Best Self Help Books: More than 200 Books on this List

Here are some of the guests and some of their books, in no particular order. I recommend all of the below books. If I didn't like a book, I wouldn't have them on the show.

James Altucher

Founder/StockPickr

My children’s school recommended that we read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. The book has a lot of great information that is as applicable to managers at high growth companies as it is to parents. The key takeaway for me is that highly capable people tend to be risk-avoiders because they are afraid of failure. They get so used to being praised for their achievements that they end up not pushing themselves to their full potential for fear of looking dumb. As a parent (or a manager), the book recommends praising effort, not accomplishment, and creating an environment that encourages risk-taking and celebrates failure. This is a concept that really resonates with me, not only as a part of my parenting style, but in the way I lead at Zillow Group. Our core values as a company encourage employees to take big swings, with the understanding that they won’t all work out. It’s how we’ve achieved our current success, and it’s what motivates our employees.

Spencer Rascoff

CEO/Zillow Group

Recommended by Ola Olusoga (Co-founder/Populum)

Source: Interview with Ola Olusoga: How Books Have Guided His Path To Self-Discovery

I do goal-setting. The first time I read about this was in Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich,' I was 16 years old.

Daymond John

Founder/FUBU

I've been a fan of Cal for a long time. His book So Good They Can't Ignore You is one of my favorites, but it's his new book that's probably had the biggest and most immediate impact on me. For those of you who enjoyed Tyler Cowen's Average is Over, you already know how important the ability to focus, be creative, and think at a high level is going to be in the future. This is a book that explains how to cultivate and protect that skill--the ability to do deep work. One thing I've already started doing since reading this book is recording the number of hours of deep work I do each day in my morning journal. It's a way of keeping a running tally and monitoring if I begin to get distracted or slow my pace. Anyway, great book!

Ryan Holiday

Founder/Brass Check

Q: What is one must-read book for business leaders?

A: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Business and Life by Charles Duhigg.

Cynthia Cleveland

CEO/Broadthink

An essential book for anyone trying to think, work, or live better.

Ryan Holiday

Media Strategist, Author, Founder/Brass Check

I chose this book because it taught me how important it is that your business represents you and that you passionately believe in it. I also learned from it the importance of organizational culture, and that the endpoint of a sale should always be customer's happiness, not the money-product/service exchange.

Robert Hajnal

Founder/Trail Running Academy

Millions of young women look to Marie Forleo as their inspiration for empowerment and achievement.

Oprah Winfrey

CEO/Oprah Winfrey Network

Also hard to find on audio. I find Steve's voice to be fascinating, and even before I knew him, I was fascinated by listening to him speak his own work. The War of Art is one of those books, at least for me when I finally was exposed to it, I said, 'Why wasn't I informed? Why did it take this long for this book to land on my desk?'... You need to be clear with yourself about what you are afraid of, why you are afraid, and whether you care enough to dance with that fear because it will never go away.

Seth Godin

Author & Entrepreneur

Imagine working in an organization where the aim of your colleagues is to help you achieve your results. I could not believe it possible. After reading this book I just had to bring Arbinger to the UK to teach our people. What an experience! We are all better people for it. This book touches the very foundation of culture, teamwork, and performance.

Mark Ashworth

CEO/Butcher’s Pet Care

I loved Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck. There’s a reason this book is blowing up. It’s that good.

Ryan Holiday

Founder/Brass Check

An essential playbook for success, happiness, and getting the most out of ourselves.

Arianna Huffington

Founder/Thrive Global

This book lays out a framework to help any startup brainstorm ways to gain more customer traction.

Gunhee Park

Co-Founder/Populum

In terms of web design, Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug — so important for anyone learning how to build websites.

Tracy Osborn

Founder/Wedding Lovely

Recommended by Louis Nyffenegger (Founder/PentesterLab)

Source: Interview with Louis Nyffenegger

Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most.

Jack Dorsey: Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading!

Jack Dorsey

CEO/Twitter

There is no living writer (or person) who has been more influential to me than Robert Greene. I met him when I was 19 years old and he’s shaped me as a person, as a writer, as a thinker. You MUST read his books. His work on power and strategy are critical for anyone trying to accomplish anything. In life, power is force we are constantly bumping up against. People have power of over us, we seek power ourselves that we might be free enough and influential enough to accomplish our goals—so we must understand where power comes from, how it works and how to get it. But pure power is meaningless. It must be joined to mastery and purpose. So read his book Mastery so that you can figure your life’s task and how to dedicate yourself to it.

Ryan Holiday

Founder/Brass Check

This book was recommended by Daymond John on page 234 of "Tools of Titans".

Daymond John

Founder/FUBU

A lot of people email me asking about habits - how to form good ones, how to break bad ones, how to stop doing the dumb shit we always do. I've got a friend named James Clear. He's an accomplished author and business owner and is kind of a "habit guru." He's probably forgotten more habits research than I've ever brought myself to look at. He just launched his first book. It's called Atomic Habits and it's probably the most practical and complete guide I've ever seen about habit formation and habit change. Do check it out. And then email him and tell him that I have luscious and beautiful hair and he doesn't. Then stick out your tongue and go, "Nyah, nyanya, nyah, nyah."

Mark Manson

Author

Just because everything appears to be a mess doesn’t mean you have to be one. Mark Manson’s book is a call to arms for a better life and better world and could not be more needed right now.

Ryan Holiday

Author, Media strategist, Founder/Brass Check

Practical, heartfelt, simple wisdom for people at any stage of their career (or life).

Seth Godin

Author & Entrepreneur

It's always interesting just to learn different perspectives, but to be careful of not trying to just say, 'Oh this book is the Bible, and we should copy that,' [...] Instead, I want us t0 take the parts that make sense for Zappos and try to incorporate them."

Tony Hsieh

CEO/Zappos

In Limitless, Laura Gassner Otting demands that we stop caring about what everyone else thinks and define for ourselves what it means to be successful. So forget about fulfilling your parents' expectations or sticking with that career you fell into when you graduated, and let Limitless show you the way to living your best work life.

Carol Fishman Cohen

CEO & Co-Founder/iRelaunch

I don’t read “business books”. I may read books which were classified as “Business”, “Leadership”, etc; but, if I do, I do so in spite of the category they’ve been deemed to belong to, not because of it.

I generally split books into three main categories. Here are the titles –sorry, but I simply can’t pick just one– that currently hold the top spots in each:

[...]

Biography/Memoir: Andre Agassi’s and J. R. Moehringer’s “Open“; Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love“; and Salman Rushdie’s “Joseph Anton“.

