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 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


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

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


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Relationships, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine


Publication year 1963

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Finance / Money / Wealth, Business / Economics, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Christian literature, Inspirational, Self Help

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren, an American evangelical Christian pastor and author, is a work of Christian literature that offers guidance by means of a 40-day personal, spiritual journey. Warren brings his experience in spiritual leadership to this text, exploring what he identifies as God’s five purposes for human life on Earth. This framework seeks to serve as a blueprint for Christian living in the modern... Read The Purpose Driven Life Summary


Publication year 1926

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Economics

Tags Business / Economics, Finance / Money / Wealth, Self Help, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography

David Brooks’ The Road to Character, published in 2015, is a philosophical treatise and self-help book hybrid. Brooks believes that in an ego-obsessed, achievement-focused society, our focus is constantly on self-promotion and desire-fulfillment rather than on spiritual enrichment, strength of character, and moral compass. Brooks contrasts the outward-facing, more shallowly motivated self with the inward-facing, more introspectively driven self. After a significant amount of time spent reflecting on his own life experiences as a high-achieving... Read The Road to Character Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, Self Help


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community

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


Publication year 2014

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language

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


Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Science / Nature, Technology, Sociology, Philosophy, Information Age, Education, Education, Technology, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains (2011) is a nonfiction book by writer, editor, and media critic Nicholas Carr. Carr is a prolific nonfiction writer known for his analysis of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and human society. A 2011 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, The Shallows combines elements of personal essay, journalism, and academic research to explore The Impact of the Internet on Cognitive Processes, The Nature of Learning and Media in the... Read The Shallows Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

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


Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Economics, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

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