As I wrote in my previous article – 9 Timeless Tips from Highly Revered People – learning from accomplished people, especially through their books, is the wisest and fastest way to improve ourselves, and to that end, I have curated 6 of the best Personal Growth Books ever written.
These list of bestsellers cover all vital areas of personal growth, such as:
- Cultivating a growth mindset
- Handling failure and using it as a catalyst for success
- Staying Positive
- Chasing and fulfilling your dreams
6 Personal Growth Books You Should Read in 2021
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie)

To this end, this book offers lessons on interpersonal skills such as good communication and persuasion skills, developing endearing qualities, and building self-esteem. The main wisdom from How to Win Friends and Influence People is that success is more certain when there is goodwill.
The word evergreen is bandied about a bit these days, but this is an unarguable evergreen book anyone should start their personal growth journey with.
2. Awaken the Giant Within (Tony Robbins)

In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.
As far as Personal Growth is concerned, Awaken the Giant Within is encompassing – it demonstrates that any individual can shape their destiny if they take deliberate control of major areas of their lives, such as emotions, thoughts, body, and finances.
The above quote captures the essence of the book; it teaches the basic strategies to help you discover your calling and take control of your life.
In short, when you finished reading this book, you will be jolted out of mediocrity and want to always be the best you can be.
3. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

Through the story of an ordinary shepherd boy, named Santiago, who, in the quest to follow his dream of finding hidden treasures in Egypt, encounters and conquers obstacle after obstacle, including crossing the Mediterranean and the Sahara, The Alchemist teaches determination, steadfastness, hope, and spirituality.
The story captures the essence of finding and pursuing purpose in life while, all the while, growing.
Top Quote:
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure
4. The Power of Positive Thinking (Dr. Norman Vincent Peale)

Peale explains that since our inner voice influences and determines our mood, our behaviours, and, in general, our perspective on life, training and positively conditioning it can always help us achieve our desired results in life.
It’s also worth mentioning that, beyond wanting to know how to succeed, The Power of Positive Thinking is a book that can give you an emotional lift and healing if you are going through a hard time in life.
Top Quote:
When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.
5. As a Man Thinketh (James Allen)
My summary of James Allen’s classic will be as short as the powerful book itself: Similar to The Power of Positive Thinking, it teaches that what we focus our minds and thoughts on is what we attract to our lives. In other words, the brain is very powerful and it has the capability of building or destroying us, depending on what we feed it.
The brevity and potency of this book makes it my top recommendation to quickly start your personal growth journey.
Top Quote:
Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves
6. Failing Forward (John C. Maxwell)

We can either give up when we fail, or we can take the invaluable lessons that come from failure and use them as stepping stones.
Failing Forward is a book that that provokes a great deal of introspection – a starting point for personal growth and change.
Ponder this:
The last time you failed, did you stop trying because you failed, or did you fail because you stopped trying?
FAILING FORWARD
More on Personal Growth & Self Improvement
- 6 Wise Tips to Stop Worrying about People’s Opinion of You
- 9 Timeless Personal Growth Tips from Highly Revered People
- 7 of the Best Productivity Books of All Time for Everyone
You’ve certainly listed some of the most important points on what to focus when dealing with personal growth. All the aspects you are covering and absolutely vital. Very helpful in times like these.
Definitely! Thank you.