5 Great Reads for Personal Development
Not everyone needs to change their worldview, but sometimes we take on new responsibilities that demand it. We might be going into the military, taking on a leadership position in our company, or venturing into the world of entrepreneurship.
Whatever the reason, here’s some of the best books out there to adopt a new mindset for your personal development.
1. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
Jocko Willink’s advice in the book initially seems counter-intuitive as he promotes taking responsibility for everything. But the more that you read, the more you’ll understand where he’s coming from — ownership is infectious. People want to be like leaders that are inspiring. Through Extreme Ownership, you’ll learn the core mindset and nuances for professional development and personal growth.
2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
A ruthlessly efficient mindset that cultivates personal excellence, the 17th century swordsman has timeless quotes and pragmatic thinking peppered throughout his book. Although some text might be related to sword technique, he backs up everything with the lens of pragmatism and offers broad, useful advice for anyone undertaking any life. Caustic aphormisms such as “Do nothing that is useless,” or “Do not be influenced by feelings of lust or love” truly challenge us and our resistance to excellence.
3. Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
I’ve always loved Ryan Holiday’s works. His candid and straightforward writing style is easily accessible and cuts to the chase. In Discipline is Destiny, he investigates timeless examples of where the virtue of discipline helped famous people acquire the reputation they deserve. In other examples, he discusses where discipline would’ve helped others. All around, the book is a great read to remind us about how a life of controlled action can yield amazing results.
4. Unoffendable: The Art of Thriving in a World Full of Jerks by Einzelganger
Einzelganger, a famous philosophy YouTuber with influences from Stoicism, Buddhism, and other belief systems, brings us this book. It helps us realize the futility of taking offense when people intend to bring us down. It’s a great, short read and I highly recommend it for those that are going to be facing down criticism. Einzelganger’s personal touch on his books is also present here, making it an honest and helpful read.
5. The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A book that is very unlike the rest of this list, Lao Tzu was a wise Chinese philosopher and the alleged founder of Taoism. Lao Tzu promoted a passive way of viewing the world, and several people from all walks of life have looked at The Tao Te Ching for personal advice. Sometimes, when we earnestly mean to acquire something, we go about it the wrong way, and trying less hard to get it might be what we need.
