The 16 must-reads that are transforming my mindset, my habits, and how I work from home.
Self growth Books has always been a priority for me. And if you’re reading this, I’m guessing it is for you too.
I’m Michele. I work remotely in strategic consulting for global companies, and I’ve been lucky enough to live and work in Italy, Japan, and Germany. Along the way, I’ve received some amazing book recommendations from people I admire: smart, grounded, successful people.
These weren’t trendy reads (some of them actually are), but books that truly shaped how they think, live, and work.
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In this post, I want to share some of those personal growth books with you. They’ve helped me grow in key areas of my life, from managing money better, to staying productive while working from home, to thinking long term and building side hustles.
I thought I’d share them with you in 4 categories, which I believe are fundamental
I hope they’ll do the same for you. I am sure they will.
And if you know of any gems I missed, share them! We’re all here to grow, one book at a time.
So let’s get started.
Habits & Productivity
Atomic Habits
Author: James Clear • Published: October 16, 2018
Atomic Habits is one of the most recommended self-development self growth books in recent years—for a reason.
James Clear explores how lasting change doesn’t come from massive actions, but from tiny improvements repeated daily. It’s about building systems that work on autopilot.
- Problem Solved: Helps break bad habits and develop good ones through sustainable systems
- Style: Science-backed, highly actionable, with plenty of real-life examples
- Best For: Anyone looking to build discipline, remote workers building a daily routine, early-stage entrepreneurs
The 5 AM Club
Author: Robin Sharma • Published: December 4, 2018
Through a fictional story, Sharma introduces the reader to the power of an intentional morning routine.
The “5 AM Club” concept blends early rising with structured time for mindset, fitness, and personal growth, all before the world wakes up.
- Problem Solved: Lack of focus, poor time management, and difficulty starting the day strong
- Style: Inspirational and narrative-driven, with coaching-style motivation
- Best For: Creators, solopreneurs, and professionals looking to reclaim their time and energy
We all have busy lives, but making time to improve ourselves should always have a spot in our calendar. To help you figure out how to fit everything in, I recommend this video from a productivity boss I came across during my research
Eat That Frog!
Author: Brian Tracy • Published: 2017 (3rd Edition)
Personal growth = Brian Tracy. Tracy’s timeless advice revolves around one powerful idea: do your hardest task first.
This book provides 21 fast, clear strategies to beat procrastination and make every hour of your workday count.
- Problem Solved: Chronic procrastination and unclear priorities
- Style: Short, tactical, straightforward—easy to apply right away
- Best For: Busy remote workers, students, or anyone balancing side hustles and main jobs
Quick break! If you’re still reading, it means you’re actively looking for ways to improve your life and honestly, that deserves a round of applause.
People like you are rare and inspiring.
I just wanted to let you know I’ve written another post where I share 20 side hustles you can start from home, no fancy skills required: just consistency and a good dose of determination (which I bet you already have).
Let’s go ahead with the books.
Time Power
Author: Brian Tracy • Published: 2004
This lesser-known self improvement book dives deep into time mastery, beyond basic tips. Tracy explains how to eliminate distractions, set clear priorities, and create focused blocks of time to achieve big results, even when you feel constantly busy.
- Problem Solved: Poor time control and lack of focus on long-term goals
- Style: Practical, structured, and direct—great if you want to overhaul your calendar
- Best For: Side hustlers, freelancers, and professionals overwhelmed by digital distractions
Mindset & Decision-Making
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Author: Carol S. Dweck • Published: February 28, 2006
This modern classic self improvement book explores the difference between a fixed mindset (“I’m not good at this”) and a growth mindset (“I can learn how to do this”).
Dweck’s research shows how your beliefs about ability shape everything from learning to career performance.
- Problem Solved: Helps break limiting beliefs and unlocks long-term motivation
- Style: Academic but accessible, filled with research-backed insight
- Best For: Entrepreneurs, students, or anyone struggling with self-doubt or fear of failure
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Author: Mark Manson • Published: September 13, 2016
Sassy Self Growth Books? Manson flips the script on positivity by arguing that life gets better when we stop trying to be happy all the time. Instead, we should learn how to focus only on what truly matters and let go of everything else.
- Problem Solved: Overwhelm from perfectionism, toxic productivity, or comparison
- Style: Bold, honest, humorous, and raw
- Best For: Millennials, creatives, or anyone tired of the “hustle culture” mindset
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Author: Daniel Kahneman • Published: October 25, 2011
Nobel laureate Kahneman reveals how we make decisions, often irrationally, through two systems: fast (instinctive) and slow (deliberate).
Understanding this helps us make smarter choices and recognize our biases.
