It can be hard to find motivation while caught up in the pace of everyday life—or bogged down by anxieties. With these carefully chosen listens, you can put the advice of the world’s leading personal development experts right into your ears the next time you're in need of inspiration.
Here we’ve put together a list of power-packed selections that include both newer authors and time-tested listener favorites from veterans of the genre. Read on for the best self-help audiobooks, and try not to be inspired!
Bringing years of research and experience to the table, Brené Brown describes how vulnerability actually creates opportunities for strength and courage in our day-to-day lives. Vulnerability, as Brown explains, is at the heart of both uncomfortable emotions, like fear and grief, and of powerful gifts such as belonging, empathy, and love. Humans are hardwired to connect with each other, Brown emphasizes, and daring to be open and genuine with our family, friends, and colleagues strengthens our relationships and enriches life—especially in a world where feeling insecure and afraid has become second nature. Brené Brown narrates this listen, presenting her insights with the enthusiasm and clarity that have made her TED Talks so popular.
Both this best seller and its author, Stephen R. Covey, are self-development staples. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been reinvigorating the daily routines of successful people for decades, and Covey’s advice remains as relevant as ever. Focusing on improvement through the measured achievement of goals, 7 Habits instructs listeners on the specific steps to setting clearer, more achievable objectives. Most important, Covey’s writing and energetic performance infuse each lesson with enthusiasm and drive that will inspire you to put his guidance into practice as soon as the audiobook ends.
Published more than 60 years ago, Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends & Influence People still rides high atop best seller lists and easily ranks as one of the most influential self-development titles of all time. Carnegie focuses not on what a person plans to achieve but how to achieve it—whatever "it" might be. By developing your social skills and becoming more likeable, as he explains, any goal can be made more achievable. When you start listening, you’ll be one step closer to joining the book’s legion of success stories—this is, after all, the book Warren Buffet credited with transforming his life—as you learn the secrets behind effectively networking your way to just about anything you want. Paired with authoritative, straightforward narration by the late Andrew MacMillan, How to Win Friends & Influence People opens a path to success in both business and life that’s more accessible than ever.
Elizabeth Gilbert empowered countless women to blaze their own trail to self-discovery with her widely beloved memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. In Big Magic, the worldwide best-selling author focuses on a topic close to her heart: the mysterious nature of inspiration. In her own voice, Gilbert offers her unique perspective on the creative process and, with insight and empathy, encourages listeners to face down their fears, embrace their own curiosity, and dare to follow their dreams. A beautifully written and truly magical listen, Big Magic is also grounded in practical wisdom. Throughout, Gilbert shares the attitudes and habits to cultivate if you're serious about living your most creative life.
An Oprah Winfrey-endorsed book and a New York Times best seller, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is an assembly of ancient wisdom reimagined for a modern audience. Ruiz bases his advice on the teachings of the Toltecs, predecessors of the Aztecs, who lived with a deep understanding of personal freedom and contentment. Throughout this audiobook, listeners will learn that life revolves around the different agreements we make. Whether these agreements are made with ourselves, with others, or with a higher power, they all impact how much freedom we have and what we choose to do with it. Veteran actor Peter Coyote, who might sound familiar to fans of documentarian Ken Burns (for whom Coyote narrated eight films), guides listeners through each agreement, ensuring that the lessons of the Toltecs are instilled with wisdom, eloquence, and grace.
In his 1999 best seller, Eckhart Tolle shares his method of living in the moment to create the most fulfilling life possible. He urges listeners to throw away the typical approach to overcoming problems, which generally involves introspective thoughts of the past and future, and instead fully concentrate on the present. Narrated by the author, The Power of Now provides listeners with a simple and easy-to-follow question-and-answer format that offers guidance and support. With advice on positive thinking, as well as meditations and practices that listeners can employ to improve their mindfulness and start embracing the present, this listen is a surefire start to a more meditative, meaningful life.
Viktor E. Frankl, a world-renowned psychiatrist, survived years in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. These horrific experiences, paired with his rigorous and immersive scientific training, give him a uniquely intimate perspective on life’s most complicated questions. As a psychiatrist, Frankl used this theory to create a new kind of psychotherapy called logotherapy, which he himself used to come to terms with the trials and cruelties he endured. In Man’s Search for Meaning, Frankl explains how listeners can use questions of meaning to process their own lives and arrive at a greater understanding of existence. Hall of Fame narrator Simon Vance effortlessly guides listeners through Frankl’s most complex musings, all of which are centered on the author’s main theory: The primary motivating force for every human being is their search for purpose and understanding.
If you're looking for a feel-good listen celebrating the power of positive thinking and affirming your own amazingness, this audiobook definitely isn't it. Popular blogger and best-selling author Mark Manson has a radically different take on finding the path to happiness and success. Backed by academic research, he makes a compelling case for being brutally honest with yourself about your own limitations. Once we embrace our faults and fears, Manson argues, we can stop dreaming and running, get clear on what's really worth caring about, and begin to find the courage, creativity, purpose, and joy we seek. Prolific audiobook narrator and actor Roger Wayne delivers this listen's hard-hitting, uplifting message, completely uncensored.
