Last updated: 20 December 2021. Sometimes the smartest financial decision is to make a different type of investment. Forget investing in shares, property or even bitcoin - there's a high return on investment available which is much closer to home.
I've made sure that the books about investing in yourself are suitable for readers of all ages and budgets. The books below generally cost between £7 and £13, so they're affordable reads which will allow you to put as much money as possible towards the courses and training you may later decide to take. You can read any of the books below for free with Amazon's Kindle Unlimited free trial.
Click on any title below to see the latest price from Amazon, you'll be shocked at how affordable the most popular titles are. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases which helps to support this site. This does not impact how I compile the list. Happy reading!
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You DON'T even need a Kindle device to download booksHere's a useful tip that will save you £100+ on books about investing in yourself. Sign-up to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited free trial, which offers access to all titles for free for 30 days.
- There's no obligation to continue with a paid subscription.
- You don't even need a Kindle to enjoy - any device will do.
If you're cost-savvy, you'll already be calculating the savings you could unlock and the knowledge you could gain by downloading 5 books over the next 30 days.
My Top 5 Books about Investing in Yourself for 2022
Click covers to see latest reviews and prices1. Dare to Lead - Brené Brown
Financial Expert Rating:
Synopsis:
"In her #1 NYT bestsellers, Brené Brown taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong and brave the wilderness.
Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
Leadership is not about titles, status and power over people. Leaders are people who hold themselves accountable for recognising the potential in people and ideas, and developing that potential. This is a book for everyone who is ready to choose courage over comfort, make a difference and lead."
Who this book is for:
A bestselling, affordable title with rave reviews. What more could you ask for?
Oh, and did you know that Brené is the speaker behind one of the most widely viewed TED Talks of all time?
In her recent book Dare to Lead, professor Brené Brown has laid down a cutting edge approach to managing change and succeeding in any business environment.
Brené specialises in areas of social science and psychology such as courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy - all traits which come into play in interesting ways every day we turn up to work.
Aimed at aspirational people in middle or senior management, Dare to Lead provides incredible insights into how to excel in leadership and get the most out of your career.
Financial Expert Rating:
Synopsis:
"High achievers are at the top of their game because of the discipline they have during the unseen hours. They have made a commitment to establish, tweak, and repeat positive habits in everything they do. RAISE YOUR GAME examines the top leaders in sports and business and proves that success is a result of the little things we do all the time.
The basic principles provided in RAISE YOUR GAME are simple, but not easy. We live in an instantly downloadable world that encourages us to skip steps. We are taught to chase what's hot, flashy and sexy and ignore what's basic. But the basics work. They always have and they always will.
RAISE YOUR GAME will inspire and empower you to commit to the fundamentals, create a winning mindset, and progress into new levels of success."
Who this book is for:
A book for those who don't want to settle for average.
Investing in yourself embodies the pursuit for excellence. Following the idea that you can always be better, and each day will provide an opportunity to improve upon something in your life.
Alan Stein sets out several cornerstone ideas in this vein in a really entertaining fashion in his book Raise your Game, which is currently rated 4.9/5.0 on Amazon with over 300 reviews. This is perhaps the highest rated book I've ever seen in this genre.
Buy this book today to understand why so many readers have enjoyed it.
Financial Expert Rating:
Synopsis:
"In The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You, Lydia Fenet takes you on her twenty-year journey from intern to managing director and global head of strategic partnerships at Christie’s Auction House. Lydia shares the revolutionary sales approach she has crafted over the years that has not only shaped her career, but helped her raise more than half a billion dollars for nonprofits around the world.
This is an approach that will empower you to sell your way to success in business and in life. For example, you’ll learn how to create your own “Strike Method” or signature move to help you feel confident entering any situation. Combining case studies and personal stories, Lydia also shares tips from some of the most powerful and successful women in business, fashion, journalism, sports, and the arts."
Who this book is for:
From a glance from the title, you'll be making several judgements about this book, and they're all true.
The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You, is an inspiring, motivating and useful title from Lydia Fenet.
Investing in yourself isn't always a technical pursuit, sometimes the traits we want to improve are linked to confidence and pride.
Pick up a copy of this empowering book to discover what Lydia has learned while blazing a trail through several industries during her career.
Financial Expert Rating:
Synopsis:
"JUST F*CKING DO IT will take you on a mind-altering journey of self discovery and personal transformation using an approach which combines psychological rigour with spiritual power - helping you to become the best version of yourself and create a life of happiness and abundance.
