Below you find some books I’d like to recommend you. Many of them have been eyes-opening for me and most of my articles are inspired by them. I list only those I have read and add a short line to help you see if this is for you.
Personal Development (general)
Flow: The Psychology of Happiness by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
This is a must-read for everyone who is interested in how creativity and certain states of consciousness can lead to happiness and fulfillment. This is not one of the most-known classics of personal development, but it should be. The author explains the concept of “flow”, a state where you forget the world around you and are deeply involved in something. “Flow” is considered the ultimate state of free creativity, peak performance and fulfilment in life.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
A very “deep” spiritual idea that is written in a very light and engaging form of questions and answers. I recommend it to you if you are a bit more familiar with philosophical or spiritual topics or if you’re very open-minded to enlightenment topics and the search for happiness.
Los 88 Peldaños del Éxito by Anxo Pérez
Anxo Pérez is a Spanish entrepreneur that has achieved at a young age what others don’t achieve in their whole life. This book is pure motivation wrapped in 88 “steps” of how to be successful. What I like about his approach is that it’s very humble, written in a way you can relate to anything you do in life. This is not a typical book on how to be rich, how to invest, how you can achieve anything… it’s rather brief, easy to understand tips written in a very engaging language. Love it.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
If you’re an introvert and think the world favours extroverts, this is a book for you! Susan Cain beautifully explains how introverts and extroverts see and feel the world differently. She gives many examples where the “extrovert ideal” is ruling the world and why introverts have a “quiet” power that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Cita en la Cima by Raimon Samsó
This Catalan author whose book hasn’t been translated into English so far is one of the leading personalities of personal development and financial liberty in Spain. I recommend you Cita en la Cima if you’re open to the concept of There is nothing you cannot be, do or have. This books opens the way you look at the world and diminishes your limiting beliefs. Raimon Samsó helps you form a mindset that brings you closer to your dreams.
Do The Work by Steven Pressfield
This is a short book that goes straight to the point. If you are someone who has difficulties starting something (project, business, learning a new skill, …) this book is for you. It shows you how to get over anything that’s holding you back from taking action and sticking to what you do. It’s a book for overcoming resistance of any kind. 94 pages full of energy.
Talent & Strengths
Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck
If you want to get a deeper understanding on how our mindset influences our beliefs about talent and our performance, this is the book to read. The Stanford University psychologist distinguishes between fixed and growth mindset and explains how powerful a growth mindset is, and how to acquire it. The book is full of examples gathered from research and is very engaging to read. Plus, if you have kids and want to help them grow their strengths, you must read this!
Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
Marcus Buckingham comes with an alternative use of discovering and working with your strenghts. Most literature will help you just identify your talents and strenghts, and perhaps lead you to the job that best fits them. This book is different, because 1) it really explains better than any book I’ve read so far how to identify strenghts, and 2) how to apply them in your current work. Although the tips are not always possible to put into practice, I really recommend this book if you’re interested in making your job a bit more fit to what you’re good at.
The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born, It’s Grown by Daniel Coyle
In short, Daniel Coyle explains why the “nature” of talent is highly overestimated and how “nurture” is the key. For his research the author visited the “hot-beds” of worldwide talent, such as in tennis or playing the violin, and examines what makes those “talented” people be world class in what they do. The book comes to the conclusion that talent is not born, it’s grown. While I don’t see it that black/white, this book provides valuable data about the topic of talent and is a must-read if you’re interested in how talent is grown snd nurtured.
Career & Workplace
The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
While few of us will ever reach (and perhaps not even want) a 4-hour work week, this book is an important piece of literature to read if you’re into futuristic concepts of work. Tim Ferris explains how the D-E-A-L works: how to “D”efine what you want, “E”liminate what’s not necessary, “A”utomatize task and “L”iberate yourself from a 9-5. Now, it’s important to say that this is a US book and some of the tips may be too unrealistic to apply to your life. Nevertheless, Tim’s way of looking at the world of working is very inspiring, and many of the points he makes (such as remote work or mini retirements) may become a standard way of working in future. Hopefully!
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
This is a classic of personal finance. Again, keep in mind that it’s a book released in the 90’s and in the USA. If you’re interested in achieving financial liberty and getting to know more about how money works, it’s a book to start with. There are many books on personal finance nowadays, but Rich Dad Poor Dad is considered one of the most important books ever written on this topic. I really liked the first part of the book, where small Robert learns how money works from a child perspective.