I was 18 when I found my first personal development book. It was sitting in a box of old books in my grandparents’ garage, and I had no idea what it would start.
Since then, books have been some of the best coaches I’ve ever had. They pulled me out of ruts, showed me what was really holding me back, and gave me words for things I’d felt for years but couldn’t explain.
Below are the seven books that changed my life, why each one mattered, and who I think should read it. But first, a quick word on why I still pick up a book when I could just watch a video.
Why Reading Still Matters in a World of Video
We live in the easiest time in history to learn something. Any topic, any expert, one search away. I’m a fan. As a stuntman, I know some things you can only learn by doing, and some you can learn faster by watching.
But when it comes to changing how you think, I keep coming back to reading. A book doesn’t move at the speed of someone else’s voice. You set the pace. You stop, reread the line that hits home, and stare at the ceiling for a minute. That’s where a lot of the real work happens.
Research points in the same direction. In one study of elementary school students in Spain, kids who read a text showed far more mental integration of the material than kids who watched a video, according to this summary in The Conversation.
The researchers suspect we treat video as entertainment, so we take it more lightly, while reading pushes us to connect the ideas ourselves.
Video is a great way to get started. A book asks more of you, and that’s the point. Personal growth is work you do yourself, not just information you take in.
The 7 Books That Changed My Life
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
This was the first personal development book I ever read when I found it in a box of books in my grandparents’ garage at age 18. With over 30 million copies sold, it’s the original personal-development classic — the granddaddy to all the greats like Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, and Tony Robbins.
Read it if: you’re new to personal development and want to start where it all began.
Alter Ego
Todd Herman
Coming out of a big life funk, this book showed me how to consciously create my ideal “Alter Ego” and step into my next level.
Read it if: you’re stuck in a rut and want a practical way to step into a stronger version of yourself.
Ultimate Wealth Mastery Library
Dr. John Demartini
While many wealth books focus on narrow tactics, Dr Demartini distills the vast topic of wealth creation into clear, practical principles that integrate mindset, values, and purpose.
Read it if: you want to see wealth as more than tactics.
Immunity to Change
Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey
At a time when I was stuck in existential procrastination, unsure who I was becoming, this book revealed the subconscious commitments that were keeping me from real change. If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. I break down why smart people stall and how to get moving again in my post about why smart people get stuck in mental paralysis.
Read it if: you keep setting goals and keep stalling.
Existential Kink
Carolyn Elliott
Much like Immunity to Change, this book helped me uncover the hidden pleasures of staying stuck. It showed me how my subconscious was quietly running the show and blocking success.
Read it if: you suspect part of you benefits from staying exactly where you are.
Wink
Roger Hamilton
Sometimes a single metaphor can rewire everything. This book reshaped my beliefs about money, identity, and attachment. I’ve read it ten times over the past decade, and I always discover something new in its “rich” writing.
Read it if: you’d rather learn about money through a story than a lecture.
The Money Map
Kasey J. Claytor
Money isn’t just numbers. It’s energy. Kasey explores the spiritual side of financial success, helping you balance the inner beliefs of scarcity and abundance through her “Spiritual Money Map.”
Read it if: your relationship with money feels more emotional than mathematical.
Read One. Then Do Something With It.
You don’t need to read all seven. Pick the one that sounds most like where you are right now and start there. Then do the part most people skip: act on it. Books give you ideas. Change happens when you put them in motion.
That’s the thread running through all of these. Most people don’t lack information. They lack a way to turn it into action. If you want more ideas you can use today, read my practical articles on overcoming fear, procrastination, and feeling stuck.
Want Help Putting These Ideas Into Action?
Reading is a great start. But sometimes you need someone in your corner to turn an idea into a habit. That’s what I do in one-on-one and small-group coaching. We find what’s keeping you stuck and build a plan you’ll actually follow.
Whatever you decide to do next, start small. One chapter. One new habit. One uncomfortable step. You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to begin.
~ Be curious. Learn often. Live deliberately.
Brett Solomano
