You can only do so many burpees in a day before it hits you—if you want to grow as a personal trainer, you’ve also got to train your brain.

Because the best personal trainers aren’t just masters of form and programming—they’ve also nailed business strategy, habit change, nutrition, and the human side of coaching. That’s a lot of hats to wear, which is why a solid reading list isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for taking your skills (and your business) to the next level.

Lucky for you, we’ve done the heavy lifting. We’ve rounded up 20 must-read books for personal trainers in 2025, covering everything from training science to business growth, mindset, and holistic health. Think of it as your professional development plan in paperback (or Kindle) form. And when you’re ready to put all that wisdom into action, ABC Trainerize is here to help—so you can program workouts, track habits, and even build nutrition plans with the Smart Meal Planner.

Ready to get started? Let’s turn the page.

#1: Training Theory & Programming (5 Books)

First, let’s start where it all begins—on the gym floor. Because before you’re able to scale your business or master client psychology, it’s important to have a rock-solid foundation in exercise science and program design.

Why this matters: You can’t out-hustle bad programming. And, these five books will keep your coaching rooted in science so you can deliver safe, effective, and exciting workouts that keep your clients coming back for more.

1. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning — The NSCA’s bible for exercise science and programming. It’s your go-to if you want to speak biomechanics fluently and back up every move you assign with solid science. Perfect for turning ABC Trainerize workout templates into gold-standard programs.

2. Ignite The Fire by Jonathan Goodman — Part career guide, part pep talk, all actionable advice. From client acquisition to keeping your energy up, this is a personal trainer’s survival kit.

3. Strength Training Anatomy — 700+ illustrations so you can see exactly which muscles you’re targeting. Great for visually explaining workouts inside ABC Trainerize to your clients.

4. Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett — Mobility and injury prevention made powerful. Your future self—and your clients’ joints—will thank you.

5. Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy by Brad Schoenfeld — Nerd out on muscle growth science so you can program like a pro, not a guesser.

#2: Business & Strategy (5 Books)

Now, once you’ve got the training chops, it’s time to make sure people  find you (and stick around). Strong business skills will help you attract more clients, streamline your work, and grow your business sustainably.

Why this matters: You can be the best trainer in the gym, but without a smart business strategy, your schedule (and bank account) will stay lean. Here’s five books that will help you get there:

6. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber — The cure for “I’m too busy training to run my business.” Learn to work on your business, not just in it.

7. Atomic Habits by James Clear — The ultimate habit change guide. You’ll apply it to your own workflow and coach clients to build routines they can stick with—bonus points when you track them in ABC Trainerize.

8. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries — Rapid testing and validating works just as well for new fitness programs as it does for tech products.

9. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller — If your marketing isn’t landing, this will fix it. It’s storytelling, but for client conversion.

10. $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi — Lead gen strategies that actually work in 2025. Pair it with ABC Trainerize’s built-in client messaging to turn strangers into superfans.

#3: Habits, Mindset & Performance Psychology (4 Books)

Next, even the best workout plan won’t work if your clients don’t follow it. That’s where understanding behavior change, mindset, and performance psychology gives you an edge.

Why this matters: Coaching is as much about mindset as it is about movement. These four books will help you understand motivation, resilience, and how to unlock your clients’ potential.

11. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg — Habit loops explained—and how to rewire them for better training consistency.

12. Mindset by Carol Dweck — How a growth mindset can transform your approach to coaching, selling, and learning.

13. The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter — Teaches resilience through strategic discomfort. Great for getting clients out of their “3×10 with pink dumbbells” rut.

14. Chatter by Ethan Kross — Learn to coach your clients’ internal conversations, not just their external form. Track progress with ABC Trainerize’s habit features for the full feedback loop.

#4: Holistic Coaching, Recovery & Lifestyle (3 Books)

Next, great results happen outside the gym, too. Sleep, stress management, recovery, and overall lifestyle choices can make or break your clients’ progress.

Why this matters: Your clients’ progress doesn’t just happen in the gym. Recovery, stress, and lifestyle all play a huge role in results. Here are three books to help you get there.

15. Breath by James Nestor — The science of breathing for endurance, recovery, and focus. It’s more powerful than you think.

16. Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker — Sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer. Read it, then make sleep tracking part of your client plans in ABC Trainerize.

17. The Energy Clock by Molly Fletcher — Manage time and energy like a pro athlete (or like a trainer with a fully booked calendar).

#5: Nutrition & Fueling (3 Books)

Now, the old saying is true: you can’t out-train a bad diet. Understanding nutrition means you can help clients fuel their training, recover faster, and sustain long-term results.

Why this matters: Exercise is only part of the results equation. These three books will sharpen your nutrition knowledge so you can guide clients toward better fueling and sustainable habits.

18. Deep Nutrition by Catherine Shanahan — Why ancestral eating patterns are still relevant for modern health.

19. Precision Nutrition’s Encyclopedia of Food — A colorful, science-backed reference that’s a must for designing meal plans in ABC Trainerize Smart Meal Planner.

20. The Hungry Brain by Stephan Guyenet — Understand the psychology behind food choices so you can coach beyond “just eat less junk.”

Get Reading, Start Growing

Finally, there’s no shortage of fitness fads out there, but the fundamentals—good programming, smart business, holistic health, and strong client relationships—never go out of style.

The right book at the right time has the power to change the way you coach, think, and run your business. And with ABC Trainerize, you’re able to bring those insights to life—whether it’s tracking habits from Atomic Habits, building systems from The E-Myth Revisited, or implementing recovery strategies from Why We Sleep.

📚 So here’s your challenge: pick one book from each category and start there. Your future clients (and your future self) will thank you!