Books
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Read 'The Obstacle is the Way' to change how you view current challenges.
After reading half of it, I noticed a personal shift in how I perceive what lies ahead.
3 people, independently
Use the free five-question list from Byron Katie's 'The Work' online.
It will change your life.
one person who lived it
- Use Byron Katie's 'The Work' to question underlying and hidden assumptions.2
Read 'I Will Teach You To Be Rich' by Ramit Sethi.
Its straightforward approach improved finances for one reader, helping them save between 15-20% of income instead of spending on random takeout.
3 people, independently
Read 'Can’t Hurt Me' by David Goggins for motivation to realize you can do anything if you believe in yourself.
- It shows that even accomplished people stray from the path but can find their way back.
3 people, independently
Use the phrase 'Transcending the bullshit' as a subconscious mantra to help navigate life.
It helped one person through their life so far.
- Sometimes it is hard to tell what is bullshit and what is not.
one person who lived it
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Read 'Awaken the Giant Within' by Tony Robbins for self-improvement guidance.
Take notes and write a summary of each book you read.
It helps refresh your memory later.
2 people, independently
Read 'Either/Or' by Søren Kierkegaard.
One person felt it tapped into their consciousness.
- This is based on one person's experience.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Slight Edge' to grasp how consistent small decisions drive results.
One person reported seeing positive life change after reading it.
4 people, independently
- Read 'Atomic Habits' and 'Attitude Is Everything' and apply their lessons to make small, consistent shifts.1
- Read 'The Power of Habit' to understand and execute habit changes concisely.5
Borrow self-help books, take notes on the core message, and return them.
The core message is often simple enough to fit on half a page.
one person who lived it
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Read 'The Concise 48 Laws of Power' and other Robert Greene books.
All of Robert Greene's books are decent.
one person who lived it
- Read 'Mastery' by Robert Greene.3
Read quality books to expose yourself to wisdom you would not conceive of on your own.
You often do not know what you do not know.
one person who lived it
Read 'F**k It' if that subject would benefit you.
It changed one person's life.
one person who lived it
Read books that challenge your worldview to change how you think, feel, and behave.
Changing your thinking changes how you feel and behave.
one person who lived it
Read at your own pace, regardless of lecture speed or expectations.
One reader took two weeks of vacation to read a 600-page book.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Miracle of Mindfulness' to remind yourself to breathe and be present.
It serves as a reminder to breathe and be here now.
one person who lived it
- Read 'Mindfulness in Plain English' by Bhante Gunaratana to examine yourself and your interactions.3
One person reported that reading 'The Art of Happiness' by the Dalai Lama helped them change their character during high school.
The reader described shifting from being an 'asshole' to becoming an 'actual person'.
- Based on one individual's experience in high school.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Power of Self Coaching' to get ahead of your mind.
One reader reported it helped them manage their thoughts better.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Art of Good Life' for concise, simple life lessons.
It is concise, to the point, and packs several valuable life lessons into one book with simple explanations.
one person who lived it
If other self-help books didn't click, try reading 'Your Erroneous Zones' by Wayne Dyer.
It really clicked for one reader who is thinking of rereading it.
one person who lived it
Read '4000 Weeks' by Oliver Burkeman to reflect on how you use your time, steering clear of a constant hustle mindset.
3 people, independently
Read 'Allah Loves' by Omar Suleiman to help you love people and yourself.
One person said it helped them love people and themselves.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Brain That Changes Itself' by Norman Doidge; one person described it as the best influence ever.
One person described it as the best influence ever.
2 people, independently
Read 'Think Again' by Adam Grant to rethink your assumptions and beliefs.
One reader said it made them literally rethink everything.
2 people, independently
Read 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius for daily motivation and perspective.
It helped people gain a better outlook and changed their way of thinking.
4 people, independently
- Read 'The Daily Stoics: 366 Meditations' by Ryan Holiday for daily stoic practice.6
- Read 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius for Stoic philosophy and daily reflection on struggles.4
Read Dr. Joseph Murphy's book on the power of the subconscious mind.
3 people, independently
- Read 'The Magic of Thinking Big' by David Schwartz to improve your mindset.3
Read 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz to shift your mindset and improve how you relate to others.
