These self-help books are all you need to grow exponentially in 2025 and beyond. But you don’t need to read them all. You can pick one or two books for each category and study it carefully.
I have chosen them with three strict rules in mind:
1. The author’s background.
Do they have the necessary training to talk about the subject?
2. Are the insights and strategies simple to understand and implement?
I focus on books that give actionable advice that can help you better understand people or build a new social skill fast.
3. Is the book simple to read?
Many authors are experts in their field, but they use complex language, making it difficult for the average person to understand. So I focus on authors that go out of their way to make the subject compelling.
Master the Art of Persuasion with These Books
I have learned the hard way that persuading people by being confrontational and trying to dominate the conversation is a losing game.
Even when it works (and it rarely does), it leaves you exhausted.
This happens because people resist attempts to persuade them.
But what if you construct the conversation in a way so they don’t realize they are being influenced? Or better yet, to make them believe your idea is their own idea?
Well, these books will help you do just that.
Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff
Let’s say you have a solid business and now you’re at a stage where scaling is critical to stay ahead of the competition.
You need a lot of capital and you need it fast.
What you can do is approach wealthy investors and convince them to invest in your business.
And sure, you’re confident in your ability to present. But with so much at stake, even a small mistake can cost you the deal. So you need someone with more experience to do the convincing for you.
That’s when you call Oren Klaff.
He has a reputation for closing massive deals and has deep connections with wealthy investors. And since they’re very skeptical people, having someone like Oren on your side can instantly boost your credibility.
But his true strength lies in his method of pitching. Over his long career, he has developed a simple framework to close multi-million-dollar deals consistently.
His secret is neuroscience.
You see, most pitches fail because they overwhelm or bore the audience’s primitive brain.
But Oren makes sure to present the idea in a way that instantly grabs people’s attention, reduces perceived risks, and keeps them hooked. It’s all about bypassing logic and connecting with people on a primal level because that’s where decisions are actually made.
He holds nothing back in this book. He breaks down the entire framework in a way that anyone can understand and apply.
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
The widespread belief about negotiation or persuading people is to create a win-win situation.
That’s the highest form of achievement in these cases, right?
Well, Chris sees things differently.
What if you took everything you wanted while making the counterpart believe they got what they wanted too?
In other words, why not take 90% or 100% of the pie while leaving your counterpart convinced it was a perfectly fair 50/50 split?
It sounds impossible, but it’s not.
Chris Voss, the former head of the FBI International Negotiation Team, used this exact same approach in life-or-death situations. And you can use it in everyday situations as well.
You’ll learn to:
- Use silence as a powerful tool
- Understand and use their emotions to gain their trust
- Focus on the results, and not on compromises
- Ask calibrated questions that steer the conversation where you want it
Human Hacking by Christopher Hadnagy
I’ve been fascinated by social engineers for quite some time. These people manage to break into some of the most secure corporate and government buildings in the world.
We’re talking about places with advanced, multi-layered security where anyone without proper credentials is stopped, questioned, and arrested.
Yet, a skilled social engineer can bypass these defenses, complete their mission, and leave without raising any suspicion.
How do they do it?
They exploit certain psychological vulnerabilities that make us more likely to trust them and follow their lead. Basically, they have figured out practical ways to hack humans.
Now, Chris Hadnagy is one of the most popular social engineers and has written several books on the subject. But this one is my favorite.
He explains how the average person can use the same techniques and mindset to build rapport and influence people… all ethically and effectively.
Forbidden Keys to Persuasion by Blair Warren
The book starts with two events:
First, Blair sits down with a friend who’s a life insurance agent.
This guy believes in his product but he’s failing miserably at selling it.
He’s like, “People need what I’m selling. I know it. They know it. But they still won’t buy.”
Then, later that evening, Blair turns on the TV and the news is breaking about the Heaven’s Gate cult.
Marshall White has convinced 39 people to happily and voluntarily commit mass suicide.
He is left wondering… How the hell does one man inspire extreme devotion while another can’t persuade people to act in their own interest?
Blair argues that every one of us has hidden vulnerabilities – psychological blind spots that make us susceptible to manipulation. Or as he calls them, the Achilles’ heel of the human mind. And anyone who understands them can exploit them.
However, you can use the same principles for good. To inspire. To build trust. To persuade people ethically.
More importantly, this book forces you to look at the world and yourself clearly. Because like it or not, these psychological weapons are out there. The real question is: Will you learn to use them before someone uses them on you?
Now, the book is not for sale anymore. It’s not available on Amazon, or on his site.
However, I highly recommend reading his other book, 1 Sentence Persuasion. It’s much shorter but incredibly insightful.
Propaganda by Edward Bernays
Very few people know Edward Bernays but he was one of the most influential people of the 20th Century. He was the nephew of Freud and used his insights to better understand people and craft campaigns based on it.
Keep in mind that back then, most Ads appealed to people’s rationality… Here are the features of the product and here’s why it’s better than our competitors.
But Bernays flipped the script.
He crafted his campaigns in a way that doesn’t appeal to our logic but to our unconscious desires and fears.
In other words, he didn’t just sell products; He sold emotions, aspirations, and identities.
Now, even if he had good intentions and that he only tried doing his best for his clients…
What started as a way to sell ideas or products quickly mutated into a monster that changed the world… arguably for the worse. His work became the playbook for dictators to oppress people and for corporations to sell things we don’t really need.
So reading this book will help you understand the nature of this monster from its own creator.
You can listen to the audiobook for free on Youtube, and borrow the book on Archive.org
The Rape of The Mind by Joost Meerloo
You’ve learned about totalitarian regimes like the Nazis, the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and others still in power today.
If you’re reading this, you probably live in a democratic country or at least in a developing one.
Nevertheless, when you learn about the destruction, hunger, and constant assault on their citizens to the point that they resemble more robots than humans… You feel grateful for not living under those oppressive regimes.
And you should.
Out of pure luck, you happen to live in the right place, at the right time.
However, that doesn’t mean your mind is safe.
This book will make you realize that the same techniques of brainwashing and menticide are being used on us. Of course, in a much subtler way – but it’s enough to shape our worldview and live according to the interests of the powerful few.
Dr Meerlo explains in great detail these techniques and what types of people thrive or crumble under their weight.
Now, if you want to learn more about the book before reading it, I have created this animated summary on YouTube explaining the key concepts:
How to develop more confidence and resilience
No matter how many insights you possess about persuading people, unless you learn how to manage your emotions, then you won’t be very effective.
The reason is that people will go out of their way to make your life difficult and that stress will creep into how you talk to them.
If you come across as angry or nervous, they’ll instinctively see you as pushy or dishonest… even when you’re not lying… even when you have their best interest at heart.
The thing is that most people don’t strive to understand you. They are satisfied with making surface-level assumptions.
So you must know how to master your emotions and project confidence despite how chaotic the situation gets.
Plus, we live in a world where people are sensitive AF.
And what happens when you stay cool under pressure?
You immediately stand out. People perceive you as a leader… as someone who could be trusted.
How to Gain Confidence and Power in the Social World
This is not exactly a book but an advanced course created by me.
I used the PDF format because it’s less time-consuming than creating videos.
For over 7 years I have been studying psychology religiously and did my best to apply what I learned.
Then I decided to gather all the key concepts and strategies that really helped me and present them in this course.
It will save you years of painful trial and error trying to navigate the social world which can be complex, uncertain, and often ruthless.
You’ll learn how to:
- Perform at a high level in everything you do
- Find the root of anxiety and other emotional issues
- Eliminate those issues so they don’t bother you anymore
- Understand people better than they understand themselves
- Present yourself as an authority figure even if you have no credentials
- Master social skills including charisma and persuasion
Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished by David Goggins
These are my favorite self-help books.
I read them when I was facing challenges that I could consider existential threats.
To be clear, I was in therapy at the time. I only picked Can’t Hurt Me because I was intrigued by the story of David. How does this kid raised in a hellish environment turn into an unstoppable force?
Then I would discuss those insights with my therapist, and to my surprise, everything he taught checked out… In the sense that they were based on psychological principles.
He takes you into a deep exploration of the depths of human nature and shows you that it’s not that scary.
At least, it’s way less scary than the comfort of ignorance.
