By making simple changes to your habits and mindset, you can set the stage for dramatic changes and improvements to your life.
Whether you want to see changes in your personal or professional life, learning more about what you can do now is a great way to get started.
The Best Books on Self Improvement
Below are 10 of the best books on self improvement that will help you to stay focused and motivated as you reach for your goals and seek to improve your life.
1. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Lori Gottlieb is a Los Angeles-based therapist who helps people through a wide assortment of issues, but when a personal crisis lands her in a therapist’s office, she finds that she struggles with the very same questions that many of her patients come to her with.
With wit, wisdom, and humor, Gottlieb examines the stories we tell ourselves, both truths and fictions, and reveals illuminating insights to what it means to be human.
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Mark Manson doesn’t think that being “positive” all the time is doing this generation any favors. Instead, Manson argues, based on research, that tells us that when life gives us lemons, we should “learn to stomach lemons better.”
Getting to know your limitations and accepting them, Manson argues, is the true key to improving your life. Learn which things you really need to give a f**k about, and which ones simply aren’t worth your time.
3. Atomic Habits by James Clear
In Atomic Habits, James Clear explains how tiny changes can yield remarkable results. Discover practical strategies that can help you form good habits and break bad ones.
You’ll learn how to build your motivation and stick with your new habits (even when life gets crazy), design the environment that will help you succeed, and get back on track whenever you fall off course.
4. Loserthink by Scott Adams
In Loserthink, Scott Adams explains why we shouldn’t just accept the overly-simplified and blanket statements that are polluting our conversations, social media, and cable news shows.
Adams will show you why it’s important to not accept everything at face value, and teach you how to respond when you find yourself in a conversation with someone plagued by “loserthink.”
5. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle believes that living in the “now” is the most straightforward path to happiness and enlightenment. And if you’re not quite sure what “living in the now” means, this book will illustrate that for you very clearly and demonstrate how you can be more conscious of disruptive thoughts and emotions.
The Power of Now isn’t just loaded with fluffy, outlandish ideas—it’s packed with lots of information that will both educate and inspire you to change your life for the better.
6. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
In this book, Jordan B. Peterson discusses discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, and condenses the world’s wisdom on these topics into just 12 key principles to live by.
Learn why you should stand up straight, avoid resentment, and never be too quick to criticize anyone, along with a few other humorous and informative insights.
7. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Armed with 12 years of research, Brené Brown dispels the myth that vulnerability is a weakness and argues that it is instead one of the greatest measures of courage.
By daring greatly, you’ll not only surprise yourself and watch your life change dramatically, but you’ll avoid the tragic fate that meets so many who are left to wonder what might have been if they had only taken a chance.
8. Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Fooled by Randomness offers insight into one of the least understood factors in our lives, arguing that the influence of happenstance has actually been grossly underestimated.
There’s not much we can do to safeguard ourselves against the power of chance and luck, and living by foolish superstitions won’t help anything—but as this book explains, understanding the significance of chance can help you be a little better prepared.
9. Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck? by Seth Godin
You’ve probably heard about the importance of getting your “ducks in a row,” but Seth Godin wants you to focus on what you’ll actually do with those ducks once they’re in order.
Godin pushes readers to think smarter, dream bigger, and speak more honestly while offering information that will be especially helpful to marketers and bloggers, including tips on how to choose your customers and practice “organized bravery.”
10. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People will teach you how you can take any situation and make it work for you.
Whether you want a better job or to simply improve the one you have, this book will show you how to do it and reach your full potential, while also providing vital tips for persuasion and changing other people’s ways of thinking.
The Best Self Improvement Books
If you want to see a change in your life, arming yourself with knowledge is one of the best ways to start.
The 10 books above offer tips backed by research that you can apply today to stay motivated and focused on reaching your goals.
Do you have a favorite self improvement book or author? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
