Self-Help Books describes a diverse selection of titles that focus on self-discovery and self-improvement. The self-help genre is characterized by literature that shares research and advice to promote self-understanding and prompt changes in one's outlook or behavior, thus improving one's quality of life. The Self-Help Collection features texts that discuss topics ranging from business and personal finance to interpersonal relationships, mental health, and sexuality.
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2008
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help, Humor
In his 2008 nonfiction book The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner travels the world in search of happiness. Weiner, a former foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, sets out in this travelogue to investigate where in the world people are the most happy—and why. Casting himself as an inveterately cranky person, Weiner mixes humor, scientific inquiry, and psychological research to explain geographic concentrations of elevated mood. Since its publication, the book has been on the... Read The Geography of Bliss Summary
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Crime / Legal, Relationships, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2001
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Education, Education, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags Self Help, Inspirational, Psychology, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
The Gifts of Imperfection: Your Guide to Wholehearted Living (2022) by Brené Brown (originally published as The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are in 2010) introduces the key concepts that have become a signature of Brown’s research, such as reclaiming the importance of vulnerability and defining shame as an obstacle to self-development and connection. The original book spent 75 weeks on The New... Read The Gifts of Imperfection Summary
Publication year 1984
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help
The Goal, originally published in 1984 by North River Press, is part of a subset of business writing intended for managerial training. In the tradition of Who Moved My Cheese? and Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and Life, The Goal is a fictional fable directed at executives to help them improve organizational culture and productivity. The Goal was one of the first such publications and introduced the idea of the Theory of... Read The Goal Summary
Publication year 1968
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Inspirational, Philosophy, Self Help, Business / Economics, Religion / Spirituality, Finance / Money / Wealth, Christian literature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2014
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Self Help, Biography
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Self Discovery, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Technology, Science / Nature, Self Help
Publication year 1949
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Finance / Money / Wealth, Business / Economics, Self Help
Publication year 1899
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Philosophy, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy, Self Help, Classic Fiction
Sigmund Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams is a landmark work in the field of psychoanalysis. First published in 1899, it is one of Freud's most famous and influential books. At its core, the book explores the significance of dreams in revealing the unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts of the individual. Freud argues that dreams are not just random collections of images and sensations, as was commonly held in his day. Neither are they inspirations from... Read The Interpretation of Dreams Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Self Help, Christian literature, Philosophy, Philosophy
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by Father James Martin was published in 2010. The book is an accessible introduction to Ignatian spirituality, a famous Catholic devotional practice developed in the 16th century by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Father Martin, who left a career in corporate finance to become a Jesuit priest, is a prolific and popular writer on Catholic topics. He is an editor-at-large... Read The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Philosophy, Inspirational, Philosophy, Self Help, Biography
The Last Lecture, published in 2008, is a best-selling memoir that repurposes the final lecture delivered by Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The book, which was co-authored with Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffery Zaslow, fleshes out Pausch’s lecture, delving into the background behind the speech and detailing the months after its delivery, ultimately becoming a record of Pausch’s life. He admits that “under the ruse of giving an academic lecture... Read The Last Lecture Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Sociology
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Relationships
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Politics / Government, Social Justice, Self Help, History: U.S., Race / Racism, Diversity, Parenting, Relationships, Inspirational, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage
Tags Relationships, Self Help, Psychology, Love / Sexuality, Parenting, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology