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28 Books that Will Open Your Mind, Expand Your Knowledge & Transform the Way You Live

Reading Time: 10 minutes

Can books really open your mind, expand your knowledge, and transform the way you live?

YES! Three years ago, I stopped watching television and started devouring books. 100+ books later, I can confidently say it’s the best investment I’ve ever made.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

Books have expanded my knowledge and opened my mind. They have allowed me to solve hard problems and uncover new interests. They have helped me excel in life and business. Above all else, books have brought me closer to a meaningful and fulfilling path.

I recently re-read one of my favorite books, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 . The novel is about a futuristic society in which people are banned from reading books. These people do not read, think independently, have meaningful conversations, or spend time in nature.

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” – Ray Bradbury

Bradbury’s future is my nightmare, and it’s not that far off. If we continue to scroll our phones, wear Airpods as we walk around, and consume pointless news that makes us angry at each other and the world, we’re an inch away from living in Bradbury’s world.

So how do we prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality?

READ books ! Otherwise, the sun will stop rising, the oceans will boil, and we’ll all…

Okay, it probably won’t be that bad, but we can all still benefit from more reading. To help you on your journey, I’ve curated a list of 28 great books that have profoundly expanded my knowledge and changed the way I think and operate.

My hope is that these books will expand your mind as well. And if you’re looking for good advice to help improve your life, check out these 40 pieces of advice that most people ignore .

P.S. If you enjoy the recommendations in this article, it’s worth checking out Foundations , a growing and fully searchable digital notebook with insights from 100+ timeless books.

Books to Expand Your Knowledge and Open Your Mind

1. man’s search for meaning by viktor frankl.

Man's Search for Meaning Book Cover

“…Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Rating : 10/10

Why it’s Great : This book changed my life. In it, Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl shows us that we have the ability to choose our response to every situation we face and that we can find meaning in our suffering.

2. Meditations By Marcus Aurelius

Meditations Book Cover

“Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been.”

Why it’s Great : A life-changing collection of philosophical and spiritual thoughts from Marcus Aurelius, a Stoic and the former Roman Emperor.

3. Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind By Yuval Noah Harari

“Culture tends to argue that it forbids only that which is unnatural. But from a biological perspective, nothing is unnatural. Whatever is possible is by definition also natural. A truly unnatural behaviour, one that goes against the laws of nature, simply cannot exist, so it would need no prohibition.”

Why it’s Great : A refreshingly comprehensive, engaging, and scientific account of history that will make you a better-informed person and leader.

4. The War Of Art By Steven Pressfield

The War of Art Book Cover

“The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”

Why it’s Great : Pressfield prepares and inspires creatives to survive and thrive the challenging journey to produce good work in the face of resistance.

5. The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*Ck By Mark Manson

“Because once we become comfortable with the fact of our own death—the root terror, the underlying anxiety motivating all of life’s frivolous ambitions—we can then choose our values more freely, unrestrained by the illogical quest for immortality, and freed from dangerous dogmatic views.”

Why it’s Great : In this engaging and philosophical read, writer Mark Manson provides philosophical and candid thoughts on how we can live a better life.

6. Getting More: How You Can Negotiate To Succeed In Work And Life By Stuart Diamond

“People do some of the most important things in life not for money, not for rational benefits, but for how it makes them feel.”

Rating : 9/10

Why it’s Great : A fantastic introduction to negotiation that arms you with the knowledge and strategies to help you get more out of your work and life.

7. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: Including A Life-Cycle Guide To Personal Investing By Burton Malkiel

“What is hard to avoid is the alluring temptation to throw your money away on short, get-rich-quick speculative binges.”

Why it’s Great : A guide that blends history, economics, and behavioral finance to offer practical and actionable advice for investing and achieving financial freedom.

8. The Obstacle Is The Way: The Timeless Art Of Turning Trials Into Triumph By Ryan Holiday

“Adversity can harden you. Or it can loosen you up and make you better—if you let it.”

Why it’s Great : A practical and actionable philosophy book on how to perceive, act, and thrive in an uncertain, difficult, and fast-paced world.

9. When Breath Becomes Air By Paul Kalanithi

“Science may provide the most useful way to organize empirical, reproducible data, but its power to do so is predicated on its inability to grasp the most central aspects of human life: hope, fear, love, hate, beauty, envy, honor, weakness, striving, suffering, virtue.”

Why it’s Great : While dying of lung cancer, neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi confronts the unanswerable and difficult question of what makes life meaningful.

10. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead And Win By Jocko Willink And Leif Babin

“Leaders must always operate with the understanding that they are part of something greater than themselves and their own personal interests.”

Why it’s Great : Two Navy SEALs show you how to be a better leader by practicing extreme ownership, killing your ego, prioritizing, and executing.

11. 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote To Chaos By Jordan Peterson

“Conscious human malevolence can break the spirit even tragedy could not shake.”

Why it’s Great : A profound and deeply philosophical read that shows us why we do what we do and how we can all live better, more fulfilling lives.

12. Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance By Robert Pirsig

“To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.”

Why it’s Great : Through an entrancing narrative of a man on a summer motorcycle trip with his son, Pirsig takes us on a deeply philosophical journey that explores society, values, and life’s big questions.

13. Shoe Dog By Phil Knight

“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”

Why it’s Great : This is the inspiring story of Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, and his struggles, victories, and lesson learned while building a billion dollar shoe giant.

14. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less By Greg McKeown

“Play expands our minds in ways that allow us to explore: to germinate new ideas or see old ideas in a new light. It makes us more inquisitive, more attuned to novelty, more engaged. Play is fundamental to living the way of the Essentialist.”

Why it’s Great : A practical philosophy about living consciously, focusing on the essential, and creating a life to achieve your highest point of contribution.

15. Give And Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success By Adam Grant

“You never know where somebody’s going to end up. It’s not just about building your reputation; it really is about being there for other people.”

Why it’s Great : Adam Grant shows us how being a giver in our attitudes and actions towards others can fuel our long-term personal and professional success.

16. Awaken The Giant Within By Tony Robbins

“All too often, the security of a mediocre present is more comfortable than the adventure of trying to be more in the future.”

Why it’s Great : A comprehensive and invaluable guide to mastering your mind, body, emotions, and finances from leading life and business strategist Tony Robbins.

17. The Power Of Habit By Charles Duhigg  

“The water is habits, the unthinking choices and invisible decisions that surround us every day—and which, just by looking at them, become visible again.”

Why it’s Great : A digestible, comprehensive, and transformative guide to understanding why habits exist, how they work, and how you can change then.

18. Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It By Chris Voss

“He who has learned to disagree without being disagreeable has discovered the most valuable secret of negotiation.”

Why it’s Great : International hostage negotiator Chris Voss provides a practical set of principles to improve your effectiveness in getting what you want.

19. The Game: Penetrating The Secret Society Of Pickup Artists By Neil Strauss

“Smile when you enter a room. As soon as you walk in a club, the game is on. And by smiling, you look like you’re together, you’re fun, and you’re somebody.”

Rating : 8/10

Why it’s Great : A fascinating and in-depth look at how journalist and author Neil Strauss became a well-respected leader in the pick-up artist community.

20. The Art Of Possibility: Transforming Professional And Personal Life By Rosamund And Benjamin Zander

“Every problem, every dilemma, every dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box, or create another frame around the data, and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear.”

Why it’s Great : 12 helpful and inspiring practices from a conductor and a psychotherapist that will fuel your personal and professional success.

21. Thinking, Fast And Slow By Daniel Kahneman

“The idea that the future is unpredictable is undermined every day by the ease with which the past is explained.”

Why it’s Great : An engaging and comprehensive introduction to the psychology of decision making and judgment by one of the pioneers in the field.

22. Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) By Caroll Tavris And Elliot Aronson

“Our convictions about who we are carry us through the day, and we are constantly interpreting the things that happen to us through the filter of those core beliefs.”

Why it’s Great : An examination of the human tendency to self-justify everything we do that will reshape your understanding of your memory, beliefs, and actions.

23. Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success In A Distracted World By Cal Newport

“The Deep Work Hypothesis: The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a consequence, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive.”

Why it’s Great : Georgetown Professor Cal Newport shows us how to increase our focus and produce deep, meaningful work in a hyper-distracting world.

24. How To Lie With Statistics By Darrell Huff

“The secret language of statistics, so appealing in a fact-minded culture, is employed to sensationalize, inflate, confuse, and oversimplify.”

Why it’s Great : A great reminder of the basic principles of statistics and how they are often violated in the data we use and see in work, the news, and our personal lives.

25. The Power Of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment By Eckhart Tolle

“To complain is always non-acceptance of what is.”

Why it’s Great : Eckhart Tolle takes you on a journey that explores presence, thinking, spirituality, and how to reduce pain in your life.

26. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Everyday Life By Jon Kabat-Zinn

Wherever You Go There You Are Book Cover

“Meditation is neither shutting things out nor off. It is seeing things clearly, and deliberately positioning yourself differently in relationship to them.”

Why it’s Great : A complete introduction to how and why to practice meditation and mindfulness that will help you live with more clarity, acceptance, and presence.

27. Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With The Heart Of A Buddha By Tara Brach

“When we believe something is wrong with us, we are convinced we are in danger. Our shame fuels ongoing fear, and our fear fuels more shame.”

Why it’s Great : If you have ever struggled with self-compassion, this book is for you. Clinical psychologist and meditation teacher, Tara Brach, introduces a fantastic approach to better relating to your experiences and emotions.

28. Models: Attract Women Through Honesty By Mark Manson

“Until you learn to trust your own actions and learn to pursue women with your own unique style and personality, you have learned absolutely nothing.”

Why it’s Great : An honest and helpful dating guide for men that will allow you to better connect with women in an authentic and effective way.

Final Thoughts and Tips on How to Get Started

  • For more good book recommendations and lessons, check out Foundations , a growing digital notebook with lessons from 100+ timeless books across categories.
  • If you haven’t read a book in a while, check out How to Read a Nonfiction Book. Yes, I know you know how to read, but this article will help you get the most out of the time you spend reading, and it starts with the topic of book selection.
  • If you struggle to read, try listening to audiobooks with Amazon Audible . If you want to easily track notes and highlights from books you read, I’m a big fan of Readwise .
  • Check out 40 Best Self-Help Books and 11 Great Books for Decision Making .
  • Like with relationships, timing is everything with books. I’ve found that reading books that explore and solve problems I’m currently facing resonate the most. Start with a book that looks interesting based on your current life challenges.
  • Don’t feel the need to finish a book that isn’t working for you. Drop it and move on.
  • I think everyone should own a Kindle , so if you don’t already, consider buying one. I’ve read 5x more books with a Kindle, and it’s super handy for when you’re traveling.

Finally, I send out a weekly Sunday newsletter, Life Reimagined , with helpful ideas and quotes from good books. If you want to receive small nuggets of wisdom and recommendations for future reading every week, you can sign up below.

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Develop Good Habits

14 Best Books on Learning and Building Great Study Habits [2024 Update]

Books about learning are something special. Not only do they give us knowledge, the meta concept of how to learn to learn . Once you discover these concepts, they will make all future knowledge become a little bit easier to grasp.

Learning, after all, is not something we do from first grade until we graduate from college. Learning is something that is done for life.

The days when you could simply go to college and learn everything you need to know, and the quit learning, are long in the past. If those days EVER truly existed.

These days if you want to stay ahead or just stay competitive, you need to constantly learn new things. That is why these learning books for adults are just as important as the grade school or college education you may have received many years in the past.

Sidenote : If you're attending university right now, setting the right goals matter. Check out our post about SMART goal examples for college students.

In this article, we profile 14 books that will help you learn better and create study habits that will help you permanently retain this information .

Let's get to it…

Table of Contents

14 Books on Learning and Improving Your Study Habits

1. the only skill that matters by jonathan a. levi.

the only skill that matter superhuman academy

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The sheer amount of information bombarding us every day is overwhelming. How do we stay on top of everything in order to keep our jobs or adapt to the new demands of modern life?

This book  equips you with what you need to take on the challenges of the future – whether in your professional or personal life. And it’s offered for free. All you need to pay for is shipping and handling.

In the book, Jonathan Levi shares an approach that promises to help you become a super learner. This approach is anchored in neuroscience. Athletes and top performers have used the techniques to propel them to success.

Within the pages, you’ll learn the techniques for reading faster and improving your ability to recall information.

People who have already read this book call it a game changer. If you’re ready to unlock your potential greatness, get the free book.

2. Accelerated Learning Techniques for Students by Joe McCullough

books help me learn

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Accelerated Learning Techniques for Students: Learn More in Less Time! unlocks the secrets of efficient learning techniques that allow students to master any subject or skill.

The book promises to help you learn more in less time, and it does so by providing actionable tips for processing new information, communicating more effectively, remembering lessons, becoming proficient at a skill, and more .

(Sidenote: If you're having trouble remembering the material, then The Feynman Technique can help you solve this issue.)

McCullough shares with readers several ways of enhancing thinking skills, while also equipping them with efficient learning strategies. Specifically, this book will help you:

  • Understand the factors that prevent you from learning effectively
  • Apply ways to manage your physical and mental energies
  • Discover note-taking techniques that work for you (Sidebar: We also profile 15 note-taking apps that can help you retain information .)

The book helps you understand the different types of brainwaves humans have. It also teaches you how to reach the alpha state that McCullough theorizes is the best state of consciousness for learning something new .

McCullough provides practical information to help students improve their learning techniques. Moreover, the theories presented make this book useful for educators, school administrators, or anyone who is involved in education.

3. Make It Stick! by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. MacDaniel

books help me learn

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning presents the most recent research on learning. The premise is that learning is a skill that all of us can acquire . The book counters our long-held notions about the learning techniques we commonly use in academia.

Two of the authors are cognitive scientists who have spent most of their careers studying how people learn and how memory works. Meanwhile, Peter C. Brown is a writer by trade. The three teamed up to give readers a book that’s filled with examples in story form to get their point across.

Through this book, readers will learn several concrete learning strategies for retaining what you’ve studied. These include:

  • Interleaving
  • Elaboration
  • Calibration
  • Use of mnemonic devices
  • Maintaining a growth mindset

This book is ideal for life-long learners, those working in the field of education, coaches, and trainers.

4. Novice to Expert by Steve Scott

books help me learn

The main goal of this book is to help you master a skill that will help you tap into your passion, know yourself more, meet individuals who share the same interests as you do, and share what you’ve learned with other people.

Novice to Expert: 6 Steps to Learn Anything, Increase Your Knowledge, and Master New Skills outlines six steps you need in order to achieve mastery in just about anything. These steps are:

  • Identifying your preferred learning style
  • Choosing a specific skill you want to master
  • Developing the learning habit and surrounding yourself with relevant information
  • Using practical methods for note-taking
  • Creating a project center around the skill you want to master
  • Deliberately spending time each day practicing the skill

The book is an ideal resource for students who are mastering the skill of self-directed learning, clearing the path on what needs to be done to learn something new. It is also great for those who need a guide on how to increase their productivity and to develop good habits at work.

5. Learn to Read with Great Speed by Michal Stawicki

books help me learn

If you’re looking for a straightforward book on speed reading, you might want to check out Learn to Read with Great Speed: How to Take Your Reading Skills to the Next Level and Beyond in only 10 Minutes a Day .

Although it is a thin volume, it gets straight to the point and delivers what you expect: helpful tips and strategies to help you become a speed reader. (Also, if you are interested in this subject, here are 9 steps that can help you read faster .)

Stawicki provides concrete examples of how to apply speed-reading strategies, as well as exercises to sharpen your newfound skill . Results are immediately apparent after doing the exercises, so you are always aware of your progress.

This book also presents the possible challenges you’ll encounter when speed reading, as well as the best techniques to overcome them. You need to commit just 10 minutes of your time each day to become a master at speed reading.

The book is ideal for those who are studying, or those whose careers require them to do a lot of reading. (And even if you're not a “reader,” here are 17 benefits of building the reading habit .)

Side Note: We've reviewed the best speed reading apps that can help you retain more information and the best speed reading books that can help you learn more .

6. The Learning Habit by Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman, Rebecca Jackson, and Robert Pressman

books help me learn

The Learning Habit: A Groundbreaking Approach to Homework and Parenting that Helps Our Children Succeed in School and Life is valuable for parents who need a guide on how to support their kids as they navigate through life in a society full of new challenges that past generations didn’t have to deal with.

The authors offer sound strategies for helping kids succeed in life , but the book requires the parents to fully commit to the suggested activities in order to get the maximum benefit.

In this book, “screen time,” the all-too-common cause of contention in many families, is discussed, in addition to a solution that can help keep the peace at home.

Furthermore, the authors provide research-backed methods to help kids learn eight crucial skills that will serve them well later in life, including time management , goal setting , increasing your focus , and making better decisions .

7. Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain by Sharon Begley

books help me learn

We are never too old to learn something new. And in Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves , you’ll find fascinating bits of information about the brain’s neuroplasticity .

The premise of the book is that our brains are capable of healing themselves after trauma, breaking cycles of some mental disorders, generating new neurons well into our old age, and compensating when we have disabilities .

It shares the story of how researchers have uncovered the brain’s amazing capacity for neuroplasticity and neurogenesis (the ability to grow new neurons).

The scientific content of the book is supplemented with discussions with the Dalai Lama, providing the readers with a new viewpoint about how meditation can change the way the mind functions.

The book provides a new way of understanding how our brains work. It also offers a ray of hope that healing is possible for those who suffered from trauma, stroke, and mental disorders.

8. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

books help me learn

This award-winning book takes readers on a tour of the mind and introduces them to two systems that are at work when the brain is engaged in the thought process.

System 1 and system 2 function differently. System 1 is intuitive and emotional, giving us the ability to quickly make conclusions, regardless of the facts. Meanwhile, system 2 is more logical and requires deliberation on the part of the thinker. Kahneman reveals that system 1 is more active in a majority of people .

The book’s content is relevant for both individuals and policy makers engaged in decision-making. It is ideal for those who want to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and of others.

9. The Power of Neuroplasticity by Dr. Shad Helmstetter

books help me learn

In this book, Dr. Shad Helmstetter explains how the brain continues to grow and change over time . He also gives readers a glimpse of what happens when people do not take advantage of opportunities for self-improvement.

This book promises to change your life for the better with the help of recent research in neuroscience.

The author provides actionable suggestions on how to apply the information found in the book to increase mental alertness, improve intelligence , boost health , overcome attitudes that hold you back, and achieve goals .

10. Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko

books help me learn

Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques helps you alter the way you view your own creativity by demystifying the process of creativity and allowing you to see the limitless potentials there are before you.

By applying the creative-thinking techniques provided in this book, readers will:

  • Discover new ways of making money
  • Open up opportunities for business
  • See problems from a different viewpoint
  • Look at previously unexplored angles for problem solving
  • Improve and/or create new products and processes
  • Come up with the most innovative ideas
  • Increase productivity

This book is well-organized. Each chapter provides the blueprint for a specific creative-thinking technique, including instructions on how to do the techniques, as well as anecdotes and discussions to explain why the technique works in enhancing your creativity.

11. How We Learn by Benedict Carey

books help me learn

In this book, Benedict Carey tells readers that the brain isn’t a muscle in a literal sense, but that our brains are eccentric learning machines sensitive to environmental and internal factors such as moods and the circadian rhythm .

How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens shows how we can tap into the quirks of our own gray matter and use them to our advantage.

The information provided by Carey in his book is both fascinating and insightful. It allows us to understand what goes on when we learn something.

This book is ideal for students who want an out-of-the-box guide to help them understand the learning process, as well as for educators looking for ways to support their students in succeeding in the classroom and in life.

12. Speed Reading with the Right Brain by David Butler

books help me learn

Speed Reading with the Right Brain: Read Faster by Reading Ideas Instead of Just Words is not your usual guide to speed reading.

The approach is completely unique and different from other speed-reading books, which typically offer techniques for increasing the number of words you read per minute. In this book, the author offers strategies that engage your visualizing skills in order to comprehend what you read faster .

You will be introduced to the right-brain system of speed reading through exercises that help you assimilate what you’ve read more deeply and retain information longer.

13. Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life by Margaret Moore and Paul Hammerness

books help me learn

The authors describe the result of their collaborative work as a “prescriptive book.” In it, they share strategies for organizing your life by organizing your thoughts.

Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life: Train Your Brain to Get More Done in Less Tim has a two-step approach to helping you achieve a richer, more meaningful life. Hammerness and Moore call it the “one-two punch.”

First, Hammerness explains the organizing principles involved in focus and attention. Then, Moore guides you on how to use techniques for applying the principles in your own life .

The information that the authors share is life-changing and captivating. Although what they share is based heavily on neuroscience and psychology, the suggested techniques are not only practical, but doable and inspirational as well.

14. The First 20 Hours by Josh Kaufman

books help me learn

Perhaps you’ve heard of the 10,000-hour rule in skill acquisition. This book counters the long-held belief that it takes an average of 10,000 accumulated hours in order to master an activity.

In The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything…Fast! , Kaufman shares a systematic approach to skill mastery in the quickest way possible. His method requires 20 hours of deliberate practice .

The method involves deconstructing complex skills, learning how to get the most out of practice, and identifying and eliminating common obstacles to learning.

Kaufman himself has field tested his method, using it to acquire new skills such as playing a musical instrument, programming an app, and learning a new sport.

Final Thoughts on Learning Books

Reading books about learning is important for several reasons. Not only will you learn from experts and understand learning theories, you will also developing critical thinking skills and discover new strategies and study tips.

We hope you enjoyed these 14 books on learning and retaining the information that you encounter in life.

If you'd like to discover even more books, then browse through this list of 250+ self-help books that are broken down into wide range of categories .

And if you'd like to discover additional resources that can help you learn new skills, then I recommend checking out these three platforms.

  • Skillshare (You can read the review of it here .)
  • Udemy (You can read the review of it here .)
  • Coursera (You can read the review of it here .)

Finally, if you want a PROVEN method to mastering your next test, then take this short masterclass on how to study for exams and getting excellent grades .

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18 bestselling books that help guide you toward successful careers and relationships

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  • Reading books can be a great way to help you achieve more success in life.
  • From self-help to memoirs, we rounded up the top bestselling books that can change your life.
  • These books can help you form better habits, improve your relationships, and learn to lead.

Insider Today

Whether you're looking for guidance in navigating your 20s , learning how to invest , or advancing in your career , books are a highly accessible way to continue your education in any subject.

Naturally, "success" is a topic that readers tend to seek out a lot. The self-help genre is full of bestsellers that cover everything from forming good habits to learning how to lead , written by everyone from well-known politicians and CEOs to psychologists who've dedicated their careers to studying a subject.

Below, we outlined some of the most popular self-help and personal development books and memoirs that can help you be more successful in life, from managing your money to tweaking how you approach problems . We also included reviews from Amazon customers who found the books helpful in making big changes in their lives.

18 bestselling books that will help you be more successful in life:

"the high 5 habit: take control of your life with one simple habit".

books help me learn

" The High 5 Habit: Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit " by Mel Robbins  

What it teaches you: How to form a simple, science-backed habit to deal with self-doubt and self-criticism to boost your confidence and happiness.

Positive Amazon review: "I don't want to give anything away but Mel shares 2 really powerful stories that illustrate what happens when you use these habits, and especially the one with the painting had me in tears. It was such a beautiful ending and somehow the book combines what you expect from this kind of book, motivational self help inspirational stuff, with memoir, really deep spiritual insights, a big pep talk, and it's still really easy and entertaining to read." — A.

"Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom"

books help me learn

" Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom " by Tabitha Brown

What it teaches you: How to find ways to listen to your body and soul to live a more loving, kind life.

Positive Amazon review: "Absolutely phenomenal so far! I had been looking for books specifically from those affected by autoimmune disorders, like myself, and when I read the description a few months ago, I knew I had to preorder it. Halfway through the first chapter, I immediately ordered it for a dear friend." —  C

"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones"

books help me learn

" Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones " by James Clear

What it teaches you: How to form small, meaningful habits that add up to produce significant life changes. It also provides tips on reducing bad habits, such as procrastination.

Positive Amazon review: "It's possible this might become your most highlighted personal improvement book because every page is so chocked full of memorable and quotable gems of advice." — Tom Venuto

"Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts."

books help me learn

" Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. " by Brené Brown

What it teaches you: How to use vulnerability, compassion, and empathy to improve your leadership skills and connect with your teammates.

Positive Amazon review: "What I loved best about this book is that it showed me in a hundred different ways where my thinking was flawed and what I could do to fix it. It did it in a way that was not shame inducing but empowering." — Randy Bell

"Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life"

books help me learn

" Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life " by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

What it teaches you: How to outline and figure out the day-to-day tasks you actually like doing (instead of focusing on a "dream career"). You can read a full review of the online course based on the book here . Positive Amazon review: "I spent an immense amount of time in my life in my late 20s reflecting, researching, reading, and stressing about what I wanted to do with my life. I wish I had had this book then." — Amazon Customer

"Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole"

books help me learn

" Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole " by Tiffany Aliche

What it teaches you: How to take a deep look at your spending habits and learn to realistically budget and save your money, no matter what your current financial situation is.

Positive Amazon review: "If someone shaming you into austerity hasn't helped you get your financial life in order (weird how that doesn't work long-term), then I highly recommend this as an alternative. "Get Good with Money" is a fabulous tool to help you develop skills and introspection on your way to creating sustainable change in your life." — Frankie Yap

"The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment"

books help me learn

" The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment " by Eckhart Tolle

What it teaches you: How to use meditation and relaxation techniques to find your "true" self and live in the present moment.

Positive Amazon review: "There's much more to this book than just 'living in the moment' — although that's the basic premise. But it's flushed out in a way that is profound." — Daniel S.

"Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know"

books help me learn

" Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know " by Adam Grant

What it teaches you: How to be more open-minded and prioritize mental flexibility, which can help you negotiate and compromise better as well as generally improve your relationships.

Positive Amazon review: "This is an utterly original book on a topic that not only bears directly upon our success, but also our long-term happiness." — Dr Ali Binazir

"Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It"

books help me learn

" Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It " by Chris Voss

What it teaches you: How to be more persuasive in your personal and professional life using nine core negotiation principles.

Positive Amazon review: "I went into the dealership the next day, and bought the car for $900 less than their original 'Out the door' price that they 'just couldn't go down on.' I used all the tactics in the few pages I had read." — pamela doxey

"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"

books help me learn

" Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking " by Susan Cain

What it teaches you: How to embrace your introverted side and use your strengths to succeed in a world built for extroverts. You can read our full review of the book here . Positive Amazon review: "The wealth of information and insights in this book cannot be overstated — especially if you are an introverted type of person who has always felt there was something not quite right about you, or that you somehow needed to change to fit in or succeed." — Karen Hall

"Thinking, Fast and Slow"

books help me learn

" Thinking, Fast and Slow " by Daniel Kahneman

What it teaches you: How to "slow down" your thinking and make more logical, thought-out decisions. Positive Amazon review: "'Thinking, Fast and Slow' is a book for anyone who is interested in how thinking works and why they think the things they do." — T.L. Cooper

"Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity"

books help me learn

" Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity " by Kim Scott

What it teaches you: How to give honest, effective feedback as a boss without being insincere or needlessly harsh. Positive Amazon review: "'Radical Candor' is one of the most helpful books on management I have read. Not only is the theoretical model (caring personally while providing critical feedback) incredibly helpful, but there are dozens of practical suggestions and tips on everything from 1-1 meetings to successfully managing large projects." — c.bright

"Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change"

books help me learn

" Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change " by Stacey Abrams

What it teaches you: How to lead and innovate when the odds are stacked against you or you feel like an outsider.

Positive Amazon review: "This book illustrates what it's like to come from humble beginnings and constantly have to learn the rules along the way." — saga72

"Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World"

books help me learn

" Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World " by William H. McRaven

What it teaches you: How to really commit to small habits (like making your bed every day) that accumulate over time, and embody other life principles that can help build resilience.

Positive Amazon review: "A respectful, thought-provoking book which should be required reading for all adults, and maybe reread a couple of times at different stages in a person's life. It gives purpose and direction." — Kindle Customer

"The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing"

books help me learn

" The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing " by Marie Kondo

What it teaches you: How to clean up and organize your home — and feel mentally better and more in control of your life as a result. Positive Amazon review: "Nearly all the things Kondo says have come true. We know our likes and dislikes. Our house is cleaner and easier to clean. Our house better reflects our personalities." — Paige Turner

"The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life."

books help me learn

" The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. " by Robin Sharma

What it teaches you: How to get into the habit of waking up earlier to get distraction-free time to yourself. Positive Amazon review: "I've been an off again and on again early riser for years, but I could never make it stick. While I've only started implementing the frameworks of the 5am Club, I can already see that this new approach will have much more staying power for me." — Jason Billows from Ottawa

"Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds"

books help me learn

" Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind Defy the Odds " by David Goggins

What it teaches you: How to be aware of what Goggins calls "The 40% Rule" (where we only tap into about 40% of our potential) and work to reach higher self-actualization through resilience. Positive Amazon review: "With this book he doesn't just offer short term motivation but rather a deep shift in your mindset that will help you achieve your fullest potential, as long as you're willing to put in the work." — silviu

"How to Win Friends & Influence People"

books help me learn

" How to Win Friends & Influence People " by Dale Carnegie

What it teaches you: How to more effectively communicate and deal with people who don't agree with you and handle conflict, especially when you're in a leadership position. Positive Amazon review: "Even if you do not think you need any advice...this book is priceless. It not only provides you insight into your own actions, but gives you a window into the actions and choices of those you work with/for." — MISS MARIE

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Books to help you get to know yourself better

If you’re looking for a little insight into why you are the way you are, these books could help. ali roff farrar shares her edit of the best books to help you get to know yourself better. .

books help me learn

We spend every hour of every day with ourselves, so we should know our own minds better than anyone, right? But, with constant digital stimulation, stressful to-do lists and all the other distractions in our modern world, it can often seem as if we aren’t sure what we want, why we make the choices we make, or even who we really are. So, how do we get to know ourselves better? From befriending your subconscious to understanding how your childhood experiences shaped who you are today, these brilliant books might just have the answers you’ve been looking for. 

Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain

By lisa feldman barrett.

Book cover for Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain

Want to know who (or what) is really behind your behaviour? Or the understand the relationship between your thoughts and emotions? Ever wondered if your personality was the result of nature, or nurture? Lisa Feldman Barrett’s book Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain consists of seven essays, each one delivering fast and fascinating lessons on the brain to help you understand yours, and therefore yourself, a little better. It includes a fascinating essay explaining that we are born with our brains ‘under construction’ and remain that way for a pretty long time.

How to Stay Sane

By philippa perry.

Book cover for How to Stay Sane

There is no simple set of instructions that can guarantee sanity, but psychotherapist Philippa Perry argues that there are four cornerstones you can influence to bring about change. By developing your self-observation skills, examining how you relate to others, breaking out of your comfort zone and exploring new ways of defining yourself, Philippa demonstrates that it is possible to become a little less tortured and a little more fulfilled. How to Stay Sane  is at once a brilliant explanation of our minds and a profoundly useful guide to facing up to the many challenges life throws our way.

The Greatest Self-Help Book (is the one written by you)

By vex king.

Book cover for The Greatest Self-Help Book (is the one written by you)

From Sunday Times bestselling author of  Good Vibes, Good Life  and  Healing is the New High , Vex King and social media star Kaushal, this is a journal like no other. Filled with exercises, activities and visual prompts, it will help you to understand and regulate your emotions, maintain habits that work for you, shift negative mindsets and cultivate positive thought patterns, build self-awareness and carve out time to practise self-love and gratitude. Think of this as your companion to help you build a healthier relationship with yourself and others;  The Greatest Self-Help Book  is the one written by you.

Codependent No More

By melody beattie.

Book cover for Codependent No More

Have you lost sight of yourself while addressing the needs of others? Fully revised and updated, with a new chapter on trauma and anxiety, this modern classic will help you heal and grow. Melody Beattie's compassionate and insightful look into codependency – the concept of losing oneself in the name of helping another – has helped to guide millions of readers towards the understanding that they are powerless to change anyone but themselves and that caring for the self is where healing begins. Codependent No More  will help you break old patterns and maintain healthy boundaries.

That Little Voice In Your Head

By mo gawdat.

Book cover for That Little Voice In Your Head

Retrain your brain with this practical guide by former Google engineer and executive Mo Gawdat, author of international bestseller  Solve for Happy . Gawdat teaches how we can conquer negative thoughts, change our thinking processes, turn avarice into generosity, transform lethargy into empathy and invest in our own wellbeing and happiness. With exercises and personal insights, That Little Voice in Your Head  can move us away from the misconceptions of modern life.

Ten Times Calmer

By dr kirren schnack.

Book cover for Ten Times Calmer

Dr Kirren Schnack is here to tell you that your anxiety isn’t here to stay. As an Oxford-trained and practicing NHS clinical psychologist with twenty years experience, she offers a first aid kit of tools to help you understand what you’re going through and change how you’re feeling — and it might just be easier than you think. The ten chapters cover everything from dealing with anxious thoughts and stress to managing uncertainty and safely tackling trauma, with each tip taking you one step closer to an anxiety-free life. 

The Cambridge Code

By emma loveridge.

