Best Personal Development Books
(Updated 2023)

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

by Matthew Walker, PhD

Link to the book at Amazon

Dr. Matthew Walker is a Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology and one of the world's leading sleep researchers. In his book, he explains the enormous importance of sleep and its effects on physical and mental health in an easily understandable way. He draws on his own research findings and numerous studies.

He explains the different phases of sleep and what they are responsible for. He describes how the biorhythm is influenced by natural and artificial light and caffeine or alcohol – and what happens in the body when you act against its natural rhythm.

You learn how the biorhythm changes in the course of life. After reading this book, parents will understand why small children do not sleep longer in the morning when you put them to bed later ... and why teenagers are not fit for school at 8:00 am – no matter how early they went to bed.

But why is good sleep so important anyway? Sleep is essential for the transfer of knowledge from short to long-term memory. Sleep promotes creativity, makes you more attractive, strengthens the immune system, prevents diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, dementia, depression, and diabetes, and reduces heart attacks.

Of course, the author also gives practical tips on improving the quality of your own sleep (e.g., by going to bed regularly or by adjusting the light conditions a few hours before going to bed).

In summary, good sleep – and therefore reading this entertaining and stimulating book – is one of the best investments you can make in your health.

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes, absolutely.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

by Susan Cain

Link to the book at Amazon

Our society is geared towards extroverts: Focus on group work is increasing, more and more companies are adopting open-plan offices, and self-promotion is essential for career advancement. Introverts are labeled as loners and are often dramatically undervalued.

Yet at least one-third of all people are introverts.

Susan Cain, in her New York Times bestseller, shows how important it is to understand introverts and give them a proper place in society. Introverts like Darwin, Einstein, Gandhi, Chopin, van Gogh, Rosa Parks have made great contributions to society.

The book helps extroverts understand why introverts are the way they are, what positive and helpful qualities they have, and when to listen to them.

And it helps introverts (like most of us programmers are) understand themselves (and their own contradictions) as well as a world dominated by extroverts, accept their traits and use them to their advantage.

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes, but I’ve read the printed version and therefore cannot judge the audiobook edition.

To go with the book, I recommend Susan Cain’s TED Talk “The power of introverts.”

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Link to the book at Amazon

Nowadays, most people have heard the term "flow" before. It was the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who first described and named this concept in his book of the same name in 1990.

In his book, the author describes the scientific method he used to analyze flow, how people achieve the flow state, and how they feel about it.

Flow is a mental state of highest concentration achieved through clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between challenge and ability. In flow, people become wholly absorbed in an activity, block out everything else and achieve peak performance. They lose track of time and experience a feeling of euphoria and happiness.

According to the author, this happiness is more satisfying and fulfilling than the short-term pleasure people experience from, for example, aimless television or other non-challenging activities (these days, social media).

Flow can be found in many activities: in sports, music, intellectual pursuits, craft activities, and even on the assembly line.

The book is interesting, informative, pleasantly written, and worth reading both for people who regularly experience flow and for those who have not yet encountered it.

Suitable as an audiobook? Absolutely – I can highly recommend it. The author reads it himself, and it doesn't even sound read aloud, but as if the author is narrating loosely and freely.

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

by Daniel Goleman

Link to the book at Amazon

Emotions are an integral part of our lives. Not only our intellect – our IQ – determines how fulfilled and successful our life is, but at least to the same extent, if not more, our emotional intelligence.

Only through a well developed emotional intelligence can we fully utilize our abilities. The path to this goal leads through four stages:

Stage 1: Self-awareness – The foundation of emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and name our own emotions.

Stage 2: Self-management – The ability to control our emotions – instead of letting them control us – means that we can decide if and how we react to certain situations.

Self-control is an essential skill for achieving our goals. People with high self-control are demonstrably more successful in life (as the famous Marshmallow Experiment has shown).

Level 3: Social Awareness – Understanding how people are affected by social situations, recognizing their emotions, and being able to respond appropriately makes us more outgoing, open, and popular.

Level 4: Relationship management – The ability to build and develop positive relationships and respond to others' emotions is essential for negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand and improve their own emotional intelligence – and all parents, because emotional intelligence cannot be trained early enough. When a child is angry, it can feel it, but it cannot express it until its parents have explained that it is "anger" that it feels.

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

by John J. Ratey

Link to the book at Amazon

Exercise is not only good for the body but also for the mind. Regular aerobic exercise sharpens the intellect, promotes learning, and makes the brain fit for top mental performance. It reduces stress, lifts mood, boosts motivation, and protects against diseases such as depression, dementia, and attention deficit disorder – all from childhood to old age.

Why is that?

Aerobic exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system, thus ensuring the transport of sufficient nutrients to the brain and promoting the production of neurotransmitters and hormones responsible for the growth of brain cells ("neurogenesis") and their connections with each other.