Gabriel Coarna

Founder/Readable

A true manifesto, a guidebook with clear signposts, and a fun ride you'll return to again and again.

Tim Ferriss

Author & Entrepreneur

What I'm reading right now is "The Untethered Soul", which is also a really, really amazing book. It's a little hippy yoga, but it's all about how you deal with stuff that happens to you in life and be emotionally strong.

David Henzel

Co-Founder/MaxCDN

Gotta say, I'm pretty flattered every time asks me if I've read @AdamMGrant book Give and Take. Good guy. Good book

Simon Sinek

Best-selling Author

The unassuming Georgetown computer science professor has become one of this generation’s leading voices on how we can all work more wisely and more deeply. With media consumption continuing to go way up (which, for most of us, means happiness and productivity continue to go way down) and the world becoming noisier every day, this book is an urgent call to action for anyone serious about being in command of their own life. The minimalism movement successfully led millions to opt out of the many possessions we’re told we’re supposed to crave and focus instead on the small number of things that bring the most meaning and value to our lives. The same ideology applies to our online lives. Digital clutter is stressful. We don’t need the constant connectivity, the pages and pages of apps, the incessant scrolling and clicking. New technologies can improve our lives if we know how to best leverage them. This book already helped me break my Facebook addiction—and the first month of the year has been a big improvement for me because of that.

Ryan Holiday

Media Strategist, Author, Founder/Brass Check

Michael Pollan masterfully guides us through the highs, lows, and highs again of psychedelic drugs. How to Change Your mind chronicles how it’s been a longer and stranger trip than most any of us knew.

Daniel Goleman

Author

Recommended by Bill Liao (General Partner/RebelBio, SOSV.com)

Source: Interview with Bill Liao

Ultralearning is like a superpower in our competitive economy. Read this book! It will change your life.

Cal Newport

Author

Recommended by Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)

Source: The (Very) Best Books I Read in 2016

My good friend @tferriss is back with another great book. Tribe of Mentors features some of the most influential moguls across industries who offer advice on how to navigate life. It comes out Monday, so make sure you add this to your reading list.

Daymond John

Founder/FUBU

Recommended by Madalina Uceanu (Managing Partner/CareerAdvisor)

Source: HR expert Madalina Uceanu shares with us her favourite books

Several friends, who know I both love to sleep and am intrigued with how sleep works, recommended that I read Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It was excellent. While my self-assessment of my sleep habits are very positive, I learned a few things. More importantly, I now have a much better understanding of the “Why” surrounding sleep, especially around sleep’s importance to a healthy and long life.

Brad Feld

Co-Founder/Foundry Group

Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz will open your eyes on the topic of self image.

Nick Janetakis

Founder/NickJanetakis.com

You know what would be fun today? Reading a book about death,’ said no one ever. So you can imagine my surprise when I opened these pages and found myself smiling on the first one. BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger have done something impressive: they’re written a book about dying that’s not only moving and practical, but also delightful to read.

Adam Grant

Author

I also really enjoyed reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.

John Shea

Founder/No Shame Income

I’ve gone through quite a few experiences brought on or shaped by what I’ve learned from books. [...] a more frivolous example is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying. I read this one when moving apartments a few years ago and it made me throw or give away ⅓ of my stuff. The result: freeing up space, both physical and mental, and acquiring some home organizing skills that have stuck with me ever since. My home is tidier and my mind is clearer because of this book.

Andra Zaharia

Freelance Content Marketer/The Content Habit

Love this book. Like Seane herself, the message is direct, honest, funny, heartfelt, and filled with wisdom that can help all of us, except me, do better, be better, and work toward creating a healthier and more peaceful planet for all.

Larry David

Actor, writer, director, producer/Seinfeld

Recommended by Bryan Callen (Co-Host/The Fighter and the Kid)

Source: Tools of Titans

Change your environment, change your life. Ben Hardy's book is a prescription for excellence and contains the hidden keys to success.

Ryan Holiday

Media Strategist, Author, Founder/Brass Check

Alden Mills's life experience and unique perspective infuse this important work with energy, practical thinking, and a challenge for any person looking for real change in his or her life. I look forward to applying these principles to my own business and life.

David Duncan

President and CEO/Twomey Cellars

Breathe to Succeed is an excellent prescription for any aspiring or current leader. Sandy Abrams’ new book offers valuable insights into addressing the hectic schedule and constant stress of everyone from an employee to the CEO. By understanding the causes and effects of stress on the human body, Sandy offers tools of the mind and breath to find your way through the storm and achieve optimal health.

Mark Bertolini

Former Chairman & CEO/Aetna

In this valuable guide Chris Guillebeau shows that transforming an idea into a successful business can be easier than you think…You are in charge of which ideas deserve your time, and this book can help you wake up every morning eager to progress to the next step.

Tony Hsieh

CEO/Zappos

Better is the goal. And in order to make things better for others, it helps to start on yourself, first. Robert Glazer's short, direct advice is worth checking out.

Seth Godin

Marketer, Entrepreneur

Jerry and I learned how to be VCs together. But more importantly, we learned how to be humans to the leaders who are entrepreneurs. Leadership is extremely difficult, and great leaders are intensely introspective, as they must learn about themselves to be effective long-term. With this book, Jerry helps any leader go deep on all aspects of their journey.

Brad Feld

Investor, Co-Founder/Foundry Group

This book is an exceptional step-by-step guide any entrepreneur can learn from because Stacy does an awesome job covering the right lessons with the right detail. The end of each chapter includes "Sign Posts" to help you take action on critical points along your path. And Chapter Two, in my opinion, is where the rubber meets the road for any business owner--learning how to deal with self-doubt, negativity, self-sabotage, and then the lessons of how to define your priorities and giving yourself permission to fail. Outstanding!

Stephen Woessner

CEO/Predictive ROI

The psychologist Roy F. Baumeister has shown that the force metaphor has a kernel of neurobiological reality. In Willpower, he has teamed up with the irreverent New York Timesscience columnist John Tierney to explain this ingenious research and show how it can enhance our lives. . . . Willpower is an immensely rewarding book, filled with ingenious research, wise advice and insightful reflections on the human condition.

Steven Pinker

Author

I am currently reading two business books: Radical Candor by Kim Scott which I expect can help me build better relationships with my colleagues, and Lean Customer Development by Cindy Alvarez which helps me have more open conversations with clients and better define our product roadmap.

