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 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Inspirational, Fantasy, Philosophy, Self Help, Classic Fiction

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah was written in 1977 by American writer Richard Bach and is a philosophical novel that questions the nature of reality. This novel was a follow-up to Bach’s bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1970), which has similar themes and imagery. Illusions suggests that all of reality is a construct of the imagination and can facilitate or hinder a person on their path to having the life that they want. One... Read Illusions Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Self Help, Politics / Government, Psychology, Sociology, Relationships


Publication year 1984

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Language

Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Self Help, Information Age, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Psychology


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Society: Community

Tags Health / Medicine, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness

Gabor Maté’s In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addictions is an unconventional nonfiction book on how to treat addiction, how addicts can better assimilate into society, and how society can dispel many of the myths that surround addiction. Maté works as an addiction specialist at the Portland Hotel in Vancouver, Canada.  Much of the book, published in 2010, focuses on Maté’s evidence that childhood stressors increase the likelihood that one will become... Read In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Biography

Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart is a work of nonfiction by neurosurgeon and philanthropist Dr. James R. Doty. It is at once a memoir, a self-help book, and a work of popular science; Doty draws on his professional knowledge to explain the scientific underpinnings of meditative practices like visualization, while also exploring the transformative effect these practices can have on... Read Into the Magic Shop Summary


Publication year 1984

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Fantasy, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Self Help, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Health / Medicine

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked (2017), a nonfiction book by Adam Alter, explores the relationship between humans and addictive technologies. Alter is a professor of marketing at New York University Stern School of Business and has written other nonfiction titles about human behavior, such as Drunk Tank Pink.  The book begins with the assertion that people can easily become addicted to smartphones, video games, and other technologies... Read Irresistible Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Psychology, Parenting, Relationships, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Business / Economics, Self Help, Biography


Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Economics

Tags Business / Economics, Finance / Money / Wealth, Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management


Publication year 1970

Genre Novella, Fiction

Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Modern Classic Fiction, Animals, Inspirational, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by author and pilot Richard Bach, is a fable and novella that was originally presented in serialized form in Flying magazine. Bach initially struggled to find a publisher for the full work, but when the book was finally published in 1970, it enjoyed immense popular success; according to Publisher’s Weekly, it was the top-selling book of both 1972 and 1973. Bach went on to also write Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant... Read Jonathan Livingston Seagull Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Sociology, Health / Medicine, Health


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

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

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (2014) is inspirational speaker Simon Sinek’s second book, a follow-up to Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2009). The book’s title is derived from a practice in which Marine Corps Officers eat last, sacrificing their own needs for those in their care. Sacrifice is key. Sinek explores the ways in which successful individuals and companies develop cultures built on... Read Leaders Eat Last Summary


Publication year 1987

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Business / Economics, History: World, Leadership/Organization/Management, Creative Nonfiction, Self Help, Military / War, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun is a self-improvement and business leadership book by Wess Roberts, who was a human resources manager at Fireman’s Fund Insurance when he published the book in 1989. Using the historical figure of Attila the Hun as his mouthpiece, Roberts outlines his management style and approach to business. This guide refers to Attila’s “persona” when quoting words that Roberts imagines Attila might have said. In the introduction, Roberts discusses Attila... Read Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Politics / Government, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Business / Economics, Biography


Publication year 1988

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Identity: Language

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


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

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


Genre Collection of Letters, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Philosophy, Ancient Rome, Philosophy, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Classical Period, Self Help, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality