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 2015
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Language
Tags Education, Education, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Self Help, Humor
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Philosophy, Humor, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Psychology, Depression / Suicide, Science / Nature, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (2018) was written by Michael Pollan after curiosity and a personal desire to experience psychedelics for himself prompted exploration into psychedelic research. Pollan uses multiple forms of narrative to weave a story that’s part history, part memoir, part biomedical nonfiction, and part travelogue. The book follows the history of LSD and psilocybin as well as... Read How to Change Your Mind Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Natural World: Objects, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Philosophy, Technology, Arts / Culture, Self Help, Information Age, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Politics / Government
Publication year 2014
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts / Culture
How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery (2015) is a nonfiction book by Kevin Ashton about creativity. Ashton has led three start-ups and was a pioneer in the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) in inventory systems, underscoring his business credibility in this area. His thesis extends into the creative process involved in any field, including art and medicine. Ashton’s main point strikes an open and democratic tone: Being creative is... Read How to Fly a Horse Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Disability, Health / Medicine, Parenting, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Identity: Mental Health, Society: Community
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Relationships, Sociology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Philosophy
Publication year 1954
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Politics / Government
Publication year 1940
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Education, Philosophy, Education, Leadership/Organization/Management, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2003
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Language
Tags Education, Education, Literary Criticism, Self Help
Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines is a nonfiction book that aims to teach readers how to improve their reading skills. Foster, a longtime university professor, focuses on techniques that enable readers to puzzle out some of the deeper meanings of a story that exist below the surface level of the plot. Harper published the book in 2003, and the 2014... Read How To Read Literature Like A Professor Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Identity: Language
Tags Education, American Literature, Arts / Culture, Self Help, Inspirational, Education, Literary Criticism
Publication year 1948
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Midlife
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Inspirational, Mental Illness, Education, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1980
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Leadership/Organization/Management
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Classic Fiction
First published in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People launched the American self-help industry, sold over 30 million copies, and became a template for the thousands of self-improvement books that followed. It asserts that success with others depends on listening, showing appreciation, and empathizing with them. The book was revised in 1981; the 2020 eBook re-issue of that edition is the basis for this study guide. The book is divided... Read How to Win Friends and Influence People Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, Self Help
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Self Discovery
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community
Tags Parenting, Self Help, Psychology, Anthropology
Publication year 1968
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Philosophy, Psychology, Self Help, Parenting, Sociology
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Life/Time: Aging, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Inspirational, Self Help, Philosophy, Health / Medicine, Japanese Literature