of the information in this book, others argue the importance of having it all written down and being able to absorb the information slowly by reading it. This book is known to have a direct impact on one's future actions when conducting business that will lead to greater success.

Written by one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, this book is a great read for people at any level of business. Mark McCormack is known for being the founder of today's sports marketing industry after building IMG with less than a thousand dollars. His business success has inspired others to learn his skills and techniques to follow in his footsteps.

This is one of the entrepreneur startup books that offers straightforward advice that is not taught in the classrooms of business schools.

The author uses his own proven methods to teach the reader about people sense, negotiation, sales, understanding other people, and time management. He touches on business deals, common management philosophies that often fail, the best ways to run a meeting, and ways to observe others in a way that will benefit you.

Readers say that this is a great book to read if you want to stay one step ahead in business. It should be a part of any entrepreneur bookstore!

It was written in the ’80s, but the advice that it offers is still relevant today. The author includes a lot of examples that the reader can relate to in order to help anyone who is interested in business get something out of this book.

This success book has helped thousands of people improve their lives with its practical and inspiring advice. The original version has been revised and updated to reflect the constantly changing world. This book helps the reader move from where they are to where they want to be by giving lessons on increasing confidence, overcoming daily challenges, living with a purpose, discovering one's passion, and achieving your goals.

The Success Principles includes a lot of inspiring stories of successful CEOs, celebrities, world-class athletes, and even everyday people to explain the 64 principles that have been used by successful people throughout history. These success principles can easily be adapted to anyone's life, no matter what your final goal is.

Readers have found this book on success to be especially motivating due to its focus on changing unproductive habits into productive habits. This is a complete collection of principles that many readers find themselves coming back to year after year as a refresher.

Success Principles has something in it for everyone, so is a great read for people of any background.

Leil Lowndes is a psychologist who has made a career helping others to increase their communication skills. She got her passion for communication from the least likely of places. As a child she was so shy and introverted she could not even talk to others.

By overcoming her own introversion, she not only has the technical “psychologist” solutions to problems involving communication, but she also has a deep understanding and sympathy that can only be gained from someone who was there.

This book gives us 92 surefire communication techniques to use to ensure successful communication with others. From first encounters with others to ways to sway the opinion of those we connect with.

If you want to be a success in life, having the knowledge of some verbal Kung Fu can help you make that leap to success. Because the road to success is often not paved with what you know, but how you can represent what you know.

This relationship success book teaches:

6 Ways to sound like an “insider” in any crowd

7 Methods of creating a subliminal rapport with anyone

7 Ways to hold your own against skilled conversationalists

9 Lessons on making a killer first impression

9 Ways to feed someone’s ego, and how to know when to NOT do it.

11 Ninja methods of using a phone to convince others

14 ways to master body language. (scientists say up to 90% of communication can be body language)

14 Ways to use body language to convey a sense of your being someone “special” to others

15 Tips for working a room like a politician

Tony Robbins is the Master of self help. In this book he teaches how to succeed in just about every single aspect of life. Business, money, the mind, the body. He imparts solid self help advice to help others achieve success in… well everything.

Robbin’s point with this book is to take charge of your life in all the important ways: emotional, physical, mental and financial. All of these important parts dovetail together and work with each other for you to achieve greater success. Only when you are at the peak of performance in all categories can you truly be your best self.

What makes this success book stand out is how, Tony touches on so much and the stress on how these different aspects of life work together to make the sum of the whole greater than the sum of the parts. Something I truly believe to be true when you are “firing on all cylinders”

The Compound Effect prides itself on including no gimmicks or hyperbole, but rather a method that is based on the principle that one's decisions make up their destiny. Small, everyday decisions can lead you to success or failure as they compound into a routine and habits.

This success book is an easy-to-use, step-by-step guide that allows the reader to increase their successes, keep track of their progress, and achieve their goals. This might be the right book for you if you are serious about living the best life that you can and are willing to make some small changes. (Read more books about life.)

Readers have found this book to be a great read. It has helped people do things that they have struggled with for years. It has also helped people develop specific plans to make positive improvements in their lives.