Book cover for The Cambridge Code

There’s the conscious mind, and then there’s the subconscious mind – the part of our psyche which we don’t have easy access to, yet dictates a lot of who we are and the choices we make in life. These two realms of our psyche have often been likened to an iceberg – the top visible portion being the conscious mind, and the bottom portion hidden from view being our subconscious. But what if we could put on our swimming goggles and take a look at the invisible portion? The Cambridge Code: One Simple Test to Uncover Who You Are helps us to do so. 

by Amir Levine

Book cover for Attached

What kind of relationship personality do you have? In Attached, Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine and psychologist Rachel Heller explore how understanding your attachment style could help you understand yourself better within your relationships. According to attachment theory, in relationships we behave in one of three ways: anxious, avoidant, and secure.  Levine and Keller break each attachment style down, and with the use of quizzes and psychological expertise, help you to identify your own and recognise others’, so that you can create happy and balanced relationships. 

by Jen Cownie

Book cover for Wild Card

Every time you draw a card, you open up possibilities. What will appear and what will you see? At its heart, the tarot is a storytelling device, a deck of symbols and narratives that can spark conversations, inspire ideas, and reveal new perspectives. And you don't need to be psychic to use it. Whether you are learning to read for yourself and others, refreshing your knowledge, or just curious,  Wild Card  will show you how the tarot can add a little bit of magic to your life, and learn about yourself in the process.

What Happened to You?

By oprah winfrey.

Book cover for What Happened to You?

Often, when we ask ‘why am I the way I am?’, we speculate whether the answer is connected to our experiences in childhood. In What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing , authors Dr Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey, who experienced numerous childhood traumas herself, ask ‘how do our childhoods influence who we are as adults?’. Together, they explore the idea of asking not ‘what’s wrong with you?’, but instead, ‘what happened to you?’, and discuss the impact of what happens to us in childhood (be it good or bad) on both our physical and emotional health.

by Michael Bond

Book cover for Wayfinding

Wayfinding by Michael Bond explores our evolutionary relationship with the environment and our movement within it, arguing we are fundamentally 'explorers'. It discusses how differing navigational approaches between men and women shape their perception of the world. The book investigates the idea of 'home', its influence on our behaviours and emotions, and the importance of navigational skills for survival. It's a must-read for those intrigued by how our surroundings contribute to self-discovery and human nature.

Why the F*ck Can’t I Change?

By dr gabija toleikyte.

Book cover for Why the F*ck Can’t I Change?

Change is a complex subject – sometimes we want to change, to break bad habits, form new healthy ones, or begin new life stages. And yet other times, change is thrust upon us whether we like it or not. So why do we sometimes find change so difficult? According to neuroscientist and behavioural coach Dr Gabija Toleikyte, ‘Our brains resist sudden change for multiple reasons.’ In her book Why the F*ck Can’t I Change? she takes us to the root cause of why we form certain habits and behaviours, in order to help us understand why we find it difficult to change, and help us to kick bad habits for good.

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The best self-care and self-help books to read right now, the 9 best books to help with anxiety, 10 sustainability books to read in 2024.

Scott H Young

Learn faster, achieve more

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My new book, ULTRALEARNING is now available.

Ten Great Books on How to Learn Better

What are the best books to read to become a better learner? (Aside from my book , of course.) I get asked this question a lot, though most of my recent reading lists have been more academic and somewhat removed from immediate applications.

Today, I’d like to change that and share a list of some of my favorite approachable and actionable books on learning. Here’s ten I highly recommend.

1. How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport

books help me learn

Although famous for Deep Work , Cal’s early books were aimed at students (that’s how we met). Straight-A is easily the best of Cal’s student-oriented trilogy. Cal derived the content and strategies he recommends from his interviews with relaxed, high-achieving students. He offers concrete, practical advice for getting through college without burning out.

Other great books by Cal Newport:

  • How to Win at College
  • How to Become a High School Superstar

2. A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley

books help me learn

Barbara Oakley has a number of excellent books on learning. Her free course, Learning How to Learn , co-instructed with pioneering cognitive scientist Terrence Sejnowksi , is an excellent resource.

In A Mind for Numbers , Oakley shares how to tackle difficult quantitative subjects—even if you’ve struggled with math in the past. Oakley speaks from experience, having gone from a self-described “language person” to getting a PhD in engineering.

Other great books by Barbara Oakley:

  • Learning How to Learn
  • Uncommon Sense Teaching

3. How We Learn by Stanislas Dehaene

books help me learn

This book is an engaging tour through the science of learning led by one of the world’s leading cognitive neuroscientists. Dehaene elegantly links research on how we learn to the science of how the brain works.

Other great books by Stanislas Dehaene:

  • Reading in the Brain
  • Consciousness and the Brain

4. Why Don’t Students Like School? by Daniel Willingham

books help me learn

Daniel Willingham is one of my favorite educational psychologists who writes for a mass audience. This book argues for the importance of background knowledge, the crucial role attention plays in memory, and how cognition changes as we become more proficient.

Other great books by Daniel Willingham:

  • Outsmart Your Brain
  • The Reading Mind

5. Make it Stick by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger and Mark McDaniel

books help me learn

I confess I haven’t read this book in its entirety. But I have few qualms about recommending it because I’ve greatly benefited from Roediger’s academic work.

Retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving and other interventions improve learning, but—and this is key—we tend to be unaware of it. There is value in understanding and deploying these studying strategies precisely because they defy our intuitions.

6. The Power of Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction by Greg Ashman

books help me learn

I’ve shared John Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory on this blog before. Ashman, a disciple of Sweller’s, has written a powerful book explaining why cognitive load is central to learning how to learn.

Although the primary audience for this book is teachers, I found it very interesting as a learner. While Ashman’s advice—that teachers should fully and thoroughly teach their subjects—don’t sound surprising, it’s an important message because of the alternative theories it rejects. This book is a must-read if you’ve ever struggled with teaching or learning.

7. Peak by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool

books help me learn

Anders Ericsson’s work is perhaps best known from Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers , or Geoffrey Colvin’s Talent is Overrated . Deliberate practice has become a buzzword in many circles, but this buzz has also created considerable misconceptions.

In this book, Ericsson works to set the record straight, arguing both for what deliberate practice is and what it isn’t. Ericsson argues that much of the prowess we see in elite performers is due to huge quantities of this specific kind of practice rather than talent alone.

8. How We Learn to Move by Rob Gray

books help me learn

Movement skills have been a gap in my writing on learning. Gray’s book is a highly-readable summary that highlights some interesting research on how we might learn motor skills better.

Gray argues that a staple of training–repetitive practice in highly constrained conditions to get the “right” movement is not only frequently unhelpful, it isn’t even possible to train a perfectly repetitive movement. Gray argues against the orange training pylon approach to movement skills, instead arguing we can induce new motor patterns better through adjusting constraints that allow for dynamic skills.

9. How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens

books help me learn

Zettelkasten systems, which allow you to organize notes for your studies, research or creative work, are all the rage these days. I’ve interviewed Tiago Forte for his book , which covers a similar topic.

Ahrens’s book is a helpful guide to zettelkasten as it’s a bit more nitty-gritty in the implementation details. If you want to know how to organize the things you learn, this book is a great place to start.

10. Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

books help me learn

Joshua Foer dives into the strange world of super-memorizers. Using mnemonic systems, these people can memorize decks of cards, random digits or entire poems perfectly in around the same time it takes you or I to read them. Foer’s mixture of psychological science and first-person experience was a major inspiration when I wrote Ultralearning .

I tend to find mnemonics less helpful for studying than they are often hyped to be. From a practical perspective, I’d recommend Straight-A or Make it Stick above this book. But for a well-written tale to get you inspired to learn better, few books do it better.

Books for Learning Specific Subjects

In addition to these more general learning how to learn books, there are a few specific ones I’ve found helpful:

  • Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. Setting aside the dubious neuroscience, this book will change how you think about drawing. Highly recommended if you struggle with more than stick figures.
  • Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner and Fluent in 3 Months by Benny Lewis offer two perspectives on language learning. I’ve long been friends with Benny Lewis, and his efforts inspired my own language-learning journeys. Wyner’s approach is also great.
  • Learning Medicine: An Evidence-Based Guide . My go-to recommendation for med students.
  • Math, Better Explained . My good friend, Kalid Azad, offers a guide to thinking about math in ways that make better sense.

Of course, you can also check out my book, Ultralearning , for my thoughts on the subject!

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50 Must-Read How-To Books

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Sarah Nicolas

Sarah Nicolas is a recovering mechanical engineer, library event planner, and author who lives in Orlando with a 60-lb mutt who thinks he’s a chihuahua. Sarah writes YA novels as Sarah Nicolas and romance under the name Aria Kane. When not writing, they can be found playing volleyball or drinking wine. Find them on Twitter @sarah_nicolas .

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Want to learn a new skill or try out a new hobby? Here are 50 of the best how-to books written to teach you 50 different things. I tried to keep this list as random as possible, catering to a wide range of interests and topics, but of course I’m naturally drawn to certain things so there is some bias. (Half of the list would be food-related if I hadn’t stopped myself.)

Art & Crafts Books

How to draw cool stuff: a drawing guide for teachers and students by catherine holmes.

“Shows simple step-by-step illustrations that make it easy for anyone to draw cool stuff with precision and confidence. These pages will guide you through the basic principles of illustration by concentrating on easy-to-learn shapes that build into complex drawings.”

Basic Pottery Making by Linda Franz

“Step-by-step instructions complete with color photographs. Includes a chapter on bisque firing, waxing, and glazing. 4 basic pottery projects for the beginning potter: The art of pottery making is described in detail for the beginning or experienced potter.”

The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets by Ted Kooser

“Here are tools and insights, the instructions (and warnings against instructions) that poets—aspiring or practicing—can use to hone their craft, perhaps into art.”

Origami 365 by Taro Yaguchi

“This book contains 12 models that clearly illustrate specific key folds and base forms that provide a foundation for the development of origami skills. 365 pieces of beautifully designed origami papers are provided to create models in three different sizes-perfect for use as ornaments, jewelry, and just for fun.”

Stained Glass Making Basics by Lynn Haunstein

“All the essential information and instruction the beginner needs to know to create stunning stained glass projects. The projects–starting with the simplest and ranging to the more difficult–build on mastering skills and tools; understanding glass, copper foil, and lead came techniques; creating a good work environment; and stained glass safety.”

Business, Career & Finance How-To Books

Radical candor: be a kick-ass boss without losing your humanity by kim scott.

“A guide to those bewildered or exhausted by management, written for bosses and those who manage bosses. … it shows managers how to be successful while retaining their humanity, finding meaning in their job, and creating an environment where people both love their work and their colleagues.”

Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview by Thea Kelley

“Concise and highly readable, Get That Job! is packed with everything you need to prepare for the best interview of your life. Through proven advice and tips, step-by-step instructions, sample questions and worksheets, you will learn how to stand out for all the right reasons.”

How to Work for an Idiot by John Hoover

“Are you convinced the only way to survive your Idiot Boss is to drink heavily, quit your job, or grind up your medication into your I-Boss’s coffee? Despair no longer. How to Work for an Idiot offers hope for the spirit and strategy for the mind.”

Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media by Brittany Hennessey

“As nightlife blogger, then social media strategist, and now Senior Director of Influencer Strategy and Talent Partnerships at Hearst Magazines Digital Media, Brittany Hennessy has seen the role of influencers evolve and expand into something that few could have imagined when social media first emerged. She has unrivaled insight into where the branded content industry was, where it is, and where it’s going.”

Investing QuickStart Guide by Ted D. Snow

“Bringing the wisdom of 30+ years in the finance industry to bear–much to the benefit of novice learners and experienced investors alike–Snow provides readers with the complete picture on stocks, bonds, treasuries, ETFs, mutual funds, indexes, REITS and several other investment securities. Snow’s intrepid but practical asset-allocation investment philosophy is masterfully communicated and highly appropriate for market newcomers. ”

How to Start A Successful Nonprofit by Niaja Farve

“This book will not only guide you through the necessities of starting a nonprofit, but also provide you with the skills and resources to ensure that your nonprofit lives past the first year and you create the good in the world you want to see.”

Food How-To Books

Tanoshii ke-ki: japanese-style baking for all occasions by chef masataka yamashita.

“Chef Yamashita shares a delightful collection of recipes for his signature sponge, chiffon and mousse cakes, so you can make these creations your own. With an additional section on special cakes that are gluten-free or eggless, everyone can join in the party!”

Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa

“As a professionally trained chef and avid home baker, she uses her experience to guide readers through the science and art of sourdough. With step-by-step master recipe guides, readers learn how to create and care for their own starters, plus they get more than 60 unique recipes to bake a variety of breads that suit their every need.”

The Beginner’s Guide to Cheese Making by Elena R. Santogade

“With the easy, step-by-step cheese making recipes specifically designed for beginners, you’ll be making the fresh, tasty cheeses that you love so much in no time.”

The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt

“Kenji focuses on the science behind beloved American dishes, delving into the interactions between heat, energy, and molecules that create great food. Kenji shows that often, conventional methods don’t work that well, and home cooks can achieve far better results using new—but simple—techniques.”

Games & Hobbies Books

The ultimate rpg character backstory guide by james d’amato.

“Ramp up your role-playing game (RPG) and make your character your own with this fun, interactive workbook—an essential addition to any player’s gaming kit.”

The Complete Book of Mah Jongg by Amy Lo

“The perfect guide for all skill levels to learn the different styles of Mahjong—from Mahjong beginners to pros.”

Chess Fundamentals by José Raúl Capablanca

“J.R. Capablanca was a World Chess Champion and one of the greatest players in chess history, yet he wrote very little about the game. Chess Fundamentals, though normally for the beginning player, contains valuable insights that will benefit players at all levels of understanding, including masters.”

Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat—Not a Sour Puss by Pam Johnson-Bennett

“By understanding your cat’s motivations, needs and communication you can modify and prevent behavior problems, avoid common mistakes made by both novice and experienced owners, and ultimately continue to enrich and enjoy a relationship in which you are unconditionally loved, endlessly forgiven for your mistakes, never judged, and constantly entertained.

101 Magic Tricks: Any Time, Any Place by Bryan Miles

“Learn classic sleight of hand techniques that are simple enough for any apprentice to grasp. Conquer magical ruses that require no special equipment, and are explained with simple step-by-step instructions.”

Go: A Complete Introduction to the Game by Chikun Cho

“Written specifically for the western reader by one of the strongest players in the world, it presents the rules, tactics, and strategy of this unique game in a step-by-step, easy to understand way.”

Beeswax Alchemy by Petra Ahnert

“An introduction details the different ways in which beeswax has been used throughout history, as well as the products that contain it today. You’ll also find an explanation of the different types of beeswax, as well as insider tips on working with beeswax, followed by step-by-step instructions for making candles, balms, salves, creams, scrubs, soaps, ornaments, art, and more out of beeswax.”

The Student Pilot’s Flight Manual: From First Flight to Pilot Certificate by William K. Kershner

“Everything a student pilot needs to gain aviation certification is included in this handbook for student pilots.”

Bonsai: The Complete Step By Step Guide for Beginners by Hikaru Yamasaki

“With detailed descriptions and profiles, Yamasaki provides you with expert advice on growing, shaping, potting, cultivation techniques and more. Everything you need to know about growing bonsai is here.”

For even more books in this category, check out our lists Best Crochet Books , Best Cross-Stitch Books , and Woodworking Books for Beginners .

Health & Fitness Books

The american red cross first aid and safety handbook by american red cross and kathleen a. handal.

“The first moments after an injury occurs are the most critical. This authoritative guidebook, based on course materials used by Red Cross chapters across the United States, shows you how to handle every type of first aid emergency.”

T Is for Transformation by Shaun T

“Shaun T unveils the 7 transformational principles that guided his progress through life and that are at the core of his incredibly successful workouts. T is for Transformation is a motivational master class as Shaun shows you how to become more flexible and resourceful, give everything you’ve got, and, most importantly, trust and believe in your path to success.”

Idiot’s Guides: Ayurveda by Sahara Rose Ketabi

“Ayurveda is the world’s oldest health system and sister science of yoga, originating in India 5000 years ago. It’s the age-old secret to longevity, digestive health, mental clarity, beauty and balance that’s regaining popularity today for its tried-and-trued methods.”

Stretching to Stay Young by Jessica Matthews

“Jessica meets you at your current level of stretching ability and guides you step-by-step through each stretch, arming you with the confidence you need to progress into deeper levels of stretching for enhanced flexibility and strength over time.”

Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice by Thich Nhat Hanh

“Designed to be both inspiration and guidebook for those new to mindfulness practice, Making Space offers easy-to-follow instructions for setting up a breathing room, listening to a bell, sitting, breathing, and walking meditations, and cooking and eating a meal in mindfulness.”

How-To Books For the Home

Organizing solutions for people with adhd by susan c. pinsky.

