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There's no greater habit to cultivate than to read books to inspire your journey through life.
Below is a selection of books I have read after I realised ‘Why Self-Help Books Never Worked for Me’.
The selection includes books which have unlocked my negative belief’s, taught me new habits, enabled me to get out of debt and simply changed the way I look at life on the whole.
If something takes your fancy, click on the book cover and discover more. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Scroll though the whole collection or click on a subject below to go directly to the books in the section.
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BRAZEN RATING:
Totally changed my life
Helped my journey
Useful Information
Interesting read
Didn’t appeal to me
BECOMING - Michelle Obama
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her – from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it – in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations – and whose story inspires us to do the same.
BRAZEN RATING
COMING UP ROSES - Cath Kidson
From a small shop in West London, Cath has grown a simple idea into an iconic British brand with stores all over the UK and as far away as Japan and Thailand. Her story is that of an entrepreneur. The questions she is most frequently asked relate to how she started out and how she s managed to grow a business in challenging times.
As the company celebrates its twentieth birthday, Cath Kidston shares the story of how her idea for modern vintage came about, how the business was born and the journey she and the company have taken over the past two decades. Cath tells of her experiences, both good and bad, and gives an insight in to what it takes to build a brand. Coming up Roses is the quirky and unexpected story of one of Britain s best-loved businesses.
BRAZEN RATING
Business
CRUSHING IT! - Gary Vaynerchuk
You’re going to hear the stories of people who were scared, just like you. Who had obligations, just like you. Who were told they were being foolish, or reckless, or irresponsible, or immature. They did it anyway and reaped the rewards. If there’s anything this book should teach you, it’s that the only thing stopping you from achieving lasting career and life happiness is you.”
In his 2009 international bestseller, Crush It!, Gary Vaynerchuk insisted that a vibrant personal brand was crucial to entrepreneurial success. In Crushing It!, Gary explains why that’s even more true today, offering his unique perspective on what has changed and what remains timeless. He also shares stories from other entrepreneurs who have grown wealthier—and not just financially—than they ever imagined possible by following Crush It! principles.
Crushing It! is a state-of-the-art guide to building your own path to professional and financial success, but it’s not about getting rich. It’s a blueprint for living life on your own terms.
BRAZEN RATING
THE 4-HOUR WORK WEEK - Timothy Ferriss
Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan – there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.
This new updated and expanded edition includes: More than 50 practical tips and case studies from readers (including families) who have doubled their income, overcome common sticking points, and reinvented themselves using the original book as a starting point
BRAZEN RATING
THE MILLION DOLLAR BLOG - Natasha Courtenay-Smith
No matter who are you – a mum at home, a budding fashion blogger, a lifestyle blogger, a food blogger, a big business owner or a small business owner – The Million Dollar Blog is about blogging the smart way. It is the ultimate guide to: Starting a successful blog, Blog writing, How to monetise your blog, How to develop a personal brand that grows your blog, How to blog for business, How to write,How take your existing blog to the next level.
Through a combination of practical advice and interviews with some of the world’s most famous and successful bloggers, vloggers and content strategists, including Seth Godin, Lily Pebbles, Grant Cardone and Madeleine Shaw and dozens more, entrepreneur and digital strategist Natasha Courtenay Smith shows you how to build a blog that will increase your profile, create new opportunities, earn money and change your life.
BRAZEN RATING
YOUR ONE WORD - Evan Carmichael
In this bold and empowering guide, entrepreneur and social media sensation Evan Carmichael shares the secret to turbo-charging your path to success on your own terms. With thought-provoking questions and inspiring, instructive examples, Your One Word will help you nail down your personal mottos – the word that captures your purpose and passion. With this operating philosophy in hand, you will then learn how to leverage this powerful tool to create the business and future of your dreams.
Aimed at entrepreneurs as well as intrapreneurs, managers, and anyone else who wants to achieve success in a powerfully meaningful way, Your One Word more than just a useful tool. It’s also an inspiring and enlightening read.”
BRAZEN RATING
Habits
7 STRATEGIES FOR WEALTH & HAPPINESS - Jim Rohn
You don’t have to choose between wealth and happiness – they spring from the same fountain of abundance. With this book, you will discover the seven essential strategies you need for success:
- Unleash the power of goals
- Seek knowledge
- Learn the miracle of personal development
- Control your finances
- Master time
- Surround yourself with winners
- Learn the art of living well
BRAZEN RATING
ATOMIC HABITS - James Clear
Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour starting now. People think when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits.
