This post is a confession, I like self-help and motivational books. I have for a long time. I know it sounds cliché, but many of these books have changed my life. The genre is large, and I’m certainly not a fan of everything, but authors like Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey, and many others have had an enormous impact on my life. Each of the authors and books listed below has their own style and way of doing things, but they all generally apply systems to improve the quality of life of the readers.

Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook by Tony Robbins – You may remember Tony Robbins as the motivational guy from 1980’s infomercials. If you can get past the infomercials, his books, talks, and audio material are very useful. In this title Tony goes through how to create a realistic plan to increase your wealth, no matter what your current financial circumstances. Robbins’ other titles, such as Awaken the Giant Within are applicable to more than just finances and deal with every aspect of life and success. Attitude, physiology and posture, and our internal dialogue are addressed in this mammoth tome of a life system. Reading Tony’s books has definitely changed my life, and many of the lessons I learned from these books make up a part of my daily routine.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey – Mr. Covey, who passed away in 2012, presents a system for developing personal character. Covey saw that a lot of success literature was superficial or technique, and didn’t address the underlying character of the person. The seven habits are meant to address a person’s character to live in accordance with their deepest values. This book was actually the first in the genre I ever read, and it immediately helped me to start to grow into the person that I want to be, rather than to let the circumstances around me choose who I am for me. Covey has other books that touch on topics like time management and family life. Highly recommended.

Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss – Tim, who became famous with his formula for the 4 Hour Workweek, seeks out advice from successful people from a variety of industries, sports, and other walks of life. Topics he goes over with them are the creative process, morning routines, and much more. Ferris tries to break down the habits of these mentors into small, researched based practices that anyone can use to improve their life physically, mentally, and spiritually.

This is certainly not an extensive list, nor does it cover every topic or author. Maybe now that my secret is out, I can write more posts about this genre  in the future. These are just a few of my very favorites. What about you? What self-help/improvement/motivational titles have you found to be life changing? I can’t wait to hear about it!