Top 5 Success Books for 2025
My Top 5 Success Books for 2025: Lessons, Inspiration, and Practical Wisdom
Every year brings new books that challenge our thinking, inspire us to grow, and offer fresh strategies for achieving success. The year 2025 is no exception. As an author and lifelong learner passionate about personal and professional success and growth, I’ve been fortunate to explore many remarkable titles this year. Among them, five books have stood out and not just for their insights, but for their ability to motivate action, shift mindsets, and provide practical tools to navigate today’s fast-changing world while building lasting success.
I’m especially excited to share my own book, Yes Your Way to Success! Why Don’t You?, which reflects my personal journey and philosophy about embracing uncertainty and saying “yes” to possibility and success. Alongside it, I’ve selected four other books that each bring unique perspectives on resilience, entrepreneurship, habit-building, and social impact; each with a powerful success message at its core.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a professional seeking new motivation, or someone simply curious about how to unlock your potential, these books offer a rich toolkit for success in 2025 and beyond.
1. Yes Your Way to Success! Why Don’t You? by Gavin Mlinar
Starting with my own work, Yes Your Way to Success! Why Don’t You? is more than a book—it’s a mindset manifesto forged through decades of experience and a relentless pursuit of success. Growing up in a household where obstacles were never met with “no” but with “how can you?” shaped my approach to challenges early on and taught me that success often starts with the right question.
This perspective turned problems into puzzles and fear into curiosity, key ingredients for success in any field. In the book, I share stories from my life that illustrate this philosophy in action. From launching my first business at age eight to navigating career shifts in Fortune 50 companies, and even enduring the grueling 29029 Everest Challenge where I fainted twice before finally succeeding on the third attempt, my journey has been about persistence, adaptability, and redefining what’s possible on the path to success.
Yes Your Way to Success! is not a step-by-step formula but an invitation to rethink your relationship with fear, failure, and opportunity. It’s about breaking free from self-doubt and saying “yes” to your own potential, even when the path to success is uncertain.
Beyond personal anecdotes, the book offers practical exercises to help readers identify limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones that fuel success. It emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community and seeking mentorship, recognizing that success is rarely a solo journey.
One of the most powerful lessons I share is how much our internal dialogue shapes our outcomes and our success. The Everest Challenge taught me that the biggest barrier wasn’t the mountain, it was my own belief about whether I could finish and achieve success. This insight is at the heart of the book: success starts with the willingness to say “yes” to yourself.
In today’s world, where uncertainty is the norm, this mindset is more relevant than ever. Yes Your Way to Success! encourages readers to embrace change, take calculated risks, and view setbacks and failure as learning in disguise rather than stop signs on the road to success. This is why I chose Yes Your Way To Success as my first book in the top 5 success books of 2025 list.
2. The Unknown Adventurer: A Story of Dreaming Big, Living Big and Learning From Failure by Barry Walton
Barry Walton’s The Unknown Adventurer is a compelling blend of adventure memoir and life lessons that resonates deeply with anyone who dares to dream beyond the conventional and is searching for their own version of success.
Walton’s story is not just about physical expeditions, it’s a metaphor for the inner journey we all face when pursuing big goals and chasing success. His vivid descriptions of challenging environments and daring feats bring to life the emotional highs and lows of chasing dreams and the success that comes from perseverance.
What makes this book stand out is its honest exploration of failure as a crucial part of the success equation. Walton doesn’t shy away from recounting setbacks, disappointments, and moments of vulnerability. Instead, he embraces them as essential parts of growth and ultimate success. His approach reframes failure not as a defeat but as critical feedback and an opportunity to recalibrate for future success.
The book also offers practical insights into cultivating resilience, which is a cornerstone of success. Walton discusses mental toughness, the importance of curiosity, and how embracing vulnerability can actually strengthen your resolve and lead to greater success. These lessons are woven seamlessly into his narrative, making them both relatable and actionable for anyone on a success journey.
For readers feeling stuck or hesitant to pursue their dreams, The Unknown Adventurer serves as a powerful reminder that living boldly means accepting uncertainty and learning from every experience, all while keeping success in sight. Walton’s journey encourages us to keep moving forward, even when the path to success is unclear.
3. The 12-Hour Walk: Invest One Day, Conquer Your Mind, and Unlock Your Best Life for Success by Colin O’Brady
Colin O’Brady’s The 12-Hour Walk is a transformative guide that invites readers to invest a single day in pursuit of mental clarity and personal success. O’Brady, known for his record-breaking feats of endurance and adventure, distills his philosophy into a simple yet profound challenge: spend twelve hours walking alone, without distractions, technology, or outside influences, to confront your inner barriers and unlock your true potential for success.