He helped me get a better sense of what I was facing and the necessary mindset to overcome those self-destructive habits.
But his books are much more than survival. You can use the same insights to perform at a high level in whatever you choose to pursue.
Think about it this way: Let’s say you’re at the bottom of the abyss and you use that knowledge to climb to the surface – That same knowledge can help you climb the mountain of success.
Now, if you haven’t heard of David Goggins, I suggest starting with a podcast interview.
Then dive into Can’t Hurt Me, which he calls the “Bachelor’s degree” in mental toughness.
Practice what you learn and reflect on your progress.
And if you’re ready to take things to the next level, move on to Never Finished, the “Master’s Degree.”
Both books will give you the necessary tools to grow exponentially.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson
Emperor Hadrian adopted Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus to become his successors.
They received the best education and training Rome had to offer. Yet they went in two different paths.
Marcus Aurelius went on to rule the empire for 19 years and is known as one of the greatest Roman emperors. He is also the only ruler who approximates Plato’s philosopher king.
Lucius, on the other hand, is known as one of the emperors.
The contrast is evident between these two extremely powerful men, but what made the difference?
Well, Marcus Aurelius chose Stoic philosophy as a way of life. He focused on his life’s purpose and steered away from trivial distractions.
On the other hand, Lucius would overindulge in alcohol, sex, and playing games. He was devoted to pursuing pleasure and had little interest in governing.
He was irresponsible and if he ruled alone, that behavior would bring him considerable problems. However, he never conspired against Marcus Aurelius. He just let him do his thing.
Now, this book teaches us how to apply the principles of stoicism as Marcus Aurelius did. It’s a practical combination of advice from ancient philosophy and modern psychology.
You can learn a lot when it comes to building discipline and resilience.
Refuse to make yourself miserable about anything by Albert Ellis
Ellis significantly impacted modern psychology; he developed rational emotive behavior therapy in the 1950s – a pioneering form of cognitive therapy.
The foundation of REBT was that emotions are primarily caused by how we perceive the situation, not the situation itself.
When we experience intense negative emotions, irrational thoughts and beliefs fuel our perception.
That distorted perception poisons our minds causing us to suffer more than we need to.
The antidote is thinking rationally.
Albert Ellis explains that we can lower the intensity of negative emotions by being rational.
In other words, you won’t go through life with your emotions going up and down based on the situations. You can keep it stable.
This book encourages you to analyze your thoughts and beliefs just like scientists do with new theories.
They consider various points of view, do experiments, and know that science is constantly evolving. New theories challenge the old ones, and they win if they are more effective in solving problems.
So, we don’t want to be rigid – holding the same beliefs we had since we were kids or teenagers. We want to test the old beliefs, create healthier ones and become more adaptable.
If you think this sounds like a lot of work, you would be right… it is a lot of work.
But believe me; it’s worth it.
The Socrates Express by Eric Weiner
When hearing the word philosophy, most people think about some professors arguing about abstract ideas.
Their language might be English but it might as well be Latin because, under that word salad, very little can be learned.
But here’s the thing: Philosophy was not a battleground for intellectuals. It was practical. It was therapy.
Back then, philosophers were trying to come up with effective ways to deal with daily struggles and find meaning in a chaotic world.
It was self-help before self-help turned into a simple hashtag.
In this book, Eric revives the original purpose of philosophy.
He introduces you to 14 legendary philosophers and their timeless lessons… From being authentic like Nietzsche to cultivating curiosity with Socrates, to appreciating the small things with Shōnagon, this book offers a clear guide to living well.
How to build a charismatic personality
If you want people to like you and want to be around you, and to confide in you, and to feel withdrawal symptoms if you stay absent from them, then read the following books…
Charisma Myth by Olivia Cabane
Having charisma can open many doors of opportunity for you. It gets easier to build relationships, lead a team, and sell your ideas or products.
Considering the benefits, it’s also easy to think that charisma is a special ability some lucky people are born with.
And there’s some truth in that; some people are naturally magnetic.
But charisma boils down to communicating in a way through your words and body language that attracts people. You know, it’s all about how they perceive you.
