Books are man’s best friend, and there’s nothing new about it. But do you know this friend can help you develop your personality and bring out a better version of yourself?
Personality is something to culture in yourself. Just like a tree, you need to take care of it and let it grow. And in this long journey, a self-help book can be your lifetime partner. It guides you to the key to a successful life, encourages you to put off bad habits, teaches you the value of life, and thus develops your personality. It is all about bringing change in thinking, behavior, physical presentation, and attitude toward life. In short, it brings a new you.
But are all personality development books equally effective?
The answer is a big NO. All books may not influence you in the same way. But in this article, you will find some top-listed books that people of all ages have been reading for decades. These books are proven to build personality with the right guidance. So, check out the list and pick the one you find most effective-
Top 5 Personality Development Book List
| Sl. | Book Name | Author | Editors Pick For | Check Price |
| 1 | The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | Stephen R. Covey | Solving personal and professional problems of everyday life | Price On Amazon |
| 2 | The Magic of Thinking Big | David J. Schwartz | Bringing success in life | Price On Amazon |
| 3 | How to Win Friends and Influence People | Dale Carnegie | Creating a great impression on the first meet | Price On Amazon |
| 4 | Think and Grow Rich | Napoleon Hill | Emphasis on positive thinking | Price On Amazon |
| 5 | Awaken the Giant Within | Tony Robbins | Controlling life in the best way possible | Price On Amazon |
Top 10 Book Of Personality Development
Let’s find the best book of personal development. These books are chosen from hundreds of them.
1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
| Book Name | The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People |
| Author Name | Stephen R. Covey |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | 1989 |
| Editors Rating | 4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 447 pages |
For almost three decades, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been regarded as one of the most effective books for personality development. It is well-accepted by people of all classes, ages, and occupations.
Book Review
Stephen R. Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, states about different human habits. Some habits are good, while some are bad. But there is a certain category of habits that really impact human life. The author here doesn’t tell you to leave the bad ones, instead suggests building good habits for self-development. In this book, he suggested some habits for building strong personalities that you can implement even in this modern age. These include-
- Be proactive
- Begin with the end in mind
- Put first things first
- Think win/win
- Seek first to understand, then to be understood
- Synergize
- Sharpen the saw
Following these seven habits, you can solve your day-to-day issues. Whether it’s a personal problem or a professional one, these habits can help you face all problems easily. The author further states a sep-wise guideline to lead an honest and fair life-changing personality. So, if you want to change your personality and improve your self-esteem, this book is for you!
Favorite Quote From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” — Stephen R. Covey
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to say no.
- Work continuously on self-development.
- Keep your objective and goal clear.
- Prioritize your tasks based on their importance and urgency.
2. The Magic of Thinking Big
| Book Name | The Magic of Thinking Big |
| Author Name | David J. Schwartz |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | December 2, 2014 |
| Editors Rating | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 316 pages |
The Magic of Thinking Big is another book focusing on personal development. It encourages you to believe in yourself and guides you from scratch in improving your personality and lifestyle.
Book Review
David J. Schwartz, in his book The Magic of Thinking Big, highlighted some ways to be successful in life. He has suggested not to underestimate your ability but to adore them and believe in them. According to him, only believing in yourself can bring you success in life. So, he advises you to think big and work continuously to bring your vision to reality. And for that, he advises us to avoid making excuses, be fearless, think creatively, learn better management, and always be confident.
Favorite Quote From The Magic of Thinking Big
“Do what you fear and fear disappears.” — David Joseph Schwartz
Key Takeaways
- Believe in yourself
- Overcome fear and excuses
- Embrace continuous learning
- Set high goals
- Build strong relationships
- Think big and act bigger
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People
| Book Name | How to Win Friends and Influence People |
| Author Name | Dale Carnegie |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | 1936 |
| Editors Rating | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 317 pages |
How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the most-selling books on personality development that has been leading the market for decades. However, the latest version of this book has been updated under the care of the author’s daughter, Donna, to make it appropriate for today’s readers.
Book Review
In this book, the author, Dale Carnegie, gives some valuable advice to create a great first impression on people. Here he suggested some guidelines to improve your personality and present yourself among people best. He includes communicating with people, making them like you, getting them on your side, successfully navigating any social problems, and more. If you want to be a good leader, this book has guidelines for leads too. In short, in this book, you will find every essential to influence people and make them like you the most.
Favorite Quote From How to Win Friends and Influence People
“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” — Dale Carnegie
Key Takeaways
- Show genuine interest in others
- Smile and be positive
- Be a good listener
- Talk in terms of others’ interest
- Avoid criticism and condemnation
- Admit mistakes and apologize when necessary
4. Think and Grow Rich
| Book Name | Think and Grow Rich |
| Author Name | Napoleon Hill |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | 1937 |
| Editors Rating | 4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 386 pages |
Think and Grow Rich is an excellent self-help book by Napoleon Hill. Here he highlights thirteen common habits of some successful personalities of his time.
