In this blog post, you will find the 8 best fiction books for personal development and self-improvement, which will help you get motivated and get your life back on track. The main focus of these fiction books about personal growth is self-improvement in all areas. It’s difficult to put down any of these books once you start reading them!!
Reading fiction books can be a great way to learn about human nature and human conditions. It is an excellent way for people to learn more about the world and all of its colorful aspects.
These books about self development can teach you about human nature and the human condition in a way that many other forms of writing cannot. They can help you grow your empathy skills and become better at understanding others’ motivations, and they can act like a self-help book.
What Are The Best Books To Read For Self-Development?
If you are looking for books to read for self-development and personal growth, make sure to check the list below. These fiction books enumerate life-enriching stories of personal growth.
What these books have in common is that they will help you get out of your comfort zone and become a better person by making small changes in your behavior.
Fiction books for personal development can be life-changing for many. They also instill positive thinking and help you take action and get things done.
So here is our list of the best fiction books for self-development that you must read!!
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Eight Best Fiction Books That Will Change Your Life
Eight of the best books on self-improvement that will change your life are listed below. These fictional self-help books can provide you insight into yourself and help you to grow and develop your unique personality.
Self-development is a broad term that can encompass different areas of personal growth. Self-help fiction can be an excellent way to explore different aspects of self-development.
These best fiction books about life also teach you how to influence people positively. You also get to learn about the traits of successful people by reading these books.
Here we go!!!
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn By Betty Smith
The novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith tells a story of 20th-century life in the poorer neighborhoods of Brooklyn. It follows the life of Francie Nolan who grows up with an alcoholic father and a mother who struggles to take care of her family and her own life.
This novel is about more than just one person’s individual life. It tells the story of an entire period and their struggle to grow, become successful, and have a good life.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a charming and heart-warming story about a family growing up in Brooklyn during the 1930s. The story follows Francie as she finds happiness by learning to love nature and life despite its challenges.
The novel is divided into five “books,” each depicting a different phase in the lives of the characters.
The protagonist is Mary Frances “Francie” Nolan. Francie is 11 years old when the novel begins. The rest of the book follows Francie’s life until she enters college at the age of seventeen.
Francie is a young girl growing up in Brooklyn in the early twentieth century, and she and her family are poor for the majority of the novel. Francie admires her father, Johnny Nolan, and wishes for a better relationship with her mother, Katie Nolan. She sees similarities in her mother and herself that she thinks do not allow both to come close to each other.
The book covers various aspects of human nature and the struggles of the characters involved who despite all the adversities face the challenges life throws at them.
Francie is represented by the “Tree of Heaven,” which thrives in the most unusual conditions. She always sees hope in all adversities and strives toward achieving success in all her endeavors.
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Fountainhead By Ayn Rand
Fountainhead by Ayn Rand was published in 1943. It is a novel that explores the philosophy of individualism, which Rand explains as “the concept of man as a heroic being.”
Her philosophy is that individuals should be free to act in their own -interests. She believes that this is the best way for society to function.
The Fountainhead is a novel by Ayn Rand that follows the development of two young architects, one an innovator and the other a follower. Rand explores how these two characters develop in reaction to each other, ultimately showing that the innovator is superior.
The protagonist, Howard Roark, is an architect who refuses to compromise his artistic and personal vision for financial gain. The novel culminates with Roark refusing to apologize when he razes someone else’s building to build the “Citadel,” his last work.
Howard Roark the protagonist of the novel strives to achieve his greatness through his work and refuses to conform to the expectations of others.
This book is considered controversial because it shows an individualistic hero who shuns society’s restrictions on what he should do.
The author says to people like Roark not to sell their souls for money or happiness and to seek their place among men by following their path. Roark is an architect who wants to create buildings that are not for society but for himself.
The novel has become popular, not only because of the way it tells a story but also because of its philosophy on individualism. It is a story of one man’s struggle to be an individual in society.
Howard Roark is an individualist who refuses to work according to conventions laid down by society.
The book chronicles Roark’s battle against powerful collectivist forces, primarily the architectural profession and the public at large.
