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Last month I celebrated my 59th.
It had me reflecting on the biggest influences that rerouted my path, especially the books that shaped my mindset, my career, my health, and even my view of the universe.
These aren’t just books I enjoyed.
They are turning points that literally changed how I live.
Some helped me become a better teacher, others taught me discipline and financial independence, and a few opened up my sense of purpose.
I recently did a livestream where I shared these lessons in detail.
You can watch the slimmed-down, “books” version of the livestream above!
Here’s the list in the same order I covered them, with a personal note on why each mattered to me.
Mindset, Self-Discovery
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Richard Carlson
I stumbled into this book in 1997 after literally knocking over a stack of them in Barnes & Noble. It sparked my lifelong love of self-help. Its short chapters and practical reminders taught me to let go of stress and focus on what actually matters, which helped me lead my teams (and my life) with a clearer head.
You’ll See It When You Believe It, Wayne Dyer
This is the book I’ve re-read more than any other, sometimes daily for weeks at a time. Dyer’s lessons on manifestation and the “seven attachments” helped me release ego, control, and the need to be right, which created more peace and focus in every area of my life.
Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert
Gilbert proves we’re never as happy or as sad as we think we’ll be, because we can’t fully predict our future selves. This freed me from chasing perfection and helped me embrace the journey, knowing joy comes more from growth than from reaching the finish line.
Storytelling, Career Transformation
Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath
A dearly-departed friend gifted me this book in December 2007, and it completely changed how I thought about communication. Its framework for making ideas memorable became the foundation of my Interview Intervention methodology, and eventually the blueprint for the storytelling systems I still teach today.
Interview Intervention, Yours Truly
I wrote this book in just five weeks at the end of 2011, and it completely transformed my career. For the first time, I captured years of coaching into a system anyone could use, and that was the first official step that turned me from recruiter to teacher to author.
Choice, Goals, Perspective
This Is Water, David Foster Wallace
This slim book, adapted from a 2005 commencement speech, is one of the most powerful I’ve read. Wallace’s simple but profound message, that you can choose what to think about, has reshaped how I approach daily life, teaching me to stay present and compassionate in the middle of life’s noise. It also served at the stimulation for the next book on this list.
Out of Reach But in Sight, Me Again
Born from a keynote I gave to scholarship students, I turned the speech into a book. Capturing timeless lessons on setting and pursuing goals, it later evolved into my Goal Setting Masterclass and proved how small steps can inspire big transformations.
Wealth, Health
The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas Stanley and William Danko
At 30, this book confirmed that wealth is built through discipline, not high income. It cemented my lifelong approach of living below my means, investing early, and building habits that would later help me achieve financial independence and peace of mind.
Good Energy, Casey Means
Of the 70+ health books I’ve read, this one had the most immediate impact on my life. Understanding metabolic health and cutting refined sugars, refined grains, and seed oils gave me more energy, clarity, and resilience than I thought possible. I’ve felt sharper and healthier ever since.
My Life’s Work, Beyond
The Zebra Code, The New Me
This is my most ambitious book, and easily the toughest project I’ve ever taken on. It demanded every ounce of experience, discipline, and creativity I had, but it also gave me the chance to share the full methodology I believe can help any professional thrive.
Journey of Souls, Michael Newton
This book opened my mind to ideas about past and future lives, whether you take them literally or not. It gave me a new lens for thinking about purpose, why I might be wired the way I am, and how being open to bigger questions can deepen the way you live today.
Watch the livestream version of this list above!
These aren’t just books on a shelf.
They’re turning points in my story.
Please add any of these to your own shelf that speak to you.
Maybe they can be turning points in your story too!
PS: I only cried four times. One was borderline. I was more choked up than it appears on the livestream. I even cried a few times as I was typing this digest. I hope you have memories like these that get you a little choked up. Those meaningful events that changed your life. Thank them. Honor them. They’re yours and only yours.
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WHO IS THIS DUDE?
Andrew LaCivita, a globally-renowned career and leadership coach, is the founder of the milewalk Academy®. During the course of his distinguished career, he has impacted over 350 companies, more than 100,000 individuals, and spanned nearly 200 countries, helping them unlock their full potential. He is an award-winning author who gained international recognition with his groundbreaking books, Interview Intervention: Communication That Gets You Hired, The Hiring Prophecies: Psychology behind Recruiting Successful Employees, and The Zebra Code: A Step-By-Step Guide to Mastering Career Skills That Make You a Standout Professional. These seminal works, along with his celebrated vlog, Tips for Work and Life®, consistently earn top spots on reputable, worldwide lists which rank the best career advice books and blogs. Andrew remains actively engaged across various social media platforms and shares his expertise through his weekly Live Office Hours on YouTube every Thursday.
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