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?
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*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… Read more »
What a list! Some I hadn’t even heard off *runs off to buy them*
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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.
I needed this list in my life! Thank you so much for the great picks! 🙂
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
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… Read more »
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!
Charles Duhigg books are not on this list. I recommend both of them; the power of habit and smarter, faster better…
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
Exhaustive List.but great anyways.One suggestion would be Jordan Petersons 12 rules for life and thinking fast and slow byDaniel Kanheman.