Recommended personal development products

So far I must have read/listened to/watched about 40-50 products on personal development.

The major part of those have been audiobooks, but if prefer you can find most of them as books too.

Many of these products have been recommended to me by others so I guess overall most of them hold a pretty high standard compared to some of the stuff out there.

Here is a list of the products that has had the most profound effect on me. The best ones I have found so far.

This list will be updated continually. Whenever I discover something really excellent I´ll add it to the list.

The list was last updated on the 29:th of November, 2006.

People skills

Influence by Dr. Robert Cialdini – This is a wonderful (and entertaining) book about different mechanisms that people use to influence others. There are chapters on stuff like reciprocity, scarcity-mentality and the ever important social proof. Excellent if you want to reduce the influence ads, salesmen and social programming might have over you. Or if you want to become a better salesman.

How to win friends and influence people (audio) by Dale Carnegie. A useful classic on how to do just what the title of the book says. The book includes: Three Fundamental Techniques for Handling People, Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offence or Arousing Resentment.

How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less (audio) by Nicholas Bothman. Excellent little audiobook on making a great first impression and connect better with people.

Spirituality and Consciousness

The Flowering of Human Consciousness(dvd) by Eckhart Tolle. A two-disc dvd-set. On the first disc Tolle speaks about such things as the power of now, mental noise and the ego. On disc number two he answers audience questions. The dvds are about 1 hour 45 minutes each. Both practical and kinda mindblowing stuff. And Eckhart Tolle is a very likeable speaker with a calming presence.

Mastering Your Hidden Self: Guide to the Huna Way by Serge Kahili King. A book on Huna philosophy that also covers a number of exercises for different kinds of meditations. A lot of pretty practical and no-nonsense ideas on personal growth and how to get to know yourself better where one might have expected a lot of fuzzy, abstract and “new-agey” thoughts. The seven principles of Huna, as thought by the Order of Huna International, covers a lot of the same thoughts on personal development that you can read about in modern books. Such as “the world is what you think it is” and “energy flows where the attention goes”.

101 Ways to Transform Your Life (audio) by Dr. Wayne Dyer. 101 thoughts read by Dyer, with some soothning music in the background. On how to change the way you think, act and live your life. I´ve already listened to this short, one hour, audioboook at least five times in the last month. It´s very relaxing and with wonderful suggestions. Just a couple: “Instead of being right, be kind” and “when you seek happiness for yourself it will always elude you, when you seek happiness for others you will find it yourself”. I really like this one.

The Secret (dvd) by Rhonda Byrne. A movie where a lot of different people such as Jack Canfield and Joe Vitale explains The Law of Attraction. Basically what this ancient principle says is that whatever you think about will send “vibrations” out into the world and you will attract what you have thought about. So, if you think about success you will attract success into your life. And if you think negative thoughts you will attract negativity into your life. Inspiring film and with good explanations of a subject that is a bit abstract.

Success, Wealth, Good places to start

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. For 20 years Napoleon Hill travelled around the US and interviewed 500 of the most successful people. This book, released in 1937, was the result and has since then sold over 15 million copies worldwide. A good place to start if you are interested in personal development as it covers a lot of time-tested advice. I really like the chapter about Napoleon´s son that was born deaf.

As a Man Thinketh (free book) by James Allen. This short, inspirational book (28 pages) can downloaded as a free pdf-file – if you sign up for a newsletter – or you can buy in paperback. I have previously written about the book in this short article.

Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins. The second book by Robbins probably the most popular of the personal development-coaches today. Like “Think and grow rich” it covers a lot on success and how to improve your life. A good place to start.

Personal Power II (a whole box with 20+ tapes) by Anthony Robbins. A in-depth 30-day course where you listen to one tape (they are about 40 minutes each) and do a couple of exercise in a workbook each day Monday to Friday. On the weekends you listen to a couple of subliminal recordings.

The Psychology of Achievement (audio) by Brian Tracy. Like most of Brian Tracy´s products it´s packed of small nuggets of gold. It covers a lot on how to develop a top achiever´s mindset and improve your life. Another good place to start if you are interested in personal growth.

Productivity and Relaxation

Double Induction (free mp3) by Hypnotica, Steve Piccus and Denver Clay. Scroll down a bit on this page and you´ll find it. Basically it´s guided meditation intended for headphones where two guys (one in each ear) guide you through stories and abstract thoughts with a bit of music in the background. A surprisingly effective way to relax. I wrote about this mp3 in A very simple way to feel relaxed for 24 hours. Which prompted one reader called Larsh to post this comment after trying it out:

I haven’t felt this relaxed since a meditation class about ten years ago. This was amazing. Time to start studying Binaural recordings.

How to Master Your Time (audio) by Brian Tracy. An excellent, extensive program filled with practical tips on productivity and time-management.

I do get a commission if you buy through any of the affiliate links in this review. So thanks for helping me to be able to keep writing and good luck with the program!

Now, what are your favourite personal development products?

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