Best self-help books to read
Want to level up your mindset, habits, and creativity? Some self-help books are real game changers. They have the power to change the way you view your problems, goals, and relationships.
I treat self-help books as a tool that helps me learn, be more motivated, more consistent, and more productive.
Yes, reading self-help books can sometimes feel like a chore. Personal development is exhausting at times.. But for me, there is something about reading these types of books.
- They fill me with positive energy.
- Give me new ideas.
- Fill me with motivation.
- Make me question my beliefs
I like some books more and some less, but every single one has helped me learn something. I try to find well-written books, but sometimes, even those with a less-than-perfect style convey ideas and insights that enrich and change my life.
I used to read only fiction books. But I have found that self-help books can help you grow in life and see things from a different perspective.
What are self-help books?
Self-help books give you guidance on how to improve yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Self-help books are written from life events, and their aim is to teach, educate, or inspire people to take action and improve their lives.
The best self-growth books are accessible, encouraging, and feature a compelling story that pulls together the inspiring words. Self-improvement and self-development books remain staples on bestseller lists for good reason. They can help you change your life, but more than that, they help you believe the change can happen, which is often half the battle.
How to choose self-help books?
I find that the best way to choose self-help books is based on the area of life you want to work on.
For example, I wanted to work on building good habits and start exercising every day, so I read Atomic Habits by James Clear. I also wanted to start working with more focus and precision, so I read Deep Work by Cal Newport.
And a few weeks ago, I read The 5am Club as I was planning to start getting up earlier, and I needed some motivation to do that.
If you choose books based on your interests and needs, you won’t make a mistake. But if you start buying books without any purpose, then you will get overwhelmed, bored, and you will stop reading them completely.
How to get the most out of self-help books?
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you start reading self-help books.
Choose the time and place for reading
The best way to be consistent with reading is to set aside time you do it daily. For me, I read either in the afternoon with a cup of tea or in the evening before bed (more often).
It is not possible to read some books before bed if they are more complex. You need to really be paying attention. So find the time that works for you and for the book you are reading.
Read good books several times
If you find a good book that resonates with you, read it several times. That will make sure that you remember the insights you read and that these ideas stay with you.
However, if you find that the book is not good or contains ideas that you already know, don’t be afraid to just stop reading. Preserve the time you have for valuable books.
Also, I sometimes skip parts of certain books. Recently, I read a book about finances, and the part about US taxes did not interest me at all. I do not live in the US. So I just skipped it.
The same goes for any idea that I have already seen or read, I just don’t waste time rereading them.
Write down the most important ideas
I recently started doing this when I started writing my Reading Journal. I find this very valuable. The most important insights from a book are written down in my notebook, and on weekends, I like to go through these pages.
They remind me of the most important thoughts I wanted to remember and go back to.
They remind me of what I need to work on or implement.
So, use a Note app or a plain notebook to write down the ideas you find in books. You want to read, but you also want to remember the most important insights.
Check out my post: How to retain more from every book you read
Best self-help books to read
The best self-help books to read are the ones that suit your needs and help you improve certain areas of your life. They give you practical advice that you can implement into your routine, and when you read them, you see your life changing for the better.
I read every day for my daily dose of motivation, new ideas for my blog posts, and ways to improve myself.
Here are a couple of books that I really like:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is one of my favorite books this year. I reread it twice, and I like to keep it on my desk at all times.
I liked his tips on how we need to start living in the present, and not the past or the future. We need to cultivate presence in our daily lives.
He gives very practical tips on how you can do that while you are walking or while you are waiting in a line.
This book is about spirituality, so if you are not interested in that topic, you should skip it.
For me, it helped me understand myself better, helped me stop the negative thoughts that I would often get in my head, and turn to the Now, to the present.
The Power of Now is not meant to be intellectually analyzed but rather experienced. It’s especially powerful for those feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected.
highlights
- You are not your mind. You should observe your thoughts and recognize negative patterns.
- Time is an illusion, the only time is now
- Contains a lot of practical tips on how you can bring attention to the Now repeatedly throughout the day
- It is not a simple book, I would not recommend reading it late at night.
- The book is about spirituality, mindfulness, and presence, so if these topics do not interest you, skip it
You can check my review of this book here: The Power of Now review
The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest
If you are struggling with self-sabotage, then The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest is for you. I read it a month ago, and at first had a hard time getting into it. It contained a lot of topics I had already read about, but as it progressed further, I found myself captivated.
And in the end, I read it in a couple of days.
The mountain is a metaphor for the obstacles we face: fears, limiting beliefs, wrong assumptions, and insecurities. All that prevents us from moving forward in life and progressing. So ultimately, we should realize that the responsibility for our life is in our own hands, and the mountain we are trying to conquer represents our internal struggles.
highlights
- The book is easy to read, and the style is simple.
- The Mountain is You is particularly beneficial for those who struggle with self-limiting beliefs and insecurities.
- The book offers a lot of practical tips on how to change your behaviour.
- It targets the topics of both personal development and emotional healing.
