Which is the First Personal Development Book that You Read?
Which is the first ever personal development book that you read?
For me it is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey [Affiliate Link]
Here in my city, Faisalabad, used books are sold on roadside stalls on Friday. I remember cycling past one such stall, sometime back in 1992 (two years after its publication in 1990), and seeing the book lying on top of a big pile of used book.
The title just spoke to me, and I went ahead and bought the the book, without even reading a few pages, as if I “knew” that I’d like this book.
And I liked it. Not only that, but it also kindled the dormant flames of a hunger for understanding of life and excellence inside me.
Reading this book was like opening my eyes for the first time and looking at life from a very different angle.
That is what Stephen Covey calls in his book—a paradigm shift. I was introduced to this concept by this exact book of Stephen Covey, and got hooked on to it.
This is not a review of the book. With over 15 million copies of this book sold, you can find thousand of its reviews on the Web. In fact, you can read some great reviews right on the Amazon.Com website. Just scroll down the page and you’ll see many reviews.
It is a lazy, hazy and cloudy day today, with a strange nostalgic feel to it. I am drinking my first cup of tea, and while sipping on the silky textured tea, my mind is travelling back in time, when I didn’t know about “personal development”. I didn’t know that my life is not entirely pre-destined. I didn’t know that there exist thought patterns and life strategies that can change my life.
Now I know better and I owe it to this wonderful book, now considered a classic in the self-help category of books. If you haven’t read it up until now, you better read it, for you cannot miss out on reading it, if you are interested in developing your life personally.
Which is the first personal development book that you read?
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That is definitely a great book. You are so right about that. I was actually trying to think back to the first personal development book I read and for some reason I am drawing a blank. I really liked what you shared about your revelations in this post and I can also remember those times back then when life was much more unclear. I have noticed that my understanding has definitely evolved over time and finding the right books and reading them at the perfect time has had a lot to do with it. Since I couldn't remember the first one, I was trying to think about my favorite personal development book, and that is equally as challenging for me
They have all been so great and so needed. I do agree though that the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the best.
You know sometimes I think that we don't select the books but rather the books select us.
Somehow they have a way of appearing in our lives (if we are tuned to reading) at the right time.
Thank you for your comment Sibyl.
Covey and his paradigm shifts are a classic. As I mentioned on Facebook, Abubakar, his tapes where he has recorded live lectures were phenomenal and I would listen to them in the car over and over until they finally became more natural – perhaps I still have to review them but it is definitely a fantastic book and concept!
I love these words – "Paradigm Shifts".
I did listen to the lectures but still I prefer books or videos. Audio is not my thing I guess (Oh, but you know that already, don't you?).
What a good question! It took me a minute to think back and I was fairly certain it was The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. But then I remembered the odd circumstances that led me to "accidentally" pick up a copy of a Seth book – The Nature of Personal Reality. It was my first brush with the concept, "You create your own reality." Even thought I thought the whole idea of channeling was bizarre, and suspected the book was faked, the ideas in it opened a door in my mind and eventually my consciousness was shifted forever.
Linda,
I have heard about the Seth and the teachings but now that you remind me I think I gotta know more about the teachings of Seth. Thank you for that.
The first personal development book that I read was The Key to Happiness by Harold Sherman. In this book, I learned for the first time the principle on which the present-day Law of Attraction is based. The author mentioned that after putting your body in a relaxed state, you begin the process that develops your imagination, desire, and faith for the things you desire in life.
I read the Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits for Highly Effective People, and even attended seminars about it. The course was part of our in-service trainings during my employment days as an educator in one prestigious university in our country.
But so far my favorite personal development book is If Life Is a Game, These Are the Rules by Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott. Even my friends, to whom I gave this as gift, said it was a very good book.
The books that changed my outlook on life and my concept of God is the whole series of Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch.
Sorry, I got carried away. You were asking only about the first book on personal development I read. Anyway, those other books I mentioned are my personal recommendations to the readers of your blog.
Percival,
Sir, thank you for your well received long comment. You got carried away but in the right direction by mentioning some very good books.
My first book that I read was "Your erroneous zones" by Wayne Dyer. This book changed my life for ever. What powerful information it contains. Thanks abubaker for sharing
Dia, that is a wonderful book indeed and the first one by Wayne Dyer if I remember correctly. No doubt it became an all time best seller.
