The more I read, the more I realize books have the power to shift mindsets and perspectives.  Once I realized this, I bought a book for each topic that I wanted to learn about indicidually. Here's a list of my top 12 books that played a part in changing my mind.

1. Mastery by Robert Greene

At the top of my list, this read will help develop your attitude for mastering skills and helping realize that patience and persistence are extremely important in developing mastery. It contains many historical examples within of Masters and their journeys to mastery from the past such as Albert Einstein, Manny Pacqiou, Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, and Charles Darwin.

Memorable Quotes: “The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”

2. The Science of Success by Wallace Wattles

One of the first and greatest self-help books I’ve ever read, Wallace Wattles presents a three-in-one volume book containing the author’s method for attaining success broken down to its exact science. The book contains the classics The Science of Getting Rich, The Science of Being Well, and The Science of Being Great. This book has also been the inspiration from other classics such as Napoleon Hill’s Think & Grow Rich, Robert Schuller’s Power Thoughts, and Rhona Byrnes’ The Secret.

Memorable Quotes: “If you do not believe what God tells you in little things, you will never draw upon His wisdom and knowledge in larger things. When you feel deeply that a certain act is a right act, do it and have perfect faith that the consequences will be good.”

 

3. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra 

A rather quick but powerful read, Deepak Chopra breaks down the 7 natural laws, or practices needed to understand your true nature and to live in harmony. This is a book that can be read again and again because of its timeless wisdom.

Memorable Quotes: “...Another way to access the field of pure potentiality is through the practice of non-judgment. Judgment is the constant evaluation of things as right or wrong, good or bad. When you are constantly evaluating, classifying, labeling, analyzing, you create a lot of turbulence in your internal dialogue.”

 

4. The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene

Another classic by Robert Greene, The Art of Seduction is much deeper than just sexual seduction; It’s about how to seduce anyone socially, politically, and sexually. It goes into depth about how seduction is a game of psychology, not beauty, and it is within the grasp of any person to become a master of the game. Like Mastery, this book gives examples of notable historical seducers such as Marilyn Monroe, Cleopatra, and Josephine Baker.

 

Memorable Quotes: “The key to such power is ambiguity. In a society where the roles everyone plays are obvious, the refusal to conform to any standard will excite interest. Be both masculine and feminine, impudent and charming, subtle and outrageous. Let other people worry about being socially acceptable; those types are a dime a dozen, and you are after a power greater than they can imagine.”

5. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

Being one of the first spiritual books that I’ve read. I’m pretty sure most of this book is fictional; however, it still carries some valuable insights and wisdom. Honestly, this book played a part in “waking me up.” I even found myself posting certain insights from the book on sticky notes around my room.

Memorable Quotes: “When you appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of things.. You receive energy. When you get to a level where you feel love, then you can send the energy back just by willing so.”

 

6. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Now I know what you’re thinking; “A BOOK ABOUT FEMINISM?? No thank you!” I know because I thought that at first too. However, this is a great quick 48-page read about women rights. In fact, you can hear the author quote parts in this book in Beyonce’s Flawless. 

Memorable Quotes: “We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful, otherwise, you will threaten the man. If you are the breadwinner in your relationship with a man, pretend that you are not, otherwise, you will emasculate him’.”

 

7. A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

I was introduced to this book long before I could grasp the true context of its meaning. My 5th grade English teacher would have my class recite a poem out of this book every day for two years making sure it was instilled in us. Williamson does an exquisite job of interpreting  A Course in Miracles by articulating how to grow spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. She addresses the illnesses in the world, paints the vision of what is possible if we change our minds — literally. 

Memorable Quotes: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; It's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

8. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Honestly, this book is pretty straightforward. In business, it is important to have certain skills, especially people skills. An old friend once said to me in so many words, “You can’t have any grievances with people in business for the sake of your reputation.” Carnegie lists the people skills needed for a success broken down into four parts; fundamental techniques in handling people, ways to make people like you, how to win people to your way of thinking, and how to be a leader.

Memorable Quotes: “Talk to someone about themselves and they’ll listen for hours.”

9. #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso

I read this book in 2015 when I first started getting really invested in fashion design. This book resonated with me specifically because Sophia Amoruso is in the fashion business and because of the similar steps and experiences that she and I both had undergone. This book served as a “mentor” for me. It was the startup blueprint for starting an eCommerce business. This book was also turned into a Netflix special that was equally as inspiring. This book is not just for women entrepreneurs, but for all entrepreneurs.

Memorable Quotes: “...one key to running a successful business is to know how to get free marking.”

10. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best — the four agreements Ruiz tells readers to make with themselves. I love this short, but powerful book. I was so invested, I finished it in a day. It’s a self-help book, but for your inner peace. This book is also known as the wisdom book or a practical guide to freedom.

Memorable Quotes: “And the limit of your self-abuse is exactly the limit you will allow from someone else. If someone abuses you a little more than you abuse yourself, you will probably walk away from that person.”

 

11. Big Idea Food by Marlena Banks

One thing about us millennials is that we crave instant gratification. This book, however, really played a part in grounding me reminding me that everything is a process. What better way to gauge our discipline than sticking to a weekly devotional? Banks wrote Big Idea Food as a graphic designer and described her spiritual journey with God. She makes some strong and valid points and reminds us of God’s word in the process.

Memorable Quotes: “I have to constantly remind myself that there are no limits in God.”

 

12. The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto

Last but not least, a rather interesting read, Japanese scientist Masaru studies the nature of energy and water. It sounds uncanny, but Emoto would speak positive and negative things to different cups of water and he would freeze them to observe the formation of the crystals formed. The water he spoke to positively made beautiful crystals, and the one he spoke negatively to made unpleasant crystals. He features many photos of this experiment as proof and if you still don’t believe it, he included an experiment that you can try at home with two different bags of rice in a bowl and observe it the same way he observed the water. The moral of the story is that the energy that you put out to living things can highly affect it.

Memorable Notable Quotes: “Each one of us has a magical ability to change the world. We have all been granted the power of creation by God. If we use this power to the maximum, we will be able to change the world in but a moment.”