The 20 Best Self-Help Books to Read

The quest to be happy and win is a common goal for all of us, and the top self-help books can be a vital catalyst for achieving these goals. Self-help books are full of valuable nuggets written by experts and people who enjoy sharing what worked for them. They can elevate your thinking to a higher level and help you achieve your goals. You should, however, choose the best self-improvement book that corresponds to the problem you wish to solve. These texts cover various topics, from solving money problems to discussing love matters to addressing family-related concerns. Therefore, You should ensure that the self-help books you read address your concerns before purchasing them.

Why Does Reading Self-Help Books Help?

The main theme of self-help books is change. Changes in behaviours, personality traits, or physical characteristics - you name it. The problem is that you have to modify things on your own. After reading one of the best self-help books, you start to think you can be more, accomplish more, and experience more. You become stronger and better by doing this. You push yourself to go to new places to have experiences you've never had. We are driven to do and feel more when we think we can be more.

20 Best Self-Help Books to Read in 2023

There are 100s of self-help books in the market, but not all make it a part of your journey; hence, after reading many books, we have made a list for you and short-listed the 20 best self-help books of all time!

Top Self-Help Books of All Time

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Ratings

Amazon: 4.6/5

Goodreads: 4.4/5

Atomic Habits is the go-to manual and one of the best self-help books for changing poor habits and forming good ones in four simple steps. It demonstrates how little incremental daily routines add to significant, positive change over time. James Clear wrote this helpful and practical book to help you develop positive habits while avoiding negative ones.

Key Takeaways from Atomic Habits

1. We follow a four-step cycle every time we practise a habit: cue, craving, response, and reward.
2. We should make new habits evident, appealing, simple, and fulfilling if we wish to change our behaviour.
3. A habit tracker can be a fun method to monitor your development and keep you from slacking off.

A Famous Quote from Atomic Habits

"The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. The task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower." - James Clear.

2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Ratings

Amazon: 4.6/5

Goodreads: 3.9/5

The Alchemist is widely regarded as one of the best self-help books on the market. It is the story of a boy named Santiago who sets out to find treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream. Along the way, he meets mentors, falls in love, and - most importantly - learns the value of who he is and how to better himself and pay attention to what matters most.

Key Takeaways from The Alchemist

1. Pay attention to your heart if you want your dreams to come true.
2. You are being held back by your fear more than anything else.
3. But the key to life is to fall seven times and get back up eight.

A Famous Quote from The Alchemist

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." - Paulo Coelho.

3. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5

The book Thinking Fast and Slow explains how two brain systems continually vie for control over your behaviour and actions, how this can result in mistakes in memory, judgement, and decision-making, and how you can fix it. This best self-help book will get you thinking and change your thinking if you're seeking a fascinating conversation about the human mind.

Key Takeaways from Thinking Fast and Slow

1. The greatest advancements occur upward rather than horizontally.
2. Your brain is slothful, preventing you from utilising all your intelligence.
3. Leave your emotions at home when making financial decisions.

A Famous Quote from Thinking Fast and Slow

"The world makes much less sense than you think. The coherence comes mostly from the way your mind works." - Daniel Kahneman.

4. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Ratings

Amazon: 4.4/5

Goodreads: 4.1/5

The Four Agreements shows you how we have been domesticated since childhood, how these internal guiding rules hurt us, and what we can do to break them and replace them with a new set of agreements with ourselves. It draws on the rich tradition of the Toltecs, an ancient indigenous people of Mexico. If you are interested in ancient knowledge, this best self-help book may be exactly what you need.

Key Takeaways from The Four Agreements 

1. Since we are domesticated from an early age, we are forced to live by norms that are not our own.
2. People's words and actions toward you are a reflection of them, not of you. If you are confident in yourself, you won't take anything personally.
3. There are three ways to renounce and replace your previous agreements with new ones.

A Famous Quote from The Four Agreements 

"Just do your best — in any circumstance in your life. It doesn't matter if you are sick or tired, if you always do your best, there is no way you can judge yourself." - Don Miguel Ruiz.