Abubakar, I don't remember the first personal development book that I read, but Covey's book was one of the first. It was and is such a standout and knockout. Thanks for taking us down memory lane, when life was so different and helping us to appreciate the masterful guides who have helped us.
You are welcome Sandra. I think there is hardly any one who is into personal development and have not heard about Covey's book. A real gem.
Pulling Your Own Strings, also another gem of a book Sandra. Both these books are still in my library.
The first personal development book I read was in the summer of 1995. A friend of mine gave me "Real Magic" by Wayne Dyer.
The message in that book resonated with me deeply and it changed the course of my life from that summer on.
I love Covey by the way. I just quoted him in my last post lol (Actually twice because I repeated it in a post even prior to that) Great great wisdom!
Wayne Dyer seems to be taking the lead as far as comments are concerned. I have read Real Magic and it is just that—real magic.
Thank you Tony for sharing with us.
Abubakar,
Dale Carnegie's how to win friends was my first sort of personal development book that made sense to me. It made me aware of my own skills and limitation. Since then I love reading many personal development Guru books including 7 habits book by Covey. I have taken his seminar classes and they are worth the money (at least for me). There are far too many great personal development books I have read and many yet to do.
Dale Carnegie's is one of the oldest self-help authors and that book of his I have read and definitely it's good.
Thank you for sharing Preeti.
Hi– I found your blog on The Daily Brainstorm. Great question.
I honestly can't say what the first personal development book was that I've read because I've read so many. I do have Covey's 7 Habits and I like it a lot.
When I finished college back in '91 I was in charge of the self-help, recovery, and psychology sections in a book store so they all blend together–I read many of them (I minored in psych). But what stands out in my mind from back then is Thich Nhat Hanh's Peace is Every Step. Very big for me. Before that, "I Touch the Earth, The Earth Touches Me" by Hugh Prather was important but it was more of a book of poetry but it falls into the personal development category.
Long, long before that, though, I was reading stuff like Carlos Castaneda–big influence on me as a teen. Lots of stuff has been important to me. In recent years, have to say Harville Hendrix on relationships was a biggy. Also Alice Paul–though not specifically personal development–has given a lot of insight.
Have to check out your other posts now
Leah,
Welcome and thank you for sharing with us some really good books. Being in charge of the self-help section must have exposed you to a lot of good material.
Haven't read the ones you mentioned. Just read Dale Carnegie's 'How to win friends and influence people' and 'How to stop worrying and start living the life' and then Jack Canfield 's 'the success principles'
Very informative blog, Sir. (:
Xehra,
Welcome and thank you for your comment. Glad you liked the info provided here.
Do read any of the books mentioned in the comment. You won't be disappointed. They are all very good, time tested recommendations.
Abubakar
The first book that I read in the personal development genre was The Road Less Traveled by Scot Peck. It taught me that there was much more to me than I knew and it inspired me to discover more about myself. Since then I have read many and perhaps in someways better books but that was the one that really spoke to me at the place I was in my life then.
Thank you for reminding me!
That a good book actually and what matters is that at what time which book clicks with you and brings about a change in your thinking patterns.
Thank you sharing Marion.
The first personal development book I read was Creative Visualization – it opened up a whole new world to me. The Second was As A Man Thinketh – then I never stopped reading.
The 7 Habits for Highly Effective People – great choice!!!!
And then we never stop reading…I can relate to that Aileen.
Thank you for sharing such good books.
I found you via Tess Marshall's blog!
I'm pretty sure the first personal development book I read was "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. I doubt Hoff would call it personal development (or maybe he would) but that book had a profound and long lasting impact on my life.
Peggy Nolan
Welcome Peggy and thank you for sharing with us a wonderful book. I doubt too that Hoff would call it a personal development book.
But the thing is that it changed you in a a positive way and that is what counts.
The first & very best book I read on personal develpoment was ” THE POWER of POSITIVE THINKING ” by Norman Vincent Peale . I read this book over 20 years ago & it was a true blessing for me as it put my thinking back on the right track .
Maria,
Thank you for sharing with us another wonderful book.