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