Self Improvement has come a long way since the 60s where it was all about free love and self expression and then the 90s where it produced a slew of sappy new age men. No one with any self respect (real or imagined) wanted to touch it with a 10 foot pole. But now personal development has gotten a new breath of live. Thanks to yoga (promoted by sexy, young yogis) and meditation (cited as a ‘must do’ by many newly rich, hip, young tech entrepreneurs), if you’re caught browsing at the Self Development isle at the bookstore, not as many people will blink an eye.

Whether you’ve just gotten on the personal development bandwagon or are an old time master there are a lot of good books out there, and we’ve compiled five of the best books on Self Development for you.

The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
by M Scott Peck M.D.
I read this book many years ago and it caused quite a profound shift in my mindset and how I looked at the world. It’s a heavy read, but it’s worth the while. It’s a great book to read if you’re not into the ‘mumbo jumbo’ associated with personal development but want a clear way to understand yourself.

The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
by Jack Canfield
Aside from the cheesy cover (Yes that is Jack Canfield leaning against the title of his book), this is a great step by step guide to getting ‘successful’ however you define success (in life, relationship and money). Each chapter gives us the answer to what I would call the setbacks that we tell ourselves. Starting with taking responsibility to being clear, to facing fears and more. Well worth it!

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
by Don Miguel Ruiz
Another great book that shook me awake. The four agreements are simple and I’m pretty sure if I tell you, you’ll say, “Well duh Lola! Of course I knew that!” Yeah, as with a lot of Duh! moments, sure we know it, but do we practice it? And why should we? Well, read this book, and you’ll understand. Just FYI, the four agreements are; Be impeccable with your word; Don’t take anything personally; Don’t make assumptions; Always do your best. All things that I’m sure everyone and their great aunt Edna knows about but almost never practice.

You Can Heal Your Life
by Louise L. Hay
If you are new to the world of Personal Development, then this is a great beginners guide. This is one of the first books I ever read on the topic and I have to say, it helped me a great deal. It’s a great book about really taking responsibility over your life and knowing that what you put out, you get back. Easy to read with exercises to help you sort your shit out.

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Despite having a last name that is super hard to spell much less pronounce, Mihaly (as he shall be known for the purpose of this blurb) has written a book that is super valuable in the field of ‘being happy and improving the quality of one’s life’. Being in the flow is when you’re in such a state of sync with what you’re doing, that time flies, you have lots of fun and you’re just generally a happier person. It’s a bit of a slow read, but well worth it!

So these are some books that will start you off on your journey to self improvement! Let us know what your favourite books are in the comments! Good luck!