- It is very motivating. It will push you to try and work on yourself.
- The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest does have a chapter structure, though it’s more fluid and essay-like than a traditional nonfiction book
You can check my review of this book here: The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest, book review
Deep Work by Cal Newport
I really enjoyed reading Deep Work last year. It helped me understand how too much screen time affects the quality of work, my attention, focus, and even my emotional well-being.
It is a great book for anyone who wants to increase productivity, focus, and, in general, understand the difference between deep and shallow work.
The book gives practical tips on the ways you can increase your performance, the best time to perform deep work, and all the aspects of your life you need to think about if you want to perform at a high level.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting a new business or wants to increase the quality of work in general.
highlights
- The book explains why you need to be able to quickly learn hard things and produce at an elite level.
- Deep Work gives you practical tips on how to create your own Deep Work routine
- The book is easy to read, and the tips are actionable, easy to understand, and follow
- One of the best productivity books out there
You can check out my review here: Book Review: Deep Work – Cal Newport
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
I am currently reading this book, so I will not go into too much detail at this point. But as I am nearing the end, I already feel this is a foundational book for anyone who wants to improve his/her life. And it is one of the books you should read several times.
The book explains the state of Flow. It is a state of complete involvement with what you are doing, you are one with the task at hand. There is no ego, you are focused and present.
highlights
- This is not an easy read, you need to read this book when you are focused and rested.
- In this book, you will learn what components make up flow, how to create more of it in your own life, and how to handle stress and other inhibitors of flow states.
- Csikszentmihalyi mixes research, anecdotes, and practical advice in this book.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
I took time to read this book, as it contains a lot of information and requires a lot of time to go over.
It is written on Covey’s belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our own perceptions.
In order to change a given situation, we must change ourselves, and in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions.
Stephen Covey talks about 7 habits of highly effective people. And you may think that he only talks about productivity, however, this book contains a lot of life advice about your values, your version of success, the way you relate to other people, and communicate with them. So I found myself amazed with a lot of valuable advice that I found in this book, even about my relationship with kids, and the way I approach their problems.
highlights
- This is not a simple book, you need to dedicate some time to it.
- Full of actionable tips that not only relate to productivity and work, but also to the social aspect of your life, and most importantly, the relationships you have.
- The book is thought-provoking and makes you redefine your version of success and the life goals you have.
I talked about Habit 2 in my post: Setting Goals: Begin with the end in mind
Atomic Habits by James Clear
As the title says, this book is about building habits. It explains how you can introduce new habits, and get rid of the bad ones.
I found this book very helpful when I tried to introduce exercise into my daily routine.
James Clear helps us understand that tiny habits give big results in the long run. And to create a habit, we first need to start small.
I really liked his practical tips, and after 30 years of failing to exercise, I have now been doing it for a year!
highlights
- The book is easy to read
- It contains a lot of actionable tips
- Million copy #1 bestseller
- There is a summary after each chapter
You can check out my review here: Building Habits: Atomic Habits key tips
The 5am Club by Robert Shwarma
The style of this book is different, and you may find it a bit cringy. And I would say this is not my favorite book in this list.
However, if you are looking for motivation to start getting up early, then it is the right book for you.
Earlier this year, I wanted to start getting up at 6 am, and I needed a little push. So I picked up this book, and it helped me understand all the benefits of being up at 5 am.
Now I am not getting up at 5 yet, but 6 am works great for me too.
highlights
- The book is easy to read and understand.
- It gives you actionable tips that you can use to start getting up early.
- It motivates you to act.
- The book motivates you to take care of yourself
You can check out my review here: The 5AM Club – Book Review
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A…by Mark Manson
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#ck by Mark Manson is essentially a book about values.
The author challenges us to rethink society’s definition of success and instead focus on the values that genuinely align with our lives.
This book sat on my shelf for years, and in 2024, I finally picked it up.
At first, the blunt writing style caught me off guard. But as I kept reading, I realized its directness was part of its power. It forces you to question your choices, values, and habits. It’s an engaging read that will make you question the life you lead, and I believe everyone can take something valuable from it.
highlights
- The style of the book is direct and simple. It is easy to read.
- It teaches us that self-improvement is about choosing the right values and caring for the right things.
- It advises us to take responsibility for our lives and choices.
- Manson tells us that we need to face mortality as facing reality strips away superficial values.
You can check out my review here: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#ck, Book Review
Final thoughts
When it comes to self-help books, it’s all about finding the right one that speaks to where you are in life.
Think about what you want to change in your life, and then research the books on that topic.
Sometimes, you will come across a book that you do not find particularly helpful. Perhaps you do not like the style, or the insights are already familiar. I then skip pages and just read parts that I find interesting. For me, that book was You, a badass. I was not impressed with the quality of writing, and I could not get into it.
But more often than not, I come across books that contain a lot of good information and insights I want to remember. And the reason for that is that I am currently trying to change my habits and mindset, and I find these types of books very helpful.
So, the best book? It’s the one that resonates with your journey.
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