In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. These small changes will have a revolutionary effect on your career, your relationships, and your life.
BRAZEN RATING
THE COMPOUND EFFECT - Darren Hardy
No gimmicks. No Hyperbole. No Magic Bullet. The Compound Effect is based on the principle that decisions shape your destiny. Little, everyday decisions will either take you to the life you desire or to disaster by default. Darren Hardy, publisher of Success Magazine , presents The Compound Effect , a distillation of the fundamental principles that have guided the most phenomenal achievements in business, relationships, and beyond. This easy-to-use, step-by-step operating system allows you to multiply your success, chart your progress, and achieve any desire. If you’re serious about living an extraordinary life, use the power of The Compound Effect to create the success you want.
BRAZEN RATING
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE - Stephen R Covey
In THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centred approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity – principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. ‘Fundamentals are the key to success.
BRAZEN RATING
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
THE OPTIMUM NUTRITION BIBLE - Patrick Holford
Optimum nutrition is a revolution in health care – it means giving your body the best possible intake of nutrients to allow you to be as healthy as you can. Through easy-to-follow questionnaires and a simple step-by-step plan THE OPTIMUM NUTRITION BIBLE shows you what to eat and what nutrients to take to live a healthier, happier life.
Discover how to: boost your immune system; increase your energy and fitness levels; prevent serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease; turn back the ageing clock; lower your blood pressure without drugs; increase your IQ, memory and mental performance.
You’ll also find fascinating information on why the wrong fats can kill and the right fats can heal, and what a well-balanced diet really means.
BRAZEN RATING
THE STRESS SOLUTION - Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Become a calmer, happier and healthier you with Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s The Stress Solution.
In this book, BBC One’s Dr Rangan Chatterjee, draws on two decades of practice to show you how to make easy-to-follow and sustainable health and lifestyle improvements to your everyday life. Top tips include: How to breathe to feel happier, How to schedule in “me time”, How to become less addicted to your phone, How to find and ignite your passion.
At no extra cost, learn how to slow down and feel calmer and more in control of your life by investing in your long-term health.
BRAZEN RATING
TOO YOUNG TO GROW OLD - Anne-Lise Miller
Why do so many of us believe that growing older means we must accept a gradual loss of health and wellbeing? In this ground-breaking new book, respected health practitioner Anne-Lise Miller shows why we don’t need to accept that ageing and worsening health go hand-in-hand. Minor ailments such as ‘brain fog’, feeling tired, headaches, sleeplessness, constipation, aching joints, weight gain and low libido are common symptoms that many of us consider inevitable as we grow older. But if allowed to continue they can lead to more serious problems such as diabetes, dementia, heart disease and cancer.
In this book Anne-Lise Miller: – Challenges the belief that health wanes with age. – Explores how our emotions affect our health and wellbeing. – Demonstrates how taking control of our health brings extraordinary rewards. – Gives detailed plans and juice recipes for detoxing your liver, kidneys and gall bladder. – Provides recipes and juice combinations for healthy heart, prostate, and brain, plus foods to improve memory, and to relieve symptoms of the menopause.
BRAZEN RATING
Mindset
THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG - David J Schwartz
First published in 1959, David J Schwartz’s classic teachings are as powerful today as they were then. Practical, empowering and hugely engaging, this book will not only inspire you, it will give you the tools to change your life for the better – starting from now. His step-by-step approach will show you how to:
– Defeat disbelief and the negative power it creates
– Make your mind produce positive thoughts
– Plan a concrete success-building programme
– Do more and do it better by turning on your creative power
– Capitalise on the power of NOW
BRAZEN RATING
SELF MATTERS - Dr Phillip C. MCGraw
Dr Phil, has several bestsellers under his belt and has helped hundreds of thousands of people to change their lives for the better. Now he tackles the issue of self esteem which he considers to be one of the greatest problems affecting people today.
All too frequently we use self-esteem – or the lack of it – as a crutch, not as a quality to develop. In SELF MATTERS, he takes a straight shot at this favourite excuse of low self esteem, proposing a new plan; a new way to become your best self. It is time to say goodbye to the nagging fears that keep so many of us from fulfilling our potential. With his new programme, Dr Phil will show people how to get in the game and how to make self esteem about one’s possibilities, not one’s problems.