True personal development can only be achieved by changing how you think and interact with the world. This book, by the creator of the hit podcast 'Think It, Get It', will demonstrate that, alongside purposeful and practical steps to improve your life, you have the power to multiply your success and happiness by harnessing the Law of Attraction."
Who this book is for:
Attention grabbing title, substantial content.
Just F*cking Do It is the sharp-talking book from Noor Hibbert. With a 4.6/5.0 rating on Amazon from over 1,000 reviews, it's a best selling title focusing on one subject: You.
'A ROUSING GUIDE ON HOW TO BUILD MOMENTUM TOWARDS YOUR GOALS, QUASH YOUR INNER DOUBTS AND CHARGE AT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT', RED Magazine
Financial Expert Rating:
Synopsis:
"Alexi Panos and Preston Smiles, the internationally recognized next generation thought leaders, redefine what's possible in relationships, career, and life.
Alexi and Preston went through periods in each of their lives where they felt like they were doing all the right things, but never got the desired results.
They read all the best books in self-empowerment and positive thinking, took classes, and sought advice, but there was always something missing. After all of their soul-searching and personal development, they realized that they were missing a connection between mind, body, and soul."
Who this book is for:
At number 5 is a book which bowled me off my feet when I read it one year ago.
Now or Never: Your Epic Life in 5 Steps, by Alexi Panos and Preston Smiles, is a personal development book with a difference.
98% of Amazon reviewers have scored this book 5.0/5.0. Why does it achieve such a perfect score?
Because it draws attention to social conditioning you never realised you had. This results in an 'aha' reading experience which thrills and delights in equal measure.
Unwrap yourself on unhelpful thought processes and become more aware of what mindset will truly help you achieve your next life goal.
The Financial Expert™ Best Investing in Yourself Book Challenge
I challenge you to read one book per month and see if it revolutionises your investing style!
The Financial Expert™ Best Invest in Yourself Book Challenge is one of my favourite elements of this website.
Personal development is about opening your mind to new ideas.
It's about starting with a blank piece of paper, and absorbing a new perspective on life.
Perhaps it's a new way to approach challenges, perhaps it's some tips in dealing with difficult situations, or perhaps it's a framework for how to make decisions.
Each personal development book can teach you something new, and therefore each carries the potential of transformative lifestyle change.
That's exciting, and keeps me reading each month of the year.
This self-investment book challenge is designed to encourage you to do the same. Join me in reading one extra personal development book per month this year.
That's 12 self-investment books in total. Take your learning to the next level by building your own little library (or e-library) of books about investing in yourself, and you might discover a new favourite!
If you do, please leave a comment on this blog or contact me to let me know which book you found most effective. I'll be able to use this feedback to shape my rankings and lists.
Wondering how to start?
My advice when beginning a reading challenge is to start quickly, start simply and to not plan too far ahead.
I wouldn't recommend buying 12 books about investing in yourself right now and creating a tall stack of books on your bedside table.
You never know how your experiences of reading the first few books will shape your preferences for further reading. You might, for example, get very passionate about something in your first title, and want to 'go down a rabbit hole' by exploring what other authors have to say on the subject.
Alternatively, you might actually discover that you're not as interested in one investing-in-self topic as much as you thought.
As a result, it's sensible to start with 3-4 books and organically add to this list as you progress. Another benefit of starting small is that you don't feel 'overwhelmed' by the number of books to read.
After all, this isn't a reading chore, it's an exciting challenge. If it begins to feel unachievable, you may give-up altogether, which could lead to you failing to reach your maximum potential.
Why not begin with the shortlists I've assembled above?
Why investing in yourself is the smart choice
Unlike the volatile returns from the financial markets, upgrading and upskilling yourself can produce a reliable and steady return. The labour market may not be fair, it might not pay everyone equally, and it certainly isn't even to navigate. However it does obey one rule:
The more skilled you are, and the better you can articulate your skillset, the more valuable you are to an employer.
Learning an entirely new skill can open doors into a brand new and higher-paying career, one with further opportunities for promotion.
Developing in other areas, such as industry-specific technical skills may allow you to negotiate a pay-rise in your existing job.
Alternatively, improving your people-management, project-management or time-management skills may improve your odds at scoring a promotion.
I've gathered together in this page a collection of my favourite books about investing in yourself. I'm a massive fan of personal development, and have followed the greatest self-investment authors for years. I'm delighted to be able to highlight the best and brightest minds in this field with you today.
While you're here, I'd like to point you to my own investing courses page which featured a handful of excellent e-learning courses about investing for beginners or professionals which you can take in your own time.
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