My father always told me, if you can read and write then you can do ANYTHING – literally ANYTHING, which is something he put into practice: he built businesses and even a house – a whole house, including the walls, plumbing, electrical wiring, roofing. Don’t ever tell my dad that he can’t do anything, he will surely prove you wrong.
My mum was the one who taught me to read and write, and trust me I didn’t always love it. Like most things that are worth working hard for, there were many tears and a lot of frustration but also a massive sense of accomplishment at the end!
What really changed my life was reading – and taking action – with self-help/ personal development books.
I’ve reviewed my top 20 favourite books of all time. Each one has an affiliate link to the Book Depository (where I get my hard copy books) and the Audible website, which is where I get my audiobooks. These books cover various topics including: Finance, Law of Attraction, Mindset, Habits and Personal Developement.
If you’ve been coached by me or you’ve done one of my free courses, then you will know that I firmly believe you are the average of the people with whom you surround yourself with, and I include regularly read authors in that.
So please meet my closest best friends…
 | Making Money Made Simple by Noel Whittaker This book relates to finances and is written by an Australian for people who live in Australia. I found a lot of the books I read seem to be targeted at Americans, so this was a breath of fresh air. Down to earth, practical advice, for anyone at any age. Amazon Australia link | ||
 |  The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod This book literally changed my life. Written by American Hal Elrod, it is part biography, part action plan. Hal’s philosophy is “win the morning, win the day” and I couldn’t agree more. Thanks to this book I managed to get my life, finances and career in order. It’s basically a blueprint on how to have the best start to your day. Like any book: it only works if you take action and apply what you learn. Audible Link Amazon Australia Link | ||
 |  The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson Jeff Olson talks about how consistency and tiny actions all add up. There are no new ground-breaking techniques here, but they are tried and tested actions that we can all take in order to get that “slight edge” over our own lives. A fantastic read with clear, actionable steps that we can all follow. Amazon Link | ||
 |  7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey An absolute classic. I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this book, not least of all for the author’s smooth, crisp tones and the comedy that he injects as he speaks. Stephen Covey believes that using these 7 habits, we can each become “Highly Effective People”. This a book that you will find yourself reading again and again. Amazon Link | ||
 |  You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Jen Sincero is a modern-day Personal Development human – not guru! Nothing she says in this book is new, however she puts her own spin on it and intertwines it with her own hilarious experiences of being, by her own admission, a “failure” at the age of 40, living in a garage (yes, the type you keep your car in) and not having a penny to her name. Thanks to the ideas and actions taught in this book, Jen is now a successful author and coach. For some motivation, ideas, inspiration and a damn good laugh, I highly recommend this book. Audio version is my favourite. Amazon Link | ||
 |  You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero After reading her first book “You Are a Badass” I didn’t take much convincing to buy this book, and I was glad that I did. Yes, there is some “woo woo” in it, but hey, I am willing to give it a go if it makes my life and my money better. Another great book with lots to laugh at in the way of stories from our author, and lots to implement through practical actions. Amazon Link | ||
 |  Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas A down to earth Aussie mum who managed to win an all-expenses paid 6-month holiday around the world. From there she managed to build a multimillion-dollar business in personal development and mindset. An entertaining and fun read that will inspire. Amazon Link | ||
 |  The Law of Attraction…Teachings of Abraham by Esther & Jerry Hicks Now this book is not your normal book and I highly recommend the audio version. I won’t spoil it by explaining what or who “Abraham” is, however if you are in for tyring unusual things and getting a bit “out there” then you may enjoy this. You also don’t have to believe what you are hearing to agree with the concepts. I found this book very entertaining with some unusual ideas. Not for the faint hearted. Amazon Link | ||
 |  You Are a Badass Everyday by Jen Sincero A much shorter book about how to be amazing every day. I do love this author and think that she could read a shopping list and I would still be entertained. Be sure to start with her book You are a Badass before you listen to any others. Thoroughly entertaining and some short, helpful tips in this one. Amazon Link | ||
 |  Get Rich Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas The follow up to her first book “Lucky Bitch”. Don’t be put off by the use of the vernacular in the title – the book is excellent, again there is some “woo woo” in there, but it’s all practical and lots of great ideas on how to optimise your money and change your mindset. Amazon Link | ||
 |  The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines I loved this book, even though I am not religious, I don’t mind indulging in a book that has a slight religious slant, if it also has some great advice and ideas. This book is good for working out your money and being open to receiving. Beautifully written. Amazon Link | ||
 |  Atomic Habits by James Clear I love this book – the idea that you can create and build habits that change your life is not a new one – but it is a good one! The author pulls you into the story and talks you through everything. Very enjoyable and with actionable take aways, it’s worth a read. Amazon Link | ||
 |  The Fastest Way to Stop Drinking…Guaranteed by Craig Beck This is a very in your face type book – I loved the audio version and found it very motivational. I chose to stop drinking for a few months, and now enjoy the occasional tipple. This book is for anyone that want’s to quit drinking. I myself am not, nor have I ever been an alcoholic, but I do like the idea of not drinking very often. Take from this book what you will, however he gets a bit ‘preachy’ in parts, which I actually enjoy. Plus, it’s always good to hear stories about someone that is so much worse than you. Amazon Link | ||
 |  Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans This is one for the methodical and organised amongst us – a practical guide to designing your life – literally. The two authors are engineers/ designers who teach this whole book as a course at a top university in the US (Ivy League is what they are called). A great book to find some useful tips and help you plan your life, no matter what age. Amazon Link | ||
 | Pig Wrestling by Pete Lindsay & Mark Bawden This book was very entertaining, a great story that at first seems like fiction but every part has a rhyme/ reason to it. It’s all about managing organisations and people and how to get the best out of both. The audio book is thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable, and I would highly recommend. It may take a few listens to get all of the learnings out of the book, but you will enjoy it each time, not least of all for the excellent characters and accents at play. Amazon Link | ||
 | Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker A fascinating and scientific look at why we sleep and how we can get better at it. Unlike other study-based books, this one manages to keep the reader engaged and draws on the right amount of science with an anecdotal spin. A great way to better understand the meaning of, and need for, sleep. Amazon Link | ||
 |  The Miracle Equation by Hal Elrod A follow up to the life changing book The Miracle Morning, this book gives you the action steps to tie it all together. An enjoyable read and something that you are able to learn from. Amazon Link | ||
 |  The Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed on Your Own Terms – I found this book very enjoyable and informative – talking about money, happiness and the ‘rules’ of success. An interesting read from the creator of Mind Valley. Amazon Link | ||
 |  Lost Connections by Johann Hari I never would have brought this book if it wasn’t recommended to me by a friend. The book itself sells itself as being about depression – something that I am not personally familiar with however I have friends who are. Everyone, regardless of their mental health or state, should read this book. It’s both fascinating and entertaining, with the author drawing on his own personal experiences, as well as various medical studies. I was hooked from the minute I started. Even if you’re not interested in this topic, I would suggest you give it a go – I did and I loved it Amazon Link | ||
 | Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson Don’t be surprised if you find that this book lists all your strengths and weaknesses – you will think that the author has studied you in-depth and written a book about you! This is a great book to learn more about your own and other people’s behaviours and the reasons behind them. The premise is that we each have a dominant personality type as defined by different colours. Erikson offers insights into how these personality types might clash or complement each other in various situations, whether in the workplace, social circles, or personal relationships. There are plenty of relatable anecdotes, scenarios, and real-life examples to help readers understand the dynamics of these personality types and how to navigate interactions with people who have different communication styles. Amazon Link | ||
 | She Means Business by Carrie Green A fantastic book written by the creator of the Female Entreprenuer Association, Carrie Green who speaks candidly about the challenges she faced (and overcame) as an entreprenuer – she is clear on the mindset required to achieve success and she also doesn’t sugar coat the challenges. A fantastic book from start to finish, if you’re second guessing yourself and feeling like you’ll never succeed at building a business then read this book it’s packed full of motivation and inspiration to remind you why you started and to help you realise that you’re NOT a failure – everyone finds it hard. Amazon Link | ||
 | High Performance by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes This book reveals the methods the world’s most remarkable athletes, coaches and entrepreneurs use to excel. This book is jam packed with stories and examples of the methods used and it talks about eight common behaviours that high performers tend to adopt. It’s well written and holds your attention: It’s inspiring, exciting and massively motivating. Amazon Link | ||
 | Winners by Alastair Campbell Campbell examines how winners tick and how they build great teams, from dealing with unexpected setbacks and challenges he also talks about how and what the different worlds of politics, business and sport can learn from one another. When I initially purchased this book I was unaware that the writer was “the” Alastair Campbell (Tony Blair’s chief spokesman and strategist) – however, I am glad that I didn’t allow this to put me off! It’s a fascinating book that is well written with plenty of examples and stories from various ‘winners’ from all walks of life. Amazon Link | ||
 | Menopausing by Davina McCall and Dr Naomi Potter No matter your gender I would encourage you to read this book – it’s packed full of Davina’s high-energy and honesty. She talks about her challenges and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, about HRT and what a game changer it was, and she also shares the experiences of other people affected by perimenopause and menopause. This book is responsible for rescuing me from horrendous symptoms including memory loss, weight gain, unwanted emotions, brain fog, itchy skin… to name but a few! It helped me to realise that I was not going mad and, in fact, I was experiencing something perfectly normal. This book is a must read for all humans! Amazon Link |