24 Best Self-Help Books to Read in 2024

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At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Self-Help Books:

When you want to improve yourself, your mindset and your overall well being, what better place is there to turn than to a self-help book?

Whether you’re looking for something to help you engage with your spirituality, increase your confidence or motivate yourself to start a new business, we’ve dug through piles of resources to find the best self-help books to read in 2024 and beyond.

Best Self-Help Books by Category

  1. Self-Help Books for Teens
  2. Self-Help Books for Women
  3. Men Self-Help Books
  4. Self-Help Books for Depression
  5. Self-Help Books for Anxiety
  6. Motivational Self-Help Books
  7. Self-Help Books for Relationships
  8. Self-Help Books for Spirituality

Best Self-Help Books for Teens

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The Teen’s Guide to World Domination
• Grade Level: 8 - 9
• Reading level : 13 - 18 years
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How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Mass Market Paperback & Audio CD
• Paperback: 224 pages
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Stress Relief for Men• Formats: Kindle & Paperback
• Paperback: 368 pages
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Hardcore Self-Help: F**k Depression by Robert Duff, Ph.D.• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook & Paperback
• Paperback: 150 pages
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Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook & Paperback
• Paperback: 242 pages
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Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance by Angela Duckworth• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & Audio CD
• Paperback: 368 pages
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The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Library Binding, Paperback & Audio CD
• Paperback: 208 pages
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The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & MP3 CD
• Paperback: 200 pages
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The Teen’s Guide to World Domination: Advice on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp

The Teen’s Guide to World Domination: Advice on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp
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Pulling from a rough childhood as inspiration, Josh Shipp’s words have been heard by millions of teens. In The Teen’s Guide to World Domination, Shipp pulls together all of his advice into a powerful self-help book for teens.

You’ll learn to use your inner strength to defeat what Shipp calls the seven villains that teens are up against: painful mistakes, back-stabbing friends, bad relationships, people who want you to follow in their exact footsteps, bad influences, pessimistic people, and “puppies,” which are fun and cute on the surface, but have hidden consequences.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Stephen Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Stephen Covey
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Perhaps the “OG” of teen self-help books, Stephen Covey’s bestseller covers all of the issues that teens in the digital age deal with, in an easy-to-read, digestible guide that is reminiscent of Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Recently updated, the book also delves into issues that teens face these days online, whether it’s managing social media or dealing with the very real issue of cyberbullying.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven
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Admiral William H. McRaven made headlines with his viral commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, when his speech on life lessons – including the importance of making his bed – influenced people across the world.

Drawing upon the lessons that he learned during his long Naval career and throughout his life, Admiral McRaven’s book provides practical, important tenets of advice for everyone. Teens everywhere can gather advice that is sure to follow them through the years.

Best Self-Help Books for Women

How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t: 14 Habits That Are Holding You Back from Happiness by Andrea Owen

How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t: 14 Habits That Are Holding You Back from Happiness by Andrea Owen

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Women can tend to be self-destructive in the way that men typically aren’t, and Owen’s book helps to center in on 14 particular habits that are holding women back, from imposter syndrome and thinking the worst of situations to people pleasing and the ever-present inner critic.

Regardless of what’s holding you back in life, Owen’s book is a catch-all for whatever you might be facing. In short, to-the-point chapters, you’ll be able to identify and chase the problems that are stopping you from being the best version of yourself.

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis
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It’s no secret that women are all too often apologizing for anything they can think of – for being too smart, too dumb, too big, too small, too busy, too ambitious, too lazy. In the follow-up to her New York Times bestseller Girl, Wash Your Face, Hollis takes the idea that women should apologize for everything and turns it on its head, instead challenging her readers to chase after their dreams.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
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While riding the bus, Gretchen Rubin asked herself what she wanted to be life, and realized that she wanted just to be happy – but that she wasn’t actively working towards that. She embarked on a yearlong happiness project, which she chronicles in her book along with tips to start on your own journey of happiness.

Rubin’s book – which hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list – is a great start to sparking happiness in every life, with scientific research and personal anecdotes along the way.

