The best self-help books are the ones you finish and put into practice. This list brings together 25 classics and modern favourites, grouped by theme, with a link to our guide to each author or method so you can go deeper.
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Reading time: about 8 minutes
How we wrote this article: this article was written by Saj Ali. It brings together classic and modern self-help books, links each one to our expert and method guides, and every research claim links to its source.
Where to start
- For goals: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
- For people skills: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
- For self-worth: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown.
- For relationships: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman.
- For calm: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
Contents
- How We Chose These Books
- Quick Picks by Goal
- Classic Books on Success and Mindset
- Best Books for Self-Worth and Self-Compassion
- Best Books on Relationships and Love
- Best Books on Mindfulness and Inner Peace
- Best Modern Books on Habits, Mindset and the Body
- How to Get More From a Self-Help Book
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Sources
How We Chose These Books
We picked books that have stayed popular for years, are easy to find worldwide in print, ebook and audio, and give you something practical to do. Each one links to our guide on its author or method.
Reading self-help books has a research base of its own, often called bibliotherapy. A meta-analysis found that guided self-help reading helped people with low mood (Cuijpers, 1997), and a later review of randomised trials found benefits that lasted over time (Gualano et al., 2017).
Quick Picks by Goal
Short on time? Start here.
| If you want to… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Reach a goal | Think and Grow Rich |
| Get on better with people | How to Win Friends and Influence People |
| Be kinder to yourself | The Gifts of Imperfection or No Bad Parts |
| Strengthen your relationship | The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work |
| Feel calmer and more present | The Power of Now |
| Build better habits | Atomic Habits |
Classic Books on Success and Mindset
These are the books that shaped modern self-help. Many later authors built on their ideas.
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937). The classic on knowing exactly what you want, writing a plan and keeping going. Read next: his expert page, money and abundance mindset.
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (1936). Thirty simple principles for getting on with people, still taught worldwide. Read next: his expert page.
- As a Man Thinketh by James Allen (1903). A short, gentle essay on how our thoughts shape our lives. Read next: his expert page.
- Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz (1960). How your self-image steers what you do, with mental rehearsal exercises. Read next: our Psycho-Cybernetics guide.
- The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel (1916). A 24-week course in focus, visualisation and concentration. Read next: his expert page, visualisation.
Best Books for Self-Worth and Self-Compassion
Books for a kinder inner voice and more courage to be yourself.
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown (2010). Letting go of who you think you should be, and embracing who you are. Read next: her expert page.
- Daring Greatly by Brené Brown (2012). Why vulnerability is courage, and how it changes the way we live, love and lead. Read next: her expert page.
- No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz (2021). Meeting your inner critic and other parts with calm and curiosity. Read next: our IFS guide.
- You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay (1984). Affirmations and self-love, from one of the best-loved writers in the field. Read next: her expert page.
- Loving What Is by Byron Katie (2002). Four questions to gently examine stressful thoughts. Read next: The Work of Byron Katie.
Best Books on Relationships and Love
Practical books from leading relationship researchers and therapists.
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver (1999). Research-based habits for a strong, friendly partnership. Read next: the Gottmans’ expert page.
- Eight Dates by John and Julie Gottman (2019). Eight guided conversations for couples. Read next: marriage and long-term partnership.
- Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel (2006). How to keep desire alive in long-term love. Read next: her expert page, intimacy and connection.
- Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg (1999). Saying what you feel and need without blame. Read next: our NVC guide.
Best Books on Mindfulness and Inner Peace
Books for feeling calmer, more present and more connected to something bigger.
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (1997). A modern classic on living in the present moment. Read next: his expert page, mindfulness.
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (2007). Learning to watch your thoughts and let go. Read next: his expert page, meditation.
- Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr Joe Dispenza (2012). Meditation and imagination to change old patterns. Read next: his expert page.
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra (1994). Seven simple principles, including the law of detachment. Read next: the Law of Detachment.
Best Modern Books on Habits, Mindset and the Body
Recent favourites that pair everyday habits with ideas from psychology and neuroscience.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear (2018). Small, steady changes that add up. Read next: self-confidence.
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (2014). How experiences live in the body, and body-based ways to recover. Read next: Somatic Experiencing, nervous system regulation.
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers (1987). Practical ways to act with confidence, even when nervous. Read next: self-confidence.
- Mindset by Carol Dweck (2006). The difference between a fixed and a growth mindset. Read next: self-esteem.
How to Get More From a Self-Help Book
- Pick one book for one goal. Use the quick picks above.
- Read with a pen. Note one idea per chapter to try.
- Practise for two weeks. Try the exercises before moving on.
- Go deeper. Follow the links to our expert and method guides for videos and courses.
- Try the audio. Many of these books are available as audiobooks, often read by the author.
Not sure which method suits you? Try our self-help method picker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best self-help book of all time?
Think and Grow Rich and How to Win Friends and Influence People are two of the best-selling and most influential, and both are still widely read.
Which self-help book should I read first?
Pick by goal: Think and Grow Rich for goals, The Gifts of Imperfection for self-worth, The Seven Principles for relationships, or The Power of Now for calm.
Do self-help books work?
Research on bibliotherapy suggests guided self-help reading can help, especially when you practise what you read.
What is the best self-help book for relationships?
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel are popular choices.
What is the best self-help book for self-esteem?
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown and No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz are good places to start.
Are self-help audiobooks as good as print?
Many people find audio easier to fit into the day. Choose the format you will actually finish.
How many self-help books should I read at once?
One at a time works best, so you can put its ideas into practice.
Key Takeaways
- The best self-help book is one you finish and practise.
- Classics such as Think and Grow Rich and How to Win Friends and Influence People are still widely read.
- Brené Brown and Richard Schwartz offer kind, practical books on self-worth.
- The Gottmans and Esther Perel are leading voices on relationships.
- Research on bibliotherapy suggests self-help reading can help, especially with practice.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these pages alongside this one:
- Brené Brown – vulnerability and courage
- Napoleon Hill – Think and Grow Rich
- John and Julie Gottman – the science of lasting love
- Esther Perel – desire and modern relationships
- Richard Schwartz – founder of IFS
- Which self-help method is right for me? – find a method to try
- Atomic Habits Summary – James Clear’s habit system explained
- The Forty Rules of Love – Elif Shafak’s novel about Rumi and Shams
- The Quran and Personal Development – verses for growth and patience
- Self-Help Retreats – residential programmes for growth and rest
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
- Best manifestation books – 15 classics and modern picks
- Self-help glossary – key terms explained A to Z
Sources
- Cuijpers P (1997). Bibliotherapy in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 28(2):139-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7916(97)00005-0
- Gualano MR, Bert F, Martorana M, et al. (2017). The long-term effects of bibliotherapy in depression treatment: systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 58:49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.09.006
Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.