“Organizing Solutions for People with ADD outlines new organizing strategies that will be of value to anyone who wants to improve their organizational, or lack of, skills in their life.”

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave by Joanna Gaines

“This comprehensive guide will help you assess your priorities and your instincts, as well as your likes and dislikes, with practical steps for navigating and embracing your authentic design style.”

Tiny House Design & Construction Guide by Dan S. Louche

“Your road map to the entire build process. By reading the guide you’ll understand the steps that will need to be taken and know where and how to start building your own tiny house.”

My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag . . . and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha by Jolie Kerr

“With signature sass and straight talk, Jolie takes on questions ranging from the basic—how do I use a mop?—to the esoteric—what should I do when bottles of homebrewed ginger beer explode in my kitchen? My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag proves that even the most nightmarish cleaning conundrums can be solved with a smile, the right supplies, and a little music.”

Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire and Emergency Use by Art Ludwig

“A do-it-yourself guide to designing, building, and maintaining water tanks, cisterns and ponds, and sustainably managing groundwater storage. It will help you with your independent water system, fire protection, and disaster preparedness, at low cost and using principles of ecological design.”

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims

“Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of twentysomethings-and of special value to parents of teens-this book is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence.”

Outdoor How-To Books

Basic fishing: a beginner’s guide by wade bourne.

“Expert angler and award winning outdoor writer Wade Bourne has created a step-by-step guide that masterfully breaks down the art of fishing with diagrams, vivid photographs, and lessons.”

How to Raise Monarch Butterflies by Carol Pasternak

“Raising Monarch butterflies is made easy with the help of this detailed guide. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies explains what threats Monarchs face today and how readers can help conserve the Monarch’s feeding grounds from encroachment. Revel in one of the most remarkable miracles of nature.”

Escape from the Ordinary by Julie Bradley

“Told with keen observations and sparkling with wry humor, Julie describes the terrors and pleasures of living a life of total independence on a sailboat where even simple decisions can have big consequences. This exhilarating, true story will thrill those planning to sail off into the sunset as well as armchair adventurers.”

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair by Todd Downs

“Whether they own the latest model or a classic with thousands of miles on it, beginners and experienced cyclists alike can depend on this book to get their bikes out of the shop faster and keep them on the road longer.”

Personal Improvement Books

How to be a bawse: a guide to conquering life by lilly singh.

“The definitive guide to being a bawse—a person who exudes confidence, reaches goals, gets hurt efficiently, and smiles genuinely because they’ve fought through it all and made it out the other side.”

The Greatest You: Face Reality, Release Negativity, and Live Your Purpose by Trent Shelton

“Trent takes you through the necessary steps to become everything you are meant to be, from facing the reality of your circumstances and realizing your purpose in life, to breaking free from toxic environments and forgiving those–including yourself–who’ve harmed you, to learning how to guard yourself against the pitfalls of life.”

How to Get People to Do Stuff by Susan Weinschenk

“We all want people to do stuff. Whether you want your customers to buy from you, vendors to give you a good deal, your employees to take more initiative, or your spouse to make dinner–a large amount of everyday is about getting the people around you to do stuff. Instead of using your usual tactics that sometimes work and sometimes don’t, what if you could harness the power of psychology and brain science to motivate people to do the stuff you want them to do – even getting people to want to do the stuff you want them to do.”

The Body Language of Liars by Lillian Glass

“World-renowned body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass shares with you the same quick and easy approach she uses to unmask signals of deception–from “innocent” little white lies to life-changing whoppers.”

The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders

This book “documents Cait’s life for twelve months during which she bought only consumables: groceries, toiletries, gas for her car. Along the way, she challenged herself to consume less of many other things besides shopping. She decluttered her apartment and got rid of 70 percent of her belongings; learned how to fix things rather than throw them away; researched the zero waste movement; and completed a television ban. At every stage, she learned that the less she consumed, the more fulfilled she felt.”

How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip by Hitha Palepu

“Hitha Palepu, a former consultant who has traveled more than 500,000 cumulative miles around the world, shows that what and how you pack are who you are. Confidence and comfort inspire success upon arrival, whether you’re exploring a new city, hoping to nail a job interview, or relaxing on a beach.”

Science & Technology Books

Astronomy: a self-teaching guide  (eighth edition) by dinah l. moché.

“This classic beginner’s guide has been completely revised to bring it up to date with the latest discoveries. Updated with the latest, most accurate information, new online resources, and more than 100 new graphics and photos.”

Computer Hacking Beginners Guide by Alan T. Norman

“You’ll learn everything you need to know to enter the secretive world of computer hacking. It provides a complete overview of hacking, cracking, and their effect on the world. You’ll learn about the prerequisites for hacking, the various types of hackers, and the many kinds of hacking attacks.”

How to Use Graphic Design to Sell Things, Explain Things, Make Things Look Better, Make People Laugh, Make People Cry, and (Every Once in a While) Change the World by Michael Bierut

“He provides insights into the creative process, his working life, his relationship with clients, and the struggles that any design professional faces in bringing innovative ideas to the world. Inspiring, informative and authoritative, How to…is set to be the bible of graphic design ideas.”

Fictional How-To Books

How to archer by sterling archer.

“Lying is like 95% of what I do. But believe me: in this book, I’ll let you know exactly how to become a master spy just like me. Obviously, you won’t be as good at it as I am, but that’s because you’re you, and I’m Sterling Archer.”

How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters by Andrew Shaffer

“In the apocalyptic world we live in, Mother Nature is angry. Danger waits at every turn, and catastrophes like the Los Angeles sharknados have taught us that we need to be ready for anything. But fear not. How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters is the first and only comprehensive guide to surviving the very worst that Mother Nature can throw our way.”

Have you ever learned a new skill from a book? Do you have any recommendations for the best how-to books?

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20 Books That Will Help You Learn Something New Every Day

by Nicole Etolen | Mar 3, 2020 | Books | 0 comments

If, like me, your lifelong goal is to learn something new every day, you'll love these 20 non-fiction books. Each one is loaded with fascinating facts that will make you instantly smarter! Check them out!

If, like me, your lifelong goal is to learn something new every day, you’ll love these 20 non-fiction books. Each one is loaded with fascinating facts that will make you instantly smarter! Check them out!

If, like me, your lifelong goal is to learn something new every day, you'll love these 20 non-fiction books. Each one is loaded with fascinating facts that will make you instantly smarter! Check them out!

“Learn something new every day” has been a lifelong goal of mine. Once upon a time, I wanted to obtain and retain enough random knowledge to become a  Jeopardy champion. I’ve since given up on that goal, mostly because I tend to freeze up when speaking in public so I’d never make it past the first round of auditions. I haven’t, however, given up on the spirit of the goal. While I may never stand up there with a buzzer in my hand, I can at least learn enough to play along at home and  feel like a Jeopardy champion.

Whether you dream of becoming a record-breaking champion on the world’s greatest quiz show or just want to know enough to feel like you could compete against the likes of Ken Jennings (who is still the greatest Jeopardy champion in my mind), these books will help you get there.

I’ve chosen books ranging from general facts & trivia to what I consider to be the most complete yet approachable guide to different specific topics. Enjoy!

FYI, this post uses affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a commission at no extra cost to you. However, all of these books are either on my bookshelf (literally and digitally) or on my wish list. I wouldn’t share them if I didn’t think they’d help you reach your knowledge goals. 🙂

My top 5 picks:

Don’t have time to read all 1990+ words of this post? Here’s a super abbreviated version of my top 5 picks!

Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth

1.Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth

Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth

My brother got me the Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth book off my Christmas wish list this past year, and I’m not even a fraction of the way through it. It’ll take me at least a year to get through all the photos and facts about everything from earth’s minerals to mushrooms to macaws (birds in general, but I was going with the alliteration flow there). I love opening it up to a random page and gaining some new tidbit of unexpected knowledge.

2.National Geographic The Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals

20 Books That Will Help You Learn Something New Every Day

The National Geographic The Photo Ark was a birthday gift about two years ago. As the name implies, the majority of the thick tome is dedicated to stunning photos, but there’s still a lot to learn within the 400 pages. Plus, like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! You’ll discover plenty of animals you never even knew existed.

3.10,000 Things You Need to Know: The Big Book of Lists

10,000 Things You Need to Know

For those of us who adore lists, 10,000 Things You Need to Know is a dream come true. With 100 lists of “top 100s” curated by experts in their fields spanning across a whopping 1,000 pages, it’ll keep you busy for a very long time! Don’t worry, it’s not just page after page of boring bullet-point lists. The entire thing is beautifully arranged and illustrated, making it totally approachable and enjoyable.

4.The Book of Everything: A Visual Guide to Travel and the World

Another one from my own wish list, The Book of Everything   is exactly what it promises in the subtitle- a visual guide to the world. Every page features fun illustrations and interesting facts about everything from the highest mountains to the longest rivers and beyond. It’s written by The Lonely Planet and at just 204 pages it’s a relatively short read.

5. Ken Jennings’s Trivia Almanac: 8,888 Questions in 365 Days

Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac: 8,888 Questions in 365 Days

A somewhat oldie but always a goodie, the Ken Jennings’s Trivia Almanac: 8,888 Questions in 365 Days is filled with “this day in history” tidbits and a questions in different levels of difficulty for you to answer each day. If you’re not quite a Jennings genius (I know I’m not), don’t worry; he gives you the answers.

6.Weird but true! 2020: wild & wacky facts & photos!

Weird but true! 2020: wild & wacky facts & photos

Yes, this one is technically a kids’ book, but I have an older edition that I found just as enjoyable as my son did. It truly is filled with some really weird but true facts, including a guide to toilets throughout time! Is it useful information? Heck no! That’s why it’s so fun!

7. The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia

The Arts

Another one that’s designed for kids, DK’s The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia is also perfect for adults who want to learn more about art history in the least pretentious way possible. Along with guides to different art styles, it also covers some of the most influential artists throughout history. As with all DK books, it’s an easy read for all ages.

8. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology

Mythology encyclopedia

I love all things mythology. Even though I’m not religious myself, learning about other culture’s ideas about the how and why of the universe fascinates me. This one is a good introduction to world religions throughout history. Think of it as an overview, something to help you decide which mythology you’d like to really home in on. As a few reviewers point out, it is lacking in a few areas and skips a few gods, but it would be impossible to fit every single god and myth into one book.

9.Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine

Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine

The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine calls itself  “the definitive home reference to healing with the world’s oldest form of medicine,” and it does a pretty good job of living up to that description. It’s a great source of info for those who prefer a more natural approach to treating simple ailments. I strongly believe that old and new medicine can complement each other. Even if you’re not really into natural medicine, you’ll still learn a lot about the different plants and how our ancestors used them.

10.The Human Body Atlas: How the human body works

human body atlas

When my son was little, he had a complete meltdown every time he got the smallest of cuts. He was convinced he would bleed to death! So, I taught him how and where in the body blood cells were made. Somehow, his bed time ritual became a lesson in human anatomy. My son knew more about the respiratory and circulatory system at age 3 than most people learn in a life time.

The book that I used to teach him was a bit more simplistic than this one . I choose one for you that’s a little more advanced than what I used with my toddler. Still, it’s very approachable and easy to follow!

11.Now I Know: The Revealing Stories Behind the World’s Most Interesting Facts

Now I Know

If you prefer a more well-rounded education than the last few books offered, start with Now I Know . While the cover gives me a bit of a headache, the inside lives up to it’s promise. You’ll learn why the alphabet actually has 27 letters, how to sort of win at a race track, and other strange little bits of info.

12.Random Illustrated Facts: A Collection of Curious, Weird, and Totally Not Boring Things to Know

Random Illustrated Facts: A Collection of Curious, Weird, and Totally Not Boring Things to Know

The Random Illustrated Facts book is perfect for those who literally only have a few spare seconds to learn something new every day. For the most part, each page has an illustration and a single fact. Find out which animals were the first passengers on a hot air balloon, which movie was the first to show a toilet being flushed, and other totally useless yet fascinating facts.

13.The Book of Weird and Unusual Trivia

The Book of Weird and Unusual Trivia

One of my favorites, The Book of Weird and Unusual Trivia took me about 4 months to get through and taught me so many weird little facts that I never realized I needed to know. For example, I learned all the weird names for groups of animals! It’s a fun read and a great bathroom book.

14.The Book of Mis-information

The Book of Mis-information

One from my wish list, The Book of Mis-information is from the same publisher that put out the weird and unusual trivia tome above. The “mis-information” is fairly lighthearted and politics-neutral. In other words, it’s less about true propaganda and more about random things we tend to believe that are absolutely untrue.

15. 50 States, 5,000 Ideas

50 States, 5,000 Ideas

Even if, like me, you’ll never be able to afford to travel nearly as much as you’d like (or at all, these days), this is still an excellent book filled to read. I like to know what’s out there that I’ll never get to see. 😀 If you do have enough disposable income to actually leave your house, it’ll give you some great ideas of places to visit beyond the usual tourist traps.

16.Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders

Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

I just finished Atlas Obscura’s 2020 page a day calendar (yeah, I’m weird, I read those things like books). Now, I really want the full version! It’s loaded with totally weird places to visit for those of us who prefer a more unique vacation. Like I said, I can’t afford to travel right now, so books like this help me “see” the world around me without leaving my comfy chair.

17.The Shakespeare Encyclopedia: The Complete Guide to the Man and His Works

The Shakespeare Encyclopedia: The Complete Guide to the Man and His Works

Whether you love Shakespeare and want to expand your knowledge or abhor him and just want to learn enough to get through school, the  The Shakespeare Encyclopedia   will help you reach your goal. It’s detailed enough that even the Bard’s biggest fans will learn something new. For those who hate the guy but need a basic understanding of his works to get through high school or college, skip to the 2nd section for a great overview of his plays, or the 3rd to learn about his poems.

18.The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

It’s hard to find a decent survival book that isn’t written by or for hardcore preppers. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook comes the closest, though. Probably because it was written before prepping became a trend. The 20-year anniversary edition is updated with more modern scenarios, but still retains the heart and humor of the original. Learn how to survive everything from falling out of a plane without a chute to an  “Out-of-Control Autonomous Car.”

19.Dictionary of Word Origins: The Histories of More Than 8,000 English-Language Words

Dictionary of Word Origins

While my college professor would beg to differ, I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the English language. Sure, I failed out of the class during my only semester away at school, but I failed out of all of them because I never went. I was a lot different back then, and that’s all I’ll tell you.  In case you’re curious, I maintained a 3.9 GPA once I moved back home for college.

Anyway, even though I blew off the class 20+ years ago, I’ve developed a great love for the topic over the decades. Out of all the word origin story books, this one appears to be the most complete (it’s a wish list book). It’s a must for anyone who ever thought, “I wonder why it’s called a fish?”

20.True Facts that Sound Like Bulls#*t

I just borrowed True Facts that Sound Like Bulls#*t: 500 Insane-But-True Facts That Will Shock And Impress Your Friends    for free through Kindle Unlimited and I’m looking forward to reading it asap (my KU membership ends in a week and I’m waiting for another good deal to renew it). So far, just from the “Look Inside” preview, I learned that hippo sweat is pink (and why), that beetles pretty much rule the earth, and that baboons had pet dogs. The facts are short and sweet, making it a fun little “waiting in line” read.

There you go! Each of these 20 books will definitely help you learn something new every day. Grab them all and you’ll spend the rest of your life absorbing useful or wacky facts!

If you have any favorite trivia books or encyclopedias, I’d love to hear about them. I’m always looking for new books to add to my wish list!

Last update on 2024-02-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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35 Easy to Read Books That Make You Smarter

If you are looking for books that will make you smarter, skip the textbooks and instead try these easy to read books that make you smarter while holding your interest at the same time.

Does reading make you smarter?

Of course, I answer with an emphatic YES! And not just because I’m a book person. Reading makes you smarter because it increases the connectivity in your brain, forging new pathways to make your brain even stronger.

While I think all reading has its benefits, if you are looking for books that will make you smarter, these easy-to-read nonfiction books are a great starting point.

From books on science to intellectual books about the universe or just books that make you think differently, I’ve compiled my list of the best books to make you smarter.

Don’t Miss a Thing

Books to Expand Your Knowledge

book cover A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Bill bryson.

If you are looking for books that make you smarter, your first stop should be Bill Bryson’s easy-to-read tome covering … well, nearly everything. In his quest to expand his knowledge, Bryson sets out to interview and study with some of the greatest minds. Covering the big bang theory, the rise of civilization, and everything in between, Bryson’s humorous adventures into the depths of human knowledge is one not to miss.

Publication Date: 6 May 2003 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking

Brief Answers to the Big Questions

Stephen hawking.

Considered one of the greatest minds of our time, Stephen Hawking was working on a final project when he died: answers to all the “big” questions in life. Giving his thoughts on the biggest challenges facing mankind, Hawking uses his dry wit to give the reader a basic understanding of complex topics.

Publication Date: 16 October 2018 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Neil degrasse tyson.

I love how Neil deGrasse Tyson carefully labeled his book as Astrophysics for People in a Hurry instead of “Astrophysics explained to the ignorant layman,” which is what I would have called it. Just so you are aware, even though this book is tiny, it is not a quick read. Although Tyson does an excellent job bringing the topic down to a beginner’s level, the concepts are so deep that it takes some thought to wrap your head around everything. A great primer on a fascinating subject, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is one of the best books that will make you smarter and a must-read for all the science lovers out there.

Publication Date: 2 May 2017 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover What If by Randall Munroe

Randall Munroe

What if your cells suddenly stopped dividing? What if everyone only had one soulmate? Randall Munroe, the creator of the comic xkcd, answers all the not-so-important questions in life, using humor and a whole lot of science. An enjoyable read, What If? is a book that will make you smarter … but not necessarily wiser.

Publication Date: 2 September 2014 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Brainiac by Ken Jennings

Ken Jennings

In 2004, Ken Jennings won 74 consecutive games of the trivia show Jeopardy! , a record that still stands today. In Brainiac , Jennings shares his journey to becoming trivia king as well as his explorations into the world of trivia buffs. From college quiz bowls to Boston pubs, Jennings parses out what makes trivia so much more than just meaningless facts.

Publication Date: 12 September 2006 Amazon | Goodreads

Save for Later

35 Easy to Read Books That Make You Smarter

How to Make Your Brain Smarter and Faster

book cover Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg

Smarter Faster Better

Charles duhigg.

Do you want to make smarter decisions quicker? Journalist Charles Duhigg focuses on eight key productivity concepts that will help you become smarter and illustrates them with fascinating anecdotes and interesting statistics. You’ll learn how to find motivation, set goals, make decisions, and manage others in his bestselling book.

Publication Date: 8 March 2016 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel kahneman.

If you really want to study books which make you smarter, you can’t go wrong learning how the mind works. In his groundbreaking work, Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel winner in economics, explains the two systems your mind uses. He shows the advantages and pitfalls of thinking fast, with emotion and intuition, versus thinking slow, with deliberation and logic. Learning to balance these two systems will help you improve your decision-making process.

Publication Date: 25 October 2011 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell

In Blink , Malcolm Gladwell dives into those choices we make without thinking – the split-second decisions that can have lasting consequences. With fascinating anecdotes, such as experts who can spot a fake in a glance and why New Coke was such a failure, Gladwell will make you rethink how you think.

Publication Date: 11 January 2005 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Speed Reading by Kam Knight

Speed Reading

When looking for books to read to get smarter, why not try a book that will help you read faster? Kam Knight explains the tools and tricks you need to begin speed reading. With short chapters and practice exercises, Knight teaches you how to retrain your brain to read faster without sacrificing your reading comprehension.

Publication Date: 26 September 2018 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits

James clear.

One trick to becoming “smarter” is to establish solid habits that increase your knowledge. In Atomic Habits , Clear outlines in detail the steps you can take to build good habits and break bad ones. With excellent insights and workable tips, Clear’s methodology will allow you to design your habits to improve your life.

Publication Date: 16 October 2018 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Intellectual Books

book cover Art of War by Sun Tzu

The Art of War

If you were to list the most intelligent books ever written, you’d have to include a book that has endured for over 2,500 years. This classic book of military strategy from Chinese warfare, accredited to Sun Tzu, still holds power today, whether you are facing your enemies on the battlefield, in a board room, or even online.

Publication Date: 5th Century BC Amazon | Goodreads

book cover A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

A Brief History of Time

How did the universe begin? What makes time possible? In his landmark book, printed in 1988 and then updated 10 years later, Stephen Hawking explains how the universe works. From quarks to black holes, Hawking delves into the theoretical, the unexpected, and the astounding ways our world is the way it is.

Publication Date: 1 April 1988 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped from the Beginning

Ibram x. kendi.

On top of teaching you how to be an antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi has written the top book on the history of racism in America that will cause you to think differently about American history. Covering the Puritans and the Founding Fathers all the way to the civil rights movement and modern-day activists, Kendi shows that racist ideas and discriminatory practices have permeated American history since its inception.

Publication Date: 12 April 2016 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez

Invisible Women

Caroline criado perez.

Caroline Criado Perez shows that we live in a world designed for men that systemically discriminates against women. With overwhelming statistics, Perez exposes the prevalent gender-data gap in countless fields, including medicine, technology, and urban planning. The staggering evidence will blow your mind and make you rethink everything you thought you knew. If you have a chance, Perez’s audiobook narration is spectacular, catching every hint of sarcasm, disbelief, and anger in the author’s voice.

Publication Date: 7 March 2019 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

Guns, Germs, and Steel

Jared diamond.

Jared Diamond won a Pulitzer Prize for this book about how civilization has been shaped by geography and environment. Diamond’s theory is that the development of civilization was aided by the similar weather in east-west migrations and hindered by the vast differences of north to south climate. Though his analysis of the evolution of human societies is solid and thought-provoking, the repetition of the topic does get a bit old.

Publication Date: 1997 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

35 Easy to Read Books That Make You Smarter

Books To Make You More Intelligent

book cover Remember by Lisa Genova

Lisa Genova

Neuroscientist Lisa Genova explains why we remember some things and why we forget others. Genova presents a basic primer of how memories work, what you can reasonably expect from your memory as you age, and how to help protect your memory. While extremely informative and easy to understand, Remember isn’t a particularly captivating book on intelligence. Genova does a great job explaining how memory works but I suggest that discussing the real-life implications of these topics with others will make this book stand out.

Publication Date: 23 March 2021 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

Moonwalking with Einstein

Joshua foer.

After covering the US memory championships, journalist Joshua Foer decided to embark on a quest to see if he could also become a memory specialist. Drawing on cutting-edge research and expert knowledge, Foer learned all the memory tips and tricks to become the US Memory Champion. Foer bounces between his training, the history of memory, the science of how our brains work, and the techniques used to retain massive amounts of information quickly.

Publication Date: 3 March 2011 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss

Eats, Shoots & Leaves

Lynne truss.

It all starts with a joke about a panda bear and a misplaced comma. With an acerbic sense of humor, Lynne Truss tackles the said state of proper punctuation in the world today. One of the most fun books that make you smarter that you can read, Eats, Shoots & Leaves will have you laughing at the peculiarities of English grammar while teaching you how to use them correctly.

Publication Date: 2 January 2003 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Quiet by Susan Cain

For years, society has idolized extroverts, overlooking the many benefits of introversion. Well-researched and thought-provoking, Cain not only shows the power of introverts but also addresses the struggles introverts face and how to overcome them. Whether you are introverted or extroverted, this will make you see people in a different light.

Publication Date: 24 January 2012 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Science Books That Make You Smarter

book cover Genome by Matt Ridley

Matt Ridley

With the successful completion of the mapping of the human genome, science has a better understanding of genetics than ever before. Matt Ridley breaks down each of the 23 pairs of chromosomes, explaining how each one affects our bodies. Told in an easily understandable fashion, Genome is one of the best books that make you smarter about biology for non-science people to read.

Publication Date: 30 May 1999 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Yuval Noah Harari

Narrowing down the best science books of the decade to one choice wasn’t easy, and I might have chosen wrong. Yet there is something enduring about Harari’s look at the history of humans. How did our species survive so long and what does that mean for us today? Taking discoveries from numerous scientific fields, Harari has whittled down 100,000 years of human history into an insightful 500-page book.

Publication Date: 1 January 2011 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover The Body by Bill Bryson

Similar to his bestselling A Short History of Nearly Everything , Bryson uses his brilliant writing to enlighten readers on human anatomy. In his newest work, Bryson explores the human body – the amazing physical and neurological functions that make us who we are. A great read for science lovers or anyone wanting books that make you smarter, Bryson is sure to entertain just as much as he educates.

Publication Date: 15 October 2019 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons

Though the title is basically the book equivalent of click-bait, the book itself was extremely interesting. The subtitle, “The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by Trauma, Madness, and Recovery,” would be more appropriate, though much less catchy. Sam Kean teaches about the various parts of the brain using compelling true stories that temper down the science-heavy segments to make the book more relatable for the general reader. He expertly weaves the storytelling while not skimping on the science, giving you a fairly in-depth basic primer on the science and history of neuroscience.

Publication Date: 6 May 2014 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Books That Make You Think

book cover The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

The Power of Habit

One of the hottest topics of the last decade has been habits – how they form and how we can use them to become smarter. The New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg takes an in-depth look at the power habits have in our lives. Explaining the science of habits with fascinating real-life stories, Duhigg’s style is much like Malcolm Gladwell’s.

Publication Date: 28 February 2012 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Think Again by Adam Grant

Think Again

Grant reminds us that just like we refresh our wardrobe from time to time, we need to routinely reexamine our beliefs and ways of thinking. Often our beliefs become habits, and Grant argues that being too attached to one identity and thought process can kill our creativity. Instead, we need to start spending as much time rethinking as we do thinking. Grant is an excellent writer and he does a superb job keeping you engaged as he discusses thought-provoking concepts.

Publication Date: 2 February 2021 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates

The Moment of Lift

Melinda gates.

If you have an insane amount of money (say from creating Microsoft) how do you use it to change the world? Over a lifetime, Melinda Gates, co-founder of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , has discovered that the key to alleviating poverty, decreasing childhood death and even increasing food production all comes back to empowering women. The statistics throughout the book are staggering, and Gates makes a strong argument for how empowering women affects so much more than you would think.

Publication Date: 23 April 2019 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

books help me learn

The Signal and the Noise

Nate silver.

Why do most predictions, even those from experts, fail? From earthquakes to poker to political elections, statistician Nate Silver uses interesting case studies to explain probability and uncertainty and to demonstrate why predictions are often wrong. Though the book is numbers-heavy and a little too long, Silver does a great job simplifying the information for the average reader. 

Publication Date: 27 September 2012 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Business Books to Read to Become Smarter

book cover Good to Great by Jim Collins

Good to Great

Jim collins.

What turns good companies into great businesses? Through an exhaustive study of businesses in the 1990s, Jim Collins shows what it takes to transform a mediocre business into something built to last. Collins delves into the types of leadership needed to succeed, the culture that will aid a company, and the changes that aren’t certain to spell doom.

Publication Date: 16 October 2001 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein

Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein

Good behavioral psychology books that will make you smarter can be hard to find but lots of fun to read. Every day we make choices big and small, and often we choose poorly. Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler and Harvard professor Cass Sunstein explain that no choice is presented neutrally. By understanding the tendency to bias, you can learn how to make better decisions for yourself, and how to nudge others to make the decisions you want.

Publication Date: 8 April 2008 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Dale carnegie.

Published in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s guide to winning people over is rather timeless. With tips to get people to like you, convince people of your point of view, and transform people without building resentment, Carnegie teaches the interpersonal tactics to smooth out your professional life.

Publication Date: 1936 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Made to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Made to Stick

Chip heath & dan heath.

Why do some ideas stick – no matter how true – while others go in one ear and out the other? Chip and Dan Heath break down the elements that made ideas memorable and teach you how to create stickier messaging. Similar to Malcolm Gladwell or Charles Duhigg, the Heath brothers use interesting anecdotes to illustrate the concepts of stickiness in an informative and entertaining manner.

Publication Date: 18 December 2006 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Books That Make You Smarter

Books That Will Make You Smarter

book cover Think Like a Rocket Scientist by Ozan Varol

Think Like a Rocket Scientist

Former rocket scientist turned law professor, Ozan Varol shares his habits and strategies to make the impossible actually doable. With fascinating anecdotes from the history of science and NASA, Varol makes keen observations about how you can change your mindset and approach problems in new ways. Despite the shameless self-promotion, the insights from the book still make it a great book that will make you smarter.

Publication Date: 14 April 2020 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

What makes extremely successful people different from others? Is it talent, intelligence or hard work? Gladwell uses statistics and interesting real-life examples to show how closely success is tied to not only natural ability and hard work but also opportunity and timing. It’s one of those books that get you thinking about how much culture, upbringing, and just plain luck play into your life.

Publication Date: 18 November 2008 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Think Like a Freak by Steven D Leavitt and Stephen J Dubner

Think Like a Freak

Steven d. leavitt & stephen j. dubner.

Economists Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner have made it their mission to show you the hidden side of just about everything. While their bestseller Freakanomics certainly qualifies among the books that make you smarter, if you want a book that will help you rethink how you think, you’ll want to read Think Like a Freak . Levitt and Dubner show the exact steps you need to take to retrain your brain to think more creatively.

Publication Date: 12 May 2014 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Grit by Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth

Did you know that intelligence is not a very accurate predictor of success? Psychologist Angela Duckworth puts forth an insightful new predictor for success: grit. That perseverance through obstacles and sheer determination to get ahead. With numerous studies and interesting anecdotes, Duckworth has written one of those books that make you think about where you fall on the scale. How gritty are you? And since grit isn’t fixed, you’ll find in yourself a desire not only to develop it in yourself but also to encourage it in your children.

Publication Date: 3 May 2016 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Do You Read Books That Make You Smarter?

What do you think? Do you think books that make you smarter are a good investment or a waste of money? As always, let me know in the comments!

More Nonfiction Books to Read:

  • The Best Nonfiction Books of 2021
  • The Best Memoirs for Your Reading List
  • The Best Books for Bloggers to Read
  • The Best (and Worst) Minimalism Books
  • 10 Inspiring Books for Work at Home Moms

Recommended

clock on two books in library

Reader Interactions

Ada Scott says

November 25, 2022 at 8:01 pm

Of course, I answer with an empathetic YES. It seems you meant to use the word emphatic.

Rachael says

November 27, 2022 at 5:48 pm

Thanks for catching that typo!

18 Books That'll Train Your Brain and Improve Your Thinking

Meg Prater (she/her)

Updated: November 28, 2018

Published: November 27, 2018

Wish there were a gym for your brain? Your muscles need exercise to increase energy, strength, and dexterity -- and so does your brain.

brain-training-books

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Reading, puzzles, and other mental activities improve memory and learning capacity so you process information more efficiently. Ready to see how much it benefits your performance at work? Find your favorite books below and get started.

Check out our key takeaways from the best sales books of all time

Books That Increase Intelligence

  • "Tactical Thinking: 50 Brain-Training Puzzles to Change the Way You Think"
  • "Train Your Brain"
  • "Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain"
  • "How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens"

1. " Tactical Thinking: 50 Brain-Training Puzzles to Change the Way You Think "

Charles phillips.

Work puzzles created to develop and train your intellect. From warm-up exercises to advanced "simulators," your brain will get a real workout.

Review: Unavailable

2. " Train Your Brain "

Terry horne and simon wootton.

Practical exercises, puzzles, games, and tests help you develop intelligence and a healthier lifestyle.

Review : "Very thoughtful. It helps you to explore your potential ... no matter your age"

3. " Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain "

Steven levitt and stephen dubner.

Learn to think productively, creatively, and rationally. This book offers readers a new way to solve problems -- from minor lifehacks to major global reform.

Review : "I love anything that smacks around my thinking and turns it in new directions -- and this book did exactly that."

4. " How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why it Happens "

Benedict carey.

Learn how our brains absorb and retain information so you can proactively flex neural muscles and make deep learning possible.

Review : "A very interesting book with so many references to learning better and retaining what we learn for a longer period of time."

Books to Stimulate the Mind

  • "The Sherlock Holmes Puzzle Collection"
  • "Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long"
  • The Power of Habit
  • Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

5. " The Sherlock Holmes Puzzle Collection "

John watson.

This playful book's riddles, puzzles, and teasers get your mind moving as only Sherlock and Watson can.

Review : "It is a fun book that's intriguing for all -- not just Sherlock Holmes fans."

6. " Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long "

This book explains why our brains feel overloaded at times. And it shares strategies for staying calm, making good decisions, and boosting mental capabilities.

Review : "Rock's work ... is a godsend to those of us who don't have a PhD but want to take advantage of the work pioneers in SCAN are doing."

7. " The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business "

Charles duhigg.

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charles Duhigg argues the key to achieving success is understanding how habits work.

Review : "The information in this book is simply life changing."

8. " Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking "

Malcolm gladwell.

Learn that great decision making isn't about time spent deliberating -- it's about knowing which filters matter.

Review : "This book is an excellent resource, explaining the power of thin slicing and the concept that most people call intuition."

Best Books on Memory Techniques

  • "Train Your Brain for Success: Read Smarter, Remember More, and Break Your Own Records:
  • "Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything"
  • "Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain"
  • "Unlimited Memory: How to Use Advanced Learning Strategies to Learn Faster, Remember More, and Be More Productive"

9. " Train Your Brain for Success: Read Smarter, Remember More, and Break Your Own Records "

This collection of time-tested recipes might seem banal at first glance, but they work effectively -- even if you don't think your memory needs a boost.

