Self-Help Books

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.

Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Science / Nature, Social Science, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Politics / Government

The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, published in 2007, is a nonfiction book written by Philip Zimbardo, an American psychologist and a professor emeritus at Stanford University. He rose to prominence for his Stanford Prison Experiment and is founder and president of the Heroic Imagination Project. In The Lucifer Effect, Zimbardo argues that humans are neither good nor evil. Instead, systemic and situational forces shape individuals’ actions, and every individual has the... Read The Lucifer Effect Summary


Publication year 1959

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Teams

Tags Psychology, Biography, Sports, Psychology, Self Help, African American Literature


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Incarceration, Self Help, Inspirational, Social Justice, Biography


Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Self Help, Religion / Spirituality, Relationships, Philosophy, Psychology, Love / Sexuality, Philosophy, Inspirational, Psychology


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Family

Tags Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Inspirational, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Business / Economics, Self Help, Biography


Publication year 1996

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: Midlife, Self Discovery, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Environment

Tags Self Help, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Inspirational, Psychology, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2015

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Philosophy, Psychology, Self Help

“The Moral Bucket List” is an essay by David Brooks first published in the New York Times Op-Ed Section on April 11, 2015. Born in Toronto and raised in New York, Brooks is a prominent cultural journalist, political analyst, and book author. Since 2003, he has written a twice-weekly column for the New York Times, and since 2004, he has been a political analyst for PBS NewsHour. “The Moral Bucket List” is an adapted excerpt... Read The Moral Bucket List Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: New Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Economics

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help

The New One Minute Manager (Scribd digital edition) is a business manager’s leadership guide. Though originally published as a best seller in 1982, the authors—Ken Blanchard, PhD and Spencer Johnson, MD—released an updated version of the text for contemporary times in 2015, incorporating philosophies that reflect modern trends and techniques for today’s business leadership. Considered influential figures in business and management, the co-authors wrote the story as a fictional parable (a short and simple tale... Read The New One Minute Manager Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Self Help, Sports, Food


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials Into Triumph (2014) is a self-help book by American author Ryan Holiday. Holiday identifies three aspects of confronting obstacles: “Perception,” “Action,” and “Will.” Weaving Stoic philosophy with historical and contemporary anecdotes, Holiday argues that people can turn obstacles into opportunities by changing their perceptions of their problems. Holiday points to role models such as former American president and general Dwight D. Eisenhower, American aviator... Read The Obstacle is the Way Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Teams

Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology


Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams

Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology, Romance, Self Help


Publication year 2004

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Psychology, Business / Economics, Self Help, Philosophy, Science, Sociology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race

Tags Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Self Help, Psychology, Race / Racism, Social Justice


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery

Tags Business / Economics, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Self Help, Psychology


Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Teams

Tags Psychology, Inspirational, Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology

Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business investigates the science behind habit formation in the human brain. Drawing on corporate case studies and pioneering scientific experiments, Duhigg analyzes how individuals, organizations, and societies can use the knowledge of habit formation to change their behaviors. Published in 2012 by Random House, the nonfiction book has reached a broad public readership and landed on the New York Times... Read The Power of Habit Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Psychology, Self Help, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy