Read by Tim Ferriss, Steve Harvey, Bob Proctor and 3 others
What books does Steve Harvey recommend?
Steve Harvey's book recommendations form a personal curriculum in mindset and self-belief, the same message he brings to his motivational speaking. The long-running host of Family Feud and The Steve Harvey Morning Show, who rose from stand-up comedy, gravitates toward classic success literature. This list of 7 titles is drawn from his YouTube channel, television show, and motivational clips, with themes of self-improvement, psychology and human behavior, and philosophy. He calls David Schwartz's The Magic of Thinking Big "huge for me," distilling it to the idea that "it don't cost no more energy to think big than it does to think small." The first book he tells anyone to read is Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking, and he describes Rhonda Byrne's The Secret as "the most powerful book outside of the Bible that I have ever read in my life," praising its take on the law of attraction.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Magic of Thinking Big
Acquire the Secrets of Success... Achieve Everything You've Always Wanted
byDavid J. Schwartz
1959320 Pages“The Magic of Thinking Big was huge for me. It just taught me one simple principle: it don't cost no more energy to think big than it does to think small.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Steve Harvey YouTube Channel
The Power of Positive Thinking
A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living
byNorman Vincent Peale
2003240 Pages“The first book I tell anybody to read is The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. That's the beginning. You've got to fix this. The difference between successful people and non-successful people is this: it's what happens in between the ears.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Steve Harvey Motivational Clip
Read by Steve Harvey
byRhonda Byrne
2006216 Pages“It is the most powerful book outside of the Bible that I have ever read in my life. The book is based on the law of attraction and how that principle once you master it can help you find wealth, happiness, better health, whatever you're looking for.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Steve Harvey Show
Read by Changpeng Zhao, Chris Williamson, Steven Bartlett and 4 others
Essentialism
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
byGreg McKeown
2014272 Pages“I want you to get the book and really read it because I can't even tell you how much it helped me... This book along with my anniversary trip helped changed the whole way I think.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Steve Harvey TV Show
Read by Grant Cardone, Dave Ramsey, Steve Harvey and 10 others
Think and Grow Rich
The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
byNapoleon Hill
2005320 Pages“This masterwork identifies thirteen principles that every person should adopt if they are serious about achieving success.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Foreword to the 2016 Edition
Read by Steve Harvey
Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive
The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive
byT.D. Jakes
2014288 Pages“This book man that I've started reading called Instinct... it's about getting to your core. Everybody gets a copy of the book.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Steve Harvey Show
Read by Oprah Winfrey, Chip Wilson, Sir Lewis Hamilton and 5 others
The Four Agreements
A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
byDon Miguel Ruiz
1997160 Pages“A few principles that could serve us all well... Be impeccable with your word... Don't take anything personally.”
— Steve Harvey
Source: Steve Harvey Mentoring Moment
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Steve Harvey recommend?
His 7 recommendations include The Magic of Thinking Big, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
What book does Steve Harvey tell everyone to read first?
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. He calls it "the beginning" and says the difference between successful and unsuccessful people is "what happens in between the ears."
Where do Steve Harvey's book recommendations come from?
They come from his YouTube channel, The Steve Harvey Show, motivational clips, and a foreword he wrote for a 2016 edition of Think and Grow Rich.
Has Steve Harvey written any books?
Yes, two: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and Straight Talk, No Chaser, both centered on relationships and his direct brand of advice.
Why does Steve Harvey recommend The Secret?
He calls it "the most powerful book outside of the Bible" he has ever read, praising how the law of attraction, once mastered, "can help you find wealth, happiness, better health, whatever you're looking for."