Do you have moments in your life when you say to yourself, “If only I could just […]”? If so, you have probably noticed that those moments arise from frustration, envy, pain, and dissatisfaction, but also from deep desire, love, compassion, and the will to make a difference.
if you think of yours “if only i could”, do you feel the heat of your visceral motivation like a fire inside you that calls for change?
You are reading: Top 10 self help books of all time
Self-help is about that fire within you that sets things in motion, that makes you kind in the face of adversity, that opens you to possibilities, that gives you the power and drive to follow your passions and dreams.
open your mind to change, personal growth and self-improvement; Not because you’re not good enough, but because you’re amazing enough to achieve even more.
because any journey is easier when you are not walking alone, here is the list of the 100 best self-help books of all time:
This book has no equal. is inspiring and encouraging, written modestly but presenting big ideas, looking at people with compassion but awakening the desire to find that something that, above all else, gives you a reason to be alive, your life purpose.
This book was first published in 1989 and is a business and self-help book written by Stephen R. covey.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is an interesting approach to being effective in achieving your goals. The central tenet of the book is to align yourself with (what he calls) “true north,” an ethic of character that he presents as universal and timeless.
In this book, you can find ways to understand different perspectives, to accept the fact that even when two people look at the same thing, they may have different opinions about it.
In each chapter, Covey talks about one habit (seven total) that can get you closer to your goals.
ask someone who cares about you, wants what’s best for you, and is honest with you, two questions:
- “what would be the effect on my success, happiness and our relationship if I became a better listener?” a. small; b. moderate; c. huge
- “what has already been a negative effect on my success, happiness and our relationship when I have been at my worst as a listener?” a. small; b. moderate; c. huge
I rest my case.
If by mistake or miracle you travel through time, this is a book you should take with you because when it comes to human behavior, people react the same way no matter where or when they live. Mastering the art of persuasion gives more power to your words and makes you a winner.
We like order and for things to make sense, and that is why we make sense of it and look for the cause of each event in our lives.
In this book, taleb reveals the fact that most things are random, cannot or should not be explained because the cause is not what it seems. if a cloud is shaped like a smiley face, for example, it doesn’t make sense, it just happened.
This book is for you if you are one of those people who worry and struggle to let go of those things that keep you stuck.
The book is full of examples and practical advice on how to overcome your need for certainty and the desire to be in control.
In this book, you can find ideas and concepts about:
- how to turn your mind to positive thoughts and dream big,
- how to make things happen because you focus on what could be, what is possible and not what is there,
- how you can make a difference by spreading the good news to those around you.
Most people stop working to achieve what they want because they feel overwhelmed, lose motivation midway through, and feel like the journey is endless. this book talks about how to overcome all those obstacles by concentrating on one thing, the task at hand with great results.
After many years of searching for his life’s purpose, trying all kinds of jobs, and traveling the world, Greene became interested in what makes some people powerful when others barely exist.
The book gives you the 48 Laws of Power and insights on how you can implement them in your life and prosper.
This book is a challenge for you to reconsider your assumptions about how you make decisions, what drives you, how you evaluate things you like or don’t like. In this book, ariely presents you with scientific experiments, personal experiences, and anecdotes that reveal the fact that we tend to make the same mistakes and how to avoid doing so.
In this book, Koch explains how you can be successful in your personal and professional life by doing less. the idea is that you can achieve more if you are relaxed, dedicate enough time to each area of your life and focus your attention on fewer things that really matter to you.
Thinking, Fast and Slow is a book detailing research Kahneman conducted over decades, sometimes in collaboration with Amos Tversky. It covers all three phases of his career: his early days working on cognitive biases, work on prospect theory, and his later work on happiness.
The central idea of the book is that people switch their minds between two modes of thinking: “System 1” is fast, instinctive, and emotional; “system 2” is slower, more deliberative, more logical.
This book is one of those great ones that inspire you to take action, reconsider your limitations, what you could achieve, and how to choose your role models.
We get distracted by so many things and lose sight of enjoying the present moment. In the book “The Power of Now”, Tolle shows you the ways, the importance and the benefits of being present in every moment of your life.
I guess you know how hard it is to get your kids to eat vegetables or be successful in the business world and maintain your integrity at the same time.
how to win friends and influence people by dale carnegie is a timeless book and teaches you through practical examples how to influence others in a win-win way.
