10 Books That Will Teach You Invaluable Life Skills

It’s never too late to learn a new skill; whether it’s improving memory, time-management, confidence or your negotiation and persuasion abilities. Here is a list of 10 books that teach you invaluable skills and unlock your mind, helping you live a happier, more successful life.

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

First published in 1936 How to Win Friends and Influence People has become an international best-seller over the years, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. The self-help guide also earned a spot on Time Magazine’s 100 most influential books of all time in 2011. Dale Carnegie offers timeless advice on the complex nature of our relationships and interactions with others and shows us a simple and elegant framework to make other people like us, to win people over, and to change their views without arousing resentment.

2. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

Dr. David J Schwartz has been long regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the subject of motivation and spent his life teaching leadership development and strategy. His book The Magic of Thinking Big is a powerful and comprehensive guide consisting of a lifetime of distilled wisdom. The book deals with topics that include how to escape the rut, attain the confidence to accomplish your goals, and more importantly, to find greater happiness and peace of mind in life.

3. The Power of Positive Thinking  by Norman Vincent Peale

This phenomenally successful best-seller was first published in 1952 and has since helped millions turn their life around with the help of positive thinking. Dr. Peale demonstrates unique methods to invigorate your life, overcome anxiety, believe in yourself and harness the power of positive thinking to reach your goals.

4. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies since it was first published in 1937. The book has been a resounding success and remains one of the most enlightening financial advice books out there. It outlines ways and secrets to achieving financial success by changing the way you think. Although the main theme of the book revolves around financial success, the book is more than just a get-rich-quick guide, it's about achieving whatever you want in your life.

5. The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss is an efficiency guru who cracked the code to escape the 9-to-5 life with his self-help book “The 4–Hour Workweek” in 2007. The book was subsequently translated to more than 35 languages and sold over 1.3 million copies, retaining a best-selling rank on the New York Times list for 4 consecutive years. In his unique take on how to value effectiveness over efficiency, the modern-day entrepreneur shares unconventional wisdom that can help any aspiring entrepreneur automate and delegate much of their routine and mundane tasks such as checking emails, thereby giving them more freedom and time to focus on ideas and business development.

6. Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage by Paul Ekman

Paul Ekman is a renowned expert in human emotions and nonverbal communications. In his book Telling Lies, Ekman reveals his groundbreaking research into the psychology behind lying and methods of identifying lies. The book trains people to interpret cues from voice, body language, and facial micro- expressions that give away a lie and can help them spot when someone is not being entirely candid.

7. 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

Have you ever felt like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done? We’ve all been there. We would all like to read more, have more time to work out and try exciting new hobbies, but we simply don’t have enough time. Most of us give up thinking there is no solution to this problem, but after speaking with dozens of happy and successful people Laura Vanderkam has found one. Vanderkam realized that successful people allocate their time in a better way than the rest of us and goes on to explain how we can all sleep eight hours a night, exercise every day, make time for new hobbies, all without compromising our careers and family life.

8. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina

Brain Rules is a fascinating and deeply insightful study of 12 principles that can help us make the best use of our brains. The book describes how every brain is wired differently and seeks to improve our understanding of the science behind the workings of the mind. The book examines how learning and memory work and how daily activities such as exercise, stress, and sleep affect our brain.

9. Tools of Titans (2016) by Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss has interviewed and befriended dozens of billionaires, athletes and successful people from all walks of life throughout his journey as a successful entrepreneur and podcaster. Tools of Titans is a treasure trove of invaluable advice from highly successful people and world-class performers that Ferriss has interviewed over the years. The book identifies patterns of success by diving into what successful people do each morning, what their workout routines look like, what books they read, and how they plan their day.

10. Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun

Scott Berkun is an American author and professional speaker who has been speaking to crowds of all sizes for the last 15 years. In Confessions of a Public Speaker, he reveals the tricks behind great public speaking. Berkun describes how anyone can learn these skills and master the art of communication. This book is a must-read for managers, teachers and anyone with an interest in public speaking. The book evaluates how to coherently present your ideas and make people listen when you speak. It is a devastatingly honest, lively, and entertaining page-turner that is dotted with embarrassing disaster stories from Berkun’s personal experiences.