I know what you’re thinking right now. It’s either “Oh no, not another self-help book!” or “Yes! Give me some self-help books to add to my Goodreads ‘Want to Read’ list.” It seems that with the notorious self-help genre, people either cannot get enough of it or hate it with a passion.
Self-help books are full of life-changing tidbits of advice, inspirational quotes and encouraging personal anecdotes, all written with the intention to help improve your life. On a personal note, I love reading them.
Anyway, if you’re like me and enjoy insightful self-help books from time to time, look no further! Here are five of my favourite self-help books to help improve your life. I promise you won’t regret reading it.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
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“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.”
― James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
My Take:
I put this first because this book changed my life, and I’m not saying that just to sound dramatic. The habit tracker that Clear talks about helped me form consistent and healthy habits to reach my goals. Look, if you think about it, our life revolves around habits: Brushing our teeth, studying for exams, or the simple routine that we have followed every night for the past five years. In this book, Clear offers new strategies to help develop your habits and reach your goals. Content aside, the cover of the book is cute.
- How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie
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“To be interesting, be interested.”
― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People
My Take:
This book was the first self-help book I bought and it was so worth it! How To Win Friends And Influence People will teach you how to make people like you, agree with your ideas and change their opinions in an anecdotal format. Carnegie’s book is full of life lessons that still resonate with me today! The book is old and the author is long dead, but the advice here is timeless.
- You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
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“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.”
― Jen Sincero, You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
My Take:
Unfiltered but chock-full of wisdom, Sincero’s book is a definite must-read. She talks about how to embrace yourself and how to be confident in your own skin. If you’re someone who constantly doubts yourself, then this book will serve as an encouraging sidekick to help lead you through your university years and onwards.
- Grit by Angela Duckworth
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“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”
― Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
My Take:
You might have heard of Angela Duckworth from her well-known 2013 TED talk. If you enjoyed her talk, you will definitely love reading a more detailed look into how having grit is critical in achieving your goals. With a mix of personal anecdotes and research to back it all up, Duckworth shows that perseverance and passion are equally, if not more important than talent and intelligence.
- Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe The World by William H. McRaven
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“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task.”
― William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World
My Take:
Short and sweet, this book is only 144 pages long, making it easy and convenient to digest. Admiral McRaven gives readers a gist of what it takes to change not only yourself but the world. If you want to change the world, start by making your bed. Wait, what? Yes, making your bed is the first step to great success. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and read the book, and you’ll see what I’m getting at.
And there you have it! In a world that’s inundated with self-help books, hopefully, you will find these books life-changing. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll become a sucker for self-help books like I am.