#FoylesFive: Personal Development

Charlotte, from our Bristol shop, suggests five of the best books for when we need a little extra inspiration and encouragement in life.

Sometimes in life you just get stuck in a rut, and need some inspiration to get you going again. There are thousands and thousands of books nowadays promising the answer to all of life's problems. If you want some wisdom and knowledge, that is proven to give you the kick in the backside you need to chase your goals, look no further than these:

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

A prominent neurological and psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl was also a Holocaust survivor. His classic book Man's Search for Meaning documents his experiences in various concentration camps. Frankl realised that some camp inmates were able to survive horrific conditions, when they attached a “meaning” to their survival. A fascinating book that will have a profound effect on your thinking.

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

The 'Slight Edge' of the title is what Jeff Olson considers the secret to success: successful people make the right little choices every day and they keep making them. Sounds simple? It really is. This is an incredibly interesting book – a must-read to help you realise your goals.

Sane New World by Ruby Wax

After a lifelong battle with depression, Ruby Wax became determined to find out just what was going on in her brain. Once hospitalised in the Priory due to her debilitating mental illness, she went on to have a MA from Oxford University in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. Laugh out loud funny and incredibly informative, this is the perfect manual to understanding your mind.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

First published in 1936, this classic remains the definitive book on how to deal with people. From being a good conversationalist, to how to handle arguments, this is an essential guide to communicating with other people in a tactful and sincere manner. I think this should be on all school reading lists.

59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman

Straight to the point with more scientific facts than you can shake a stick at. Here Wiseman writes about such subjects as happiness, motivation, creativity, relationships and decision making, using evidence based examples backed up by tons of scientific studies to show you how to reach your goals. If you want a practical “self-help” book that's no nonsense and actually has some factual backing, this is one to read.