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Ratings

Amazon: 4.4/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5

'7 Habits Of Highly Effective People' is among the best self-help books that teach you how to be effective on a personal and professional level by altering your perspective on how the world functions and providing you with seven habits that, if followed correctly, will help you achieve great success.

Key Takeaways from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

1. Execute the funeral test.
2. Practice saying no.
3. Use active listening techniques.

A Famous Quote from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself." - Stephen R. Covey.

Top Self-Help Books About Money

6. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Ratings

Amazon: 4.6/5

Goodreads: 4.1/5

To assist you in creating the mindset and financial understanding you need to create a life of prosperity and freedom, the book rich dad poor dad tells the tale of a youngster with two fathers, one wealthy and one impoverished. The world revolves around money, but how do you deal with them? Learn more by reading this book.

Key Takeaways from Rich Dad Poor Dad

1. Get a true financial education if you ever want to escape the "rat race" and stop living paycheck to paycheck.
2. Instead of declaring, "I can't afford that," put all your effort towards addressing the issue, "How can I afford it?"
3. Purchase more assets or anything that generates more income, and settle all liabilities or anything that consumes your money.

A Famous Quote from Rich Dad Poor Dad

"The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way." - Robert T. Kiyosaki.

7. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Ratings

Amazon: 4.8/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5

'Think and Grow Rich," one of the best self-help books, is a real eye-opener when understanding how our thoughts shape our success. This book takes you on a journey through the power of positive thinking and how envisioning your goals can make them happen. It's like a roadmap to taking control of your life and working towards your dreams, showing you that your mindset is your secret weapon.

Key Takeaways from Think and Grow Rich

1. Your thoughts drive your success train, so you better ensure they steer you in the right direction!
2. Remember that staying in the game and not giving up sets the winners apart when things get tough.
3. You don't have to do it alone – team up with folks who share your vibe and watch how success starts knocking at your door.

A Famous Quote From Think and Grow Rich

"Riches do not respond to wishes. They respond only to definite plans, backed by definite desire, through constant persistence." - Napoleon Hill.

Top Self-Help Books for Women

8. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 3.6/5

'Girl, Wash Your Face' is a self-help book that is like the pep talk you need when life's getting too overwhelming. Hollis shares her own stories and struggles, reminding us that perfection isn't the goal – embracing who we are is. It's like a heart-to-heart chat with a friend, pushing you to let go of self-doubt and confidently take charge of your dreams.

Key Takeaways from Girl, Wash Your Face

1. Facing your challenges head-on and taking ownership of your choices can lead to personal growth.
2. Letting go of the need to measure up to others allows you to focus on your unique journey and aspirations.
3. Building self-assurance involves breaking down self-doubt and pursuing your goals with determination and self-love.

A Famous Quote From Girl, Wash Your Face

"Our words have power, but our actions shape our lives." - Rachel Hollis.

9. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Ratings

Amazon: 4.4/5

Goodreads: 4/5

You Are a Badass is a total game-changer. It's like having a mentor who tells you that your doubts are just holding you back. Sincero's writing is like a shot of espresso for your soul – it pumps you up to embrace your uniqueness and take those leaps you've been scared of. 

Key Takeaways from You Are a Badass

1. Recognise your worth and tap into your limitless potential to create your desired life.
2. Let go of those pesky doubts and fears that hold you back, and watch how you can transform your reality.
3. Believe in yourself enough to take bold action because stepping out of your comfort zone is where the magic of growth happens.

A Famous Quote From You Are a Badass

"Habits define who you're being at a certain moment in time; they're not who you are." - Jen Sincero.

Top Self-Help Books for Men

10. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 3.9/5

One of the best self-help books for young people called 12 Rules For Life, offers a series of straightforward guidelines that can help us be more disciplined, conduct better, act with integrity, and balance our lives to enjoy them as much as possible. According to Dr Peterson, there are several things that everyone should be aware of, and he discusses them in this magnificent book hilariously and educationally.

