Self improvement books are one of my favorite things to read and share. It is almost a guarantee that if someone asks me about a particular topic, I have a book to recommend. And for friends and family, if it is close to a holiday, I am probably buying the book for them. Cue the eye rolling from my sisters when another Amazon package shows up on their doorstep.
Here on the blog I want to share my top recommendations for self improvement books to read right now. Choose one that you find appealing and dive right in. I recommend these books because they are based on current research and/or written by experts in their respective fields.
The How of Happiness by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky
I read this book as part of a women's happiness group in graduate school. The author is an expert in the field and writes about happiness a friendly, easy to read way. At the same time, she does not sugarcoat happiness or guarantee that you will be happy all the time after reading this book. Instead, she includes action steps for each of the ways to improve happiness. So you can jump right in and implement a strategy into your life. Absolutely a must read if you have any interest in understanding happiness!
Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy
This is a new book that I just finished myself. The theme of reflection and writing to your future self has really taken off in the past couple of years. In this book, the authors provide a strategy for considering where you want your life to go in the future. You start with the end in mind by writing your eulogy (a favorite exercise among developmental scientists) and create action plans to work towards life fulfillment. It is a short little book that requires a lot of homework, but well worth it.
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is one of my favorite people of all time - I have seen her speak (in person) twice. This is her latest book, which really delves into a lot of research about how to become a better version of yourself. She breaks down the four tendencies, or categories of behaviors that tend to explain how we operate on a daily basis. Read the book so you can reflect on your own tendencies and how the people in your life have similar or different tendencies. Me - I'm totally an "upholder!"
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
When people want to change or improve their lives, sometimes they forget the basics. We don't usually need radical changes in our lives. We need to adjust our habits. Charles Duhigg explores habits and tells relevant stories throughout the book to help us understand how we use habits everyday. I have found the more consistent my habits, the easier it is to be creative.
Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck
The science of mindsets has almost made its way into mainstream media, but not quite yet. Do you know the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset? Dr. Dweck is the leading researcher in the field and she breaks it down in a friendly way in her book. Without the belief that you can change and grow, it is nearly impossible to make upward progress.