This book was first published in the period of the great depression and the main objective was to help people increase their income. however, the book is not limited to difficult economic times, nor to the growth of your wealth, but it is also a window to grow as a person through desire, faith and persistence; propel yourself to great heights by suppressing negative thoughts and focus on long-term goals.
helmstetter argues in this book that you become what you think and that most things people tell themselves are negative. however, this book is not meant to make you feel guilty for past sabotage, but to show you different ways to change your mindset, break your self-esteem, and increase your power to achieve big goals and dreams.
In this book, Tony Robbins gives you practical tools to become the success you want with integrity and ethics. each person has talents, and is unique in a way that makes it possible to live the life of your dreams.
the neurological pattern that governs any habit is a loop and consists of three elements: a signal, a routine and a reward; Understanding these factors can help you figure out how to change bad habits and form good ones.
If you’re a workaholic or close to it, this book can help you solve it through practical techniques and tips. life is more than a job, status, money or power.
This book is about how to achieve success in everything you do by making small changes for the long haul. eating healthy for a week will have almost no effect, but doing it for a year makes a big difference.
The Art of Happiness is a book by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, a psychiatrist who posed questions to the Dalai Lama.
cutler quotes the Dalai Lama putting things into context and providing details about the settings in which the interviews were conducted, but also adding his own perspective on the issues discussed.
We have been taught that allowing yourself to show any vulnerability can make people take advantage of it. however, this book shows you a different side of vulnerability; that side that actually makes you more in control, more sympathetic and appreciative, and more open-minded.
you can transform and shape your environment in a way that makes you indispensable. you can create new things and develop skills and characteristics that will set you apart from others and give you the edge you need to succeed in life.
Not all people want to be leaders because power also comes from responsibility not only for oneself but also for others. however, almost anyone can be a leader if they have the right tools.
In this book, Maxwell reveals those tools and what it takes to become a great, effective, and appreciated leader.
when you feel stuck and need a helping hand to reach your goals and fulfill your dreams, this is the book for you. This book is designed to help you stay organized, focus on the things that matter, and take advantage of what you do best.
The Richest Man in Babylon is a collection of stories and parables set in ancient Babylon. The goal of this book is to give examples to inspire you in business and in everyday life, lessons in financial wisdom and wellness at home.
A wise person once said, “People who say money doesn’t bring happiness don’t know what to do with it.”
In this book, tony robbins talks extensively about how to gain financial freedom, how to use your wealth to grow even bigger and lead a happy and fulfilling life. Doesn’t money bring happiness? maybe, but surely he’s keeping it!
The central concept of this book is to organize your day in a way that doesn’t allow you to procrastinate: first do what you don’t like but is important, and move forward with tasks that are getting easier.
p >
If you want to know how to think, work, organize, and succeed like high achievers do, this book shows you exactly that.
tools of titans is a book containing tools and tactics that can be applied in any field, from baseball to business.
Randomness plays a role in everyday events. however, our need to make sense of and interpret things makes us put a stamp on it and categorize everything. Don’t you feel compelled to find the “why” of events in your life, even though there are things you can’t (rationally or emotionally) explain?
your success in life begins with the “why”. Why do you do what you do? what drives you? what can make your offer (in business and in everyday life) desirable to others?
This book helps you find and define your message and mission because no matter how amazing the things you create are, the rest of the world won’t want it until you make them want it.
Have you noticed how you think you want something today but once you get it, you don’t want it anymore? Is your fridge full of healthy foods that end up in the trash? there is a big difference in making decisions based on your wishes compared to your duties; you will most likely choose based on what you should rather than want because (see?) what you “should” makes you feel like you are who you say you are.
See Also: Audiobooks narrated by Karen Savage | Audible.com
You love it when people say “yes” to you. Right? And why shouldn’t they say yes when you have the best intentions and great ideas? yes, you have the best intentions and great ideas. however, the next person believes the same about your intentions and ideas. therefore, you need to somehow get people to abandon what they believe in and embrace yours.
This book is a science-based tool on how to take that step, how to convince people that your message is the “right” one.
This book is based on the idea that you don’t see things you’re not looking for; drivers, for example, sometimes don’t see a motorcycle because they are looking for cars and pedestrians and the motorcycle becomes invisible.
the world is a little different compared to what you see. so read this book and broaden your horizon, understanding and awareness.
Most employers believed that financial incentives would make employees more efficient until they did and discovered that money makes almost no difference. this book explains why that is and how to motivate yourself and others.
