My Top Book Reading List for Self-Development

The festive season is almost here and we will all be looking for some holiday reading. I think it’s important to “do some work on yourself” over the break. Do some deep thinking and ‘reset’ yourself in time for the New Year. Of course I’d love you to read some of my books over the break like Visions of Success: Inspiring stories of success, passion and focus. This book encourages you to look at making your vision a reality, building a legacy that will last and overcoming obstacles and seizing opportunity. As always, I believe that central to this is developing an unbeatable mindset.

But if you’ve read most of my books there are other great self-development reads out there. The Guardian Australian website did a great review of the classic self-development books a few years ago. I’m going to revisit my favourites from that list with my own commentary.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

This year I’ve read a lot about mindfulness and the art of living in the moment. The German-born, Cambridge-educated Eckhart Tolle was already onto this in 1997. He drew much of his message from Zen Buddhism thus rejecting his own personal quest for perfectionism. He came to the conclusion that most people are either preoccupied with the past (which can lead to depression) or reoccupied with the future (which can lead to anxiety). But the only thing we really have is the ‘present’ so why not embrace it and savour every single moment.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff… and It's All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

A friend of mine recently put up a sign in her lounge room which read “There is only enough room for one drama queen in this house and that’s me”. It was a warning to her two teenagers who have a tendency to turn molehills into mountains. Carlson’s book (also published in 1997) tells us simply to get some perspective and not to become fixated on the trivial. There are 25 million copies of this book in print and it has been read by multiple generations. The bottom line is that if worrying won’t achieve anything, then don’t do it! Carlson, who died too young, advises us to stop worrying about the silly small stuff and instead get in touch with the magic and beauty of the world around us. He says that you can be relaxed and gentle and a super achiever. He also says that worrying has a snowball effect and you’ll work yourself up into a lather. He was a big advocate of kindness and doing good for others.

Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment – And Your Life By Jon Kabat-Zinn

As you know I used to be a Christian pastor and I believe in the power of prayer, of having quiet time and going inside yourself to talk to God but if you don’t have faith you still need inward quiet time. The Guardian says that Jon Kabat-Zinn has “pioneered the use of mindfulness meditation techniques in secular, non-new agey settings”. Kabat-Zinn advocates that stress reducing meditation involves paying attention to the present moment. In one of his famous exercises, Kabat-Zinn asks people to study the appearance, texture and taste of a single raisin in excruciating detail. He says this jolts us firmly into the present and has a profoundly relaxing effect. Maybe you should try this exercise over Christmas with a raisin you find in your plum pudding!

Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

If I had to sum up Tony Robbins book I’d say he tells us to go hard or go home. His advice is to take ‘massive action’ to achieve our goals but we should then follow that up by taking numerous tiny actions to keep achieving every day. He warns us to be vigilant against the parts of our mind that are itching to procrastinate and rebel. His three key messages are:

1. “Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards and believe you can meet them.”
2. “We must change our belief system and develop a sense of certainty that we can and will meet the new standards before we actually do.”
3. “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.”

The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky,

Prof Sonya Lyubomirsky is a psychology researcher at the University of California. Everything she recommends in her book is based on the best psychological data. She will present you with scientific evidence that you should show appreciation to your partner, keep a gratitude journal and invest in friendships. The central concept of The How of Happiness is that happiness is worth pursuing. She says that 50 percent of a person’s happiness level is genetically determined (based on twin studies), 10 percent is affected by life circumstances and situation, but the remaining 40 percent of happiness is down to us!!! The strategies in the book are to increase the 40 percent of happiness that we control.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns

Psychologists have studied the impact of this book on depressed people and found that in some cases it is as good as taking anti-depressants or undergoing professional counselling. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy teaches people the basics of cognitive behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of therapy in which our negative thought patterns about ourselves and the world are challenged in order to change destructive behaviour patterns or treat mood disorders like depression. Burns prompts us to gently identify and alter the barely noticed ‘automatic thoughts’ that trigger our negative emotions. Published in 1980, Burns tells us that we can overcome anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other ‘black holes’ of depression.

What will you read these holidays?

Spending time reading self-development books is the equivalent of giving your body exercise and good food. We need to take care of our mental health, our talents and our creativity and turn these into a powerful force that will carry us through the new year.

We also all need some new instructions from time to time on how to grow your mind. You wouldn’t try to assemble Ikea furniture without instructions, so it makes sense that we look for instructions on improving our mindset. Invest in a good book to enhance your potential this holiday season.