Book Review
In this book, Napoleon Hill studied the life of some prominent people and discovered the secret recipe for their success. He adored the perseverance of Thomas Edison, the electric light bulb inventor. The great business magnet of his time took a special place in this book. He was highly influenced by the ideology of Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Charles M. Schwab, and John D. Rockefeller. Napoleon shows these successful tycoons’ lives, encouraging his readers to think big and run for fulfilling dreams. And for all these elements, Think and Grow Rich is rightly called “the granddaddy of all motivational literature.”
Favorite Quote From Think and Grow Rich
“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” — Napoleon Hill
Key Takeaways
- Cultivate a positive and focused mindset
- Have a clear and specific goal
- Use autosuggestion to believe in yourself
- Emphasize immediate and decisive action
- Join a mastermind group with the creative mindset
5. Awaken the Giant Within
| Book Name | Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial |
| Author Name | Tony Robbins |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | November 1, 2007 |
| Editors Rating | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 546 pages |
Tony Robbins, in his most famous book “Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Financial,” shares some practical techniques to control individual life. This book has been one of the selling pieces of Tony on encouraging self-development.
Book Review
In this book, the author shared his point of view on mental, physical, emotional, and financial well-being. He suggests people limit the challenges in life and focus more on self-development. Tony believes only personal growth can help one to improve himself. And aiming in this, he gives a step-by-step guideline to create the right goals, take action and stay motivated throughout the process. This book focuses on taking consistent action by accepting challenges. Besides, Tony doesn’t miss out on highlighting the importance of keeping your health fit through physical exercise. And if you want to get business tips, Tony Robbins also shares principles and strategies for managing finances, investing wisely, and creating financial independence. In summary, this book will give you an overall personality development guideline!
Favorite Quote From Awaken the Giant Within
“Success is doing what you want, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.” — Tony Robbins
Key Takeaways
- Take responsibility for your own life
- Master your emotions
- Develop strategies for financial success.
- Take immediate action toward your goals
- Regularly review and reassess your goals
6. Atomic Habits
| Book Name | Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones |
| Author Name | James Clear |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | October 16, 2018 |
| Editors Rating | 4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 320 pages |
James Clear enlisted his name on the #1 New York Times bestseller with his masterpiece, Atomic Habits. In this book, he focused on building good habits, making wise decisions, and thus improving the lifestyle of individuals.
Book Review
In Atomic Habits, the author, James Clear, encourages the reader to leave bad habits and build good ones instead. He suggests focusing on self-development rather than just trying to change behaviors. James talks about the 1% rule of incremental improvement, as one can’t change himself overnight. He needs to go through small stairs each day to bring greater changes. So, James tells his readers to be patient and try to develop themselves. He has breakdown the bad habits in humans with four principles-
- Make it obvious
- Make it attractive
- Make it easy, and
- Make it satisfying
Following these basic principles, you can create a positive environment around you and thus improve your overall personality.
Favorite Quote From Atomic Habits
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” — James Clear
Key Takeaways
- Keep track of your habits to monitor your progress
- Focus on systems, not goals
- Make small, incremental changes to build powerful habits
- Shift your focus from goals to systems
7. Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success
| Book Name | Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success |
| Author Name | John C. Maxwell |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | April 1, 2007 |
| Editors Rating | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 225 pages |
Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success is an inspiring book by John C. Maxwell aiming for self-development. In this book, the author has given a positive look towards failure. He suggests accepting the mistake and moving forward to bring better output in life.
Book Review
Most people are scared of failing; they are afraid of accepting mistakes in life. But John C. Maxwell encourages us to befriend these failures instead of running away. He advises us to learn lessons from each failure and move forward with a better version of ourselves. In this book, the author has pointed out six traps that people fall into when dealing with failure; these are-
- The Trap of Ignoring
- The Trap of Blaming
- The Trap of Repeating
- The Trap of Paralyzing
- The Trap of Fearing
- The Trap of Quitting
To avoid these traps, he mentions seven abilities obtaining which one can conquer the failures in life. So, if you are depressed or afraid of the struggles of life, this book is for you!
Favorite Quote From The Book
“When we give ourselves permission to fail, we at the same time give ourselves permission to excel.” — John C. Maxwell
Key Takeaways
- Embrace failure as a natural part of the learning process
- Develop a positive attitude
- Don’t be afraid of failure
- Learn from every downfall and stand back without losing hope
8. The 16 Personality Types: Profiles, Theory, & Type Development
| Book Name | The 16 Personality Types: Profiles, Theory, & Type Development |
| Author Name | Dr. A.J. Drenth |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | January 8, 2014 |
| Editors Rating | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 203 pages |
In “The 16 Personality Types: Profiles, Theory, & Type Development,” Dr. AJ Drenth has put a scientific approach to human behavior. He discusses sixteen different personality types with specific theories and the development of each category.
