9 Best Motivational Books to Awaken Your Initiative

Books have a magical way of transporting us to different worlds and enriching our lives with others' personal experiences and stories. In this collection of motivational books, we’ve selected the best motivational books to inspire personal growth and self-improvement.

There are some great titles out there that can help boost your motivation and productivity. For example, Why We Do What We Do provides insights into the psychology of human behavior, while Get It Done offers practical strategies for overcoming procrastination and achieving your goals. Each book has its own strengths and weaknesses, but all of them offer a unique perspective on how to boost your motivation and activate your inner drive.

9 Best Motivational Books to Awaken Your Initiative

1. Why We Do What We Do by Edward L. Deci

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

why we do what we do book cover by edward deci

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Insightful, Engaging, Informative

Read It If You…

  • Seek deeper insights into human motivation.

  • Want to understand the psychology behind behavior.

  • Desire to enhance your self-awareness and personal freedom.

Why We Do What We Do explores the science of motivation. It looks into the factors that influence behavior. According to Deci, it's important to encourage autonomy and teach others how to do things not because they'll get a reward, but because they want to.

Quotes from Why We Do What We Do by Edward L. Deci

2. Get It Done by Ayelet Fishbach

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

get it done book cover by ayelet fishbach in orange

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Action-oriented, results-driven

 Read It If You…

  • Need practical strategies to improve productivity

  • Want to overcome procrastination and achieve goals

  • Prefer straightforward advice for getting things done

Get It Done provides actionable tips and techniques for maximizing productivity and efficiency in your daily lives. Fishbach looks for simple yet useful tools to achieve your goals with a distinctive writing style.

Quotes from Get It Done by Ayelet Fishbach

3. Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life by Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

change your schedule, change your life by dr. suhas kshirsagar book cover

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Holistic, enlightening

Read It If You…

  • Seek holistic strategies for improving well-being.

  • Want to optimize your daily routine for better health.

  • Are interested in learning about your Circadian rhythm. 

Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life offers practical advice for aligning daily routines with natural rhythms. The author combines ancient wisdom with modern insights, providing a comprehensive guide to optimal living.

Quotes from Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life by Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar

4. The Power of A Positive Attitude by Roger Fritz

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

the power of a positive attitude book cover by roger fritz blue, white, and red

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Uplifting, encouraging

Read It If You…

  • Want to cultivate a more positive mindset.

  • Seek inspiration to overcome challenges with optimism.

  • Prefer practical advice. 

In The Power of a Positive Attitude, Roger Fritz highlights the importance of maintaining a positive attitude to attain one's goals in life. The book provides practical advice on how to overcome obstacles and develop a positive mindset. Fritz's approach is to help readers evaluate and enhance their attitudes to thrive in any situation. The book is written in an easy-to-understand language and offers valuable tools to help readers improve their outlook on life.

Quotes from The Power of A Positive Attitude by Roger Fritz

5. Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

hidden potential book cover by adam grant

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Inspirational, reflective

 Read It If You…

  • Want to explore hidden talents

  • Are inspired by narratives of overcoming obstacles

  • Have a sense that you need to unlock your motivation

Adam Grant's book challenges conventional notions of success, emphasizing character development and effective learning over intrinsic talent. It celebrates human potential. Overall, his work in Hidden Potential is an inspiring reminder that success is not just about talent, but also about hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn and grow.

Quotes from Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

6. Love Life by Matthew Hussey

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

love life book cover by matthew hussey large red heart on a black background, pink and yellow block text

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Heartfelt, authentic

  Read It If You…

  • Seek to cultivate a healthier sense of self-love and self-awareness.

  • Desire deeper insights into the dynamics of love, vulnerability, and personal growth.

  • Aim to break free from patterns of self-doubt and fear.

In Love Life, Matthew Hussey emphasizes the importance of self-love as the foundation of a successful relationship. It highlights the transformative journey toward self-discovery and fulfillment that relationships bring to the surface. "Love Life" empowers readers to cultivate a love for life beyond their relationship status and grow personally.

Quotes from Love Life by Matthew Hussey

7. Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

set boundaries, find peace book cover by nedra glover tawwab, yellow, coral, aqua and blue squares on a white background

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Supportive, empowering

Read It If You…

  • Struggle with setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.

  • Seek guidance on cultivating self-awareness and assertiveness.

  • Want to improve relationships and prioritize self-care.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself provides practical strategies for setting and enforcing boundaries in various areas of life. Tawwab's compassionate approach empowers readers to prioritize their needs, communicate effectively, and foster healthier connections.

You Might Also Like: Can Prioritizing Yourself Reduce Resentment In Your Relationship?

Quotes from Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

8. Worthy by Nancy Levin

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

worthy book cover by nancy levin, elegant gold line work on a white background with royal purple art nouveau text

Genre: Self-Help

Vibe: Transformative

Read It If You…

  • Struggle with self-worth and self-acceptance

  • Seek guidance on overcoming limiting beliefs and self-doubt

  • Want to cultivate a deeper sense of worthiness and fulfillment

When we doubt our worth, we fear scarcity in all aspects of life, including finances. In Worthy, Nancy Levin reveals the profound connection between self-worth and financial abundance. She guides readers to confront money anxieties, challenge limiting beliefs, and reclaim their inherent value.

Quotes from Worthy by Nancy Levin

9. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Social Value

Practicality

Thought Leadership

Cultural Insight

Spirituality

can't hurt me by david goggins book cover author in decorated white marine corps fatigues against an image of his younger obese self wearing a tank top

Genre: Autobiography

Vibe:  Intense, empowering, transformative

Read It If You…

  • Seek inspiration for overcoming adversity

  • Seek transformative insights to push you further

  • Want to cultivate mental resilience


Can't Hurt Me details David Goggins' journey from Navy SEAL to ultramarathon runner, showcasing his triumph over adversity and mental barriers. Goggins' story offers valuable insights into pushing the boundaries of human potential and turning adversity into strength.

Quotes from Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins