Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
When I first stumbled upon the law of attraction (and books to manifest my dream life!), I was immediately hooked.
It seemed ridiculously simple that my physical reality all stemmed from the power of my limiting thoughts and beliefs. And when I critically examined these over a day, a week, and even a lifetime, I could see that it was no wonder I wasn’t achieving the things in my own life that deep down I knew I was capable of!
Being intentional means practising mindfulness, and choosing carefully what you consume. In order to challenge your habitual patterns of thinking, a great first step is to be curious and have an open mind to new ideas. Rather than sticking on another mindless Netflix show at the end of a long day, why not cosy up with one of these insightful manifestation books?
Reading about the magic of manifesting is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the new world you want to create for yourself, with access to ideas and revelations you’d otherwise never have been exposed to in your everyday life. Investing in manifestation books is not only cheap in terms of monetary value (most of these books are less than the price of a takeaway coffee!), but also a powerful way to invest in yourself and your own personal growth.
Simply put, the ideas presented in these manifestation books are the foundational building blocks to start making positive changes and manifest your wildest dreams.
Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind
The law of attraction produces mixed reactions, with some accusations that it is pseudo-science, and that fluffy ‘positive thinking’ won’t get you anywhere.
Whilst it is true that positive thought alone won’t move you closer to your goals without inspired action, it is arguable that positive thought is the stepping stone to inspired action. If you start with positive thoughts and stick with them long enough, you’ll start to see changes in your attitude, character, and eventually behaviour.
Reading in particular trains the subconscious mind with the new information you are feeding it. You may not realise it, but you will already have set the wheels in motion. The universal laws will be working out how to bring the right people and situations into alignment for you.
For example, if it hadn’t been for time invested in manifestation books, I am certain that I would never have started Intentional View. I wouldn’t have had the confidence, self-belief or faith that I could pursue my dream life. Manifestation books were a huge part of this process.
If you want to transform your life for the better, then choose to start doing the inner work rather than waiting for outside circumstances to change. The key is already within you!
How Long Does it Take to Manifest?
We are trained from a young age to be outcome-oriented, but what if I told you that once you have set your intention, it’s best to stay as detached from your goals as possible! A scarcity mindset in which you cling to your desires will only push them further away.
Think of it like planting an oak seed. You don’t expect to see results after two or three days, a week, or maybe even months. But you know that when you plant a seed and tend to it regularly, it has no choice but to grow. A lot of the work is below the soil at first. But over the years, a mighty oak tree will appear from that tiny seed.
If the oak tree is the goal and the daily system is watering the seed, then you can see that all you need to do is focus on the daily watering, which mentally is a much more achievable task. In other words, don’t overthink or get stuck in analysis-paralysis! Just take actionable daily steps, as painstakingly small progress as it may seem.
This uses the backwards rule; you have to become the person you want to be before you see changes in the physical world.
You are the creator, so think carefully about what will truly make you happy. Understand your why, then build your daily systems to support this. If you can learn to enjoy the process, the destination will be the icing on the cake.
15 Best Books to Manifest Your Dream Life
Now that we’ve discussed how you can use the law of attraction to change your life for the better, here is a list of my best law of attraction books that you should add to your reading list in 2023.
The Seminal Texts
The law of attraction grew out of New Thought spiritual belief, which centred around the idea that positive and negative thoughts could bring about equivalent experiences in a person’s life. The New Thought movement began with the teachings of Phineas Quimby as early as the 19th century. When he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in his early life with no reliable cure, he began horse riding and realised that getting lost in this activity temporarily seemed to cure him of his illness. Making a miraculous recovery, he pioneered the concept of ‘Mind over Body’ when it came to physical health and wellness.
Continuing in Quimby’s footsteps, you can draw on the wisdom of those who came before you with the manifestation books in this section. You may need to overlook some aspects as products of their time. For example, Napoleon Hill addresses his book to ‘men in business’, because of traditionally accepted inequalities between men and women. Despite this, these manifestation books still contain pearls of wisdom which are as relevant today as they were nearly a century ago.
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen (1903)
A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth.
What is it about: The title for the first book on this list comes from a Bible quote in Proverbs: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” While traditional self-help books will tell you to start taking small steps towards your goals, Allen encourages you to look inside and realise the power you already possess. Everything in your life is determined by your thoughts; your actions are the sum of your thoughts, and these patterns come to constitute your character. By realising that outside circumstances and even your own health are closely linked to your character, you can stop playing the victim and take your power back into your own hands. You are the creator of your own destiny!
