“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” These words are said by the great scientist Albert Einstein. Reading books doesn’t mean reading your coursebooks only. Sometimes you need to have the experience of life lessons through a novel, a story, an article, etc. This is where the motivational books for students come into play.
If you are a student, there are several motivational books that you can read. You can choose to read The Alchemist, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Atomic Habits, etc. These books will help you gain the important life lessons that you won’t find in your coursebooks. So, make sure to read till the end and make your list of the top 10 motivational books for students.
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List of the Top 10 Motivational Books for Students
Books should be the best friend of the students. Be it any book, either coursebook or motivational books, they teach us something. Coursebooks offer us theoretical and textual knowledge while motivational books offer practical knowledge.
The author gives us life learnings and messages through their books. Here is a list of the top 10 motivational books for students:
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, 1988
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, 1989
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, 1932
- The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, 1952
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H Pink, 2009
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, 1936
- The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy, 1963
- You can Win by Shiv Khera, 1998
- Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, 1997
- Atomic Habits by James Clear, 2018
These were the top 10 must-read motivational books for students. You can easily purchase them from Flipkart/Amazon or other ecommerce platforms.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a motivational book because it tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who follows his dreams and learns about life, love, and his true purpose. The book inspires readers to pursue their own “Personal Legend” and listen to their hearts. Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author, is known for his philosophical and inspirational writing.
He has written many bestsellers, but The Alchemist remains his most famous work. One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” You might have heard the line from a bollywood movie ‘Om Shanti Om’ which was released in 2007.
Book Link: The Alchemist on Amazon
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is a good book to read because it teaches timeless principles like fairness, integrity, and human dignity. It helps readers achieve personal and professional success through habits like being proactive and prioritizing important tasks.
Stephen Covey was an American educator, author, and businessman known for his work in leadership and personal development. His book has inspired millions worldwide. One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
Book Link: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People on Amazon
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich is one of the best motivational books for students. It teaches principles for achieving success and wealth. Hill’s research and interviews with successful people like Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison form the basis of his 13 principles, such as desire, faith, and persistence.
One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Napoleon Hill was an American self-help author who spent over 20 years studying successful individuals to develop his philosophy of success.
Book Link: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill on Amazon
The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Peale
The Power of Positive Thinking is an inspirational book because it enables readers to believe in themselves and use positive thoughts to overcome challenges. It offers practical techniques to achieve a happy and fulfilling life.
One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Norman Vincent Peale was an influential clergyman and author known for his work in promoting positive thinking and faith. His book has inspired millions worldwide.
Book Link: The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Peale on Amazon
Drive: The Surprising Truth by Daniel Pink
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink reveals that true motivation comes from autonomy, mastery, and purpose. It challenges the traditional “carrot-and-stick” approach and offers insights into achieving high performance and satisfaction.
One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “The secret to high performance isn’t rewards and punishments, but that unseen intrinsic drive.” Daniel Pink is an American author known for his work on business, work, and behavior. He has written several bestsellers, including “To Sell is Human” and “When.”
Book Link: Drive: The Surprising Truth by Daniel Pink
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book by Dale Carnegie offers practical advice on improving social skills and building meaningful relationships. Carnegie’s timeless principles help readers achieve personal and professional success.
One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.“
Book Link: How to Win Friends and Influence People on Amazon
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
This book by Joseph Murphy is among the best Psychology books for students to read. It teaches readers how to harness the power of their subconscious mind to achieve their goals and improve their lives. Murphy’s practical techniques and real-world examples make the concepts easy to understand and apply.
One of the most inspiring lines from the book is: “Change your thoughts, and you change your destiny”. Joseph Murphy was a divine science minister and author known for his work on self-improvement and spiritual growth.
Book Link: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind on Amazon
You Can Win by Shiv Khera
You Can Win is a transformative self-help book that focuses on personal growth, positivity, and actionable wisdom. Khera, an author, educator, and motivational speaker, uses relatable anecdotes and practical tips to guide readers toward success in both personal and professional life.
The best line from the book is “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently.” The book is structured to help individuals set goals, develop a sense of purpose, and cultivate a winning mindset.
Book Link: You Can Win by Shiv Khera on Amazon
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is one of the best motivational books for students. It is a personal finance book that contrasts the financial philosophies of Kiyosaki’s two “dads”—his biological father (Poor Dad) and his best friend’s father (Rich Dad).
Kiyosaki, an entrepreneur and educator, uses their differing approaches to money to teach valuable lessons about financial independence, investing, and wealth creation. The book is all about the importance of financial literacy and the difference between assets and liabilities.
The best line from the book is “The poor and the middle-class work for money. The rich have money work for them.”
Book Link: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki on Amazon
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits is a practical guide on how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Clear, a renowned author and speaker, focuses the power of small, incremental changes and introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change to help readers build lasting habits.
The book is highly acclaimed for its actionable insights and clear strategies. The best line from the book is “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Book Link: Atomic Habits on Amazon
These were some of the best motivational books for students to read. These books will help you know the important life lessons apart from the book-ish knowledge.
Summing It Up!
Motivational books give students important life lessons beyond what’s taught in school. They encourage students to aim high, develop good habits, stay positive, and succeed in both personal and professional areas.
Books like The Alchemist and Think and Grow Rich share timeless ideas about success and perseverance, while modern books like Atomic Habits offer practical tips for building strong habits.
We hope you got all your answers! If you still need help regarding your application process or any other assistance, reach out to iDreamCareer’s expert counselors. We have helped several young, confused minds in choosing the right college and course after the 12th as well as after the undergraduate degree.
FAQs
One of the best motivational books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It teaches readers to follow their dreams, listen to their hearts, and overcome obstacles. Its timeless message of personal growth and purpose resonates with readers of all ages.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is ideal for student life. It teaches essential habits like time management, prioritizing important tasks, and personal responsibility. These habits help students achieve both academic and personal success.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill stands out as one of the most inspiring books. Its principles of success, based on interviews with successful people, offer practical steps to turn dreams into reality by focusing on desire, persistence, and self-belief.
For NEET aspirants, Atomic Habits by James Clear is highly recommended. It teaches how small, consistent changes can lead to big results, helping students build effective study habits, stay disciplined, and achieve their goals with a structured approach.

Sushant, an accomplished content writer at iDreamCareer, has dedicated his life to the pursuit of writing since childhood. Having earned his education at the prestigious University of Delhi, he possesses a profound understanding of both arts and science in the field of education. Leveraging his professional experience, Sushant brings a fresh perspective to analyzing emerging trends in the realms of writing and education. His youthful mindset, coupled with a positive outlook, is geared towards enlightening students through the impactful delivery of wisdom and knowledge.