36 Best Self-Help Books For Success Read in 2023
Table of Contents
Self-Help Books For Success
Self-help books are all about change. Changes in habits, character traits or your physical appearance – whatever you call it. The truth is, you have to make the change yourself.
“The most certain way to better your life is through self-help books. Although the terms “self-improvement” and “personal growth” have a mixed reputation in the art world, it is indisputable that you may drastically alter your life if you develop the practice of reading self-help books, taking notes, and absorbing insightful teachings.
I genuinely think that reading can be a powerful tool for improving practically any part of your life. In the previous five years, I have read over 200 books, many of which focused on personal development and self-improvement. They can assist you in achieving career fulfillment, increasing productivity, surviving difficult times, learning new skills, and developing sound financial management techniques.
These books can help you solve practically any difficulty in your life because there are so many excellent works available from the greatest thinkers in the world. However, choosing the best self-help books to read is the most important thing you can do. This endeavor can be difficult given the sea of personal development books available on the market.
The goal of this essay is to make the process of choosing the 36 finest best self-help books for you easier. The self-improvement books of all time are listed here, with categories to fit different interests and life phases. You’ll get closer to your goals by starting with these books and meticulously putting their advice into practice.
Best Self-Help Books For Everyone
Awaken the Giant Within
by - Tony Robbins (Author)
Why it’s noteworthy: A well-known self-help book for anyone who want to deeply explore their mind, body, emotions, and financial issues. You’ll discover the benefits of asking questions to define your values and live consciously via the motivating power of sorrow and joy. Reflect as you read slowly.
...............
2
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
by - Mark Manson (Author)
Why it’s amazing: In this provocative classic, Mark Manson explores the world of contemporary psychology to redefine cultural self-improvement. He offers philosophical and direct advice on how to live a more fulfilled life, understanding the fundamental significance of lining up life’s crucial elements, accepting responsibility for everything that occurs to us, setting priorities, and picking the issues we solve.
..............
3
How To Stop Worrying And Start Living
by - Dale Carnegie (Author)
“Are you so focused on a better tomorrow that you are unable to enjoy the present? Do you make great plans but cannot implement them efficiently? Do worries and insecurity overshadow your happiness and life? Break free from all these problems and step into a happier and more successful life with How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. It is a compendium of actionable insights on how to beat stress, fear and anxiety to lead a peaceful life. Having helped millions of readers worldwide, this book lists tried and tested life-lessons that is sure to change your life for the better. – Helped millions of readers worldwide – Tried and tested life-lessons – Find your true inner self – Learn to manage your time efficiently – Create a planned approach to physical, emotional and financial success”
Why it’s amazing: Dale Carnegie teaches us how to handle tension and worry in this classic book. Carnegie gives you many tools to be more prepared, live a more satisfying life, and handle the craziness of the modern world with ease through engrossing tales, instructive lessons, and useful techniques. Despite being written in 1936, the timeless lessons in this book will help you deal with the complexity of the current world more skillfully and without becoming overwhelmed.
...........
4
The Alchemist
by - Paulo Coelho (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: “The Alchemist” teaches important life lessons about following your passions, being present, and working with love and enthusiasm via a compelling story of an Andalusian shepherd kid.
.............
5
Man's Search For Meaning
by - Victor E. Frankl (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Victor Frankl demonstrates how we may find meaning in unspeakable tragedy in this moving story using his own experiences and logotherapy’s guiding principles. His central thesis is that while we have little influence over what occurs to us, we do have some control over how we handle challenges in life.
............
6
When Things Fall Apart
by - Pema Chödrön (Author)
Why it’s extraordinary: This book will guide you through the highs and lows of life. Pema Chödrön, a Buddhist, discusses several Buddhist ideas that you may use to your life and gives an insightful perspective on how to live adaptably in a changing world.
............
7
The Obstacle Is the Way
by - Ryan Holiday (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: This useful and helpful manual shows us how to succeed, work, and advance in a world that is uncertain and changing. It shows how we may intentionally move through the world, get through challenges, and find opportunities by embracing stoic wisdom.
.............
8
Meditations
by - Marcus Aurelius (Author), Gregory Hays (Translator)
Meditations: A New Translation
Why it’s amazing: “This is a life-changing compilation of intellectual and spiritual writings by former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, which is why it’s unique. Based on Stoicism, it offers a pragmatic philosophy that aids in cultivating virtues like generosity, honesty, and self-reliance as well as helping us realize our mortality, view things as they are, think about and react to what is under our power. It urges us to maintain our attention on what is within our power by emphasizing self-control.
............
Best Self-Help Books For Productivity
9
Essentialism
by - Greg McKeown (Author)
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Why it’s remarkable: A captivating way of thinking about conscious living, emphasizing the fundamental elements that enhance your life and help you make the most of it. Learning from the McCown Trade-offs’ mistakes, realizing the value of intense effort, comprehending the importance of saying no, and striking a balance between play and sleep..
.............
