Book Recommendations

Here are 16 books I'd recommend to anyone interested in personal development, in no particular order. This isn’t an exhaustive list, just the ones I’ve marked as favorites on Audible. Each one has shaped my thinking in some way, and I’d recommend them to anyone. I’ve added my own reflections to give you a flavor on each:

Gravitas by Caroline Goyder
A powerful guide to developing personal impact. If you want to show up with confidence and presence, this book offers practical tools to help you do just that.

Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory
If the butterfly effect were a book about conversations, this would be it. It shows how the way we handle high-stakes dialogue can ripple through every part of our lives.

Mindset by Carol Dweck
If I could only recommend one personal development book, this would be it. The concept of a growth mindset is foundational, and this book explains it better than any other I’ve read.

No Excuses! by Brian Tracy
A straight-talking guide to personal accountability. It’s a call to take ownership of your life and choices.

Change Your Questions, Change Your Life by Marilee Adams
A reminder that perspective is powerful. The questions we ask shape our thinking, our relationships, and our outcomes, often more than we might realize.

Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
Communication is a superpower and this book is the manual. A great starting point for anyone looking to improve how they connect with others.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A fictional tale that speaks to real life. If we all had the courage to live this way, we’d all live better lives.

Get Organized by Ciara Conlon (Audible only)
I needed this and I still do. If you struggle with organization, this audiobook is a must.

Looking Out for #1 by Robert Ringer
The title sounds harsher than the content. It’s really about personal accountability and making decisions that serve your long-term growth.

Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson
Discover the serious businessman behind the rapper. Curtis Jackson shares pearls of wisdom on hard work, resilience, and strategy.

Atomic Habits by James Clear
It’s exploded in popularity for a reason. This book explains how small habits compound into big results. You become what you repeatedly do.

Radical Candor by Kim Scott
A must-read for anyone in leadership or collaboration. You’ve got to be firm but fair. Caring personally while challenging directly, this book shows you how to strike that difficult balance.

Character Building by Booker T. Washington
The “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” message might not resonate with everyone, but the wisdom Washington shared with the recently emancipated African Americans is just as relevant today.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
It’s a classic for a reason. This book shares timeless principles for building strong relationships in every area of life.

Influence, New and Expanded by Robert B. Cialdini
We all need to influence others and this book is a masterclass in how to do it ethically and effectively.

Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute
We all get into our feelings from time to time. This book might surprise you with how often it happens and what you can do about it.