Book Review
The author starts the discussion by introducing different concepts of personality. In analyzing the personality types, Dr. A.J states about four dichotomies:
- Extraversion vs. Introversion,
- Sensing vs. Intuition
- Thinking vs. Feeling, and
- Judging vs. Perceiving
Personality can be divided into sixteen categories by combining these four dichotomies. The author has discussed each of these categories/types elaborately. He has highlighted the unique features, potential, and weaknesses of the persons with these personalities. By reading this book, you can match your personality and learn your strengths flaws, and improve them accordingly.
Favorite Quote From The Book
“If the world is a stage, home to innumerable acts and actors, we want to know our role and the story we are living out.”— Dr. A.J Drenth
Key Takeaways
- Know your personality and develop accordingly
- Explore your strength and weakness
- Think scientifically about how your personality affects your life
9. The Power Of Full Engagement
| Book Name | The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal |
| Author Name | Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | January 1, 2003 |
| Editors Rating | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 245 pages |
“The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal” is an excellent self-development book by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. In this book, they focus on managing energy to bring the best outcome in personal and professional life.
Book Review
Time management is important, but utilizing your energy is more crucial than this. You can complete the work, but the outcome may not be as expected if your energy level is not up to the mark. But by maintaining energy properly, you can do the same work in less time that too with better results. But to keep yourself energized, maintaining your mental and physical health is necessary. Regarding this, the authors of the book state four energy dimensions-
- Physical energy
- Mental energy
- Emotional energy
- Spiritual energy
By managing these energies, one can get fully engaged in a task. And thus can bring excellent results in every aspect of life. This book further highlighted the way to control stress and get relief from it. In this way, the authors brighten a practical and scientific approach to maintaining personal well-being.
Favorite Quote From The Book
“To be fully engaged, we must be physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned.”— Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
Key Takeaways
- Focus more on energy than time management
- Establish rituals and routines that support energy renewal
- Cultivate a mindset of continuous growth and learning
- Engage in activities that promote relaxation and self-development
10. Best Self: Be You, Only Better
| Book Name | Best Self: Be You, Only Better |
| Author Name | Mike Bayer |
| Language | English |
| Published Date | January 8, 2019 |
| Editors Rating | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Pages | 352 pages |
“Best Self: Be You, Only Better” by Mike Bayer is a guideline to bring the better version of you. He is a personal and live development coach who assists artists, athletes, or anyone wanting to improve himself. Reading this book, you will find out ways to understand yourself and bring out the best side of you.
Book Review
Mike Bayer, most commonly known as Coach Mike in his book “Best Self: Be You, Only Better,” has thrown some questions to ask yourself. Such as-
- What does your best self look like? How would you define it?
- What are the core values that guide your life?
- What negative beliefs or patterns hold you back from being your best self?
With these questions, he lets you know about your best self and anti-self. He suggests that you learn about your likings and dislikings. In this busy life, everyone is running after professional life. Having time for one’s own development is now tough. But Mike guides his reader to improve his personality and work on self-development. He emphasizes self-reflection exercises, goal-setting techniques, and tools to bring goodness to you. So, if you want to overcome the obstacles of your life and bring positive changes to you, read this book.
Favorite Quote From The Book
“It’s not selfish to take care of yourself.” — Mike Bayer
Key Takeaways
- Take the time to explore and understand your true values
- Make self-care a priority in your life.
- Create a road map to achieve your goals
- Commit to lifetime learning and personal development.
Final Recommendation
All the above-listed books are great from their own perspective, yet you shouldn’t miss reading “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey. Though it’s a classic book, it contains some effective teaching that can mold your personality even in this modern era.
Next, I suggest you read “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. In this book, you will find tricks to impress people around you through your personality. These two are my favorite picks from this list. Yet, you can check other suggested books that can influence you most in improving yourself.
FAQs About The Best Book Of Personality Development
How to purchase a personality development book from Amazon?
Go to the Amazon search bar and type the book name. You will find many options for the same book with varying editions and pricing. Check out the author’s name, editions, and publication date to track the one you want. You will find the softcopy, hardcopy (new and old), and audio versions. Choose any of these options, clear your payments, and you will get access to the book. However, for hardcopy, you will have to place the order with your present address and other necessary information. The book will be in your hand in a few days.
How do I develop my personality by reading books?
There are many books on personality development guiding you to know yourself better. They point out your faults, strengths, weaknesses, and more. You will find ways to improve your day-to-day life in both personal and professional fields by reading these self-help books. Thus, books will help you overcome problems, learn how to lead a life properly and improve yourself.
What are the four techniques for improving personality?
The four techniques for improving personality are-
- Self-reflection and self-awareness
- Continuous learning and growth
- Social interaction and relationship building
- Behavior modification and habit formation