So it’s something we can learn and that’s why I’m recommending this book. Olivia breaks down the core aspects of charisma: Presence, Power, and Warmth and gives you practical steps to master each one.
Just Listen by Mark Goulston
I love the title.
It’s short and straight to the point.
Because let’s face it… the world would be a better place if people would stop talking for a moment and just listen. By listening, I mean paying attention and understanding why that person feels hurt, sad, or angry.
Here’s the thing… We tend to make snap judgments about people.
For example, we might see someone who is angry all the time and think, “What a jerk”.
But what if we stopped and thought about what’s behind that anger?
Maybe he is stressed because of debt.
Maybe one of his family members is very sick.
Maybe he IS just a jerk, but we can’t know for sure unless we listen with empathy and curiosity.
Mark is a psychiatrist who worked with suicidal patients and then worked as a consultant for large corporations. In this book, he lays out the mentality and tools to:
- Understand people, even when they’re being very defensive
- Stay calm in stressful situations
- Deal with toxic people without sinking to their level
The Code of Trust by Robin Dreeke
Trust is the currency of business and life.
It’s far more valuable than any currency out there.
We buy because we trust the brand.
We keep our money in the bank because we trust they’ll keep it safe.
We elect leaders because we trust they’ll improve our lives.
So, Wu-Tang was wrong – cash does not rule everything around us.
It’s trust that does.
Robin Dreeke is a former FBI agent who spent 20 years catching spies and even recruiting some of them to work for the US government.
He gives a powerful system you can follow to earn people’s trust and build meaningful relationships.
This is a relatively simple book to read but it’s not easy to apply those techniques. Because it requires doing one thing most people resist… setting aside our ego.
But Robin helps you catch those moments when your ego starts taking over and shows you how to shift your attention back to the other person.
He also gives plenty of examples from his time as an FBI agent and a behavioral analyst.
And just like in The Charisma Myth, for every obstacle you might encounter, you get a clear guide to overcome it.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
This is one of the best books I’ve read on productivity.
And it may seem like a weird choice for this category but hear me out.
Cal teaches you how to develop the mindset to become intensely focused on ONE thing which can be a task, a conversation, or learning a new skill. This allows you to solve complex problems quickly but it can also help you become more charismatic and persuasive.
Here’s why: Since most people have the attention span of a squirrel, what happens when you give your undivided attention?
You make them feel special and more likely to trust you.
But it gets better. You notice details in their word choices and body language that can provide clues about who they are and what matters to them. With these insights, you can tailor your communication style to match theirs and connect with them on a deeper level.
In other words, if you read this book and others from this category, you can become like Sherlock but with emotional intelligence.
Now, if this book doesn’t resonate with you, The Power of Now and Stillness is The Key are excellent alternatives for building presence and focus.
How to Become a Marketing Rockstar
If you pick one or two books we’ve covered so far and study them – Not read them but study them. Then you’ll be more than ready to sell your idea or product.
But what if you want to take things to the next level?
What if you want to share your vision or sell your products to a large number of people?
For that, you need marketing skills.
Now, marketing can seem overwhelming, but once you master the psychology of selling, everything gets easier. Because, at its core, what is marketing really?
It’s multiplied salesmanship.
$100M Offers and $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi
Most marketing books focus on what big companies are doing to bring in more revenue or improve management.
Those examples can help you understand the psychology of marketing but they don’t offer practical advice for new business owners. Or they seldom teach you how to grow your business when you have far fewer resources than your competitors.
That’s when Alex Hormozi comes in. He has extensive experience in growing multiple businesses, and that reflected in his books and videos.
Just like Oren Klaff, Alex emphasizes that framing is everything… How you present yourself and your product matters a lot.
For example, let’s say a customer states he can find your product cheaper elsewhere, should you lower your price?
No.
Instead, you frame your product in a way that makes the price and competitor look irrelevant.
You know, people don’t mind the price as long as they believe they’re getting value for it. And if they insist on lowering the price, you politely show them the door.
So by increasing its perceived value, you can charge higher prices and have more money to reinvest in making the product better.
In $100M Offers, Alex gives actionable frameworks to craft offers so good people feel stupid saying no.