Thomas Graziani

Co-founder/WalktheChat

First, a word on career paths. In time, I realised that career paths are like one-way streets. Magic happens in unexplored territories. Plus life is how you choose to live every moment, every day. So today, rather than building a career, I prefer to make lateral moves in life, working with great people and being part of ambitious projects impacting the world. There are a few books that got me here: [...] Frederic Laloux "Reinventing Organizations".

Cristina Riesen

Founder/We Are Play Lab

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

Smash hit in Japan, and easy to see why. Adlerian psychology meets Stoic philosophy in Socratic dialogue. Compelling from front to back. Highly recommend.

Marc Andreessen

Co-Founder/Andreessen Horowitz

I bought this book because I was curious about the title. I loved it and bought it for my entire team.

The universe matches the energy you put out. It’s so true. If you put out positivity, you get it back. It’s a great reminder that you are in charge of your destiny. Another point in this book that I love - if someone has a problem with you, it’s their issue. Not yours. We put some much weight on what people think about us, when it really shouldn’t matter.

Jessica Lauria

Co-Founder/By Karen and Jess

I have 2 books that resonate with me and my work. The first one is a book written by Rick Warren called “The Purpose-Driven Life” and the second one is “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin. These are the books that I can read over and over again, because they always remind me what’s my purpose in this life, in my daily job and what I can do with my projects and work to create a purple cow effect.

Robert Katai

Founder/Instagramology

I just started Rising Strong by Brene Brown. I'm turning 35 this year, and emotional intelligence isn't something that comes naturally to me. Brown's previous books have always pushed me into a space that's uncomfortable and rewarding. As a wife, parent, and entrepreneur, I'm expecting the book to help uncover some blind spots in each of those roles.

AnneMarie Schindler

Founder/Small Wins Consulting

Significant change is possible. With those four hopeful words, Barbara Oakley opens the door to an entirely new way of seeing and reaching our potential. Don't hesitate, it matters.

Seth Godin

Entrepreneur, author, marketer

This book has been instrumental in how we think about developing talent at Facebook.

Sheryl Sandberg

COO/Facebook

I would say is the book that had the biggest impact on me and showed my life path. The amazing thing about this coaching book, that I did not find in any other book so far, is that it does not try to give you a certain path that you need to follow, quite the opposite. This book gives you the “tools” in order to find by yourself what you are looking for. Each and every person can interpret the information in the own way and adapt it to their own needs at the time being. Whether you want to find your path (which was my case), want to grow your business, develop yourself in your personal life, professional life or both, this book gives you the necessary tools to do so.

Tudor Teodorescu

Founder/Transylvania Uncharted

A powerful tribute to the ways innovation and disruptive thinking stem from a common trait: curiosity.

Sheryl Sandberg

COO/Facebook

Most recent (like several years ago) was about blockchain technology. After reading many articles about blockchain, bitcoin and cryptocurrency I had a "Eureka" moment when reading Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money, Business, and the World by Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott. That moment when I realized the potential of this technology and the massive changes that can literally transform the world we are living. A true paradigm shift.

Antonio Eram

Founder & CEO/NETOPIA mobilPay

If you have to work with programmers, it’s essential to understand that programming has a culture. This book will help you understand what programmers do, how they do it, and why. It decodes the culture of code.

Kevin Kelly

Author, Founding executive editor/Wired

I’m a big fan of everything Jared has written, and his latest is no exception. The book explores how societies react during moments of crisis. He uses a series of fascinating case studies to show how nations managed existential challenges like civil war, foreign threats, and general malaise. It sounds a bit depressing, but I finished the book even more optimistic about our ability to solve problems than I started.

Bill Gates

Founder/Microsoft

A richly rewarding spring of practical wisdom to help you focus on what's in your control, eliminate false and limiting beliefs, and take more effective action. Make The Daily Stoic your guide and you will grow in clarity, efectiveness, and serenity each day!

Jack Canfield

Co-author/The Success Principles

Norman Vincent Peale - the great Norman Vincent Peale - was my pastor. "The Power Of Positive Thinking" - everybody's heard of Norman Vincent Peale. He was so great.

Donald Trump

USA President

James is on a very personal journey. He's telling you the story on Saturday, on Sunday he's talking about how it failed, and on Monday he's talking about doing it a different way.

Brian Koppelman

Co-Creator/Billions

I’ve actually been reading my brother’s book, How to Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It. I thought it was very succinctly written. Obviously a plug for my bro.

Naval Ravikant

CEO & Co-Founder/AngelList

Kamal is one of those people whose words are as powerful as his presence. When Kamal speaks, I listen.

Tim Ferriss

Author & Entrepreneur

The Algebra of Happiness offers raw and vulnerable wisdom, delivered with heart. We all can learn from Galloway's mistakes and insights.

Derek Sivers

Founder/CD Baby

Recommended by AnneMarie Schindler (Founder/Small Wins Consulting)

Source: AnneMarie Schindler, Founder of Small Wins Consulting, and the Books that Shaped Her Core Values

I recently read “The Book of Joy”. It’s a series of dialogues between Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu (beautifully narrated in the audio version). They share their view on living a happy life in the face of adversity. The book brought profound clarity on topics like compassion, gratitude, generosity, and it deeply resonated with my worldview. If there’s one book you end up reading from my list, I hope it’s this one.

Bogdan Lucaciu

CTO/Adore Me

In Find your Way, you will discover the helpful, proven wisdom and deep care that I have experienced in working alongside Carly.

Henry Cloud

Author

This book can drastically change the way you think about success...read it twice.

Patrick Lencioni

President/The Table Group

For every minute you spend inside this book, you'll get back ten. Off the Clock will show you how to spend your hours more meaningfully, reclaim vast amounts of wasted time, and live a better life. Picking up this book will be one of the most valuable investments you make in yourself.

Chris Bailey

Creator/A Life of Productivity

My title, The Stoic Creative Handbook, draws heavily on both Steve and Seth’s work. It was Seth’s altMBA program and The Marketing Seminar that helped me develop the posture and mindset of a thriving artist in all the work I do as a musician, teacher, and writer. Reframing what it means to be “successful” has led me to true prosperity and re-engaged my passion for the work I do.

Scott Perry

Author, Stoic Guitarist

I read a bunch of books on writing before I wrote my first book and the two that stuck with me were Stephen King’s book and “On Writing Well” by Zinsser (which is a bit on the technical side). I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic.”