One actionable piece of advice: Harmful thoughts grow like weeds. Cultivate your mind like a well-tended garden, and you will stay on course towards the life you want.
The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles (1910)
An ounce of doing things is worth a pound of theorising.
What is it about: This is a book which really helped to change my attitude towards money. If you’re anything like me, you may have grown up with a problematic mindset when it came to the desire for material wealth. But Wattles encourages you to think about things in a new light. You need to nurture your mind, body and soul to live a good life and contribute to society, and there is more than enough abundance in the world for everyone! By understanding the power of gratitude, ignoring the opinions of others, harnessing the power of the present moment, and utilising your inherent natural talents, you can manifest a life of physical and spiritual riches.
One actionable piece of advice: Develop your skills. For example, if you want to be a successful painter, you must first put the hours in to master your craft.
The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn (1925)
What a man condemns in others, he attracts to himself.
What is it about: A profound influence on later authors on this list like Louise Hay, Scovel Shinn was a practical and down-to-earth voice in the New Thought movement. Her work draws heavily on Christian faith, which you may find off-putting with the referencing of biblical passages. However, the principle idea that you bring about your material circumstances by the power of thought and spoken word, is a true foundation of manifestation literature. By choosing fear over faith in everything you do, you can easily attract the things you desire into your life.
One actionable piece of advice: Make a positive affirmation immediately upon waking up. These words impress upon the subconscious mind.
Think and Grow Rick by Napoleon Hill (1937)
Do not wait. The time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
What is it about: Hill studied the methods of the 500 hundred most successful people of his time, including politicians, inventors, writers and industry leaders. The good news is that you don’t have to have a traditional education or high-flying qualifications to achieve success in life. From detailed goal setting to utilising the workshop of our imaginations, all of us possess the innate power to turn our dreams into physical reality. Persistence, determination and steadfastness will propel you forwards. Stay true to your purpose, and guard against the negative opinions of others. Your dreams are actualised by a burning desire within you!
One actionable piece of advice: Write down your goal and a detailed plan for achieving it. Read it aloud twice a day: once when you get up, and once before you go to bed.
The Classics
No law of attraction book list would be complete without Rhona Byrne’s The Secret, or the ‘father of motivation’ Dr Wayne Dyer. For a comprehensive insight into the art of manifesting, take a browse of the books in this section.
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (2006)
Your thoughts become things!
What is it about: Creator behind the hit documentary film in 2006, the New York Times bestselling book was released later the same year. I found The Secret to be an exciting introduction to the law of attraction. According to Byrne, there is a centuries-old secret which has been tapped into by some of the world’s leading thinkers: from Plato to Galileo, Beethoven to Edison, and Carnegie to Einstein. The book also contains wisdom from modern-day teachers about how they have overcome obstacles to achieve the seemingly impossible. You can revolutionise your relationships, money, health and happiness by utilising this untapped power within you!
One actionable piece of advice: Don’t focus your energy on material things. You need to do the inner work first, and then all of the outer things appear. (from Marci Shimoff)
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (1997)
Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.
What is it about: If you’ve ever watched an interview with Tolle, he is so incredibly zen! It’s hard to imagine him ever getting stressed out or overwhelmed. And that makes complete sense when The Power of Now focuses on how to end your own self-imposed suffering, live fully in the present moment, and separate yourself from your mind or destructive ‘ego’. In doing so, Tolle argues, you can limit the pain you experience by accepting the present, which will improve your intimate relationships and your life in general.
One actionable piece of advice: Shift your focus from your mind to your body with meditation and breathing techniques.
Manifest Your Destiny by Dr Wayne Dyer (1997)
Examine the pressures and beliefs you have bought into, which reflect the thinking of your immediate family, your extended family, your community, your religious grouping, [and] your ethnic grouping.
What is it about: One of the most widely read and loved authors in self-development, Dr Dyer has a doctorate in counselling psychology, and has co-authored textbooks, written professional articles, and appeared on popular television and radio programs in the US. This is a refreshingly simple step-by-step guide on how to manifest, leading us through nine spiritual principles. By first understanding yourself as an infinite and immortal being temporarily residing in a human body, you can change your beliefs as to what is possible. Trust in the divine energy that runs through the universe by learning how to detach from expected outcomes, as well as gratitude and specific meditation techniques.
