10 Brilliant Self-Development Books You Haven’t Read

I was going to finish off this trilogy of posts by ranking my all time top 20. I had plans to embed a drum roll so as you moved up the list from 20 to 1 you could build the tension and whip yourself into a dervish like frenzy.

Then I realized how ridiculous that idea was when at least 8 of the books that would be on my list are ones I rated in previous posts, and anyway few people whip themselves into a frenzy over self development books.

So instead, I’m going to finally stop tryinging to catch and flog this particular horse and just tell you about the 10 best books (or audio programs) I have ever read, that you probably haven’t.

That isn’t a challenge by the way, so if you’re the proud owner of some or all I apologize for misleading you and there’s no need to tell me my headline was misleading. If you sue me the best your likely to walk away with is a couple of very pissed off Dobermans and 24 Coach purses.

The Maverick Mindset – John Eliot

This book is actually an audio program. As far as I’m aware it have never been released as a book, although I’m led to believe Eliot’s book “Overachievement’ covers a lot of the same ground.

One of the major reasons I love this and have listened to it so many times is the delivery by Eliot, it’s absolutely spot on and I’m not sure how it would transfer to the written word.

There are so many great stories from his time as a Sport Psychologist at Rice University and whilst growing up with a father who worked with the US Olympic Ski team, that it’s been a constant mine of information to me.

It is heavily sports slanted so if you hate sports, it may not be for you. But it will show you  that you can think differently if you really want to and I have never had anybody that bought it tell me anything other than they loved it.

I Know What To Do, So Why Don’t I Do It – Nick Hall

I only stumbled upon this very recently courtesy of friend, Mike Panebianco. MIke may sound like a cheap Italian vermouth, but he can spot a self development gem from 20 paces let me tell you, and this really is a gem.

Unfortunately it’s another bloody Nightingale Conant production, which loosely translated, means it’s way too expensive. If I tell you though that I immediately went out and bought my own copy and also tracked the book down (from Halls own site) which isn’t even on Amazon, you’ll get an idea of highly I rate it.

If you want to know why reframing works from a scientific perspective, this is the book for you. If you want to understand the power of visualization, this is the book for you. If you want to know why beliefs are so powerful, this is the book for you. If you want to know the power of goal setting, this is the book for you.

Wait a minute, that’s all the stuff I do. Do NOT buy this book! Hire me, or buy my book.

The NLP Belief-Busting Sleight of Mouth Mastery Series DVD Set – Jamie Smart

Without doubt the worst titled book in this list. That’s because it’s not a book as the title suggests, but about 10 hours of  DVd’s with Jamie Smart teaching Sleight of Mouth.

Don’t get wrapped up too much with the title  and what sleight of mouth is, because it’s the content that is so important here.

At close on $300 this is expensive, but if I tell you it is the single best training aid I have ever bought, you’ll get an idea of the value of it.

It is useful for people wanting to learn self development techniques from a master trainer (and the best I have ever worked with by the way), but it is indispensable as a coaches tool also.

Smart has a brilliant way of explaining NLP so that it sounds easy (it is) and implementing it in real life so that it actually is easy. His use of stories and metaphors to explain points is second to none.

Note: I just clicked through to the Salad site to check the link and they have reduced this to about $150!  It’s the bottom left product.

The Big Five For Life – John Strelecky

Simply put, one of the best business books I have ever read and the reason I wanted to partner up with John Strelecky. It’s technically a novel, but the story contains some stunning business and self development wisdom.

It is the story of a dying business man as he explains to his protegee and friend the keys to long lasting success in life and business

If you’re after get rich quick schemes and ways to fast track yourself to the top, this isn’t the book for you I’m afraid, but if you employ people and want to know how to create win/win situations it very much is.

The Rainbow Machine – Andy Austin

The best book on NLP I’ve ever read. The main reason being it’s about the only book I have ever read on NLP that had me laughing out loud. Austin is a maverick of that there is no mistake. He’s like some bizarre cross between Milton Erickson, Richard Bandler and Robin Williams.

He thinks nothing of throwing protocol out of the window when dealing with clients and once spent an entire session dressed as Satan without his client asking why.The fact of the matter is he gets the job done and is a brilliant therapist.

How To Be Brilliant – Michael Heppell

I haven’t actually read this book, but I have listened to the live audio version several times and I love it. Heppell is like the British version of Jeffrey Gitomer, only he’s better. He’s a great motivational speaker and offers a clear, concise message about what you need to do to be brilliant, amazingly enough.

Worth getting just for the alternative definition of FEAR he offers. And no, I’m not talking about false evidence appearing real, it’s much funnier than that!

By the way, if you are a bit of a newbie to self development, his book ‘Brilliant Life’ is a fabulous starting point that explains some of the basic concepts. A bit like a dummies book for self development for people that aren’t actually dummies.

The Motivated Mind – Raj Persaud

I bought this book a few years ago back in England and never finished it. However, I pulled it out a few months ago to find something I thought I had read in it and was amazed at how much great stuff I had missed out on.

Persaud has since been found guilty of plagiarism after he lifted a colleagues work in a medical paper he published, and that almost caused me leave it off the list. But that would be an injustice because it’s an excellent insight into the human mind that deserves to be read no matter who wrote it.

It drifts between psychology, coaching and common sense and (he even takes time to slam Life Coaching, he’s a bit of an arrogant arse to be honest) and he’s not the funniest dude on the planet, nor even in his own household I would imagine, but it’s still a great book if you can track a copy down.

Embracing Fear – Thom Rutledge

I love Thom Rutledge because he is a real person. He’s a therapist that admits he had a huge alcohol problem and that his life isn’t perfect or even close to being perfect. He’s funny, intelligent and very, very good at what he does.

Embracing fear is a thoughtful and amusing book with more of its fair share of A-ha! moments.  If fear is a problem in your life then this is good a starting point as any.

The Heart of Success – Rob Parsons

The book is written as a novel, when a new MBA student who lost his father from working himself to death, meets a retired Professor. The professor starts to mentor him and to help him understand that coming first in life isn’t the same as coming first in business.

Rob Parsons helps you realize that there is more to life than work and money. If you think working 80 hours a week is cool and missing the first 10 years of your kids lives is necessary to be a success then this book is definitely for you.

The Power Of Story – Jim Loehr

The follow up to the brilliant Power of Full Engagement by Loehr and Shwartz is almost as good. Loehr now on his own takes things to the next level by talking about the stories we tell ourselves and others and the effect they have on our lives.

This would be a great companion book to ‘Learned Optimism’ to really understand how the language you use and what you are saying completely dictates the quality of your life.

Hope you have enjoyed reading the last 3 posts and normal service will be resumed next time.

If you have any gems that you think nobody else will have heard of us let me know in the comments. I do appreciate the e-mails I get very much, but your opion is worth throwing ‘out there’ for others to benefit from too.

Something else I want to say before I go. If you ever have any particular topics you’d like me to write about please let me know in the comments. This blog is to help people and sometimes I go off on my own little tangents and forget that.