12 Self-Help Books To Improve Your Life

	Title	Author	Subject	More by the Author
1.	12 Rules for Life	Jordan B. Peterson	Creating order out of chaos	Maps of Meaning
2.	The How of Happiness	Sonja Lyubomirsky	Getting the life you want	The Myths of Happiness
3.	Soulful Simplicity	Courtney Carver	Living with less	Mini-missions for Simplicity
4.	Reinvent Yourself	James Altucher	Being the person you want to be	The Power of No
5.	Grit	Angela Duckworth	The power of passion and perserverance	N/A
6.	The Nature Fix	Florence Williams	Finding health and happiness in nature	Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History
7.	If You Feel Too Much	Jamie Tworkowski	Things found and lost and hoped for	N/A
8.	Goodbye, Things	Fumio Sasaki	Japanese minimalism	N/A
9.	The 5 Second Rule	Mel Robbins	Confidence and courage	Stop Saying You're Fine
10.	The Year of Living Danishly	Helen Russell	The secrets of the world's happiest country	Gone Viking
11.	The Power of Meaning	Emily Esfahani Smith	Searching for personal fulfillment	N/A
12.	This Is Where You Belong	Melody Warnick	Finding home wherever you are	N/A

Why You Should Read Self-Help Books

In Depth

People are constantly trying to live a happier life, but it's not always easy to do. Luckily, there are plenty of books out there that promote positive thinking and are full of tips and tricks to help you be more content. In no particular order, here are twelve self-help books that aim to improve your well-being.

#1: "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos" by psychologist Jordan B. Peterson, who provides answers to some fascinating questions about life, using his extensive knowledge in clinical psychology as well as his personal experiences. He discusses poignant lessons that can be found in some of the most timeless works of history and religion. His ideas take the form of the titular twelve rules, each of which is explored in a humorous yet informative manner. Readers praise his work for being relatable and easy to understand.

#2: "The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want" by Sonja Lyubomirsky. It presents sensible ideas and explanations behind the elements of fulfillment by citing scientific research. Lyubomirsky uses quizzes to make her discussion more engaging to readers. People who are often on-the-go find this book very useful because it helps them to stay in control of their own contentment, despite their busy schedules.

Lyubomirsky uses quizzes to make her discussion more engaging to readers.

#3: "Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More" by Courtney Carver. The joy of living is affected negatively by the stress and pressure that people encounter daily. This accumulated anxiety can result in poor health and failing relationships. Carver teaches her readers to go back to basics by living simpler. She suggests different ways to achieve this: eliminate debt, live in a smaller home, and get rid of clutter. The book comes with action plans at the end of each chapter. Readers can apply these suggestions to attain a healthier and more meaningful life.

#4: "Reinvent Yourself" by James Altucher. The writer recognizes that change is the only constant thing in this world. In this book, he gathers his experiences, good and bad, from the past twenty years of his life, giving readers insight into how he has reinvented himself as a way of coping with change. He explains in detail how his decisions were shaped and influenced by people he met, especially his personal mentors who helped him through the most difficult times.

#5: "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth. Many people think that talent is what makes somebody successful. But psychologist Duckworth argues that it's not. She believes that what really molds a person as an achiever lies in the perfect combination of persistence and consistency. She calls it "grit." According to her, skill and genius do not guarantee success. These claims are supported by interviews and research in the fields of science, family relations, business, and sports.

She believes that what really molds a person as an achiever lies in the perfect combination of persistence and consistency.

#6: "The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative" by Florence Williams. In this work, Williams reintroduces the public to the power of the great outdoors. She believes that despite modern health advancements, there are still many elements in the natural environment that can positively affect the brain. Travelling to countries around the world, including Finland and Korea, she investigates natural remedies that might improve mental and physical well-being.

#7: "If You Feel Too Much: Thoughts on Things Found and Lost and Hoped For" by Jamie Tworkowski. The author aims to provide much-needed help, attention, and awareness for people who are thinking of killing themselves. He offers a raw, personal, and compassionate discussion on mental health and suicide prevention. The stories, letters, and blog posts he presents explain the different reasons why people go down this dark path. Readers praise this publication for its in-depth take on a difficult topic.

#8. "Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism" by Fumio Sasaki. Minimalism is a social movement that inspires people to be more discerning in choosing the things they surround themselves with. Minimalists believe that being an over-achiever, or owning a lot of stuff, can make life too complicated. Sasaki offers tips on how to achieve happiness by eliminating excess baggage. He shares his personal experiences on how he let go of unnecessary wants, and how it helped him find inner peace.

Sasaki offers tips on how to achieve happiness by eliminating excess baggage.

#9: "The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage" by Mel Robbins. Through this book, readers are presented with simple solutions to the toughest challenges in life, including taking a deep breath, counting backwards from five to one, and finding what is called a "push moment." Robbins uses a combination of interesting facts, gut-wrenching stories, and science to explain this moment, and how it can help people turn their life around.

#10: "The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country" by British journalist Helen Russell. As part of its marketing strategy, Disneyland uses the tagline "the happiest place on earth." However, Russell believes that Denmark has truly earned this distinction. She recounts her experiences of living for a year in the rural area of Jutland, where she observed that the Danes are very happy despite the challenges that they deal with on a daily basis. The book presents its points in an insightful, light, and funny way.

#11: "The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfilment in a World Obsessed with Happiness" by Emily Esfahani Smith. What is the meaning of life? Smith cites the wisdom of many historical figures like Aristotle and Buddha to answer this difficult question. She presents examples of different people with contrasting backgrounds, who are all searching for their reasons for existing. She discusses the four pillars of meaning: belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence.

What is the meaning of life?

#12: "This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are" by Melody Warnick. According to statistics, an average American will move 11.7 times during their lifetime. Warnick questions this phenomenon and investigates what causes people to go to new places. She explains the different benefits that come with staying put, like being emotionally connected to your roots, and tells readers why living in one area for a long time might be the key to happiness. The book uses past research as well as interviews with subjects who frequently move, and those who remain in their hometown.

12 Self-Help Books To Improve Your Life