Read by Grant Cardone, Dave Ramsey, Steve Harvey and 10 others
What books does Jim Rohn recommend?
Jim Rohn, the business philosopher who mentored Tony Robbins and a generation of speakers, treated a personal library as the foundation of a successful life, and his book recommendations reflect that conviction. The 14 titles here are drawn from his official recommended reading list, his seminars, and legacy articles, and they concentrate on self-improvement, psychology and human behavior, and philosophy, with history woven in. His top recommendation is Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, which he calls "arguably the best personal development and wealth building book of all time," adding that "it belongs on everyone's bookshelf." The list balances practical prosperity classics like The Richest Man in Babylon with weightier works: Will and Ariel Durant's The Lessons of History and The Story of Philosophy, which he prized because "our philosophy determines how we live and what we achieve." Rohn also authored four books of his own on success and living.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
Think and Grow Rich
The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
byNapoleon Hill
2005320 Pages“This is arguably the best personal development and wealth building book of all time. It belongs on everyone's bookshelf.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
Read by Grant Cardone, Dave Ramsey, Jim Rohn and 3 others
byGeorge S. Clason
1926144 Pages“Written in parables, this is a classic on thrift, financial planning and personal wealth. Everyone needs to read this book.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
How to Read a Book
The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
byMortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
1972426 Pages“This book will teach you to do just what the title promises: how to read a book for all it is worth so that you come out the best you can be at the end.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
Read by Bob Proctor, Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins and 2 others
byJames Allen
190280 Pages“This book will ground you in the belief that whatever you believe you become. It's based on the idea that we are what we think.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
Read by Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Mark Manson and 6 others
byWill Durant, Ariel Durant
2010128 Pages“This book gives insight as good as any book on the changes that have taken place over time in economics, politics, military customs and more—very insightful.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
The Story of Philosophy
The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers
byWill Durant
2006528 Pages“In this book, Durant summarizes the lives and influence of philosophy's greatest thinkers. This is very important for us, as we know that our philosophy determines how we live and what we achieve.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
Read by Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and 8 others
byAyn Rand
19571168 Pages“Atlas Shrugged is a towering novel. It kept us intrigued as Rand was feeding us her philosophy.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn Legacy Article: How to Build a Library Worth Having
Read by Tim Ferriss, Steve Harvey, Bob Proctor and 3 others
The Magic of Thinking Big
Acquire the Secrets of Success... Achieve Everything You've Always Wanted
byDavid J. Schwartz
1959320 PagesSource: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
byJ. Earl Shoaff
201730 Pages“My mentor, Earl Shoaff, got me started on my library... He had an incredible philosophy about life.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn Seminar: The Challenge of Success
The Greatest Salesman in the World
A guide to a philosophy of salesmanship and success
byOg Mandino
1968111 PagesSource: Jim Rohn official foreword and legacy endorsement
Read by Tim Ferriss, Charlie Munger, Sam Altman and 22 others
Man's Search for Meaning
An Introduction to Logotherapy
byViktor E. Frankl
2006165 PagesSource: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
Read by Warren Buffett, Alex Hormozi, Chip Wilson and 11 others
byDale Carnegie
1936291 PagesSource: Jim Rohn's Official Recommended Reading List
Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit
A Practical Guide to Nutrition
byAdelle Davis
1970334 Pages“As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn Seminar: Health and Vitality
Read by Jamie Dimon, Paul Graham, Jim Rohn and 1 others
byBenjamin Franklin
2003351 Pages“Read the biography of Benjamin Franklin... learn about his 13 virtues.”
— Jim Rohn
Source: Jim Rohn Seminar: Cultivating an Unshakable Character
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Frequently asked questions
What books did Jim Rohn recommend?
His 14 recommendations include Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason, How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler, As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, and The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant.
What was Jim Rohn's most recommended book?
Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, which he called "arguably the best personal development and wealth building book of all time," adding that "it belongs on everyone's bookshelf."
Where do Jim Rohn's book recommendations come from?
Most come from his official recommended reading list, along with his seminars on success, health, and character, and legacy articles such as "How to Build a Library Worth Having."
Did Jim Rohn write any books?
Yes, four, including The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle (1991), 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness (1985), My Philosophy for Successful Living (2011), and Twelve Pillars (2005).
Did Jim Rohn recommend history and philosophy books?
Yes. He praised Will and Ariel Durant's The Lessons of History as deeply insightful on economics, politics, and society, and recommended The Story of Philosophy because, as he put it, "our philosophy determines how we live and what we achieve."
All 14 Books Jim Rohn Has Recommended
- Think and Grow Rich · Napoleon Hill
- The Richest Man in Babylon · George S. Clason
- How to Read a Book · Mortimer J. Adler
- As a Man Thinketh · James Allen
- The Lessons of History · Will Durant
- The Story of Philosophy · Will Durant
- Atlas Shrugged · Ayn Rand
- The Magic of Thinking Big · David J. Schwartz
- How to Become a Millionaire · J. Earl Shoaff
- The Greatest Salesman in the World · Og Mandino
- Man's Search for Meaning · Viktor E. Frankl
- How to Win Friends and Influence People · Dale Carnegie
- Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit · Adelle Davis
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin · Benjamin Franklin