BRAZEN RATING
AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN - Anthony Robbins
Are you in charge of your life? Or are you being swept away by things that are seemingly out of your control? In AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN, Anthony Robbins, the bestselling author of UNLIMITED POWER, shows the reader how to take immediate control of their mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny.
BRAZEN RATING
THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI - Robbin Sharma
An internationally bestselling fable about a spiritual journey, littered with powerful life lessons that teach us how to abandon consumerism in order to embrace destiny, live life to the full and discover joy. This inspiring tale is based on the author’s own search for life’s true purpose, providing a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance and joy. It tells the story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life: following a heart attack, he decides to sell all his beloved possesions and trek to India. On a life-changing odyssey to an ancient culture, he meets Himalayan gurus who offer powerful, wise and practical lessons that teach us to:- Develop joyful thoughts – Follow our life’s mission – Cultivate self-discipline and act courageously – Value time as our most important commodity – Nourish our relationships – Live fully, one day at a time
BRAZEN RATING
YOU ARE A BADASS - Jen Sincero
YOU ARE A BADASS IS THE SELF-HELP BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BUT DON’T WANT TO GET BUSTED DOING IT.
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice and easy exercises, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviours that stop you from getting what you want. Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW. Make some damn money already. The kind you’ve never made before.
By the end of You Are a Badass, you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.
BRAZEN RATING
THE 5 SECOND RULE - Mel Robbins
How to enrich your life and destroy doubt in 5 seconds. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing “how” to push yourself?
Using the science of habits, riveting stories and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a push moment.
In “The 5 Second Rule,” you ll discover it takes just five seconds to: Become confident, Break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt, Beat fear and uncertainty, Stop worrying and feel happier, Share your ideas with courage. “The 5 Second Rule” is a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for the one problem we all face we hold ourselves back. The secret isn’t knowing what to do it s knowing how to make yourself do it.”
BRAZEN RATING
money & Finance
THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON - George S Clason
The ancient Babylonians were the first people to discover the universal laws of prosperity. In his classic bestseller, “The Richest Man in Babylon,” George S. Clason reveals their secrets for creating, growing, and preserving wealth.
Through these entertaining tales of merchants, tradesmen, and herdsmen, you’ll learn how to keep more out what you earn; get out of debt; put your money to work; attract good luck; choose wise investments; and safeguard a lasting fortune.
BRAZEN RATING
RICH DAD POOR DAD - Robert Kiyosaki
Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert’s story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad — and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.
• Explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich
• Challenges the belief that your house is an asset
• Shows parents why they can’t rely on the school system to teach their kids about money
• Defines once and for all an asset and a liability
• Teaches you what to teach your kids about money for their future financial success
BRAZEN RATING
YOU ARE BAD ASS AT MAKING MONEY - Jen Sincero
YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY is the book you need if you’ve spent too much time watching money land in your bank account and then roll through your fingers. Jen Sincero went from living in a converted garage to traveling the world in 5-star luxury in a matter of years, and knows all too well the layers of BS one can get wrapped up in around money, as well as what it takes to dig your way out.
In this funny, fascinating and practical book she goes in-depth on how powerful our thoughts are and how our bank accounts are mirrors for our beliefs about money. YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY combines laugh out loud comedy with life-changing concepts, all boiled down into manageable, bite-sized tips so that YOU can put them into practice and get life changing results.
BRAZEN RATING
THINK AND GROW RICH - Napoleon Hill
In Think and Grow Rich, Hill draws on stories of Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and other millionaires of his generation to illustrate his principles. This book will teach you the secrets that could bring you a fortune. It will show you not only what to do but how to do it. Once you learn and apply the simple, basic techniques revealed here, you will have mastered the secret of true and lasting success.
While the title implies that this book deals only with how to get rich, the author explains that the philosophy taught in the book can be used to help people succeed in all lines of work and to do or be almost anything they want.
BRAZEN RATING
THE AUTOMATIC MILLIONAIRE - David Bach
The Automatic Millionaire starts with the powerful story of an average American couple–he’s a low-level manager, she’s a beautician–whose joint income never exceeds $55,000 a year, yet who somehow manage to own two homes debt-free, put two kids through college, and retire at 55 with more than $1 million in savings. Through their story you’ll learn the surprising fact that you cannot get rich with a budget! You have to have a plan to pay yourself first that is totally automatic, a plan that will automatically secure your future and pay for your present.
