Struggles are part of everyday life today. Fears and insecurities frequently stop us from becoming all that we would like to be. However, we will need to keep in mind that success and accomplishment aren’t destinations, but continuing journeys. Self-improvement is the trick to locate solutions, think otherwise, act and live a healthier life. Here’s a listing of 12 self-improvement books which will provide you a reasonable share of courage, hope, inspiration and relaxation, when you will need the most.
12Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns
First Published: 1980
Plot Summary:
Burns’ book reveals the recurring key characteristics that lead to destructive and self-harming thoughts and emotions. It explores and answers troubling questions like, ‘why do we judge ourselves so harshly?’, ‘which thoughts are essential in setting depression and approval’ and why quest for perfection can hamper rather than promote your self-development.
Reason for You to Read This:
This is a book that contains practical and scientifically proven techniques to help you repel and shatter negative character traits and habits like cynicism, low self-esteem, anxiety, guilt, fear of failure and need for external approval. It’s a sincere attempt by Burns that will help you love and value yourself more, nip negativity in the bud and live a liberated and happy life.
Best Quote:
‘Achievements can bring you satisfaction but not happiness.’
First Published: 2012
Plot Summary:
An insightful, delightfully penned book that challenges and breaks the myth that only extroverts are successful. It names and celebrates highly successful and creative individuals who are self-proclaimed introverts. A must-have self-improvement and motivation guide in the library of introverts.
Reason for You to Read This:
Success and accomplishment has nothing to do with you being an extrovert or introvert. Don’t be apologetic or conscious of your introvert nature, be proud of it and continue on the path of self-growth and myriad achievements.
Best Quote:
‘There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.’
10Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
First Published: 2012
Plot Summary:
A self-improvement book like no other, this book encourages you to be yourself always, not hide your weaknesses and vulnerabilities, but in fact draw strength from them. A beautiful page-turner, this is book that will give you courage to show your true magnificent self to the world and fill you with a hope that you can achieve great things without pretense and falsehood.
Reason for You to Read This:
Finally comes a book that is real, conversational and almost like living room talks, but only with the wit, warmth, and humor of Brown also comes engaging and life-transforming advice. Have you dared to move beyond your comfort zone, speak the uncomfortable truth, do the never attempted before? This book if read and followed will make you do that, leave shame, anxiety, fear somewhere in the dumps and dare to something that is totally completely you, because only when you are unabashedly and honestly yourself do you live completely and achieve the amazing treasures of life.
Best Quote:
‘Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.’
9Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant
First Published: 2012
Plot Summary:
Ravikant’s book is an honest take on life and all the limitations that we are made up of. An assertion of self-love, a commitment to self-improvement, and a healthy dose of self-belief can help us wade through life when everything is falling apart. Self-improvement is deeply rooted in self-love and this book takes you on a journey of loving yourself, believing you are worthy and deserving and can do all that you set your heart and mind to. It is a straightforward and no-nonsense guide to standing up every day to the demons and struggles that you face daily and emerging out of success and failures with equal hope and knowledge.
Reason for You to Read This:
It pushes you to go out there and make your dreams come true. It’s very easy to love yourself when you are doing well. This book teaches you to love yourself even during failures. It tells you and guides you to love yourself like your life itself depends on it and always carry a positive self-image.
Best Quote:
‘The truth is to love yourself with the same intensity you would use to pull yourself up if you were hanging off a cliff with your fingers.’
8The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
First Published: 2008
Plot Summary:
The Last Lecture is one of those books that you will never want to part with. In it you will find an understanding friend, and a sincere guide who with humor and tenderness fills your life with silent courage, goodness, and compassion. After reading this book, you will ardently desire to make every day and every moment better than the one gone by.
Reason for You to Read This:
The Last Lecture is one that many recommend and read. It fills you with energy and positivity and an ardent desire to go and achieve something, do something great every day, chase your dreams and live life like it was your last day. It is a book that will teach you to be a doer and a listener, overcome hurdles, help others realize their hopes and dreams, and seize every moment. It is a book that will teach you to live life to the fullest.
Best Quote:
‘It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.’
7by Stephen R. Covey
First Published: 1990
Plot Summary:
Stephen Covey does not simplify things for the readers. But what he delivers through the book is a powerful and gripping message to undergo a ‘paradigm shift’ – a fundamental change in our thoughts and perceptions of ourselves and the world. Packed with spiritual wisdom, ruthless honesty, sharp insights and an overwhelming element of care and compassion, this masterpiece is for the eternal learner who seeks to get better with each passing day.
Reason for You to Read This:
When we learn to view situations, people and ourselves differently, we grow infinitely. Success and accomplishment comes to us when we manage to strike a balance between professional goals and personal desires and responsibilities. Aspire to be the best and compel others around you to achieve their best too. Unlimited happiness and recurring achievement will be yours.
Best Quote:
‘It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us.’
