These are not just books I recommend. These are books I have actually read, underlined and gifted. Each one changed how I think about money and life.
I have been able to achieve whatever success I have through putting in place the daily discipline of positive habits. This book offers a proven framework for improving ourselves every single day, with practical strategies for forming good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behavioural changes that lead to remarkable results.
I was gifted this book by Navneet Munot when I joined a FinTech start-up, to help me revisit my thought process on organisation building. It defines 'Blitzscaling' as starting and scaling massively valuable companies at a dizzying pace - and offers a set of techniques to make it happen.
I personally know Ms. Mehra quite well and have attended her workshops. She is a modern-day guru on corporate etiquette and executive presence. A basic read for anyone who wants to fast-track their career through the correct and best behaviour and communication in a professional setting.
I carried this book to read on a flight and, to my utter surprise, saw two co-passengers carrying it too. That's how popular it was on launch. A simple self-help book where the author shares learnings from his own failures in short lessons that are easy to understand and implement.
I have organised two annual offsites in two different organisations with the theme 'Good to Great' - that's how influential this book has been in my life. The author analyses real companies to identify the qualities that catapult a few to greatness while the rest remain average.
I picked this up because I loved the title, and the book did not let me down. The author talks about the 'Law of Vibration' that goes beyond the 'Law of Attraction', with practical advice on cultivating a positive mindset and practising self-love.
I came across this book in a newspaper where it was highlighted as a useful read - and once I started, I could not put it down. Written in a simple, lucid style, it is a guidebook for professional and personal success based on the author's own learnings.
I read this during Covid times and it really resonated - that was indeed a period of collective resilience. In this New York Times bestseller, Angela Duckworth shows that the secret of outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls 'grit'.
I have spent quality time with Khurshed and Dinesh, both Art of Living teachers who have spent the greater part of their lives being happy and coaching others to be happy. A warm, funny book full of personal anecdotes and practical tips for everyday wellbeing.
A positive, happy and easy-to-implement book. The author presents 50 science-backed habits spanning body, mind, relationships, work, home and play - rituals to adopt (or stop) to boost health and happiness.
The third book of Prakash Iyer, which I bought as soon as it was published - and it matched my high expectations. A simple read on life and success, sharing the stories and observations that have made an immense impact on the author's life.
A must-read for all mid-career executives. The very qualities that made us successful in the first 10-15 years of our careers can come in the way of success in the next phase. It lists 21 common mistakes to avoid in the second half of your career.
I have gifted this book to many who don't find reading easy - it is short, with lots of pictures. A letter of advice in book form on leading a self-fulfilling life by becoming whatever we want to be.
I took many new learnings from this book into my role as CEO of Karvy Private Wealth. In this sequel to 'The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari', Robin Sharma uses a story format to teach how to restore trust, commitment and belief within an organisation.
A good starting book that I recommend to everyone who wants to learn the basics of financial planning and investments - simple language, and everything explained in the Indian context.
I have recently started gifting this book to those over 40, as a detailed and useful workbook for recording the key aspects of financial life and writing a will.
Picked up at Mumbai airport when my flight to Coimbatore was delayed four hours - I really enjoyed the straight-talking advice on increasing your chances of success, drawn from the author's personal experience of overcoming adversity.
I am a fan of Gaur Gopal Das and his wonderful talks, so I picked this up as early as I could - and loved this story, which gives simple advice on finding balance and purpose in life.
I once heard Peter Diamandis speak passionately about the marvels awaiting us in healthcare and technology. In this book he introduces 'healthspan' (vs lifespan) - the period of life spent in good health - and gives clear actionables to extend it.
I absolutely loved this book about the power of gratitude and still follow some of its daily practices, like the 'Magic Rock', every day. It showcases 28 practical daily gratitude practices that make you feel positive every single day.
I have had good bosses and bad bosses, and learned from both. You cannot be a great manager if you cannot manage the relationship with your boss. This popular Harvard Business Review piece provides valuable guidelines for building that essential relationship.
The book I recommend to everyone who wants to become rich - it covers the basics of increasing your wealth by building a second source of income.