Roark against all odds remains steadfast in his principles and he faces many struggles as a result. However, Roark pushes forward and always does what he thinks is right. He faces many trials and tribulations but he never wavers from his moral code.
The reason why this book has been picked up for this list as one of the best fiction books for personal growth is that it addresses the need of a person to be identified as an individual amongst the masses and create a niche for himself.
While on your journey towards personal development, you aspire for such inspiration so that you can create a space of your own in this world without compromising on your values.
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The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian writer with a career spanning more than 30 years. His most famous work, The Alchemist, has been translated into more than 70 languages and it has sold more than 65 million copies.
Born in Brazil, Coelho began his writing career as a playwright. His first novel was published in 1988 and since then he has won several prizes for his works including the prestigious Pushkin Prize for Literature awarded to him by the Russian Academy of Arts.
When Paulo Coelho first considered writing a novel, he didn’t know he would be about to tackle one of the most profound philosophical questions of all time, the search for the meaning of life.
The Alchemist is an allegory that tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who leaves home in Spain with dreams of traveling the world. Along the way, Santiago meets different people and learns valuable life lessons that help him on his path to enlightenment.
The boy, Santiago, encounters a wise old man who both helps and hinders him on his journey. Along the way, Santiago meets a female gypsy who becomes his lover and teaches him how to love.
He meets an Englishman who teaches him about power as he goes on a quest to understand the meaning of life and personal growth. To find it he must follow his heart, listening to its wisdom above all other voices.
Santiago, a goatherd in the book, travels to Egypt in search of treasure. During his journey apart from others, he meets an old man who tells Santiago that if he finds the “Alchemist of his Personal Legend,” he will find treasure and will know how to use it.
The book explores themes such as love, death, greed, and power. It is an eye-opening book that beautifully brings out the thought patterns of the characters involved in the story.
One of the famous inspirational quotes about life and struggles from the book is “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
I’m going to quote some excerpts from the first part of the book, the highlight of which is the conversation between Santiago and the gypsy woman and Santiago and the old man who introduces himself as the King of Salem.
“We have to be prepared for change.”
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting”.
“It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.”
“People learn early in lives what is their reason for being. Maybe that’s why they give up on it so early too. But that’s the way it is.”
“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day the sun rises.”
“God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens he left for you”.
The Alchemist is one of my favorite books and probably that of many others too. To date, it is regarded as one of the 5 must-read books for self-improvement.
What the book teaches you is like Santiago you need to be aware of your calling. And it is not enough to be only aware of it but you also need to pursue it.
There will be obstacles in your path. There will be both external and internal conflicts and fears that will provide resistance to or hinder your growth in life.
However, if you can overcome them, you will be able to achieve what the author says is your calling or purpose in life.
The Alchemist, like all other books written by Paulo Coelho, like Brinda, and Eleven Minutes, strikes a chord with the soul. Though each one falls into the category of a novel, they can also be treated as self-help books. They cause you to pause and reflect on the wonders of life and your life’s purpose.
I, for one, am a big fan of all Paulo Coelho’s books.
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The Monk Who Sold The Ferrari By Robin Sharma
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a powerful, inspirational book about the journey of one man’s evolution from being an overworked lawyer to a spiritual traveler.
The book includes morning meditations for readers to start their day in the right mindset. It has been translated into 49 languages.
It is one of the best fiction books for self-development, about a lawyer named Julian Mantle who sold his mansion and Ferrari to study the seven virtues of the Sages of Sivana in the Himalayan mountains. Through the story and experience of Julian, we gain a new perspective on living a life that is much more fulfilling and meaningful.
Some of the Excerpts from the initial parts of the book which sets the ball rolling of the life-enriching experience of the protagonist and make you sit through and read the book are quoted for you below:
Albert Camus once said, “Real generosity towards the future consists in giving all to what is present.” ……. My life became so much simpler and meaningful when I left the baggage of my past behind the moment I stopped spending so much time chasing the big pleasures of life, I began to enjoy the little ones, like watching the stars dancing in a moonlit sky or soaking in the sunbeams of a glorious summer morning. And India is such an intellectually stimulating place that I rarely thought of all I had left.