6The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life’s Journey by Muhammad Ali
First Published: 2003
Plot Summary:
The Soul of a Butterfly is a heartfelt book that is about acceptance, faith, belief in the Almighty and perennial hope. The intensity and melancholy, the gripping honesty and the compelling narrative makes you look at the legend in a whole different life. It’s about his journey beyond winning in the boxing ring, meeting the Lama, clinging to hope, faith and courage in the darkest of hours and facing challenges like a true brave-heart.
Reason for You to Read This:
The book arms you with a higher awareness of life. It talks of compassion, help, spirituality, and power of beliefs. It makes you realize innumerable things, and among them what ranks powerfully is a responsibility that the world needs you, your compassion, generosity and understanding. It teaches you empathy and tells you failure and adversity is necessary in the quest of greatness. Losing hope and giving up is never and option
Best Quote:
‘If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it-then I can achieve it.’
5The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
First Published: 1902
Plot Summary:
Helen Keller’s autobiography is all about hope and courage. The book is her record of the myriad times she fell, only to stand up stronger. It is a reminder that every struggle is a victory and efforts in the right direction persistently and consistently will lead tot he sweet heaven of success
Reason for You to Read This:
Impossible is nothing. The darkest of clouds have a silver lining, and all of us no matter what our shortcomings or how well bestowed can live a better, fuller and more meaningful life if we have the courage, grit and determination to dream and chase our dreams.
Best Quote:
‘One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar.’
4The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living by Dalai Lama & Howard Cutler
First Published: 1998
Plot Summary:
Contemporary psychological analysis and age-old Buddhist wisdom come together in this book by the Great Lama. Insightful and delightful, The Art of Happiness equips you with a different perspective towards things It concentrates on your inner wisdom and light, and takes you on a journey where you explore and unravel a deep-rooted compassion for the universe, seek and receive happiness, control your emotions and see positivity in everything that you encounter.
Reason for You to Read This:
Read this book to know the Lama and why he is so revered. The nuances, the wisdom, the wit and stoicism, everything in the book makes a lasting impact on you and makes you a more hopeful, happy, and content person while facing the turbulences of life. Hope and happiness is synonymous to human nature and Lama in his own poetic and spiritual way teaches you to embrace both unconditionally and lead a more fulfilled and joyful life.
Best Quote:
‘If there is a solution to the problem, there is no need to worry. If there is no solution, there is no sense in worrying either.’
3A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
First Published: 1843
Plot Summary:
Dickens had a way of weaving magic with words. A Christmas Carol was no exception. But what makes this classic exceptional is the joy, love, hope and compassion it reverberates to its readers through the protagonist-cum-antagonist Ebenzer Scrooge. It is inspirational, humane, real and beautiful all at the same time. Tell me you didn’t fall in love with life again while reading this book!
Reason for You to Read This:
A rekindled affiliation is to hope, faith, and human love. Ebenzer Scrooge’s transformation from a bitter, greedy and miserly man to a man with a big heart, treating his fellow men with respect, generosity and kindness will stay with you, drop a smile on your lips and make you stop and rethink every time you feel cynical, unhappy or guilty.
Best Quote:
‘There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.’
2The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
First Published: 1988
Plot Summary:
An inspirational fable, a stirring tale of self-discovery, you find a part of yourself in every page. The Alchemist shapes dreams, awakens you to your true purpose, introduces you to the unending power of your mind and heart and soul, and compels you to pursue your heart’s desires and lead more satisfying and inspired lives. This book also tells us why curiosity and fearlessness are such integral concepts of a life well-lived.
Reason for You to Read This:
The simplicity and naivety of the shepherd boy, Santiago and the kindness, knowledge, and humanity soaked in every page of the novel. What stays with you is the journey, and the trials and tribulations of young Santiago, and how through faith, hope and a latent courage he overcomes every hurdle, and finds the greatest treasure and purpose of life. Read it to tap into your latent courage and power to take that feared step and climb those distant mountains that look impossible to tread.
Best Quote:
‘When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.’
1Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki
First Published: 2002
Plot Summary:
This New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller is the best metaphor for undying hope and courage in the face of myriad failures. Kiyosaki’s faith and determination is witnessed in the fact that he went on to self-publish this book in 1997 after being rejected by several publishers. Today it is a household name and a much-revered book.
Reason for You to Read This:
The freshness and novelty of approach towards looking at financial success and independence will encourage the flames of entrepreneurship and innovation in you and make you looks at investments and numbers in a whole new light. Besides when a book has Oprah Winfrey as a fan, you should know there is some great inspiration lurking in those pages.
Best Quote:
Winners are not afraid of failing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.’
CONCLUSION
Hope these self-improvement books have been useful to you and can simply take you towards a lifetime full of confidence, courage, confidence and enjoyment. Select these up now, and unleash the latent ability of mind and action in it.