While there are a lot of books available on personal development, this book offers especially simple and easy-to-follow ideas and methods. Many have said that reading this book has lead to the “aha” moment that they have been needing to give them a boost toward success.

Reading this book may help you flip a switch to become more productive, increase your creativity, and become more strategic. It has helped people realize that they were on the wrong path, but that they can turn themselves around with small, incremental changes that will lead to great results.

This success book focuses on the similar thinking that all successful people share. It is a compact book, but most people find that it is concise and to-the-point, offering a lot of great information that is a perfect read for people who are very busy.

The author offers tips on being more creative, and talks about when people should question their usual thinking. After reading this book, the reader will learn how to see the big picture while focusing their thinking on the details. Readers learn how to find their creative potential, develop new ideas, and find lessons from things that have happened in the past to help form their future. The author offers 11 keys to more effective thinking that can lead to a path of personal success.

Readers have found this to be a practical success book that contains applicable information to help people change their thinking process. Its insightful points can be used in all areas of one's life, making it an enjoyable read.

In this book Turner argues that strong and successful people do not get discouraged by their failures. Successful people are able to turn adversity into success by transforming their mistakes into success. This can benefit people in the areas of business, growth, stress, and happiness.

Turner wrote this book after conducting interviews with 163 of the most successful business people in the world who have been able to turn their lives around by learning from their mistakes.

Some of the well-known people who are featured in this book include Chris Brogan, Rachel Elnaugh, Mitch Joel, and other inspiring thought-leaders that are willing to expose their biggest mistakes and what they did to transform them into positive things that have allowed their successes to thrive.

With so many great interviews this book on success gives a really good idea on what you need to start a business in todays business landscape.

This Successful Mistake teaches the reader about a process of seven stages that people go through after making mistakes, but he argues that the early stages should be avoided in order to maximize one's success.

Readers have found this to be a useful book that motivates people to stop focusing on their mistakes. The Turner is an effective storyteller who avoids putting together a lot of transcribed stories, but instead tells a progressive narrative that is put together with each story included in the book. He is able to take the reader on a journey that is both inspiring and cathartic.

After reading this book, readers are been able to reflect upon the mistakes of other entrepreneurs and learn from them.

Note: This is my book. So I had this review written by book blogger.

Habit Stacking focuses on starting one small positive habit that will then lead to many more, and eventually lead to a great change in your life.

For example, if you begin your day with some exercise, it may lead to having a healthy breakfast and then being motivated at work to focus on your goals. Using this method, you will be more likely to achieve your long-term goals by getting into positive habits that make you feel fulfilled and accomplished.

By adding a lot of small changes to your daily routine, you are doing something that the author refers to as “habit stacking.” It may not be easy to add a lot of new habits to your life at the same time, but it is actually easier than you think to build a new routine. If you can make some very small changes, they will all add up.

The main argument of this success book is that this method works because you are able to get rid of the stress of trying to take on too much at once. If your goal is to just focus on one small routine at a time that only takes 15 minutes to complete, it is manageable to accomplish.

Habit Stacking offers the reader a list of 127 ideas for small actions that one can do to make some positive changes in their life. It also includes specific instructions on how to make these changes. These ideas focus on career, finances, health, and even relationships.

Readers have found that this is a great outline to follow to improve your life.

Scott writes clearly and makes his methods easy to understand. The writing is sincere, and the author includes a lot of stories based on his own life experience.

His step-by-step processes are logically presented so you can visualize yourself doing them before you try them. A lot of the advice may seem to be common sense, but it is often things that people haven't actually put into place, making this an eye-opening book.

This bestselling book is a self-help classic that has benefitted millions of readers by pointing to a positive mental attitude as being one of the main keys to personal success.

Success: through a positive mental attitude explains that the mind has two sides, one being a positive mental attitude and the other being a negative mental attitude. Positive attitudes attract good things in life, while negative attitudes deplete people of the things that make life worth living.

Throughout this book, the Hill & Stone argue that one's success, health, wealth, and happiness all depend on attitude. Readers have said that reading and following the principles of this success book will help people from every walk of life achieve their goals.

Success can be relevant for anybody, whether they are looking to be the best in their career or trying to achieve a specific goal. No matter what one's situation is, the study of this book offers great help.

