
Title : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
Author : Stephen R. Covey
Rating : 2 Stars out of 5.
Summary : A number of years
I read this book a number of years ago as part of a semester long class with it as the main teaching tool. From what I remember it provides good insights into time management, prioritizing tasks and breaking down a goal into bite size pieces so that a person isn't overwhelmed by the size of what needs to be done.

Title : Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Author : Robert Cialdini
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Invest in Influence
I first read an excerpt of Dr Cialdini's book in a Harvard Business Review article and it was one of the few times I actually bought the book on the same day. The six universal principles of influence and persuasion are superb in their brevity and ability to work in a wide variety of situations. With Dr Cialdini backing up his writings with 50 years of social science research (not to mention his own 3 year investment of time to learn the trade secrets of many organisations, both private sector and public sector) it makes learning and using the principles of persuasion systematic and not dependant on being 'a born sales person or natural influencer'. A fantastic read with plenty of anecdotes (backed up by research) and uses. If you buy one book on the subject of Influence and Persuasion - make it this one!. Also, for reader's interest the book has been translated into a two-day workshop on how to best utilise the 6 principles of influence and persuasion and are run by Dr Cialdini's outfit called Influence At Work - they have a US and UK presence. Good reading!

Title : Think and Grow Rich
Author : Napoleon Hill
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Classic career wisdom accessibly explained
Napoleon Hill, author of this 1920s classic, will remind you of an older, wiser, slightly wacky uncle who advises you about careers, life and love. This book is a wonderful collection of tips - many based on the ideas of Hill's mentor Andrew Carnegie - that range from the practical (how to prepare a resume) to surprisingly New Age-like mystical talk about the infinite powers of the universe. Of course, like an old uncle, Hill can get long-winded and repetitive at times, but since he packs so much wisdom into his slender book, you will want to reread it over and over again, repetitions and all. We recommend his classic compendium to everyone who is dangling from the career ladder and wondering how to prosper.

Title : The Life You Were Born to Live: Finding Your Life Purpose
Author : Dan Millman
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : When the time comes, you'll see exactly how accurate it is!!
This book was recommended recently by a friend in Sidney, I borrowed it and couldn't put it down. Somehow it was a best seller over there and it took me a couple of weeks to get hold off my own copy!
I can just say that I completely agree with the statements of "A reader from Nashville", "Joy", "Leila" "A reader from New Zealand"!
Although I'm a sceptic mostly, I'm a firm believer that numerology is of the - if not the - most accurate way of describing the path etc. of a person. Dan M.'s book is based on the life path aspects of numerology with some differences, such as "adding" "10" "12" numbers. It is still uncanny how accurate it was in depicting my number (I couldn't say if it's exactly as accurate as numerology, or even slightly more so!) and I'm convinced that "J. Balbirnie" will see exactly what I mean when the time comes. Dan M. says himself at the end of his book, that one reader wrote to him, first thinking his book was rubbish, it however ended up making a lot of sense to him a few years down the path!
Excellent reading, I highly recommend it!

Title : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: The Ultimate Teenage Success Guide
Author : Sean Covey
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : A Book For Teenagers and Adults!
Whilst this book is written for teenagers, it equally applies to adults. It is written in plain english, is easy to understand and full of pictures/stories. Most of all its FUN to read. It is like reading a textbook without evening knowing it!! It covers habits that we all need to develop - whatever age we are -taking responsibility for our lives, defining what you want to do in your life, prioritising, adopt a win-win attitude, listening to people, working togehter and taking care of yourselves. I loved it - would recommend it to teenagers, their parents, trainers or just anyone looking for self development.

Title : Think and Grow Rich
Author : Napoleon Hill
Rating : 2 Stars out of 5.
Summary : This edition not the best
I have owned this book for years, but I recently have discovered another, newer version that is far superior. It is "Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised" published by Aventine Press. For one thing it is a bigger book, both in size and in pages (412). It turns out that the book that this review is about is an abridged version of the original, something I never knew in all the times I have read it over the years. This smaller version, while good, contains nothing like the additional information in the "Restored and Revised" version. There is just a ton of fascinating facts and information in the back of the book. In the older book (the plain "Think and Grow Rich"), the print is somewhat difficult to read, there is little space for writing notes. The newer version reads better and by comparison is a far more useful learning instrument. Napoleon Hill's work is probably the most important ever done in the motivational and self-improvement field. Whichever version you read, it will change your life forever.

Title : Making Your Thoughts Work for You
Author : Wayne W. Dyer
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Uplifting and life changing stuff!
I completly recommend this four cd set to anyone and everyone!
I have had phobias and depression for years which have completly ruled my life and have read many self help books and seen many therapists, but listening to this CD set once has completly changed my mindset and outlook on life! Through Dr.Wayne's inspiriational and spiritual talking and Byron Katie's NLP and questioning your thoughts work, I really feel a new beginning in my life has begun! I was left feeling uplifted,calm and confident and I feel now that I can begin to get my life back on track and am very exited about doing so!
The CDs' are recordings of a live seminar where Dr. Wayne is giving a very inspirational talk on balance and living your true life path to thousands of people live, and then later on Byron Katie takes over and gets the audience to fill in some worksheets and gets three stressed and upset people up from the audience, works with them and shows how to realise the problem situation, deal with it and embrace it by realsing the part you are playing in it and then how to change your view of it and how you deal with it. They all left happy, uplifted and relaxed!
Then Dr. Wayne talks some more and they both take questions from the audience.
I thouroughly recommend this to anyone, stressed, anxious, depressed or just wanting to attain some new wisdom.
If you open your mind to it,it can be life changing stuff! :-)
Other Related Resources:
1: http://depletedcranium.com/?p=246
2: http://supportforhealthyliving.com/blog/eft-so-easy-to-do-so-easy-not-to-do/video/2007/11/29/
3: http://thebuckmaker.com/who-moved-my-inspiration/
4: http://videos.webpronews.com/2008/09/23/blogworld-motivational-tips-from-gary-vaynerchuk/
5: http://www.gmofreemendo.org/its-not-about-medicine-its-about-communication/