I’m a big believer in reading motivational books. Sadly, there seems to be a stigma attached to books of this nature… Some proclaim that so-called “self-help” books only exist for those who can’t self-motivate or those who refuse to help themselves. What absolute rubbish!

I believe we’re all prone to negative emotions from time to time - feelings of complacency, stagnation, stress, melancholy, depression, etc. How we choose to deal with these emotions defines our character and sets us apart.

From my experience, regular reading of motivational books help me stay positive, and keeps me focused and conscious of (a) who I am, (b) who I want to be, and (c) where I’m heading. I’ve also found that I’m better equipped to recognize and deal with negative emotions early on. So without further a due, here’s my top 10 list of the best (personal and business) motivational reads:

1. Eugene Peterson - The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language
2. Tom Peters - Reimagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age
3. Robin Sharma - The Greatness Guide
4. Paul Arden - It’s Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be
5. Seth Godin - The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
6. Robin Sharma - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
7. Henry Cloud - Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
8. Seth Godin - Small Is the New Big
9. Randy Pausch - The Last Lecture
10. Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth

So what would be on your list?