30 Life-Changing Books Recommended By 647 Successful People
“The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.” Mark Twain
You’re confused. You want to pick a good book that will change your life, but you don’t know which one to read since there are too many book recommendations out there.
Choosing a life-changing book to read doesn’t have to be a life-sucking task. I analyzed the book recommendations from some of the most iconic people in the world so you don’t have to. These books have changed the lives of gazillions of people and they’ll continue to do so.
For simplicity, I’ve only included the books in the self-help category that may change your life regardless of your age. Below, you’ll find the best life-changing books to add to your reading list. Each book recommendation comes with a small description so you can pick your next book to read according to your current interest, desire, or need.
Table Of Contents
Top 10 Books on Success and Mindset
Top 10 Books on Happiness and Philosophy
Top 10 Books on Life Skills
Top 10 Life-Changing Books on Success and Mindset
“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” Jim Rohn
Tim Ferriss introduces the idea of lifestyle design where he argues that you don’t have to work a 9–5 job and wait for retirement to enjoy your life. So if you want to escape your job and earn the freedom that comes from location independence, this book is perfect for you.
My favorite quote from The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich:
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“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”
Timothy Ferriss
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When Victor was in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War, he shared his experience on how to cope with suffering and deal with adversity in life. If you’re struggling to find meaning in tough times of life, pick up this book right now.
My favorite quote from Man’s Search for Meaning:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Viktor E. Frankl
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The Alchemist is a tale of a man named Santiago who embarks upon his journey of following his dreams. On his path, he learns countless life lessons and discovers himself in the process. If you’re looking for an inspiring story to read, this book is a good choice.
My favorite quote from The Alchemist:
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” Paulo Coelho
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In this book, Ray Dalio discusses the key principles he has found through his experience in investing, management, and economics that lead to success in life or business. If you want to know these timeless principles, read this book next.
My favorite quote from Principles: Life and Work:
“If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential” Ray Dalio
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The book highlights the commonalities between the “outliers” who are the most successful people in their field. If you want to become one of the best at what you do, this book is for you.
My favorite quote from Outliers: The Story of Success:
“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” Malcolm Gladwell
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The book distinguishes between the growth mindset and the fixed mindset. All successful people approach things from a growth mindset. If you think your potential and capabilities are limited, this book should be your next read.
My favorite quote from Mindset: The New Psychology of Success:
“We like to think of our champions and idols as superheroes who were born different from us. We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary.” Carol Dweck
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Excellence comes from focusing on the essentials. This book forces you to eliminate distractions so you can do the things that matter. If you’re feeling distracted, leave everything and pick up this book.
My favorite quote from Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less:
“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.” Greg Mckeown
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Every creative or artist faces what Steven Pressfield calls resistance. If you want to succeed in your creative endeavor, you have to win the war against resistance. If you’re a creative fighting a similar war, this book will teach you how to fight the resistance.
My favorite quote from The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles:
“If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?” chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.” Steven Pressfield
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Most people think that their dreams and ambitions are unreachable. This book teaches you to use the power of thinking to grow rich. If you’re thinking too small, read this book immediately.
My favorite quote from Think and Grow Rich:
“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” Napoleon Hill
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Related: The Best Manifestation and Law of Attraction Books to Create Your Desired Reality
The secret behind some of the most successful people on the planet is not luck or talent. It’s their ability to persist. This book emphasizes the importance of focused hard work and perseverance. If you dabble a lot, this book will help you achieve outstanding results through grit.
My favorite quote from Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance:
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” Angela Duckworth
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Top 10 Life-Changing Books on Happiness and Philosophy
“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” J.K. Rowling
Taoist philosophy can teach you to bring more peace, harmony, contentment, and balance in your life. The wisdom and principles in this book will help you learn the art of living well. If you’re seeking a peaceful and balanced life, grab this book now.
My favorite quote from Tao Te Ching:
“Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.” Lao Tzu
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Related: The Best Spiritual Books For Spiritual Awakening, Enlightenment And Self Realization
In this book, Ryan reminds us of the importance of humility and confidence while avoiding ego. Staying humble in your aspirations, gracious in your success, and resilient in your failures are the core principles of this book.
My favorite quote from Ego Is the Enemy:
“Those who have subdued their ego understand that it doesn’t degrade you when others treat you poorly; it degrades them.” Ryan Holiday
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We see obstacles as a hindrance on our way. We try to avoid them at all costs, and we feel discouraged when we face them. This book shows you that obstacles are not something to be afraid of. In fact, they need to be embraced and used as opportunities.
My favorite quote from The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph:
“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” Ryan Holiday
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Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, one of the well-known stoics captured his philosophy in this book. It’s one of the most recommended books on stoicism that will help you understand the principles of stoicism. If you want to download the ancient wisdom of Marcus, get this book now.
My favorite quote from Meditations:
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Marcus Aurelius
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The story of Siddhartha is well-known for its insights on suffering, peace, wisdom, and enlightenment. Siddhartha’s story offers a unique perspective and great life lessons. If you’re interested in the life of Buddha and want to learn from it, add this book to your reading list.
My favorite quote:
“I can think. I can wait. I can fast.” Hermann Hesse
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We’re all seeking to be happy after all, aren’t we? This book combines lessons from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy and behavior economics to help you live a happy life. If you want to rewire your brain for happiness, this book should be your next pick.
My favorite quote from Stumbling on Happiness:
“The human being is the only animal that thinks about the future.” Daniel Todd Gilbert
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Stoicism is one of the most popular schools of philosophy that teaches us how to live a good life. This book is your guide to not wasting your life using the stoic philosophy. If you want to live a good life and you’re curious about stoicism, this book will guide you.
My favorite quote from A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy:
“The best reason for adopting a philosophy of life, is that if we lack one, there is a danger that we will mislive.” William Ervine
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Self-judgment and self-criticism are the biggest obstacles on your way to self-acceptance and self-love. This book teaches you to accept and love yourself through the tales, teachings, and meditations from Tara Brach. If you struggle with self-sabotage, you need this book.
My favorite quote from Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha:
“Imperfection is not our personal problem – it is a natural part of existing.” Tara Brach
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This book reminds you to come back to the present moment. Our analytical mind is wired to travel to the past or future and to create false perceptions. If you’re looking for a spiritual dive, this book is perfect for you.
My favorite quote from The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment:
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” Eckhart Tolle
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The Essential Rumi is a collection of Rumi’s best poetry. These mystical and beautiful texts will teach you essential lessons about life and love. If you enjoy poetry that makes you think, you need to read this book.
My favorite quote from The Essential Rumi:
“What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs.” Rumi
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Top 10 Life-Changing Books on Life Skills
“If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.” Roald Dahl
This book teaches you to build a better future, create new things and start a business from scratch. If you’re starting from zero and have no idea how to start, this book will show you how.
My favorite quote from Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future:
“By the time a student gets to college, he’s spent a decade curating a bewilderingly diverse resume to prepare for a completely unknowable future. Come what may, he’s ready–for nothing in particular.” Peter Thiel
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Whether it’s your career or your life, you need friends to excel in life. This book gives you the best advice on how to make and keep friends. If you want to improve your relationships or create new relationships, this book will show you the way.
My favorite quote from How to Win Friends & Influence People:
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” Dale Carnegie
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This book is worth reading several times because it’s the life and blood of intrapersonal (personal) and interpersonal (relationship) skills. If you want to improve your personal and social skills, you shouldn’t wait for a second longer to get this book.
My favorite quote from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change:
“Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw” Stephen R. Covey
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This book specifically focuses on the science and practices behind creating influence, which is a necessary life skill for everyone. If you want to be more persuasive, this book is your best choice.
My favorite quote from Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion:
“We all fool ourselves from time to time in order to keep our thoughts and beliefs consistent with what we have already done or decided” Robert B. Cialdini
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Thinking is a skill that is based on two systems — System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional, and System 2, which is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. This book gives you unique insights to help you improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills.
My favorite quote from Thinking, Fast and Slow:
“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it” Daniel Kahneman
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In the modern world, focusing has become a rare and valuable skill. Deep work teaches you the skill of focused work without getting distracted. If you want to get better at focusing on your work or studies, you’ll find this book extremely useful.
My favorite quote from Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World:
“Two Core Abilities for Thriving in the New Economy 1. The ability to quickly master hard things. 2. The ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed.” Cal Newport
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Productivity is not just about getting more things done. This book reminds you to get the right things done. If you want to get better at managing your time, this book will change the way you operate.
My favorite quote from The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done:
“Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge are essential resources, but only effectiveness converts them into results.” Peter F. Drucker
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Writing is not just for writers. It’s a form of communication that helps you think and present your ideas. This book not only teaches you the art of writing, but it also gives you great life advice. If you want to improve your writing skills, this book is a must-read.
My favorite quote from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life:
“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” Anne Lamott
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In this book, Atul reveals the power of keeping checklists to get the right outputs from your efforts consistently. If you want to systemize your work or life using checklists, this book will help you out.
My favorite quote from The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right:
“Good checklists, on the other hand are precise. They are efficient, to the point, and easy to use even in the most difficult situations. They do not try to spell out everything–a checklist cannot fly a plane. Instead, they provide reminders of only the most critical and important steps–the ones that even the highly skilled professional using them could miss. Good checklists are, above all, practical.” Atul Gawande
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Learning how to learn is a skill that sets you apart from the rest. Today, those who can learn faster and better are the ones who will adapt and excel. This book is for you if you want to take your performance and learning skills to the next level.
My favorite quote from The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance:
“The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process, and not to live in a shell of static, safe mediocrity. Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety.” Josh Waitzkin
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Conclusion (How To Read Smarter)
That’s a wrap! I hope you found this list of best life-changing books of all time valuable.
There are tons of other inspirational books out there and there will never be a shortage of good books to read. So if you want to solidify your learnings, you must re-read or revisit these books about life. You can do that using your own notes and highlights or by using book summary apps.
I also have a guide on how I read smartly without wasting my time if you want to get the most out of your reading time. My favorite tool for revisiting notes and highlights is Readwise. And for book summaries, I love Blinkist and Instaread. Below is the link to the other learning tools I recommend.
Related: Life Designer’s Toolkit – Top Learning Tools
The final point to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t learn just for the sake of learning. Take the time to actually apply the lessons to your life. For that, I create a daily success checklist that keeps me focused on my current daily habits and sets me up for high-performance and success.
You can grab the cheat sheet that will help you design your own daily success checklist for free. Just enter your email below and click the sign-up button right now to get access to it.
Special thanks to the websites below that helped me with the research while putting together this list of most life-changing books recommended by successful people:
To sum up, here’s the list of all the books listed in the post:
Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase a book or service through my link, I get a commission. Thanks for your support.
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Must-Read for Entrepreneurs: 8 Powerful Books Recommended by Successful People
If you are aiming to be a successful entrepreneur, the first step is to start thinking like one. Take Bill Gates as an example: an avid advocate for reading and even spends a week two times a year to go to a secret cabin in the woods to make time for his reading vacations. For Gates, founder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, reading is more than a pastime.
“You don’t really start getting old until you stop learning,” Gates told Time. “Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently. I was lucky to have parents who encouraged me to read. Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world, which I think helped drive me forward in my career and in the work that I do now with my foundation.”
While not all of us can take off an entire week just to read, we can definitely start somewhere. But with thousands of books on investment and business, it may be an overwhelming chore to pick a title to read.
Luckily, we have other people’s judgment we can rely on.
From Ayala Corp Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala to billionaire and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, here are eight powerful books personally recommended by successful people that are worth reading and investing in if you are aspiring to have a successful career in business.
Warren Buffett
Berkshire Hathaway, CEO
Recommended book: The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham's philosophy of "value investing”—which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies—has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949.
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala
Ayala Corporation, President & CEO
Recommended book: The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson
In The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress. What’s more, he reveals financial history as the essential backstory behind all history. With the clarity and verve for which he is known, Ferguson elucidates key financial institutions and concepts by showing where they came from.
Sara Blakely
Spanx, Founder
Recommended book: Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Starting with “why” works in big business and small business, in the nonprofit world and in politics. Drawing on a wide range of real-life stories, Simon Sinek weaves together a clear vision of what it truly takes to lead and inspire. Start With Why is for anyone who wants to inspire others or who wants to find someone to inspire them.
Robina Gokongwei
Robinsons Retail Inc., President & CEO
Recommended book: The Book of Lists by David Wallechinsky, Irving Wallace and Amy Wallace
Robina Gokongwei says that this book “opened her eyes to the extent of what humanity can achieve whether for good or for notoriety.” The Book of Lists is literally a list of interesting, intriguing, noteworthy, popular, important, and other people, places, events, and things. This trivia book talks about anything under the sun and is accompanied by fascinating commentaries, notes, and explanations that will stir up the readers’ curiosity.
Oprah Winfrey
Host, actress, and philanthropist
Recommended book: Becoming by Michelle Obama
Renowned TV talk show host Oprah has over 90 recommended books for her book club, but one of her most favorite reads is Becoming by Michelle Obama. In this book, the former First Lady describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Oprah says, “It is Michelle Obama’s personal story, of course. But I believe it’s going to spark within you the desire to think about your own becoming.”
JC Bisnar
Investagrams, CEO & Co-Founder
Recommended book: How To Make Money in Stocks by William J. O'neil
William J. O’neil’s How To Make Money in Stocks is a practical rule book for becoming an investment professional. It offers guidance for those who want to make smart investments. This book talks about: making money reading the daily financial pages; picking the best industry groups in the market; reading charts; reducing losses and mistakes; and turning a profit from reading and analyzing the news.
Simone Biles
Olympic gold medalist & world-class gymnast
Recommended book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson
Simone Biles, who is regarded to be one of the best gymnasts of all-time, shared that there was one book that had a major impact on the way she lives her life. In The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, Mark Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.
Bill Gates
Microsoft and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Co-Founder
Recommended book: Business Adventures by John Brooks
This business classic written by longtime New Yorker contributor John Brooks is an insightful and engaging look into corporate and financial life in America. John Brooks’s reportage is so full of personality and critical detail that whether he is looking at the astounding market crash of 1962 or the bold attempt by American bankers to save the British pound, one gets the sense that history really does repeat itself.
More books on investment and business are available on Fully Booked Online. Check out Fully Booked’s Finance and Investment Collection to browse more titles.