It helps shift your mindset and improves how you relate to others; re-reading reveals new insights each time.
one person who lived it
Read 'Ishmael' by Daniel Quinn to change your perspective on society.
It changed one reader's perspective on society.
one person who lived it
Read 'Your Money or Your Life' by Vicki Robin.
One reader reported it really changed their life.
one person who lived it
- Read 'Your Money or Your Life' to adopt the mindset that money equals life energy, which helps curb spending.1
Read 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield to break through creative blocks and win inner creative battles.
4 people, independently
Apply efficient learning techniques to master new skills quickly.
One reader has used these techniques for six years and finds them phenomenal.
one person who lived it
If you want to broaden your mind, read 'Clarity and Connection' and 'Inward' by Yung Pueblo.
One reader reported these books broadened their mind.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Millionaire Next Door'.
It is good.
one person who lived it
- Read 'Millionaire Teacher'.1
Read 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' for humor.
It is intended to make you laugh.
one person who lived it
Bookmark or add sticky notes to pages in 'Unfu*k Yourself' that stand out to you.
This helps reinforce key points for new readers.
one person who lived it
Read 'Buddha's Brain' by Rick Hanson to learn about meditation.
one person plans to use it for this purpose
one person who lived it
Read the book 'Win Your Inner Battles' for help with self-discipline.
it’s helpful
one person who lived it
- Read 'Discipline Equals Freedom' by Jocko Willink to build self-control and assume responsibility for your life.4
Try reading 'Way of the Peaceful Warrior' by Dan Millman if you are looking for an engaging book.
One reader reported loving it.
5 people, independently
Read 'The Magic of Attracting Money' by Mani Maran.
It is described as being 'as good as they come.'
one person who lived it
Read the Bhagavad Gita to gain discipline.
One person reported that reading it changed their life by instilling discipline.
- Based on a single personal account.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Hobbit'; one reader found it taught them how to live better and helped them through hard times.
- Based on a single person's experience
one person who lived it
Read Kurt Vonnegut's books, such as 'Cat's Cradle', for life-changing perspectives.
One reader considers them the most important books in life.
one person who lived it
Read simple books on mindfulness to learn how to practice it.
Simplicity helped clarify the 'how-to' of mindfulness.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Alchemist' to distract yourself from worries and find reward.
One reader found it short, rewarding, and effective at making them forget their worries.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Way of the Superior Man' by David Deida to learn about attraction and how to be a better partner.
It helped one person after their first serious relationship.
one person who lived it
Read 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' by Robert Glover to avoid becoming bitter when exiting people-pleasing behaviors.
It explains how failing to exit the 'nice guy zone' properly can lead to bitterness instead of fairness.
one person who lived it
If you struggle with motivation or brain performance, try reading 'Limitless' by Jim Kwik.
One person reported it helped them with this exact problem.
one person who lived it
Read 'No More Mr Nice Guy' to improve relationships and complete procrastinated projects.
One reader reported it changed their life for the better in these areas.
one person who lived it
Read 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius to apply Stoic philosophy and use regret as a tool to recognize good you failed to get.
Stoicism is a practical philosophy with key ideas modern research has found effective.
one person who lived it
Try reading 'Building a Second Brain' as one approach that helped with organizational systems.
One person listed it among books that helped them.
one person who lived it
Read 'Braving the Wilderness' by Brené Brown if you struggle with vulnerability and connection.
One person reported it really helped them with these issues.
one person who lived it
Read 'Writing Without Teachers' by Peter Elbow to adopt a messier, freer approach to writing.
This method helps completely remove writer's block.
one person who lived it
Read 'No Excuses' by Brian Tracy for motivation.
One person reported being forever grateful for the advice in this book.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Drama Triangle' by Karpman to cultivate your inner adult.
It helped control behavior.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Power of Decision' by Raymond Charles Barker.
It is described as very good.
one person who lived it
Read 'What Do You Really Want for Your Children' by Wayne Dyer to learn how to talk to people in constructive ways.
one person who lived it
Read 'Principles' to learn how to think and build systems.
one person who lived it
Pick up 'The Happiness Trap' by Russ Harris for a clear entry point into acceptance and commitment therapy.
5 people, independently
Recognize that part of a self-help book's value is creating the psychological buy-in needed for change.