“Yet I have learned that everything happens for a reason.” offered Yogi Krishnan sympathetically. Every event has a purpose, and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure, whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather embrace it as the teacher that it is.”
Robin Sharma, author of the bestseller The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, discusses how he created his personal success through meditation and mindfulness.
Sharma says that to live a happy life, one must practice mindfulness, which can be accomplished by “doing nothing.” Robin encourages his readers to stop multitasking and focus on one task at a time. This way, they will enjoy their work in the present moment and be able to better focus on the future.
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Tuesdays With Morrie By Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom is an award-winning author who has written over thirty books that have been translated into forty languages. Tuesday’s with Morrie, published in 1997, is his memoir about the time he spent with his professor, Dr. Morrie Schwartz,
The book tells the story of Mitch Albom, who meets his professor every Tuesday which he says was the last class held by his professor. The subject of the class was The meaning of life.
Morrie Schwartz is dying of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which affects the nervous system and causes paralysis. As time goes on, it becomes more difficult for Morrie to speak due to muscle deterioration, and eventually, he dies of ALS.
Morrie was a professor of sociology at Brandeis University. He had been teaching the same course every Tuesday for 32 years. His students come from various backgrounds and ages, but they all have a connection to Morrie due to their shared belief in the value of his lessons.
Professor Morrie Schwartz never wanted to be famous, but as he began taking on more media engagements, he gained a following as a spokesperson for those who are living with a terminal illness.
Mitch Albom has always been an avid believer in the power of love, and he believes that it can be found in many different forms. From playing music to creating art to making friends, Mitch knows that life is full of opportunities for falling in love again and again. This belief has led him to write Tuesdays with Morrie about his relationship with his late college professor.
He is one of the most successful authors of all time with a handful of best-selling titles to his name. This novel is a compilation of their Tuesday conversations, which were an integral part of helping Morrie regain his strength and live as fully as possible for as long as he could. This is one of the best fiction books for personal development that I have ever read.
There are many excerpts from the book which are worth pondering upon. Here I take the opportunity to highlight some of them that I found to be thought-provoking.
“Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do”.
“Accept the past as past without denying it or discarding it”
” Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should not take anything for granted.”
” So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are choosing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
and the most poignant of all “Maybe death is a great equalizer, the one big thing that can finally make strangers shed a tear for one another.”
“Tuesday With Morrie,” though a memoir, is one of the best fiction books about personal growth you can read. It is full of such inspirations that prompt you to start living and enjoy each moment of your life. For this reason, it is one of the recommended books for self-growth.
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The Secret By Rhonda Byrne
Rhonda Byrne, bestselling author of The Secret has discovered something that has changed her life forever. Something so many people have tried to find yet were unsuccessful.
The Secret is a self help book that was originally published in 2006 and has sold more than 25 million copies. It teaches the law of attraction which states that
- positive thoughts will bring positive results,
- negative thoughts will bring negative results
- and that life can be shaped by our thoughts.
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is a book that has been classified as one of the best self-improvement books of all time written for the Christian community.
It blends religious and spiritual themes with life strategies and common sense. The Secret follows the theme of the law of attraction, which I believe to be true, but not limited to just Christians.
The book advances the concept of optimistic visualization wherein you visualize the result or your goal as having already achieved what you want in your life.
The book reveals that there are no coincidences in life and that everything happens for a reason. She also discusses the law of attraction and its impact on our daily lives.
The Secret has been translated into 38 languages and was on The New York Times Best Seller List for over 10 years. It is considered to be one of the life-changing books of all time.
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Wake Up Life Is Calling By Preeti Shenoy
I have included this book by Preeti Shenoy in this list of best self-help novels because it addresses a very pertinent question that is faced by many people in society today.
The Protagonist in the story Ankita is a young girl who fights a mental disorder. The entire story revolves around the way things transpire in her life around her disorder. Plus she reels in the bouts of ups and downs while facing the stress of living a normal life amidst all this.
