10 Must Read Self Help Books in Your Twenties - Personal Development Books for Beginners
Updated: Dec 2, 2020
#selfhelpbooks #personaldevelopmentbooks #selfhelpforbeginners
Twenties is an age of Confusion. You are no longer a kid but you do not have the wisdom & tools to face the challenges of the Real World. Your parents don't seem to understand you & your friends seem equally lost as you. During this time, we all wish for answers & guidance. I have been through the journey & books are my best friends that do tend to provide most of the answers. Although, if you are seeking more clarity & structured mindset transformation, a Life Coach would be a better & more structured option. Click here to know more. Meanwhile, certain books if read at the right time can offer you insight & wisdom that will empower you to face the Real World with Positivity & Enthusiasm. Here is my top 10 list for the same:
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book is an evergreen book. It was released in 1936! And it is STILL so relevant and useful. Dale, with simple day to day examples, explains how easy it is to win friends & influence people. His primary tool is to put yourself in others shoes in order to approach any relation be it with friends, spouse, a Leader or a team member. This was my first self help book at the age of 13, and I still find every word adding value in my Life!
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
In this book, Goleman emphasizes that having EQ i.e. Emotional Quotient is more important than having IQ or Intelligent Quotient for determining Success in every area of Life like, academics, professional, personal etc. In most MBA courses, this book is definitely recommended & I can vouch for it that as you move up the corporate ladder or you want to have deep & satisfying relationships, EQ is something that will help you deal with the ups & downs with Grace & Grit.
The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey gives timeless principles to be successful. He had surveyed & studied highly successful people in diverse industries and summarised 7 Habits when followed religiously can make you Successful. The Habits seem simple but when not in use are a very big determinant for not achieving success despite putting in effort. This book will help you come out of victimhood & take responsibility for your own Life. When we are aware of what it takes to be successful, the road to success becomes an adventure rather than an energy draining endeavor.
Influence : Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert Cialdini
This book is one of the first books I might have read in psychology and was completely taken aback by knowing how easily our minds can be deceptive & how we get driven by our mind rather than we being it's master. Dr. Robert explains with easy examples & research, how our brains can be influenced & persuaded. This book makes for a fascinating & interesting read. It will help you to become aware of your mind's flaws and regulate it better.
Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life
If you are stuck in your Life with Lack of Purpose & Meaning, looking for clarity to what is it that you really wanna do in your Life, this book will calm your anxious energy & bring clarity. I have written in detail about what is Ikigai here. Through this concept, I was able to find purpose & direction when I felt lost! This book emphasises on being true to yourself & not just simply follow the crowd's set definitions of success in order to be happy. Happiness comes from finding your Ikigai.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book is one of the Life Changing Books that I had mentioned in my previous blog here & couldn't resist sharing it here as well. If you are a creative person but are afraid to follow your heart and take an unconventional route, this book is all you need to read. The book is magical & will give you clarity & inspiration to stay true to yourself & stick with your Creativity!
Business Sutra by Devdutt Pattnaik
This book is an interesting blend of application of mythology in business context. Devdutt is a person with vast knowledge on Indian mythology & he believes, mythology was a way in the past to give wisdom & knowledge to people with symbols, stories & metaphors. I really loved the way he emphasized on correlating a business process with the ritual of Yagna. Yagna is an exchange between Humans & God around a fire. Humans add fuel to pyre as a gift to God who in exchange grant the desired wish to Humans. Western books on business, do not touch the points which have been touched here which will further increase your pride for our Rich Indian Heritage. If you are someone who plans to start your own business, give this book a try.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.
This is a fascinating book on intuitive thinking & how with practice you can make every skill come intuitively to you like the blink of your eyelids. Malcolm has deeply analysed case studies and has well researched data on what it takes to make any skill your second nature. He has highlighted many subconscious biases that affect the way we think & form opinions.
Outliers: The Story of Success: by Malcolm Gladwell
Another classic by Malcolm, this book highlights what it takes to be successful. He popularised the 10000 hour rule for success which indeed is insightful. Do give it a read to know various case studies of successful people & the factors that will make you one!
The Secret by Rhonda Bryne
This book is based on the principle of Law of Attraction. Although it does not give in depth knowledge on Law of Attraction, but for beginners, this is a good book to start getting familiar with the idea that Our thoughts Shape our Life. I got motivated to make my own Vision Boards after reading this book as a teenager. I have written about vision Boards here. In fact Mindsutra's motto, "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life" draws inspiration from this book. Click here to know more.
If you are a beginner in the self help genre, I guarantee you that these books will make you addicted to self improvement. It will trigger change in your life & will propel you to Create a Life that you Love!
Mindsutra happens to be a proud partner of Amazon Affiliate Program. If you wish to buy any of the books mentioned above, it would do us a great favour if you buy from the links below. This will help to support Mindsutra from the small commission we will get. Thank you so much for reading. Comment below which was your first self help book or which one will be the first to start with?
Influence : Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert Cialdini. (Currently available as Ebook on this link)
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers: The Story of Success: Gladwell by Malcolm Gladwell
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