Self-help nonfiction books that will change the way you see life and change your life for the better.
By the end of this blog, you will get book recommendations about books covering different self-improvement topics, for example, habits, relationships, self-love, and compassion.
1. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (by James Clear)
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a book that shows you how to break your bad habits step by step. Many people, including myself, believe that this book is just amazing, and I must say that it helped me with many issues. The author makes you engage with the book and tells you exactly what you should do to succeed at breaking those bad habits.
Moreover, the author gives you practical solutions that'll help you achieve what you want and have a more organized life. Something James Clear wrote that stuck with me was, “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformation.”
This book has a rating of 4.36 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, which is pretty high, and it got 5 out of 5 stars from me.
2. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life (by Henry Cloud & John Townsend)
If you—like me—are a person who struggles with setting your own boundaries and limits, and No is a difficult word to get out of your mouth, then this book, my friend, is for you. To quote what the authors said, “This book presents a biblical view of boundaries;” however, Non-Christians will benefit from this book almost as much as the book intends. It will change your mindset and mentality completely and help you get out of your comfort zone a little.
After reading this book, you'll be able to:
Identify boundary problems and understand how they get developed.
How to start setting your boundaries with your family, friends, spouse, children, work, digital age, and finally, yourself.
(If you are a Christian, there's also a chapter called Boundaries and God that you might find interesting.)
How to deal with people who don't accept your boundaries.
Have the courage to set your boundaries and stop feeling guilty about it.
The book will tell you some ugly truths that you'll have to accept in order for you to have healthier boundaries. An example of that is when the authors said in their book, “If everything you say is loved by everyone, the odds are good that you're bending the truths.” This was a hard pill to swallow for me but a needed one.
Bonus tip: Whenever you feel like you can't express and set your boundaries, tell yourself to stop having a fearful heart. This is a method I use whenever needed, and it proved to be successful many times.
3. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (by Don Miguel Ruiz)
This is a pretty short 168-page nonfiction book (Depending on the edition you are reading). This one will tell you the four rules that, by following them, you'll view things from a whole different perspective.
These Four Agreements are:
Be impeccable with your word.
Don't take anything personally.
Don't make assumptions.
Always do your best.
The author gets in detail with each agreement and tells you how important these agreements are in shaping your life. I read this book two years ago or so, and I still implement them till now.
The second and the third agreements will help you stop judging others and judging yourself, which are two extremely crucial elements that will benefit you in your life. Moreover, they will help you have better mental health and set yourself free from the fear of other people's judgment.
I Highly recommend reading this book; it'll be a quick read that will teach you a lot. This book has a rating of 4.16 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, and it is a super popular book.
4. Learn to Love: Guide to Healing Your Disappointing Love Life (by Thomas Jordan)
This book is newly published; it is written by the author Dr. Thomas Jordan who has experience in helping his patients in their relationships. This book isn't as hyped as the other books mentioned; however, I found it to be equally informative and practical—maybe even more than some other hyped-up books.
The book tells you the different types of unhealthy relationships for you to recognize them and decide how to improve your situation. In addition, the author talks about abuse, including but not limited to physical abuse. We get to know the different types and kinds of abuse and how they affect people growing up.
The book also discusses another topic that I found interesting, which is why we repeat the same unhealthy relationships we got exposed to in childhood or previous experiences.
We then learn how to stop these unhealthy repetitions and start practicing healthy behaviors.
You'll find some grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the book, but the content itself is very informative, and 78% of the readers rated it 4 or 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
5. The Gifts of Imperfection (by Brené Brown)
This book talks about insecurity and how to embrace your imperfections. Moreover, the book shows you how embracing yourself can help you change your life. Brené Brown did research and studied the pattern of human behavior on different individuals. This research proved that those who embrace their imperfections and stop hiding them are more likely to have a happier life.
In the book, each chapter tells you how to cultivate a certain element, for example, cultivating authenticity, self-compassion, gratitude and joy, creativity, and more. I liked that after each chapter, there's a page titled Dig Deep that explains methods the author uses to get deliberate, get inspired, and get going.
The book talks about some very interesting topics, like shame, vulnerability, and fitting in. I really recommend you check out this book, especially if you are someones who find it hard to accept his flaws. This book got a rating of 4.20 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
Here's a youtube video I viewed and found both informative and amusing. Make sure to check it out if you want a more detailed discussion and review on the book.
Conclusion
All in all, there are many other great books that you should definitely check out. These are books that will help you in different areas of your life. They will help you get rid of some misconceptions and have better mental health. Moreover, they will help you create healthier relationships with others. What are self-help books that you read and found really helpful? Don't hesitate to let me know in the comments.