Woman reading one of the best self-help books

Best Self-Help Books for Men

Stress Relief for Men: How to Use the Revolutionary Tools of Energy Healing to Live Well by Jed Diamond, Ph.D.

Stress Relief for Men: How to Use the Revolutionary Tools of Energy Healing to Live Well by Jed Diamond, Ph.D.
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The toxic effects of stress are everywhere, from depression and sexual dysfunction to irritability and chronic pain. In this book, Diamond uses science and energy healing techniques to encourage men to fight their stress in new and more holistic ways, like with grounding and attachment love. For men everywhere dealing with stress and pressure, Diamond shows techniques that look past the typical.

The Mask of Masculinity: How Men Can Embrace Vulnerability, Create Strong Relationships, and Live Their Fullest Lives by Lewis Howes

The Mask of Masculinity: How Men Can Embrace Vulnerability, Create Strong Relationships, and Live Their Fullest Lives by Lewis Howes
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Lewis Howes grew up as an athlete, harnessing his love for competition, sports, and greatness into his career. However, he realized that his life was built on a skewed version of masculinity. In his book, Howes gives the advice he took in on his yearlong journey to understand masculinity and the masks – of stoicism, of aggression, of jokes – that go along with it, a must-read for men everywhere.

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! by Tony Robbins

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! by Tony Robbins
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Leading motivational expert Tony Robbins talks about the essentials of self-mastery in this book, which is the book to read for those who need to learn to take control of their own lives. By encouraging the reader to take action, Robbins gives each person the self-motivation to stop making excuses, to face their emotions, and to chase the destinies that they want.

Self-Help Books for Depression

Hardcore Self-Help: F**k Depression by Robert Duff, Ph.D.

Hardcore Self-Help: F**k Depression by Robert Duff, Ph.D.
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Written by an actual doctor, Robert Duff’s book is marketed as a self-help book for those who hate self-help books. You’ll get to see the science side of depression to understand things like why you don’t have any energy, and your eyes will also be open in order for you to beat some of the issues that depression helps to cause.

The 10-Step Depression Relief Workbook: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach by Simon Rego, PsyD

The 10-Step Depression Relief Workbook: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach by Simon Rego, PsyD
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Sometimes you can’t get to therapy – and there’s no doubt that therapy can help combat some depression. With this workbook, you’ll use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help you heal. On top of life-changing exercises and a personal plan, the book also includes a 10-step strategy for you to get better.

The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change At a Time by Alex Korb, Ph.D.

The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change At a Time by Alex Korb, Ph.D.
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Instead of focusing on the downward spiral that depression can cause, Dr. Korb focuses on neuroscience to promote an upward spiral based on practical advice and understanding brain processes. This book focuses on small steps rooted in science to get you started on an upward smile, helping you to understand what’s actually going on in your brain.

Self-Help Books for Anxiety

Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh

Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh
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In McDonagh’s book, you’ll learn how to stop simply managing your anxiety and instead learn to help solve it. Using the DARE technique outlined in this book, you’ll learn how to do everything from stopping anxiety in its tracks and using natural supplements to falling asleep faster and face anxious situations.

The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety: The 8-Week Solution to Help You Manage Anxiety, Worry & Stress by Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC

The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety: The 8-Week Solution to Help You Manage Anxiety, Worry & Stress by Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC
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Sometimes the best way to relieve anxiety and stress is to get tactile and work with your hands to distract yourself. In this workbook, 8 weeks of simple activities and guidance help you to decrease anxiety symptoms and learn how to deal effectively with stress, making the day-to- day a little simpler.

Badass Ways to End Anxiety & Stop Panic Attacks! – A counterintuitive approach to recover and regain control of your life by Geert Verschaeve

Badass Ways to End Anxiety & Stop Panic Attacks! – A counterintuitive approach to recover and regain control of your life by Geert Verschaeve
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In this book, you’ll look past techniques like mindfulness and medicine and instead look toward counterintuitive techniques that allow you how to respond to and think about anxiety differently. In four stages, Verschaeve’s book and techniques hope to help you regain the life you’ve been losing.