The book further explores how our core family gets affected when any of us is faced with such challenges. The positivity that comes through at the end of the book despite all the challenges faced by the characters in the story is what glues you to the book.
Some of the excerpts in the book by either Ankita or the other characters are captivating. Some of them have been quoted below and speak volumes about the way the author has beautifully scripted the novel.
“Beauty is not what you see on the outside. Beauty is what you are deep inside, where no one watched”.
“Our defeats are magnified in our own heads, because we focus on what we have lost rather than on what we actually have. If we have love of our parents, if we have people who care for us, if we have a hot meal on the table, then we are blessed.”
“Often it is the small things we overlook. I think that is what life is trying to teach us. That little things matter. That we have to be grateful for them. We have to notice them.”
This book like all other books of Preeti Shenoy, Life is What You Make of it, Love a Little Stronger is worth a read. Though all these books are fiction the way most of them have a core life message embedded in them they can easily be termed as personal development books as well.
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Life Lessons For Loving The Way You Live- 7 Essentials Ingredients For Finding Balance And Serenity By J R Hawthorne, Jack Canfield and M V Hansen
This book by the creators of Chicken Soup for the Soul is a book about how to experience balance and peace despite whatever your circumstances in life are.
It through short stories based on real-life experiences of people tells you and conveys in a very interesting manner that you do not have control over the circumstances of life. The only thing that is in your control is your attitude towards them.
The book is divided into sections. Each section dwells on different aspects and the manner of living life to its fullest.
“Finding the Place where You Belong to “ is about feeling at home with yourself in the world.
“Filling Your Own Cup” is about ending the search for things outside ourselves to make us feel happy and whole.”
“Becoming fearless” is about how to be courageous in times of fear. This chapter has stories of survivors and new perspectives.
“Holding Hands and Building Bridges ” are stories that show how in your own way you can make a difference in your homes, at work, and in the world.
“To Thine Own Self Be True” takes a look at what it means to be honest. Here honesty is seen or tested in a manner wherein you see where your outer lives align with your inner values and where it does not.
In “Getting Beyond Right and Wrong” teaches us how to let go of being judgmental and through acceptance understand that each person, situation, and event that enters our lives is an opportunity for self-discovery.
The final section is devoted to “Faith, Grace and Miracles”. These lessons direct us to gratitude and wonder, which is an important aspect of loving the way we live.
Again a heartwarming book that through short stories teaches us valuable life lessons.
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Why Should You Read Fiction Books Based On Personal Development?
Fiction books based on personal development can provide you with an enjoyable and educational reading experience. They can help you learn about yourself and your relationships in ways that are both entertaining and informative.
In addition, these types of self-help books can provide you with new perspectives on problems you may be facing and give you the tools you need to deal with them confidently.
Fiction books are an escape from reality, yet they also introduce you to new ways of thinking and living through the world you create.
When you read fiction, you can use it as a strategy to gain a greater understanding of a specific point or practice in your life. For example, you may gain a better understanding of how to deal with difficult people by reading about how a protagonist facing a similar situation in the book deals with the same.
Similarly, if you are an introvert, you can take inspiration from a similar character and learn the tips he takes to win friends!!
In Terms Of Self-Development, Is Reading Fiction Useless?
I don’t think so!!
It has been said that the best way to learn is through stories. This is certainly true when it comes to personal development and self-improvement.
According to a study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, people who read fiction regularly are more likely to have high self-esteem and feel connected to others. In addition, reading fiction can help you learn how to think critically and solve problems. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your life, reading fiction self-help books might be a good place to start.
Fiction books for personal development that assist you in your life journey and provide self-growth tips can be an incredibly enriching experience.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoy reading these novels come self-help books !!
The list above has been carefully curated and is a blend of different aspects which are relevant factors in our journey towards personal growth and self improvement. They make you stop and think.
I have a habit of noting down excerpts from books while reading them or at times do it after reading them whenever I feel the author has conveyed a life lesson in a very unique and subtle way. You may try doing it. You can call it journaling while reading. Later when you go through those excerpts it strikes a chord with you.
You may also be interested in reading our blog post where we have listed the 15 best personality development books for you to read!!