10 Inspirational Books for Successful Personal Relationships

Published January 10, 2023 | 6 min read

This collection of insightful books will enhance your personal relationships.

Successful business people are active learners.

They know the value of taking educational seminars to enhance their career and leadership skills.

But many men and women who are accustomed to ongoing business education don’t take the same approach regarding their personal lives.

Improving personal relationships is just – if not more – important in life and in business.

That’s where a library of good books comes in.

The wisdom of relationship experts and educated psychologists is readily available to help us all be more successful in our personal relationships.

Here’s my selection of 10 insightful books that will enhance not only your romantic relationship — but all the interpersonal connections in your life.

And when you’re done, be sure to check out our list of the best relationship books as well.

The Best Books for Successful Personal Relationships

1. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray, Ph.D.

Perhaps the best book on male-female relationships ever written, Men Are from Mars and Women Are from Venus, became so popular that its title became part of the popular consciousness.

Everyone knows that women and men are different in how they approach interpersonal communication and problem-solving.

It took Dr. John Gray to explain how different men and women are—like we’re from two different planets.

This book should be in everyone’s personal library.

2. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Anyone can fall in love.

But staying in a loving relationship that continues to be uplifting and fulfilling is the tough part.

Gary Chapman offers five different ways that people communicate and show this.

Some people use words of affirmation or acts of service to show their love.

For others, it’s sharing quality time, receiving gifts, or using physical touch.

Once you’ve identified how your significant other shows his or her love, you’ll recognize those acts as very loving.

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

For over 60 years, this book has been helping people to become more likable, win others to their way of thinking, and improve their people skills.

More than anything else, this book helps you become a better communicator—and that’s a valuable skill that will enhance all your personal relationships.

Besides, who among us has too many friends?

4. The 100 Simple Secrets of Great Relationships by David Niven, Ph.D.

This little gem is filled with stories about people who have found success in their personal relationships.

Sprinkled throughout the book are the results of dozens of research studies that probed why some relationships succeed and the factors that increased the likelihood of their failure.

The 100 Simple Secrets of Great Relationships by David Niven

They present the stories and studies in easy-to-read, bite-sized chapters that make this book both educational and fun to read.

5. The Love Magnet Rules: 101 Tips for Meeting, Dating, and Keeping a New Love by Chad Stone

It’s never too late to find your soul mate.

Following the tips in this book will help lead to relationship happiness.

This book will help you develop a healthy mindset for a new love relationship.

It also offers real-world advice (often presented with humor) for great dates and red flags to watch for along the way.

The book ends with solid advice to keep your loving relationship alive and well.

6. How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes

What are the keys to healthy relationships?

Communication is certainly near the top of the list.

The author has spent her career teaching people successful communications strategies.

In this book, she shares effective techniques as she takes readers from a first meeting up to sophisticated tactics used by the super-successful in business and personal relationships.

This practical book covers everything from how to make a good first impression – to how to work a party like a politician works a room.

7. First Comes Love, Then Comes Money by Bethany and Scott Palmer

Most couples do not know how to talk about money.

That’s not really surprising because money is a taboo subject in much of our culture.

The authors (who are married to each other) describe the five basic “money personalities”: The Saver, The Spender, The Risk Taker, The Security Seeker, and The Flyer.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Money by Bethany and Scott Palmer

Understanding your money personality and that of your partner is the first step to creating a successful and harmonious money strategy for your relationship.