It’s 2022, and you’re still not where you want to be.
You don’t have a job that pays well enough without working too much.
You’ve tried personal development courses, but nothing has stuck yet. Maybe it’s time for the best self development books to read!
These are some of the best self-development books to read in 2022:
1. EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE BY MARIE FORLEO
Marie Forleo’s advice lets you become the creative force in your life. Too many people today are living lives where they feel like a rat running on a wheel, desperately pursuing one quick fix after another.
This book is perfect for those looking to bounce back from a negative personal event or change in their lifestyle. By the end of the text, you, too, will be convinced that “everything is figureoutable.”
2. CHANGE YOUR SCHEDULE, CHANGE YOUR LIFE BY DR. SUHAS KSHIRSAGAR
Disciplined and dedicated people must adhere to a schedule, so it’s no surprise they find inspiration in this book.
Dr. Kshirsagar details how our biological clocks impact every human part of everyday life using the tenets of Ayurvedic principles and combined with scientific research.
The smallest bad habit can disrupt our natural cycles, which is why the author offers a 30-day plan to help change your schedule and also potentially change your life.
3. SEARCH INSIDE YOURSELF BY CHADE-MENG TAN
As a Google employee, Chade-Meng Tan has seen firsthand how mindfulness and emotional intelligence can improve the world.
Now he is sharing his wisdom with others.
4. YEAR OF YES BY SHONDA RHIMES
You probably already know that Shonda Rhimes is a famous tv show producer and screenwriter (consider her hit series Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal).
Shonda Rhimes has achieved a lot in her life, but she realized there was still room for personal development.
She agreed to say yes to every offer that came her way, even if they were unexpected or potentially risky for one year.
Reflecting on the change it made in her life, here’s how you can benefit from saying “yes” more often.
5. AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS BY MARTIN SELIGMAN, PhD
Does happiness seem like a fairy tale to you?
In this book, Dr. Martin Seligman challenges you to embrace positive thinking and examine your highest virtues to have a more fulfilling outlook on life.
Focusing on personal strengths rather than weaknesses will lead those with this mindset towards real, lasting happiness.
6. THE THIRD DOOR BY ALEX BANAYAN
So here’s how Alex Banayan defines fame and success in his book The Third Door, Fame is like a nightclub. There are three ways to get inside. Most people wait in line for a chance to get inside. Some people can use their wealth and who they know to skip to the front of the line, but that is not an option for all.
But often overlooked is a third door that many successful people find to be the key to their success- The Third Door.
Here, Banayan uncovers how some of history’s greatest achievers found their way through this hidden passage and what we can do today to unlock our potential for achievement and growth.
7. DARING GREATLY BY BRENÉ BROWN, PHD
Does fear of being vulnerable scare you? If so, you are not alone.
You may think that books on personal development are just about hearing others’ stories and getting inspiration from their triumphs. Still, author Brené Brown is challenging readers to take another approach.
In her book, Dr. Brown details how separating yourself from fear, instead of running from it like many of us do, is a far more powerful way to live.
8. CARE TO LEAD BY ALEC MCGALLIARD
In his book, Alec McGalliard breaks down basic leadership skills into four categories- Communication, Accountability, Relationships, and Excellence.
These skills can be applied to most relationships rather than just those in the workplace.
9. BIG MAGIC BY ELIZABETH GILBERT
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love, turns her focus in this book to creativity.
Where can we find our most creative selves? How do we tap into them on a day-to-day basis? What are the attitudes, approaches, and habits that allow for creativity?
10. HUSTLE BELIEVE RECEIVE BY SARAH CENTRELLA
In over 18 months, Sarah Centrella went from being a single mom living off of food stamps to being both successful and fulfilled.
The HBR Method is her creation: an inspirational message she’s spreading in this personal development book about becoming the best version of yourself.
11. WHEN BY DANIEL H. PINK
Is timing everything? What does that mean, and how do you find the perfect time? Pink unpacks everything about timing from a psychological, biological, and economic perspective to show you how timing is less about intuition.
12. RADICALLY HAPPY BY PHAKCHOK RINPOCHE AND ERRIC SOLOMON
In this book, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Erric Solomon and Tibetan Rinpoche Phakchok Rinpoche team up to present a path to living a radically happy life.
13. THE ALTER EGO EFFECT BY TODD HERMAN
One of the most difficult obstacles standing in the way of achieving goals is you.
To get that self-sabotaging version of yourself out of your way, Todd Herman dives into what it means to take responsibility for your own actions and how to stop settling for less than you are capable of.
14. CAN’T HURT ME BY DAVID GOGGINS
David Goggins’s childhood was rife with poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse.
In this book, Goggins reveals his personal journey from depression and self-loathing to success. And he shares the techniques he used to overcome his negative thoughts.
Goggins believes that most of us only tap into 40% of our capabilities. He believes that, with the right amount of mental training and physical conditioning, we can tap into 100%.
15. UNSTOPPABLE BY CRAIG BALLANTYNE
Do you feel anxious and overwhelmed often? Lots of people do, and author Craig Ballantyne gets that. He has personal experience dealing with anxiety attacks and general feelings of apprehension.
In this book, Ballantyne offers methods to overcome these feelings so that you can be successful both in business and life.
16. FIND YOUR ARTISTIC VOICE BY LISA CONGDON
Are you a visual artist looking for helpful personal development books? Look no further. Lisa Congdon’s “Artists’ Way” is basically the only book you need to find your own artistic voice.
It’s hard to find the balance between your influences and your own creative path, but Congon provides concrete methods on how to do just that.
17. STOP SELF-SABOTAGE BY DR. JUDY HO
Dr. Judy Ho knows that everyone is guilty of self-sabotage sometimes, and she’s here to help you break the cycle with her six steps for self-improvement.
This book will teach you how to identify and avoid self-sabotage, learn what motivates you, and use your willpower in the right way.
18. THE SCIENCE OF GETTING STARTED BY PATRICK KING
Patrick King’s book looks at the troubles of self-sabotage, specifically procrastination. We are all guilty of procrastination which never leads to desired results.
In this book, King offers scientific solutions to our issues so that we can get out of our own way and get the job done.
19. CHOOSE WONDER OVER WORRY BY AMBER RAE
When we worry about things, it can hold us back from reaching our goals. Sometimes worry convinces us that we’re not going to accomplish the most important things to us or that fear is too great for us to overcome. Author Amber Rae has written this book as an encouragement so that you may face your worries and “rewrite” your story.
This book is about self-doubt, not feeling good enough, and how to move beyond worry and fear in order to reach your potential. It takes a deep look at these issues that we struggle with every day as well as provides solutions for overcoming them.
20. FAILING UP BY LESLIE ODOM, JR.
Leslie Odom, Jr. originated the role of Aaron Burr in Broadway’s Hamilton, a musical that has defined this generation. Now he shares his personal journey: hard work and determination leading to sold-out shows, winning a Tony Award, and singing for the Obamas at the White House.
Odom asks questions that help you unlock your true potential through life stories in his book.
21. THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP BY MARIE KONDO
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo is one of the most influential self-help books that I have ever read. Decluttering and organizing were never a fun experience for me until I read this book!
Reading it has totally transformed my life. The Konmari Method, which she introduced in her book, has been immensely helpful.
The book shares a very personal journey and what it takes to succeed in life, work, relationships with others, as well as self-acceptance for all that is and isn’t possible without being too preachy about any one thing.
22. THE LITTLE BOOK OF BIG LIES BY TINA LIFFORD
If you enjoy reading about personal stories and how people’s lives unravel, this book is perfect for you. This is a raw and very compelling book by Tina Lifford that will help give readers life lessons.
There are 14 of them, in-which all cover parts of her own journey–where she’ll discuss things like relationships, marriage, children, and self-acceptance.
This personal story is an emotional and often rough one to read, but it’s so worth it in the end because of how much wisdom Lifford has for readers who are going through similar challenges or want to do better by themselves.
23. THE POWER OF SELF-DISCIPLINE BY BRIAN TRACY
Have you found yourself repeating the same lame excuses repeatedly, which keep you from achieving your goals day in and day out?
Whether it be a lack of self-discipline or a willingness to go against your feelings for the sake of your dreams, Brian Tracy has compiled this list of exercises to prompt change.
With full recipes on how to reach your personal goals and become a master of self-discipline, you’ll never make the same excuses again.
In this book, Tracy guides you through building your own personal development plan to achieve success in all aspects of life, from home to work and everything in between.
24. YOU ARE A BADASS BY JEN SINCERO
Jen Sincero does not sugarcoat in her book, “You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Live an Awesome Life.” This is a practical self-help book with many strategies that you can start implementing today. Follow the steps in this book to manifest your dreams into reality!
25. HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE BY DALE CARNEGIE
If you’re struggling to maintain friendships or hoping to form more meaningful connections, this book is for you.
26. THE FOUR HOUR WORKWEEK BY TIM FERRISS
The Four Hour Work Week is for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to take on some serious changes in their lives.
Do you want to make money and live a more flexible lifestyle?
