Best Self-Help Books

by Robin Shilp Sharma, Robin Sharma

Praise for The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari “Nothing less than sensational. This book will bless your life.”Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul “A fun, fascinating, fanciful adventure ... (that) contains treasures of wisdom that can enrich and enhance the life of every single person.”Brian Tracy, author of Maximum Achievement “A delightful book that will change your life.”Elaine St. James, author of Simplify Your Life and Inner Simplicity “A captivating story that teaches as it delights.”Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is the story of Julian Mantle, a superstar lawyer whose out-of-balance lifestyle leads him to an almost fatal heart attack in a packed courtroom. His physical collapse brings on a spiritual crisis that forces him to confront the condition of his life and seek answers to life’s most important questions. Hoping to find happiness and fulfillment, he embarks upon an extraordinary odyssey to an ancient culture where he discovers a powerful system to release the potential of his mind, body and soul and learns to live with greater passion, purpose and peace. Brilliantly blending timeless spiritual wisdom of the East with cutting-edge success principles of the West, this inspiring tale shows you a step-by-step pathway for living with greater courage, balance, abundance and joy.

by Robert Greene

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control – from the author of The Laws of Human Nature. This is the only authorized paperback edition in the US. In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling” and “fascinating,” Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.   Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness”), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.

by Robert Greene

Brilliant distillations of the strategies of war—and the subtle social game of everyday life—by the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Laws of Human Nature. This is the only authorized paperback edition in the US. Robert Greene’s groundbreaking guides, The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery, espouse profound, timeless lessons from the events of history to help readers vanquish an enemy, ensnare an unsuspecting victim, or become the greatest in your field. In The 33 Strategies of War, Greene has crafted an important addition to this ruthless and unique series. Spanning world civilizations, synthesizing dozens of political, philosophical, and religious texts and thousands of years of violent conflict, The 33 Strategies of War is the I-Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Abundantly illustrated with examples from history, including the folly and genius of everyone from Napoleon to Margaret Thatcher, Shaka the Zulu to Lord Nelson, Hannibal to Ulysses S. Grant, as well as movie moguls, Samurai swordsmen, and diplomats, each of the thirty-three chapters outlines a strategy that will help you win life’s wars. Learn the offensive strategies that require you to maintain the initiative and negotiate from a position of strength, or the defensive strategies designed to help you respond to dangerous situations and avoid unwinnable wars. The great warriors of battlefields and drawing rooms alike demonstrate prudence, agility, balance, and calm, and a keen understanding that the rational, resourceful, and intuitive always defeat the panicked, the uncreative, and the stupid. An indispensable book, The 33 Strategies of War provides all the psychological ammunition you need to overcome patterns of failure and forever gain the upper hand.

by David Allen

In today's world, yesterday's methods just don't work. Veteran coach and management consultant David Allen recognizes that time management is useless the minute your schedule is interrupted; setting priorities isn't relevant when your e-mail is down; procrastination solutions won't help if your goals aren't clear. Instead, Allen shares with readers the proven methods he has already introduced in seminars and at top organizations across the country. The key to Getting Things Done? Relaxation.Allen's premise is simple: our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free productivity. His seamless system teaches us how to identify, track, and -- most important -- choose the next action on all our tasks, commitments, and projects and thus master all the demands on our time while unleashing our creative potential. The book's stylish, dynamic design makes it easy to follow Allen's tips, examples, and inspiration to achieve what we all seek -- energy, focus, and relaxed control.