Mark Manson

Founder/MarkManson.net

Upon becoming CEO, Nadella confronted Microsoft’s legendarily combative culture by urging his new reports to read this book, which preaches the power of empathy, self-awareness, and authenticity in collaboration in the workplace, at home, and beyond. Like many of his favorites, it was first recommended to him by his wife, Anu: “I’m heavily influenced by the books she reads more than the books I read

Satya Nadella

CEO/Microsoft

Recommended by Andrew Liveris (CEO/Dow Chemical Company)

Source: Books CEOs Will Be Reading This Summer

Bo Eason offers a revealing testimony on what it takes to succeed in any field. Whether you’re an artist, an athlete, or an entrepreneur, this book will put you to work.

Steven Pressfield

Author, Writer

In my career I spend a great chunk of time dealing with clients and people in general. Our environment today is different from what it was before, we spend a lot of time communicating via electronics that we actually lost some great deal of knowledge in human communication, things that we don’t really learn at school (we actually should), but which I believe are essential to communicating with our peers. Leil did a great job in that book to explain simply those tricks of communication, some of which I am sure lots of people will think trivial and already do, but many that we probably don’t realize we can use.

Nicolas Jouvenceau

CEO/Pink Diamonds Boutique

Other books that I highly recommend is Grant Cardone's "The 10X Rule" and Tony Robbins' "Awaken the Giant Within".

Mark Struczewski

Host/The Mark Struczewski Podcast

Boaler is one of those rare and remarkable educators who not only know the secret of great teaching but also know how to give that gift to others.

Carol S. Dweck

Author

I've been reading a few non-fiction books recently, one in particular was useful, "Why Won't You Apologize?" I've noticed how defensive people can be, yours truly included, versus apologizing. (Full disclosure, I haven't told my husband I read the book, and he might not believe it.) It helped me to understand the need to apologize for whatever part of a situation I contributed to, even if I don't feel that it was necessary.

Patricia Reed

Technology Growth Leader & Mentor

Recommended by David Henzel (Co-Founder/MaxCDN)

Source: Why David Henzel Sold His Business for $10M+ and Started a Podcast Called ‘Managing Happiness’ (Growth Everywhere podcast)

Last year I read the book 'Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business' by Charles Duhigg. Look passed the click-baity title and you'll find one of the best books on productivity I've ever read... And I've read a lot of them.

Mike Benkovich

Founder/Anatomonics

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman impacted how I interpret and receive love. Not just romantically, but in my friendships and business relationships. I had several personal and professional relationships that improved when I could appreciate that their "love language" was different than mine. I could at least see their efforts as an attempt at showing me love and kindness, even if it wasn't how I best receive or give love. This is pivotal. And if you can separate out the idea of it being for romantic partners only, I'd say this is critical reading for leaders. Not everyone is motivated and feels appreciation by a raise. Sometimes, public recognition of kind words or an act of kindness will feel better than anything else you can do.

Kaci Lambe Kai

Writer, Photographer, Designer

It was wonderful to read these two provocative books of essays by two incredibly wise and compassionate women. Cheryl Strayed, also the author of Wild, was the anonymous columnist behind the online column, Dear Sugar and boy, are we better off for it. This is not a random smattering of advice. This book contains some of the most cogent insights on life, pain, loss, love, success, youth that I have ever seen. I won’t belabor the point: read this book. Thank me later. [...] Both will make you think and both made me a better person this year.

Ryan Holiday

Founder/Brass Check

If you're even slightly uncomfortable with the idea of networking, marketing, or selling, this is the book for you. Book Yourself Solid gives you everything you need to fill your business with ideal clients. Before you're even finished reading the book, you'll be inspired to take action!

Ivan R. Misner

CEO/BNI

Recommended by Boban Dedovic (Serial Entrepreneur)

Source: Serial Entrepreneur Boban Dedovic Talks about the Books that Changed His Viewpoints

Sean Platt has a good book that just came out about writing many books. I recommend it. “Write. Publish. Repeat.” I think Sean has published over 50 books. I don’t know because he uses pseudonyms as well.

James Altucher

Founder/StockPickr

Recommended by Madalina Uceanu (Managing Partner/CareerAdvisor)

Source: HR expert Madalina Uceanu shares with us her favourite books

Anxiety and stress have always burdened me. Several books have provided me with temporary relief and more importantly tools to refer back to for the long run. I look at these books as foundational, they help me develop a broad perspective and solidify my core beliefs. I I'd suggest: Total Freedom by Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Henry Medine

Co-Founder/Space Jam Data

You might think you don’t want to read a whole book about shipping containers. And Levinson is pretty self-aware about what an unusual topic he chose. But he makes a good case that the move to containerized shipping had an enormous impact on the global economy and changed the way the world does business. And he turns it into a very readable narrative. I won’t look at a cargo ship in quite the same way again.

Bill Gates

CEO/Microsoft

Sheri Salata’s journey to a life of extraordinary success ultimately triggered a transformation to wholeness and healing. We can all learn from her riveting story that joy, love and self compassion are the true goals of human existence. Read this book, The Beautiful No, and be inspired to embark on your own journey of emotional and spiritual fulfillment.

Deepak Chopra

Founder/The Chopra Foundation

When he got to high school, the president said, his tastes changed and he learned to enjoy classics like “Of Mice and Men” and “The Great Gatsby.”

Barack Obama

Former USA President

When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned The Upside of Your Dark Side.

Stephen Lew

Director/The School of Positive Psychology

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

Recommended by Boban Dedovic (Serial Entrepreneur)

Source: Serial Entrepreneur Boban Dedovic Talks about the Books that Changed His Viewpoints

Books have helped me with just about every decision I’ve ever made. One that sticks out to me was reading How to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. There’s a moment in the book where Matt talks about wanting to kill himself but not having the gusto to go through with it. And I’ve been there before, in pretty much the exact circumstances he describes. I thankfully got help and I’m all good now, but it felt reassuring to read that experience and almost share it with him and know that he and maybe other people get it. It’s hard to explain but sometimes when you feel suicidal having people worry makes you feel annoyed, but being able to almost joke about it, in the way Matt does, feels quite cathartic. Although I’m certainly not saying anything about suicide is funny!

Ella Botting

Founder/CyberWomen.co.uk

Recommended by The CEO Library Community (through anonymous form) (Reader)

Source: The CEO Library Newsletter

In "Managing Oneself" Peter Drucker talks about how different people have different ways of receiving information. I realised that hearing is much more effective for me than reading and so since then I only really listen to audio books. Incidentally, that book is 100% free on audible and is shorter than most podcasts. Well worth your time.

Lewis Smith

Entrepreneur & Developer/BodyTracker

I’ve gone through quite a few experiences brought on or shaped by what I’ve learned from books. [...] Another example is If Only I’d Listen To Myself: Resolving The Conflicts That Sabotage Our Lives. I read it in a moment in my life when my closest personal relationships were going through a crisis and I was trying to figure out what I really wanted from myself and others. This book forced me to step outside my own mind and see myself as a stranger, so I could better separate between what was real and my interpretations of it. It helped me cultivate my empathy towards others, but myself as well. Mind you, it’s not an easy read and it takes a lot of emotional labor to get the most out of it.

Andra Zaharia

Freelance Content Marketer/The Content Habit

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

“Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents” is also worth mentioning, it allowed me to tame some old demons.

Bogdan Lucaciu

CTO/Adore Me

The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective Teens provided me with an excellent set of principles I could build off of for goal setting and personal development.

Miracle Olatunji

Founder & CEO/OpportuniMe

For new parents, I love the Positive Discipline series by Jane Nelsen (empowering for kids and parents) and the Touchpoints series by T. Berry Brazelton (you really can’t guide your children if you don’t understand what’s happening developmentally)

Brene Brown

Author & Researcher

This book is about resilience, and I only wish there was such a book when I was younger. I was 18 when my dad passed away and it was something that I didn't talk about because I was so afraid of opening the floodgates. It hit me hard, the day my daughter commented that I didn't seem to miss my dad - because I never talked about him.

Ee Ling Lim

CEO/SmarterMe

Jeff Boss is a former Navy SEAL and knows everything about mental fortitude, and controlling your emotions and impulses in the face of critical situations. He uses his expertise in this book to teach others how to develop resilience and fortitude and cope with difficult situations.

Resilience and fortitude are two key qualities of a successful leader, especially when faced with crisis situations or making tough decisions. This book is a great aid in such moments, when you feel unsure of yourself.

Holger Arians

CEO/Dominet Digital Corporation

A great book that shares why we are here on earth and how to find and discover your true calling and purpose.

Jules Schroeder

Founder of Unconventional Life

"Everyone worries. 20 million people in the US suffer from some sort of untreated clinical anxiety disorder.

Worry is ok. It helps me make deadlines, care about people, care about improving myself.

But “toxic worry” is when things spin out of control. When you wake up at 3am and can’t get that thought out of your head: why did they do that? How will I live? Does she/he love me? And on and on and on and on.

The book, “Worry” helped me."

James Altucher

Entrepreneur, investor

Recommended by Ola Olusoga (Co-founder/Populum)

Source: Interview with Ola Olusoga: How Books Have Guided His Path To Self-Discovery

That was a fun, light read.

Naval Ravikant

CEO & Co-Founder/AngelList

The best book I've read on To-do lists!

Gennady Batrakov

CEO & Founder/Strivechat & BubblesPlanner

Recommended by Marvin Liao (Partner/500Startups)

Source: Marvin Liao, Partner at 500Startups, Shares a List of More Than 40 Books That Inspired Him

I was reading a book, “How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character” by Paul Tough on a recommendation by my sister, a Middle School teacher. At that time I considered myself a great mother with natural intuition and did not go to the book as a means of “self-help” but of leisurely pleasure. However, I was perplexed when I discovered that even the most intelligent, diligent, and natural parents fail their children on multiple levels. Intuition was not enough. The day I finished the book I went to my son’s baseball game ready to apply my knowledge but found that the words out of my mouth were not necessarily those recommended in the book. Then it hit me: what if everything in life weren’t necessarily “intuitive”? I had learned so much about parenting even if I thought I was doing an excellent job already. What more could I learn about being content, happy, or successful in life?

Chelsea Frank

Founder/Life and Limb Gel

Our definition of success is in dire need of an overhaul. As The Four Sacred Secrets shows, there’s a disconnect between what our culture tells us we need to do to be successful and what would make us happy. Like The Four Agreements, The Four Sacred Secrets taps into ancient wisdom to offer modern truths for a well-lived life, including how to let go of what’s weighing us down and truly connect with others and ourselves.

Arianna Huffington

Founder and CEO/Thrive Global

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

I donʼt think a single book changed the way I see things or my career path. Iʼm trying hard to think now of something that impacted me in such a way… Maybe to some extent James Altucher did (James Altucher - How to be the Luckiest Person Alive!). Heʼs kind of a recognized author nowadays, but I remember following him on Twitter 7-8 years ago, when he was still up and coming, and his almost comical, seemingly self-destructive advice on just doing your thing and not paying attention to others made a lot of sense to me.

I was at that time in the midst of my first company, which looking back did alright, and all of us co-founders have done well, but as it was developing it was really the proverbial roller-coaster from the startup war stories. And much like with Richard Feynman whom I already mentioned above, Altucherʼs witty observations on living life and doing business were a great source of support.

Later, in 2011, the book came out based on his earlier blog posts and I remember pre-ordering it just out of gratitude for those earlier writings. And I have to admit, I havenʼt really been reading him since then.

Max Gurvits

Director/Cross Border Angels

Much more upbeat is Awakening Joy: 10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness, by James Baraz and Shoshana Alexander. I don’t read a lot of self-help or inspirational books, but even if you never read anything in this genre, this book is one you should try. It’s about enjoying your life, consciously picking the things that make life more enjoyable and purposefully thinking about them. It shows how to think about spirituality and purpose in your life. Baraz teaches a very popular course and has an online lecture series on this. Melinda and I actually went to one of his seminars. He’s a very nice guy, and Awakening Joy is very good.

Bill Gates

CEO/Microsoft

One of the loveliest, most insightful books about social psychology that I ever read.

Malcolm Gladwell

Writer & Journalist

Personal development book with many interesting insights, written in terms programmers will love and understand. Approachable and not geeky in any way though.

Michael Herrmann

Founder/Terminerinnerung

While I’ve never been an avid reader of leadership books in general, books such as Alastair Campbell’s Winning and Richard Reed’s If I Could Tell You Just One Thing are filled with useful tips. They highlight tangible lessons from a diverse range of interesting people, and I like to read a chapter every now and then to get inspired.

Richard Branson

Founder/Virgin Group

Recommended by Ola Olusoga (Co-founder/Populum)

Source: Interview with Ola Olusoga: How Books Have Guided His Path To Self-Discovery

Recommended by Mark Struczewski (Host/The Mark Struczewski Podcast)

Source: Mark Struczewski, Host of The Mark Struczewski Podcast, Talks about the Author that Made Him Dream Big

To tell you that I downloaded a Tyra Banks book surprises me but I really enjoyed the interview and Tyra was a lot of fun and I thought it would come through really well in the audiobook which it did, because Tyra and her mother actually read the audiobook.

Yaro Starak

Founder/Entrepreneurs-Journey.com

Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere - inspired me to awaken the courage of women to live out their potential and their dreams!

Lilian Ong

Founder/Class Living

I recommend any book written by Marshall B. Rosenberg - my personal and professional relationships changed for the better after finding his work.

Bogdan Lucaciu

CTO/Adore Me

Yes, this is a dating book, and it's really good for that. But there is a really important concept that transcends all personal relationships - family, friends, etc: And that is the concept of non-neediness and true confidence. Reading this book transformed my relationships with people.

Pat Walls

Founder/StarterStory

Other books that came along that were important to me, one of the really important ones was “Living the 80/20 Way”, by Richard Koch that became a really important foundation principle long before guys like Tim Ferriss started to make it mainstream as well, so that book had a huge impact, I wrote an article on my blog about it in the first year of my blog and it’s something that’s been part of my life in all my businesses since then so that’s a huge one.

Yaro Starak

Founder/Entrepreneurs-Journey.com

For new parents, I love the Positive Discipline series by Jane Nelsen (empowering for kids and parents) and the Touchpoints series by T. Berry Brazelton (you really can’t guide your children if you don’t understand what’s happening developmentally)

Brene Brown

Author & Researcher

Question: What five books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path & why?

Answer:

• Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
• Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter
• Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey
• The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
• Love the Skin YOU’RE In: How to Conquer Life Through Divergent Thinking by Dr. Virginia LeBlanc

These books are not only easy reads but enlighten, motivate, and inspire, as well as give a sense of higher purpose and calling. They lend divergent, heroic thinking in an otherwise conditioned, entrenched mindset in how to operate in life and business. They provide keys to the upper-hand and how to live, be, and lead extraordinarily.

Virginia LeBlanc

Founder/Defining Paths

A humane, compassionate, and extremely helpful guide to the complex world of mental health care.

John Green

Author

Brilliant... a wonderful guide for curious minds.

Bill Gates

Founder/Microsoft

This is a daring, delightful, and transformative book. Lori Gottlieb takes us inside the most intimate of encounters as both clinician and patient and leaves us with a surprisingly fresh understanding of ourselves, one another, and the human condition. Her willingness to expose her own blind spots along with her patients’ shows us firsthand that we aren’t alone in our struggles and that maybe we should talk more about them! Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is funny, hopeful, wise, and engrossing—all at the same time.

Arianna Huffington

Founder/The Huffington Post

Recommended by Madalina Uceanu (Managing Partner/CareerAdvisor)

Source: HR expert Madalina Uceanu shares with us her favourite books

We're both big fans of Peter Drucker and his book The Effective Executive, as well as Alain de Botton's How Proust Can Change your Life.

Matt Mullenweg

Founder/Automattic

Your life is defined by how good you get at saying no to the things you need to say no to.

Ryan Holiday

Media Strategist, Author, Founder/Brass Check

Recommended by Noah Kagan (Founder/Sumo)

Source: The 18 Books That Changed My Life

When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned Wellbeing: the 5 essential elements.

Stephen Lew

Director/The School of Positive Psychology

Keith Harrell is a tremendous living example of the powerful principles he teaches. An inspiring read.

Stephen R. Covey

Author

I would say it was Stephen Guise's book "Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results." The title sounds like one of those formulaic self-help books, of which there are hundreds. But this one's different. Guise has derived a somewhat counter-intuitive approach to building habits and tackling hard projects. He suggests that we fail in bringing about personal change because we set the bar too high. He proposes an alternate approach that at first sounds a little weird — build 'mini-habits', (ludicrously) microscopic versions of the habits or projects you want to adopt. He dwells deep into the psychological advantage of this technique, revealing why we fail and why the idea of 'mini-habits' practically guarantees success.

I'm usually averse to self-help books that espouse trite productivity formulas; I avoid them like the plague. But this one came highly recommended, and to my surprise, the technique worked!

Anoop Anthony

CTO & Co-Founder/Sapaad

Recommended by Virginia LeBlanc (Founder/Defining Paths)

Source: Virginia LeBlanc, Founder of Defining Paths, Talks about Profound & Eye-Opening Books

When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned The Courage Quotient.

Stephen Lew

Director/The School of Positive Psychology

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

The easiest way to get rich is to inherit. This is the second best way—knowledge and some discipline. If you’re bold enough to do the right thing, Ramit will show you how. Highly recommended.

Seth Godin

Entrepreneur, author, marketer

This book is a friendly and accessible introduction to mindfulness meditation, and includes an 8-week guided meditation course. Will completed this course, and it had a significant impact on his life.

Will MacAskill

Founder/80,000 Hours

The EQ Edge by Edward Book is an excellent book about emotional intelligence with different exercises of how to deal with irrational thoughts in a rational manner. The exercise is called the ABCDE system I use it as part of my coaching technique & with practice it becomes a natural skill that helps us to avoid unnecessary fears and illusions.

Nadia Al Sheikh

Founder/Deal’n

Recommended by Madalina Uceanu (Managing Partner/CareerAdvisor)

Source: HR expert Madalina Uceanu shares with us her favourite books

Gretchen Rubin’s superpower is curiosity… Weaving together research, unforgettable examples, and her brilliant insight, Better Than Before is a force for real change.”

Brene Brown

Author & Researcher

A book called the Motivation Hacker by Nick Winter is written well and too the point. We all struggle with motivation and building positive habits, and the book made me see habits in a new light with the idea of building success spirals.

Cody McLain

CEO/SupportNinja

Recommended by Chelsea Frank (Founder/Life and Limb Gel)

Source: Chelsea Frank, Founder of Life and Limb Gel, on How Books Revealed the Path to Self-Improvement

Surprising, but will feel very obvious to the rationalists. A good case against too much empathy.

Vinod Khosla

Co-Founder/Sun Microsystem

Harry Potter nerds and business buffs alike will devour J.K. Rowling's Very Good Lives. The story draws from a commencement speech Rowling gave at Harvard University, and inspiration from her own life and failures. Entrepreneurs will love how she explains the benefits of failure and the crucial importance of imagination.

This is the book for those who are facing the grim realities of being broke and failing, and those graduating from college. Her main point is the importance of perseverance. Even someone who is on welfare and feeling hopeless could still turn that great idea into a business that launches the next Harry Potter franchise.

