My favorite books about unleashing your highest potential

Why am I passionate about this?

I was born, raised, and living in Iceland, the country that has been number 1 in the world for gender equality for decades. I am a leadership & personal branding coach, mentor, and Ambassador for the New Paradigm for Gender Equality. My mission is to empower people to become better, bolder, and brighter as the leading light in their industry by branding their x-factor, that gift what they were born to be.


I wrote...

Branding Your X-Factor: How the Secret to Success is Already In Front of Your...

By Runa Magnus,

Book cover of Branding Your X-Factor: How the Secret to Success is Already In Front of Your...

What is my book about?

Branding Your X-Factor provides the most straightforward, transparent way to discover your unique value in this world, your gift, or Your X-Factor, as the author calls it. Your X-Factor is that ‘thing’ that only you’ve got. We are talking about bringing the best of you, no fakery, no marketing hype. Just you at your best. 

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Art of Kind and Flowing Relationships: A Practical Guide to Deal with Your Differences and Create Happy Relationships that Last

Runa Magnus Why did I love this book?

The Art of Kind and Flowing Relationships helps you discover who you are and how you function from the agent Chinese Energy philosophy. The book also lets you understand how you see the world and how others perceive you.

From that angle, the author helps you to understand what you can do to understand other people and build solid and flowing relationships.  

I regularly go to this book to see how I can approach people differently by understanding them deeper, less about me and what I’m all about.

By Nicholas Haines,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of Kind and Flowing Relationships as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Despite the multitude of self-help books and advice about how to have healthy and wholesome relationships, we still have millions of people in deep distress because their relationships just aren't working.The Art of Kind and Flowing Relationships throws new light on the problems we face in maintaining healthy long-term relationships. Nicholas Haines offers both practical and straightforward advice gleaned from over thirty-five years practicing and teaching Traditional Chinese Medicine and more than 50,000 one-on-one consultations. His vast experience is superbly supported up by his innovative use of ancient Chinese personality types to help us understand each other, and what we…


Book cover of Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

Runa Magnus Why did I love this book?

We are all running an internal program holding us back from being fully who we were born to be, less socially conditioned by our gender, race, religious background, etc. In this book, Dr. Joe Dispenza brings light to how we can use meditation to unleash some of our unconscious programs and go on the journey of becoming more of you, less who you might have thought you have to be, to fall deeply in love with your life. 

By Joe Dispenza,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

You are not doomed by your genes and hardwired to be a certain way for the rest of your life. A new science is emerging that empowers all human beings to create the reality they choose. In Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, renowned author, speaker, researcher, and chiropractor Dr. Joe Dispenza combines the fields of quantum physics, neuroscience, brain chemistry, biology, and genetics to show you what is truly possible. Not only will you be given the necessary knowledge to change any aspect of yourself, but you will be taught the step-by-step tools to apply what you learn in…


Book cover of The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

Runa Magnus Why did I love this book?

This book opened up something deep within me. I would recommend all of The Untethered Soul book series, as each one of them allows you to understand who you are, how your monkey mind is constantly on duty, and how to become aware that you don’t always have to believe in that monkey mind!  

By Michael A. Singer,

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked The Untethered Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner to relationships? Each time you consider aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define. In this book, spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to observe ourselves and the world around us. By tapping into…


Book cover of Coaching for Performance: The Principles and Practice of Coaching and Leadership

Runa Magnus Why did I love this book?

When I read Coaching for Performance, I was in the early days of my coaching career.  The book opened my eyes to the power of coaching. Not only as a tool for professional coaches but, more importantly, a tool that can help the average Joe and Jane to become the leader in their own lives. Make a difference by using proven tools and techniques to better understand themselves and others around them. 

By Sir John Whitmore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Coaching for Performance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Coaching for Performance is the #1 book for coaches, leaders, talent managers and professionals around the world. This is the definitive, updated and expanded edition.

"The proven resource for all coaches and pioneers of the future of coaching." Magdalena N. Mook, CEO, International Coach Federation (ICF)

An international bestseller, featuring the powerful GROW model, this book is the founding text of the coaching profession. It explains why enabling people to bring the best out of themselves is the key to driving productivity, growth, and engagement. A meaningful coaching culture has the potential to transform the relationship between organizations and employees…


Book cover of The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose

Runa Magnus Why did I love this book?

In the book: The Passion Test, you gain a deeper understanding of your true passion and purpose in life. The authors, Janet and Chris, take you as the reader into a simple yet powerful process for one to live a life of purpose. The book is fun and valuable for anyone who wants to live a more authentic life filled with love and purposeful events. I know Oprah loved this book, and so did I!

By Janet Bray Attwood, Chris Attwood,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Passion Test as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The inspirational and life-changing New York Times bestseller that will help you discover the meaning behind your life.

Can a simple test change a person's life? Through their New York Times bestseller The Passion Test, Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood have inspired thousands to shape their lives by discovering their passions and living according to what matters most to them. Readers can identify their top five passions by taking the Test, and then learn exactly how to align their lives with their priorities by following the Attwoods' easy-to-follow step-by-step program of action.

Combining powerful storytelling and profound wisdom from…


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The Managing People Practice Manual

By Neil Thompson,

Book cover of The Managing People Practice Manual

Neil Thompson Author Of The Managing People Practice Manual

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Writer Educator Adviser

Neil's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

This manual addresses the need to ensure that people are at the centre of the organisation. There has never been a timelier reminder of the need to ensure that leading, supporting and developing staff are critical aspects of creating the right organisational culture to grow and develop. Written with sensitivity, it brings together essential learning and underpinning theoretical knowledge and frameworks to promote effective practice.

This is an essential handbook for managers and leaders who want to develop the full potential of their people. It not only covers the fundamental issues of human resource management, but also highlights important topics that organisations find difficult to address, such as empowerment, stress management, mental health, equality, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of well-being at work.

The Managing People Practice Manual

By Neil Thompson,

What is this book about?

It is refreshing to come across an HR book that bridges the gap perfectly between the academic theory and the practicality of ‘how to do it'. Dr Neil Thompson takes us on a humanistic journey that genuinely captures the human dimension of people management. This is an extremely helpful manual full of important and practical information about promoting well-being to achieve the best outcome for various everyday people management issues. The easy-to-understand inclusive language of this book calls to anyone interested in people management, meaning this is a perfect book for students, HR leaders, and practitioners. I know I will…


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