Apart from reading the subject books, it is equally important for the students to read books of other genres for the overall development of their brain. Let’s admit the fact that not all books are written equal, and personal development books definitely outperform the other genres.
We usually encourage our children to read the literary classics by Shakespeare, Austen and other authors. Though they should necessarily be part of your tbr (to-be-read) list, the importance of reading personal development books should not be overlooked as they potentially bring about a positive change in students and help them lead a more meaningful life.
Here are the top 10 personal development books that every student should read to become a better version of themselves.
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This is a highly recommended personal development book that every student must get their hands on. Written by Dale Carnegie, the book gives an insight on how to connect with the outside world.
As a student, it is essential to know how to have a meaningful conversation and win the hearts of friends. This book will teach you to be influential which, in turn, is must for a good career and social life.
2. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Lean In is a book that should essentially be read by all girl students. It highlights the experiences of Sandberg as a former Google employee and Chief Executive officer of Facebook and of other women.
How they made their way by leaning in and claimed what they aimed for. Instead of depicting women as deplorable, she draws a path and advice on how women can break out from the stereotypes and face the professionalism.
Learn to take risks and not always think over having it all. Don’t give up on your career just for the sake of having kids.
3. Small Move, Big Change by Caroline Arnold
Have you also accepted that resolutions are meant to be broken? That they are doomed to be a failure as soon as they are put to thought? Caroline Arnold in his Small Move, Big Change tried to solve the mystery of why resolutions are difficult to be kept.
According to him, we generally fail to keep our resolutions because they are too broad to be achievable. He came up with a solution that resolutions should be broken down into micro resolutions that are easy to achieve with small behavioral changes in our daily lives.
This should be done by identifying the foil habits and incorporating the better ones with the help of the micro-resolutions.
4. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
For students, who want to be great entrepreneurs or just want to be more productive in fewer hours, it’s a must-read. Often criticized and still loved by many, this book is a voice of all those who don’t believe in working 9 to 5 job and waiting for retirement to be able to enjoy yourself at the dearth of age.
He provides valuable lessons on how it is possible to earn more with reduced working hours and how he managed to earn 40000$ in a month from 40000$ in a year by working just 4 hours in a week.
5. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
This book is all about finding the way to happiness. Gretchen dedicated her life to every person’s quest for happiness. She did so by tracking the behaviour and habits that lead to her happiness on the various activities of her life.
Though the definition of happiness is different for everyone, she gave a blueprint of how one can create their own happiness. This book will enable you to find ways to remain happy and thereby improve the quality of your life.
6. Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success by John C. Maxwell
Who likes to fail and that too repeatedly? Well, none! But the truth is only a few get to be successful in their first attempt. Failing is a part of life but accepting it and still emerging out strong is an art.
John C Maxwell in this book helps out to deal with failure and help you treat failure as a momentary event rather than an epidemic. He brings out how each failure will help you out in growing better. This book will help you to overcome your failures by learning to analyze them and conclude them.
7. The Attention Revolution: Unlocking The Power Of The Focused Mind by Alan Wallace
We all are living in a world with various distractions. It is now high time to get away from these distractions. Wallace in his book, The Attention Revolution, has taken the initiative to help out many by sharing techniques of meditation that will help you to be more focused and attentive towards things you are easily distracted from. It helps in self-control and directs your mind towards the important things.
8. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture is actually based on Randy’s last lecture as a computer science professor after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. No, this book is not about dying, instead, it is about living to the fullest.
The lecture was titled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams and focuses on meeting your childhood dreams without limiting them to society’s desires. It is a book combined with intelligence, humour, and inspiration and is left as a legacy for us and his kids.
9. Getting Things Done by David Allen
This book will definitely help you in organizing your wayward thoughts and procrastination. It says to follow the 2-minute rule which states if a task requires less than 2 minutes to complete, do it now.
If it takes more than that than follow the five steps: capture, clarify, organize, reflect and engage. Incorporate these two rules in your life, be it in school or work, and your life will be simpler.
10. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
This is an amazing book which tells how influential your habits can turn out to be. He also discusses the ways in which you can hack your habits to change the outcome. Thus, read this book to recognize your habits and get rid of old patterns.
Wrapping Up
Reading is an essential habit which every student must inculcate. Thus, in addition to studying academic subjects with your tutor, read the books mentioned above and develop your overall personality.
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