What is a self-help book, anyway? Aren’t all books that help you learn something considered self-help? I’ve read a lot of helpful books in my life, and I don’t particularly mind if someone categorizes them as self-help. Whatever you call them, these books have helped me take strides in my relationships, career, and community.
Books such as Divorce Your Car, The Millionaire Next Door, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People have helped me along as I’ve worked to realize my dream of becoming a professional musician. Years later, these same books continue to inspire me as I read and re-read passages throughout each new phase of my life.
Admittedly, the effect seems temporary. After reading a book I’m on cloud nine for about a week, spouting quotes to anyone who will listen, implementing new time management practices, or folding my clothes differently. But here’s the secret: After the initial self-help high wears off, I’m usually left with one or two permanent new habits or ideas. These new ideas can help make inroads in my friendships, career, and health.
I call myself a self-help book addict because I will always reach for this type of book before I’ll reach for fiction. I should probably branch out to some literature. But in the meantime, I’m getting an education on how to cope with the world’s issues, and hopefully how to be the best human I’m capable of being.
Here are my one-sentence summaries of my favorite self-help books, with apologies to the authors (these are based only on my lasting impressions of their books):
The Millionaire Next Door
by Thomas J. Stanley
Being wealthy and being rich are different, and you’ll be neither if you concentrate on outward appearances and luxury.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
Don’t ever criticize, as it only makes people defensive.
Early Retirement Extreme
By Jacob Lund Fisker
Break the habit of spending money to instantly solve problems, and instead try to improvise solutions.
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
by Marie Kondo
Be a master of your possessions, instead of allowing them to overrun you.
The Four-minute work week
by Timothy Ferriss
Simplify your communications and protect your valuable time from the minority of your friends or colleagues who would drain your time and happiness.
Steal Like an Artist
by Austin Kleon
Steal from, copy from, and emulate those you admire until your own style emerges.
Rework
by Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hansson
Create and launch your project using the tools and time immediately available to you.
Divorce Your Car
by Katie Alvord
Car ownership is an unhealthy institution that you can live without, to huge health and financial benefit.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey
Listen deeply, so that you come to value understanding more than being understood, and don’t fret about what you cannot influence.
Biased
by Jennifer L. Eberhardt
It’s possible to retrain the unconscious biases that cause our snap judgements toward others.
The Paradox of Choice
by Barry Schwartz
Increasing the number of options available actually reduces our enjoyment of what we choose.
The Little Book of Talent
by Daniel Coyle
Talent can be earned through diligent movement and thought.
What it Is
by Lynda Barry
It’s not important to know if the art you are currently making is good or not.
Your Money or your Life
by Joseph R. Dominguez, Monique Tilford, and Vicki Robin
Frugality is just common sense in a culture that has been trained to allow our wealth to be drained.
When All Hell Breaks Loose
by Cody Lundin
One can and should be prepared with the tools and knowledge for human comfort and survival, whether on a day hike or an overnight backpacking trip.