10 Personal Growth Books You MUST Read

10 Essential Personal Development Reads for Transforming Your Mindset, Relationships, and Personal Growth

As a self-help author, I’m often asked which personal development books have had the greatest impact on me. It’s a funny question to answer because I’m not a huge personal growth book (or podcast) junkie—and here’s why. I teach what I know, what I’ve learned through my own life experiences. Because of that, I want my work to be authentic and original—rooted in my ideas, my methods, my journey—not a mash-up of what everyone else teaches.

However, there are a few books that have helped me experience personal breakthroughs and given me aha moments. They’ve allowed me to understand myself on a deeper level and work through my own struggles. That’s what I look for in a personal development book: something that helps me find the answers I’m seeking or provides a deeper understanding of a concept. Whenever I do, I always credit the source, which is why this list won’t surprise you—these are books I often talk about.

Recently, I’ve been on a quest to understand relationships better and become a healed, loving partner. That journey led me to search for the best books to help me achieve that outcome, and they’re listed below. This is how I approach personal growth: when I notice something in myself or my life that I want to change or improve, I find the book that gives me the tools to make that transformation.

That’s also what inspires me to write self-help books—I want to give others the tools to find the same answers.

So, here are my favorites! I’d love to hear your thoughts and any of your favorite books that I might have missed or should read next.

You can find all my personal growth book recommendations HERE.

• My favorite books set in France

• My favorite novels set in Italy

• My top 100 novels

• My favorite Historical Fiction

• My favorite Thrillers & Mysteries

• My favorite cookbooks

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#1 The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

I’ve read this book at least six times, and each time, I take pages of notes and have new aha moments. It’s had a huge impact on me since I first read it 15 years ago. Somehow, it always seems to align with whatever I’m going through at the time, delivering exactly the message I need to hear. It’s so powerful that I’ve given copies to my kids and many others over the years. If you’ve never read it, now is the time! And if you have, maybe it’s time to read it again.

#2 How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

I finally read this book after having it on my wish list for years, and it blew me away! Its lessons and insights are timeless, even though it was written in 1936. This is the book on effective communication—one that everyone, especially leaders, must read and take to heart. The concepts are simple to apply and incredibly effective. If you’ve struggled with communication, found yourself in toxic environments or unhealthy relationships, or dealt with tense work situations, this book is a must-read. (I gave my copy to my son which is why it’s not pictured above).

#3 Secure Love- Julie Menanno

This is by far the most important relationship book I’ve ever read. It taught me so much about myself—my own attachment style and how to shift from an insecure attachment to a secure one. It’s a must-read for everyone, whether you're in a relationship now or want to be in one. It helps you understand what you’re drawn to and why, and it showed me how to heal my attachment wounds so I could be ready to receive healthy love.

#4. The 5 Love Languages- Gary Chapman

This book is a must-read for anyone in a relationship or wanting one. It’s a classic for a reason—the advice is still just as relevant today. It’s so important to do the work to understand yourself and what you need so you can communicate those needs to the people you love. This book helps you not only recognize your own needs but also understand your partner’s, so you can show up for them in the way they need.

#5. Think and Grow Rich -Napoleon Hill

This is another classic for a reason! It’s the definitive book on manifesting money and abundance, showing how your mindset determines whether you attract wealth or not. It’s a powerful, dense read, so I recommend tackling it with a notepad, pen, and highlighter. Take it in small chunks to really absorb the message and apply it to your life. This book is proof that you can manifest wealth—and it all starts with shifting your mindset.

#6. As a Man Thinketh -James Allen

I’ve read this one several times, it’s my go-to book on the power of your thoughts to create wealth, abundance and success. Read it with a highlighter, pen and notepad!

#7. You Can Heal Your Life- Louise Hay

This was the first self-help book I picked up after my divorce. I remembered seeing Louise Hay on The Oprah Show, talking about how we can change our thoughts, and the concept blew my mind. Full disclosure—I tried to read this book back then but only made it a few chapters in. It felt too complex for me at the time. But it did spark a deep desire to figure out how to change my thoughts in a simple, practical way. That’s exactly what I’ve been teaching ever since—and what I’m sharing in my new book, Think It.

#8. Hustle Believe Recieve -Yours truly!

Not to be a duche here, but honestly—writing this book changed my life! It was only the third self-help book I’d ever read cover to cover (the first being #6 on this list and the second being #1), so I learned a lot in the process—through writing it, running the beta coaching program alongside it, and conducting all the interviews. This is the exact method I still teach my clients today and the same program I train life coaches to teach in my Centrella University life coach training program. If you haven’t read it yet, now’s the perfect time!

#9. The Power of Positive Thinking -Norman Vincent Peale

The classic book on mindset and how you can change your life by changing your thoughts.

#10. You Are the Placebo Dr. Joe Dispenza

I recently listened to this book and found it to be a powerful tool for understanding the science behind how your thoughts create your reality, shape your world, and manifest outcomes. I first discovered Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work on The Ed Mylett Show a few years ago, and it blew my mind to see concrete science backing up what I’ve been teaching in Think It for the past 15 years. He approaches mindset through science, so if you’re skeptical about how changing your thoughts can transform your life, his work lays out the science behind what I’ve been teaching for years. This book focuses specifically on the power of the mind to heal the body and the body/mind connection.

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Thoughts? What’s your favorite personal development book? Let’s add it to the list, comment below.

The Best Books Set in Italy

About the Author: Sarah Centrella is a multi #1 best-selling author, master life coach, executive coach, speaker and the Founder of VIVIAMO.

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