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 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

Think Like a Freak is a nonfiction book published in 2014 by Steven D. Levitt, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, and Stephen J. Dubner, a journalist based in New York City. It is a follow-up to the authors’ successful books Freakonomics (2005) and SuperFreakonomics (2009), and ties in with their blog and podcast, which can be found at freakonomics.com. A fourth book in the series, When to Rob a Bank, was... Read Think Like a Freak Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Education

Tags LGBTQ, Humor, Self Help, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 2009

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Philosophy, American Literature, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Biography


Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology, Biography


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Business / Economics, Health / Medicine, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Psychology


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Society: Community

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


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

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


Publication year 2019

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Identity: Femininity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Philosophy, Philosophy, Modern Classic Fiction, Inspirational, Biography, Self Help, Classic Fiction

First published in 1997, Tuesday’s with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson, is a nonfiction memoir that describes author Mitch Albom’s visits to a beloved college professor who is dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease, and the lessons he learns there. The book became a New York Times #1 bestseller and remained on the list for nearly four years, selling 15 million copies in 45 languages. It also became an Emmy-winning... Read Tuesdays with Morrie Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Food

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, History: World, Self Help, Politics / Government


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health

Tags Disability, Self Help, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Diversity, Science / Nature, Psychology, LGBTQ, Mental Illness


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Food, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Gender / Feminism, LGBTQ, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Self Help, Biography

Published in 2020, Glennon Doyle’s Untamed is her third memoir. An accomplished writer, philanthropist, and activist, Doyle documents her lifelong journey of self-discovery and uses personal experiences to encourage women on their own respective journeys towards freedom. Through the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, and race, Doyle unpacks the social conditioning that affects the lives of all humans, particularly women. Ultimately, Doyle offers a reflective guide to navigating life by looking internally and honoring one’s... Read Untamed Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

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


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Inspirational, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy

Originally published in 1980, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives, is a semiautobiographical novel by American author and lecturer Dan Millman. The book is Millman’s first novel and part of the Peaceful Warrior Saga, a series of four novels about personal development and spirituality. The text is based on the author’s early life as a college student in California, with a narrative that blends reality with fiction. The storyline follows a... Read Way of the Peaceful Warrior Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Parenting, Psychology, Health / Medicine


Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Satire, Philosophy, American Literature, Great Depression, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Self Help