Sujan Patel

Co-Founder/Web Profits

My favorite non-business book is Don't Sweat The Small Stuff And It's All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, this book is full of sage advice on how to get over yourself and to not let the small things in life beat you up. It also helps you understand that anything you think is something big, is still really small stuff because it won't matter in 100 years.

Sa El

Co-Founder/Simply Insurance

"Destined to Reign" by Joseph Prince is a religious book that made an impact on how I see the Christian faith. It is so radically different, it started to make sense.

Darvin Kurniawan

CEO & Founder/CrowdVilla

Mike is the former editor-in-chief of Lifehack.org — an experience that transformed him into a incisive commentator on what works and what doesn’t in the world of productivity. His new book takes a surprisingly nuanced look at what it (really) takes to get important projects from conception to completion.

Cal Newport

Author

One person I met, Justin Lafazan, had also written What Wakes You Up?, an incredible book that has shown me just how important it is to be mission and purpose driven in every aspect of life. The book details his mission to inspire people to design not only their lives but also the world they want to live in- guided by their own answer this question: what wakes you up? What’s your purpose?

Miracle Olatunji

Founder & CEO/OpportuniMe

Almost the flip side. I'm so much better at [protracted difficult periods] because of Pema and because of meditation and because of knowing how to sit with it and not insist that the tension go away.

Seth Godin

Author & Entrepreneur

I give out a lot of books. My go-to list includes The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner (so helpful for couples in that “I’m screaming and he’s/she’s shutting down” cycle) and her new book, Why Won’t You Apologize? (Turns out that most of us are pretty terrible apologizers - this really changed me.).

Brene Brown

Author & Researcher

Recommended by Christopher Lochhead (Host/Legends and Losers Podcast)

Source: Christopher Lochhead, Host of Legends and Losers Podcast, Shares the Reading List That Shaped His Youth & Career

I'm undecided on this book so far, but the book's goal is to basically help you rethink what success means and to push through our limits to the next level in life whether that is business, finances, or relationships. It feels a bit too hedonistic for my tastes, but I'm willing to finish it out and glean some good things from it.

John Doherty

Founder/Credo

Well I just had a baby a few months ago, so my world is being dominated with all things baby. I’m currently reading ‘Bringing Up Bebe’ by Pamela Druckerman. An American journalist who raised her family in Paris and dives into the psychology of French parenting. It’s fascinating and only reinforces how neurotic American parents can be. Great to hear all sides and theories on raising children so you take bits from here and there to create your own style, just right for you and your family.

Jessica Lauria

Co-Founder/By Karen and Jess

It has helped me to gain awareness of my limiting beliefs and how I can tear them down. [...] Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer has helped me in my journey walking out of depression, self-doubt, Self condemnation.

Lilian Ong

Founder/Class Living

When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned Authentic Happiness.

Stephen Lew

Director/The School of Positive Psychology

Recommended by Antonio Eram (Founder & CEO/NETOPIA mobilPay)

Source: Antonio Eram, Founder of NETOPIA mobilPay, Shares the Books that Help Him Change, Rediscover, Reshape

A feel-good book that is great to read when sometimes we get to busy and lose sight of the truly important things in life, like family, children, close friends, health and the basic living necessities; things that we should always be thankful for.

Alan Pierce

CEO/Ansuz Balder Magni Investments

It's hard to choose on the non-business side but probably "Play it away" by Charlie Hoehn as it helped me keep a more peaceful and restful mind while forcing myself to schedule time for "play". I've had a bad case of anxiety in High School and the book gave me a process to bring me back to a more playful mind every time I tend to be more anxious (which is very under control now).

Pedro Cortés

Independent Designer

Recommended by Ken Coleman (Host/The Ken Coleman Show)

Source: Radio Host Ken Coleman Talks About How Books Can Change Your Perspective

Recommended by Madalina Uceanu (Managing Partner/CareerAdvisor)

Source: HR expert Madalina Uceanu shares with us her favourite books

Recommended by Richard Branson (Founder/Virgin Group)

Source: My top 65 books to read in a lifetime

With home-spun, heart-felt wisdom, Peter Buffett ponders how to make a meaningful life, while making a living. LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT is thought-provoking, worthwhile reading.

Ted Turner

Founder/CNN

Just a few days ago when I finished reading Mind Hacking, an open source book, which made me think of me thinking. As funny as it sounds, the questions are profound and the mind games are quite challenging. The book helped me understand more about focus (why our mind wanders around).

Roxana Bitoleanu

Founder/Taraba Virtuala

I read this book the year I graduated from college and was in my first job. It was a game-changer because it was after I read the book that I decided to take a plunge to start Explorer Junior, my start-up.

Ng Rong Xin

Co-Founder/Explorer Junior

Recommended by Jack H. M. Wong (Trainer & Author)

Source: Jack H. M. Wong, Trainer & Author, Shares Knowledge & Inspiration Taken From Robert Kiyosaki’s Books

When Questlove says he’s going to do something, he will find out how to do whatever that is, and become a master at it. I can’t think of a person more suited to write a book about being creative.

Jimmy Fallon

TV Host

Recommended by Tyler Cowen (Founder/Marginal Revolution University)

Source: Books that had hidden influence over me

Recommended by Jeff Tan (Peak Performance Pilot/REV Inspires)

Source: Jeff Tan, Peak Performance Pilot at REV Inspires, Shares the Readings that Inspired Him to Dare

If you want my favourite practical business book, go and buy yourself a copy of the Gallup StrengthsFinder. You'll get an access code to the survey in the back of the book. Years ago, my Chairman gifted the book to the entire team as a Christmas present. I loved it because it's grounded in the theory of playing from your strengths.

Cat Williams-Treloar

Founder/Humanisation

Recommended by Madalina Uceanu (Managing Partner/CareerAdvisor)

Source: HR expert Madalina Uceanu shares with us her favourite books

I can't forget The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.

Catalina Penciu

Food Styling and Photography Blogger

He does a brilliant job proving that our thinking about learning is rooted more in superstition than in science. And boy this book is filled with science. It is extremely evident that the author is a science nerd because this book is 95% filled with studies and experiments on lots and lots of topics related to the learning: memorization, forgetting, associations, perceptions etc. This could make the book boring for a reader hungry for the bite-size advice (who has the time for any of this?) but I found the research fascinating and I went the extra mile in a lot of cases by going through the source material.

Vladimir Oane

Founder/UberVU

A few years ago, Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson started noticing the same problem from different angles: Even high-performing kids were coming to them acutely stressed and lacking motivation. Many complained they had no control over their lives. Some stumbled in high school or hit college and unraveled. Bill is a clinical neuropsychologist who helps kids gripped by anxiety or struggling to learn. Ned is a motivational coach who runs an elite tutoring service. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids more of a sense of control over their lives. But this doesn't mean giving up your authority as a parent. In this groundbreaking book they reveal how you can actively help your child to sculpt a brain that is resilient, and ready to take on new challenges.

