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.
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Teams
Tags History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Military / War, Business / Economics, Politics / Government, History: Asian, Chinese Literature
The Art of War, written in China during the fifth century BCE by military expert Sun Tzu, has been favored reading among soldiers and strategists for two millennia. Its concise 13 chapters, studied to this day by world leaders and generals from Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong to US Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell, teach victory through studying the opponent, building impregnable defenses, confusing the enemy with diversions, and attacking forcefully its weak spots. The book... Read The Art of War Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Gender / Feminism, Sociology, Psychology, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Politics / Government
Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women was published in 1990 and republished in 2002 by HarperCollins with an updated introduction. At the time of its original release, The Beauty Myth was considered a seminal feminist work for its analysis of the way the market—and its consumer culture—generates and perpetuates the myth of beauty to control women on a psychological level. This study guide refers to the 2009 HarperCollins... Read The Beauty Myth Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Community, Self Discovery
Tags Gender / Feminism, Self Help, Psychology, Social Justice, Diversity, Race / Racism, Psychology, LGBTQ, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2014
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma is a 2014 nonfiction work by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. This guide refers to the 2015 edition published by Penguin Books. Van der Kolk, a psychiatrist specializing in various forms of trauma, has worked in trauma therapy for his entire professional career, publishing numerous scientific research studies of his own and contributing to many more. In addition to being a... Read The Body Keeps the Score Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags History: U.S., Philosophy, Self Help, Inspirational, History: World, Philosophy, Biography
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Climate, Society: Community
Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Self Help, Animals, Philosophy, Biography
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Self Help, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Psychology, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy
In The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, co-authors Douglas Abrams, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share their discussion on the nature of joy and the methods to achieve it in the face of adversity. Originally published in 2016, this work falls within the genre of spiritual and self-help literature. The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, and Archbishop Tutu, a leader in the fight against... Read The Book of Joy Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Self Help, Philosophy, Animals
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Disability
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Self Help
Publication year 1993
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Inspirational, Fantasy, Philosophy, Self Help, Action / Adventure
The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure is a 1993 novel by James Redfield. A bestseller, the novel is a compilation of New Age philosophical and spiritual concepts, which Redfield labels as insights, that are loosely connected by a plot that follows the narrator’s search for them in the Peruvian jungle. An ancient manuscript is rumored to have been discovered, and the insights in the Manuscript claim that the end of the 20th century will witness a... Read The Celestine Prophecy Summary
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2009
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Science / Nature, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology
Publication year 2017
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Psychology, Health / Medicine, History: European, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World, Psychology, Self Help, Biography
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: The Future
Tags Inspirational, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Science / Nature, Sports, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Finance / Money / Wealth, Psychology, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: New Age, Identity: Language
Tags Arts / Culture, Music, Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology, Business / Economics, Philosophy, Psychology
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Self Discovery, Society: Education
Tags Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Mental Illness, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Education, Education, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help