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Looking to spark meaningful changes and achieve your maximum potential in life? The most influential self-help books and podcasts provide guidelines for becoming the best version of yourself. Whether you prefer a little motivation listening on your headphones at the office, like to kick back to an inspirational book or two in the evenings, or both, these books and podcasts on self-improvement will provide wisdom for positive growth and change.
1. CAPTIVATE: THE SCIENCE OF SUCCEEDING BY VANESSA VAN EDWARDS
Ever wonder how to make better first impressions? Do you feel awkward meeting people during a night out? Want to know how to understand people and their behaviors better? Vanessa Van Edwards takes a scientific approach to understanding social interactions and building better connections with people. This book lays out ways to make a good first impression, become a better conversationalist, and improve interpersonal intelligence at work, home, or any social situation with techniques backed by science.
2. THE ART OF HAPPINESS BY THE DALAI LAMA AND HOWARD C. CUTLER
In this book, one of the world’s pre-eminent spiritual leaders collaborates with a psychiatrist and expert in the science of human happiness. The two authors share practical wisdom on how to overcome everyday problems and achieve contentment. Rather than basing happiness on external circumstances and events, The Art of Happiness explores how systematic training of the heart and mind leads to greater happiness and a better outlook on life.
3. THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS OF SUCCESS BY DEEPAK CHOPRA
In this spiritual pocket guide, New Age author and trained physician, Deepak Chopra, looks at how living in harmony will natural law leads to success in all areas of life in just under 120 pages. The easy-read explains how in living in harmony with nature, good health, a sense of well-being, material abundance, and healthy relationships spring forth naturally.
4. THE ART OF CHARM PODCAST
The Art of Charm podcast focuses on self-improvement with episodes featuring interviews and discussions with experts, celebrities, and entrepreneurs on networking, business, relationships, and life-hacking. The podcast launched back in 2006 and has since become one of the top-rated podcasts with hundreds of episodes available online. Their AoC Toolbox in particular makes a great place to start with quality tips on social skills for top performers.
5. BOLD: HOW TO GO BIG, CREATE WEALTH AND IMPACT THE WORLD BY PETER H. DIAMANDIS AND STEVEN KOTLER
After 300 hours of interviews, 15 years of research on human performance, and 5,000 hours of meta analysis, Bold takes a critical look how to recognize opportunities and make your vision a reality. This book on self-improvement lays down a roadmap for success, looking at the psychological tools and mental strategies that have helped some of the world’s most successful people achieve their goals.
6. THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING BY SOGYAL RINPOCHE
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides the ultimate introduction to the spiritual wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. The book merges ancient wisdom with modern research, providing a manual for how to apply spiritual practice in a modern world through practicing compassion and training the mind through meditation. In the words of the author, the book inspires “a quiet revolution in the whole way we look at death and care for the dying, and so the whole way we look at life and care for the living”.
7. THE TONY ROBBINS PODCAST
The name Tony Robbins has pretty much become synonymous with self-help. Tony Robbins has helped over 50 million people around the world create significant, long-lasting improvements in their lives using proven strategies. His podcast explores ways to achieve success in business, relationships, and finances with excerpts from Tony Robbins’ events along with interviews with prominent experts spanning many fields.
