Best Mindset Books: The 35 BEST Books to Improve Mindset

Looking for the best mindset books of all time?

You’re in the right place!

Here’s what you’ll find on this page…

The ONE Thing That’s Holding You Back

You’ll find a number of book summaries and reading lists on The Art of Living filled with timeless advice on topics as varied as communication, learning and productivity. (There’s even a collection of my favourite growth mindset quotes.)

And yet, despite this surplus of wisdom, at least 95% of the people who come here (and even of those who actually read the books recommended) will fail to sustain meaningful change.

Why? Because not knowing “What” to do or “How” to do it is rarely what holds most of us back. And if you take a careful look at your life, you’ll probably find that it’s not what’s restricting you either.

I’ve seen it thousands of times: the main reason people don’t act is that they gave up before they got started. What holds most of us back is belief – in our teachers, in our “Whys” but perhaps most of all in ourselves.

Why These Best Mindset Books Matter

In the list below, you’ll find some of the best mindset books I’ve discovered on beating those odds.

You’ll find books on grit, books on suffering, books on ownership, books on success and books that put your life in perspective. But above all, you’ll find books that teach you to believe in you; in your ability to shape your own destiny.

Of course, it takes more than just a positive mindset to succeed. Everything worth achieving demands its price in blood, sweat and tears.

But what the best mindset books below will give you are the tools to lighten your load, to take action, to turn obstacles to your advantage, to get back in the saddle and, with luck, to love yourself no matter where life’s journey takes you.

So with that in mind, good luck, go well and remember: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison.

The 35 Best Mindset Books Ever Written

Why these books and not others? The best mindset books below are the top picks from my master database, ranked by a combination of Goodreads rating, the number of Goodreads reviews and first publication date. The goal is to give a good balance of what’s most loved, what’s most popular and what’s delivered timelessly relevant advice.

Think something’s missing? Email me and I’ll add it to the next round of updates. I honestly love hearing from you so please, do get in touch!

Books 1-10: The Top 10 Best Mindset Books of All Time

The top 10 best mindset books of all time are…

1. As a Man Thinketh – James Allen (FREE Summary)

THE #1 ranking, uplifting, pocket-sized pep-talk on the power and importance of changing your thoughts as the cornerstone to changing your life – by philosopher and prolific self-help author, James Allen.

Published 1902 // 34 pages // Rated 4.3 over 67,000 reviews on Goodreads

2. The Magic of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz (FREE Summary)

A powerful, practical and uplifting book to help get you out of a rut, invigorate your goals and empower you towards success – by life-long motivational writer and coach, David J. Schwartz.

Published 1959 // 320 pages // Rated 4.2 over 77,300 reviews on Goodreads

3. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (FREE Summary)

A best-selling book of all time and a cornerstone guide to the Law of Attraction and the role of the subconscious in transforming your life – by a titan of the self-help genre, Napoleon Hill.

Published 1937 // 233 pages // Rated 4.2 over 254,900 reviews on Goodreads

4. The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale (Summary)

Published 1952 // 128 pages // Rated 4.1 over 93,800 reviews on Goodreads

5. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – Dale Carnegie (Summary)

Published 1944 // 358 pages // Rated 4.1 over 87,800 reviews on Goodreads

6. On the Shortness of Life – Seneca (Summary)

Published -49 // 106 pages // Rated 4.2 over 23,200 reviews on Goodreads

7. The Science of Getting Rich – Wallace D. Wattles (Summary)

Published 1910 // 146 pages // Rated 4.1 over 35,500 reviews on Goodreads

8. Law of Success – Napoleon Hill

Published 1925 // 1,035 pages // Rated 4.3 over 11,100 reviews on Goodreads

9. The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch

Published 2008 // 217 pages // Rated 4.2 over 324,300 reviews on Goodreads

10. You Can Heal Your Life – Louise L. Hay

Published 1984 // 253 pages // Rated 4.1 over 69,200 reviews on Goodreads

Books 11-35: 25 Good Mindset Books to Read Next

Here are the next 25 best mindset books from my database…

More Book Recommendations

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Arthur Worsley
I founded TAoL to discover and share the best wisdom on how to live long and prosper. Before that I studied Psychology, Philosophy & Physiology at Oxford and consulted at McKinsey. Still curious? Learn more or take my FREE productivity quiz.