David gives you a totally realistic system, based on timeless principles, with everything you need to know, including phone numbers, websites and apps, so you can put the secret to becoming an Automatic Millionaire in place from the comfort of your own home.
BRAZEN RATING
I CAN MAKE YOU RICH - Paul McKenna
Over the past decade, Paul McKenna PhD has made a unique study of the mindset of people rich not only in money but also in happiness and quality of life. In this groundbreaking new book, he makes use of proven psychological techniques to help you install that same rich mind-set inside yourself.Soon, you will be seeing the world in an entirely new way, thinking and living richer than ever before! In assembling this system he has had personal access to a number of the wealthiest people in the world including: Sir David Barclay, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Sir Philip Green, Peter Jones, Sol Kerzner, and Dame Anita Roddick. What he’s learned is that making money is just a skill – but becoming rich is an art.
This book will help you to develop that skill while mastering the art of living with more freedom and greater passion than ever before. If you’re ready to experience the same levels of creativity, confidence and business genius as the super achievers, the system in this book can make you truly rich!
BRAZEN RATING
INVESTING IN SHARES FOR DUMMIES - David Stevenson
Investing in Shares For Dummies gives you the sound advice and proven tactics you need to play the markets and watch your profits grow.
The experienced authors introduce you to all categories of shares, show you how to analyse the key markets, and offer invaluable resources for developing a portfolio. Whether the markets are up or down, you’ll discover practical investing strategies and expert insights so you have the knowledge to invest with confidence.
BRAZEN RATING
spirituality
THE ALCHEMIST - Paulo Coelho
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book – a beautiful parable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life’s path and, above all, follow your dreams.
Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is more to life than his humble home and his flock. One day he finds the courage to follow his dreams into distant lands, each step galvanised by the knowledge that he is following the right path: his own. The people he meets along the way, the things he sees and the wisdom he learns are life-changing.
With Paulo Coelho’s visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, The Alchemist is a story with the power to inspire nations and change people’s lives.
BRAZEN RATING
A NEW EARTH - Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” will be a cornerstone for personal spirituality and self-improvement for years to come, leading readers to a new levels of consciousness and inner peace. Taking off from the introspective work “The Power of Now”, which is a number one bestseller and has sold millions of copies worldwide, Tolle provides the spiritual framework for people to move beyond themselves in order to make this world a better, more spiritually evolved place to live. Shattering modern ideas of ego and entitlement, self and society, Tolle lifts the veil of fear that has hung over humanity during this new millennium, and shines an illuminating light that leads to happiness and health that every reader can follow.
BRAZEN RATING
FALLING UPWARD - Richard Rohr
In Falling Upward, Father Richard Rohr offers a new way of understanding one of the most profound of life’s mysteries: how our failing can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth. Drawing on the wisdom from time honoured myths, heroic poems, great thinkers, and sacred religious texts, the author explores the two halves of life to show that those who have fallen, failed, or ‘gone down’ are the only ones who understand ‘up’ We grow spiritually more by doing it wrong than by doing it right. With rare insight, Rohr takes us on a journey to give us an understanding of how the heartbreaks, disappointments and first loves of life are actually stepping stones to the spiritual joys that the second half of life has in store for us
BRAZEN RATING
THE BOOK OF AWAKENING - Mark Nepo
Designed as a companion and soul-friend, this is a book of marvels woven from the author’s own story, stories of others’ struggles with their humanness, and truths from the great wisdom traditions.
A series of daily reflections, The Book of Awakening is a guidebook for a new journey of the soul. Each entry is a work of art, accompanied by a practice that makes for a completely original call to awaken the mind and the senses.
BRAZEN RATING
THE SECRET - Rhonda Byrne
Regarded as a life-changing read by many readers, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is a self-help book that embarks to motivate the reader about a universal paradigm about success that can be achieved though it remains hidden for most people. The book explores about unveiling this little secret which may transform how people look at things and lead them on to the road of success and true happiness. According to the author, the book makes proper use of the ‘law of attraction and shows how positive thinking can open treasure trove of bountiful happiness, health and wealth.
BRAZEN RATING
