Many people believe that diving into a self-help book is a big undertaking -- that somehow working on ourselves requires the perfect setting for optimal impact and retention. Sadly, this keeps some amazing books at arm’s length from a lot of people who would benefit from them. What if you tossed out the ‘perfect setting required’ belief? I have. My preferred travel reading is almost exclusively personal development. Why? Because I wholeheartedly believe the vulnerability of traveling somewhere new, while opening ourselves to different cultures, perfectly primes the brain for personal growth. I have devoured each of these titles on a plane, train, or boat. I hope you pack one on your next trip.
Reading People by Anne Bogel
This is a book for readers who want more insight than a BuzzFeed quiz into who they are and why it matters. Blogger Anne Gobel has dug through the heavy hitters of the personality test world (Myers Briggs, Love Languages, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram) and shares how we as readers can use these insights to better our relationships, families, and ourselves.
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Arguably the most influential personal development book writer of our generation, Brené Brown has blown millions of minds with her studies and talks on vulnerability. In Daring Greatly, she beautifully dispels the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness, and argues that it is our most accurate measure of courage.
Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less by Joseph McCormack
A book designed for the business world but with practical applications for our everyday lives. Learning how to share more while saying less is a useful skill that extends far beyond the boardroom.
Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success by John Maxwell
Maxwell puts it as simply as this: The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure. Most people are never prepared to deal with failure, but we must learn to make failure our friend to overcome the stigma and truly succeed.
The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
The charisma myth is that you are either born with charisma, or you’re not. I love myth-busting and how Cabane articulately shows readers how to learn and perfect charismatic behavior.
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
How do you respond to expectations? Not sure? Read this book. Gretchen Rubin shows us how tendencies shape our behavior, our creativity, and our experiences. We learn that it’s far easier to succeed when we know what works for us.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
At least one-third of people we know are introverts. They would rather listen than speak. They innovate and create but dislike self-promotion. Quiet has the power to change how we see introverts, and possibly change how they see themselves.
The Go-Giver by Bob Berg
It’s rare to stumble across a modern parable. The Go-Giver shares the timeless sentiment that adding value to others’ lives will enrich and amplify your own. This is a short and sweet book that explains the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success and why applying them to your life will make the world a better place.