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 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Anthropology, Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1971
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: New Age, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Gender
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Relationships, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy, Self Help
Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error (2010) is a nonfiction book written by Kathryn Schulz, a journalist who has written for publications such as the New York Times Magazine, the Nation, and the Boston Globe. The book explores the nature of error from a psychological, philosophical, and personal point of view, drawing from philosophical thought, psychology studies, and personal anecdotes. Some themes of the book include the fallibility of the human mind, the... Read Being Wrong Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Self Help, Philosophy
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Inspirational, Psychology
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015) is a self-help guide by author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert. This New York Times bestseller outlines six elements of creativity: courage, permission, enchantment, persistence, trust, and divinity. Gilbert uses anecdotes from her life and writing career, as well as the work of others, to explain these concepts, and presents her views and philosophical musings about creativity and inspiration. The work explores themes such as The Importance of Play... Read Big Magic Summary
Publication year 1994
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Humor, Arts / Culture, Biography
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott was originally published in 1994. Many of Lamott’s books have been on the New York Times bestsellers list, which qualifies her to offer advice about how to write. She also taught at writing conferences and at UC Davis, received a Guggenheim Fellowship, and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Bird by Bird is a combination of memoir, self-help book, and writing... Read Bird By Bird Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2013
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender
Tags Psychology, Race / Racism, Science / Nature, Social Justice, Sociology, Education, Education, Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2005
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell's 2005 New York Times bestseller, describes how snap judgments, first impressions, and intuitions can be more useful than painstaking rational thought.Blink contains three central ideas: “fast and frugal" thinking is a natural attribute of the human mind and often works better than slow-and-careful reasoning; this ability can be distorted or misled; and fast cognition can be trained and improved. The book’s six chapters provide examples from... Read Blink Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization
Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Self Help
Publication year 1992
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family
Tags Christian literature, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Relationships, Mental Illness, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender
Tags Parenting, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2008
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Education, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Self Help, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Religion / Spirituality
Published in 2017, Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone presents insights and strategies for finding what Brown refers to as true belonging in a time of increasing cultural polarization in America. Based on Brown’s grounded theory research, true belonging is a practice that involves believing in and belonging to oneself so fully that one can share one’s innermost, authentic self with the rest of the... Read Braving the Wilderness Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor, is a comprehensive treatise on breathing. It combines a journalistic approach with studies in anthropology, biochemistry, human physiology, psychology, and pulmonology to unpack the different techniques of inhaling and exhaling throughout human history and in different societies. With its first publication in 2020, Breath was a bestseller in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, and Sunday London Times and will... Read Breath Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1994
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Finance / Money / Wealth
Publication year 2016
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags Inspirational, Philosophy, History: World, Self Help, Biography
Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, written by Dave Isay with Maya Millett and published in 2016, is a collection of brief, first-person narratives about the value and meaning of work. These stories were collected through the oral history project of StoryCorps, a nonprofit organization that records, archives, and shares stories of life in America. StoryCorps and its founder and president, Dave Isay, have received many grants and awards for the organization’s work, including... Read Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Military / War, Psychology, Biography