Self-Help Books

Self-Help Books describes a diverse selection of titles that focus on self-discovery and self-improvement. The self-help genre is characterized by literature that shares research and advice to promote self-understanding and prompt changes in one's outlook or behavior, thus improving one's quality of life. The Self-Help Collection features texts that discuss topics ranging from business and personal finance to interpersonal relationships, mental health, and sexuality.

Strong Ground

by Brené Brown

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Gender Identity, Teamwork, Community, Science & Technology

Tags Leadership, Self-Improvement, Business & Economics

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Talking to Strangers

by Malcolm Gladwell

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Language

Tags Sociology, Science & Nature, Business & Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self-Improvement

In Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know (2019), journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell investigates why we face so many problems when interacting with strangers. He was inspired to search for the underlying causes of our miscommunications following the death of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was pulled over by a white police officer for a minor traffic infraction in 2015. Bland should have been let go with... Read Talking to Strangers Summary

Talk Like Ted

by Carmine Gallo

Publication year 2014

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery, Language

Tags Business & Economics, Self-Improvement, Leadership, Psychology, Education, Education, Psychology

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Tao Te Ching

by Lao Tzu

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Asian Literature, Chinese Literature, Philosophy, World History, Philosophy, Self-Improvement, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

The Tao Te Ching is a guide to the philosophy of Taoism and commonly credited to 6th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and writer Lao Tzu, though some portions of the text date back to the late 4th century. Taoism was a school of thought and method for survival in turbulent times, and its eighty-one short books explain what the Tao (roughly translated as “the way”) consists of.The Tao Te Ching begins with the idea that the... Read Tao Te Ching Summary

Tattoos on the Heart

by Gregory Boyle

Publication year 2009

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Tags Self-Improvement, Christian, Inspirational, Biography, Religion & Spirituality

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion (2010) is a memoir written by Catholic priest Gregory (Greg) Boyle. The memoir relays Boyle’s experiences serving as the leader of the Dolores Mission Church in the gang capital of the world, Los Angeles. Boyle, a Jesuit, performed his earliest missionary work in an impoverished Bolivian village. There, Boyle gained two lifelong attributes: an unyielding desire to help the poor and the ability to speak Spanish... Read Tattoos on the Heart Summary

Thank You For Arguing

by Jay Heinrichs

Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Language, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Conflict, Wins & Losses

Tags Philosophy, Education, Education, Business & Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Self-Improvement

Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion (2020) is a New York Times bestseller on rhetoric by Jay Heinrichs, a journalist, writer, and publisher who specializes in argumentation methods. The book was published in 14 languages and 4 editions, selling over 500,000 copies. Structured like a manual, it boasts over 100 tools of persuasion and references notable figures such as Cicero, Barack Obama, and... Read Thank You For Arguing Summary

The 48 Laws Of Power

by Robert Greene

Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Teamwork, Perseverance

Tags Self-Improvement, Psychology, Business & Economics, Philosophy, World History, Psychology, Philosophy, Politics & Government

Robert Greene (1959) is an American self-help book author with a focus on strategy and power. After training in Classical Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Greene worked numerous jobs before pitching The 48 Laws of Power to book packager Joost Elffers in 1995. The book was inspired by Greene’s time as a writer in Hollywood, where he learned that today’s powerful people share common traits with historic princes, leaders, and tyrants. As he... Read The 48 Laws Of Power Summary