Self help books get a bad rap. From The Secret to He’s Just Not That Into You, the genre is, unfortunately, full of some serious horror stories. This is a shame, because a well-written self help book can actually fill you with a lot of excitement for your life, help you spot awesome opportunities, and motivate you to carpe diem!
The following 5 books have been hand-selected by a shameless self-help nerd who has done her fair share of rummaging through this section of the library over the years. These books have worked for me, insofar as they've led to positive change in my way of thinking. If it's an inspirational read you seek, I can't recommend these highly enough.
O magazine columnist, life coach and Harvard grad Martha Beck delivers super complex concepts about the universe and quantum physics in a straightforward, humorous style. The book guides readers through the step-by-step process she uses with her clients to help them fix thought-jams, figure out what they truly want to do, and start making it happen. It'll feel like you're getting a one-on-one training with America’s most successful life coach.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
This is a book for people who like to kick ass and get shit done. Named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential business management books, it has influenced and impressed the likes of Bill Clinton, Larry King, and millions of others. It’s all about being proactive, taking responsibility for your life, deciding how to put first things first. It’s a blueprint for attaining goals like a boss. Read this if you're craving a career change.
Women Food and God by Geneen Roth
In this famous Oprah-embraced best seller, Geneen Roth expresses her philosophy that “no matter how sophisticated or wealthy or broke or enlightened you are, how you eat tells it all.” She goes beyond food and beyond feelings about eating and shows how the way you eat is an exact mirror of your felings about love, fear, anger, and even God. Body image grapplers, this one's for you.
Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is one of the best-known figures in the holistic health movement. This physician / alternative medicine advocate / "new age guru” has a pretty amazing way of instructing DIY healing. Perfect Health provides a complete step-by-step program of mind body medicine tailored to individual needs. If you're freaking out about getting older, read this.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This 1936 classic has stood the test of time for a reason. It’s filled with timeless pointers about communicating effectively, building trust, and being genuine. Easy to navigate and organized succinctly into lists and easily-digestible sections, (“12 ways to win people to your way of thinking,” and “6 ways to make people like you“) this book gets right to the heart of the matter.