Review : "This book has really helped me improve my career and personal life. I'm more deliberate with my day, accomplishing more than I ever expected."

10. " Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything "

Joshua foer.

This book describes the 12 months the author spent trying to understand his memory. Learn about the brain's internal mechanisms, natural protections, hidden potential, and training techniques.

Review : "This book not only captivates but conveys a well-rounded history and impact of memory."

11. " Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain "

Ryuta kawashima.

Japanese scientist and neuroscience specialist Ryuta shares his 60-day program of simple logic challenges that stimulate "gray cells."

Review : "I definitely feel an improvement in the movement of my thoughts. The exercises keep you current on your sharpness of mind, and you understand that without challenge your power of thought will weaken instead of strengthen."

12. " Unlimited Memory: How to Use Advanced Learning Strategies to Learn Faster, Remember More, and Be More Productive "

Kevin horsley.

Gain tools, strategies, and techniques for improving your memory by learning how to concentrate at will, store and recall useful information, and eliminate wasted time.

Review : "Mr. Horsley gives you clear and detailed methods that will help you improve your memory. The book is very well written, with exercises and examples of different techniques that guide you along the way."

Books to Expand Your Knowledge

  • "The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible  Self"
  • "Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on it"
  • "Thinking, Fast and Slow"

13. " The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self "

Dr. alex lickerman.

Dr. Lickerman explains how to rebuild your mind, face problems, and see challenges as a source of strength.

Review : "The book ... has expanded my perception and understanding on how we experience difficulties in life."

14. " Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It "

Everyone is born curious. This book explores why only some of us retain habits of exploring, learning, and discovering as we age.

Review : "This is a thought-provoking read. It invited me to look at how I seek information."

15. " Thinking, Fast and Slow "

Daniel kahneman.

Nobel prize-winning economist Kahneman explains the mind and its two systems that drive the way we think. Learn how to tap into the benefits of slow thinking, and find out when you can and cannot trust your intuition.

Review : "This book is easy to read and strikes an impressive balance; It preserves much of the evidence and logic found in his academic works, but presents the information in an approachable narrative."

Best Books for Calming the Mind

  • "Calm Your Mind: Break the Cycle of Anxiety, Stress, Unhappiness, Exhaustion, and Find Peace in a Rushed World"
  • "It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work"
  • "Calm the Chaos Journal: A Daily Practice for a More Peaceful Life"

16. " Calm Your Mind: Break the Cycle of Anxiety, Stress, Unhappiness, Exhaustions, and Find Peace in a Rushed World "

Steven schuster.

This book calls for choosing to focus on mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety and improve focus and productivity. It shares mindfulness best practices and key principles, and encourages readers to focus on conscious living rather than unconscious worrying.

Review : " I love that Steven's books are so easy to follow. He gives real-life everyday examples on how to apply his techniques. I also appreciate the fact that he always puts a challenge out there for his readers! T his book in particular helped me to understand various new techniques of mindfulness, which can be used to overcome any stress or anxiety issues. It is helping me in developing more focus on work without worrying much. Steve has put enough research work into this book and the reference material is in itself a treasure."

17. " It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work "

Jason fried and david heinemeir hansson.

This book, written by two of Basecamp's co-founders, offers a new path for working more effectively to build what they refer to as "the calm company."

Their radical approach subverts the modern signals of success -- the hustle, long hours, and a lack of sleep -- in favor of a company culture and leadership that support calm, mindfulness, and self-care in order to reduce chaos and anxiety amongst themselves and their employees.

Review : "[ F] or those in positions of power, this book shows it does not have to be a trade off between accomplishing something great and having a life outside work. I get that this is an uphill battle as popular culture celebrates the grinders, hustlers ... the blood sweat and tears that people wear as a badge of honor. As the book title suggest, there's a calmer way. This book shows it can be yes and , not either/or . Yes you can be effective at work, become rich, leave a dent in this universe and have a life outside it. Your legacy can be you left a trail of happy, healthy humans who genuinely thought of you as a good boss or manager. You're happier. They're happier. You can see your family, friends, and so can they. That seems pretty good to me, even if you don't accomplish your mission of saving the whales."

18. " Calm the Chaos Journal: A Daily Practice for a More Peaceful Life "

Nicole ries taggart.

This one isn't technically a book -- it's a journal. But this journal, specifically designed to help people with chaotic daily lives feel more calm, contains prompts and suggestions to encourage calm, foster self-care, and let the little things go.

This could be a good addition to your early morning or evening routine to get you into the right headspace at the beginning or end of a busy workday, and it gives you a chance to reflect instead of react in the moment.

Review : " I've been using this journal every night since I received it. It's been helping me to prioritize how I spend my time and how to manage my feelings of wanting to "do it all" with something more balanced. I especially appreciate the section about planning the next day: waking up with an intention and plan to handle anticipated issues in a calm, thought-out manner has helped me to ease those frantic feelings of everything moving too fast. Plus, the beautiful design is wonderful to work with!"  

Give your brain the workout it craves, and see tangible improvements in your everyday performance. What do you have to lose?

Want more? Read our list of some of the best sales books for beginners .

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Steal My Bookshelf: 21 BEST Books About Learning & Studying

by William Wadsworth | Oct 2, 2020 | 15 comments

My all-time 21 favourite books about studying and learning live on a special shelf behind my desk. According to, well, me, these represent the best books on effective learning you could wish for.

I frequently rave about these books to the students and teachers I work with.

These are the books I reach for day-in, day-out when I’m writing for the blog or working on presentations for schools.

Whether you’re looking to find ways to help you or your students build better study habits, or brush up on the science of learning so you can teach or study more effectively, you’re in the right place.

I even take the time to arrange them by colour.

(Tell me if I’ve gone too far…?)

My bookshelf: best study books

I thought it would be fun to take these books on a little photoshoot, and tell you a little bit about each of them.

If you’re looking for a great book about studying and learning, memory techniques or motivation for students, look no further. These make great gifts for smart students, would be top additions to school libraries or family bookshelves, or are simply among the most powerful investments you can make in your education or a student or educator.

Have I got your favourites here? What are you adding to your reading list? Let me know in the comments at the end!

Section shortcuts:

  • Overall best study books: top 3 picks
  • Books about effective learning and memory techniques

Books about studying productively

  • Best books on study habits
  • Best motivational books for students

Overall best study books: my all-time top 3 picks

My overall top two picks for the best study books are Make It Stick by Henry Roediger, Mark McDaniel and Peter Brown, and Redirect by Timothy Wilson. I’d also like to put in a highly honourable mention to Outsmart Your Exams by William Wadsworth. (That’s me. Ahem.) It’s not as famous as many of the books on this list (yet!) but it takes what – I think – is the world’s first scientific and pragmatic approach to setting out a strategy for exam week and in the exam hall itself.

Make It Stick

Book in a sentence:

Underlining, highlighting, re-reading and cramming lead to the illusion of learning, but any gains fade quickly – so use spaced retrieval practice instead.

Perhaps the classic book when it comes to the science of learning, widely and enthusiastically recommended by psychologists and teachers alike.

It’s considered one of the all-time best books on learning for a reason: it’s a brilliant read from a winning collaboration between a professional writer and world-leading scholars, covering the fundamental science and bringing it to life with some wonderful real-life stories.

What I personally enjoyed most was how good it is at persuading you to actually USE the stuff that works – it does a superb job of describing what effective learning techniques will actually FEEL like, and what to expect when you start using them.

Make It Stick

Whether you succeed in so many areas of life, including education, can often be attributed to your mindset – Redirect explains the incredible power of changing the stories you tell yourself, with a ferocious commitment to the scientific evidence.

This book is a real diamond in my opinion, and should be on every student and teacher’s shelf.

To make the ideas in Make It Stick , well, stick, you’d do well to reach for Redirect !

Many of Prof. Wilson’s ideas were new to me when I first read this, and it instantly became my most-recommended book to students who work with me 1:1 on their study skills and exam technique.

Redirect

Book in two sentences:

Most students leave marks on the table on exam day through poor time management, avoidable mistakes, poor essay / question-answering technique, anxiety-induced performance dips, or simply not taking full advantage of memory’s almost magical powers of recall. This book explains how to avoid all that, and pick up every last mark you deserve on the test, turning exam performance from lottery to a science through the psychology of memory and performance.

Since this one’s mine, I can’t really give you my own take now can I?! Let me hand this one over to a couple of reviewers from Amazon:

“An exceptional set of tools to ace the exam itself , I would recommend to anyone who would like to significantly improve their results” (Alexander Keller)

“A masterful guide … I always thought I knew a lot about exam technique, but I discovered several new ideas which I will certainly pass on to students – should be on every student’s shelf!” (Dr Aled Walker, fellow at Cambridge)

“This book outlines several quick wins that make a big difference , all based on sound scientific evidence – I would heartily recommend this guide as a trusty companion to see students through exams at school, university and beyond” (Teacher at a UK Department-for-Education Research School)

Four GENIUS books about effective learning and memory techniques

The best books about learning and memory techniques in the list are Understanding How We Learn by Yana Weinstein, Oliver Cavaglioni and Megan Sumeracki, Moonwalking With Einstein by Joshua Foer, and Learning How To Learn and A Mind For Numbers by Barbara Oakley.  Make It Stick  would also be here too, had I not singled it out for an overall top pick already.

Understanding How We Learn: A Visual Guide

Cognitive psychologists set out the science of learning and memory, and how to use research-backed teaching and learning strategies, richly illustrated throughout.

This is a BEAUTIFUL book, and hands-down one of the best books on effective learning out there, especially if you’re an educator.

The two books cover quite similar ground, but Make It Stick reads more like a novel, with rich anecdotes and case studies, whereas Understanding How We Learn goes deeper on the underlying science, doing an excellent job of explaining the psychology and neuroscience of memory in simple terms.

Both books cater to all three types of readers (teachers, students, parents), but I normally recommend Make It Stick if you’re a student or parent, and Understanding How We Learn if you’re a teacher.

P.S. click here to hear from co-author Dr Yana Weinstein on the Exam Study Expert podcast!

Understanding How We Learn

Moonwalking With Einstein

The art and science of remembering everything – based on a journalist’s experience of training to become a “memory athlete”.

An electrifying ride, with some really nice explanations of the memory science, and why our memory is so important to who we are.

It’s great fun and very inspirational, but be discerning about applying the messages to your learning – studying for a test generally requires different memory skills to memory athletics.

Moonwalking With Einstein

Learning How To Learn & A Mind For Numbers

Books in a sentence:

Dr Barbara Oakley has dedicated her life to teaching students how to learn effectively, these books set out the secrets that even dedicated and successful students wish they’d known earlier.

A Mind For Numbers is aimed at older students, e.g. high school and university level (NB: not just if you’re studying Math(s) / engineering), and Learning How To Learn is more for younger children, e.g middle school and below.

Learning To Learn and A Mind For Numbers

For books about studying productively, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find better than  Eat That Frog  – For Students   by Brian Tracy and Anna Leinberger,  The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, The Procrastination Equation by Dr Piers Steel and  Deep Work by Cal Newport. I also like David Allen’s  Getting Things Done , but it’s much more relevant to a workplace setting rather than studying, so I didn’t include it here.

Eat That Frog – For Students

Ingenious strategies to stop procrastinating and take control of your time, letting you get through your to-do list and excel in your courses.

I’ve long been a fan of Brian Tracy’s incredibly practical techniques to master your time and get things done. So I was hugely excited to see him bring out a special version of his 2.5-million copy bestseller, re-written from the ground up especially for students.

A must-read in my book!

P.S. You can hear Brian in a special episode of the Exam Study Expert podcast

Book Cover

The Productivity Project & Hyperfocus

Brilliant introductions to the world of strategies that can help you get more productive and stay focused.

Chris draws on his very deep reading of the research literature as well as his own (extensive!) experience putting various productivity strategies to the test.

Honestly, the fortnight after I first read The Productivity Project was the most productive I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE – and I made lasting changes that have stuck with me, helping me get more done in less time ever since.

The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus

The Procrastination Equation

This book will solve your problems of procrastination and get you motivated to live the life you want.

The other authors in this section, Chris and Cal, are great guys; well-informed, smart, and brilliant writers and their books come highly recommended by me.

But I appreciated The Procrastination Equation because it’s a rare book on productivity that’s actually written by a research scientist. Dr Steel set out to solve the mystery of why we procrastinate in his career, and his findings make for fascinating and very actionable reading.

The Procrastination Equation

Our frazzled mind is trying to do a thousand things at once, and failing at them all – if you can cut out the distractions and focus, you will get FAR more quality work done.

Cal Newport really made his name with the “deep work” idea, and it’s had a powerful impact on my life.

As my dislike of distraction has grown, I’ve got more and more done, and produced better and better work…

And only slightly irked my dear wife in the process…

Deep Work

Five BRILLIANT books about smarter study habits and work-life balance

The next section is all about books that help you find a healthy work-life balance, and adopt smarter habits and routines for maximum results without going nuts in the process. Here, I’ve gone for Switch by Chip and Dan Heath, Atomic Habits by James Clear, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, Better Than Before by Gretchen Ruben and The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi.

Change is hard – but it doesn’t have to be, deceptively simple methods can yield extraordinary results.

I blew through this book in about 24 hours.

It was a wild read, p acked with actionable tips and tricks for doing things differently

Especially useful if you’re a teacher or parent trying to influence hesitant students to do things differently!

Switch

Why We Sleep

Nearly all of us need to sleep more – if you don’t, you’ll learn slower, remember less, have poorer mental health, worse focus, and be more susceptible to a whole range of health problems.

Really opened my eyes to how important it was to close your eyes (for long enough each night).

Professor Matthew Walker absolutely knows his stuff.

The first few chapters were a particular delight for me, where I rediscovered the pure joy of learning a new bit of relatively simple science (the 2 sleep systems) that beautifully and elegantly explains so much I know to be true from life experience.

Why We Sleep

Atomic Habits

Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour.

Wildly popular contemporary book on forming and breaking habits, based on cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience.

Seems to particularly resonate with logical, driven people, like those in or studying fields like science, engineering and business.

One of the rare times a popular blogger distils his best stuff for a book and it turns out genuinely very, very good.

Atomic Habits

Better Than Before

There’s no one-size-fits all solution to changing your habits: to change, we must first know ourselves.

I’d characterise this as a more feminine approach to changing habits than Atomic Habits.

James Clear goes after the science, hacking the mechanics of how habits form in the brain; Gretchen’s approach is softer, with recommendations tailored to your personality and character.

Better Than Before

The Lazy Genius Way

Figure out what matters and be a genius about it; be lazy about everything else – whether that’s how to keep in touch with a friend or how to cook or do your laundry.

Kendra’s a Mom, and wrote this book for her fellow Moms to help them look after households more easily – but given students living away from home also need to look after households, I don’t think there’s a better place to learn this stuff than from Kendra.

Not strictly a book about studying, but get these basics right, and you’ll find it much easier to feel in control of your life, and take on everything else (e.g. studying).

Click here to hear the author’s best tips for students on the Exam Study Expert Podcast.

The Lazy Genius Way

5 AWESOME motivational books for students: mindset and performance psychology

My favourite motivational books for students are Drive by Dan Pink, Grit by Angela Duckworth, Mindset by Dr Carol Dweck, Peak by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool, and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

This isn’t wishy-washy pop psychology: with only one exception (Malcolm Gladwell), my picks in this section are written by professional psychologists / academics, each with a particular flare for communicating the science in an entertaining and engaging style.

These are some of the most entertaining books on the whole list – great bedtime or holiday reading if you’re into psychology and performance.

The secret to high performance is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, learn, and create new things, and do better by ourselves and the world.

If you’re trying to change your study behaviours, whether that’s your motivation towards studying as a whole, or summoning up the drive to switch to more effective but more effortful ways of learning (a la Make It Stick / Understanding How We Learn) , read two books: Drive and Redirect .

Drive

Champions aren’t born, they’re forged by virtue of their “grit”, their passion and perseverance in pursuit of their long-term goals, be they academic, entrepreneurial, athletic or otherwise.

Angela’s become a pretty popular psychologist because she’s mastered the art of doing research that leads to very practical advice.

People pay attention to her stuff because she’s been able to find a formula, prove it gets results, and teach you how you can follow it too.

I thought Grit was great.

Grit

If you move from a fixed mindset (“I can’t do it: my ability is fixed”) to a growth mindset (“I can’t do it YET: BUT I COULD WORK ON IT AND IMPROVE”) your outcomes at school and in life can improve substantially.

You’ve probably heard of growth mindset.

This is the seminal text that put the idea on the map, and minted Dr Dweck as one of the most talked-about psychologists of her generation, particularly in the world of education.

Growth mindset is one of the pillars of Angela Duckworth’s “Grit” approach, but the idea is important enough that it stands alone as a separate recommendation on the list.

Mindset

Dynamic Swedish psychologist explains to improve at almost any skill that matters to you, based on a career spent studying chess champions, violin virtuosos and start athletes.

The key is deliberate practice, near the edge of your ability – which dovetails nicely with the Make It Stick / Understanding How We Learn messages about “desirable difficulty” when learning information.

Peak

To be outstanding at something, you need lots and lots of (the right sort of) practice – that’s what made Bill Gates a master programmer, or The Beatles such a successful group.

Gladwell isn’t a psychologist (he’s a historian), and his conclusions aren’t always universally accepted, but he’s an absolute magician for how he weaves together human story and scientific data to create the most beautifully compelling and engaging arguments.

Say what you will, I loved it and am looking forward to the next time I re-read it.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

TWO BONUS books about thinking and personality

Thinking fast and slow.

Nobel prizewinning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explains his life’s work on how we think, judge and decide, and the tricks your brain plays on you if you’re not careful!

Look, I’m a psychologist, so this was pretty much a must-buy when it came out. He doesn’t write with quite the same spark and flair of some of the younger, TED-talk-giving “celebrity” psychologists featured elsewhere on this list, but the man is a legend in his own lifetime, and when you browse the spectacular insights in this book, you’ll see why.

Thinking Fast & Slow

The mighty extrovert is often praised – the charismatic leader, the ace salesperson – but introverts have their own superpowers too, and it’s time they were recognised.

Christopher Ellott, a senior leader at one of UK’s most exceptional schools, said that this was the best book on education he’d ever read.

All the more impressive given author Susan Cain never even set out to write a book on education.

Well worth a read, especially for anyone who, like me, identifies as an introvert (come on, I’d bet that there are a fair few of us in the Exam Study Expert community…).

Quiet

And just before you go…

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Read Outsmart Your Exams: the book that gets the marks when it counts

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Order book on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. I make these recommendations based on personal experience and because I think they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I receive.

15 Comments

Please recommend me a book that have scientific memorization techiques

Start with Make It Stick https://geni.us/getmakeitstick 🙂

I am professional student thank you so much for your help ☺️

I’m a 68 year old woman who became disabled and in order to avoid living in poverty I have chosen to go back to school and I have forgotten how I managed in the past and now that there have been studies about how people learn effectively, I am fascinated by the science

Hi Ann – that’s an incredible story. If there’s anything I can help with please don’t hesitate to reach out – you can send me an email at https://examstudyexpert.com/about/contact/ .

Wishing you every success.

Hi I’m currently in 8th grade and I’m a pretty good student with honors classes and all but Im obsessed with getting all straight A’s and achieving my dreams but I haven’t been able to do it since 2nd grade. I just want a book that will teach me study methods and tips to do well in high school and college to get all A’s but there are so many books idk which to choose! 😅 which or how many of them should I get?

get about 20, read them all, take down notes on the ones that will help you the most. Then you will be extremely knowledgable on the topic

I really love your list. Thank you!!! 🙂

Thank you so much for your suggestions, i have already some of these books and i will add the others to my list, i’m a big fan

Glad to see we have at least one book in common, Atomic Habits! Thanks for writing this up, I’ll be sure check the other ones for future reading. Keep up the awesome work by the way!

Ha – it’s a good one!

And thank you so much for the kind words 🙂

And most of all, every best of luck in the exams – you know I’m rooting for you!!

Hi William, these books are amazing and thanks for sharing them! I get thousands of thoughts in my mind but fail at them all, so I think “Deep Work” will be the best book to read for me. Keep sharing!

Hi Eva – enjoy, it’s a good one! “Hyperfocus” might also be helpful for that. Good luck with it 🙂

That’s a great list of books on thinking, learning and why we do the things we do. I’m working my way through quite a few of them at the moment – One of the key takeaways I’ve had from Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking fast & slow is that we’re predisposed to answer any question in the best way we can, which often means NOT answering the actual question we’ve been asked! That translates, in a study setting, in misreading a question and then going off on a tangent and not gaining full marks etc.

After reading DK’s book one of the tips I’ve offered to our children in a bid to stop that fast brain taking on too much control, is to talk the question out loud (or silently in an exam!) It forces a different part of the brain into the mix & helps to stop that knee-jerk response our brains love to provide for us.

One other book to mention is Amanda Ripley’s The Smartest Kids in the World. It digs into the differences between study routines in a selection of countries and highlights the pros, and cons of each model that is used.

Love the podcast BTW, looking forwards to your next episodes

Hi Charles! I really like your point about the “fast” thinking response leading to diving into the question too early – makes a lot of sense.Silently voicing the question sounds like a great idea to help digest the question properly in an exam.

There was a nice study a little while back where researchers from Leeds university experimented with writing the word “not” in bold in a probability question – the students who had the word “not” printed in bold were more than 3x more likely to answer the question correctly compared to a control group who had a plain-text (unbolded) version of the question. Many exam boards seem to be catching on to the issue – I notice a lot more “bolding” in exam paper questions than ten years ago – but there’s still plenty of room for student error… So I always suggest highlighting / underlining key words, command words and pieces of data in a question to reduce chance of missing something.

Glad you’re enjoying the podcast – we’ll be back soon I promise!

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The 7 Best Self-Help Books to Change Your Life

Find yourself in one of these versatile, mind-changing reads

Mary K. Tatum is a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist and has worked in the field of psychology for over 15 years, with seven years in the private practice setting.

books help me learn

Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

books help me learn

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

books help me learn

Until proven otherwise, it’s safe to assume that—as the saying goes—nobody’s perfect. That means we have room for at least some improvement in our lives . And no, we’re not talking about getting a higher-paying job or a new haircut: we’re referring to inner improvement . This involves working on managing some of our less-than-desirable habits and traits—things like being unable to trust other people, having difficulties with interpersonal communication, or lacking self-confidence. 

That’s where self-help books can come in handy. It’s basically like someone has thought extensively about the general challenge you’re facing, and then walks you through steps to help you figure it out—or at least think about it more clearly. To be clear: self-help books are not a replacement for working with mental health professionals. If you’re dealing with a mental illness, seek out a credentialed person you can speak with in person (or over a video call). But for situations without a clinical element, a self-help book can make a difference.

To help you narrow down your options, here are the best self-help books according to the experts.

"A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle

Can be helpful to reivist certain passages, as needed

Discusses how to effectively process and find meaning in suffering

A lot of overlap with content found in the author's previous book

Many consider Eckhart Tolle one of the great thought leaders our time. Prior to " A New Earth ," Tolle wrote "The Power of Now," a best seller and must-read. The reason "A New Earth" makes this list is quite simple: it goes beyond teaching how to live in the moment and helps readers learn how to turn their suffering into peace. All types of suffering are addressed in the book, from anger and grief to jealousy and anxiety.

Tolle talks a lot about the ego and how to separate ourselves from it. His examples and recommended exercises are not just hocus pocus; they really work and are something anyone can do. Whether your suffering is rooted in jealousy, anger, grief, sadness, anxiety, or depression , Tolle will help you see life from varied perspectives, awakening you to your life’s purpose.

This book is great as a reference point, too. Those who pick up a copy will read it front to back then revisit Tolle's words over and over again. Others will keep it by their nightstands and flip to a chapter when they’re feeling some excess baggage creep in and could use some words of wisdom.

Price at time of publication: $18

"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero

Engaging exercises

Accessible writing style

Not the most empathetic towards people with depression

Contains some microaggressions and fat shaming

Far too often, fear gets the best of us. Jen Sincero helps readers go beyond that fear in her New York Times best seller " You Are a Badass ." What sets this self-help book apart from the others are the engaging end-of-chapter exercises.

Instead of casting the book aside and letting it collect dust after you read the last page, you'll be inspired to go back and reflect on the previous exercises you responded to. The exercises also drive home the points Sincero makes through her writing. When you feel a dip in your confidence, going back to your entries will put a positive spin on your day and remind you why you should show yourself more self-love . Also make sure to check out Sincero's follow-up book, "You Are a Badass at Making Money."

Price at time of publication: $8

Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD, psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry.

Some self-help books include daily therapeutic activities and provide comfort and guidance to individuals who are suffering. I recommend individuals meet with a psychiatrist and therapist, and concurrently utilize self-help books to expedite their healing.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey

Text is broken up using cartoons and quotes

Could be beneficial for both teens and parents

Updated in 2014, but still can feel outdated

Unnecessary references to dieting and losing weight

Many have read, or at least have heard about, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. Covey's son Sean followed in his footsteps, making a spinoff version for teenagers that uses the same principles to help young adults master formative areas of their lives.

To make this self-help book age-appropriate and downright fun to read, Covey breaks up the text with cartoons, quotes, brainstorming ideas, and stories from real teens to bring the book together. " The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens " covers   topics like  body image , friendships, relationships, goal-setting, peer pressure, bullying, internet safety, and so much more. Gift this book to your teenage son, daughter, niece, nephew, or grandchild. It's the perfect keepsake to pass down to future generations of teens too.

"What Are You Hungry For?" by Deepak Chopra

Helps readers understand their reasons for certain types of eating

More than simply a guide to healthy eating

Even though it’s not a traditional weight loss book, that component being included at all might turn some people off

Can feel like any other book on weight loss and our relationship with food

Deepak Chopra is the self-help guru of our time, and any one of his books could be recommended for various reasons. " What Are You Hungry For? " will help you see your relationship with food in an entirely new light.

While this self-help book could be considered a guide to help with weight loss, it’s really so much more. Chopra does talk about losing weight and also gives a pretty regimented recommendation on what to eat. But he also digs deeper into the reasoning behind our desire to seek this transformation, and fulfillment is at the center of this argument.

Since change isn’t easy for most, the book offers a lot of intention-setting tips to help readers determine the motives behind their goals. Attaching an emotion to the things you want in life, health-related or otherwise, makes it easier to stay the course when the going gets tough.

Price at time of publication: $16

"Declutter Your Mind" by S.J. Scott

Tackles negative thinking patterns—something a lot of people struggle with

Includes helpful, actionable exercises

May not feel as applicable to people who aren’t self-employed

Writing can feel self-promotional at times

The subtitle of this book provides great insight into the heart of the book: How to stop worrying, relieve anxiety and eliminate negative thinking. " Declutter Your Mind " is a book that is very hands-on with its reader and full of various exercises to engage your mindset. You will learn the causes of mental clutter, how to change negative thoughts to positive ones, strategies to help with rocky relationships, how to identify what’s important to you, the importance of meditation, how to goal set, and much more.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, worry, or anxiety, this powerful book will do its part in offering various techniques, tips, and tricks to cope with an overactive mind. Reviewers consistently note how much they enjoy the actionable exercises in the book and that the co-authors offer more than a sermon on the importance of living mindfully and in the moment.

Price at time of publication: $15

"Big Magic: Create Living Beyond Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Great for creative people (or those who want to be more creative)

Accessible and conversational writing style makes it easy to read

Gilbert’s “tough love” approach doesn't always translate

Reads more as a memoir than a self-help book in parts

For one reason or another, some were turned off by Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling "Eat Pray Love". But don’t let that turn you away from reading her other material, in particular, " Big Magic ". If you’re an artist or creator of any type and have struggled with a blockage that prevents you from pursuing your calling to its fullest, you’ll want to give this a read.

From creating new habits (and ridding yourself of old ones) to overcoming fear and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, Gilbert hits the nail on the head as she dissects the obstacles a creative person may face in pursuing their dreams. Her honest, conversational, no-BS tone will light a fire in your soul and help you be upfront with yourself about what you want from life. A highlight of this book is the usage of real-life examples from regular men and women across the country who have endured in their creative feats.

Price at time of publication: $21

"The Wisdom of Sundays" by Oprah Winfrey

Full of what Oprah Winfrey considers “life-changing insights”

It’s like sitting in on a conversation between Oprah and major thought leaders

Print can be small and hard to read at times

Oprah is the queen of interviewing spiritual gurus, world leaders, therapists, doctors, and other thought leaders. " The Wisdom of Sundays " takes the best-of-the-best from these conversations and combines them into one uplifting read.

The book has 240 pages full of snippets from what Oprah refers to as "life-changing insights". Authors in The Wisdom of Sundays include   Shonda Rimes, Cheryl Strayed, Tony Robbins, Thich Nhat Hahn, Wayne Dyer, and so many more. Take your time with each individual page to make sure you don't skim over any of the wonderful and thought-provoking insights inside.

Price at time of publication: $28

Final Verdict

This one’s tricky, because a self-help book that one person hated could be the one that changed another person’s life. Having said that, if you’re new to the genre, you probably want to stick with a book with a broader appeal, like "Declutter Your Mind" ( view on Amazon ). While not everyone is looking to mold a highly effective teen, everyone does have something that makes them anxious, and this book provides a manageable way of identifying and addressing some of the ones that are holding you back. 

What to Look for in a Self-Help Book

Selecting a self-help book is, for the most part, a highly personal decision (with the exception  being cases when a book is so popular you feel the need to read it, even if you wouldn’t have done so on your own). Given that this genre is not one-size-fits-all—and that people respond to a wide range of styles, topics, and tones—finding the right self-help books for yourself can be a process of trial and error. But, to help guide you through that process, here are a few general things to look for when purchasing a self-help book:

Writing style and tone:

First, think about what kind of book that is likely to be the most helpful in your current situation, as well as the kind you’d actually like to read. These two categories don’t necessarily overlap. For example, you may think you want a clinical-sounding, research-backed guide through a particular condition or situation, but in reality, would find it so boring that you’d never pick it up. And a self-help book just sitting on the shelf isn’t helping anyone.

If you think you’d respond well to something funny, or that it would help hold your interest, look for a self-help book that injects humor into its pages. (And yes, highly qualified experts with fancy degrees can also be hilarious.)

Something your therapist recommends:

If you are working with some type of therapist or counselor , ask them for recommendations for self-help books. Not only are they probably very familiar with this genre, but they also have gotten to know you during your sessions, and may have a good idea of the type of book that you’d benefit from the most.

In addition to tone, self-help books also come in several different formats. “Some individuals fare better with more structure and guidance, while others excel with more creative and fluid feedback,” Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry explains. “Some people enjoy reading about concepts, while others prefer completing daily tasks and worksheets.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Like many things in life, what you get out of self-help books depends on the time and effort you put into not only reading them, but also doing the work. And no, that doesn’t necessarily include actual worksheets: the “work” also involves taking what you’ve read, sitting with it, processing it, and figuring out how you can use it in your own life (if applicable). 

“Self-help books can, in truth, be very helpful if an individual puts forth the effort to integrate the information learned from the book into their daily life,” Summer R. Thompson , DNP, PMHNP-BC, a mental health nurse practitioner at Community Psychiatry explains.

When someone finds the right self-help book and puts the time into reading it and doing the work, it can have a number of benefits. One is that they can “provide a concrete blueprint for an individual who has identified an issue in their life to navigate addressing it in a healthy manner on their own,” Thompson explains.   

In addition to providing a general blueprint for how a person can approach some of their biggest challenges, self-help books can add structure to individuals’ day-to-day life. “They can motivate individuals to try different strategies and venture into uncomfortable territory,” says Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry .

Beyond that, Magavi notes that self-help books can lead to more fluid and healthy communication at work and at home, and many allow individuals to remain introspective and practice self-compassion. “It helps individuals identify ways in which they can respond to inevitable stress in a more positive way, and reiterates the fact that they have the power to write their own story and determine their own emotional experience,” she explains.

What the Experts Say

“Self-help books have helped many men and women initiate the often-daunting task of processing their thoughts and assessing their insecurities and weaknesses. Self-help books allow individuals to try different techniques and find what works the best for them to assuage anxiety and confront tumultuous times with grace.” — Dr. Leela R. Magavi, MD , psychiatrist and regional medical director for Community Psychiatry . 

“When looking at self-help books, it is important to look for books that provide clear and attainable goals in the context of the issue you are addressing. If a book makes recommendations that you do not feel are achievable in the context of your life, the book will likely not be very helpful to you and end up collecting dust rather than being an effective self-improvement tool.” — Summer R. Thompson , DNP, PMHNP-BC, mental health nurse practitioner at Community Psychiatry

Why Trust Verywell Mind?

Erinne Magee is a freelance writer covering health, wellness and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Yuko

As a seasoned health writer and editor with a special focus on mental health and well-being, Elizabeth Yuko understands how powerful stress-relieving activities can be for many people—as well as the fact that they’re not one-size-fits-all. With decades of first-hand experience dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, she’s always on the lookout for new (and research-backed) products, techniques, and services that can help people cope with stress and other mental health challenges. 