Although a work of fiction, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist has been widely embraced as the perfect self-development book for telling a story rich in inspiration and encouragement. That story follows Santiago, a young shepherd from southern Spain, on his quest to see the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Along his journey, Santiago meets many fascinating characters, receiving varying advice from each—but the most helpful advice comes from a mysterious and wise alchemist he encounters near the end of his fateful trip. Narrated with reverence, vibrancy, and incredible range by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, The Alchemist stands out as a refreshingly novel parable in a genre that tends toward the literal. Worthwhile for its entertainment value and gorgeous prose alone, it leaves listeners with a few lessons to ponder as well.
David Schwartz's self-development guide has been influencing millions of people since 1959, and with Jason Culp’s warm, spirited narration, listeners can take advantage of its advice no matter where they are in their career or life. Schwartz’s philosophy is that extraordinary successes are not achieved through extraordinary talent, but rather on the strength of extraordinary thinking. The Magic of Thinking Big guides listeners to break out of traditional thinking surrounding ability and experience, which imposes limits on our expectations, and discover the incredible power of ambitious thinking. In the process, listeners will learn how to destroy fear, build confidence, believe in their potential, and, ultimately, accomplish the extraordinary.
For years, psychologist Daniel Kahneman has been personally inspiring some of the most well-known authors in the world, including big thinkers such as Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Pinker. With Thinking Fast and Slow, Kahneman finally makes his expertise available for anyone who’s willing to listen. Narrator Patrick Egan wields a comfortable, easygoing delivery with shifting tones and inflections to keep you engaged and focused through every academic detail of this comprehensive work. Kahneman’s study breaks down, in easy-to-understand language, the human brain’s two primary systems of thinking: fast thinking and slow thinking. The author goes on to explore how these two systems interact to influence our behavior, belief systems, relationships, intellect, and more into a masterful study of pop psychology and science.
rich dad(a friend of his actual, financially struggling father) about investing vs. saving, assets vs. liabilities, and making money work for you vs. working hard to make money. You're never too old to benefit from Kiyosaki's wisdom, and, if you're a parent, you'll learn what to teach your kids about money for their future financial success. Earphones Award winner Tom Parks narrates with his signature conversational style and earnestness.
Mel Robbins is a world-renowned television and podcast host, best-selling author, and motivational speaker, but in listening to Take Control of Your Life, you’ll feel like you’re getting advice from your best friend. Robbins is candid and fun as she delves into her expert advice on how to stop living in fear and start living life to the fullest. Robbins narrates this Audible Original, providing show-don’t-tell advice via real one-on-one coaching sessions. The audio is the perfect first step in learning how to combat your anxieties surrounding change and rejection, and harness the abilities necessary to improve your relationships and achieve your goals.
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss is a practical guide to making money and planning for your future efficiently. The New York Times best-selling author encourages listeners to work smarter (not harder!) in order to lead fulfilling lives before retirement. Audible fan favorite and Audie-nominated narrator Ray Porter’s clear, energizing performance underscores step-by-step plans for earning and saving money intelligently, as well as motivational stories of those who have mastered the art of living life without worrying about their paychecks.
Originally published during the Great Depression, Think and Grow Rich is the product of 20 years worth of interviews with more than 500 of the world's most successful people, including George Eastman, Henry Ford, and Frank Woolworth. Author Napoleon Hill used these interviews to study individual achievement and extrapolate larger lessons about what makes people successful—and what others can do to emulate that success. Combined with the clarity of Erik Synnestvedt’s narration, this makes a compelling listen for financial fans and history buffs alike. Hill’s interviews are not only instructional but also provide an intimate look at some of the most powerful figures in history.
Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is a breath of fresh air for listeners who feel bogged down by the constant pressure to work harder and plan better. This short and easy-to-digest set of instructions stresses the importance of understanding the basic nature of human beings, which Chopra argues is the key to success. Combining ancient Hindu teachings with a modern point of view, Chopra teaches listeners that goal-oriented lives are not necessarily the most successful. The result is an eye-opening, soothing listening experience that will motivate you to find peace and harmony within yourself.
If anyone can be said to be an authority on pluck, it’s psychologist and professor Angela Duckworth, who has made the study of unrelenting perseverance her life’s work. Her audiobook, which she also narrates with bright, genuine command, gives listeners an intimate look into her research as well as her personal experiences in pursuing her research. In an enthralling combination of scientific findings, recounts of personal struggles, and fascinating historical insights, Duckworth explains why, after years of study, she has concluded that the one thing that’s far more important than talent, skill, or experience in determining success is Grit.
What makes successful people different? How do they manage to stand out from everyone else? In Outliers, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell examines the lives of the world's high achievers. As Gladwell points out, the reason we fail to learn from other people's success stories is because we ask the wrong questions. Success is less about what a person does and more about where they're from. Culture, family, and upbringing have a lasting effect on a person's potential to lead a successful and productive life. Gladwell uses specific evidence and real-life examples to support his claims and, as the narrator of his own work, makes every personal story fascinating.
