Blog >
Book Recommendations > Productivity & Performance
Looking for the best self help books of all time?
You're in the right place!
Here's what you'll find on this page...
The 100 Best Self Help Books Ever Written
Why these best self help books and not others? To stay objective, I rank all my book recommendations by what’s most loved (Goodreads rating), what’s most popular (Goodreads review count) and what’s proven timelessly relevant (first publication date).
This isn’t a whimsical list. It’s a data-driven, crowdsourced collection of the best self help books ever published as decided by book lovers just like you. (Note: To maximise diversity, I only include the top ranking book from any series in a list.)
And if you think something's missing? I LOVE book recommendations so if there are any other best self help books that you think deserve mentioning, email me and I’ll be sure to include them in the next round of updates.
Until then, enjoy this ultimate list of the 100 best self help books of all time...
Books 1-10: The Top 10 Best Self Help Books of All Time
The top 10 best self help 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
4.
The 5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman (
FREE Summary)
The Secret to Love that Lasts
A concise, actionable and time-tested guide to letting others know they are loved and feeling loved and appreciated in return - by best-selling author, pastor and marriage counsellor, Gary Chapman.
Published 1990 // 209 pages // Rated 4.3 over 334,400 reviews
on Goodreads
5.
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 253,200 reviews
on Goodreads
Books 11-100: The Best Self Help Books to Read Next
Here are the next best self help books from my database...
26.
The Four Agreements - Miguel Ruiz (
FREE Summary)
A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
A provocative and mind-altering Toltec guide to waking up and finding peace in our illusory world - by retired surgeon, author and Eagle-Knight shaman Don Miguel Ruiz.
Published 1997 // 168 pages // Rated 4.2 over 247,800 reviews
on Goodreads
34.
Goals! - Brian TracyHow to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible
The first book I ever read on productivity and probably the most readable and complete guide to goal-setting ever written - by sales legend and time-management master, Brian Tracy.
Published 1989 // 291 pages // Rated 4.2 over 13,600 reviews
on Goodreads
37.
The Inner Game of Tennis - W. Timothy Gallwey (
FREE Summary)
The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
An insightful and practical guide to optimizing natural learning and performance with applied mindfulness - by author, speaker and ex-Harvard tennis captain, W. Timothy Gallwey.
Published 1974 // 134 pages // Rated 4.2 over 12,600 reviews
on Goodreads
45.
The Effective Executive - Peter F. Drucker (
FREE Summary)
The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
THE timeless classic on leadership and management; on getting the right things done - by the dean of business and management philosophy, Peter F. Drucker.
Published 1966 // 208 pages // Rated 4.1 over 31,200 reviews
on Goodreads
51.
The Slight Edge - Jeff Olson (
FREE Summary)
Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success & Happiness
A short, punchy, practical guide to the why, what and how of using simple daily disciplines to achieve breakthrough success - by serial entrepreneur, speaker and author, Jeff Olson.
Published 2005 // 168 pages // Rated 4.3 over 20,500 reviews
on Goodreads
53.
First Things First - Stephen R. Covey (
Summary)
An action-oriented time-management manual, filled with frameworks and exercises to help you do more of what matters and less of what doesn't - by the author of the #1 book on this list, Stephen Covey.
Published 1993 // 384 pages // Rated 4.1 over 39,100 reviews
on Goodreads
56.
Wooden - John Wooden (
FREE Summary)
A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court
An effort-and-integrity focussed personal philosophy - spanning family, achievement, success and excellence - by UCLA's famous philosopher-coach, John Wooden, and author, Steve Jamison.
Published 1997 // 201 pages // Rated 4.5 over 4,500 reviews
on Goodreads
62.
The Art of Exceptional Living - Jim RohnAn inspirational reminder of the power of continuous self-improvement and doing the best that you can in every situation - by entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn.
65.
Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell (
FREE Summary)
The Story of Success
A systematic debunking of the myth that success is mostly determined by talent and hard-work - with quantitative and qualitative evidence from medicine, sport, business, history, music, science and more - by journalist and author, Malcolm Gladwell.
Published 2008 // 309 pages // Rated 4.2 over 628,900 reviews
on Goodreads
81.
The Compound Effect - Darren Hardy (
FREE Summary)
Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success
A concise, practical guide to mastering small choices that determine big outcomes which dictate the course of your life - by best selling author, publisher and motivational speaker, Darren Hardy.
Published 2010 // 162 pages // Rated 4.3 over 34,800 reviews
on Goodreads
83.
The Brain That Changes Itself - Norman Doidge (
FREE Summary)
Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
An informative and readable journey into the history, science and consequences of recent research in neuroplasticity - the brain's incredible ability to change and reorganise itself - by psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and researcher, Norman Doidge.
Published 2007 // 427 pages // Rated 4.2 over 33,900 reviews
on Goodreads
95.
How to Read a Book - Mortimer J. Adler (
FREE Summary)
The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
THE classic guide to reading faster, deeper and more effectively than you ever realised was possible - by deep-thinkers, philosophers and life-long learners, M. Adler and C. van Doren.
Published 1940 // 426 pages // Rated 4.0 over 20,300 reviews
on Goodreads
98.
Being Mortal - Atul Gawande (
Summary)
Medicine and What Matters in the End
A powerful review of the problems with modern medicine and reminder that medical care should focus on well-being rather than survival - by surgeon and best selling author, Atul Gawande.
Published 2014 // 282 pages // Rated 4.4 over 149,300 reviews
on Goodreads
100.
Tiny Beautiful Things - Cheryl Strayed (
FREE Summary)
Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar
A heart thumpingly raw, vulnerable and powerful collection of letters and advice on the power of love, of forgiveness and of finding growth in the darkest of places - by award-winning writer, Cheryl Strayed.
Published 2012 // 304 pages // Rated 4.3 over 73,300 reviews
on Goodreads
Best Self Help Books FAQs
No schema found.
More Book Recommendations
Enjoyed this list of the best self help books of all time?
You'll also like TAoL's other book recommendations...
More Best Books of All Time (by Type)
These are some lists of overall best books to read...
More Best Nonfiction Books (by Topic)
These are some lists of best nonfiction books to read...
More Best Fiction Books (by Genre)
These are some lists of best fiction books to read...
Or, you can read all my book recommendations.
Wish There Was a Faster/Easier Way?
Whenever you’re ready, here are four ways I can help you be more productive, find more balance and live life more on purpose…
- Curious? Discover how productive you really are… Take this free, 2-minute assessment to unlock your PQ and discover the top 25 habits you need to get big things done. Take the 2-minute quiz →
- Overwhelmed? Get a free chapter of my book… Let me show you how to beat procrastination, permanently, with this free sneak peek inside TAoL’s ultimate productivity primer. Download your free chapter →
- Stuck? Grab a 90-Day TRACKTION Planner… Get the tool thousands trust to help them take control of their time, master their habits and hit goals in every part of their lives. Order your 90-day planner →
- Burned out? Join the TRACKTION Community… Take the 6-week masterclass, get weekly group coaching, find accountability partners and connect with like-minded self-starters. Get started FREE →