10 best books on goal setting

Few things can be as rewarding as setting and attaining your goals. No matter how big or small, achieving something you set your mind to is what keeps us moving forward in life. Sometimes, however, that process can be a little more obscure. Whether you’re trying to set a goal or achieve it, the path to success can seem a little confusing at times. While setting effective goals is an important component to achieving your dreams, you may be asking yourself — how?

These 10 goal setting books will help you navigate that question and perhaps arrive at an answer most fitting for you.

If you’re looking for the best books on goal setting, look no further!

"Creating Your Best Life," by Caroline Miller, MAPP

Books about reaching goals should craft tangible methods for goal setting and achievement and this title certainly delivers. Blending pragmatic, research-based topics with interactive quizzes and exercises to map out and personally connect with your goal, this book seeks to illustrate the link between goals and happiness in a step-by-step fashion.

"Your Best Year Ever," by Michael Hyatt

Another research-based approach to finding, setting and achieving goals and purpose is “Your Best Year Ever” by two-time CEO Michael Hyatt. Spanning a breadth of topics — including interpersonal, relationship, business and finance goals — Hyatt seeks to help readers overcome the feeling of being stuck and envision their best year ever.

"Before Happiness," by Shawn Achor

In this book, written by Harvard-trained researcher Shawn Achor, the key to success and happiness lies in a person’s ability to change their perception and see that positive change is possible. Achor’s work points to a 5-step system of perception-changing tips to help the reader mentally position themselves for success.

"9 Things Successful People Do Differently," by Heidi Grant Halvorson

There are many books on how to achieve your goals, but few come as close to understanding how success can be achieved as this title by Heidi Grant Halvorson, a social psychologies and motivation expert. Using a scientifically vetted approach, Heidi presents case studies on perseverance and what defines a successful attitude, often showing that all it takes is a shift in perception.

"The Achievement Habit," by Bernard Roth

On the topic of healthy habits, author and educator Bernard Roth takes his decades-long Stanford teaching experience to the pages of his book, The Achievement Habit. Having inspired many Silicon Valley engineers and would-be entrepreneurs since the 1960s, Roth demonstrates his academic system for success to readers seeking guidance on problem solving, personal and professional relationships and personal growth.

"Better Than Before," by Gretchen Rubin

“Better Than Before,” by New York Times bestseller Gretchen Rubin, points to positive habits as the framework for success. Claiming that approximately 40 percent of our behavior is repeated almost daily, Rubin seeks to guide the reader through the process of examining habits and reshaping them into a tool for success. No matter the scope or scale of your ambition, this book has something for everyone.

"Awaken the Giant Within," by Tony Robbins

No top 10 books on goal setting list would be complete without this genre standout, “Awaken the Giant Within” by New York Times best-selling author Tony Robbins. The succinct four-part plan in this book lays out steps for achievement and self-mastery by creating a vision, rising to the occasion, auditing the results and shifting your strategy when the situation calls.

"The Art of Setting Smart Goals," by Anisa Marku

The best books on setting and achieving goals teach and empower the reader to employ the strategies and tips laid out in their work, and this book does exactly that. Marku asserts that by setting SMART goals — goals set with a five-part strategy in mind — a person can conceptualize and reach their dreams. In this workbook, you’ll have the opportunity to break down your ambitions into smaller components and begin building what will be your desired outcome.

"You Goal, Girl," by Meleah Bowles and Elise Williams

Another powerful workbook in your goal-setting arsenal should be “You Goal, Girl,” a book by Meleah Bowles and Elise Williams Rikard. This interactive guide to goal setting will prompt you with actionable items that help propel you to your dreams. Combining productivity and motivation, this title is a great resource to keep your eye on the prize.

"The Desire Map," by Danielle LaPorte

Many books about achieving your dreams lay out strategies for goal achievement and success as a series of steps, but few reflect on the reader’s emotional state as a catalyst. What Danielle LaPorte’s “The Desire Map” does is examine what we seek from achieving a goal — happiness, comfort, recognition, to list a few — as much as how to achieve it. This unique book aims to help readers understand how their feelings come into play in goal setting and achievement. It also shows how you can harness the energy from your feelings to craft a holistic sense of well-being, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful goal setting.

Learn more about how to set goals and achieve them

Your dreams are precious and your ambitions matter to us! Join the dream movement today for more tips and resources to help you pursue your dreams. If you’re looking for more information on how to set goals and achieve them, you’ve come to the right place.

This article is for informational purposes only and based on information that is widely available. We do not make any guarantees or promise any results based on this information.