What's Your Favorite SD Book or Audio?
 

I'm really interested to know what your all-time favorite book or audio programme on a self-development theme is.

Like many of you here I have read a lot, probably close to 200. Some good, some great and some just horrible, but my favorite if I was forced under pain of death to pick would be 'The Maverick Mindset' by Dr John Eliot. Even though he trashes goal setting somewhat this audio is just outstanding and some of the real life stories I have used again and again with clients.

I know you probably have a few but go on be a devil and name just one and let's see which ones lead the field (no pun intended Earl).

One hand washes the other
 

By far my favorite book is seven habits of highly effective people. The reason I like it so much is because it deals with the fundamentals and does it very very well. It offers the most balanced approach I have seen so far. Its focus is character development, that is: building your free will, your ability to plan and follow through, your integrity, your ability to understand other people's point of view. I'm through my third paperback version and I'm going to buy it as a hardcover now. :)
It's also available as an audio version, which I, naturally, own, too and can also recommend.


Second place would be Og Mandino's "The biggest secret in the world" (just ignore the cheesy title :D )which follows a similar approach and is more action-focused but less philosophical. It helped me a lot, though.

Are there only two people on this entire forum with a favorite book???? Strange ... :confused:

I'm glad you picked this, I love Dr John Eliot's work, I wish there were more of it, but I guess he does say that all of this is all you really need. Have you read overachivement?

It's difficult to apply this, I have a lot of notes from overachivement, written down. I'm working on a system i am going to use and figuring out everything I want and a way to manage it all so i think i'm gonna go back through this and read it and listen to Maverick mindset again.

I though Over Achievement was a re-write of Maverick Mindset which is no longer available in book form. Am I wrong?

For me, I would have to say it's a tie between "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

Both of those changed a huge amount of my perceptions.

Think and Grow Rick by Napolean Hill and a Book/workbook called Beyond Freedom which has a few authors but the important ones that helped orchestrate it are Bob Proctar and Jack Hansfield. I received it through my company. Powerful tools. :)

Hmm Maverick Mindset was a book? I thought Maverick Mindset was an audio only thing released after the Overachivement book?

Either way, I think both are good, Overachivement covers some things that are not in the audio and I think it helps provide a better understanding of the concepts by having both.

*adds maverick mindset/overachievement audo/book to list of things to read/listen* Thanks guys. :D

Personally I don't have a favorite yet, haven't read nearly enough books.
Really need a monthly budget to buy myself PD books, would love that.

Think and Grow Rich
 

My favorite book that I have read many times is "Think and Grow Rich" I have heard more successful people recomend this book than any other book written. It seems that quite a few of the other well liked books are the same principles as "Think and Grow Rich", just written a little different.

If a person wants you can even get a copy for free.

Have a great day

Lee Stuckey

Power of NOW audio. Eckhart's voice sends me into now.

&

Success Principles - Canfield

Without a doubt my favourite personal development book is: Courage to Change. It's published by the Al-Anon group.

I read one page every day and it's completely turned my life around.

How I raised myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger

The 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class by Steve Siebold

Self Help by Samuel Smiles.

'Self Help' illustrates the extraordinary efforts people have made to make their dreams come true. It made me understand how much humans are really capable of. 'The 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class' provides excellent strategies and attitudes to incorporate into your life.


BOTTOM LINE: If you have enough determination, persistence and focus you will go far. If you add world class thinking you will be remembered.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
The 8th Habit - Stephen Covey
A (the?) global solution for your life - personnal and professional. For you (seven habits) and for the others around you (8th habit). It is my book for the next 15 years.

First Things First - Stephen Covey
Principle Centered Leadership - Stephen Covey
Learn how to be a manager, a great real one, and a leader, a great real one. Both for your personnal and professionnal lives, and for the others around you.

Getting Things Done - David Allen
A solution to stop getting overwhelmed by everyday things to do. Gives you more time to focus on the Seven Habits. It is not a solution by itself, it is just a tool, a very smart and useful one! For your Personnal and professional areas.

Winning - Jack Welsch
All the good advice from the ex-CEO of GE about what you need to win. For your Professional life.

Some books give some good tips, but those tips can be truly applied when you assume yourself completly, when you are in the process of learning the Seven Habits.
The One Minute Manager (or how to do a book around one idea that can be explain in 2 lines)
How To Become a CEO - Jeffrey Fox
Ready For Anything - David Allen
The stupid story about the 4 mouses (audio), listened 1/3 of it because it is soooooo long, another stuff that can be explained in a few lines... Who Moved My Cheese (don't read it).

Oh and, The Secret of course! To have the pleasure to burn it! :D

Stephen Covey is a genius i have to say, you'll never be the same after reading his books, hes quote cards are pretty good.

What are they? I didn't hear about them...

Think and Grow rich for audio book

&

Success Mastery by Brian Tracy 16CD's over two days...awesome stuff

D

What do you learn in it?

Best audio programs:

Real Social Dynamics - Blueprint and Transformations
Learning Strategies Corporation - Resiliency
Jack Canfield - How to Build High Self Esteem


Books:

Napoleon Hill’s - 17 Principles of Personal Achievement
Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth

7 Habitis is easily on the top, How to win friends and Influence People, The 48 Laws of Power, Its hardto pick, think and Grow Rich is a good one, but so is that one by Wallace Wattles, damn I can't remember, its good though.

Dr. Farrah Gray
 

I really dig Reallionaire by Dr. Farrah Gray because it shows how someone can apply success principles at a really young age (I can relate) to actually achieve a successful life.

P.S. I also LOVE The Power of a Positive Mental Attitude by W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill. It really gives you that "winner's mentality!"

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

Especially for rediscovering your creative ability and sustaining it, the best SD book out there.

I think the book "Napoleon Hill - Keys To Success The 17 Principles Of Personal Achievement" as I mentioned earlier is not well known but it should be. It would have to be the best general PD book I have ever seen. If you wanted to buy one book, this would be it. I have seen hundreds of books but this one really stands out.

Here are the contents:

1. Develop a Definiteness of Purpose
2. Establish a Mastermind Alliance
3. Assemble an Attractive Personality
4. Use Applied Faith
5. Go the Extra Mile
6. Create Personal Initiative
7. Build a Positive Mental Attitude
8. Control Your Enthusiasm
9. Enforce Self-Discipline
10. Think Accurately
11. Control Your Attention
12. Inspire Teamwork
13. Learn from Adversity and Defeat
14. Cultivate Creative Vision
15. Maintain Sound Health
16. Budget Your Time and Money
17. Use Cosmic Habitforce

Check out some reviews from Amazon:
Amazon.com: Napoleon Hill's Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement: Napoleon Hill: Books

Psychology of winning by Denis Waitley