Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

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~ Joseph Addison  ~

Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.
~ Mortimer J. Adler ~

photo credit: Timeless Books by Lin Pernille ♥ Photography

Would you like to turbocharge your success?

Study Great Books

In order to do that, you’re going to need some self help and motivation books.  Books are to the mind what fruits and vegetables are to our bodies, provided we select the right books.

I thought I would share some of the books that have had the biggest impact on me.  I thought I would share my top five motivation books, and then I will add a wish list of 5 more books I hope to read in the near future.

NLT Study Bible (Bible Nlt)

If I had no other book to read, I would choose the Bible.  The Bible, I believe, is God-inspired and authoritative direction for my life.  It contains the ultimate answers to my worldview, and it is the rule for faith and practice in my life.  I’ve read many versions of the Bible, but most recently I have truly enjoyed reading the New Living Translation.  I recommend the following Study Bible:

If you would like to look up any Bible Passage, you can go to Bible Gateway.
If you enjoy listening rather than reading, I would recommend the Daily Audio Bible. (free: it’s a podcast and an app)
And for a portable reading of the Bible, complete with reading plans and many different versions, I recommend YouVersion (free app).

Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed

Brian Tracy’s writings on achievement and personal success kick-started my journey of personal self growth and development.  Mr. Tracy sold me through his bio and life experiences.  Once I read all that he has accomplished, I knew I wanted to learn what he had to teach.

Here is a summary of his credentials from his personal website.

Prior to founding his company, Brian Tracy International, Brian was the Chief Operating Officer of a $265 million dollar development company. He has had successful careers in sales and marketing, investments, real estate development and syndication, importation, distribution and management consulting. He has conducted high level consulting assignments with several billion-dollar plus corporations in strategic planning and organizational development.

Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!

In this book, Anthony Robbins was very effective in breaking down some of the cutting edge insights from neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) into easily understandable ways to increase performance effectiveness. From asking the right questions, to planning a compelling future, to changing your limiting beliefs, you’ll want to add this to your library of motivation books.

Your Best Year Yet!: Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever

This book has been my favorite resource to look back and assess the past year, while preparing to put together a balanced personal growth plan for the upcoming year. This year I plan to use this book along with the fitness program, P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program – 13 DVDs, Nutrition Guide, Exercise Planner, to get a head start on your year.

The next two books are my favorites for planning your life mission and purpose.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey.

The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life, by Laurie Beth Jones.

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2011: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers.

For any type of career planning, which includes clarifying your passions, interests, and abilities, as well as who/what you want to work with, and the type of environment you want to work in, Richard Bolles’ classic book is a MUST!  I’ve gone through this book at least three times during my career span, and it’s been very helpful for me in identifying my career niche.  You’ll also be interested in checking out his other book, How To Find Your Mission In Life.

Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success

Any successful journey is going to be full of obstacles, setbacks, disappointment, and failure. It’s vital to arm yourself with a healthy perspective on failure and resilience if you want to cross the finish line strong. Dr. Maxwell provides an exhaustive resource on how to turn your setbacks into stepping stones to success.

The Artist’s Way

.It’s been a while since I read through this book, but what I like most about it is that it encourages mindfulness in day to day living. Ms. Cameron’s premise is that, when we are spending time in self-reflection, we will live true to our values and purpose. Using her supplemental workbook, The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal, is a great way to incorporate this practice into your everyday life.

Christian Spiritual Growth and Development

Finally, living out my faith is very important to me.  I have a long way to go, but the following two resources have been very valuable to me in living out my Christian faith.

For a philosophical rationale behind Christian living, I have loved reading Dr. Dallas Willard’s book, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives

Dr. Richard Foster has done a great job of bridging theory with practice, in his classic book, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth.

So there you have it, my top 11 books of all time. There are more, I am sure, that I have left out some other classics.

I wonder, what are your favorite self help books and motivation books of all time?
Which authors have helped shape your life philosophy and outcomes?
Please comment below!