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.

Eat Your Ice Cream

by Ezekiel J. Emanuel

Publication year 2026

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Aging, Friendship, Science & Technology

Tags Health, Self-Improvement

Ezekiel J. Emanuel’s Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life (2026) is a work of nonfiction in the health and wellness genre that challenges modern society’s fixation on longevity. Emanuel, a physician and public-health expert, argues that the contemporary “wellness industrial complex” bombards people with confusing, expensive, and often unproven advice (5), turning the pursuit of health into what he characterizes as a joyless, anxiety-inducing task. He proposes a... Read Eat Your Ice Cream Summary

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

by Travis Bradberry, Jean Greaves

Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Economics, Wins & Losses

Tags Self-Improvement, Psychology

Emotional Intelligence 2.0, by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves, is a practical, assessment-driven guide to understanding and improving emotional intelligence (EQ) in both personal and professional settings. Targeted primarily at working professionals, leaders, and teams but applicable to anyone seeking better self-management and interpersonal effectiveness, the book frames EQ as a skill set that can be learned and strengthened over time. Its structure combines conceptual explanations with actionable strategies, reinforced by a self-assessment tool designed... Read Emotional Intelligence 2.0 Summary

Emotional Intelligence

by Daniel Goleman

Publication year 1995

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Science & Technology, Education

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

In Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, Daniel Goleman discusses how The Components of Emotional Intelligence, like self-awareness, empathy, and social skills, shape an individual’s life. He explores key themes, such as The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Personal and Professional Success, The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Traditional IQ, and Emotional Intelligence Affecting Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationships. This guide refers to the 1995 Bantam Books hardcover edition. Content Warning: The... Read Emotional Intelligence Summary

Essentialism

by Greg McKeown

Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Science & Technology, Self Discovery

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

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Extreme Ownership

by Jocko Willink, Leif Babin

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Safety & Danger, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Military & War, Business & Economics, Self-Improvement, Iraq War, Leadership, Psychology, Psychology

In the 2015 military and business book Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALs Lead and Win, two of the most highly decorated US Navy SEALs of the Iraq War describe the lessons of leadership learned during combat and how those lessons apply to companies and organizations. Authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin explain that the single most important element of a team is its leader and that the team succeeds in its mission only if... Read Extreme Ownership Summary

Factfulness

by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Globalization, Trust & Doubt

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

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World—And Why Things Are Better Than You Think, written by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund, was published by Flatiron Books in 2018. This book examines how people across cultures view the world through a negative lens, which leads them to believe conditions everywhere are declining. Doctor and global health expert Hans Rosling offers research and anecdotes from his medical experience and his lectures to unpack... Read Factfulness Summary

Falling Upward

by Richard Rohr

Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Mental Health, Midlife, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality

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

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Flow

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Order & Chaos

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

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience is a work of popular psychology published in 1990 by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. The book challenges a fundamental cultural assumption: that material abundance and technological progress automatically produce happiness. Drawing on decades of empirical research involving over 100,000 participants worldwide, Csikszentmihalyi identifies the psychological conditions that enable genuine fulfillment—a state of complete immersion he calls “flow.” The book bridges academic psychology and everyday life, offering readers practical strategies for... Read Flow Summary