Personal Development6 min read

Best self help books of all time: Don’t miss a chance to change your life

The world of self-development is a place where everyone can find answers to their questions, a boost of motivation, or new ideas for change. Each of us strives for happiness, success, and inner harmony. So, self-help books often become the tool that helps people move towards these goals. In this article, we have collected the best self-help books of all time that can change your life.

Best self help books of all time: Don’t miss a chance to change your life

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

This book is a real master class on how to change your life by starting with simple but powerful habits. Covey offers seven principles that help people become more organized, effective, and harmonious in relationships with themselves and others.

Read our The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People summary to understand why these ideas have stood the test of time. It is a guide to becoming the captain of your life, regardless of the waves and storms that come your way.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
11 min read

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

by Stephen R. Covey
Summary 8 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

2. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

If you've ever wondered how easy it is to get along with people, this book will be your secret tool. Carnegie shares proven methods that help gain trust, make friends, and influence others without manipulation. This is a real treasure for those who want to master the art of communication. Forbes noted that Carnegie's advice remains relevant in the digital age, especially when using social media to connect with others.

Check out our How to Win Friends & Influence People summary to look at your interactions with people completely differently.

How to Win Friends and Influence People
10 min read

How to Win Friends and Influence People

by Dale Carnegie
Summary 7 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

3. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Worry is like an invisible enemy that constantly takes away your energy. But Carnegie knows how to calm you down and give you effective advice on coping with anxiety and living your life to the fullest. As he wrote, “Our thoughts make us what we are.”

Reading the How to Stop Worrying and Start Living summary will make you feel like you're in a therapy session. It is a book that teaches readers how to cope with difficulties and see more joy and peace in the world.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
13 min read

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

by Dale Carnegie
Summary 8 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

4. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

The title of this book speaks for itself. Hill explores the secrets of the success of the wealthiest people of his time and formulates simple but effective rules for achieving financial independence. But don't expect simple instructions. This work is more about a way of thinking than specific actions.

Are you ready to work on your ambitions and vision for the future? Then, this book will come in handy. You'll want to come back to these pages when you feel your motivation starting to wane. Read more about it in our Think and Grow Rich summary.

Think and Grow Rich
8 min read

Think and Grow Rich

by Napoleon Hill
Summary 6 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

5. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Four Agreements reminds us that life is not about rules but about inner freedom. Ruiz offers four simple but extremely powerful agreements that help readers avoid unnecessary suffering and live in harmony with themselves.

Reading The Four Agreements summary is like opening the door to a happier and more conscious life. And it's not magic, but wisdom that has long been inside you. The book made the New York Times bestseller list and remained there for over a decade.

The Four Agreements
10 min read

The Four Agreements

by Don Miguel Ruiz
Summary 8 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

6. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle skillfully shows why our mind is both a friend and an enemy. In The Power of Now, he reveals the importance of the “now” moment and explains how to learn to live in the present without getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future.

Our The Power of Now summary will help you feel the beauty of the present moment. It teaches you how to notice the moment’s beauty and free yourself from unnecessary thoughts.

The Power of Now
10 min read

The Power of Now

by Eckhart Tolle
Summary 9 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

7. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

It is a short but very profound story about change. Johnson tells a parable about mice and humans looking for cheese in a maze, and with the help of this allegory, explains how to respond to changes in life.

Who Moved My Cheese? is a book that may seem simple, but its ideas stay with you for a long time. It inspires you to accept change with ease and openness to new things. Read more in our Who Moved My Cheese? summary.

Who Moved My Cheese?
7 min read

Who Moved My Cheese?

by Dr. Spencer Johnson
Summary 7 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

8. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who talks about herself and her clients so sincerely that you feel as if you are a participant in this conversation. The book is filled with humor, empathy, and unexpected revelations that touch the deepest strings of the soul.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone summary will make you think: isn't it time for me to talk to someone? Lori Gottlieb wrote, “We grow in connection with others.” So, it is not just a book; it is an invitation to self-examination and self-acceptance.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
11 min read

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone

by Lori Gottlieb
Summary 8 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

9. Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

You have much more potential than you think, and this book will help you discover it. Grant talks about how unobvious talents, unexpected decisions, and perseverance can change everything. He destroys the myths of “innate success” and shows how vital constant work on oneself is.

This is more than just a motivational book. The Hidden Potential book will inspire you to look at life as a field of experimentation, where every mistake is a step toward a big breakthrough. You definitely won't want to put this book on the shelf without reading it till the end.

Hidden Potential

Hidden Potential

by Adam Grant
2023
Books Buy on Amazon

10. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin decided to spend a whole year researching what makes people happy. In her book, she shares interesting stories, funny experiments, and unexpected findings. She does not force you to drop everything and run away to an island but offers practical steps to be happier right now.

This reading resembles a conversation with your best friend who sincerely shares her experience. The Happiness Project makes you change your attitude to everyday things and find joy in the simplest moments.

The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project

by Gretchen Rubin
2018
Books Buy on Amazon

11. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Daniel Goleman reveals a powerful tool for success that is often overlooked — emotional intelligence. He explains how understanding your own and other people's emotions helps in work, relationships, and even in making important decisions.

This is not just a psychology book. It is a real master class on how to stay calm during conflicts and build deep connections with people. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman will teach you that IQ is only part of the story, and EQ can be your hidden trump card.

Emotional Intelligence
10 min read

Emotional Intelligence

by Daniel Goleman
Summary 9 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

12. Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson

Have you ever wondered why some family relationships are so difficult to establish? In this book, Lindsay Gibson reveals in detail how parents’ emotional immaturity affects children’s lives even in adulthood. She not only explains why certain behaviors are repeated but also offers tools for healing.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents seems to say quietly: “What happened in childhood does not define you forever.” This book will give you hope and help you find a way to free yourself from old traumas, making you stronger and happier.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
9 min read

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

by Lindsay C. Gibson
Summary 7 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

13. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Bessel van der Kolk convincingly proves that the body remembers everything we have experienced. In his book, the author explains how emotional trauma affects physical health and why, even after forgetting an event, we continue to feel it. He shows that true healing requires not only the mind but also work with the body.

Our The Body Keeps the Score summary is about discovering the secrets of your own body. The book is not only informative but also extremely useful, especially for those who want to understand how to regain control and inner peace.

The Body Keeps the Score
12 min read

The Body Keeps the Score

by Bessel van der Kolk, M. D.
Summary 10 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

14. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

If love is a language, what is yours? In his popular book, Gary Chapman shares his theory that we all express and receive love differently. The Five Love Languages summary isn’t only about romantic relationships, but also about any interaction based on care and trust.

This book is a real find for those wanting to strengthen their relationships. It will help you understand yourself and your loved ones, and teach you how to give love in a way that is noticed and appreciated.

The 5 Love Languages
15 min read

The 5 Love Languages

by Gary Chapman
Summary 10 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

15. Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, PhD

If you think that success depends on talent, Carol Dweck will surprise you. In her book, she explains the difference between a fixed and a dynamic mindset. The first type gets stuck in the fear of mistakes, while the second teaches you to perceive challenges as opportunities for growth.

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck is filled with examples that motivate you to take risks, try, and achieve more than you could ever imagine. Reading Mindset is like getting permission to make mistakes and even enjoy them.

Mindset
9 min read

Mindset

by Carol Dweck
Summary 7 chapters
Read on AdvanceMe

These books on how to change your life will help you answer your inner questions and overcome life's obstacles on the path to success and happiness. Start your journey to a better life now! Perhaps one of these motivational literature books will be the first step to your new life.

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AdvanceMe Team

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