The Art of War, As a Man Thinketh, Tao Te Ching, The Manual, and Self Reliance are five historical works that deal with self-development.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu is an ancient Chinese text that deals with military strategy and has influenced both Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, and legal strategy.

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is a self-help book. It was described by Allen as “dealing with the power of thought, and particularly with the use and application of thought to happy and beautiful issues. I have tried to make the book simple, so that all can easily grasp and follow its teaching, and put into practice the methods which it advises. It shows how, in his own thought-world, each man holds the key to every condition, good or bad, that enters into his life, and that, by working patiently and intelligently upon his thoughts, he may remake his life, and transform his circumstances”.

The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu is an ancient Chinese text. It is comprised of a series of meditations that reflect on the nature of the Tao (the way) - the source of all existence.

The Manual or Enchiridion of Epictetus is a short manual of Stoic ethical advice.

Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson is an essay that contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow their own instincts and ideas.