Summaries may not convince you why the advice matters or create the motivating environment needed to shift your mindset away from negativity.
one person who lived it
Read 'Awaken the Giant Within' by Tony Robbins for self-improvement guidance.
8 people, independently
- Read Tony Robbins' 'Unleash the Power Within' for spiritual growth.1
One reader reported that 'The Simple Path to Wealth' helped them achieve financial independence.
- based on one person's experience
one person who lived it
Summarize books and launch an action plan to put insights into practice.
This approach helps move beyond passive reading to actual implementation.
one person who lived it
Listen to the audiobook 'As a Man Thinketh' by James Allen repeatedly.
One listener found the short book worth hearing over and over again.
one person who lived it
Read Cal Newport's 'Deep Work' to improve focus and eliminate distractions.
5 people, independently
If you are struggling with fear of money during unemployment, re-read 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad'.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Moral Animal' to gain a deeper understanding of human nature.
One reader reported feeling they understood humans much better after reading it.
one person who lived it
Learn how to learn, manage emotions, meditate, and workout from books, as these skills are often not taught in school.
one person who lived it
Read 'Happy' by Derren Brown, which mostly uses Stoic philosophy.
It is proving useful.
one person who lived it
Read 'Atomic Habits', 'Psycho-Cybernetics', and 'The Power of Now' together as a set that may change your life.
one person who lived it
Read 'Racing Towards Excellence' by Muzaffar Khan and Jan Sramek for its minimalistic structure, clear ideas, and practical thought-provoking questions.
One reader found new aspects in the book upon repeated readings.
one person who lived it
Implement the advice from self-improvement books into your life rather than just reading them.
Implementation is what creates change; books often fail because people never apply the advice.
one person who lived it
Read On Becoming Human by Carl Rogers for guiding principles.
one person who lived it
Read 'Direct Truth' by Kapil Gupta to understand things without prescriptions.
you'll understand many things without prescriptions
one person who lived it
Highlight, reread, and annotate passages in books to improve understanding.
These actions help understand the book better.
one person who lived it
Read 'Grit' by Angela Duckworth to understand why highly qualified people sometimes fail more than others.
It provides insight into why qualified people, such as military academy recruits, may fail at higher rates than community college students.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Mastery of Love' by Don Miguel Ruiz.
One person highly recommends it for understanding and overcoming jealousy.
one person who lived it
Read 'Finding Ultra' by Rich Roll; one person found the author and his wife to be an inspiration.
one person who lived it
Read Calvin and Hobbes comics, ponder the wisdom, and incorporate it into daily life.
Improvement follows.
one person who lived it
Read 'Emotional Agility' for helpful self-improvement insights.
One reader felt the short book was actually helpful.
one person who lived it
Read 'The Psychology of Money' for insights into financial psychology.
4 people, independently
Read 'Factfulness' to improve critical thinking and media engagement.
It impacts how people engage with information, helping them think for themselves and make critical assessments.
one person who lived it
Reread 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' every year or couple of years.
3 people, independently
Read 'Capital' by Karl Marx, 'Capitalist Realism' by Mark Fisher, and 'Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution' by Peter Kropotkin.
one person who lived it
Read 'Getting Things Done' by David Allen to manage complex projects; one user saw significant forward momentum in their life.
one person who lived it
Read 'Difficult Conversations' by Douglas Stone et al. to navigate arguments more in personal relationships.
one person who lived it
Find a 'why' to live for to help bear any 'how'.
Having a purpose helps endure difficult circumstances.
one person who lived it
Improve your day by getting sunlight, going for a walk, writing things down, and taking a nap.
It helps you do better today.
one person who lived it
Keep an open mind to both evidence-based and spiritual self-improvement ideas.
Both have their uses.
one person who lived it
Write down a dream or vision that excites you and sets a timeframe for fulfillment, then meditate on it every morning and night.
Everything else will follow.
one person who lived it
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Change your beliefs by going out and having experiences that make new ideas real to you.
one person who lived it
Start exercising as part of a morning routine even if you do not wake up early yet.
one person who lived it
Focus on simple daily actions, knowing they will have profound effects that compound over time.
Simple everyday actions accumulate into amazing results.
