When I first started this blog in 2007 it was called Blog to discovery; Revelations along the way to a simpler, happier and more successful life and included reviews of self improvement books I read such as Beat Stress and Fatigue and Making Happy People. I’ve kept aquiring books, but haven’t really been reading them, and when I do it is more of a quick flick through the pages without making any changes (or even thinking if there are changes I’d like to make). I want to change that this year.
So to help me absorb more from books, I’m thinking as well as writing a review, identifying the key changes I’d like to implement to act both as a reminder and so I can track progress. My other thoughts are sharing my thoughts as I work through the book on Periscope, as I did last summer when I read What the most successful people do before breakfast* or if other people want to read some of the same books we could read them at the same time and discuss them in a group as we go along.
Another decision is choosing what to read. If you follow me on Facebook you’ll know I’ve been sorting through my books. This sorting means I’ve discovered a lot of self improvement books, many of which I haven’t read, covering a wide range of topics from parenting to time management to finance to journal writing. I’ve also had a few recommended to me.
It will take a long time to read all these books so I would love your thought on where you think I should start. Which books do you recommend or would like to know more about? Are there any books you’d recommend that are missing from my list?
Loading ...*Disclosure: this is an affiliate link meaning I will earn a small percentage of anything you spend after clicking it, but it does not cost you any more
Good god, that’s a lot of self help books. The Luck Factor one is interesting – probably one of the only self help books I’ve read – I’m not a fan of them on the whole and don’t feel I need them. It’s definitely true that looking out for opportunities and thinking yourself as lucky and open to opps does mean they come your way….lots of people said I was lucky at winning lots of competitions a few years ago, but then I entered a lot and watched out for them. It’s obvious.
For me most self help books fall into the obvious category, it’s about being aware of these ideas to be able to take them on.
I know! I had no idea I’d built up such as collection until I started sorting my books using Konmari method. Yes, a lot of the books are common sense but it doesn’t mean I’m actually doing it, and to be honest it doesn’t mean I do it after reading the books either. That is something I want to change from now …
What a list! Some I hadn’t even heard off *runs off to buy them*
I know, I was very surprised when I put them all together. I’ve collected them over many years and in different methods. I think the oldest is one of the Louise L Hay books I was given in early 1990s. However, there is no point having these type of books if I don’t read them, so I’m on a mission …
Hello,
We are a not-for-profit educational organization founded by Mortimer Adler and we have recently made an exciting discovery—three years after writing the wonderfully expanded third edition of How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren made a series of thirteen 14-minute videos—lively discussing the art of reading. The videos were produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica. For reasons unknown, sometime after their original publication, these videos were lost.
Three hours with Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, lively discussing the art of reading on one DVD. A must for all readers, libraries and classroom teaching the art of reading.
I cannot exaggerate how instructive these programs are—we are so sure that you will agree, if you are not completely satisfied, we will refund your donation.
Please go here to see a clip and learn more:
http://www.thegreatideas.org/HowToReadABook.htm
ISBN: 978-1-61535-311-8
Thank you,
Max Weismann, Co-founder with Dr. Adler
Thank you for the information Max.
I have a lot of digital self help books, but ‘Feel the Fear, and Do it Anyway’ is the only one i was went out and bought a hard copy of too. It’s a great little read and perfect if you suffer with nervous or anxieties.
This is definitely a rule I live by and has me doing things I generally wouldn’t do otherwise.
Thank you for the suggestion Clare. This is one of the first self improvement books I read and haven’t read it for over ten years. There is a lot of change going on in my life at the moment so it could be a good time to reread it. It is good to hear that it had such a big impact on your life 🙂
I needed this list in my life! Thank you so much for the great picks! 🙂
Thank you, I’m glad you found the list useful.
Greg Beckham – How the Stories we tell Shape our Lives.
Get everything done and still have time to play….because there just aren’t enough hours in the day and I would love to hear how this is done!!x
Its been a few years since I’ve read this book, but I remember it had a big impact on me at the time. I think it would be good to re-read it so I can simplify my approach to tasks again.
