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.

The Pivot Year

by Brianna Wiest

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Love, Future, The Past, Self Discovery

Tags Business & Economics, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Self-Improvement, Psychology

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The Power of Habit

by Charles Duhigg

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Power & Greed, Teamwork

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

Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business investigates the science behind habit formation in the human brain. Drawing on corporate case studies and pioneering scientific experiments, Duhigg analyzes how individuals, organizations, and societies can use the knowledge of habit formation to change their behaviors. Published in 2012 by Random House, the nonfiction book has reached a broad public readership and landed on the New York Times... Read The Power of Habit Summary

The Power of Moments

by Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Teamwork, Community

Tags Self-Improvement, Psychology

In The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have an Extraordinary Impact, published in 2017, Chip Heath and Dan Heath demonstrate how specific experiences become “defining moments,” and describe how individuals and organizations can create more of those. Using evidence from the fields of education, healthcare, hospitality, and workplace settings, this book is designed for those in positions of leadership, educators, service professionals, and parents interested in developing practical methods to enhance motivation, loyalty, and... Read The Power of Moments Summary

The Purpose Driven Life

by Rick Warren

Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Death, Good & Evil

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

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren, an American evangelical Christian pastor and author, is a work of Christian literature that offers guidance by means of a 40-day personal, spiritual journey. Warren brings his experience in spiritual leadership to this text, exploring what he identifies as God’s five purposes for human life on Earth. This framework seeks to serve as a blueprint for Christian living in the modern... Read The Purpose Driven Life Summary

The Road to Character

by David Brooks

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

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

David Brooks’ The Road to Character, published in 2015, is a philosophical treatise and self-help book hybrid. Brooks believes that in an ego-obsessed, achievement-focused society, our focus is constantly on self-promotion and desire-fulfillment rather than on spiritual enrichment, strength of character, and moral compass. Brooks contrasts the outward-facing, more shallowly motivated self with the inward-facing, more introspectively driven self. After a significant amount of time spent reflecting on his own life experiences as a high-achieving... Read The Road to Character Summary

The Seat of the Soul

by Gary Zukav

Publication year 1989

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Justice, New Age, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Self-Improvement, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality

The Seat of the Soul (1989) is a best-selling spiritual self-help book by American author Gary Zukav. After being featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the late 1990s, Zukav became well-known to American readers for his beliefs on the nature of the soul and the meaning of life. In this work, Zukav argues that humanity is evolving from pursuing “external power,” which is defined as conquering and exploiting others, toward “authentic power,” in which... Read The Seat of the Soul Summary

The Shallows

by Nicholas Carr

Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Literature, Future, Memory

Tags Science & Nature, Technology, Sociology, Philosophy, Information Age, Education, Education, Technology, Psychology, Psychology, Self-Improvement

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains (2011) is a nonfiction book by writer, editor, and media critic Nicholas Carr. Carr is a prolific nonfiction writer known for his analysis of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and human society. A 2011 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, The Shallows combines elements of personal essay, journalism, and academic research to explore The Impact of the Internet on Cognitive Processes, The Nature of Learning and Media in the... Read The Shallows Summary