According to a recent YouGov¹ study, 46% of Americans didn’t read a single book in 2023. And not much changed in early 2024: according to a February survey, 28.5% of people hadn’t read any books in the three months leading up to it.²
But that can’t be you if you’re a coach (or becoming one). Your mindset is your business. And that means your learning curve is your income curve.
You can have the best coaching niche, beautiful branding, or a big audience. But if your inner foundation isn’t solid, none of it works. That’s why every coach should keep a strong reading habit and an even stronger habit of applying what they read.
Here’s my personal coach reading list. These are the best books for life coaches I’ve read, shared on my podcast, or explored inside the Business Breakthrough (BB) Book Club.
Some are classics, some are ebooks from my own team, and all of them are here to grow your coaching mindset, strategy, and confidence.
Let’s dive in.
1. Think and Grow Rich — Napoleon Hill
This classic is often mistaken for just a book about money. But let me tell you, it’s really a book about belief. It teaches you how to think like someone who succeeds, not just act like one.
When I first read it in 2006, it changed everything for me. It introduced me to the idea that success is built step-by-step, that it’s not about luck or privilege, but clarity, commitment, and daily practice. I revisit it often, and nearly every page is underlined.
Why coaches should read it: If you’ve ever doubted yourself — “Who am I to coach others?” — this book will rewire that thinking. It’s foundational for self-development for coaches.
2. The One Thing — Gary Keller
Trying to grow your coaching business while juggling 17 ideas at once? This is your book.
It helped me shut down my Amazon business and go all-in on coaching. The focusing question, “What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?”, completely changed how I made decisions.
Why coaches should read it: If you’re scattered or stuck in “planning mode,” this book will help you take aligned action and simplify your strategy. I shared my story with this book in this podcast episode.
3. Talent Is Overrated — Geoff Colvin
This one doesn’t get talked about enough, but it’s powerful.
It’s not about having talent. It’s about practicing the right way. The concept of deliberate practice, pushing yourself just beyond your comfort zone, is gold for anyone building a coaching business from scratch.
Why coaches should read it: It kills the “I’m not good enough yet” lie. This book will remind you that you get better by doing, not waiting.
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to start, this will show you why perfectionism is fear in disguise and how to take action anyway: 🎧 How Perfectionism Destroys Your Potential.
4. 6-Figure Coaching System – My Free Ebook
This one’s a must-read for any coach ready to go from “I hope this works” to “I know exactly what to do next.”
Inside, I break down the 4-step system I’ve taught to over 2,600 coaches to help them grow a 6-figure coaching business from scratch, even if they had no experience and no following.
You’ll learn how to find your perfect client (yes, even if you don’t know who they are yet), build an irresistible coaching offer, grow your audience, and enroll clients with confidence, without feeling pushy.
This is one of the best coaching ebooks if you’re serious about self-development for coaches and building a real business online.
📥 Download the 6-Figure Coaching System here.
Why coaches should read it: Building a business requires more than motivation; it requires a plan. This ebook gives you the exact blueprint that’s worked for thousands of BB students. This is your next step if you’re ready to stop guessing and start taking strategic action.
5. How to Get Fully Booked as a 1:1 Coach – Rob Dial
Let me be honest: the coaching industry is growing fast, but that doesn’t mean you need to “go viral” to get clients.
This free guide shows you how to land your first (or next) 20 paying clients using Instagram, content that converts, and conversations that build trust.
You’ll walk away with a simple yet powerful system to attract, engage, and convert your ideal clients, even starting from zero.
If you’ve been wondering how to stand out in a sea of coaches, this guide is a goldmine. This belongs on every coach’s reading list, especially if you’re building your business through social media.
📥 Download the Fully Booked Guide here.
Why coaches should read it: Because you don’t need to be an influencer; you need a strategy. If you want a sustainable way to grow your business without burning out, start here.
6. Atomic Habits — James Clear
This one’s a game-changer for anyone trying to build consistency, especially coaches. Atomic Habits breaks down how tiny daily shifts compound into massive results.
The idea that “you don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems” hits hard, especially when building a business from scratch.
I talk more about this book (and how it helped me reshape my focus and routines) in this episode: 🎧 Why You Should Read Atomic Habits
Why coaches should read it: Because coaching is about behavior change, and it starts with your own. If you’re serious about helping people (and yourself) follow through, this belongs on your shelf.
7. Finding Your Coaching Niche – Rob Dial
If you’re still wondering, “Who exactly do I help?”, this one’s for you. This step-by-step guide helps you get crystal clear on your niche, message, and positioning so you can stop spinning your wheels and start attracting coaching clients who feel like a perfect fit.