What sets this book apart is its focus on the mental journey as the foundation for all forms of success. O’Brady shares his own stories of overcoming adversity, from crossing Antarctica solo to summiting the world’s tallest peaks and connects these epic adventures to the everyday quest for success that we all face.
The 12-hour walk is more than a physical challenge; it’s a metaphor for the obstacles and limiting beliefs that keep us from achieving success. O’Brady provides practical strategies for preparing for your own walk, reflecting on your goals, and translating the insights gained into lasting personal and professional success.
Readers will find inspiration in O’Brady’s belief that everyone has untapped reservoirs of strength and resilience. By taking the time to disconnect and reflect, you can break through mental roadblocks and set a new course for success—no matter where you’re starting from.
If you’re looking for a book that combines adventure, introspection, and actionable steps toward success, The 12-Hour Walk is an essential read for 2025.
4. The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
The Gap and the Gain is a breakthrough success book that completely reframes how we measure progress and happiness. Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy introduce the concept of “the Gap”, focusing on what we lack versus what we have achieved and “the Gain”, recognizing and celebrating the successes we’ve already accomplished.
This book is a must-read for anyone who feels like success is always just out of reach. Sullivan and Hardy argue that by shifting your mindset from the Gap to the Gain, you can experience greater happiness, confidence, and, ultimately, more sustainable success. Their approach is grounded in real-world examples and actionable strategies that help you redefine your relationship with success and progress.
One of the most powerful aspects of the book is its emphasis on gratitude and reflection as tools for success. By regularly acknowledging your Gains, you build positive momentum and reinforce your capacity for future success. The authors also provide practical exercises to help you track your progress and stay focused on your personal and professional successes.
For high achievers, entrepreneurs, and anyone striving for more, The Gap and the Gain is a success roadmap that encourages you to enjoy the journey and recognize that true success is as much about appreciating how far you’ve come as it is about where you’re going.
5. The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds—Not Crushes—Your Soul by Brad Stulberg
Brad Stulberg’s The Practice of Groundedness is a timely and essential success book for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the relentless pursuit of achievement. Stulberg, a renowned coach and writer on performance and well-being, offers a new model for success, one rooted in presence, connection, and self-compassion.
Rather than chasing fleeting moments of success, Stulberg advocates for building a foundation of groundedness, an approach that leads to more sustainable, fulfilling success. He explores six core principles, including acceptance, patience, and community, showing how these practices can help you thrive without burning out.
What makes this book stand out in the success genre is its emphasis on well-being as a non-negotiable part of achievement. Stulberg shares research, stories, and practical exercises that help readers cultivate a sense of stability and purpose, even in the face of setbacks. He demonstrates that true success isn’t just about reaching the next milestone, but about finding meaning and satisfaction in the process.
The Practice of Groundedness is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to achieve success. In fact, the most enduring and rewarding forms of success are built on a foundation of groundedness, authenticity, and self-care.
Final Thoughts: Crafting Your Own Success Story in 2025
Each of these five books offers a unique lens on success, from mindset and resilience to practical business strategies and social impact. Together, they provide a rich, multifaceted toolkit for anyone ready to pursue their goals and achieve success in 2025.
My own book, Yes Your Way to Success! Why Don’t You?, encourages you to break through limiting beliefs and embrace possibility with courage and curiosity as you pursue your own success. Barry Walton’s The Unknown Adventurer illustrates that setbacks are an essential part of the journey, showing how resilience shapes lasting success. Colin O’Brady’s The 12-Hour Walk challenges you to step outside your comfort zone, revealing how a single day of focused reflection can unlock new levels of personal success. The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy reframes how we measure progress, teaching us to find success by appreciating our growth and achievements rather than chasing distant goals. Finally, Brad Stulberg’s The Practice of Groundedness reminds us that true success is rooted in presence, well-being, and authenticity, offering a sustainable path to fulfillment and achievement. Success is deeply personal. It’s not about following a fixed formula but about discovering what works for you and having the courage to act. These books have inspired me to keep growing, learning, and daring to say “yes” to new possibilities and I hope they inspire you to pursue your own version of success, too.
What success books have inspired you in 2025? I’d love to hear your recommendations and reflections in the comments below. Here’s to your journey, your growth, and your success!
Read Gavin Mlinar's New Book Yes Your Way To Success