Some books don’t just entertain; they mentor.
During a season when I didn’t have formal mentors around me, I found myself leaning on memoirs, leadership stories, and personal development books to fill that gap. These weren’t just “good reads.” They became a source of guidance that helped me shift my mindset, make clearer choices, and feel more grounded at school, at work, and in my personal life.
If you’re looking for books about resilience, business with heart, or inspiration to make your next move, here are the five that shaped me most and the exact lessons I took away.
1. I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
How a personal finance book helped me stop neglecting my retirement accounts.
Before reading it, I thought I understood retirement accounts. But Ramit’s calm, practical approach helped me finally roll over an old 401(k) I had abandoned at a previous job which was a mistake and moved it into a personal IRA where I could actually manage it myself. His explanation of index funds was the breakthrough: the idea that you don’t need to pick stocks like an expert when you can choose a passively managed fund and let it grow over time. That “set it and forget it” mindset made investing feel doable instead of intimidating. It taught me that avoiding money decisions out of fear costs more than the decisions themselves.
2. Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche
How a simple question led me to a side hustle that actually worked for my life.
Tiffany Aliche asks a simple question: What do people naturally come to you for help with? It pushed me to think beyond trendy side hustles and focus on something sustainable something that fit my strengths and didn’t drain my energy. That perspective led me to a small, practical side job that was on the way home from my main job, easy to manage, and aligned with what people already trusted me with. I did it for six months, paid down debt, and finally felt financial breathing room again. It reminded me that the best side hustle isn’t glamorous it’s the one that works for your real life.
3. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Why my not-so-glamorous 20s still built the life I have now.
Meg Jay reframed 20s as a decade of building “identity capital” skills, experiences, and small risks that eventually shape the opportunities you can access. I initially read this book in my 30s but looking back at those years of me taking the best available job, even if it wasn’t perfect, still moved me forward. Her point about “loose ties” also stayed with me: it’s often the people just outside your inner circle, not the closest friends, who open unexpected doors. Reading this in my 30s showed me that the strategy I stumbled into choosing growth over glamour was building something far more lasting than I realized at the time.
4. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
The business book that reminded me that excellence starts with intention.
I discovered it on the Libby app after seeing it recommended on LinkedIn and expected a book about the restaurant world. Instead, it offered timeless lessons on purpose, presence, and how to show up with care in any setting. Guidara’s relationship with his father and his focus on meaningful work left a lasting impression and I’ll definitely be revisiting it. He’s also releasing a new book in 2026 about finding value in your work which feels right on time.
5. Finding Me by Viola Davis
The memoir that taught me to want something more than I fear it.
In her acting class, the instructor asked increasingly vulnerable questions the kind that make most people lower their hands as the stakes get higher. Viola kept her hand raised. She said her dreams were bigger than her fears, and nothing intimidated her because she wanted it that much. That moment resonated with me deeply. Her story is a reminder that courage isn’t about feeling fearless it’s about wanting the life ahead of you more than the fear in front of you.
Final Thoughts: Let a Book Hold Your Hand
These books walked with me during a time when I didn’t have formal mentors. Mellody Hobson said in an interview on Emma Grede’s Aspire Podcast,
“Books were my mentors,” and I’ve carried that with me.
Shonda Rhimes shared in a recent interview on The Mel Robbins Podcast that she started reading about people who did extraordinary things and were from different industries who overcame challenges and those stories became her mentors.
She even said you can learn more from reading her book Year of Yes than from spending fifteen minutes with her and that stayed with me. Books give depth, context, and lived experience in a way brief encounters never can.
If you’re in a season without a guide, let a book be that steady voice. Let someone else’s lived wisdom light your next step. That’s what these five did for me, and I know I’ll return to them again.
FAQ
What are the best books for self-improvement?
It depends on what you need right now. For money clarity, I recommend I Will Teach You to Be Rich or Get Good With Money. For career direction and mindset, The Defining Decade is powerful. For creativity and courage, Finding Me by Viola Davis is unforgettable.
What books feel like having a mentor?
Memoirs and personal development books can act like mentors by sharing lived wisdom. For me, Viola Davis, Will Guidara, Tiffany Aliche, Meg Jay, and Ramit Sethi all offered guidance I could apply in real life.
Which books can shift your mindset or career direction?
Look for ones that offer both perspective and action steps. The Defining Decade shifted how I saw my 20s, Ramit Sethi reshaped how I manage my money, and Viola Davis pushed me to choose courage over fear.
Journal Prompt
Which book has felt like a mentor in your life? What lesson did it give you that you’re still carrying today?
Subscribe & Stay Connected
If reflections like this resonate with you, subscribe below to get future posts straight to your inbox. You’ll receive new entries from the Self-Care Portfolio part story, part self-care strategy plus practical tools you can try in your own life.
Related reads:
selfcareportfolio 