I’ve been reading self-help books for quite some time now, and, I admit, 90% of them are worthless. Seriously. Very few self-help books are unique. However, I have found a few books that have dramatically changed my life — or my perspective on life — in a way that’s unparallel to the ‘everyday’ self-help book.

Below, I’ve shared five of the most inspirational and informative self-help books. I’ve read each of these books maybe five times over and can honestly admit that they’ve contributed largely to most — if not all — of my successes.

Get Out Of Your Own Way by Dave Hollis

“An exceptional life is something that takes work. Intentional work. Disciplined work. Work that you’ll have to do every single day in the pursuit of being better tomorrow than you are today.” — Dave Hollis

I absolutely love this book. For one, Dave Hollis approaches the self-help genre as a skeptic. Initially, he didn’t believe in the importance of self-improvement. An already successful chief of distribution for Disney, Dave didn’t feel like he should or had to grow — until he read his wife’s bestselling book, Girl, Wash Your Face. He soon realized that to keep up with his wife, Rachel, he’d have to grow as a person. What you’ll find in this book is Dave’s personal takeaway and perspective on the self-help genre — what worked and didn't work for him — and how it improved his relationship and his life.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

“Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to a solution.” — David J. Schwartz

David J. Schwartz does an excellent job encouraging us to think big, outside of the box, and chase our dreams. He encourages positive thinking and focusing on the solution rather than the problem. I’ve read this book over a dozen times and can personally say that there is no greater book than The Magic Of Thinking Big when building a success mindset. He encourages you to believe in your ability to be successful, raise the bar, and strive to become your greatest version.

You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero

“Your role is to keep your mindset strong, open, and ready to receive. And to do a whole lotta stuff you’ve never done before.” — Jen Sincero

I’ve read dozens of books on finances, including How To Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (the full-edition), I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi, and even the collosol Dictionary Of Wealth (a collection of over a dozen of the bestselling books on finances). Above all else, the easiest to read had to be You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero. Not only is she a talented writer, but her humor is unparallel, in a way that catches the reader's attention and doesn’t let go. When I first read this book, it took me less than a day, simply because I couldn’t seem to put it down! It’s informative, inspirational, and overall a great read.

Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

“If you don’t set a baseline standard for what you’ll accept in your life, you’ll find it’s easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that’s far below what you deserve. You need to set and live by these standards no matter what happens in your life.” — Tony Robbins

In my mind, Tony is the best life coach, public speaker, and philanthropist on the planet. Not only is he selfless in a way that inspires others, but he’s incredibly knowledgable when it comes to NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). Somehow he’s found a way to change the lives of others within minutes. You heard me — minutes. In his book, Awaken The Giant Within, he’s shared some of his best habit-breaking techniques, as well as how to build a mindset of success and personal achievement. After reading this book (the first time through), I should mention that I immediately quit smoking cigarettes. Yeah, it’s that good.

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

“Make small commitments and keep them. Be a light, not a judge. Be a model, not a critic. Be part of the solution, not the problem.” Stephen R. Covey

When it comes to the habits of highly successful people, Stephen does an excellent job at narrowing it down to the top 7 habits, which are unique in their own way. Instead of telling us to wake up early and exercise, he explains the importance of understanding before being understood (habit #5) and sharpening the saw (habit #7). However, one of my favorites has to be habit number #3, which is to put first things first, truly stressing priority management.

I’ve done my best to compile years of research focused on inspiring greatness within you. Check out my latest self-help book now, Self-Mastery: a Beginner’s Guide to Self-Improvement & Personal Productivity.