But even an amazing offer will fail if it’s in front of the wrong audience.
So how can you attract people who truly need this product and are more likely to say yes?
You read $100M Leads.
It will show you the best channels (organic, paid, referrals, Ads, or partnerships) for your business so you can build a pipeline of qualified leads.
You’ll also learn how to nurture those leads, build trust, and turn them into loyal customers.
Plus, Alex shares how to automate and scale every step of the process.
And the best part? He presupposes that you’re starting with zero or very little money so any business owner can learn from him.
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz
Having a superior product is great, but it’s not enough to dominate the market.
We’ve all seen genuinely helpful products fading into obscurity. Meanwhile, there are tons of worthless products raking in millions in sales.
Why does this happen?
Because you cannot create a great product and hope the world will care. You also need to understand and intensify the emotions of your audience.
As Eugene puts it:
“This book is not about building better mousetraps. It is, however, about building larger mice, and then building terrifying fear of them in your customers.”
In other words, you need to frame your product as the perfect solution to an urgent problem and make people feel the intensity of that problem as if their lives depend on it.
For example, let’s say you’re selling a weight-loss product.
If you present it as a way to look better, you’ll only attract people motivated by vanity, which is a small market.
But if you connect obesity with major fears like heart problems, social rejection, or even loss of opportunities, then you appeal to a much larger audience. These people have a stronger emotional investment in solving that problem.
The same product. Bigger mice. Stronger fear.
So Eugene teaches you how to:
- Ethically use fear and urgency to make your product irresistible
- Identify the hidden desires and fears your product solves
- Turn those vague emotions into specific solutions and calls to actions
The book is very expensive on Amazon so you can find it here
Cashvertising by Drew Eric Whitman
As we have discussed, you don’t sell by explaining the features of your idea or product. Instead, you understand the underlying drives of your audience and frame your offer for maximum emotional impact and reachability.
Now, Drew follows a similar approach but here’s where he provides extra value:
– He shares over 100 specific techniques you can apply right now in your Ads, Articles, or Videos
– He teaches you to create vivid mental pictures that grab and keep their attention.
– These techniques are universal. They will work on promoting ANY product.
How to Become a Strategic Genius
At school, I found history a sleep-inducing subject.
But as I grew up, I started watching documentaries and reading some books, and my view changed.
The subject of history is like a well-written TV series.
You have all sorts of personalities from saints to sadists.
You have high stakes, betrayal, and a lot of drama.
And it’s all real.
This is why I’ll never understand how schools have managed to make it so mind-numbingly boring.
Now, beyond entertainment, history can teach you a lot about succeeding in the modern world.
You see, centuries come and go, empires rise and fall, and generations of people live and die but one thing remains the same… Human nature.
We’re still competing for power, resources, and survival, just like people did thousands of years ago.
And whatever you’re facing right now, someone else has figured out how to solve that same problem.
The Essence of War by Ralph D. Sawyer
Military thought is the complex product of both violent war and intellectual analysis.
– Ralph Sawyer
For centuries, dynasties in China fought viciously for more territory.
This forced them to constantly adapt and innovate.
But they didn’t only rely on military tactics… They combined philosophy, politics, and military strategy to create a complete framework for winning wars efficiently.
They documented what worked, why it worked, and how to make it better.
So this collection is the result of careful action and deep reflection.
And for most of history, this knowledge was always in the hands of an elite group of people.
I know, shocking.
If you were an ordinary person or even a soldier and possessed these materials, you could be accused of conspiracy. Because some of these materials provided the necessary steps to spark uprisings.
Initially, these teachings were transmitted orally and passed down in secrecy. But eventually, they were written down in bamboo slips.
Then in the 1970s, new archeological findings made it possible for the full collection to become accessible to the Chinese public.
In 1993, Ralph Sawyer’s translation of the Seven Military Classics brought these teachings to the rest of the world.
Now, the Essence of War takes the key concepts of the entire collection and presents them in a leaner, simpler way. But if you want to explore the historical and philosophical background of these teachings, then read the 7 Military Classics.
The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar by Phillip Barlag
After many victories, the unquestionable loyalty of the army towards Caesar seems to have ended.