Hill & Stone include real-life examples of people such as Muhammad Ali, who were able to defy odds, reach their goals, and achieve their fullest potential by using the principles that are in this book.

People often find that this is a great book to keep around and reference every now and then. It also makes for a great gift because there is a lot of information in this book that can help all kinds of people no matter what their passion or career is.

The Final Word on Success Books

I hope you have found the book you are looking for here. If not you can check the link below and check out my entire list of great self-help books to read. This list is a constantly growing as I write new lists, like this success books list you just finished.

There are many categories of books on the massive 350+ (currently) list of self help books listed above. If you want to see anything in particular, let me know in the comments below.

Also, please use the comments below if you have any books you think should be added to the list. I am constantly updating these lists with new books (that why some numbers don’t match the graphics).

I hope you would consider sharing your favorite book, or any graphics on your favorite social media. Share your thoughts and help others find this list of the best success books to give them the tools they can use to improve their lives.

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals.

Thanks & Keep Reading!

12 Career Books to Build the Career You Want

I was only two weeks into my new job at BetterUp.

A package arrived at the door. It was heavy — and I could tell it was already a little different than your typical swag bags that companies give out to new hires.

Excitedly, I brought the package into our kitchen and opened the box. Inside was a collection of books. As an avid reader and writer, this quite possibly was one of the best “new hire welcome gifts” I’ll ever receive.

At BetterUp, we’re big believers in staying on our edge. It’s embedded into our culture that to continue to grow, you need to continue to learn. But beyond the virtual walls of BetterUp, learning is critical to any transformational growth journey.

And according to LinkedIn’s 2022 Workforce Learning Report, people want to learn (and companies benefit from it). In fact, 94% of employees say taking time to learn is beneficial to their careers. And companies that excel at career mobility retain their employees nearly twice as long as companies that struggle with it.

One of the most accessible and best ways to learn is through reading. We’ve compiled a list of the twelve career books to help you stay on your edge. No matter what you're going through in your career journey, we’ve found a book for you.

What is a career book?

First, let’s take a minute to define what we mean by career book.

What is a career book? A career book is a book that will help you further your career and develop you professionally. Career books often cover topics like leadership and career transitions. Career books can also cover professional development, relationship-building, and more.

We know there are plenty of career books out there. And truth be told, some are more useful than others. But because there’s such a wide range of career book offerings, you’re bound to find a book that is right for you, at this moment in your career.

A single career book isn't likely to guide you through your entire career. Some people do have one that they swear by, but for the rest of us, it's about finding the book that speaks to our need, challenges, and aspirations right now.

When you feel a bit stuck or lost, a good book can fuel some of the motivation to get unstuck. Maybe you need a fresh perspective or inspiration. Maybe you need tangible steps and a map. Maybe a particular author cuts through the noise to tell you exactly what you need to hear at this moment.

For example, let’s say caregiving responsibilities pushed pause on your career. But now your kids are older, and you’re ready to get back into the workforce. You might be struggling with how to re-enter the workforce, how to make your skills relevant, or how to reclaim your reputation. There’s a book for that.

Or let’s say you’ve identified with your coach that you want to hone your leadership skills. You can see yourself climbing up the corporate ladder but you want to make sure you invest in yourself as a leader. You’ve identified some areas to work on, like influencing, team-building, and communication. There’s a book for that.

Our career paths are multi-faceted and complex. Oftentimes, our careers are non-linear journeys where we tend to face obstacles at certain points in time. Books can provide food for thought and prompt reflection. They offer structure in our quiet moments of self-discovery.

Your coach is a great resource to overcome these obstacles but sometimes, supplemental resources are the homework we need in between times.

12 must-read career books to jump-start your journey

While there's no such thing as the 12 "best" books, these books are likely to hold something you need. Let’s dig into these 12 best career books so you can start stocking your shelves.

The Long Game : Best for planning long-term career success

Dorie Clark, industry-leading expert and adjunct professor at Duke University, shares how to break the cycle of feeling rushed, overwhelmed, and always like we’re behind.

