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The Ultimate Self-Improvement Book List

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

As the weather cools down, we’re approaching the excitement of the upcoming school breaks. After a day of spending time relaxing with family and friends, cozying up by the fireplace with a good book is the perfect way to cherish those quiet moments during the holiday season. 

The end of the year encourages reflection on everything that has taken place since the new year and evaluation of what we wish the next year to look like. Whether you’re looking for a witty look at life or a guide to making your dreams come true, here are 20 self-help books that you won’t be able to put down.

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear

The go-to book for making good habits and breaking bad ones.

“You Are A Badass” by Jen Sincero

A bright and humorous approach to self-help.

“Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis

The author takes the reader through her journey of disproving the lies she’s told herself and been told by society and others.

“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo

A reread of this instant classic about how much clutter in your space affects your life can never hurt.

“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz

A quick read about the simplistic rules to adopt for a stress-free life.

“The Defining Decade” by Meg Jay

This book explores how to make the best of your 20s and set yourself up for success in your 30s.

“Set Boundaries, Find Peace” by Nedra Glover Tawwab

A guide to reclaiming your power by setting healthy boundaries.

“The Wisdom of Insecurity” by Alan Watts 

How to eliminate anxiety by finding stability in the present moment.

“365 Ways to Raise Your Frequency” by Melissa Alvarez

A compilation of quick ideas to help boost your mood.

“14,000 Things To Be Happy About” by Barbara Ann Kipfer

20 years of work went into this list of endless possibilities to be positive.

“The Body Keeps The Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk

This book explains how the body stores stress and trauma and what to do about it.

“Moody Bitches” by Julie Holland

This book explains how everything we do could be affecting our hormones and, in turn, our emotions and life.

“The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne 

“The Secret” divulges everything related to the law of attraction. The full movie based on the book is also on YouTube for free.

“Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” By Julie Smith

Straightforward tips for preserving your mental health on a daily basis.

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK” by Mark Manson

A blunt and stoic approach to living your best life.

“Forgiving Our Parents, Forgiving Ourselves” by David Stoop

A look into the minds of your parents and how it impacted them and you.

“The Mountain is You” by Brianna Wiest

This in-depth guide explores how to master self-sabotage.

“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown

A map to the path of accepting your imperfections.

“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey

A simple explanation of seven ways to level up your life.

“Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes

How simply saying “yes” changed the life of the famous TV producer.

Catch up on your reading goals this holiday season with one of these books to expand your perspective with the knowledge you can bring into the new year. 

Taya Coates is a senior studying fashion merchandising and minoring in journalism. She hopes to pursue a career as a fashion editor and eventually start her own publication. She is passionate about covering stories on style, social activism, and culture.