- Problem Solved: Impulsive thinking, poor judgment in money, work, or life
- Style: Dense but deeply insightful, full of psychological studies
- Best For: Entrepreneurs, marketers, and analytical thinkers who want to improve decision-making
The Mountain Is You
Author: Brianna Wiest • Published: August 2020
This introspectivepersonal growth book explores self-sabotage, why we do it and how to stop. Wiest helps readers uncover emotional blocks, develop self-awareness, and transform pain into power.
- Problem Solved: Repeating negative patterns, fear of success, and emotional resistance
- Style: Poetic, reflective, and empowering
- Best For: Creatives, women entrepreneurs, and anyone ready for deep inner work
Personal Finance & Money Mindset
The Psychology of Money
Author: Morgan Housel • Published: September 8, 2020
This personal finance book explains that money decisions aren’t just logical: they’re deeply emotional and shaped by personal experiences.
Housel uses storytelling to show how behavior matters more than knowledge when it comes to building wealth.
- Problem Solved: Emotional spending, short-term thinking, and fear around money
- Style: Conversational, insightful, filled with relatable examples and anecdotes
- Best For: Beginners to money management, side hustlers, and anyone aiming to build long-term financial habits
You Are a Badass at Making Money
Author: Jen Sincero • Published: April 18, 2017
Sincero combines money mindset shifts with personal development to help readers identify limiting beliefs around wealth.
It’s motivational and fun, but packed with actionable guidance to help reframe your relationship with money.
- Problem Solved: Fear of charging your worth, imposter syndrome, scarcity mindset
- Style: Bold, witty, empowering—a mix of mindset coaching and tough love
- Best For: Freelancers, creative entrepreneurs, and women building online income streams
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Author: Ramit Sethi • Published: March 23, 2009 (Updated 2nd edition in 2019)
In this New York Time’s best seller, Ramit Sethi offers a no-BS guide to automating finances, investing smartly, and living a rich life on your own terms.
It’s practical, modern, and designed for real people, not finance experts.
- Problem Solved: Confusion around budgeting, saving, and investing basics
- Style: Direct, funny, highly practical, with scripts and actionable plans
- Best For: Young adults, digital nomads, or side hustlers wanting to take control of their money fast
Your Money or Your Life
Author: Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez • Published: 1992 (Updated in 2018)
This book shifts the entire conversation around money. Instead of chasing income, it asks: What are you trading your life energy for? It teaches how to achieve financial independence and redefine your relationship with spending.
- Problem Solved: Living paycheck to paycheck, lack of clarity around financial goals
- Style: Deeply reflective and value-based, yet also practical and structured
- Best For: Minimalists, early retirees (FIRE movement), or anyone rethinking what “enough” means
Career & Purpose
So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Author: Cal Newport • Published: September 18, 2012
This book challenges the idea of “follow your passion” and makes a case for mastering rare and valuable skills instead.
Newport shows how career satisfaction comes from competence and control, not just enthusiasm.
- Problem Solved: Career indecision, lack of direction, or frustration with job hopping
- Style: Research-based, clear, and filled with real-world case studies
- Best For: Ambitious professionals, freelancers, and side hustlers seeking long-term mastery
Start with Why
Author: Simon Sinek • Published: October 29, 2009
Sinek’s core idea is simple but powerful: people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.
Whether you’re building a brand or a personal mission, this book helps you connect deeply with your purpose.
- Problem Solved: Lack of clarity or motivation, weak personal or brand identity
- Style: Inspiring, conceptual, rooted in storytelling and marketing psychology
- Best For: Entrepreneurs, team leaders, content creators, and anyone building a purpose-driven life
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Curated by: Eric Jorgenson • Published: November 17, 2020
A collection of Naval Ravikant’s best insights on wealth, happiness, and decision-making without fluff. It’s not a traditional book, but a curated brain-dump from one of tech’s most thoughtful voices.
- Problem Solved: Confusion around what really matters in business, freedom, and fulfillment
- Style: Concise, tweet-like wisdom mixed with deep philosophical takes
- Best For: Digital entrepreneurs, deep thinkers, and anyone designing a modern life on their own terms
Designing Your Life
Authors: Bill Burnett & Dave Evans • Published: September 20, 2016
Created by two Stanford professors, this book applies design thinking to your career. It helps you prototype your path, test ideas, and create a fulfilling work-life fit, even if you feel stuck or overwhelmed.
- Problem Solved: Feeling directionless, unhappy at work, or uncertain about the next step
- Style: Hands-on, positive, and rooted in coaching exercises
- Best For: People in transition, career changers, and anyone wanting to align work with personal values
That’s it for now.
These are my personal picks when it comes to self-growth, productivity, and personal finance books. But I’d genuinely love to hear from you!
Let me know in the comments what your favorite books are, and share any titles that helped you on your journey.
Let’s inspire each other and grow together, one page at a time.
A hug,
Michele
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