As creative professionals, we always need to be learning and growing. One of my favorite ways to learn is by reading self-help or personal development books. They can be an excellent source of inspiration, motivation, and new ideas for trendy minds.
I’ve picked out the best personal development books around right now. You could grab any of the titles in this list and be in for a fascinating read!
Why Read Self Help Books?
Being a life-long learner is an essential key to success in daily life. Learning new skills is great, but we should also focus on improving ourselves. We all have struggles within ourselves. It could be our money mindset, our tendency to procrastinate, or something else.
By reading self-help books, we can tackle these weaknesses and stop them from holding us back! If you’re short on time, listening to self-help audiobooks is a great alternative.
The Benefits of Reading the Best Self Help Books
When you read a self-improvement book, you gain all the secrets, tips, personal experience, and motivation the author has to offer. A lot of research and thought goes into these books, often taking years to write. But you can download all that knowledge into your brain in just a few hours.
Many self-help books hold exciting ideas that may never come to you on their own. Authors and successful people tend to be an expert in their field, and you can gain new insights. Reading self-help books gives you another perspective on a meaningful life. It can allow you to focus on your weaknesses so that you get more fulfillment from life.
Most importantly, these books can be inspiring and motivating. But they also have practical advice you can apply to your life immediately. So, you can start seeing changes within days!
The Best Inspirational Books for Creatives to Read: My Reviews
Here’s my roundup of the best creative life lesson books that offer lots of encouragement and inspiration!
How to win Friends & Influence People
As far as self-help books go, this book is a classic! It was first published in 1936 and has sold millions of copies around the world. It draws a wide range of people together around the common aim of making friends and being a likable person. If you want to learn how to present yourself in business or social situations, this is the book for you!
Dale Carnegie walks you through how to gain clients, make sales, and become a better speaker. He uses helpful examples throughout to illustrate his points. It’s an accessible read that has stood the test of time, and it’s one of the most popular self-help books for men.
Learn moreRich Dad Poor Dad
At first, this book might seem like a strange suggestion for creative people. But even creatives need to earn enough money to get by, or even better, to thrive. That’s why Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is such an essential read.
This book will revolutionize the way you think about money, assets, and liabilities. It shows that you don’t need to earn a huge income to be rich or wealthy. If you want to gain a better understanding of finances, you need to pick up Rich Dad Poor Dad! You’ll learn how to set yourself up for financial independence. Plus, you’ll have more time to focus on your passions.
You can also pick up the audiobook, read by Tim Wheeler. The engaging narration makes it one of the best self-help audiobooks around!
Learn moreThe Richest Man In Babylon
This unique book uses storytelling to illustrate some financial concepts. Through short stories set in Ancient Babylon, you will learn how to master your finances. All the topics covered apply to modern-day life. They affect millions of people around the world. You’ll see parables around reducing debt, increasing wealth, investing, and saving.
The storytelling format makes this book a captivating and accessible read. Books about finance don’t tend to be exciting or moving – but this one is!
If you’ve been looking for books on self-discipline, you need to pick up The Richest Man in Babylon. It will make a lasting impact on your finances and set you up for a more comfortable personal or professional life. By implementing these lessons, you’ll discover freedom and security for the rest of your life.
Learn moreMastery by Robert Greene
We aim to become masters of our trade, but it’s a long and rigorous journey to get there. In this spectacular book, Greene unravels the secrets of 48 masters who have gone before us. You’ll learn from incredible leaders such as Da Vinci, Darwin, and Einstein.
Greene has discovered a formula for success that you can apply to his own life. By learning from the masters, he has found a failproof way of developing your expertise.
In this book, you’ll find historical examples and deep insight into human psychology. They come together to produce a self-help masterpiece. If you want to become a thought leader in any area of expertise, Mastery is a must-read.
Learn moreThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen. R. Covey
Succeeding in life is less about the big things we do, and more about the habits we develop. These habits are critical in deciding whether we achieve our goals, or miss them by miles. This book details the habits that the most effective people have, from CEOs to presidents.
What you’ll get is a simple, step-by-step process for adopting these habits for yourself. Covey uses insights from well-known figures to illustrate the chapters. The 7 Habits will transform your life! You won’t regret reading this impactful read.
Learn moreEat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
We all know how easy it is to put off unpleasant or challenging tasks. But you still have to face them at some point! If you struggle with this, you need to pick up Eat That Frog immediately!
Brian Tracy argues that we should start our day by tackling the most difficult task on our to-do list. This may sound counterproductive, but there’s a whole theory behind it! Plus, imagine the relief you’ll feel once you’ve eaten that frog!
Tracy has studied the science of time management and productivity. Through his insights and tips, you’ll learn how to structure your day for success. The author even covers how to stay focused in this modern technological age. Hand down, this is one of the best books on self-discipline – everyone should read it!
Learn moreThe 4-Hour Workweek
We all dream of spending less time working and more on what we enjoy doing. Who doesn’t want more time for their passion projects, their interests, and to be with their family? In The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss lays out the argument that this dream is achievable.
You’ll learn how to design your lifestyle, whether that’s traveling the world or just working less! Ferriss shares his own story of going from working 80+ hours per week to only 4 hours – and earning 10x as much. This inspirational story is sure to motivate you. Plus, there are tons of life hacks and simple tips to get you started.
Learn moreGetting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Productivity is a huge challenge for many creative professionals. That could be in the workplace, at home, or in your own business. If you’re struggling to be productive, this is the perfect book for you!
In these pages, David Allen lays out a simple process for becoming more efficient. He’ll walk you through the psychology of productivity. Plus, you’ll get clear strategies for effective time management.
If you follow his actionable steps, you’ll feel calmer, happier, and more in control. There’s nothing worse than feeling behind – it’s a sure route to stress. You can eliminate this stress and learn how to Get Things Done in this groundbreaking book. Don’t hesitate to grab it now!
Learn moreThe Best Self Help Books for Creatives:
Failed It by Eric Kessels
In this book, Eric Kessels argues that failure is an essential part of the creative process. As creatives, we need to constantly try new things. And sometimes we’ll make mistakes. By reading this book, you’ll learn how to transform those mistakes into exciting new ideas!
150+ visual examples help to illustrate this philosophy. If you’ve been battling perfectionism, you need to pick up this book. You can learn from some of the best mistakes and imperfect artwork in recent years. Plus, you’ll discover how to celebrate your failures, rather than get knocked down by them!
Learn moreIt’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden
Do you dream of succeeding in life? But you feel like it’s unattainable or you don’t know how to get there. Then, this is just the book you need right now! Arden’s book is full of wit and wisdom. He will show you how you can achieve your dreams with some determination and ambition. It’s short and concise but packed full of inspiring quotes and stories. Reading this book will fire you up to go out there and reach your goals!
Learn moreRelated articles:
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- The Best 6 Art History Books for Students and Enthusiasts
- The Best Design Books to Inspire You
- 8 Best Books For Learning How To Draw Now
- 12 Of The Best Books On Creativity
The Wrap Up
So there you have my roundup of the best help me be good books. No matter what book you choose, it will have a definite impact on your life for the better! These books are full of inspiration and practical solutions to improve your life. So grab the ones that speak to you most and get ready for some transformative reading!
Let me know which of these books you’d recommend! Or if I missed your favorite self-help book, drop the title in the comments. Plus, sign up for the Proactive Creative newsletter today! I’ll send you only the best tips, resources, guides, and reviews!
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