The (non-cheesy) self-help books that will get you out of any rut
We get it, when you're feeling vulnerable, sometimes being told all the things you could be doing better can be a little overwhelming.
Self-help books get a bad rap, and they can definitely be cheesy. However, there are plenty out there that are the product of a lot of research, which has been distilled into bite-sized chunks of advice you can apply to your life pretty easily.
Books like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Barefoot Investor are still topping bestseller charts for a reason – they have changed numerous lives and will probably continue to for years to come.
We've rounded up 12 self-help books that we know will actually help you change for the better – so let's get cracking on that glow-up.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think
A global bestseller, Briana Wiest has anthologised her best pieces of writing in this book of very short essays. With some of them even spanning just a page or two, Wiest writes wisely on the pursuit of purpose over passion, the wisdom of a daily routine, and how we need to embrace negative thinking – to name just a few topics.
The Mountain Is You
Wiest's second-most popular book, The Mountain Is You, delves deep into self-sabotage and why we do it to ourselves. She also explores how to overcome this challenge to ourselves, by taking crucial insight from our damaging habits, releasing the past, building emotional intelligence, and acting to our highest potential.
The Barefoot Investor
Likely one of the most popular financial guides out there, The Barefoot Investor has been praised by so many for its practical advice. There's reportedly a copy of the book in one in 20 Australian homes, with author Scott Pape's informative-yet-casual tone getting through to so many when it comes to addressing their financial goals. Many admitting that reading this book was a turning point in their financial journey – so why not give it a go?
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
A game-changer when it comes to everyday anxiety, Dr. Julie Smith has synthesised her years as a practicing psychologist into this best-selling book. Described as "a must-have handbook for instantly better mental health," many reviews have taken note of the helpful advice, useful strategies and coping techniques contained in its pages.
Atomic Habits
An international bestseller, Atomic Habits argues that changing your life is easier when you think small rather than big, and alter your habits slowly but surely. Referred to as a "step-by-step manual for changing routines", this book is perfect for you if you're hoping to make sustainable changes to your life.
Daring Greatly
Social researcher Brené Brown has written many books, appeared on TV and on podcasts, sharing her groundbreaking work on the concepts of vulnerability and shame. In Daring Greatly, she tells us that there is strength to be found in vulnerability and that shutting off our vulnerability in order to appear strong is counter-intuitive to finding purpose and meaning in our lives.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
In this deeply interesting book, Daniel Kahneman explores the two systems that drive our thinking and decision-making. While one is fast, intuitive, and emotional, the other is slow, deliberate, and more logical. Throughout these two sides, he shows us what our brains are capable of, and how both of the systems work together to shape the way we see the world, make judgments, and important decisions, too.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Although this book first came out in 1989, many still read it and try to live up to the ideals of Stephen R Covey today. Named the 'Most Influential Business Book of the 20th Century', The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People shares a set of parameters to increase our 'effectiveness' in day-to-day life, and our ongoing growth into becoming effective, interdependent people who succeed in business and in life generally as well.
Dopamine Detox
If you're time-poor, and looking for a quick little self-improvement hit, Thibaut Meurisse's Dopamine Detox promises to help you feel more focussed and attuned to your goals in just 48 hours. Just 70 pages long, you can probably finish this read in one sitting, and begin applying its teachings as soon as you're finished. Zeroing in on the dopamine provided by the distractions of our modern world, Meurisse advocates for a 'dopamine detox' to manage how overstimulated we've become. On top of that, you'll learn three steps for implementing a successful detox, and practical exercises to help boost your focus in our very distracting digital world.
Breakup Boss
One of Australia's most successful businesswomen and writers, Zoë Foster Blake has put all the knowledge she gained first-hand about breakups into this gorgeous pink book. Originally released as an app, this book is full of practical advice for navigating heartbreak, from mental health pointers for the very first weeks to journaling exercises to use as you begin to work through the process of healing. It also has really beautiful illustrations from artist Mari Andrews.
Make It Happen
Maybe you don't believe in manifestation, but if you're wanting to create change in your life, you probably have nothing to lose by giving it a red-hot go. Author Jordanna Levin draws on her experiences of always expecting the worst, and how she flipped that to attract goodness into her life. Appealing somehow to both skeptics and believers, this book will encourage you to take charge in your own life and create the outcomes you're hoping for.
It's Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You're Single
Sara Eckel knows love, having penned the popular Modern Love column for The New York Times for a decade. She's now put all her knowledge into a book that encourages single people to focus externally on what is right for them, rather than picking apart their own selves for answers on why they haven't found their person. Drawing on psychological and sociological research, and anecdotes from long-term singletons, Eckel's book teaches readers that there's no reason they're single, and that rather – they just are.
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