In The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World, Clarke talks about how we all have the same 24 hours in a day. But with the right strategies, we can become more efficient and powerful in how we use our time. Clarke takes the reader through how to create strategies and frameworks for long-term success. Clarke talks about how to break out of the frantic day-to-day routine to transform your career.

The Confidence Code : Best for women

Authors Katty Kay and Claire Shipman argue that women are better educated and more qualified than ever before. But there’s still one issue getting in the way: confidence.

The Confidence Code digs into research to help women lean into the corporate world with confidence. The book explores genetics, gender, behavior, and cognition. This book will offer women practice advice to achieve the careers women deserve (and some inspiration along the way).

I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was : Best for finding your purpose

Author Barbara Sher challenges readers that there could be more to life than what you’re getting. As a strong believer that a life without purpose is a life without passion, this book is a New York Times bestseller. It will guide you through finding your “long-lost goals” and overcoming the roadblocks along the way.

Drive : Best for finding your motivation

Author Daniel Pink is a BetterUp favorite. This book digs into debunking myths about motivation. It also talks about how some of today’s organizations follow outdated perspectives about motivation.

Pink also uses science and evidence to show us the surprising truth about what motivates us. For example, he tells readers through science why rewards and punishments usually backfire. He also explores the desire for purposeful, meaningful work.

Moms for Hire : Best for caregivers re-entering the workforce

This eight-step guide is for moms (or any parent) who want to re-enter the workforce after taking a career pause. Author Deborah Newmyer uses creative exercises, advice, and anecdotes from well-known working moms. These anecdotes and stories serve as inspiration to help readers re-enter (and overcome their fears).

This book also talks about finding fulfilling employment, learning how to negotiate, and giving voice to the desire for work. For anyone who has recently taken a career break but is looking for some career advice, this book is for you.

Expect to Win : Best for career growth and strategy

Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success from a Wall Street Vet is a must-read for anyone looking to progress in their career. Author Carla Harris is one of Wall Street’s most powerful women, which is no easy feat.

As Carla’s career progressed, she discovered survival skills needed for business success. She vowed to share her learnings with the world. In each chapter of this book, you’ll learn different pearls of wisdom to help fulfill your career potential.

Pivot : Best for figuring out your next career move

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One is a must-read for figuring out what’s next. Author Jenny Blake is a former career development program manager at Google. In this book, she reveals how to methodically and strategically make your next career move.

In the last couple of years, we’ve seen millions of employees pivot their careers. No matter where you want to take your career, this book offers valuable insight.

Leaders Eat Last : Best for developing leadership skills

Author Simon Sinek is a celebrated career writer, especially when it comes to leadership books. A visionary and leader of a cultural revolution, Sinek challenges readers to question why.

In Leaders Eat Last, Sinek explains how an organization’s “why” helps to create sustainable, successful businesses. He cites human biology of how and when people are naturally at their best. This book digs into great leaders from the Marine Corps. Sinek shows us how we can borrow lessons to help deepen trust and commitment to leadership skills.

Designing Your Life : Best for finding meaning and purpose

Authors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans use parallels from design thinking to how to design our life. This book explores how to find meaning and purpose, regardless of who or where we are. It also digs into how to build your career (and your life).

At BetterUp, we believe that we bring our whole selves to work. This book parallels a lot of the thinking in our Whole Person Model. We don’t leave parts of ourselves at home when we show up at work — it’s simply not possible. This book helps adopt the same problem-solving of design thinking at scale. Ultimately, it helps to find a life of fulfillment and joy.

What Color is Your Parachute? : Best for approaching the job search to find career success

Richard N. Bolles' classic career book has been used by career counselors and job seekers for 50 years to thoughtfully approach the job search process. Published by Vanderbilt University, What Color is Your Parachute? 2021: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success is updated to reflect newer challenges and tools available to job seekers.

The 2021 edition brings together modern advice on job search strategies such as social media, networking, virtual interviewing, and salary negotiation.

At its core, you’ll still find the exercises, worksheets, and lists to work through a career assessment. Named the Flower Exercise, this self-inventory helps you think through your career (and your life) and design for your key interests, skills, and passions.