by Lori Gottlieb

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! “Rarely have I read a book that challenged me to see myself in an entirely new light, and was at the same time laugh-out-loud funny and utterly absorbing.”—Katie Couric “This is a daring, delightful, and transformative book.”—Arianna Huffington, Founder, Huffington Post and Founder & CEO, Thrive Global “Wise, warm, smart, and funny. You must read this book.”—Susan Cain, New York Times best-selling author of Quiet From a New York Times best-selling author, psychotherapist, and national advice columnist, comes a hilarious, thought-provoking, and surprising new psychotherapist memoir that takes us behind the scenes of a therapist’s world—where her patients are looking for answers (and so is she). One day, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who helps patients in her Los Angeles practice. The next, a crisis of love and loss causes her world to come crashing down. Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose of­fice she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but. As Gottlieb explores the inner chambers of her patients’ lives — a self-absorbed Hollywood producer, a young newlywed diagnosed with a terminal illness, a senior citizen threatening to end her life on her birthday if nothing gets better, and a twenty-something who can’t stop hooking up with the wrong guys — she finds that the questions they are struggling with are the very ones she is now bringing to Wendell on her own path of self-discovery. With startling wisdom and humor, Gottlieb invites us into her world of psychology as both clinician and patient, examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves and others as we teeter on the tightrope between love and desire, meaning and mortality, guilt and redemption, terror and courage, hope and change. One of the most compelling personal memoirs of our time, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is rev­olutionary in its candor, offering a deeply per­sonal yet universal tour of our hearts and minds and providing the rarest of gifts: a boldly reveal­ing portrait of what it means to be human, and a disarmingly funny and illuminating account of our own mysterious lives and our power to transform them. This unforgettable memoir is a guide to the perplexing mysteries of being human, revealing: A Therapist Goes to Therapy: When a crisis sends psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb’s world crashing down, she lands on the couch of a quirky therapist named Wendell and discovers she has just as much to learn as her patients. Behind the Scenes of Therapy: Step into the therapy room and meet a cast of unforgettable patients—from a self-absorbed Hollywood producer to a young newlywed facing a terminal illness—who are all searching for answers. Profound Human Connection: Explore the universal truths and fictions we tell ourselves about love, desire, meaning, and mortality in this deeply personal tour of our hearts and minds. Funny and Heartwarming Storytelling: Discover a book that is at once laugh-out-loud funny and profoundly moving, a rare portrait of what it means to be human and our power to change.

by James Frey

In 'A Million Little Pieces', James Frey tells his story of drug and alcohol abuse and rehabilitation. He brings readers face-to-face with a provocative, new understanding of the nature of addiction and the meaning of recovery.

by Elizabeth Wurtzel

This memoir, both harrowing and hilarious, gives voice to the high incidence of depression - especially among America's youth. Prozac Nation is a collective cry for help, a generational status report on today's young people, who have come of age fully entrenched in the culture of divorce, economic instability, and AIDS. "This private world of loony bins and weird people which I always felt I occupied and hid in," writes Elizabeth, "had suddenly turned inside out so that it seemed like this was one big Prozac Nation, one big mess of malaise. Perhaps the next time half a million people gather for a protest march on the White House green it will not be for abortion rights or gay liberation, but because we're all so bummed out." Writing with a vengeance (Nirvana, Joni Mitchell, and Dorothy Parker all rolled into one), Elizabeth Wurtzel will not go gentle into that good night. She wants off medication, she wants a family, and most definitely, a life worth living.

by Ron Fry

This is a test: Name the greatest cause of stress and anxiety in students today. The answer? Tests. An antidote to test-related symptoms€”including fear, nervousness, and knots in the stomach"Ace" Any Test walks test-takers of all ages through the steps of successful test preparation, including:• Creating the time to study• Deciding when to really start studying• Studying smarter, not harder• Reading for maximum retention• Preparing for essay tests• Preparing for objective testsFriendly and encouraging, written in clear, understandable vocabulary with touches of humor, it's recommended for anyone who'd rather "ace" tests than suffer through them.

by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie is a memoir by American author Mitch Albom about a series of visits Albom made to his former sociology professor Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz gradually dies of ALS. The book topped the New York Times Non-Fiction Best-Sellers List for 23 combined weeks in 2000, and remained on the New York Times best-selling list for more than four years after. In 2006, Tuesdays with Morrie was the bestselling memoir of all time.