You’ll go through four practical steps to define your ideal client, what you help them with, how you help them, and how to craft a powerful niche statement.
Plus, there’s a full section on how to test your niche in the real world. It’s not about finding a perfect niche; it’s about starting with clarity and adjusting as you grow. One of the best books for coaches to read early on.
📥 Download the Coaching Niche Guide here.
Why coaches should read it: Because clarity creates momentum. If you’re stuck in indecision or trying to help “everyone,” this guide will help you dial in who you serve and how you serve them.
8. Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
This one’s dense, but it’s a masterclass in understanding how we think and how our clients think. Kahneman breaks down the two systems of the brain: the fast, intuitive one and the slow, deliberate one. As a coach, this book gives you a deeper lens into decision-making, resistance, and how to guide people through mental blocks.
This is essential reading if you’re committed to developing your coaching mindset and helping clients shift their beliefs and behavior patterns.
It also challenges you to examine your own blind spots, which is key for self-development as a coach.
Why coaches should read it: Understanding cognitive biases, resistance, and how decisions are really made will deepen your ability to guide clients through mental blocks and create lasting breakthroughs.
9. Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to Be Difficult — Jon Gordon
This one’s a BB Book Club favorite. If you’re coaching real people with real struggles, you’ll eventually face hard conversations: resistance, vulnerability, even confrontation. This book gives you the tools to navigate those moments with clarity and compassion.
It teaches you how to lead with curiosity, not defensiveness. Whether you’re coaching 1:1 or leading a team, this is one of the best books for coaches who want to communicate with impact and confidence, without sacrificing empathy.
Why coaches should read it: Because real coaching isn’t always easy. This book gives you the language and mindset to handle resistance, vulnerability, and discomfort with grace. If you want to lead with confidence and empathy, this one’s essential.
In this episode, I explain how I rewired my brain to enjoy doing hard things. I’ll show you the exact mindset shifts that took me from avoiding discomfort to chasing it, and how you can do the same by working with your brain, not against it.🎧 How I Tricked My Brain to Like Doing Hard Things
10. Level Up — Rob Dial
Yep, this one’s mine. But I wrote it for you. Level Up is your go-to guide if you’re tired of procrastinating and ready to take action. I share the steps I’ve used with my clients and in my own life to stop getting stuck and build momentum fast.
You’ll learn how to master your focus, build habits that stick, and rewire the way you think so you can finally step into the version of yourself that’s been waiting to come alive.
If you’re a coach, your business reflects your mindset, and this book will help you upgrade both.
Why coaches should read it: Because you can’t grow your coaching business without growing yourself. This book is a step-by-step mindset reset. If you’re tired of procrastinating and ready to build momentum that sticks, Level Up will help you take back control.
11. The Standard — Joshua Kalinowski
Another BB Book Club favorite. This book challenges you to raise the bar on everything. Business. Health. Relationships. Impact.
If you’ve been coasting, this will wake you up. It’s especially powerful for coaches who feel like they’ve been playing small or stuck in comparison.
The Standard invites you to re-commit to your highest values and vision. It’s a great read when you’re ready to leave excuses behind and start leading yourself and others with integrity.
Why coaches should read it: Because raising your standard changes everything. This book will challenge you to stop playing small, recommit to your vision, and lead from the front.
12. The Big Leap — Gay Hendricks
This is one of those books I recommend again and again inside BB. Why? Because every coach I know eventually hits an upper limit: the invisible ceiling that stops them from earning more, impacting more, or simply enjoying the success they’ve built.
Hendricks shows you how to spot the patterns holding you back, step into your “zone of genius,” and finally feel worthy of more.
Why coaches should read it: The Big Leap helps you identify the subconscious beliefs that keep you stuck and shows you how to expand your capacity for success, joy, and impact. A must-read for sustainable growth.
Learn how to stop letting outside opinions shape your confidence and take back your power as a creator, coach, and leader:🎧 Overcome the Fear of Being Judged
Final Thoughts: Your Growth is Your Business
This coach reading list is not just about adding books to your shelf; it’s about applying what you learn to shift your mindset, take bold action, and lead with clarity.
Every title here has helped me evolve as a coach, and now they’re yours.
And if you’ve read this far, I have a special invitation for you.
Maybe you’ve read all the books. Taken notes. Got inspired. But you’re still unsure about your next step. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
📍 Book a free 1:1 strategy call with one of my top Business Coaches. We’ll help you clarify your niche, refine your strategy, and create a simple action plan to start attracting (and signing) your ideal clients.
You’ve got the vision. We’ll help you build it.
Let’s go.
– Rob.
¹ https://www.statista.com/chart/32988/share-of-respondents-who-read-or-listened-to-books/
² https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402547/book-read-by-regular-readers/
