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.

Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender

Tags Parenting, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Education, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Religion / Spirituality

Published in 2017, Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone presents insights and strategies for finding what Brown refers to as true belonging in a time of increasing cultural polarization in America. Based on Brown’s grounded theory research, true belonging is a practice that involves believing in and belonging to oneself so fully that one can share one’s innermost, authentic self with the rest of the... Read Braving the Wilderness Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor, is a comprehensive treatise on breathing. It combines a journalistic approach with studies in anthropology, biochemistry, human physiology, psychology, and pulmonology to unpack the different techniques of inhaling and exhaling throughout human history and in different societies. With its first publication in 2020, Breath was a bestseller in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, and Sunday London Times and will... Read Breath Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community

Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Finance / Money / Wealth


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Gender / Feminism, Health / Medicine


Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Inspirational, Philosophy, History: World, Self Help, Biography

Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, written by Dave Isay with Maya Millett and published in 2016, is a collection of brief, first-person narratives about the value and meaning of work. These stories were collected through the oral history project of StoryCorps, a nonprofit organization that records, archives, and shares stories of life in America. StoryCorps and its founder and president, Dave Isay, have received many grants and awards for the organization’s work, including... Read Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Military / War, Psychology, Biography


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Business / Economics, Science / Nature


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Business / Economics, Inspirational, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1986

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Gender / Feminism, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Relationships, Self Help, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Psychology, Psychology


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Feminist Theory, Gender Studies, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Philosophy, Relationships, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 524

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Self Help, Italian Literature, Ancient Rome, Education, Education, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

The Consolation of Philosophy by Roman senator and philosopher Boethius is considered the last great philosophical work of the classical era and one of the foundational texts of medieval Christian thought. Anicius Boethius (c. 477-524 CE) was a philosopher and statesman in late Roman times, acting as advisor to the Gothic king Theodoric. Around 523, he was convicted of conspiracy and treason and sentenced to death. While in prison, and prior to his trial, he... Read Consolation Of Philosophy Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Business/Economics, Self Help, Business / Economics, Technology, Leadership/Organization/Management


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Art, Self Discovery, Society: Economics

Tags Arts / Culture, Self Help, Psychology, Business/Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Education


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Economics, Life/Time: Birth, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Parenting, Science / Nature, Self Help


Publication year 2002

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Teams

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High (2002) was written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler, and Ron McMillan. It has become a cornerstone of the field of interpersonal communication and self-improvement, offering insights into the dynamics that govern our most vital conversations. Both Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny are leading authorities on organizational change and have advised some of the world’s largest organizations. Al Switzler is a renowned speaker and... Read Crucial Conversations Summary