With the New Year comes many New Year’s resolutions for improving one’s self and making a change to some of those habits that have developed during your life. If you are looking to create meaningful change in yourself or others, here are my picks for four of the best books that can guide you there.
1. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
I’ve mentioned this book a couple of times already, mainly because the research is ground-breaking and shows how small modifications can change how you think, believe and behave. The book speaks about the “fixed mindset”, where someone believes that their nature cannot be changed or only be changed a little, and the “growth mindset”, where someone believes that their growth depends on the effort that they willingly put into their endeavors.
It’s a fairly difficult read, but it’s great starting point to get you along your way.
2. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
This is another book that I’ve mentioned before and was one of the best books that I’ve read in a long time. It goes a great deal into how habits are born and why we can’t get rid of it. It then explains how we can use habits to create successes both personally and business. I’ve used the suggestions in this book to create some habits of my own and to modify others, but I’ll admit that it’s really hard work and takes some time (not 21 days as the saying goes).
3. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Another excellent book, this books speaks more about making changes from personal, to business, to changing the behaviour in a country. The authors use a lot of storytelling coupled with guidance on how to approach change problems. One of the things I liked about this book is the use of “clinics” where fictional problems are stated and possible ways of solving the dilemma is discussed.
Once you are okay with lots of stories, this is a book that you will not regret buying.
4. Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success
Change Anything is a fairly difficult book; it’s not an enjoyable read, but it does have a very clear thought out action plan for creating change within yourself. The authors claim that the techniques can be used to change others, but didn’t go into how that can be done.
This isn’t one of my favourite books, but is certainly one of the more worthwhile ones.
Last Words on Making A Change
This is my list, but there are tons of other books out there like John Kotter’s Leading Change, which is supposed to be one of the best (and is only my reading list), so go forth and explore and let me know what you’ve found.
You will note that I have not listed books from motivational speakers like Anthony Robins or Robin Sharma, simply because I prefer books with a scientific basis to it. I also happen to believe that motivational speakers are just glorified sales people, but that is just my belief and I know others think very highly of them – to each his own.
So what do you think? Has anyone read any of the books are agree or disagree? Do you think that there are other books out there that are better or worth mentioning? Chime in below.
