Personal development books Part 1

Operation Happinessby Gretchen Rubin.

If you have never read anything about personal development, this is the book you should read first. It is the one that will fascinate you with this topic and have a big impact on your daily life. Gretchen Rubin is a true guru, her books have changed many people's lives for the better! This book is based on a simple observation that applies to all of us: the feeling that we are always in a hurry, that we are overwhelmed, that we don't have enough time for ourselves and our loved ones... Gretchen, the author of the book, shares her own story and tells how one day she decided to stop and analyse her life, her routines and her priorities to, quite simply, become happier. The book is structured around a 12 month year where Gretchen sets herself monthly themes to work on (couple's life, friendships, budget, leisure time, energy, etc.) The real strength of this book is that it is accessible, funny, not at all pretentious and makes you really want to introspect and work on your own "Operation Happiness". This book is important to reread regularly (not necessarily the whole thing, but individual fragments that you liked), annotated, cornered and underlined in all directions, so many positive things I got out of it, even though I don't usually write about my books!

If you're fluent in English, Gretchen and her sister Liz host a wonderful podcast that you can find here (or on iTunes under "podcast"). It can become your little weekly ritual to keep you inspired!

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The title of this book is a bit confusing (especially in English, not easy to handle on the underground), but it's one of the most interesting books on social interaction. Behind this rather simple title is a treasure trove of information on how to better understand human behaviour, deal with conflict, learn to understand others, master negotiation and have more relaxed interactions with others. It's quite a dense book, but it's full of examples that make you realise where you are and where you're going. It's a very enlightening read that will allow you to better understand human reactions and learn how to avoid unnecessary conflict in your daily life, both professionally and personally.

Big Magic. Creative Living Beyond Fearby Elizabeth Gilbert

I think you're familiar with the cover and title of this book, as it's been in the news a lot lately. Not all of Elizabeth Gilbert's books may appeal to you, but this particular one seemed very interesting. The focus of this book? Creativity and the idea that we can all be creative if we let go of fear and insecurity. The book isn't particularly groundbreaking in its approach to the topic, but it's an easy, quick, and honest read on the subject, perfect for getting familiar with such topics (and for reading by the pool or on the beach this summer). The book is filled with powerful and inspiring phrases that I highlighted to be inspired after reading, especially when she talks about how to create without the constant pressure of perfection - a topic I often struggle with!

Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

Another book by Gretchen Rubin. This is Gretchen's most recent book, one of the best books on personal development, and the one that resonated the most. The core message of this book? Change to be better! How does it work? Through habits, the "invisible skeleton" of our lives. Forming a habit takes time, but once it's formed, you can put your energy in a different direction. Do you ask yourself the question, "Do I want to brush my teeth?" or "Do I want to buckle up in the car?". NO, because these habits are so ingrained in us that we don't ask them anymore. And yet, you can create habits for anything! In particular, it's thanks to these lessons that you can start exercising regularly: without ever asking yourself if I want to or not, because you'll start doing it out of habit and because you know it's good for you!

One more thing: Gretchen has developed an incredible personality type questionnaire (there are four of them) that will revolutionise your relationship with yourself.

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

This book is a little longer and denser than the others, but very engaging. This first book is simply wonderful. You will get to know yourself through the author's approach, because he values emotional intelligence (awareness and control of oneself and one's emotions, social ease, quality of relationships with oneself and others, etc.) as much as the more traditional logical-mathematical and verbal intelligence. In his book, Daniel Goleman emphasises that IQ should not be the only indicator of success, and that emotional skills and the ability to express emotions coherently and appropriately are no less a strength. He gives us fascinating tools and lessons to learn how to better temper our emotions and make them work for us. A book that would make the world a better place if we all read it in school!

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

If you're not already familiar with Anthony Robbins, start by watching his Ted talk to get a feel for his aura and incredible talent as a public speaker. You will become a fan of the man, and believe me, this book is as good as he is and you will close it telling yourself that you are capable of EVERYTHING! This is one of those personal development books that will make you think about a lot of things. It's long, sometimes a bit repetitive (but it's good to read some things several times), but it's also very accessible, full of concrete examples and tips that encourage you to ask yourself questions, reassess your priorities, don't devalue yourself, don't be afraid to change and, in short, develop greater human maturity. 100% inspirational reading!