It’s a core belief of mine that books are capable of completely changing your life. Whether it’s the lighthearted romance that first ignites your love of reading, that one book you read in college that completely shifted your outlook on the world around you, or (of course) a fantastic self-help book, words have the power to alter your life for the better. As someone who knows first-hand what it feels like to have a book, podcast, or article about manifestation spur a chain reaction of positive actions in my own life, I can always get behind a well-done self-improvement book. When an author can combine inspiring language with concrete steps to manifesting your dream career, relationship, and life, I know that my world is about to be changed.
For anyone looking to start (or continue!) a manifestation journey, these 12 books are full of life-changing advice and action items that can help you achieve your dreams (you have my word!). Check out these reads to kickstart your self-improvement journey of a lifetime.
If you’re a manifestation newbie…
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve recommended Roxie Nafousi’s work to anyone wanting to get into manifestation—it’s seriously that good. The interview with Roxie on The Everygirl Podcast is still one of our most-loved episodes, and for good reason. The seven steps to manifestation included in this book—from being clear in your vision to trusting in the universe—will change the way you think about achieving personal goals and pursuing your dream life. For any manifestation beginners who are looking to cultivate self-love along their personal growth journey, this is the book for you.
If you want to learn the science behind manifestation…
New York Times bestselling author Dr. Joe Dispenza is the undisputed scientific mind behind manifestation practices, and Becoming Supernatural breaks it all down in one book. If you’ve been skeptical of manifestation, this book breaks down the science of the human capacity to tap into different energetic frequencies, making you (in Dr. Dispenza’s words) supernatural. Becoming your highest self starts with believing that you’re capable of achieving what you want, and Dr. Dispenza’s explanation of your brain chemistry will help convince you that you have everything you need to live your dream life.
If you’re more interested in the spiritual side of manifestation…
Gabrielle Bernstein is an Oprah-approved self-help author, so there’s no doubt that her books, including Super Attractor, are bound to be good. In this book, Bernstein dispels the myth that achieving what you want in this life is hard; instead, she reminds readers that manifestation is supposed to be fun and that life can flow with ease and abundance. For those who want to learn more about living the law of attraction, this book is the perfect starting point.
If you want to manifest wealth and abundance…
If you’re a fan of the hit Netflix series How to Get Rich, then you’ll love reading the book behind it, I Will Teach You to Be Rich. Ramit Sethi’s book, based on his blog by the same name, is geared toward people ages 20 to 35, who are materially ambitious, but occasionally financially clueless. Based on four pillars of personal finance banking, saving, budgeting, and investing, this book removes the guilt and shame from the process of gaining personal wealth and replaces it with an abundance mindset that will lead you to living a truly rich life.
If you want to manifest a more successful career…
Most of us are motivated by external markers of success, like money, status, and high-powered careers. In reality, actual fulfillment in your career and finances comes from tapping into your intuition and following your inner voice. In The Karma of Success, Reiki healer and business coach Liz Tran applies the four pillars of spiritual strategy— inquiring inward, manifesting mindfully, enriching your energy, and becoming brilliant—to the world of career development in an unprecedented way. Through stories of business leaders who have used intuition to unlock their highest potential, The Karma of Success will show you the path to the career of your dreams.
If you want to manifest a loving relationship…
All too often, we focus conversations around manifestation on career or health aspirations, but what about our personal relationships? In Becoming the One, Sheleana Aiyana reveals how to transform your relationship patterns in order to defeat the cycles of self-destruction and abandonment and lean into true self-love. You can’t manifest your dream relationship without first finding self-acceptance and working through issues that might cause you to chase unavailable love or give too much of yourself to an over-reliant partner. From healing your inner child to recognizing red and green flags, Becoming the One has all of the secrets you need to manifest a life full of love.
If you like more practical advice…
From the co-founders of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and beloved by personal development experts like Mimi Bouchard and Tony Robbins, this guidebook lays out key steps to finding success in whatever area you desire—from career aspirations to health goals to tackling daily challenges. Through stories of powerful business leaders, world-class athletes, and regular people, The Success Principles runs through 64 basic self-help principles that are crucial for making your dream life a reality.
If you’re interested in spiritual personal growth…
“Woo-woo” wellness girlies, this one’s for you. Eckhart Tolle is a renowned spiritual teacher and philosopher, and The Power of Now is his most popular book. Tolle teaches readers to recognize themselves as creators of their own pain and enlightens them on strategies for living pain-free existences by living in the present moment. Though not a traditional self-help book, The Power of Now is known for shifting mindsets through manifestation principles.
If you want to become your best self…
In Girl on Fire, author of Girl Code Cara Alwill Leyba will show you how to blaze your own trail and live fearlessly in a society that constantly devalues women’s intelligence and power. This book is perfect for anyone who loves their self-help with a healthy dose of feminism. Alwill Leyba empowers her readers to tap into and trust their intuition and choose to create their own realities, instead of waiting for their big breaks. Girl on Fire will teach you how to show up for yourself and find success in connection, rather than competition, as you forge your own path through self-advocacy.
If you struggle with self-sabotage…
Brianna Wiest’s bestseller 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think have inspired many, and The Mountain Is You is no different. If you find yourself constantly self-sabotaging on the path toward your dream life, The Mountain Is You will show you how to build emotional intelligence and act as your highest self to stop doing it—for good. Using the mountain as a metaphor for the challenges that feel impossible to face and overcome, Wiest shows readers how to step out of their own way, excavate their trauma, and build resilience.
If you need to get over scarcity mindset…
If you have a tendency to see the world through a lens of insufficiency, focusing on what you lack rather than what you already have, I hate to break it to you: you’re likely unconsciously manifesting more lack, limiting yourself, and blocking what you desire. Enter: The Magic of Manifesting where Ryuu Shinohara lets you in on the 15 mind power techniques practiced by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga to overcome a scarcity mindset, create true abundance, and attract anything you want in life.
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If you want to live your dream life now…
A key component of manifestation is visualizing the future version of yourself who has everything you desire—from what you look like to what you’re doing to where you live— tapping into that feeling of it already being fulfilled, and applying it every day. In Be Your Future Self Now, psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy delves into how your imagined future self is the driver of your current reality. He explains how to develop the ability to imagine better and more expansive visions of your future and align your actions with your higher, best future self now.
Emma Ginsberg, Associate Editor & Podcast Assistant
Emma is a writer, editor, and podcast producer who has been creating at The Everygirl since 2021. She writes for all sections on the site, edits the Entertainment and Community sections, and helps produce The Everygirl Podcast. You can listen to her with podcast host Josie Santi on the intros of The Everygirl Podcast and read her articles across the site.