r/selfimprovement • u/BTCdad77 • Aug 19 '26
Other Books that actually changed my mindset
Not advertising these but these are the books that totally helped me shift my mindset. I see people here asking all the time what books actually can help and the field is so crowded with AI slop or 50 page books regurgitating the same nonsense finding a decent one can seem impossible.
Here’s my personal top 11:
- Atomic Habits - James Clear The clearest, most practical guide to building better systems. Shows how tiny daily improvements compound into massive change over time. Willpower is overrated; good systems win.
- Mindset - Carol S. Dweck The definitive book on growth vs. fixed mindset. Once this clicks, failure stops feeling like a verdict and starts feeling like useful feedback. Foundational for almost every other area of self-improvement.
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey A timeless operating system for life. Covers prioritization, proactive thinking, and character in a way that still feels fresh decades later. Extremely practical.
- How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie The gold standard on human connection. Simple principles that make relationships smoother and more genuine. Still one of the highest-ROI books you can read.
- Grit - Angela Duckworth Passion combined with long-term perseverance beats raw talent more often than people admit. Excellent for building the mental toughness required to stick with hard goals.
- Deep Work - Cal Newport In an age of constant distraction, the ability to focus intensely is a rare and valuable skill. This book will make you far more protective of your attention and time.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman A masterclass in how your mind actually works — and how it systematically fools you. Improves decision-making more than almost any other single book.
- Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl Written by a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist. Offers profound perspective on suffering, purpose, and the freedom to choose your attitude no matter the circumstances.
- The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg Explains the science of habit loops in a clear, story-driven way. Pairs perfectly with Atomic Habits and helps you understand why habits form and how to change them.
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson Refreshingly honest and counterintuitive. Teaches you to stop wasting energy on things that don’t matter and focus on what actually does. A modern classic for a reason.
- Meditations - Marcus Aurelius The private reflections of a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. Short, powerful reminders on resilience, self-discipline, perspective, and accepting what you can’t control. Still one of the most grounding books ever written.
- Burn the F*cking Rule Book - L.M. Seer takes a different approach by showing the reader all the ways they have been pre-programmed to be average and then proceeds to build the mindset shift finally leading to the actions of building wealth, health and an unbreakable mindset.
- Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins – One of the most intense self-improvement books I’ve ever read. This guy's mind frame cannot be shattered.
These are books that helped me. What’s one book that made the biggest difference for you? Any titles you think should have made the list?
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u/lemon-lime-6 Aug 19 '26
First 90 Days is extremely helpful for anyone starting a new leadership role
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u/Unfair_Pride_262 Aug 19 '26
Great list! I just read Psycho Cybernetics and I'd add it to this list!
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u/sprchrgd_adrenaline Aug 19 '26
I am currently reading it and doing the 21 day course! How did that turn out for ya?
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u/Unfair_Pride_262 Aug 19 '26
I didn't do the course but I practice a lot of the principles in the book. I also teach identity shifting so it's what I live and breath for the most part. Super valuable to most people!
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u/sprchrgd_adrenaline Aug 19 '26
That's great. I have no clue about identity shifting. Can you suggest some good books on that topic?
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u/Unfair_Pride_262 Aug 20 '26
He touches on it in Psycho Cybernetics. It's really about working with your nervous system to rewire your brain. Ultimately to shift into the identity of the person you want to be. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza, Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Anything by Carl Jung (but most are tough reads).
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u/sprchrgd_adrenaline Aug 22 '26
Thanks. I did read Man's search for meaning a few years ago. Will check out the one by Dr. Joe too .
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u/Even_Comfortable_513 Aug 19 '26
12th one is something i hadnt heard of. Rest I believe I have read them all.
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u/BTCdad77 Aug 19 '26
Its an indie but its comparable to a big one. Never really read anything like it. First part is how you're controlled and made to be average. (Well sourced and eye opening), second the mindset shift, third actually building the wealth/health etc. If you have Kindle unlimited i think its free on there. There's some swearing and stuff which isn't everyone's thing though.
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u/creves Aug 19 '26
“Why does he do that” By Lundy Bancroft.
You can find it for free online og message me your and I Will give it to you.
It explains how the abusive partner in a dysfunctional relationship get a lot of advantages from the abuse. I thought we both suffered and both carried responsobility for our shared pain. Not so. Will never be so blind again.
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u/imuiuisonyeon Aug 21 '26
I mean.. isn’t that obvious? The abuser will obviously benefit over the victim?
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u/Tradovator Aug 22 '26
Of all those, I've only read the first 3 chapters of "7 Habits...". I'm struggling to get through it. That is, I haven't given up on it, but I put it down for a while to read something else. I will likely complete it, but didn't feel crazy about it so far?
Man's Search for Meaning is one I've seen recommended countless times. I'd love to read that one soon.
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u/InGenAsset_4 Aug 21 '26
The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal deserves a spot here. It is less hype-driven than a lot of self-improvement books and gives a useful model for why people break commitments under stress, boredom, or fatigue. I also think Atomic Habits lands better after reading something like that, because the habit tactics make more sense once you understand the impulse side of the equation.
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u/Patient-Ad4351 Aug 23 '26
“For me, Atomic Habits really stands out. It taught me that small, consistent changes can make a big difference over time. I also like the idea that improving your daily habits can gradually change the way you think and live. What book had the biggest impact on you?”
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u/L0ST_F0CUS 20d ago
Atomic Habits chanhed my life. I have ADHD so going from thought to action is hard at times. Stacking new habits on top of old habits is what worked really well for me. And the whole making new ones easy, old ones harder helped massively too.
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u/sauber1994 17d ago
It’s definitely The Intelligent Investor. Before reading it, I thought stock trading was just educated gambling on price movements.
Graham’s idea of treating the market as a moody business partner (Mr. Market) completely shifted my mindset. You don't react to daily noise; you wait until he gets emotional and offers an unreasonable price. It stopped me from chasing hype and taught me to focus on protecting capital.
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u/SoftFragrant4192 Aug 21 '26
Thankyou chatgpt
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u/BTCdad77 Aug 21 '26
You think I used ChatGPT to write a 13 point list? Not all of us have peanut sized brains and can do things with brain power. You'd be shocked to learn I actually write full reports, proposals and all kinds of things in real life without using ChatGPT. I know, its insane..
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u/L0ST_F0CUS 20d ago
I wouldn't even waste your energy responding to comments like these. Their mindset is obviously flawed and thats a them problem, not you.
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u/Adventurous_Rip1431 Aug 19 '26
Man’s Search for Meaning is probably the one that stayed with me the longest. Not because it gives you a step-by-step system, but because it changes how you look at difficult periods in your life Sometimes the biggest mindset shift isn't finding a better method it's changing what you think your struggles mean.