12 Self-Help Books That Actually Give Good Advice

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 19 April 2018

Let's face it: you've got problems, and you're tired of being told to "Just look on the bright side" or that "a penny saved is a penny earned." That's why we've compiled this list of books that give proper advice for real-world problems. If you need some positivity in your life, try this list of the best inspirational books. When you click links from this website, we may receive advertising revenue to support our research. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

12 Self-Help Books That Actually Give Good Advice

Gary Vaynerchuk On Being Happy

In Depth

Sometimes you need a little extra motivation to get things done, but empty platitudes and pointless positivity won't get you anywhere. Luckily, there are a lot of writers dispensing specific advice that you can put to work right away. In no particular order, here are 12 self-help books that provide useful insights on a variety of subjects.

Starting off our list is "You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life" by Jen Sincero. With a straightforward and direct tone, Sincero takes a humorous look at all the ways we sabotage ourselves, and offers a blueprint for how to overcome those tendencies that keep you from getting what you really want in life.

Up next is "Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative." Austin Kleon doesn't just dispense advice, he also provides exercises and specific examples to illustrate his point that artists should embrace their influences and use everything they can as they discover their paths. Rather than making inspiration seem lofty and unattainable, he grounds it with practical tips that encourage young people to get working.

Rather than making inspiration seem lofty and unattainable, he grounds it with practical tips that encourage young people to get working.

In Cal Newport's "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World," the author is focused on getting you to focus. As he sees it, the ability to work without distraction is a skill that is becoming increasingly rare in a world where everyone is checking email and Twitter at all hours of the day. Newport not only encourages this practice, but also offers tips to improve your ability to stay on task without losing concentration.

Oprah Winfrey's reputation speaks for itself, and with "The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Conversations," she not only provides her own life lessons, but those of a wide range of famous guests. The whole thing is paired with beautiful photographs as well.

Those who find themselves overwhelmed at work can learn a lot from "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing." Daniel H. Pink breaks down success using research in psychology, biology, and economics to focus on schedule-building, and how it can make a huge difference in all areas of life.

Daniel H. Pink breaks down success using research in psychology, biology, and economics to focus on schedule-building, and how it can make a huge difference in all areas of life.

With "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual," Michael Pollan tries to simplify the way we think about what we eat. In a society where fad diets and confusing nutritional advice often cause people to give up, he offers a set of straightforward rules that are easy to remember. If you find it difficult to make healthy choices, this book can get you on the right path.

Continuing the idea of simple advice for tackling complex problems, Atul Gawande gives us "The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right." The author argues that even though we currently have greater access to information than ever before, we can't take advantage of it because the complexity of our knowledge exceeds our ability to deliver it. His solution of a checklist may seem basic, but it's backed up by real results.

Sometimes what's missing isn't the process, but the product. In "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products," Nir Eyal takes a look at why some items captivate the zeitgeist and some don't. Through an examination of the "Hook cycle," the book shows how some companies are able to make products that people can't put down, and are able to do so again and again.

Sometimes what's missing isn't the process, but the product.

With "Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking," Daniel C. Dennett provides 77 different "imagination-extenders," exercises to develop critical thinking. The goal is not just to give you tools for problem-solving, but to help you understand why they were developed and why they work. Philosophical thinkers can get a lot out of this volume, but so can novices looking for a new way to tackle personal issues.

Many people would love to make extra money, but the thought of starting a business is daunting. That's why Chris Guillebeau wrote "Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days." Rather than promises of a billion-dollar I.P.O., it offers actionable advice for those who want an additional income stream that can earn money quickly.

Why get advice from one source when you can combine the ideas of many great thinkers? That's the idea behind "Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World," in which Tim Ferriss queried the best minds he could find, young and old, on a variety of subjects. The result is a thick tome of surprising answers about how to be the best version of yourself, no matter your field.

Why get advice from one source when you can combine the ideas of many great thinkers?

The last book on our list comes from Gary Vaynerchuk, a familiar name to anyone hoping to grow a business online. With "Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence - and How You Can, Too," he outlines just how to build a vibrant personal brand and why doing so is important, whether your hope is to be a social media influencer or you simply want some attention for your small business.

Whether you're anxious about a personal issue or worried about your career, there are a lot of great books that can help out. One of these no-nonsense titles might take you from despair to feeling like you can take on the world.