by Judith Moore

A Top Ten Nonfiction Book of 2005 (Entertainment Weekly) For any woman who has ever had a love/hate relationship with food and with how she looks; for anyone who has knowingly or unconsciously used food to try to fill the hole in his heart or soothe the craggy edges of his psyche, Fat Girl is a brilliantly rendered, angst-filled coming-of-age story of gain and loss. From the lush descriptions of food that call to mind the writings of M.F.K. Fisher at her finest, to the heartbreaking accounts of Moore’s deep longing for family and a sense of belonging and love, Fat Girl stuns and shocks, saddens and tickles. “Searingly honest without affectation… Moore emerged from her hellish upbringing as a kind of softer Diane Arbus, wielding pen instead of camera.”—The Seattle Times   “Frank, often funny—intelligent and entertaining.”—People (starred review)   “God, I love this book. It is wise, funny, painful, revealing, and profoundly honest.”—Anne Lamott   “Judith Moore grabs the reader by the collar, and shakes up our notion of life in the fat lane.”—David Sedaris   “Stark… lyrical, and often funny, Judith Moore ambushes you on the very first page, and in short order has lifted you up and broken your heart.”—Newsweek   “A slap-in-the-face of a book—courageous, heartbreaking, fascinating, and darkly funny.”—Augusten Burroughs

by Oliver Sacks

A Contemporary Classics hardcover edition of Dr. Sacks's most extraordinary book, in which the "poet laureate of medicine" (The New York Times) recounts fascinating case histories of patients with neurological disorders. An influential landmark in the tradition of writing about the body and the brain, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat tells the stories of individuals afflicted with perceptual and intellectual disorders: patients who have lost their memories and with them the greater part of their pasts; who are no longer able to recognize people and common objects; whose limbs seem alien to them; who lack some skills yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents. In Dr. Sacks's splendid and sympathetic telling, his patients are deeply human and his tales are studies of struggles against incredible adversity. A great healer, Sacks never loses sight of medicine's ultimate responsibility: "the suffering, afflicted, fighting human subject." Everyman's Library pursues the highest production standards, printing on acid-free paper, with full-cloth cases with two-color foil stamping, decorative endpapers, silk ribbon markers, European-style half-round spines, and a full-color illustrated jacket. Contemporary Classics include an introduction, a select bibliography, and a chronology of the author's life and times.

by Brené Brown

The original must-read, bestselling guide to becoming the best leader you can be from the critically-acclaimed author of Atlas of the Heart, Braving the Wilderness and The Gifts of Imperfection. ‘A practical and insightful guide to courageous leadership’ Sheryl Sandberg, former Facebook COO and bestselling author of Lean In ‘The ultimate playbook for daring leadership’ Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity: Water Leadership is not about titles, status and power over people. Leaders are people who hold themselves accountable for recognising the potential in people and ideas, and look to develop that potential. Brené Brown spent the past two decades researching the emotions that give meaning to our lives. She has found that leaders in organisations ranging from small entrepreneurial start-ups and family-owned businesses to non-profits, civic organisations and Fortune 50 companies, are all asking the same questions: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders? And, how do you embed the value of courage in your culture? Dare to Lead answers these questions, giving us actionable strategies and real examples from her new research-based, courage-building programme. This inspiring book shows us that, when we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. Written with Brown’s trademark mix of research, storytelling and honesty, Dare to Lead is a book for anyone who is ready to choose courage over comfort, make a difference and lead. Praise for Brené Brown ‘Brené empowers us each to be a little more courageous’ The Huffington Post ‘Brené cuts through the noise and speaks to what makes us human’ Brigadier General Brook J. Leonard, United States Air Force ‘Brené has profoundly inspired our product leaders to design in and embrace vulnerability, rather than engineer it out' Danielle Krettek, founder, Google Empathy Lab ‘The master of hope’ Metro

by Angela Duckworth

In this instant New York Times bestseller, Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.” “Inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere” (People). The daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Angela Duckworth is now a celebrated researcher and professor. It was her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience that led to her hypothesis about what really drives success: not genius, but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance. In Grit, she takes us into the field to visit cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, teachers working in some of the toughest schools, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she’s learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers—from JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff to Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll. “Duckworth’s ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better” (The New York Times Book Review). Among Grit’s most valuable insights: any effort you make ultimately counts twice toward your goal; grit can be learned, regardless of IQ or circumstances; when it comes to child-rearing, neither a warm embrace nor high standards will work by themselves; how to trigger lifelong interest; the magic of the Hard Thing Rule; and so much more. Winningly personal, insightful, and even life-changing, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that—not talent or luck—makes all the difference. This is “a fascinating tour of the psychological research on success” (The Wall Street Journal).