Caesar promised them lands and riches but he kept pushing the delivery on those promises and his soldiers have had enough. They refuse to march further which is a direct violation of their oath.
At this crucial moment, Caesar doesn’t threaten or punish them. Instead, he does something worse.
He reaches to them and says, Citizens.
This word is a devastating blow to them.
Why?
Because up to that point, he referred to them as Comrades. It was a term that meant they were equal to him and were fighting for the same thing. But by calling them Citizens, he stripped away their elite status. Now they are just some ordinary Roman citizens.
Since they didn’t want to lose that connection to their charismatic leader, they begged for forgiveness.
The revolt dissipated and they followed him to many other battles.
Now, it’s easy to label Caesar as ruthless. After all, he brought the end of the Roman Republic and led many bloody wars.
And it’s true. He was.
But that’s not why the troops were devoted to him.
He always marched alongside his soldiers, going through the same grueling conditions as they did.
Whatever they lived, he lived.
He also made sure that every soldier was well compensated for their service, even if there were occasional delays. Many Roman citizens admired him for redistributing land, pushing for debt reforms, and investing in large public works.
In this book, Philip highlights some of the most important moments in Caesars’ career and derives valuable lessons from them. You can apply them in any field where strategic thinking is needed. So basically anywhere 😊
The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi’s Book
Musashi is, without a doubt, one of the most successful samurai in history.
He fought in over 60 duels and lived to the age of 61.
The secret to his success wasn’t just that he was a gifted and highly disciplined swordsman. He also mastered the art of psychological warfare.
In every fight, Musashi adapted his approach to break the opponent’s confidence before the fight even began.
By age 60, Musashi reflected deeply on his battles and decided to put those insights into writing.
However, his intention wasn’t simply to document sword fighting techniques. He explained that these principles could be applied beyond martial arts… to strategy, leadership, and mastering oneself.
I recommend this translation because it simplifies Musashi’s wisdom without losing depth.
While many people might like the original text, I prefer the reinterpretation of his work. As you may have noticed from this list, I’m not a fan of books with complex language.
You can borrow this book from Archive.org
The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene
This book is very similar to The Socrates Express.
Both authors have studied some of the greatest minds and distilled their wisdom into actionable lessons.
While Eric helps you deal with life’s toughest questions, Robert dives into the raw reality of life’s battles.
He draws on strategies of generals, political figures, and artists to give you 33 timeless lessons for outsmarting your rivals.
Thankfully, most of us will never participate in a war, but everyday life sure feels like one… at work, at home, and often in our minds. But by improving your strategic thinking, you can make better decisions and gain the upper hand in tough situations.
If Eric asks, How should we live? Robert asks, How do we win?
In other words, he gives you a manual for winning battles you didn’t choose but cannot afford to lose.
The Prince by Machiavelli
If you have an idealistic view of the world…
If you go out of your way to help anyone…
If you would never hurt a fly…
Then this book goes against everything you believe, but you must read it.
Niccolò Machiavelli doesn’t care about how the world should be but how it is.
He forces you to confront two harsh realities:
First, powerful people play by different rules. They understand the mechanics of the social world and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.
Second, people are ungrateful, fake, and driven by self-interest.
This doesn’t mean they’re selfish all the time. Under the right circumstances, they can be generous and even self-sacrificing. And those who preach morality the loudest are often the first to abandon it when gaining some power. They value the appearance of being moral rather than actually living it, especially when it serves their goals.
In addition, Machiavelli doesn’t suggest being cruel just for the sake of it, nor does he reject doing good.
Instead, he argues that gaining and maintaining power should be your top priority. Without it, your ideals mean nothing.
At the same time, you need to acknowledge the role of Fortuna (luck or chance) which can disrupt even the best plans.
Now, I don’t fully subscribe to the idea of being outright selfish. Living only for yourself is a lonely and miserable existence. You must find and fight for a bigger purpose… something much bigger than yourself.
But I do believe that being weak doesn’t make you virtuous. True virtue is about being powerful and choosing to use it for good.
So you can’t gain power, much less use it for good, unless you truly understand the game and outsmart those who are willing to play dirty.
That’s why you need to study The Prince.