One actionable piece of advice: Maintain privacy about your manifestation desires; don’t share them with people who will cause you to doubt yourself.
Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley (2001)
The only way to get what you really want, is to know what you really want. And the only way to know what you really want, is to know yourself.
What is it about: Infinite Possibilities transformed my attitude towards goal-setting. As an academic high achiever at school, I thrived on hard work but was constantly frazzled and stressed. Dooley encourages us to think about things a little differently. Instead of fretting over how you’re going to get to where you want to be, simply concentrate on the end result of your visualised goal and offer it up to the universe. Take small steps and don’t worry about the exact path to follow; the universe will guide you! Similarly, don’t delay living whilst waiting for your ‘perfect’ job or ‘dream’ house. Learn to enjoy the process and believe unshakably that you will receive it!
One piece of actionable advice: When Dooley was a young man, he created a ‘Vision Book’ of everything he wanted to ‘create’ in his life. This is a powerful way in which you can enter into the emotional state of your dream life.
Recent Releases
Published within the last decade, this is my pick of best manifestation books with a view towards 21st-century living.
Abundance by Deepak Chopra (2022)
You can only change what you are aware of.
What is it about: Released only last year, Deepak Chopra is a prolific figure in the spiritual New Age movement, with multiple bestselling books. Another recommended read is his earlier classic The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. This is a good book for delving deeper into some of the concepts explored more generally on this list. Chopra discusses the benefits of Yoga, with advanced techniques to help you become more connected, aware and authentic. He goes on to explain that abundance has little to do with the material wealth you possess, but rather your attitude of compassion, creativity and honesty, which is when you’re in your ‘dharma’. This confirmed something vital that I had already started to understand; awareness is the most powerful driver of change. Unblocking and connecting with your 7 chakras means you can open yourself to spiritual enlightenment, and abundance can flow through your life with ease!
One actionable piece of advice: To connect with your throat chakra, meditate on the mantra ‘I speak my truth’. This helps to change the harmful stories you may have told yourself about who you are. For example, you may still be holding on to damaging parents’ or teachers’ words that affected your self-worth as a child. But this really had nothing to do with you. Using awareness, you can change your inner narrative and move forwards with self-love and compassion.
Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein (2019)
We block our real achievements when we don’t enjoy the journey.
What is it about: Bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back, and endorsed by Oprah Winfrey as a ‘next generation thought-leader’, Gabrielle Bernstein’s new book is a practical guide to manifestation and abundance. Drawing on the work of Esther and Jerry Hicks, Bernstein encourages you to transform fear. By relaxing and trusting the process that what you desire is coming to you, you grow to have an awareness that spiritual guidance is available at all times. The way she talks is relatable and down-to-earth – we are all human and occasionally fall back into old patterns where we are out of alignment with ourselves. The key is to recognise this, get back on the right track and stay committed to your practices. Do this, and you will start to see miracles in your own life!
One actionable piece of advice: If you want to manifest a new job, find ways to start enjoying the job you already have! This good energy you’re transmitting will open the door to new opportunities.
Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King (2018)
Step out of your comfort zone and face your fears. Growth takes place when you’re challenged, not when you’re comfortable.
What is it about: If your thoughts dictate your reality, then you need to start taking control of your vibrational frequency! Drawing on his own personal experiences, Vex King shows you how to transform negative emotions into positive ones, with a particular emphasis on why loving yourself is so important, and how getting out of your comfort zone is the quickest path to personal growth and success. Learn to challenge your negative self-talk and accept yourself both inside and out. King highlights in particular the pressures of social media, and how this can make you feel unworthy. Another key point is that you don’t need half the resources you think you do in order to make a start on your passions and purpose in life! Most people fail by default because they are afraid to try. Start with small steps – your dream life isn’t as far away as you think!
One actionable piece of advice: Break your goals down into more manageable bite-size chunks. Your brain thrives on dopamine hits, so being able to track and celebrate your progress will keep you motivated at each milestone.
You are a Badass by Jen Sincero (2013)
What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.
What is it about: I gravitated to this book for the title alone! I love Jen Sincero’s style of writing which is sassy, funny, and feels like getting advice from a good friend. In short, this is a guide to living your fullest life. Whether you’re stuck in a job you hate, struggling with feelings of self-doubt, or want to make serious changes, this is the book for you. Sincero discusses what is holding you back in life, and provides powerful tools so that you can break bad habits and work towards the life of your dreams. I particularly love the idea of reframing challenging tasks – rather than setting yourself up for failure, celebrate being a novice and fail forwards! You can be the badass you’ve always wanted to be by ditching distractions and pursuing what you love. I couldn’t get behind this sentiment more!
One actionable piece of advice: When you find yourself procrastinating, take the time to seriously question your goals. When you understand your why, nothing will stop you from following your purpose.
Challenging Reads
And finally, when I say ‘challenging reads’, I don’t mean to put you off! I actually found these manifestation books to be some of the most intriguing and memorable on this list. From Esther Hicks channelling a non-physical entity in Ask and It Is Given, to Dr Dispenza explaining the science behind how thought literally alters the physical composition of your body, you may find yourself suspending belief at times. Try to see past this though – these manifestation books contain some real gems!
Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks (2004)
You can literally script any life that you desire, and the Universe will deliver to you the people, places, and events just as you decide them to be.
What is it about: I’ll be completely honest with you – when I first started reading this book, I nearly didn’t stick with it. The first couple of chapters explain how after speaking with a woman who could communicate with spirits, Esther Hicks followed advice to start meditating. To her shock, she was able to begin communicating with ‘Abraham’ (a collective consciousness or ‘spirit energy’). He even dictated this book to her! I know this sounds trippy, but I encourage you to bear with it! Hicks/Abraham speak comprehensively about the law of vibration, and how you transmit different energies as a vibrational being on a scale of your emotions. The second half of the book also contains some of the most practical, inspirational and unique exercises I’ve come across when studying the law of attraction. If you’re feeling curious, give it a go!
One actionable piece of advice: Write headings for My Body, My Home, My Relationships and My Work on four pieces of paper. Start with ‘This is what I desire regarding my body…’ and write a short list. Then drill down into each statement and write the reasons you want those things. Do this for all three topics. Tapping into this creative energy sends your desires energetically to the Universe.
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay (1984)
Whenever we are ill, we need to search our hearts to see who it is we need to forgive.
What is it about: If you’ve ever listened to one of Louise Hay’s positive affirmation recordings, you’ll know that she is a hypnotic and kindly voice in the world of manifestation. The reason I put this book in the ‘challenging’ section is because she spends a large chunk of the book detailing specific illnesses and body parts, and how these stem from specific thoughts and belief patterns within you. Whilst I found this a little difficult to accept on occasion, I appreciate the overall message of the mind-body connection! Hay is also a leading voice when it comes to awareness of inner self-talk, and the power of affirmations spoken out loud. If you’re experiencing health issues in your life, this is a great book to get started with!
One actionable piece of advice: Mirror work is incredibly powerful. Smile at yourself in the mirror and speak your affirmations out loud; they’ll be better received this way by your subconscious mind!
Becoming Supernatural by Dr Joe Dispenze (2017)
When you change your emotions, you can change the expression of your genes (turning some on and others off) because you are sending a new chemical signal to your DNA.
What is it about: The law of attraction is regularly dismissed by critics as having no real scientific backing. Dr Dispenza brings a different perspective to the rest of the books in this list, by detailing more specifically the chemical changes seen in the brain when meditating. Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience and quantum physics, find out how you can free yourself from your past by reconditioning your mind, and shift your awareness from the limited, predictable material world, to the quantum field of infinite possibilities!
One actionable piece of advice: Create several Mind Movies – for example, one for health and wellness, one for romance, one for relationships, one for wealth, etc.
Best Law of Attraction Books to Start Your Manifestation Journey Today
I hope that this list of my favourite law of attraction books gives you some inspiration for your 2023 reading list. Wherever you’re intrigued to start, you will be guided in the right direction. Cherish the journey towards building your best life!
If you’ve enjoyed this post and want some practical tips that you can utilise right now, check out my post 10 Instant Ways to Raise Your Vibration & Manifest Now. And, if you find that you struggle with negative thoughts, try some complimentary reading on overcoming overthinking and anxiety.
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