And I thought I had a lot of self-respect books!! (although actually many of mine are more spiritual than necessarily self-respect, but often found in the same area of the bookstore!)
Of that list I have only read Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway – highly recommended (I read it at uni when I had pushed through my debilitating shyness but was still facing a tough year travelling abroad and out of my comfort zone… Every time I find myself anxious and terrified I remind myself I’d rather feel that and still experience something new than not!)
We do have The Power of Now and TJ has read it but I haven’t. Oh and as you know I just started reading You Can Heal Your Life 🙂
If you want other recommendations I would like to suggest A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson (or even listening to her free livestream talk every week!)
Like you I have various books I have yet to really read including Care of The Soul, Half a Wife (I have a spare copy of that I’m happy to send to you if you like and we could read it together?), and several more I cannot think of right now.
I also want to say that I think we often go through cycles where we absorb a huge amount of things in short bursts and then go a long time before we can do that again and it can feel like we aren’t making progress or moving forward at all, but we are, just at a different rate. In the early 2000s when I was at uni I read and practised so much and felt a huge shift in my perceptions but then my 3Rd year abroad threw me off balance and I never really got back on track until very recently… But that doesn’t mean I haven’t grown, just that I have been through a period where the lessons I was learning were so tough and I dragged my heels and I felt like I’d never feel that way again… And then suddenly something changed, almost in an instant, and I have that real desire to read, absorb, and implement change. I feel the same excitement and thrill and calm I felt all those years ago. So whilst you may feel like you’ve accumulated all these books and not really connected to them, maybe that’s just because the stage you’ve been at has been about change in a different way for a while?! Hope that makes some kind of sense…
I look forward to reading more about your journey, thanks for the comment on instagram directing me here!
Hello Amanda,
Thank you for the amazing long comment. I’ve built these books up over a couple of decades and they could probably be grouped into themes of what I was interested in at different times (although I don’t have all these books, some of them have been recommended and if they get to the top of the list I’ll buy them or get them from the library).
I agree that we go through cycles. I wasn’t reading much over the last few years, but have been motivated recently by my role becoming redundant and choosing to make a career change and looking at all my books as part of a decluttering project and realising I wanted to read them. I feel excited at the potential included in the books, although not sure which ones to read first which is why I’ve asked people their opinion.
I haven’t heard of half a wife, but it sounds interesting as I’m not finding it easy adjusting to working full time, even though I was four days in my previous job.
Little Shifts: Tiny Changes That Make a Big Difference Paperback – 1 Oct 2004
by Suzanna Stinnett
This is a small book, easy to read and supportive. A good place to start if, like me, you dump books when they start telling you to get your finger out and get on with it!
Thank you for the suggestion Jean, I will add it to my list of books to look out for. I like the idea of making small changes as it fits with my approach of little and often.
Charles Duhigg books are not on this list. I recommend both of them; the power of habit and smarter, faster better…
Thank you for the recommendations, I have added the books to the list and have already bought The Power of Habit
That is a long list Kate, the one’s I’ve recommended are one’s I’ve read some, like you from the nineties and uni. I think Amanda’s comment very wise and relate to it. I would like to add that listening to yourself ie giving yourself the time and stress less space to be at peace will let you focus on what is important for you and to do less not more if you can bc we all have busy information rich lives that easily distract from what is most important, and look after what you’ve got and where you’re at in your life, kind regards, Coral
Have you ever read anything by Crystal Paine? Her self help books are geared toward mothers and women, but contain many useful principles anyone could use. She also has a blog….Money Saving Mom. Super useful posts, courses and downloads.
I also read a lot of the stuff on jw.org. Lots of practical info on stress and anxiety reduction for people of all ages and backgrounds. All of the books on the site can be downloaded for free.
Julie A. Fast writes great self help books for people coping with mental illness and their loved ones. Her book, Get It Done When You’re Depressed, is one of the best I’ve read on the topic.
Exhaustive List.but great anyways.One suggestion would be Jordan Petersons 12 rules for life and thinking fast and slow byDaniel Kanheman.