324 Must-Read Success Books (Because Apparently One Isn't Enough)
Success — it's like a little spark that fuels your ambitions and a whisper that pushes you to chase your dreams, day after day.
In this collection of the best books for success, you'll discover powerful lessons, real-life stories, and time-tested strategies from remarkable thinkers and achievers. Each page offers guidance to help you grow, sharpen your abilities, and create meaningful change in your life.
Let these books be your trusted companions as you continue to move closer to your goals. To save time for additional activities, feel free to explore our reviews and summaries, which highlight the main points.
Books about success: Building the mindset of mastery
When you have over 500 books about success and a mindset that never quits, who can stop you? This list brings together classic and modern strategies to turn every challenge into an opportunity — helping you grow in resilience and use your creativity to the fullest.
As an alternative to the fleeting dopamine boost that wears off in minutes or hours (like with doom-scrolling), each author aims to convince readers to hold themselves to high standards of accountability and discipline.
James Allen and his timeless 'As a Man Thinketh' highlight this point, reminding the audience that they need to keep even their thoughts in check, as their thoughts shape their entire existence in the end.
"As we think, so we are; as we continue to think, so we remain."
In 'It Works,' R. H. Jarrett elaborates on the concept that "thoughts = quality of life," explaining how people can use simple tools available to them now and start turning their dreams and wishes into reality. The key point here is to maintain consistent daily efforts. Steven Pressfield develops this logic further, showing readers how to silence their self-doubt in 'The War of Art.'
Headway's handpicked collection of books about success helps you turn knowledge into action. Each title offers practical mindset tools you can easily apply in your daily life.
Best books for success as your self-growth compass
Finding the best books for success requires caution rather than following trends. This library, curated by the Headway team, delivers exactly that. Inside each book, you'll discover game-changing lessons, including James Clear's 'Atomic Habits,' where the author gives a masterclass in designing systems.
When you adapt those systems, your choices acquire a sustainable character. You would find the works of Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich' and Stephen R. Covey's 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' to be a helpful guide to continue growing in this direction and setting your mindset on the long-term achievements.
If you want to make your success last, make sure to complement your hard work with mastering the art of human connection. Use 'How to Raise Successful People' by Esther Wojcicki and 'Never Split the Difference' by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz to enhance empathy, influence, and negotiation skills, shaping both personal relationships and professional outcomes.
For the moments in life when your motivation falters, take Mel Robbins' 'The 5 Second Rule' strategic advice on overcoming hesitation and acting right away. And in Joshua Medcalf's 'Chop Wood, Carry Water,' his work reminds you that mastery comes through daily effort, patience, and embracing the process itself.
Find Your Passion
by Henri Junttila
Who should read Find Your Passion
High Performance Habits
by Brendon Burchard
What is High Performance Habits about?
Who should read High Performance Habits
The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
by Edward B. Burger, Michael Starbird
What is The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking about?
Who should read The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
Learning How To Learn
by Barbara Oakley PhD, Terrence Sejnowski PhD, Alistair McConville
What is Learning How To Learn about?
Who should read Learning How To Learn
Make It Stick
by Peter C. Brown, Mark A. McDaniel, PhD, Henry L. Roediger III, PhD
What is Make It Stick about?
Who should read Make It Stick
Start With NO
by Jim Camp
What is Start With NO about?
Who should read Start With NO
Year of Yes
by Shonda Rhimes
What is Year of Yes about?
Who should read Year of Yes
TED Talks Storytelling Techniques
by Akash Karia
What is TED Talks Storytelling Techniques about?
Who should read TED Talks Storytelling Techniques
HBR Guide to Better Business Writing
by Bryan A. Garner
What is HBR Guide to Better Business Writing about?
Who should read HBR Guide to Better Business Writing
Tribe of Mentors
by Timothy Ferriss
What is Tribe of Mentors about?
Who should read Tribe of Mentors
Lessons
by Gisele Bündchen
What is Lessons about?
Who should read Lessons
It Works
by R. H. Jarrett
What is It Works about?
Who should read It Works
Be Fearless
by Jean Case
What is Be Fearless about?
Who should read Be Fearless
Bitcoin Billionaires
by Ben Mezrich
What is Bitcoin Billionaires about?
Who should read Bitcoin Billionaires
Power Score
by Geoff Smart, Randy Street, Alan Foster
What is Power Score about?
Who should read Power Score
The Millionaire Fastlane
by MJ DeMarco
What is The Millionaire Fastlane about?
Who should read The Millionaire Fastlane
The Path Made Clear
by Oprah Winfrey
What is The Path Made Clear about?
Who should read The Path Made Clear
Screw It, Let’s Do It
by Richard Branson
What is Screw It, Let’s Do It about?
Who should read Screw It, Let’s Do It
Raise Your Game
by Alan Stein Jr., Jon Sternfeld
What is Raise Your Game about?
Who should read Raise Your Game
If You're Not First, You're Last
by Grant Cardone
What is If You're Not First, You're Last about?
Who should read If You're Not First, You're Last
Frequently asked questions on books about success
What are the best books to read for success?
The best books about success equip readers with tools to cultivate an action-oriented mindset. 'Atomic Habits' advocates for healthy routines, while 'Think and Grow Rich' explains "traditional" ways to accumulate wealth. In 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,' Stephen R. Covey advises focusing on values that lead to growth, while 'High Performance Habits' recommends building up a daily discipline.
What's the most successful book ever?
The Bible is the most successful book ever, with the whole Bible translated into 776 languages and excerpts available in 1,433 more (as of August 2025). For strategy and finance enthusiasts who want to think boldly and act decisively, the most successful titles would include Richard Branson's 'Screw It, Let's Do It' and Jim Camp's 'Start with No.'
What's the most life-changing book?
Viktor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning' is one of those books that can completely shift how you see life, showing that purpose can grow even from pain. Jean Case's 'Be Fearless' continues that message with uplifting stories and five simple principles that inspire you to take bold risks, move fast, and create real, lasting change.
What are the top 10 most-read books?
The top 10 most read books about success from the Headway library include life-shaping titles such as 'High Performance Habits,' 'The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking,' 'Make It Stick,' 'Learning How to Learn,' 'Start with No,' 'The Millionaire Fastlane,' 'Find Your Passion,' 'Power Score,' 'TED Talks' by Chris Anderson and 'TED Talks Storytelling Techniques' — each inspiring practical, lasting achievement.
What's the most inspiring book ever?
For many, 'Can't Hurt Me' by David Goggins is more than a book — it's a call to embrace inspiration, endurance, and radical accountability. Goggins challenges readers to maintain consistency in self-discipline and mental toughness — a kind of "thick skin" — that enables you to face your excuses, rethink your limits, and strive for more in every aspect of life.
















