Kick Off on Your 2026 Goals With These 9 Motivational Reads

Most money books tell people how to save, invest and make more money, but rarely do they address the deep-rooted psychological and behavioral aspects around people’s relationships with finances. Housel’s untraditional approach to money helps readers understand why they make the financial decisions they do and how this awareness of financial behavior can be used to develop better habits.

If hitting every single red light on the way to work or spilling your coffee is enough to ruin your entire day, it may be time to reprioritize where you put your energy. Getting stuck in emotional chaos, consistently self-sabotaging and overthinking every interaction are things we all do from time to time, but they slow us down in unimaginable ways and inadvertently block potential. This easy-to-read guide teaches actionable strategies for setting boundaries without guilt, breaking the cycles of overthinking, taking more control of your day and more valuable tools so you can set goals that are not easily shaken by external forces.

According to Ali Abdaal, the internet’s favorite doctor-turned-YouTuber, the secret to productivity is not discipline but rather joy. Having a lot of big goals does not mean you must be miserable on the ascent towards them. There might be an easier and more fulfilling way; if you can make your work feel good, then the productivity will take care of itself. With Abdaal’s scientifically-backed insights, you’ll feel a lot happier and more fulfilled while achieving the goals you set.

This bestselling book is considered the most influential business book of the 20th century — and for good reason. Covey includes key habits that follow a principled approach to problem-solving. This is a must-read for both personal and professional development.

During unpredictable economic times, there’s no use in waiting to live the life you want once you retire, at least not according to Tim Ferris. This book is the blueprint for earning a five-figure monthly income with zero overhead management and teaches readers exactly how Ferris went from $40,000 a year to making that amount per month.

A tried and true method that famous artists routinely rave about — just look at Doechii, who followed “The Artist’s Way” during the start of her music career. Whether you want to write a novel or become more creative in your everyday life, this 12-week structured program will help you achieve your existing goals and reveal ones you may not have known you wanted in the first place.

The reason some people succeed while others fail has little to do with luck or talent. According to Angela Duckworth’s research, the ability to follow through on commitments, or, in layman’s terms, the extent of someone’s grit, is a stronger indicator of long-term success. She talks about the importance of grit in her TED talk, but for more in-depth insights on this phenomenon and real-life examples of what it looks like, this book is a must-read to power through your more challenging goals.

This simple life philosophy has taken the world by storm. If you want to become even more successful in whatever it is you do in life, this book is packed with invaluable insights derived from the great philosophers. Holiday reframes ancient wisdom into a framework easily applicable to today’s problems, making it a must for building the grit to accomplish your list of goals for the new year.

More than conscious discipline, resilience or any productivity method, your subconscious mind shapes much of your life. This older read from the 1960s has been expanded and adapted by Matt Fuery, president of the Psycho-Cybernetics Foundation, to make it applicable to contemporary circumstances. You can only achieve as much as your mind perceives you can, and this book is paramount in rewiring your subconscious mind to expand your world of possibilities.