Even though the author tries to describe the biological connections in an understandable way for laypeople, he sometimes delves deeply into the scientific background. You have to concentrate hard if you want to follow the explanations of which neurotransmitters are responsible for which functions. As a reading before going to bed, it is therefore only suitable to a limited extent.

I recommend the book to those who want to understand the scientific background in detail. To all others, I recommend regular exercise :-)

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

by Cal Newport

Link to the book at Amazon

Modern technologies such as smartphones and apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram constantly distract us and keep us from the essential things in life. Instead of devoting ourselves to activities defined by our values, principles, and hopes, we mindlessly scroll through social media and news sites. Our well-being suffers from this more and more.

Instead of letting technology control us, we should use technology to our advantage. But how do we regain control? The author offers answers to this question.

First, we have to perform a "Digital Declutter": To do this, we examine every technology and every software to see to what extent it benefits us. Then we plan how we use the technology – for example, a maximum of two hours per week or only at certain times of the day. We don't have to sign off from Instagram or Facebook – but we could uninstall the apps from our phones and use the services for the things that matter to us on a desktop computer. We could limit the answering of e-mails and WhatsApp messages to two or three blocks per day.

Besides, it is a good idea to place our phones out of sight from time to time, so that we don't have to reach for it at the slightest sign of boredom. Instead, we should use solitude and boredom to concentrate on our thoughts, meditate, or go for a walk.

Finally, we should review the quality of our leisure activities. Instead of mainly consuming or passively interacting with screens, we should educate ourselves, exercise, create something, play a musical instrument, or engage in other mental or physical activities. Don't you also feel much better after an active leisure activity than after a passive one?

The book is enjoyable to read and contains numerous practical tips. A clear recommendation for all those who feel they are wasting too much time with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or other apps. It is also for those who constantly check their e-mails and feel that they can't do their actual work anymore.

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes, absolutely, and it is read by the author himself.

* This is not entirely our fault – we are made downright addicted, as this report shows: The Social Dilemma

The Happiness Project

by Gretchen Rubin

Link to the book at Amazon

Gretchen Rubin is a lawyer, successful author, happily married, has two children, and lives in a beautiful apartment in New York City. One rainy day, she wonders what it actually means to be happy. She decides to start a “Happiness Project.” Her goal is to not take for granted what is important to her in life but rather to cultivate and appreciate it.

She takes on twelve areas of her life, focusing on each for a month. She doesn't turn her life upside down; she simply tries to make small changes in her everyday life to bring more satisfaction to herself and her family.

She brings more order to her apartment, eats a little healthier, tries to nag less at her husband, becomes more patient with her children, and forms new friendships. Just as she shares her successes, she also openly discusses failures because not everything she tries on her journey of discovery works.

The book is a delightful, honest, and entertaining account of the author's personal Happiness Project. It is not a step-by-step guide; the author doesn't claim to know what makes you, as her reader, happy. Instead, she wants to inspire you to start your own happiness project, try different things, and ultimately make your life and the lives of those close to you a little better every day.

Suitable as an audiobook? Yes, and it is read by the author herself.

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day

by Andy Puddicombe

Link to the book at Amazon

In his bestseller, Andy Puddicombe, former Buddhist monk and founder of the "Headspace Foundation", introduces us to meditation and mindfulness – without any spiritual elements and with only ten minutes of commitment per day.

The book has three parts:

The first part introduces the importance and benefits of meditation. For example, meditation can reduce stress, promote concentration, positively affect sleep, and bring the mind to greater peace overall.

In the second part, the author describes simple but effective meditation techniques, especially the "Take 10" method, which can be easily integrated into a busy daily schedule.

The third part shows how to integrate meditation and mindfulness into daily life, such as walking, riding the subway, and even eating.

The book is excellently written. The casual writing style makes it easy to read, and numerous insightful metaphors help to understand how mediation works. Interesting stories by the author from various monasteries make this book quite entertaining.

The book does not replace the Headspace app – or vice versa. While the app goes into breadth with a variety of guided meditations, the book goes into depth. I can recommend both wholeheartedly.

Suitable as an audio book? Yes, and it is read by the author himself.

How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Peace and Productivity in Anxious Times

by Chris Bailey

Link to the book at Amazon

Overtime at work, barely manageable private commitments, and the constant media overload lead many people to chronic stress, anxiety, and ultimately burnout.

Chris Bailey, bestselling author of “The Productivity Project” and “Hyperfocus,” has experienced this firsthand and describes in “How To Calm Your Mind” how he has regained peace, serenity, and contentment – all while remaining productive.

He provides concrete strategies and tools for identifying and eliminating hidden sources of stress (such as caffeine consumption), living more mindfully in general, breaking free from media addiction and constant performance thinking, and relaxing without guilt.

The book is grounded in research but also draws from the author’s numerous personal experiences, making it exciting and entertaining.

A must-read for anyone seeking tranquility and composure in the busy modern world.

Suitable as an audio book? Yes, and it is read by the author himself.