Radical Candor : Best for building relationships (especially for women)

Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity is a must-read for all the women in leadership out there. Women are no strangers to double standards. When it comes to navigating the corporate world (especially as a leader), it becomes increasingly difficult.

Author Kim Scott served as a successful manager at Google and Apple. Over the years, she earned growing fame for her method of effective leadership: radical candor.

In this book, Scott talks about finding that sweet spot between effective criticism and effective feedback. She identifies three simple principles for building better relationships with your employees. She also provides guidance on how to create a work environment where people thrive.

Think Again : Best for learning (and unlearning) in a changing world

These past couple of years have shown us more than ever that change happens fast.

And with rapid change comes rapid learning (and oftentimes, unlearning). This book is one of my favorite recent reads, one that challenges your traditional way of thinking.

Author Adam Grant (and BetterUp Science Board advisor) talks about the joy of being wrong and embracing the unknown. When it comes to uncertainty, we know we have plenty of uncertainty ahead of us. But with Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know, we’re challenged to shift our mindsets and perspectives.

Grant also digs into the science behind rethinking. In fact, he argues it’s a necessary skill (and the evidence backs it up). In the end, it’s about how we learn, unlearn, and rethink in a fast-changing world.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There : Best for finding career success

Author and world-renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith digs into what it means to be successful.

The corporate ladder is filled with successful people. And the closer you get to the top, the bigger differences those small nuances of success make.

In this book, you’ll learn valuable career advice that Goldsmith often gives out in his one-on-one coaching sessions. You’ll also learn how to make lasting behavior changes that have a big impact on your success. Goldsmith also offers step-by-step advice on how to find success and a fulfilling career.

Grow your career with BetterUp

There are plenty of good books out there. From finding your dream job to navigating a career change, there are plenty of reads to help you navigate today’s job market.

But whether you're seeking opportunities in your current company or in a whole new industry, you don’t have to find your career path alone. Creating a roadmap for your career is no easy feat.

With the help of a coach, you can understand your values and motivations and create actionable steps to help further your career. Take your professional growth to the next level with the help of BetterUp. Whether you’re a job seeker knocking out job interviews or looking for your next move, get started today.

25 Books for Success

Out of hundreds, the editors of SUCCESS have narrowed our list to 25 must-read books for achievers. The task wasn’t easy, although our criteria were simple. These are books we’ve read, liked and that made a difference in our lives. We chose books that take a comprehensive approach to money, life and personal development because we know that one-dimensional success really isn’t success at all.

Related: 25 Quotes About Success

You might wonder why your favorite book didn’t make the list. Well, we could’ve filled the magazine with dozens more books. Our top 25 are by no stretch of the imagination the only books you should read. To the contrary, we know reading about and applying techniques and success strategies are the best ways to discover and stay focused on your life’s journey.

We hope our list opens your eyes to something new, inspires you to pick up that volume you’ve always meant to read or to re-read a favorite classic. If you have suggestions on what we didn’t include, we want to hear from you.

We encourage you to find a book that interests you and carve out a few minutes every day to read at least a few pages. You’ll be amazed at the difference it will make in your journey toward success!

First published in 1937, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie was an overnight success with staying power. Today, this book is regarded as one of the all-time best for its lessons on dealing with people.

The chapter titles seem, at first, a little manipulative: “Six ways to make people like you,” “12 ways to win people to your way of thinking.” But the reality of Carnegie’s teachings is that none will work if the intent is manipulation. The word “genuine” appears repeatedly throughout the book. Only with authenticity and honesty will Carnegie’s methods work consistently.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is packed with anecdotes from historical leaders and lessons learned or taught by some of history’s greatest businessmen, making the read as interesting as it is enlightening. And the methods–calling a person by his or her name or looking at the situation from the other’s point of view–work in business and in personal life with family and friends.

Carnegie’s book is a classic. Though he credits many people for inspiring his ideas, his methods are the foundation for many of today’s personal-development and business-management books.

Too often, life doesn’t turn out as expected. And money, or the lack of money, plays a large role in people’s ability to handle life’s ups and downs. Perhaps that’s why, in the 1920s, banks and insurance companies decided to distribute short parables written to educate people on important financial principles. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason began in 1926 as a series of pamphlets, the most famous ones later compiled into one of the best-loved money guides of all time.

