There’s no doubt about it. Devouring success books can catapult your success in life. There’s a direct relationship. For around 12 bucks, you get the secrets of the universe revealed to you.
You don’t have to make all the mistakes, think all the brilliant thoughts, or discover all there is to know on your own.
Learn from the fascinating minds around you to create a year – or a lifetime – of epic success.
I’ve curated a list of 97 breakthrough success books you should read.
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Maybe you’ve had a jumpstart and read some of them already, but many you probably haven’t. They are conveniently broken up into sections for you to browse.
Please note, some books fall into more than one category, but the best category for that book was chosen.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase, I receive a small commission.
- Success Books: The Classics
- Entrepreneurship
- Business Networking
- Personal Development
- Relationship and Emotional Intelligence
- Creativity
- Positive Mental Attitude
- Career Design & Advancement
- Financial Success
- How To Be Successful
Success Books: The Classics
1. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Steven Covey
2. How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
3. Think & Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
4. The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale
5. Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life – Spencer Johnson
6. Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! – Tony Robbins
7. The Magic of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz
8. Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude – Napoleon Hill & W. Stone
9. The New One Minute Manager – Ken Blanchard, MD & Johnson Spencer
10. Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive – Harvey B. Mackay
Success Books on: How to Be Successful
11. The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be – Jack Canfield
12. The Compound Effect – Darren Hardy
13. The One Thing – Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
14. How Successful People Think – John C. Maxwell
15. Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals – Alissa Finerman
16. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck
17. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth (pre-order)
18. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure – Grant Cardone
19. Make Today Count: The Secret of Your Success Is Determined by Your Daily Agenda – John C. Maxwell
20. One Word That Will Change Your Life – Jon Gordon, Dan Britton & Jimmy Page
Success Books on: Entrepreneurship
21. Mad Genius: A Manifesto for Entrepreneurs – Randy Gage
22. The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea – Bob Burg & John David Mann
23. Rework – David Heinemeier Hansson
24. The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business – Josh Kaufman
25. Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition – Michael Stelzner
26. Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur – Derek Sivers
27. Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School – Richard Branson
28. The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs – Kevin Johnson
29. Uncomplicate Business: All It Takes Is People, Time, and Money – Howard Farran
30. The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber
Success Books on: Business Networking & Confidence
31. Never Eat Alone – Keith Ferrazzi
32. How to Be a Power Connector: The 5+50+100 Rule for Turning Your Business Network into Profits – Judy Robinett
33. Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? – Seth Godin
34. Networking Is Not Working: Stop Collecting Business Cards and Start Making Meaningful Connections – Derek Coburn
35. The Networking Survival Guide, Second Edition: Practical Advice to Help You Gain Confidence, Approach People, and Get the Success You Want – Diane Darling
36. How to Work a Room, 25th Anniversary Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Making Lasting Connections–In Person and Online – Susan RoAne
37. Confidence Hacks: 99 Small Actions to Massively Boost Your Confidence – Barrie Davenport
38. The Power of Self-Confidence: Become Unstoppable, Irresistible, and Unafraid in Every Area of Your Life – Brian Tracy
39. The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt – Russ Harris
40. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance –What Women Should Know – Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
Success Books on: Personal Development
41. Rising Strong – Brene Brown
42. Better Than Before – Gretchen Rubin
43. Before Happiness – Shawn Achor
44. The School of Greatness: A Real-World Guide to Living Bigger, Loving Deeper, and Leaving a Legacy – Lewis Howes
45. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level – Gay Hendricks Ph. D
46. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential – John C. Maxwell
47. Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection – Jia Jiang
48. What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful – Marshall Goldsmith
50. Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement – Tony Robbins
Success Books on: Communication
51. Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman
52. Crucial Conversations Tools For Talking When Stakes Are High – Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler
53. Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges – Amy Cuddy
54. How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships – Leil Lowndes
55. Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins – Jayson Gaignard
56. Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone – Mark Goulston M.D.
57. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In – Roger Fisher, William L. Ury & Bruce Patton
58. The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism – Olivia Fox Cabane
59. Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others – Andrew Sobel & Jerold Penas
60. Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success: Connect with Customers and Get Results – Colleen Stanley
Success Books on: Creativity
61. Collaborative Intelligence – Dawna Markova & Angie McArthur
62. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert
63. Steal Like An Artist – Austin Kleon
64. The War of Art – Steven Pressfield
65. Unthink – Erik Wahl
66. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered – Austin Kleon
67. A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas – Warren Berger
68. Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work – Whitney Johnson
69. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain
70. Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind –
Success Books on: Thinking & Positive Mental Attitude
71. The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph – Ryan Holiday
72. The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness – Jeff Olson & John David Mann
73. 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success – Amy Morin
74. The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work – Shawn Achor
75. Attitude Is Everything: Change Your Attitude… Change Your Life! – Jeff Keller
76. The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset – John C. Maxwell
77. Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
78. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking – Malcolm Gladwell
79. Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain –
Success Books on: Career & Advancement
80. Humans Are Underrated: What High Achievers Know That Brilliant Machines Never Will – Geoff Colvin
81. Now, Discover Your Strengths – Marcus Buckingham
82. Strengthsfinder 2.0 – Tom Rath
83. Choose Yourself – James Altucher
84. Spiraling Upward: The 5 Co-Creative Powers for Women on the Rise – Wendy Wallbridge
85. The Last Safe Investment: Spending Now to Increase Your True Wealth Forever – Bryan Franklin & Michael Ellsberg
86. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead – Cheryl Sandberg
87. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success – Adam M. Grant, Ph.D
88. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life – Scott Adams
89. The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferris
Success Books on: Financial Success
90. Start Late, Finish Rich: A No-Fail Plan for Achieving Financial Freedom at Any Age – David Bach
91. Money Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom – Tony Robbins
92. The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness – Dave Ramsey
93. Retire Young Retire Rich: How to Get Rich Quickly and Stay Rich Forever! (Rich Dad’s) – Robert T. Kiyosaki
94. Retire Inspired: It’s Not an Age, It’s a Financial Number – Chris Hogan (Pre-order)
95. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth – T. Harv Eker
96. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying – Suze Orman
97. The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D