From buying something to dividing the chores between the family, from getting along with the neighbors to signing a business contract, everything needs to know how to negotiate.
This book is a tool to improve your negotiation skills and get to a “yes”.
after being a high-performing CEO, welch shares his knowledge, experience, and expertise in this book.
This is a pragmatic book on how to manage your business and your life, how to become the leader you want and those around you deserve. for you to win, no one has to lose.
This is a workbook that explores the role, the ups and downs of personal responsibility in your job and in your life. go from being a victim of other behaviors, to being a solver, the person who takes charge of your life.
This book gives you insight and wisdom, inspiring you to go from where you are to where you want to be by using and building on the things you already have.
This book is based on brain science and explains how we act, how we make decisions, and what drives and motivates you. however, because knowing the facts alone won’t get you ahead, the book is packed with examples, tools, techniques, and practical advice on how to use your brain for maximum efficiency while consuming less energy and brainpower.
Optimism has a positive side and also a negative one. In this book, you can find both sides explained, how to use them to your advantage, the benefits of a positive thinking mind, and seeing the bright side of things.
Personal freedom does not come from the outside world, but from within you. the four agreements speak of:
the benefits and how to achieve living with integrity,
why you shouldn’t take things personally,
when to stop making assumptions, and
the courage to give your best.
This book is an educational guide to critical thinking and psychology and discusses some of the most widespread misconceptions and myths about human behavior.
Explore this book with curiosity and an open mind; be surprised by the number of things you could have borrowed from others as true.
This book is simple, practical and useful advice on how to take control of your life. some things in this book you probably don’t want to hear. however, kimberley’s casual and humorous approach will make you pay attention and open your mind.
This book is a window to better understand the world around you. contains examples and exercises from many different perspectives, cultures, and beliefs.
Most people believe that they are not creative, lack imagination and dream too little. This book helps you rediscover your creativity, curiosity, and ability to dream big.
This book elegantly explains the science of happiness:
- why lottery winners aren’t happier for the rest of their lives,
- why blind people don’t have the same drive to find a cure as sighted people who they keep from losing sight,
- why we are so willing to forgive those we love, and why we are more inclined to give in rather than argue.
If you’re an introvert, this book does you justice and puts you in the desirable category. Introverts are a special breed of people who quietly and diligently make the world a better place.
find ways to make a difference, improve your life with the help of this book and discover the importance of those who talk less and think more.
Your life seems stressful enough without adding unnecessary worry or overthinking. right?
Discover in this book ways to let go of the things that keep you from living the life of your dreams, worry less about unimportant things, and clean up the way you think about yourself and others.
Truly successful persuaders are separated from effective communicators by rigorous scientific research and knowledge of the art of influence and persuasion.
This book gives you access to that knowledge and helps you capitalize on the best windows of opportunity you have to get your message across.
what makes you the best in your field? maybe it’s hard work and dedication, or maybe it’s a lot of practice and persistence.
In this book, you’ll find how some well-known figures became the best in their field and made a difference in our lives.
ted talks are nowadays the best platform to spread your innovative ideas and knowledge. however, no matter how good you are at what you do, to communicate your ideas efficiently and make your message count, you need to be not only a professional, but also an entertainer.
In this book, you can find many interesting ted talks that can teach you how to be captivating, entertaining, and likeable in any setting.
Your success starts with a dream and then an action plan. In this book you will discover the steps to follow to achieve your goals and live the life of your dreams.
In this book, Malcolm Gladwell explains the factors that contribute to his success, giving many examples such as Bill Gates, The Beatles, Joseph Flom, Christopher Langan, and Robert Oppenheimer.
Throughout the book, Gladwell often mentions the “10,000 hour rule”, which is (in his opinion) the key to achieving world-class experience in any skill. the “10,000 hour rule” means practicing the right way for about 10,000 hours what you want to master.
This book was number one on the New York Times and Globe and Mail bestseller lists, holding that position for eleven consecutive weeks.
This book presents a simple path to a good life in tune with what makes you human: your spirituality, your desires and needs, your duties and commitments.
Have you noticed that the moment you discover some blemishes you might have, you get curious? imperfections make you human, they help you relate to others: need them – help them, understand them – receive compassion.
your mind works better in a clean environment. it is not? In this book, Kondo gives you practical advice on how to organize your home, workspace, and allow your mind to wander freely.