by Marie Kondo

This is a beautiful hardback edition of Marie Kondo's classic book, complete with a wrap-around red elastic ribbon to keep the book closed in between reading. Transform your home into a permanently clear and clutter-free space with the incredible KonMari Method. Japan's expert declutterer and professional cleaner Marie Kondo will help you tidy your rooms once and for all with her inspirational step-by-step method. The key to successful tidying is to tackle your home in the correct order, to keep only the things you really love and to do it all at once âe" and quickly. After that for the rest of your life you only need to choose what to keep and what to discard. The KonMari Method will not just transform your space. Once you have your house in order you will find that your whole life will change. You can feel more confident, you can become more successful, and you can have the energy and motivation to create the life you want. You can also find the courage to move on from the negative aspects of your life. For example, you can recognise and finish a bad relationship, stop feeling anxious or finally lose weight. Marie Kondo's method is based on a 'once-cleaned, never-messy-again' approach. If you think that such a thing is impossible then you should definitely read this compelling book. Alternatively, if you want to share The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying with your friends and family this lovely edition is the perfect gift.

by Robert B. Cialdini

Some people just won't take no for an answer. In "Influence," Dr. Robert Cialdini explains the six psychological principles that drive our powerful impulse to comply to the pressures of others and shows how we can defend ourselves against manipulation (or put the principles to work in our own interest). "Influence" guarantees two things: Readers will never say yes again when they really mean no, and they'll be more persuasive than ever before.

by Alain De Botton

Alain de Botton pairs six philosophers - Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche - with six everyday problems to which they are able to give the most helpful and fascinating answers.

by Matt Haig

An instant New York Times Bestseller! The new uplifting book from Matt Haig, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library, for anyone in search of hope, looking for a path to a more meaningful life, or in need of a little encouragement. Named by The Washington Post as one of the best feel-good books of the year “It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learnt while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.” Don’t miss Matt Haig’s new novel The Life Impossible, coming September 2024 THE COMFORT BOOK is Haig’s life raft: it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of existence.

by Michelle Obama

THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Her life. Her learnings. Her toolkit to live boldly. How do we build enduring and honest relationships? What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt? What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much? In her bestselling follow-up to the worldwide phenomenon Becoming, Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and insightful reflections to help us consider the important questions that many of us wrestle with. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she explores how we find inner strength; create and deepen relationships with others; and better protect and strengthen ourselves. In doing so, she shares the tools, habits and principles that she has developed to successfully adapt to change, like “starting kind”, “going high”, and assembling a “kitchen table” of trusted friends and mentors. With trademark humour, candour, and compassion, and a powerful blend of fresh stories and profound advice, The Light We Carry will inspire readers to identify their sources of gladness, connect meaningfully, and remain hopeful and balanced in a turbulent world. Praise for The Light We Carry: ‘Honest, funny, wise and perceptive’ The Times ‘Obama is so disarmingly honest . . . You can’t argue with the hard-fought wisdom of such an accomplished woman’ Guardian ‘The soothing balm we all need’ Grazia ‘Deeply personal and hugely inspirational’ O Quarterly

by David Goggins

Over 7 million copies sold For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare - poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him The Fittest (Real) Man in America. In this curse-word-free edition of Can't Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.

by Michael A. Singer

#1 New York Times bestseller What would it be like to free yourself from limitations and soar beyond your boundaries? What can you do each day to discover inner peace and serenity? The Untethered Soul offers simple yet profound answers to these questions. Whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you’ve devoted your life to the inward journey, this book will transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you. You’ll discover what you can do to put an end to the habitual thoughts and emotions that limit your consciousness. By tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, author and spiritual teacher Michael A. Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. Copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) The Untethered Soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. It then delves into what you can do to free yourself from the habitual thoughts, emotions, and energy patterns that limit your consciousness. Finally, with perfect clarity, this book opens the door to a life lived in the freedom of your innermost being. The Untethered Soul has already touched the lives of more than a million readers, and is available in a special hardcover gift edition with ribbon bookmark—the perfect gift for yourself, a loved one, or anyone who wants a keepsake edition of this remarkable book. Visit www.untetheredsoul.com for more information.