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.
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Education, Education, Science / Nature, Sociology, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1992
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Psychology, Sociology, Self Help, Business / Economics, Relationships, Psychology
Priya Parker’s book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (2018) is a series of chapter-length essays that provide a guide to organizing effective gatherings as well as a persuasive argument for thinking about them as tools for social transformation. As a highly experienced group facilitator, advisor, podcast host, and expert in conflict resolution, Parker brings a specialist’s insight to her topic. At the same time, she organizes and presents the... Read The Art of Gathering Summary
Publication year 1956
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Self Help, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Sociology
Publication year 2008
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Philosophy, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology
Publication year 2025
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Objects, Society: Class, Society: Economics
Tags Finance / Money / Wealth, Self Help
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Teams
Tags History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Military / War, Business / Economics, Politics / Government, History: Asian, Chinese Literature
The Art of War, written in China during the fifth century BCE by military expert Sun Tzu, has been favored reading among soldiers and strategists for two millennia. Its concise 13 chapters, studied to this day by world leaders and generals from Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong to US Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell, teach victory through studying the opponent, building impregnable defenses, confusing the enemy with diversions, and attacking forcefully its weak spots. The book... Read The Art of War Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Gender / Feminism, Sociology, Psychology, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Politics / Government
Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women was published in 1990 and republished in 2002 by HarperCollins with an updated introduction. At the time of its original release, The Beauty Myth was considered a seminal feminist work for its analysis of the way the market—and its consumer culture—generates and perpetuates the myth of beauty to control women on a psychological level. This study guide refers to the 2009 HarperCollins... Read The Beauty Myth Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Community, Self Discovery
Tags Gender / Feminism, Self Help, Psychology, Social Justice, Diversity, Race / Racism, Psychology, LGBTQ, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2014
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma is a 2014 nonfiction work by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. This guide refers to the 2015 edition published by Penguin Books. Van der Kolk, a psychiatrist specializing in various forms of trauma, has worked in trauma therapy for his entire professional career, publishing numerous scientific research studies of his own and contributing to many more. In addition to being a... Read The Body Keeps the Score Summary
Publication year 2025
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Self Help
Publication year 2023
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags History: U.S., Philosophy, Self Help, Inspirational, History: World, Philosophy, Biography
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Climate, Society: Community
Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Self Help, Animals, Philosophy, Biography
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Self Help, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Psychology, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy
In The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, co-authors Douglas Abrams, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share their discussion on the nature of joy and the methods to achieve it in the face of adversity. Originally published in 2016, this work falls within the genre of spiritual and self-help literature. The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, and Archbishop Tutu, a leader in the fight against... Read The Book of Joy Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Self Help, Philosophy, Animals
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Disability
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Self Help
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Sports, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management