The language of love is simple and comes naturally. however, each person responds better to different acts of love: receiving gifts, spending quality time together, words of encouragement, acts of service and help, physical contact.
Discover in this book how to express your feelings in the language of your loved ones.
We are now living in the era of “fitting in” as much as possible. In this book you will find the reasons and how to fit less, the essentials in your day to day and work time because life is not about doing many things, but about doing few things in the best way with great results.
Self love and appreciation are not a selfish act; They are essential! and they are not only improving your life, but also making you a better person, a more loving and understanding person for the benefit of your relationships and others.
In this book you can find out what it means to love yourself, why it is important and how to do it.
this book includes a little bit of everything you need to get up and improve your mood; from how to recognize the causes of your mood swings, to how to deal with negative feelings; from dealing with guilt to handling hostility and criticism; from overcoming addiction to love and approval to building your self-esteem.
This book is a fun, entertaining, step-by-step guide to help you rediscover your creativity, dreams, and desires in middle and old age. the truth is that we start to feel old in our thirties.
Therefore, this book is suitable for almost any age and encourages you to see yourself as you are: perpetually young in spirit and mind with the understanding that it is never too late to start anew.
>
where are your car keys? glasses? books? instruments? We all forget important things from time to time, and when that happens, we feel terrible. right?
This book shows you ways to improve your memory and take advantage of it because most of the time forgetfulness is not caused by a “faulty” memory but by lack of attention, repetition or connection. your memory is fine, learn to use it.
This book is a collection of intimate stories told by Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama, who share their spiritual practices, the nature of true joy, and how you, too, can be a joyful person no matter what happens in your life. .
See Also: 2 Ways to Read Ken Follett Books in Order | All 30 Books
This is an amazing book for people who, as children, were abused or abandoned by selfish, self-absorbed, narcissistic mothers.
do you have a mentor? a person who had a great positive impact on your life?
This book is a window into what it means to have someone take you by the hand and guide you, the value of feeling understood and accepted just as you are by someone you consider wise and admire.
there are people with a great imagination, remembering their dreams as they happened in real life, needing time alone, feeling the emotions of others as their own.
If you are like this, it could mean that you are a very sensitive person. But don’t worry, this book is here to help you: how to assess your sensitivity, how to manage it, how to use it to your advantage, and more.
anxiety is more prevalent in our modern times due to the pressure to perform, compete and be the best one can be, which is at an all time high. Learn from this book ways to deal with your anxieties and panic attacks and take back control of your life and well-being.
If you have experienced trauma or work helping people recover from one, this is a book for you. Inside the cover of this book is a collection of information and practical advice from many different perspectives, including neuroscience, psychology, and therapy.
this is a surprisingly enjoyable book on how to create a good relationship with others, how to please yourself and get a win-win result in your interactions with others. life is more about how you connect with those around you than it is about financial comfort. isn’t it?
wake up your creative side, stop hating certain things and make them suit you and fit your goals.
get in touch with your lost dreams and make them come true, create the things you always dreamed of but never had the courage or the madness to pursue.
you can overcome your condition and your limitations. you can become a person who does things instead of waiting for them to happen. you can be extraordinary by accomplishing many ordinary things. would you like that?
This book will challenge you to get moving, to rediscover your potential and put it to good use. not everything needs to age to become a masterpiece; some things can be done quickly with great results.
most of the time you stop to be successful because of the multitude of things you have in mind and not because of others or circumstances. This book can help you organize your mind better, worry less, and think positively.
This book is an inspiration for anyone who wants to delve into the minds and thoughts of brilliant thinkers, follow their example in dealing with others, or avoid falling into the traps of complacency, the lack of courage to defend their ideas and beliefs.
from tragedy to greatness, from despair to feeling good about who you are. read this book and discover some of the most amazing features of the human mind: adaptability, overcoming obstacles, recovery, joy and happiness in the little things.
If sleep could talk, it would scream at you how much you need it and how vital it is to your health, well-being, happiness, productivity, and joy of life. In this book you will find not only the benefits of a good night’s rest, but also how to achieve it.
Be wild and daring in your imagination. dream big and give yourself the courage and the will to bring your ideas and creativity to life. kleon, in this book, tells you ten things you’ve probably never heard about creativity and how to use it to your advantage.