2 people, independently
Accept responsibility only for your own choices, not for how people react to them.
one person who lived it
Seek happiness through contribution and connection rather than recognition.
one person who lived it
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Read '7 Habits for Teens' by Sean Covey for a fresher approach to habits than the original.
It is considered much fresher than the older version by Stephen.
- The original work is described as dated.
2 people, independently
Consider reading 'The 10X Rule' if you are at a point in your life where it resonates with your current needs.
It was helpful for one person at a specific stage of their life.
- Effectiveness may depend on your current life stage.
one person who lived it
Treat self-help books like fiction or bedtime stories; focus on integrating tips rather than just feeling good.
Most people listen to the tips but do not integrate them.
one person who lived it
If you are new to Taoism, read 'The Tao of Pooh' as an accessible introduction.
One person reported it totally changed their life.
one person who lived it
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Approach self-improvement with lightheartedness and have fun along the way rather than taking everything too seriously.
One reader found this perspective helpful, though noted it is not everyone's cup of tea.
- This approach may not be suitable for everyone.
one person who lived it
Read 'Tiny Habits' by BJ Fogg or 'Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg for habit formation insights.
were both great
one person who lived it
Read 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' to examine why you want to improve yourself before arbitrarily trying to change.
It helps you examine what you value before arbitrarily trying to make money or change your appearance, avoiding bad reasons for change.
one person who lived it
Read Eckhart Tolle's works, such as 'A New Earth,' to distance yourself from momentary feelings and address ego.
It provides a useful perspective for distancing from fleeting emotions and dealing with ego to evolve personally.
one person who lived it
Expect slow, gradual improvement in self-improvement efforts rather than immediate results.
The brain adapts to changes over time, which can mask the amount of progress made.
one person who lived it
Read 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' to influence how you spend your time and approach developing skills.
One reader found that Phaedrus' search for the meaning of quality influenced their time management and skill development during a major life change.
one person who lived it
Read Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot' to explore an alternative way of living, viewing the protagonist as a hero rather than a fool.
It illustrates another way of life where the 'idiot' is actually the hero.
one person who lived it
Read 'How to Keep House While Drowning' for a compassionate approach to habit-building.
It offers a similar theme to other habit books but through a more personable and compassionate lens.
one person who lived it
Read Charles Duhigg's 'The Power of Habit' to understand how brain chemistry influences habit change.
It helps explain that changing habits is less about overcoming emotions and more about understanding brain chemistry.
one person who lived it
Read 'Digital Minimalism' to reduce unnecessary tech usage and find useful hobbies.
It provides examples on hobbies that some found very useful.
one person who lived it
Watch motivational videos to generate initial energy, then immediately use that surge to build good habits.
Motivation is described as unreliable or 'bullshit'.
one person who lived it
Adopt a disciplined approach to self-improvement and lower immediate expectations, recognizing that excitement can lead to abandoning techniques.
Excitement was found to be dangerous rather than helpful; lowering expectations allows ideas learned today to drastically improve you over months rather than expecting immediate shifts.
one person who lived it
Read 'Models' by Mark Manson to see how vulnerability can make you appear strong and attract partners.
one person who lived it
Read biographies to learn about overcoming difficulties, setting stretch goals, and the power of will.
They teach how to compete with the best and chase goals through will and practice.
one person who lived it
Start reading biographies of people you admire to dive deep into their minds and ways of doing things.
It allows you to understand successful people's perspectives and methods.
one person who lived it
Read a biography of Teddy Roosevelt for inspiration.
It is an incredible source of inspiration.
one person who lived it
Read 'Rethinking Narcissism' to gain clarity on life experiences.
one person who lived it
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Read biographies for entertainment and case studies, but recognize they may not be applicable to you due to confounding factors like upbringing.
- Solutions may not be applicable due to confounding factors.
one person who lived it
Avoid 'The Secret' because it lacks evidence for its extreme claims.
The book glosses over wild claims for which no evidence can be found.
one person who lived it
Listen to 'The Charisma Myth' on Audible.
It is definitely worth your time.
one person who lived it
Be skeptical of New York Times bestseller lists as they can be manipulated through coordinated purchasing.
The list can be scammed easily and does not necessarily reflect books people naturally just buy.
one person who lived it