The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies drawn from the thousands of kids and teens Bill and Ned have helped over the years to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success. As parents, we can only drive our kids so far. At some point, they will have to take the wheel and map out their own path. But there is a lot you can do before then to help them tackle the road ahead with resilience and imagination.

David Heinemeier Hansson

Co-Founder/Basecamp

Recommended by Noah Kagan (Founder/Sumo)

Source: The 18 Books That Changed My Life

I’m reading “Far From The Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity” By: Andrew Solomon and have nearly finished it. It is quite long at nearly 40 hours, and a little depressing at times, but very insightful. When children are born that do not share the same identities with their parents and are considered “different” by being deaf, autistic, transgender, or genius, parents often struggle to relate, connect, and support their child appropriately. On the other hand, perhaps diversity is what unites us. Hundreds of stories of parent-child relationships are presented over his 10 years extensively researching for this book and over 200 pages of citations support his work.

Chelsea Frank

Founder/Life and Limb Gel

It’s a very simple & interesting read. It takes a different approach about reaching your goals and dreams it pushes you to not just prepare & work on yourself but to put yourself out there & interact with leaders to learn from them & to figure out what kind of leader you are.

Nadia Al Sheikh

Founder/Deal’n

It’s amazing! She goes into the different archetypes that live in that deeper part of our mind, we can have one or a couple and there was one that I really resonated with the Artist/Creative archetype and it really brings light to who you are. Caroline goes through your life journey, your unique challenges and lessons, which were to overcome the fear of not being original and to not diminish or ignore my talent but instead develop my unique gift. Can I develop my talent and express myself, or will fear of failure or humiliation hold me back? That was a profound shift for me, I could really relate to that in sssoooo many ways. She goes into our shadow aspect of self, our behaviours and patterns... and this was fear of being unacknowledged for my artistic gifts or resentful if I chose not to develop my inner Artist/Creative.

Catherine Plano

Executive Coach

Recommended by Richard Branson (Founder/Virgin Group)

Source: My top 65 books to read in a lifetime

It helps you take a deeper look and understand why certain things happen in your life. It's an introduction to psychology. It helps you divide a person, just like you would do with a mathematical equation.

Iulian Stanciu

Founder/eMag

As we head toward the end of the year, I think you'll find inspiration in the work of people who show up and do the work. Daily. For decades. Jacqueline Novogratz and her classic book, The Blue Sweater continue to change lives.

Seth Godin

Author & Entrepreneur

I am glad to find a complete book dealing with all aspects of consciousness in CLEARLY written format, with graphs and tables to facilitate comprehension. The book covers everything I had seen before from Artificial Intelligence to Philosophy to Neurology to Evolutionary Biology.

Say one wants to get an idea of Dan Dennett's theory of consciousness (without having to get through Dennett's circuitous, unfocused and evasive prose) or Searle's Chinese room argument or Turing's test or Chalmer's position or Churchland's neurophilosophy or a presentation of research on the neural correlates of consciousness...Everything I could think about is there.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Flaneur

Winston Ma

Managing Director/China Investment Corporation

Not a business book, but *The Book* is one that I can say shines out among the other stars. It's hard to pick a book that's had the most impact on me, because they always have some effect. But there was something so calming, so reassuring about *The Book* that really helped me in a time of lots of self-doubt. I know this is supposed to focus on less "spiritual" books, and I'm not a religious guy, but I really enjoyed the notions put forth by *The Book*. Watts, the author, has some really profound thinking, and his writing guides you through Eastern thought for Western thinkers. I highly recommend this book for anyone searching for answers to the unknown.

Kevin Lamping

Founder/WebdriverIO

I'm listening to Emotional Success by David DeSteno. I'm hoping to use some of the ideas to help customers of my weight loss app stick to their targets and lose more weight.

Lewis Smith

Entrepreneur & Developer/BodyTracker

Recommended by Vincent Pugliese (Author & Professional Photographer)

Source: The Books that Helped Vincent Pugliese, Author & Professional Photographer, Turn from Employee to Business Owner

Recommended by The CEO Library Community (through anonymous form) (Reader)

Source: The CEO Library Newsletter

I was not particularly conformist as a teenager (and beyond). The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian played a large role in helping me understand how to get comfortable being different.

Aaron Watson

CEO/PiperCreative

Recommended by Antonio Eram (Founder & CEO/NETOPIA mobilPay)

Source: Antonio Eram, Founder of NETOPIA mobilPay, Shares the Books that Help Him Change, Rediscover, Reshape

It's the only guidebook for life that's worked for me consistently over the last 20 years of my career.

Matthew Bellows

Founder/Yesware

Recommended by The CEO Library Community (through anonymous form) (Reader)

Source: The CEO Library Newsletter

"Having said that, here are some that might help: [...]

-Book Blueprint for how to write a nonfiction book - while this is a shameless self-plug, it is actually required reading for any new editors who join our team to introduce them to our approach to evaluating and structuring books"

Jacqui Pretty

Founder/Grammar Factory/

I read The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey because I have a son, but it’s worth reading for anyone, parent or not. Written by a middle school teacher and education expert, the book is an exploration of how one raises self-sufficient children who are responsible for themselves.

Ryan Holiday

Founder/Brass Check

Skimmed in the past, rereading. It has great examples of frameworks that help move you from fuzzy ideas to tangible output.

Ola Olusoga

Co-founder/Populum

All entrepreneurs I know go through anxiety/depression phases - this book should help!

Laurentiu-Victor Balasa

CEO / Underline

I'm currently reading LifeScale by Brian Solis. Oddly enough, it's a book about overcoming digital distraction and boosting your happiness, creativity, and sense of purpose in life. It's a powerful cautionary tale against spending too much time as a digital consumer. As someone who spends - at minimum - 40 hours a week staring at a computer screen where digital distraction is just one click away, I'm always looking for useful strategies for overcoming distraction and maintaining focus. It's already delivering on that front.

Jeremy Boudinet

Marketing Manager/Nextiva

Recommended by Adam Haritan (Founder/Learn Your Land)

Source: Adam Haritan, Founder of Learn Your Land, on How Reading Is a Priority in His Life

Recommended by Barack Obama (Former USA President)

Source: Every book Barack Obama has recommended during his presidency