Leave behind some of your unwanted behaviors and beliefs that held you back in the past to become even more successful with the help of this book. yes, it will challenge you, but it will also inspire you. The path to a great leader begins with a challenge: having an open mind.
helping someone means knowing when to speak, when to listen, what to ask and how. If you are a leader or an ordinary person who wants to help, this book is for you. change your mind and the lives of others by changing your rhetoric and your questions.
maxwell maltz, american cosmetic surgeon and author of psychocybernetics. In this book, he presents a system of ideas that could improve his self-image. therefore, he can lead a more successful and fulfilling life.
Many concepts and techniques designed to help you increase your self-esteem are based on and derived from this book. Although this book was first published in 1960, it remains one of the most influential and widely used books on self-improvement.
someone said that children don’t have problems, adults do if they don’t listen.
wonder why you get bored easily and want more excitement every day? you, as children at school, got used to being entertained all the time, and work became so uninspiring.
rediscover the passion for what you want to achieve and how to stay focused on your goals and dreams because, at the end of your life, the most precious thing you have will be your legacy.
limitations or windows to what you would like to achieve in life but it seems impossible at the moment. however, nothing is really impossible when viewed from the right angle.
peter’s principle is very simple: you can improve something until one day it can’t be improved anymore and things go wrong. read this book and find out more about this principle and how it applies to your life.
your mind is always hungry for knowledge and information. we love discovering new things more than having fun, for example. each brain is wired differently, and yet we have many things in common. right?
This book is food for your brain, not only to satisfy your curiosity about how the brain works, but also to find ways to increase your mental strength and grow as a person.
This book is a collection of over 350 techniques used in NLP and aims to help you with all kinds of problems, from overeating to making peace with your past, from dreaming about your future to learning to love yourself. and accept.
This book helps you see the true value of each event in your life, good or bad, from different points of view and cultural wisdom, psychology and spirituality with the aim of achieving happiness and well-being.
No matter what your job is, you’ll come across many situations where you’ll need to know how to transform your anger or hurt (for example) into powerful conversation.
Not to mention those touchy subjects like religion, politics, and sports, where almost all of us tend to stumble and feel unsure about whether or not we should speak our minds.
For some reason, these days people complain more about the meaningless conversations they have. it seems that we are too busy with life and do not have time to get into topics that really matter and in which we are deeply interested, paying less attention to who we are talking to and more to our own thoughts.
Read this book and find ways to have interesting, meaningful and entertaining conversations.
If you feel like crying, regardless of your gender, that’s not a problem, as long as you don’t cry too often and for too long. isn’t it?
find in this book tips and techniques to deal with your emotions and feelings.
if all leaders did the same, all organizations would probably have the same results. however, most leaders don’t have the right tools to be more than a boss.
This book breaks down for you what and how the most powerful leaders are doing, with examples and practical advice on how you can implement its tools in your life.
your habits are automatic; It feels like someone else didn’t do it for you because you don’t remember how you came to do it, what your thought process was, you just have to suffer the consequences.
change your unwanted habits for desirable habits, change your mind from working like a robot to working like a well-oiled machine.
questions are a powerful way to build relationships, get out of tough situations, and help others. find in this book how to ask the right questions at the right time.
Setting and achieving your goals needs more than anything a good strategy and patience. find in this book how to make a plan for your success and develop your inner strength and perseverance.
Do you remember, as a child, how skilled you were at asking for what you wanted in a way that adults couldn’t resist? yes i know, you were cute and cheeky. find in this book ways to present your ideas, become irresistible and cute again.
Willpower is one of those things that people who don’t have your problems advise you to get. however, haven’t you noticed how quick and elusive willpower disappears?
Discover in this book the mechanisms behind this and end your struggle to maintain control of your life and what you want to achieve in life.
Do you know how you make decisions? how come you buy a car and why not another? you will be surprised to find in this book reasons, until now unknown to you, about the way you decide what is best for you.
If you turn on the TV, you might think you’re in a war zone, even though your neighborhood might be the most peaceful place in the world. how are you supposed to filter all the information you get every day? this is a book that can help you do just that.
discounts are not for your benefit; they are made to entice him to spend all his hard-earned money on things he doesn’t need and just to impress people he probably doesn’t like.
Discover in this book the real cost of cheap products and services and start treating yourself like a king/queen.
related:
best self-help books for women
best self help books for men
why self-help books are good
See Also: Freidrich Nietzsche – Book Series In Order