I keep gifting this book to all those who want to know more about behavioural finance. The author shares 24 short stories explaining that markets and events will change over time, but human emotions and behaviour in response to them will always be the same.
I open 'The Secret' app on my phone every single day. An iconic book about achieving everything you want from life through the law of attraction - whatever our thoughts, good or bad, they attract corresponding outcomes.
Time is money. This unique book tells us how to save our time and others' by making written communication as short as possible. Loved it.
I personally use the concept of 'Start with Why' in my daily life and encourage my team members to do the same. The book beautifully demonstrates the Golden Circle - WHY first, then HOW, then WHAT - through the super-success of Apple.
One of the few 'science' books I have liked - a guide to living younger, longer and healthier. Long-term stress can shorten your telomeres, while eating well, sleeping well and a positive frame of mind can lengthen them.
When work gets repetitive and boring, lessons from this book have been useful - like having team members trade places for a day to think differently. An overview of creative-thinking techniques that make life more interesting and rewarding.
Despite my long experience and having read so many self-help books, I still found new, innovative ideas to implement as a CEO. Steven Bartlett details 33 laws rooted in psychology and behavioural science, drawn from his podcast conversations with the world's most successful people.
I personally followed this book's advice during my last two job transitions - a detailed guide with useful tools for making the transition into a new role successful.
A book of stories and ideas that helped me become more positive and focused on achieving success in all areas of life.
Many younger colleagues hold back suggestions because they think they lack a leadership role. This path-breaking book argues that regardless of your position, you have the power to show leadership - without any fancy title.
This book helped me raise the bar in my mind about what can be achieved at work and in life. A practical, engaging guide to why thinking big will make us live BIG.
I have learned over 30 years, the hard way, that multi-tasking causes more harm than help. This bestseller shows the benefit of extreme focus on just ONE thing at a time to deliver extraordinary results in every area of life.
I love behavioural finance, and this book presents innovative, thought-provoking ideas in the field. The award-winning author shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money - teaching you to make better sense of one of life's most important topics.
Gifted to me by my ex-colleague from Deutsche Bank, now co-founder of InMobi, Piyush Shah. It lays down the major qualities and actions that make a person a true professional.
I was eager to read this second book by Prakash Iyer after 'The Habit of Winning', and it met my high expectations too. With a foreword by Rahul Dravid, a power-packed book of stories from around the world on personal and professional leadership.
A very interesting book elaborating on the top regrets most people have as they look back at life before leaving this world.
I had this book for a long time but read it much later - and then regretted not reading it earlier. A biography of sorts built from Naval's tweets, blog posts and podcasts; an awesome guide to the rare combination of wealth and happiness.
I have personally found this extremely useful. Rujuta Diwekar goes against the norm of diet practices and recommends eating everything your grandmother fed you in childhood - a simple, practical 3-month programme to get fitter and more energetic.
I read this eye-opening book before the era of work-from-home. It answers the question 'How can I work smarter, not harder?' - thought-provoking principles for completing half your weekly work in 48 hours and using the freed time to achieve much more in life.
I discovered Mahatria Ra's talks on YouTube and was intrigued by his unique style of presenting philosophical insights in simple words. This book carries many short, easy-to-understand lessons on achieving success and happiness.
A great learning for me on the basics of running a business - including a lovely comparison of a CEO with a roadside banana-cart owner.
Very useful - I have recommended it to many of my team members. A must-read for mid-career executives on the 21 habits that can hamper success as one rises through an organisation.
I loved this book so much it got me back into the reading habit. An easy-to-read book of wisdom with 101 short chapters - simple solutions to life's most complex problems.
Useful throughout my professional life - a practical guide to achieving success for your career and your organisation, from Jack Welch, who led GE to huge success for more than 20 years.
I have been a fan of Chetan Bhagat's novels; this is his first 'gyaan' book and I have read it twice. Drawing on his own failures and triumphs, an inspiring, straight-talking guide for youngsters in today's competitive world.
I recommend reading one chapter per day of this book - simple self-care strategies to boost your mind, mood and mental health.