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 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Community, Identity: Race
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychology, Inspirational, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Biography
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Education, Self Help, Education, Social Science, Psychology, Psychology
What the Best College Students Do, by American professor Ken Bain, describes how students can make the best of their college experience, not by trying to get good grades, but by studying deeply the topics that fascinate them. Filled with examples of students who followed their love of knowledge and went on to successful professional careers, What the Best College Students Do makes the case for deep learning, a process that provides benefits that can... Read What the Best College Students Do Summary
Publication year 2004
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Education, Education, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2009
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Psychology, Sociology, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Social Science, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 1981
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Self Help, Jewish Literature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy
Written by Rabbi Harold Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a contemplation on the death of his son due to a degenerative disease, progeria. As a devout man, Kushner’s first response was to ask, 'Why? Why did God permit such suffering?' The book documents Kushner’s grappling with this question, the doubts and fears it triggered, and offers others afflicted by grief comfort and solace. It proposes that while God desires to ease... Read When Bad Things Happen to Good People Summary
Publication year 2003
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Religion / Spirituality, Self Help
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags History: World, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Psychology, Self Help, Technology, Philosophy
Publication year 1994
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Politics / Government
Published in 2018, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo received critical acclaim and became a New York Times Bestseller for explaining how white people should address racism in the moment and how they can move into a new, healthier, less racist paradigm. DiAngelo holds a PhD in multicultural education and specializes in critical racial and social justice education.Plot SummaryDiAngelo stresses that all white people play... Read White Fragility Summary
Publication year 1989
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Self Help, Politics / Government
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Inspirational, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, MD, is an inspirational advice book on how people and businesses can respond to changing times and situations by learning how to adapt quickly and successfully. The book centers on a parable about two mice and two people who live in a maze and search for cheese—the things each wants in life—and what happens when the cheese they’ve been enjoying disappears. First published in 1998, the book proved... Read Who Moved My Cheese? Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
British-American neuroscientist Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams (2017) provides an in-depth exploration of the science of sleep health. Walker argues that sleep loss is an epidemic and one of the most serious public health issues of the 21st century. Drawing from a wealth of data and scientific studies, including his own innovative scientific breakthroughs during his time as a professor at the University of California-Berkeley, Walker illustrates the... Read Why We Sleep Summary
Publication year 1993
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Music, Arts / Culture, Creative Nonfiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Self Help
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality, Christian literature, Psychology
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1992
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender
Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Philosophy, Philosophy, Psychology, Psychology, Fantasy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality
Women Who Run With the Wolves (1992) is the most well-known book by author Clarissa Pinkola Estés. It became a New York Times bestseller and appeared on the bestseller lists of USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and Library Journal. Other books by the same author include The Gift of Story (1993), The Faithful Gardener (1996), and Untie the Strong Woman (2011). Estés has also recorded numerous audiobooks on related topics. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology... Read Women Who Run with the Wolves Summary