The 12 Best Self-Help Books
The world we live in expects people to exercise responsibility, and one of the best ways to start down that path is to increase our knowledge. Almost anything you want to do, someone has done it and written about it. This page includes what I feel are the 12 Best Self Help Books.
The self help industry has mixed reviews. Professional therapists and social workers often frown upon it because it is not regulated, and anyone can claim any message as self-help. However, if you apply a little discernment, there are many very helpful people in the self help industry that have transformed lives.
Self help books have proven to be powerful in helping people transform their lives. I would not classify the Bible as a self help book, but it does share some likeness, as it helps with our spiritual growth and helps us understand human nature, the world, and the Holy Triune.
This page includes…
- Limitless
- Emotional Intelligence 2.0
- Decisive
- The Willpower Instinct
- Learned Optimism
- The Seven Pillars of Health
- Atomic Habits
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- How to Win Friends and Influence People
- Influence
- Crucial Conversations
- Grit
Note: the links to buy the books are affiliate links and I receive a very small commission if you buy through them, at no additional cost to you.
12 Best Self Help Books, with Authors
Limitless, by Jim Kwik
Upgrade your brain, learn anything faster, and unlock your exceptional life.
This book provides proven principles for, mindset, motivation, and methods to help you learn better. It provides practical tips to read quicker and remember more of what you read. A great book to boost your self help journey. The human mind is the ultimate superpower. Understanding lifestyle factors, like nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management are crucial for brain health. As of September 2026 it is ranked #8 in the Amazon category of Memory Improvement Self-Help. Buy Limitless.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0, by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves
Harness the power of the #1 predictor of success.
This book provides proven principles to, be more aware of your emotions and the emotions of other people in social settings, and better manage your emotions and influence other people.
Approaching everyone you meet as though they have something of value to teach you, is the best way to remain flexible, open-minded, and less stressed. Exercise and other relaxing and recharging activities are critical to the mind. The brain often considers what we visualize in our mind as reality. As of September 2026 it is ranked #10 in the Amazon category of Interpersonal Relations. Buy Emotional Intelligence 2.0.
Decisive, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
How to make better choices in life and work.
This book provides proven principles to widen your options, reality-test assumptions, attain distance before deciding, and prepare to be wrong (think of the possibility of being wrong). Consider how you will think about the decision in 10 minutes, and in 10 months, and in 10 years. Considering the topic of this book is one of our Four Core Skills, it is underrated. Buy Decisive.
The Willpower Instinct, by Kelly McGonigal
How self-control works, why it matters, and what you can do to get more of it.
This book provides proven principles to increase your willpower and follow through on those good decisions you make. Based on scientific studies. Many factors can boost our willpower including unprocessed food and good sleep, not being too positive or feeling too bad or guilty. There is one way to immediately boost willpower: Slow your breathing dow to four to six breaths per minute. For being one of our Four Core Skills, this book is also underrated. Buy The Willpower Instinct.
Learned Optimism, by Martin E. P. Seligman
How to change your mind and your life.
This book provides proven principles to increase your optimism. Including a three step formula to build a better outlook, and avoid learned helplessness. Literally hundreds of studies show that pessimists give up more easily and get depressed more often. In my opinion this is one of the many books that is underrated. Buy Learned Optimism.
The Seven Pillars of Health, by Don Colbert, MD
The natural way to better health for life.
This book provides proven principles to improve your health, including chapters on water, sleep, living food, exercise, detoxification, nutritional supplements, and coping with stress. It is an established fact that the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the lower your chance of heart disease, cancer, and many other health problems. Brisk walking is one of the best exercises, and it’s virtually free. Studies show, even a few ten-minute bursts of activity a day can have beneficial effects on the body and mind. In my opinion, this book is underrated. Buy The Seven Pillars of Health.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Tiny changes, remarkable results.
Proven principles to build good habits and break bad ones. This book explains how small habits can have a big impact over time. It digs into the details on how to make it obvious, make it easy, and make it satisfying.
What matters is where your habits are taking you. Be more concerned with your current direction than current results. This book has been ranked #1 for many years. As of September 2026 it is ranked #2 in the Amazon category of Health, Fitness, & Dieting. Buy Atomic Habits.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
30th Anniversary Edition. Powerful lessons in personal change.
This book provides proven principles to be more proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win/win, and seek first to understand, then to be understood.
Shortly after World War I the view of success shifted from the character ethic to the personality ethic. The character ethic, with values like integrity, humility, and temperance, needs to be primary to success. Human relationships have an emotional bank account and the currency is trust. Communication is the most important skill in life. As of September 2026 it is ranked #1 in the Amazon category of Business Management. Buy The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
The first – and still the best – book of its kind – to lead you to success.
This book provides proven principles to help you better manage and strengthen your relationships. It is based on the author’s self-study and hiring of a professional researcher for one and a half years.
Book references: About 85 percent of a person’s financial success is due to their relationship skills… The truth is almost everyone you meet feels superior to you in some way, and a sure way to their heart is to sincerely recognize their importance. As of September 2026 this is ranked #1 in the Amazon category of Communication & Social Skills. Buy How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Influence, by Robert B. Cialdini
The psychology of persuasion.
This book provides proven principles to make it more probable that people will like you, and how reciprocity, consistency, social proof, authority, and scarcity influence people.
Book references: We naturally like people who we feel associated with, have repeated contact with, and who give us sincere compliments… To be influential, authority figures should be both, knowledgable in a topic and trustworthy. As of September 2026 it is ranked #1 in the Amazon category of Marketing & Consumer Behavior. Buy Influence.
Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
Negotiating as if your life depended on it.
This is a very popular book from a retired FBI Hostage Negotiator. He explains many effective communication skills that help build tactical empathy, mainly by understanding the person you are talking with. It includes tactics like summarizing, mirroring, labeling, and finding the “Black Swan.” This book has been, and as of September 2026 it still is ranked #1 in the Amazon category of Communication Skills. Buy Never Split the Difference.
Grit, by Angela Duckworth
The power of passion and perseverence.
This book provides priceless insights about the human spirit. It includes ways people can renew their passion and perseverance. It shares interesting and compelling stories about great achievers. As of September 2026 it is ranked #3 in the Amazon category of Popular Psychology Personality Study. Buy Grit.
12 Best Self Help Books, Plus One
Bonus book, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. It’s a classic that explains many timeless principles, including desire, faith, persistence, and supportive relationships. As of September 2026 it is ranked #1 in the Amazon category of Accounting Specialties, and Accounting Theory, and #3 in Entrepreneurship. Buy Think and Grow Rich.
As you get some of the books from the list above, you might also want the Personal Planning Package. It includes simple and effective two-page goal plan templates for personal growth, professional growth, and social media growth.
If you are not ready to purchase any of the 12 Best Self Help Books, you might be interested in the Goal Setting page, or the Meaning in Life page.