Tim Ferriss will help you “escape the 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich.” This book contains a lot of detailed information, so be prepared for heavy reading.
27. THE FRIENDSHIP FORMULA BY CAROLINE MILLINGTON
With toxic people in your life, your world can become unrecognizable. The Friendship Formula will help you identify the true friends in your life and navigate the relationships with those who are less than ideal. Take control of the situation by following these actionable steps that are also backed up by research!
28. EAT THAT FROG! BY BRIAN TRACY
The phrase “eat the frog” is a phrase used to describe tackling your most challenging task first, also known as the one that has the greatest positive impact on your life.
This book might not only provide you with insightful guidance for this, but it could be where we get our say from all together!
29. 100 DAYS TO BRAVE BY ANNIE DOWNS
If you want to branch out from your typical reading, then 100 Days to Brave may be a good place to start. Annie Downs shares personal stories and short devotionals that will help you become the more courageous person you know yourself capable of being.
30. THE UNIVERSE HAS YOUR BACK BY GABRIELLE BERNSTEIN
One of the most successful ways to achieve real change in your life is to work on changing your mindset.
Gabrielle Bernstein’s book The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith will help you get rid of emotional blocks so that you can start living a happier and more purposeful life.
31. FINDING YOUR OWN NORTH STAR BY MARTHA BECK
Need help making sense out of this one wild and free life? Try taking a look at Martha Beck’s self-help books.
She is a believer in different fields, including science, life coaching, and the importance of having fun. Martha Beck’s writing balances humor with helpful advice that will work for you too. In Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live, she helps you find your own path so that you can make your
32. DECLUTTER YOUR MIND BY S.J. SCOTT
The simple act of decluttering our physical spaces can profoundly affect how we feel. But what about your mental space?
This excellent book by S.J. Scott will help you identify those causes for the clutter in your mind and come up with strategies to manage it effectively.
33. THE TOP 5 REGRETS OF THE DYING BY BONNIE WARE
The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departed is a very engaging, touching story that will inspire you to take charge of your own life while there’s still time.
34. THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE BY SHAWN ANCHOR
The Happiness Advantage: How Being Positive Can Make You Smarter and More Successful is a book filled with interesting research about how you can start living happier today.
It offers many insights into the science of happiness and why it’s important to think positively regardless of your situation.
35. SWITCH BY CHIP HEATH
One of the best books on changing oneself is Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. Written by Chip Heath, this book covers extensive research that makes big changes in life possible.
36. RADICAL ACCEPTANCE BY TARA BRACH
If you struggle with anxiety, depression, or other mental illness and hope to work toward a more peaceful state of mind, then Tara Brach’s book Radical Acceptance may be for you. This book will help you heal by accepting yourself in any sort of circumstance. You can find meaning in life while lessening your suffering and finding peace through mindfulness.
37. PRACTICE YOU BY ELENA BROWER
Add this book to your self-help library for encouragement. Practice You is a journal that will act as your personal coach on life’s paths by prompting you with questions and exercises to help you reflect and find clarity.
Combine what wisdom you can from past failures, current events, and future hopes, all while helping people work through difficult times using the same principles.
38. DON’T KEEP YOUR DAY JOB BY CATHY HELLER
One of the best books to read in 2020 is Don’t Keep Your Day Job. This book will help you turn your passion into profit so that you can live a life filled with purpose.
39. RAISE YOUR HAND BY ALICE TAPPER
Want to provide a book for your daughter or young woman that reminds them how vital their voice is in the world? I recommend: “Raise Your Hand.” This children’s book tells us about determination, bravery, and never accepting society’s status quo, no matter your age.
40. JOY DIET BY MARTHA BECK
It’s tough to enjoy life when you keep wishing things were different. One way to start living a more joyful life is by finding simple ways of appreciating what you have right now. In Martha Beck’s book, The Joy Diet, she suggests ten behaviors that can make your everyday journey better.
41. THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE BY DR. BESSEL VAN DER KOLK
Nearly everyone has been traumatized by some event in their life. The process of recovering from trauma is not as easy or straightforward as you may think. In the book “The Body Keeps Score”, you will learn how to forge a path to recovery- ultimately leading to a stronger sense of well-being.
42. MYTHS & MILLENNIALS BY PADMINI JANAKI
This book focuses on the various myths associated with being a woman in today’s world while also providing personal and practical pointers for how to live life as a modern-day mortal.
Do you want to start meditating or just declutter your home? Regardless of your intentions, reading anything about self-improvement will have a noticeable effect on your life!
What is your favorite book? Leave it in the comment and if you like our collection, share it with family and friends.