Best Self-Help Books for Motivation

Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
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In this book, Angela Duckworth reminds us that talent isn’t what motivates and gets us places – it’s perseverance, passion, and persistence. It’s called grit. You’ll read stories about everyone from teachers to West Point students and get insights from people like Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, learning how grit creates real and lasting results.

You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
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Sometimes you just need people to tell you that you rock, and that’s what Jen Sincero does in this book. In 27 fun chapters, you’ll learn how to create a life you love, change self-sabotaging behaviors, participate in exercises, and make the money that you deserve with funny stories, honesty and advice.

How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life by John C. Maxwell

How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life by John C. Maxwell
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So much of your success in life is based on how you think – whether it be negative or positive. In this book, John C. Maxwell breaks down the pattern of thinking that successful people participate in. The book teaches you to think in a way that helps to un-tap your potential, understand your past, and leverage you toward a more successful future.

Best Self-Help for Relationships

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman
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In this bestseller, couples learn how to love each other – and themselves – better by discovering love languages. Whether you crave physical touch or words of affirmation, this book helps you to unlock the specific needs within your relationship.

No More Fighting: The Relationship Book for Couples: 20 Minutes a Week to a Stronger Relationship by Alicia Muñoz, LPC

No More Fighting: The Relationship Book for Couples: 20 Minutes a Week to a Stronger Relationship by Alicia Muñoz, LPC
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By sitting down with each other for 20 minutes a week to work through the issues that tend to cause real fights, couples can use Muñoz’s book to get to the bottom of things before they come serious problems. By promoting the practice of discussing things with each other, this book helps your relationship to reach new levels of understanding and problem-solving capabilities.

201 Relationship Questions: The Couple’s Guide to Building Trust and Emotional Intimacy by Barrie Devenport

201 Relationship Questions: The Couple’s Guide to Building Trust and Emotional Intimacy by Barrie Devenport
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With Devenport’s book of questions, you’ll reach a new level of intimacy and understanding with your partner. This book includes 201 questions to help you relate to each other on a new level. The book invites discussion on topics that will help your relationship deepen and expand.

Self-Help Books for Spirituality

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
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In this bestselling book, the goal is for you to learn how to look inward and embrace your spirituality to set yourself free emotionally. Using the traditional techniques of mindfulness and meditation, you’ll learn to tap into your consciousness to discover more of what lies inside of you.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
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By delving deep into the story of the magical journey of a boy named Santiago, this book will help you to learn things about yourself and the world around you that you would have never imagined. Coelho’s book has been a years-long phenomenon for a reason, and it has taught countless people to follow their dreams, look for signs, and look past their worldly treasure.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu
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Written by two of the most influential people in the world – the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – this book will take you down a journey of joy: what causes it, what takes away from it, and what it is.

Using stories and anecdotes from their own lives, these two spiritual heads get to the root of how joy affects the spirit.

best self help books

What Self-Help Books Will You Read in 2024?

Are you planning to spend the year achieving health and fitness goals, strengthening your relationships or prioritizing self-love?

Whatever your goals may be, the first step is acknowledging what you want to achieve and then making a plan to get there!

The books on this list have helped people at every stage of life achieve their personal and professional goals. So, which book will you start with?

Best Books for Personal Growth
Best Psychology Books
Jungian Psychology Books
Self-Help Books
Myers-Briggs Books

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About the Author

At the ripe old age of 3, Susannah decided that life was just a blank canvas and took Magic Marker to the newly installed carpet in her room just to “see what happened.”

She’s taken that approach to life since, curious about pretty much everything. She earned a journalism degree from Texas A&M University with the mission of making asking questions and telling stories her life, and since then has done everything from social media strategizing and content creation on the national level to writing a career column for USA TODAY.

Susannah is a high school teacher and yearbook adviser with a huge passion for reading (Harry Potter is her absolute favorite), and is excited to bring another book-loving voice to Hooked to Books.

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