10 Essential Books Every Coach Should Have on Their Shelf
Here's a thing I see all the time with coaches.
You spent thousands on certifications. You can hold space like nobody's business. You know exactly how to walk a client through their breakthrough.
Then you sit down to write a post or send a pitch and your brain says: who am I to call myself a coach?
The work of coaching is half technical skill, half mindset. The mindset half is what makes or breaks your business.
These are the 10 books that have shaped how I show up as a coach, how I run my business, and how I help my clients move through their own self-talk. Some are for you. Some are for them. All of them earned a permanent spot on my shelf.
"Don't reinvent the wheel. Invent the story that keeps your wheels moving." — Michelle Kuei
Top 10 Books From My Personal Bookshelf
1. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
If a few cuss words won't scare you off, this is the mindset book that gets you off the couch and into action. Sincero's tough-love voice is exactly what most coaches need when they're stuck in the "am I ready?" spiral. Best for coaches who need a kick to start putting themselves out there.
2. Unlimited by Jillian Michaels
You either love Jillian Michaels or you don't. Either way, this book delivers her signature no-BS approach. She gets personal, drops her guard, and tells you the truth about what's keeping you small. This was one of the first mindset books I ever took on, and it changed how I thought about my own potential.
3. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
One of the all-time bestselling mindset books, and for good reason. I read it later in my growth journey and immediately wished I'd picked it up years earlier. Best for coaches who keep playing small and need permission to think bigger about their business.
4. Stop Saying You're Fine by Mel Robbins
Another real-talk approach. Mel helps you get to the root of what you actually want, and why you want it, so you stop running on autopilot. As someone who values discipline but hates guilt and obligation, this one stuck with me. Great for coaches who keep "fine"-ing their way through a business that isn't growing.
5. Loving What Is by Byron Katie
Sometimes the negative self-talk isn't real. It's the gap between your expectations and your reality. Byron Katie's work on inquiry helped me find the truth in my own negative thoughts and turn them around. Beautiful book to recommend to clients dealing with limiting beliefs.
"I'm not perfect but I am working on it. And that is all that matters." — Michelle Kuei
6. Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen
Jennie writes from a faith-based perspective and offers a powerful framework for breaking the spiral of toxic thoughts. If your spiritual side is part of how you coach, this one will resonate. She inspires you to take back control of your thoughts, your emotions, and your outlook. Wonderful for coaches and a strong client recommendation for the right audience.
7. Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
Tired of feeling stuck? Bishop hands you the tools to demolish what's weighing you down and become the version of yourself you were meant to be. Direct, unfiltered, and exactly the energy some coaches need to break out of their comfort zone. Skip recommending this to clients who don't like cursing.
8. What to Say When You Talk to Your Self by Shad Helmstetter
Helmstetter breaks down the Five Levels of Self-Talk: Negative Acceptance, Recognition and Need to Change, Decision to Change, The Better You, and Universal Affirmation. Accessible and profound at the same time. A great resource to use with clients who are working through their inner dialogue, and a great mirror for your own.
9. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Brené's ten guideposts for living authentically have shaped how I show up in my business and how I coach my clients. Cultivating self-worth, accepting yourself, and embracing imperfection isn't just personal work. It's marketing work. The coaches who do this work attract better clients. Period.
10. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The classic on flow states. Csikszentmihalyi explores what makes experiences genuinely satisfying and how we can structure our lives to access more of those moments. Useful for you (so you build a coaching business that energizes you) and useful for clients (so they understand why some activities drain them and others bring them alive).
One last thing
There you have it. The 10 books from my personal shelf that I keep coming back to.
Some helped me build the courage to start. Some helped me grow. Some are the exact resources I share with my own clients.
Pick one. Read it slowly. Let it actually change something.
Then go do the work.
Ready to build a coaching business that's actually yours?
If you're a certified coach who's ready to stop reading about it and start booking clients, I'd love to help. We'll look at where you're stuck and the simplest next step to move you forward.
