12 No-Nonsense Self-Improvement Books You Must Read
Self-help books don’t have to be cheesy, exaggerated, or unrealistic. If you’re looking for self-help books worth your time, here are 12 books on this list that are just what you need.
The Happiness Trap - Russ Harris
Australian psychologist Harris believes that there are times in life that cannot be controlled - internally or externally. And so, his book focuses on accepting and letting go.
Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
According to Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, our minds have the power to increase or decrease our suffering, and it is pointless to worry about external events. He says we should rather focus our energy on controlling our minds.
The Power of Now: A Guide Book to Spiritual Enlightenment - Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle says that we should be “watchers” of our minds, understanding our thought patterns but not believing that we are our thoughts - because, he says, we’re not.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy - David D. Burns
Written in 1880, Burns writes in this book that our thoughts shape our feelings. And so the book is written to help us train our thoughts for more positive thinking.
The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri
In this fourteenth-century poem chronicles, Dante travels from Hell to Paradise and learns about bad choices (in hell) and how not to live his life. An inspiration for all.
Tao te Ching - Lao-Tzu
This book dives deep into spiritual self-cultivation and being able to let go of things not worth our energy. It’s all about ‘submitting our will to cosmic forces’ and allowing what will be to be.
Grit: Why Passion and Resilience are the Secrets to Success - Angela Duckworth
According to psychologist Angela Duckworth, the people with the highest chance of success are not the luckiest or most talented, but rather those who have the most grit!
Altruism: The Science and Psychology of Kindness - Matthieu Ricard
French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard has written this book all about Altruism, which studies have shown improves the lives of those who practice it.
Man’s Search for Meaning: The Classic Tribute to Hope from the Holocaust - Victor Frankl
What is the meaning of life? According to Victor Frankl, each person needs to find their meaning in the world to survive and even thrive in life. Frankl writes about those in the concentration camps who managed just this.
Walden - Henry David Thoreau
This book, written by American transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau, is a treasure trove of inspiration for those in search of a simpler life.
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
This book surrounding human relations and how to deal with people better was written during the Great Depression and is still incredibly relevant.
The Epic of Gilgamesh - Anonymous
This traditional self-improvement narrative details the story of the formerly selfish Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh venturing into the wilderness and coming out with the ‘plant of eternal life’ which he could keep for himself but chooses to share with his people.
You are on your way to being one step closer to your best self, with these motivational and informative self-improvement books. Enhance your day to day with a page your way. You are sure to have no regrets when it comes to opening yourself up to new ways of improvement.