[bmcleod]

Probably How to Win Friends and influence people. I could have done with being nicer to people much earlier in my life, probably around 12 or so.

I'm surprised by the number of tech books on this list, I found I had an appetite for finding them myself pretty much when I was ready for each of them.

[RiderOfGiraffes]

When I was about 17 I was told, in no uncertain terms and by someone I respected: "You really need to learn how to get along with people."

I took that at face value, and tried to find a manual for how to interact positively with others, and I found H2WF&IP.

I treated it like a text book, and it changed my life completely. I was happier, more able to be sociable, and I could get along with people.

Now, after a further 30 or more years, I can still see the book's influence as I negotiate deals, manage employees, broker agreements, and generally "do stuff."

It's now out-of-date, but if you can make the effort to read it in the context it was written, and to ignore the obvious anachronisms, it's still valuable. The more recent versions try to be more up-to-date, but they lose something as far as I can tell, and I return to the original.

[inovica]

I discovered this book very late on, but it has been invaluable. In addition to this my own two personal favourites are:

- The e-Myth Revisited - Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I've found these very useful in terms of how money works and also about the value of passive income

[lachyg]

I'm 16 and picked that book up just before my 15th birthday. Well worth the read, and would recommend it to anyone. Going to give it a reread now, thanks for the reminder!

[sandipagr]

This is the only self-help book that has helped me. (Self-help books are normally waste of time)

[tommoor]

Definitely. Seriously considered giving this to my younger brother as well...