The book begins with two men realizing that, while they lived a meager existence, one of their childhood friends had become known as the wealthiest man in Babylon. Despite growing up in similar circumstances, their friend seemed to have created a life of gold while they barely scratched out a living.

The situation is all too familiar even today. And like the men who’d come to the realization that they’d failed to think beyond the day at hand, readers have the opportunity to sit at the feet of the richest man in Babylon and learn how to build wealth. They learn how to plan for the future, make wise investments and how to view money as a tool rather than a measure of success.

With time-tested principles and an engaging format, The Richest Man in Babylon is an excellent introduction to finance, and a classic.

Purchase The Richest Man in Babylon in the SUCCESS Store.

Napoleon Hill, inspired by business legend Andrew Carnegie, spent 20 years of his life studying the lives of some of history’s most successful people. The culmination of his research was the in-depth series, The Laws of Success. In 1937, Hill published another book, Think and Grow Rich, founded on the same philosophies of success. This book condensed the wealth of knowledge he’s accumulated into 13 principles for successful living.

Shorter and perhaps easier to get through than its multivolume predecessor, Think and Grow Rich is as applicable today as it was when it was first released. The title’s principles are founded on Hill’s belief in the power of the mind, and his famous quotes, such as, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” have changed the way millions of people view their lives. When read in its entirety and its principles put into action, Think and Grow Rich not only helps people change their views on life, but also the way they behave and, ultimately, their reality.

Related: 10 Things Successful People Never Do Again

More than 30 million copies of Think and Grow Rich have been bought by business students, entrepreneurs and goal-setters around the world. When it was re-released in 2004, it rocketed once again to the top, holding a place on BusinessWeek‘s Best Seller list for paperback business books for more than 20 months.

Think and Grow Rich is a timeless classic that should be read by everyone interested in improving their lives and reaching their goals.

Purchase Think and Grow Rich in the SUCCESS Store.

Suze Orman (Crown, 1997) As a financial expert, Suze Orman offers advice on the nuts and bolts of managing money. But whether you’re watching her on television or reading her advice in O, The Oprah Magazine, or in one of her best-selling books, such as 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, her message is clear: Wealth is an attitude and money isn’t the key to acquiring true financial freedom.

In this acclaimed book, Orman challenges readers to face their financial fears and acknowledge the importance of planning for the future. With a three-pronged approach, Orman tackles the mental, physical and spiritual issues that keep people from reaching financial freedom. Also available in audio format, 9 Steps to Financial Freedom encourages personal growth while offering the education necessary to begin the process of building a rich life.

Again, it’s the total approach to financial success that sets this and the other financial books on this list apart. Acquiring wealth isn’t as simple as piling up the green stuff. Your beliefs about money, yourself and the world around you have as much to do with wealth as do the riches you acquire.

While Stephen Covey wasn’t the first to write a book on becoming a better, more effective person, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People marked the beginning of a revitalized interest in personal development. With a 15th anniversary edition released in 2004 and more than 15 million copies sold, this book has helped millions change their perspective and their lives.

Unlike many authors of books in this genre, Covey doesn’t promise a simple, quick fix for creating a better life. In fact, mastering the seven habits he outlines could take a lifetime. But as with many personal-development efforts, it’s what you learn as you work toward becoming a truly effective person that matters.

The habits are divided into three sections: Private Victory, Public Victory and Renewal. Private Victory focuses on the individual’s view of himself. The first three habits are: becoming proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and putting first things first. These habits will challenge you to take responsibility for your thoughts, beliefs and actions. The Public Victory section focuses on creating meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships. And because being effective requires energy and focus, the seventh habit, “Sharpening the Saw,” encourages you to engage in activities that promote mental and physical renewal.

Covey says that when our behavior contradicts our beliefs or when our relationships consistently fail, any successes we achieve feel hollow. This book takes a total approach to success and encourages growth and maturity beginning with self, which leads to stronger relationships and greater success at home and at work.

Purchase The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in the SUCCESS Store.