10
The Power of Habit
by - Charles Duhigg (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: The cornerstone for personal achievement is good habits. An easy to understand and enlightening investigation of the power of habits, how they operate, and how you may modify them. You may break bad habits that restrict your everyday life and establish new ones with the aid of this book. This book promotes self-improvement and works in tandem with James Clear’s Atomic Habits to help readers live successful lives and find fulfillment in their lives.
.............
11
The Goal
by - Charles Duhigg (Author)
Why it’s exceptional: It doesn’t generate a list of objectives, which makes it awkward, unlike other personal development books. Author Eliyahu Goldratt teaches you the fundamentals of any good management and improvement through an engrossing fictitious novel about a manager who has 90 days to turn around his plant. You may learn how to effectively execute continuous improvement by reading this book. Your ability to better handle issues in life and work will improve thanks to its viewpoint.
..............
Best Self-Help Books For Women
12
Radical Acceptance
by - Tara Brach (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: Radical Acceptance is the book for you if you’ve ever struggled with self-compassion, self-love, or poor self-esteem. This extraordinary method, created by clinical psychologist and meditation instructor Tara Brach, can help you better understand your experiences and emotions so you may live life with more clarity and acceptance.
..............
Why it’s remarkable: The 48 Laws of Power is a groundbreaking manual that provides a thorough, perceptive, and unsettling analysis of the mechanics of power and all of its manifestations. This book stands out as one of the top personal development books presenting a new viewpoint if you wish to better comprehend human nature, learn to spot deceptive actors, and address the weaknesses in common thinking patterns.
..............
14
Why it’s extraordinary: Presence denotes a greater comprehension of what it means, how mentality and mindfulness profoundly affect human conduct, and how one may live such a full life that reduces misery and sorrow. You may better understand the complexity of human awareness and live a life of more serenity and satisfaction by investigating presence, mindfulness, and spirituality.
.............
Best Self-Help Books For Men
15
Own the Day, Own Your Life
by - Aubrey Marcus (Author)
Why it’s extraordinary: This enlightening, fact-based non-nonsense book will teach you the art of leading a healthy, powerful, and meaningful life. I have been able to increase my everyday energy and productivity because to its wealth of insights.
..............
Why it’s remarkable: The essential biological, social, economic, and philosophical lessons of history are explored in this succinct, topic-based analysis. From life’s three fundamental biological teachings to the cause of racial hostility, Durant introduces you to everything along the road.
.............
17
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenanc
by - Robert Pirsig (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: Through the engrossing story of a middle-aged man who sets off on a motorbike ride across America with his son, “Pirsig” takes us on a philosophical journey. It offers a novel angle for looking at philosophy and the deep internal relationships of the universe.
................
Best Self-Help Books For Your 20s
18
Designing Your Life
by - Bill Burnett (Author), Dave Evans (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: In this book, Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans demonstrate how to apply design thinking to build a purposeful, enjoyable, and happy existence. You will have a clear route to creating a life worth living if you are seriously invested in frameworks and self-reflection activities.
...............
19
The Defining Decade
by - Meg Jay (Author)
Why it’s exceptional: This book directly challenges the new and thriving Tri-City culture. As a clinical psychologist, Meg J. leverages research and storytelling to support your desire for being intentional about how you spend your pivotal years.
...............
20
Wanting
by - Luke Burgis (Author)
Why it stands out: A transforming deep dive into the origin of our desires is desire. Luke Burgis demonstrates in this book how we may alter our connection with wants in a way that more deeply links us to others and results in a fulfilling living. Burgis’s writing is influenced by the philosophy of René Girard, a French philosopher who studied human behavior in depth and devoted his life to writing about it.
.............
21
Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me)
by - Carol Tavris (Author), Elliot Aronson (Author)
Why it’s exceptional: This book investigates how and why we see self-justice in everything we experience. It’s an introspective study of how humans tend to justify ourselves in the face of difficulties. A humble voyage of self-reflection on the accuracy of your memories, the source of your views, and the motivation behind your actions will be taken by you.
.............
Best Self-Help Books For Your Career
22
Shoe Dog
by - Phil Knight (Author)
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Why it stands out: In his autobiography, Phil Knight describes how he overcame obstacles to create Nike, a billion-dollar company, from a modest start-up. He tells engrossing and motivational tales that convey his own philosophy of life. Knight exhorts everyone of us to take that step and follow our interests, even if we are unsure of what they really entail.
.............
23
How to Lie with Statistics
by - Darrell Huff (Author), Irving Geis (Author)
Why it stands out: We all study statistics in school, but seldom apply its important and essential concepts to our daily lives as adults. This book is a superb introduction to statistics that demonstrates how we may use data in a variety of contexts, including the workplace, the media, and many other sectors.
.............
Best Self-Help Books For Relationships & Romance
24
How to Win Friends & Influence People
by - Dale Carnegie (Author)
Why it stands out: “How to Win Friends and Influence People” stands out as a rare jewel among all the greatest self-improvement books in history. This book offers helpful guidance for those who want to improve their relationships, influence others, and find success. Above all, Carnegie teaches us that despite our imperfections, we can enhance our self-confidence and cultivate beneficial relationships with the help of good communication (rather than innate skill) and the capacity to manage obstacles with humility.
