Author Ryan Holiday explains that in the ancient world, there were four key virtues: Courage, Temperance, Justice, and Wisdom. Simply stated, he says that practicing these virtues means doing the right thing rather than the easy thing, and it’s the key to a life of excellence and honor. In this book, he focuses on temperance, defined as self-control, moderation, composure, and balance. In a word, discipline. This might not be his most well-known book, but it's a really good one, and the topic is a really important one...

The Compound Effect is about achieving success in all areas of life, and how small actions, repeated consistently over time can produce big results. The author, Darren Hardy provides a perfect balance of information about the three key areas of success in life: 1. Health/fitness. 2. Financial success. 3. Relationships... He teaches that on the path to true success, there are no quick fixes or magic bullets and that success takes hard work...

Succeed by Heidi Grant Halvorson teaches exactly what the subtitle promises: How We Can Reach Our Goals. The difference between this book and others that are written by motivational speakers or self-help writers is that Succeed looks at goal setting and goal achieving through the lens of science and psychology. The author, a PhD motivational psychologist from Columbia University conducted much of the research she talks about in the book herself. For a science-based book it's an easy read and very practical.

Brian Tracy is a legend in the personal development, business development and motivational speaking industries. He is also one of the last living GOATS in the field, still teaching at age 80. There are many good books and audio programs about setting and achieving goals, but Brian's book, GOALS! How To Get Everything You Want, Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible, is one of the best. It is slanted toward business and financial success, but the principles are universal and can be applied to any area of your life, including health and fitness...

The 12 Week Year is a business book, but the way it also applies to fitness is one of the things that made it stand out to me. Here in our community, we sponsor 12-week body transformation challenges, offer 12-week training programs, and for years have encouraged our readers to set fitness and weight management goals in 12 week blocks, not just long term. That makes the premise of this book fit in well with our philosophy. Click here to read the review.....

The book is aimed at all people who are pursuing success in any area of life ranging from health to wealth to relationships and want to know what it takes to get there. It's a philosophical look at how the laws of cause and effect lead to good results, bad results or no results in human life. As the title implies, the changing seasons are used as analogies for how life and business ebb and flow and we must respond the right way at the right time to succeed......

The Confident Mind is obviously about confidence. But I think I would more specifically describe it as a book about sports psychology, positive psychology, peak performance, mental training, and mental toughness, with a focus on confidence. Mental training is a key element to achieving success in every avenue of life and probably the one lacking the most when people are struggling in their quest for health and fitness.......

Be Useful is the latest book from bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold’s first book was The Education of a Bodybuilder. Published in 1977, it was part autobiography, part instruction manual. This was the first bodybuilding book I ever read. It was also responsible for inspiring me to become a bodybuilder and take up fitness as a career. In this post you can read my review AND summary of Arnold's newest book, BE USEFUL (now a NYT bestseller)

As a Man Thinketh By James Allen is one of the most influential books ever written on the power of thought and how using it constructively leads to success and achievement, even though it is more like an essay or booklet, at only 7600 words. It can be read in about 45 minutes. It's also among the earliest books of its kind, now more than 100 years old. It is inspiring, full of timeless wisdom, and has influenced millions of people since the author's passing in 1912

Published in 2002, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is about breaking through blocks that hold you back and disciplining yourself to do important work and pursue your calling. This book is aimed at creative artists, especially writers. But it contains lessons for anyone pursuing growth in any area who feels blocked by self-sabotaging behavior or failure to act......