5 Self-Help Books You Need to Read Right Now
Have you ever felt the need to get your life together at 2 A.M. and be a completely different person? Maybe self-help books could nudge you in the right direction.
To some, self-improvement guides might seem ridiculous. But trust us when we say reading these works can change your perspective in life and lead you to a better version of yourself.
With the wide selections available, we narrowed down your options to some of the best self-help books to exist:
Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits is one of the best self-help books when getting started. Without a doubt, James Clear offers an exceptional understanding of habit formation. He teaches the readers how to create good habits and break the bad ones.
Clear likens habits as the compound interest of self-improvement, where 1% (like an atom) of improving is crucial. That being the case, this book shows how tiny changes lead to remarkable results. Instead of focusing on goals, he convinces us to build a system to help achieve them.
Perfect for: Individuals determined to change their habits
Shop it Online: Fully Booked, National Book Store
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
The concept of ikigai is finding your life’s purpose or meaning. A short and easy read, this book makes you wonder what’s your reason for living.
Héctor Garcia and Francesc Miralles take us to residents living in Okinawa, which is known for having the world’s longest-living people. Surprisingly, the key to a fulfilling life is much simpler than we think. They give advice such as Hari Hachi Bu, meaning to stop eating when you’re 80% full.
Additionally, the readers can gain insights from the interviews with centenarians, who exhibit contentedness with their unhurried and simple life.
Who knows, you might also discover your ikigai.
Perfect for: Those looking for an inspiration
Shop it Online: Fully Booked
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Thinking, Fast and Slow has rich content on self-help, despite it being more of a psychology book. Daniel Kahneman introduces the two systems that shape the way we think, System 1 and System 2.
Tapping into our System 1 or fast thinking makes us prone to mistakes as it relies on intuition. Kahneman uncovers how we form misjudgments and bad decisions due to our biases.
Meanwhile, System 2 or slow thinking is analytical and purposeful rather than hasty. While quick thinking can be convenient in some situations, he advises engaging our System 2 more to select wiser choices.
Perfect for: People inclined to make snap decisions
Shop it Online: Fully Booked
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Asides from Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is also a favorite. Carnegie narrates the stories of people who have gone through extreme worrying and then letting their fears go.
Essentially, the book is a glaring reminder that there’s no use in worrying about things that we cannot control.
Perfect for: Overthinkers
Shop it Online: Shopee
Outliers: The Story of Success
What makes people like Bill Gates different from the average person?
It’s expected that successful people have dedicated time and hard work to their craft, but Gladwell considers other factors that play a part in success too.
He explains how circumstances like their culture and upbringing determine the outcome. Simply put, others are luckier to have finer working conditions that allow them to thrive. Those who reach unimaginable heights of success, Gladwell refers to as the outliers.
Perfect for: General Reader
Shop it Online: Fully Booked