Key Takeaways from 12 Rules for Life

1. Before pointing out how unclean the street is, sweep before your door.
2. Think of yourself as a child that you are in charge of.
3. Do what is essential, not what is convenient.

A Famous Quote from 12 Rules for Life

"Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today." - Jordan Peterson.

11. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Ratings

Amazon: 4.6/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5

The 48 Laws Of Power, one of the best self-help books, uses history's most well-known power struggles to explain what power looks like, how to obtain it, how to defend oneself from others' power, and, most importantly, how to use and maintain self-improvement effectively. The reader may find personal development surprising due to the combination of ideologies and historical legacies that this tough work puts into perspective.

Key Takeaways from The 48 Laws of Power

Some of the key takeaways from this best self-help book are;

1. Always make superiors look smarter than you.
2. Act unpredictably to confound rivals.
3. Instead of pressuring others to accomplish what you want, entice them.

A Famous Quote from The 48 Laws of Power

"Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument" - Robert Greene.

Top Self-Help Books to Read in Your 20s

12. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 4.4/5

Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl's horrific experiences in Nazi concentration camps are described in Man's Search for Meaning, along with his logotherapy psychological strategy, which enabled him to survive. Viktor Frankl's story demonstrates how you can - and must - find meaning in your life. This self-help book, which a psychiatrist wrote, aims to encourage readers to discover significance in their lives and what they own.

Key Takeaways from Man's Search for Meaning

Some of the key takeaways from this best self-help book are;

1. Sometimes, giving up and dying is the only way to survive.
2. It is up to you to discover the meaning that your life has for you.
3. Make use of paradoxical intention to overcome your worries.

A Famous Quote from Man's Search for Meaning

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor Frankl.

13. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Ratings

Amazon: 4.4/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5

A self-help classic, How To Stop Worrying And Start Living, tackles concern as one of the major contributors to physical sickness and provides practical advice on how to do so.

Do you believe that worrying all the time affects your well-being? This book may help you deal with those emotions by using straightforward yet powerful methods to make you feel better. 

Key Takeaways from How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Some of the key takeaways from this best self-help book are 

1. You can eliminate confusion and the anxiety it causes by using a 3-step process.
2. Put a stop loss on your anxiety and sadness.
3. Take constructive criticism to heart.

A Famous Quote from How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

"The best possible way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing today's work superbly today. That is the only possible way you can prepare for the future." - Dale Carnegie.

14. The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

Ratings

Amazon: 4.6/5

Goodreads: 4/5

The Courage to Be Disliked is quite an eye-opener. The book isn't just your typical self-help guide; it's more like a series of conversations that get you thinking. Embracing who you are, even if it means not being everyone's favourite, strikes a chord with the readers. This self-help book will resonate with you if you're into soul-searching and personal growth!

Key Takeaways from The Courage To Be Disliked 

1. It's risky to think that your past shape your future.
2. Concentrating on your flaws, you can actively seek reasons to despise yourself.
3. Most of what we see as competition is fictitious and detrimental to our happiness.

A Famous Quote from The Courage To Be Disliked

"The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you have gained that courage, your interpersonal relationships will all at once change into things of lightness." - Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga.

Top Self-Help Books for Self-Esteem

15. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 4.3/5

Daring Greatly is a book about finding the courage to be vulnerable in a society where everyone strives to come across as strong, self-assured, and knowledgeable. Although accepting our vulnerabilities can be challenging, if we master them, we realise that everything is possible. That is exactly what we are encouraged to do by Dr Brene Brown's inspiring vision: get over our doubts and learn how to live fearlessly.

Key Takeaways from Daring Greatly 

1. Strength, not weakness, is what vulnerability signifies.
2. Recognise your shame and express it to make it go.
3. Be a role model for children since they can only become like you.

A Famous Quote from Daring Greatly 

"Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance." - Brene Brown.

16. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 4/5

Big Magic will give you the confidence to follow your creative goals by demonstrating how to face your anxieties, take action on ideas as they arise, and reduce the stress of creating. In Big Magic, the author tries to teach us how to accept who we are and discover the hidden talents that can enable us to do amazing and unthinkable feats.

Key Takeaways from Big Magic

1. Allow your passions and fears to coexist.
2. Permit yourself to be creative.
3. Maintain your day job to support your creative pursuit.

A Famous Quote from Big Magic

"The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them." - Elizabeth Gilbert.

17. Quiet by Susan Cain

Ratings

Amazon: 4.4/5

Goodreads: 4.1/5

The book Quiet makes a case for the undervalued strength of introverts. It suggests new ways for both forces to work together while illustrating the gradual ascent of the extrovert ideal for success over the 20th century. In this book, Susan Cain tells us about some of those silent people in stories that she hopes may change how we think about and view them.

Key Takeaways from Quiet

1. Your personality type influences whether or not you enjoy a small conversation.
2. Extroversion is portrayed as the hallmark of success in Western cultures.
3. Businesses must adapt their workplaces to accommodate introverts as well.

A Famous Quote from Quiet

"Solitude matters, and for some people, it's the air they breathe." - Susan Cain.

18. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Joseph Schwartz

Ratings

Amazon: 4.6/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5 

The Magic of Thinking Big is one of those books that makes you realise how much power your mindset holds. Schwartz's advice is a constant reminder to aim high, believe in yourself, and take those small steps towards your dreams. This book's like having a cheering squad for your goals – encouraging you to think big and embrace the greatness within you.

Key Takeaways from The Magic of Thinking Big

1. Don't hold back - believing in your potential and aiming high sets the stage for remarkable achievements.
2. Kick those "buts" goodbye and dive into action; small steps towards your goals add up to something incredible.
3. Trusting yourself fuels success; sprinkle a dash of self-assuredness into everything you do.

A Famous Quote From The Magic of Thinking Big

"Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution." - David Joseph Schwartz.

Top Self-Help Books About Relationships

19. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 4.3/5

The 5 Love Languages teaches couples how to create a lasting relationship. Using a Couple's Personal Profile evaluation, Dr Chapman's technique will help you have a deeper connection with your partner and learn the love languages of both of you. The book is full of real-life examples.

Key Takeaways from The 5 Love Languages 

1. Communication is essential as your relationship develops.
2. People give and demonstrate their love in 5 distinct ways.
3. To increase intimacy, learn your partner's and your love languages.

A Famous Quote From The 5 Love Languages

"The best thing we can do with the failures of the past is to let them be history." - Gary Chapman.

20. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Ratings

Amazon: 4.5/5

Goodreads: 4.2/5

How to Win Friends and Influence People is your ultimate guide to mastering the art of connecting with people. Carnegie's insights are like those lightbulb moments when you finally get why some interactions go smoother than others. This book helps you create stronger connections and achieve success both personally and professionally.

Key Takeaways from How to Win Friends and Influence People

1. Connecting genuinely by understanding and respecting others' viewpoints is where all the good conversations start.
2. Give credit where it's due, and watch how a little appreciation can go a long way in making those connections stronger.
3. When you tune in and show you care about what others are saying, you're laying the foundation for seriously effective communication.

A Famous Quote From How to Win Friends and Influence People

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him." - Dale Carnegie.

You resolve to start a new "new year, new me" every New Year's Eve. But after a few months, how does it appear? Have you ever made resolutions to change something just to break them the following year? How many years in a row are there - two, three, or four? We'll eventually ask: How often do I have to do something before succeeding?

Since there will always be changes you want to make and a new person you want to become, the truthful response is "Forever." That's OK. The purpose of life is to grow. But there are tried-and-true strategies that you may employ to ensure that a particular set of new behaviours sticks. In this manner, you can avoid repeatedly attempting the same transformation. To help you make these changes easily, we have compiled a list of the best self-help books so that you can read and learn more simultaneously!