.............
25
The Four Agreements
by - don Miguel Ruiz (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: Through the practical application of the ancient Toltecs’ teachings and wisdom, Don Miguel Ruiz takes you on a spiritual and intellectual trip that enables you to comprehend and alter your own agreements. He begins by demonstrating how certain thoughts might negatively impact your health before instructing on how to replace such beliefs. You’ll adopt four new agreements as a consequence, which will help you cultivate relationships, joy, and a happy life.
..............
Why it’s noteworthy: Personal growth affects every facet of life, including your love pursuits. “Model” is a great book for you if you’re having trouble with your romantic life. Your dating adventure will be made easier and more effective with the help of the author, Mark Manson, who will also offer advice on how to become less needy and express yourself in a healthy way.
.............
Best Self-Help Books For Your Mind
27
Why it’s noteworthy: The soul is fed by consciousness. Anthony D. Mello guides you toward a deeper understanding of the world and yourself in a witty and approachable style that will improve the quality of your life.
..............
28
Wherever You Go, There You Are
by - Jon Kabat-Zinn (Author)
Why it’s extraordinary: Your life’s journey toward personal development includes an obvious and engrossing role for mindfulness. This book will teach you all you need to know about mindfulness and contemplation, including what they are, why they are important, and how they may help you become more familiar with your everyday activities and leadership style. This book will help you get there if you want more clarity, presence, awareness, and openness in your life.
29
On the Shortness of Life
by - Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Author), Aubrey Stewart (Translator)
Why it’s extraordinary: Among self-help books, “On the Shortness of Life” stands apart. Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, gives timeless wisdom on how to live a decent life by drawing on his own experiences, in contrast to other texts that rely on ever-evolving scientific data. He highlights the value of mindfulness, reducing future worries, managing emotions, and accepting ambiguity via storytelling.
..............
30
Why it’s remarkable: “In the Face of Death” gives a glimpse into the human psyche, addressing life and mortality head-on. It is a very profound and enlightening book. Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon, questions the value of life as he prepares to pass away in it. At the height of his surgical career, he received a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, which inspired him to write this book.
.............
31
The Psychology of Money
by - Morgan Housel (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: Morgan Housel shows you how to have a better connection with money and make wiser financial decisions in his book, The Psychology of Money. Instead of depending on ROI-obsessed computers, he demonstrates how knowing your psychology can both help and hurt you.
...............
32
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
by - Burton G Malkiel (Author)
Why it’s remarkable: The famous text “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” combines market theory, history, economics, and behavioral finance to offer clear, actionable guidance for investing and achieving financial independence. Malkiel’s main takeaway is quite clear: establish a systematic savings strategy as soon as you can, and put the bulk of your money in a low-cost, broadly diversified index fund.
...........
33
The Simple Path to Wealth
by - JL Collins and Mr. Money Mustache
Why it’s extraordinary: Read this book if you want to succeed financially on your own. Collins delivers your key information in a clear, interesting way that works with you rather than against you. You’ll quickly start using a useful toolset to become financially independent.
................
34
Rich Dad Poor Dad
by - Robert T. Kiyosaki (Author), Tom Parks (Narrator)
Why it stands out: In “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” Robert Kiyosaki offers a crash course in finance that ought to have been covered in the classroom. This self-help book is jam-packed with helpful tips and success tactics for creating a stable financial existence, so read it if you want to amass cash.
.................
Best Self-Help Books For Creativity
35
The War of Art
by - Steven Pressfield (Author), Robert McKee (Foreward) (Author)
Why it’s exceptional: Read this book if you’re an artist or writer. Resistance, according to Pressfield, is what snuffs out creative dreams. He proposes a strategy to get rid of it and portrays it in graphic detail in all of its incarnations. If you aspire to be creative, Pressfield will equip and motivate you for the struggle that lies ahead.
...............
36
The Art of Possibility
by - Rosamund Stone Zander (Author)
Why it stands out: A music conductor and a seasoned psychotherapist expose you to 12 distinct facets of human development in this engrossing read, demonstrating how to view the world and quicken both your personal and professional progress.
...............
"How to Get More from Self-Help Books"
- Learn how to read nonfiction books well to get most out of every self-help and personal growth book you read. The advice in this article will help you choose the best books and make the most of your reading time.
- Check out Readwise, a service that enables you to access and review all of your highlights and notes while studying, if you like to read on a Kindle (highly recommended).
- Consider listening to audiobooks from Amazon Audible if reading is difficult.
- Finally, I publish a weekly Sunday newsletter called “Life Reimagined” that is filled with inspirational quotes and useful advice. You can sign up below if you want a brief and recommended dosage of knowledge delivered to you each week for your reading.
6 thoughts on “Self-Help Books For Success”