These books made it onto several of my other favorite book lists because they’re just that good! But ultimately these are books that are incredible for anyone! They have helped me level up as a person, and I know they can help you. These are the 5 books that everyone would benefit from reading.

You don’t have to be an entrepreneur or an executive. My teenagers have read most of these. They are just outright amazing transformational books… For anyone!

How to Win Friends & Influence People

by Dale Carnegie

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It’s my favorite of all time (outside of scripture itself). Dale Carnegie’s rock-solid, time-tested advice has carried countless people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. It has definitely helped ME! From just trying to navigate an awkward social situation to multi-thousand dollar sales calls, I refer to this book! I’ve read it so many times that lines from it just come to my mind in normal everyday situations.

One of the most groundbreaking and timeless bestsellers of all time, How to Win Friends & Influence People will teach you:

• Six ways to make people like you
• Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking
• Nine ways to change people without arousing resentment

And much more! Achieve your maximum potential—a must-read for the twenty-first century with more than 15 million copies sold!

The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox

My 15 year old daughter and I both love this book and we’re constantly noticing when someone is exuding one of the key charisma traits. “Oh she oozes warmth.” Or ‘he’s really good at combining vision and warmth.” The charisma myth is the idea that charisma is a fundamental, inborn quality—you either have it (Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Oprah) or you don’t. But that’s simply not true, as Olivia Fox Cabane reveals. Charismatic behaviors can be learned and perfected by anyone.

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff

Overthinking isn’t a personality trait. It’s the sneakiest form of fear.

It steals time, creativity, and goals. It’s the most expensive, least productive thing companies invest in without even knowing it. And it’s an epidemic. When New York Times best-selling author Jon Acuff changed his life by transforming his overthinking, he wondered if other people might benefit from what he discovered. He commissioned a research study to ask 10,000 people if they struggle with overthinking too, and 99.5 percent said, “Yes!”

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Essentialism is more than a time-management strategy or a productivity technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz

I picked up this one after realizing that several people I really admired all mentioned this book, as a turning point for them.

More than 6 million readers around the world have improved their lives by reading The Magic of Thinking Big. First published in 1959, David J Schwartz’s classic teachings are as powerful today as they were then. Practical, empowering and hugely engaging, this book will not only inspire you, but it will also give you the tools to change your life for the better – starting from now.