ISBF Recommends: Best Books to Read on Personality Development

We talk about leaving positive impressions on people, especially the ones we meet for the first time and those with whom we share our professional lives. However, we hardly consider what it takes to achieve that. It is human nature that people pay more attention to someone who knows how to take a charge of a situation and has better solutions for a problem. Similarly, companies seek professionals who are better equipped with professional knowledge and are capable of working independently. In the current world, where we are often caught up between work and social life, and tend to ignore our personal development. Irrespective of the field we work in or the position we are assuming, one should always devote efforts towards personality development goals. Here are our recommendations on the best books to read on personality development.

Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill

Considered by many as the best personality development book ever published, this masterpiece by Napolean Hill doesn’t directly give the secret to growing rich but the realization to unleash your inner potential and encourages you to work in your respective fields to produce exemplary results. As one might assume by looking at the title, the book doesn’t tell you how to earn money but it focuses on giving its readers an elixir to have a rich lifestyle. By the time author of this book died, it had already sold about 20 million copies. The book is based on the author’s interviews over a decade with the wealthiest people around the world. Based on the answers from those people, he formulated concise principles that are relevant to this date.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

Human beings have a strong liking for stories and it is through stories that people relate to situations and connect with other individuals. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a fable that talks about a seagull who is frustrated with the meaningless conventionality of life and to overcome that he pursues his ambitions by pushing the boundaries. The story full of metaphors is a motivational tale about seeking a higher purpose in life. The book emphasizes concepts like love, forgiveness, respect, and freedom, the understanding of which is central to personality development.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

The book, originally in Greek by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, is one of the greatest self-help and motivational books. The philosopher-turned-emperor in this book offers remarkable reflections on spirituality and self. Meditations by Aurelius is timely and is widely acclaimed by thinkers, leaders, and celebrities. The book might appear to be abstract in nature but the scope it leaves for one to imagine and interact with the thoughts in it is simply wonderful. It has lessons on logic, philosophy, discipline, and faith apart from many other important ideas which makes this book a must-read for everyone.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Though the book is biographical in nature, the fact that Steve Jobs remains one of the most admired personalities in the world even after his death makes this book a timely gem. Walter Isaacson, a prolific writer who has written biographies of legendary personalities like Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, in this book throws light on both the personal and professional life of Steve Jobs. He unveils the secrets that went into the making of Apple as a brand and led Steve Jobs to become a godly figure in the world of technology and telecommunications. Giving intricate details about the life of the genius, Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs is undoubtedly among the best books to read on personality development and leadership.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle in this book gives a mantra to living a happy life, which as per him is to enjoy and live the present up to the fullest. Tolle uses clear writing and confident tone throughout the book which readers find quite convincing. He explains how complex emotions and thought processes can get in people’s way of living their lives happily. This book leaves scope for mulling over the learned principles as the chapters are clearly demarcated and a reader is guided on when to take a break from it. The book, as the title suggests, tells readers how they can cherish their lives by just focusing on the present.

What you become is largely defined by what you work for. Be it any profession you choose, the basic principles of life remain the same and to excel in any field, one should have the courage to first work on themselves. At the Indian School of Business and Finance, students are not only given academic knowledge but are trained professionally for the roles they aspire for. The curriculum taught at ISBF is designed by London School of Economics, leaving no scope for rote learning. Visit LSE-UoL programme page to explore the world class education.