Books have a way of getting you to think differently. To be incredibly grateful for what you have. To be inspired that you could do something more. To be moved by the achievements of others.
This books page features some of our favourite motivational personal and business books, as well as our most-loved inspirational Australian autobiographies and biographies.
We recommend purchasing books from local businesses, either from your local bookstore or online through Booktopia.
This page also features the Find my niche book. Find my niche is a practical guide to making a living doing the work you love. If you have had dreams of doing something more, but your dreams have always stayed in the future, Find my niche is for you. Find my niche will help you find work that energises you, makes time fly, and is rewarding and worthwhile.
'Find my niche' is available from the shop page. It's also available on Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble, and more!
Find my niche
Erin Landells
Motivational personal and business books
The Happiest Refugee
Anh Do
Wherever you are in the world, this story by Anh Do will move you and inspire you to be whatever you want to be. Anh Do tells this story in his own hilarious way and this book will have you laughing and crying at the same time. If you're ever feeling sorry for yourself, read this one!
One Small Step Can Change Your Life
Dr. Robert Maurer
Struggling to find time to exercise, start your new book, or make any big change? I love how Dr Maurer breaks things down into the tiniest steps to help everyone make a start. Good insights for coaches here too. You'll soon be asking yourself, 'what is one small step I could take to...'. I used his insights to start doing yoga from youtube at home with my three year old!
Strengths Finder 2.0
Tom Rath
Join the 13 million people who have taken the Clifton StrengthsFinder and embrace your strengths! I am in love with the Strengths-based approach (and am also a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach). If you don't know what it's all about, read this book today! Learn about your signature strengths and how focusing on and growing your strengths can positively affect so many aspects of your life.
Now Discover Your Strengths
Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton
The 2001 book that started the strengths-based revolution. This book will have you buzzing and ready to take on the world! You will start to see your strengths in everything you do! I even see my strengths reflected in my favourite books! (Achiever, Individualization (understanding people's uniqueness), Empathy, Learner, Arranger - see what I mean?!)
The Art of Possibility
Rosamund Stone Zander and Ben Zander
One of my all-time favourite books. The Art of Possibility will have you thinking differently about EVERYTHING! The 12 'practices' include 'It's all invented', 'Giving an A' (if you're a teacher, you'll love this one), and 'Being the Board'. Fabulous reading for any professional or business owner.
Flourish
Martin Seligman
Flourish is a life-changing book. It is absolutely jam-packed with Dr Martin Seligman's years of research into positive psychology. Seligman also adopts a Strengths-based approach and his work with schools will have you paying a lot more attention to which school your children attend. Dr Seligman graciously agreed for me to include some of his insights in the Find My Niche book.
Give and Take
Adam Grant
Feeling burnt out? Read this book. I couldn't stop thinking about Give and Take for months after I read it. Professor Grant from Wharton Business School shares his wealth of knowledge and research about how our generosity, or lack of it, can profoundly affect our lives. You'll think differently about giving and be inspired to be more generous in everything you do. Professor Grant also graciously agreed for me to include some of his insights in the Find My Niche book.
Launch
Jeff Walker
Jeff Walker shares his formula for successfully launching a product on a minimal budget - and actually having people buy it! Whether or not you embrace the whole approach, your $30 will be money well spent as it will get you thinking differently about how to launch your business and be successful!
Australian biographies, autobiographies and business stories
Love Your Sister
Connie and Samuel Johnson
Feeling sad and sorry for yourself? Read this book and find out how Connie Johnson used her own terrible ordeals with cancer (three separate times) to enrich the lives of the people around her, including her brother Samuel Johnson. Will make you cry (probably weep), be truly thankful for everything you have, and look for ways to support this important cause. If you think you know their story from watching The Project, trust me - there's a lot more to it.
The Secrets of My Success
Janine Allis
Janine Allis provides highly practical and accessible insights into her life and how she started Boost. I love reading about young mums who built something amazing. Janine's story will show you how much work it is to have it all - this is no fairytale! Have a read and find out so much more about this great Australian success story.
Live What You Love
Naomi Simson
I love what Naomi has to say about how she started her business and her philosophies on life. Another inspirational woman who started her business when she had a young family with the belief that this would be a more family-friendly option! Good to read BEFORE you start your own business! You'll be inspired - and also going into it with your eyes wide open!
The Long Road to Overnight Success
Shane Jacobson
We all know him as Kenny. In this book, you find out the real story behind Kenny and Shane Jacobson's life. Like many other books here, you'll learn so many new things and find yourself asking everyone 'Did you know that Kenny.....?' Also, Shane lives in the inner west of Melbourne. I love to support a local who has shown that anything is possible!
Mao's Last Dancer
Li Cunxin
If you've seen Li Cunxin speak in person, you've probably already bought his book! If you haven't, this is an amazing read! Find out how Li Cunxin was miraculously selected from a tiny Chinese village to be a ballet dancer and what he made of his life because of this opportunity. This book will inspire you to work hard and achieve your dreams, and of course, be incredibly grateful for everything you have.
Fair Cop
Christine Nixon
This is one of those books where you think you know the full story, but you find out there was so much more to it! I truly admire a woman who could rise through the ranks of the New South Wales Police Force at the time that Christine did. Christine gets a bad time in the press, but her story will inspire you to reach for your dreams and tackle problems head-on. Christine also graciously agreed for me to include some of her inspirational quotes in the Find My Niche book.
A Long Way Home
Saroo Brierley
As I write these reviews, I can see that I love to read almost unbelievable stories where people have overcome incredible adversity to be where they are now. This story of how five-year old Saroo Brierley became lost in India, survived, was adopted by a Tasmanian couple, and then managed to find his childhood home twenty five years later based on his memories as a frightened five year old will leave you absolutely amazed.
