I’ve been reading daily for 8 years. I first started this daily habit in July 2017. It was one of my first self-improvement habits that I locked in early and have held on to to this very day. Reading is one of the powerful and beneficial disciplines you can adopt.

In fact, statistics reveal that this simple habit can extend your life, strengthen brain power, improve your vocabulary, and more. So, what better way to start (or improve) your personal development journey than reading?

In no particular order, here are my 8 favorite self-help books from 8 years of reading daily.

1. The Way Of The Superior Man

The Way of the Superior Man is not just a book…

It’s a guide, an instructive manual that leads men toward becoming their most powerful selves. I love it because it touches on all the critical aspects of any man’s life. How to lead and deal with women. The importance of having a mission and purpose. Being emotionally present, centered, and balanced.

It’s a powerful, must-read for every man.

I have read this book over 10 times, and I often return to it (at the very least) once every year or 2 just to keep the concepts fresh in my mind. Do yourself a favor and read this book again and again.

2. Influence: The Psychology Of Persuasion

Influence by Robert Cialdini is another powerful read.

Whether you want to persuade an audience in a speech, inspire shareholders to invest in your company, or get your toddler to eat their vegetables, you need to know how to influence people.

And this book is brimming with insights and data on 7 proven levers of influence:

• Reciprocation
• Authority
• Social Proof
• Commitment and consistency
• Liking
• Scacity
• Unity

Here’s the thing…

Understanding these powerful psychological influence triggers can revolutionize the way you communicate with others. As a result, this book is non-negotiable if you find yourself in a leadership position of any kind.

3. Think And Grow Rich

I recently learned something interesting…

Apparently, Neopolen Hill, the author of one of my favorite books, Think and Grow Rich, was a crook and a con man. I don’t know whether that accusation is true or not, but what I do know is that “Think and Grow Rich” is a powerful (and classic) self-help book.

The concepts Hill talks about are both practical and timeless.

For this reason, I still have a very positive connotation with this book, despite the allegations surrounding Hill that I recently discovered. So, whether you want to build a global empire, run a local business, or lose those last 5 lbs of stubborn belly fat, this book can help.

I’ve read this book over 20 times (that is not an exaggeration).

And while its title and content may talk about money, it’s really a book on mindset and goal achievement. For this reason, after 8 years of reading daily, it has become one of my favorites.

3. How To Develop Self-Confidence And Influence People By Public Speaking

They say public speaking is a terrifying skill to learn…

That is, until you realize that you’re already doing it every day. Here’s the truth: Every time you joke with a group of friends, chat with family at the dinner table, or order a meal at a restaurant, you are public speaking.

For this reason, this next book is a gem for any personal library.

Written by Dale Carnegie in 1956, How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking is a value-packed publication. It’s easy to read, features interesting stories, and is packed with tips, tactics, and techniques that will improve your communication skills.

It will teach you:

• How to speak clearly and concisely
• Simple ways to improve your vocabulary
• Suggestions to win arguments (without creating enemies)
• The best ways to charm any audience
• How to construct an engaging talk, etc.

The verdict?

This is more than a book; it’s a communications manual. It teaches you how to be effective, entertaining, and enlivening when it comes to working an audience.

And that’s one of the most powerful skills you can ever develop.

4. How To Win Friends And Influence People

Continuing with Dale Carnegie as the author, this next book is critical.

If you’ve made a habit of reading daily like me, you need to add this book to your rotation. It’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. This book is a must-read for anyone serious about learning how to interact with others. It offers practical and timeless wisdom.

And even though it was published almost 100 years ago, its content is every bit as effective (and important) today. How to Win Friends and Influence People will teach you how to:

• Build rapport with anyone
• Gain trust with people you have just met
• Make others feel seen, heard, and appreciated
• Peruade and influence people
• Become an excellent listener
• Avoid arguments and conflict, etc.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is more than a book.

It’s a proven blueprint for navigating human relationships. The stories, anecdotes, and life lessons it shares reveal the strategies you need to bring about harmonious interactions and desired results for yourself and others.

Everyone should know the teachings in this book, as well as the lessons in the next one…

5. Man’s Search For Meaning

This book should be a must-read for every human being.

Viktor Frankl was a survivor of the Nazi death camps during World War II. These camps symbolized the most gruesome and harrowing experiences an individual could ever undergo. And Frankl details his experiences in these camps in Man’s Search for Meaning.

The book reveals the shock. The horror. And the torment and torture by explaining the:

• Systematic gas chamber executions
• Dehumanization tactics and forced labor
• Starvation, abuse, and loss of dignity
• Humiliation and emotional trauma

Yet despite these horrific experiences, Frankl (as he explains in his book) finds that there is an inalienable right we all possess—”the last of human freedoms,” as he puts it.

And that is to choose (or give meaning to) the circumstances in our lives.

6. How To Be A 3% Man

While this is a dating book, it also serves as a general guide to relationships.

The ideas, concepts, techniques, and overall philosophy of this book teach you how to value and respect yourself. And this emboldens you in your interactions with others. Think of it as a playbook—a coaching manual for understanding and winning in relationships.

I’ve read this book well over 40 times. 

And it has been the centerpiece, the cornerstone, if you will, in my personal development journey. In fact, when I started reading daily back in 2017, this was the book I began with. And I will still go back and reread it occasionally, even to this day.

It has become a staple in my reading rotation.

7. Can’t Hurt Me

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins is another phenomenal book.

It’s essentially an autobiography that details his journey from an insecure kid to a Navy SEAL, celebrated athlete, international speaker, and giant in the self-improvement space. It was brilliantly written, as it was riddled with invaluable insights and potent life lessons.

Honestly, Can’t Hurt Me is much more than a mere book.

It’s a mindset manual; it’s a motivational manifesto; it’s that kick in the ass we all need from time to time to get up and get after it. As a result, it easily makes the list as one of my all-time favorite self-help books.

8. As A Man Thinketh

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is an inspirational piece of literature.

Its focus is on cultivating personal responsibility, mental development, and adopting empowering thoughts to create a successful and fulfilling life. The book is brimming—practically, philosophically, and biblically—with timeless wisdom.

As a result, its application can enhance pretty much every area of your life:

• Health and happiness
• Wealth and finances
• Relationships with others
• Personal satisfaction
• Well-being and contentment

Although it was published over a century ago, this book is still incredibly relevant and valid.

In fact, I would argue it’s more relevant than ever. The reason? With the constant flood of negativity in the news, social media, and society as a whole, it’s critical that you barricade your mind against all these toxic influences.

And this book facilitates that process with its practical suggestions and timeless wisdom.

Key Takeaway After 8 Years Of Reading Daily

Reading daily for over 8 years has changed my life.

It’s made me articulate, well-rounded, and much more appreciative of the power that words wield in our lives. As a result, the key takeaway from this journey is to always be a student, a lifelong learner, continually gaining knowledge and banishing ignorance.

Like the late and great Jim Rohn once said, “There’s nothing worse than being stupid.” Stay Motivated And Disciplined.