By Mary K. Tatum, MS, LMHC Mary is a licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist with 15 years of experience working in the psychology field. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Bluefield College and a Master of Science in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She began in social work and then moved to drug rehab settings, working as a therapist, group facilitator, and clinical director. She specializes in family dynamic systems, trauma recovery, improving resilience, addiction recovery, and the psychology of successful business management.

35 Inspirational Books to Change Your Life 🌅

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, Apr 29

35 inspirational books to change your life 🌅.

35 Inspirational Books to Change Your Life 🌅

Inspiration comes in many forms, particularly when it comes to books. Fiction can propel us to grow just as the characters did. And non-fiction is not far behind, with its steady guidance on how to and how not to do everything from poetry to professional development.

But inspirational books go a little bit further, especially for those among us in need of extra hygge, a Danish saying that encompasses that feeling of cozy contentment. Hygge is perhaps just another way — a fancy way — of saying: let's curl up by the fire with a book that will calm and ease the soul. Within these 35 inspirational books , you'll encounter a variety of genres, tastes, and perspectives from a diversity of authors. Yet despite their differences, they all seek to guide you to a better future — and a better you . Without further ado, let's check out the books that will motivate you to change your life for the better.

1. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins ⭐ Indie Spotlight

In its blurb, The 5 Second Rule promises to teach you how to become confident, break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt, beat fear and uncertainty, and be happier. As big of an ask as that might sound, Robbins more than delivers in this wildly popular self-help book , which is built on the titular 5 second rule: the five seconds you should take every time you need to push yourself. Robbins launched the 5 second rule in her incredibly successful Ted Talk, which has been watched by more than 8 million people around the world. You can watch that Ted Talk here — or you can read this motivational book, which delves even deeper into the science of habits and productivity.

2. The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

This slim, enchanting fable of a book is worldwide bestseller — and a favorite of celebrities from Will Smith to Madonna. It’s not hard to understand why: The Alchemist packs a lot of wisdom in only 163 pages, which Coelho wrote in a two-week fit of inspiration. Even better, it packages self-help-style advice with a spell-binding story. Follow along as the Andalusian shepherd boy Santiago, beset with prophetic dreams, sets off for the Egyptian pyramids in search of a glorious treasure. Along the way, he’ll hobnob with kings, encounter betrayal. and even fall and love — teaching us how to reach for our own dreams in the process.

3. The American Spirit by David McCullough

You don’t always think of historians as literary stars, but David McCullough is the exception that proves the rule. When it comes to accolades, he’s won everything that can be won, from the National Book Award to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This deeply inspiring book collects nearly thirty years’ worth of his speeches, delivered before Congress members, college grads, and everyone in between. Erudite but never stodgy, uplifting without being saccharine, The American Spirit ranges widely — treating us to the fascinating stories of doctors, artisans, and performers across the history of the United States. No matter where you hail from, he’ll have you waving the red, white, and blue before you turn the final page.

4. The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler

According to the Dalai Lama, “the very motif of our life is towards happiness.” Still, reaching that final destination can be easier said than done. Fortunately this philosophically rich, compassionately written handbook is here to guide the way. The Art of Happiness spotlights compassion for others as the key to personal fulfillment — appropriate, since it's the work of a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The Dalai Lama tag-teams the capacious topic of happiness with psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler as his coauthor, so you can expect scientific as well as spiritual insights here. In the end, this book's central lesson is at once humbling and deeply motivating: true happiness isn’t a fleeting state, but an art that requires practice.

5. Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett

Krista Tippett is the quintessential thought leader when it comes to inspirational speech. Based on her sixteen-year-old radio show On Being , this collection gathers the wisdom of theologians, poets, scientists, and Buddhists alike to address our fractured world with acceptance, grace, and educated hope. Using what she calls “moral imagination,” Tippett pushes us to lean into our inner empath to create a new universe that uses our creativity for social good and justice. The sheer volume of voices in Becoming Wise will give you a lifetime of ideas on smarter living that will feel like a TED talk on steroids — in the very best way.

6. The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker

Steven Pinker’s The Better Angels of Our Nature comes with an endorsement from Bill Gates himself: “If I could give each of you a graduation present, it would be this — the most inspiring book I've ever read.” Pinker’s thesis — that violence in the world has actually declined in both the long and short run — is famously controversial, particularly if you care to point at all the major wars and genocides that the twentieth-century has witnessed. Yet Pinker draws upon a large amount of hard data and statistical analysis to persuasively argue his case, even presenting several political and psychological causes to explain how we might today be living in the most peaceful moment ever in our species’ existence. The next time you’re feeling cynical about the news of the moment, this is the book to pick up to remind yourself of the positive, more hopeful direction we’re heading in the future.

7. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert is no stranger to the art of motivation: she is perhaps most famous for writing Eat, Pray, Love and inspiring a generation to travel. But you don’t need to leave home in order to unlock Big Magic, which is about drawing out your inner creative whenever you need. This is a love letter to the artist inside of you, written in Gilbert’s conversational, no-frills, no-BS style. Whether your goal is to write a book, make a painting, or create music, Big Magic will help you accomplish it. Funny, honest, illuminating, and encouraging, it is a celebration of art on every level.

8. Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition by Black Elk, John G. Neihardt, Philip J. Deloria, Vine Deloria Jr.

A modern classic celebrating the voice of one of the world’s most influential members of the Lakota tribe, Black Elk Speaks has been compared to the Book of Revelation and the Kabbalah for its prophetic likeness. Here, nineteenth-century mystic and healer Nicholas Black Elk of the Oglala Lakota tribe takes center stage with a testimony that’s been adapted by poet John Neihardt. While the ethnography’s been criticized for its questionable depictions of the Lakota people and imperialist undertones, Black Elk’s descriptions of his spiritual visions for humanity and desire for unity on earth have long outweighed those recriminations. A close but respectful reading of Black Elk’s journey is hopeful, even in its heartbreak. A must-read voice to keep in your pocket through the next decade, especially as we face climate change.

9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The New York Times actually called this book “life-changing” and we agree. Told from the perspective of Death in 1939 Nazi Germany (yikes!), it centers on Liesel Meminger — a young girl who has a curious habit for pick-pocketing books. But these measures end up becoming a saving grace for her own welfare and the welfare of others, most notably a man of Jewish faith hiding out in her father’s house. The Book Thief is an intense but inspiring book, a testament to the transformative power of stories and sentences, even during the very darkest of times. It’s a sobering yet hopeful reminder that no one, no matter how authoritarian, can take away our imagination or capacity to care.

10. Congratulations, By the Way by George Saunders

“Down the rough ages, a traditional form has evolved for this type of speech, which is: Some old fart, his best years behind him, who over the course of his life has made a series of dreadful mistakes (that would be me), gives heartfelt advice to a group of shining, energetic young people with all of their best years ahead of them (that would be you), and I intend to respect that tradition.”

Thus begins George Saunders’ Congratulations, By The Way , a convocation speech to graduates — or more a aptly, little masterpiece that will inspire and humble you by turn. Humorous, warm, wise, modest, and articulate, Saunders is at his brilliant best in this short manual that lays out a few basic principles and tips for a more fulfilling life (one of which is the gentle reminder to always “err in the direction of kindness.”)

11. Educated by Tara Westover

Tara Westover was 17 years old when she stepped into a classroom for the first time. Before then, she lived with her Mormon survivalist family in rural Idaho, working in her father’s junkyard and stockpiling herbs for her midwife mother. Raised with her father’s non-mainstream views, Tara had no conception of the Holocaust, slavery, or World War II — that is, until she found a thirst for knowledge and set out to acquire a formal education.

Educated is the eye-opening, transformative memoir that details this insatiable quest, which spans decades, continents, and universities. Westover is today a Cambridge-educated Ph.D. historian and Gates scholar. How she got to this point is a coming-of-age story of self-invention that delves seriously into the meaning and importance of education without brushing aside the cost at which it can come — in Westover’s case, family.

12. Emma and I by Sheila Hocken

An autobiography written with candor and heart, Emma and I centers on the purest bond of all — the love between a guide dog and her human. Born with a condition that led to progressive vision loss, Sheila Hocken could no longer navigate her own home by sight by the time she turned seventeen. That’s when she met Emma, the chocolate lab who would change her life. With her loyal canine companion at her side, Sheila learned to tackle anything life threw her way, from devastating disappointments to medical miracles to love — the human kind this time. A must-read for all dog lovers, this sweetly touching book will warm your heart (and possibly make you cry).

13. Endings: Poetry and Prose by William Poe ⭐ Indie Spotlight

If the Greeks got by with catharsis, then what makes us any different? While William Poe’s Endings goes headlong into the deep end of despair, the stories and poems here give new language to describe death, loneliness, and the broken parts of our lives. This new “language” can not only help you cope, but name emotions that might otherwise dissipate back into tension, or worse: trauma and guilt. Plus, for those who are ready to face difficult times, Poe’s take on art itself as a tool for healing will be sure to help your spiritual growth this 2020.

14. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

This slim, inspiring book draws on Toltec traditions to help readers attain freedom, happiness, and love. The Four Agreements centers on four promises you’re encouraged to make to yourself, from following through on your word to always doing your best. Ruiz’s advice was compelling enough to snag him an interview with Oprah in 2001 — an appearance that earned his motivational handbook a spot on the New York Times bestsellers list. Full of no-nonsense, actionable tips, The Four Agreements continues to inspire readers two decades after that fateful interview.

15. The Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Anne Morrow Lindbergh took the world by storm with her miniature but massively powerful 1955 memoir, The Gift from The Sea. As she muses on a short break from motherhood and society’s growing technologies while on an ocean-view vacation, readers get an intimate look into Morrow Lindbergh’s thoughts as she tries to slow down to a mindful state. And since she thinks brilliantly in metaphor, you’re in for a treat — from seashells to the flow of the tides, get ready for new connections and ideas that you simply won’t find in modern self-help books. 

What’s particularly relevant are Morrow Lindbergh’s tools for integrating a sense of calm back into a busy life outside of vacation. While she never would have anticipated the blessing and curse that smartphones bring in the 21st century, those who feel burned out from technology will feel especially inspired to take a break after digging into this gift from the sea.

16. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant

The most common career advice for getting ahead is to put yourself first before others, and keep your good ideas close before someone else steals them and takes the credit. But Wharton professor Adam Grant noticed that study after study showed a different story: helping others actually improves your career’s trajectory dramatically. This mini-bible of charitable case studies will quite simply just blow your mind — and change the way you think about how you behave at work. Even the Scroogiest of Scrooges will find value (and perhaps relief) with Give and Take , now knowing that there’s scientific proof to goodwill. 

17. Hidden Solutions All Around You: Why Some People Can See Them and Some Can't by Daniel Castro ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Why do some people spot the right opportunity and others let it pass by? Author Daniel Castro is one of the first to notice “the why” behind this trash or treasure dynamic. Using neurological and psychological research on the subject, he explains the phenomenon with the intention of helping readers put the knowledge into action. That is, help you see where your blind spots are, why they’re there, and how to supersede them effectively - aka the Hidden Solutions All Around You . So, if you’re amiss at solving problems these days, you might just be missing the obvious: and quite obviously are missing out on Casto’s advice.

18. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Before Maya Angelou became the Nobel laureate and an award-winning writer, she was a poor Black girl growing up in southern America. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is a window into Angelou’s childhood from 1928 to 1944 — one of the most tumultuous eras in American history, fraught with racial tensions and the fight for civil rights. Angelou experienced the lows of Jim Crow and segregation, growing up amidst ignorance and prejudice in almost unendurable circumstances. But she writes about it with her signature grace, humor, and compassion, and the result is a seminal work by a seminal author about the strength that’s required to rise above it all.

19. Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James Doty

As the child of an alcoholic father and a depressive mother who had a stroke, Jim Doty grew up in an environment that was all but stable. But when he met a magic shop owner named Ruth, her lessons on thinking your way out of suffering fundamentally changed the way he viewed his life. Her seemingly simple techniques had a lot to do with neuroplasticity, which inspired him to help others by becoming a neurosurgeon. In this honest memoir and self-help manual, Dr. Doty shares his long journey towards Ruth’s final lesson — the meaning and importance of love — and its role in caring for others as a physician and human being. Into the Magic Shop is the ideal motivational book for anyone feeling ‘stuck’ in their lives, or looking to open their hearts and give more to the world.

20. The Journey is the Destination by Dan Eldon

Dan Eldon was one of Reuters' youngest photojournalists when he was stoned to death while on assignment in Somalia. Eldon was only 22 when he died, but he had accomplished more in those years than most people might have done in a lifetime: he traveled to 46 countries, spearheaded a number of humanitarian fundraising campaigns in Africa, and worked in war zones for newspapers and magazines around the world as a war photographer. Haunting and sad, the journals he left behind in The Journey is the Destination are also uplifting to read — giving us a brief, wonderful glimpse at a short life that was well-lived.

21. Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

If we could revise this title, we might call it Letters to a Young Artist , since this classic text supersedes poetry lessons (and arguably art, with its contents mirroring life lessons more than anything). A thin but rich volume, Letters to a Young Poet charts the correspondence between Rainer Maria Rilke and a burgeoning cadet struggling to write — and, worse, struggling to accept his circumstances. When the young poet asked Rilke if he thought that he should keep writing, Rilke famously responded: “Go into yourself and test the deeps in which your life takes rise; at its source you will find the answer to the question whether you must create.” 

The lessons shared in this inspiring book are subversive in that sense: instead of seeking approval from others, seek approval from yourself. Rilke goes on to say that if you can’t find inspiration in the life around you at present, then dip into the stories and tragedies of your childhood. For anyone who struggles with a lack of self-confidence, Rilke’s letters is an essential step to help to pull you out of reassurance seeking and into self-acceptance.

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house \'spark joy\' (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

22. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo might be the most famous tidying expert in the world, triggering an international craze with her mega-popular Netflix TV show that resulted in millions around the world decluttering their homes — and lives. Yet it’s easy to overlook the pocket-sized, inspiring book that started it all. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is a wondrously charismatic, straightforward text that tries to help you “spark joy” in your life simply by organizing it. But Kondo goes one step further and argues that tidying doesn’t just mean a cleaner house — it will also transform your mindset and very being for the better. This is one of those rare books that lives up to its title: as evidenced by the millions who swear by it, Kondo’s method is life-changing, and it does seem like magic when you apply her method to your own house and see the results for yourself.

23. Listen by Joseph Kerman and Gregory Tomlinson

This weighty classic might have made its debut in the ‘70s, but it holds up well today. Leaf through its 480 pages, and you’ll be inspired to use your ears in a completely different way. Written by two eminent musicologists, Listen is a crash-course in music appreciation, from the haunting plainsong of the Middles Ages to the jaunty rhythms of modern jazz. This book might be standard fare in college music classes, but don’t be deterred — Kerman and Tomlinson write with clarity and force, and their lucid explanations will shine a light on the most arcane corners of music history. Who knows, it just might make you hear your favorite tune in a completely new way.

24. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life... And Maybe the World by William McRaven

Navy Seal Admiral William McRaven went from commencement speaker to bestselling author with this little manual of hard-won lessons from his experiences on the sea. When 10 million people watched his University of Texas at Austin speech to graduates in 2014, he adapted it into Make Your Bed : an ice-bucket challenge on self-care that not only builds character, but also puts you in the mindset of service in the world. The ten principles described in the inspiring book aren’t just Navy Seal jargon — they’re life lessons direct from the Admiral’s own experiences keeping his head above water while resisting bullies, failure, and the urge to quit when things get tough. McCraven’s humorous yet humble manuscript is for meaning seekers and how-to lovers alike — and will teach you how the simplest shifts of behavior can change your life.

25. The More You Do The Better You Feel by David Parker ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Procrastination, meet David Parker. Parker’s handbook on getting past everyone’s most dreaded hump breaks down how to overcome avoidance issues step-by-step. Recognizing that these symptoms may come from depression, The More You Do The Better You Feel speaks kindly and sensitively to the exhausted and overwhelmed by encouraging them steadfastly to face the fears that hold them back. In return, readers will be able to walk away with mental health-informed tools for mobilization in work and life. Informed expertise, this is one of the most motivational books on the market.

26. My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian Wiman

No one would have dreamed that Christian Wiman, long-time editor of Poetry Magazine, would end up a professor at Yale Divinity School teaching religious literature. But after a brush with death from a rare cancer diagnosis, his atheist leanings collapsed as he felt an unexpected calling back to his religious roots. My Bright Abyss touches on the pains and gains that a spiritual person must face in a secular world, and is especially helpful for those questioning their faith. This inspiring book touches believers and non-believers equally, addressing the meaning of life and the questions that come out of the search for it.  

27. Networking Karma: How Today's Cutting Edge Networking Trends Can Help You Connect and Conquer by Gail Tolstoi-Miller ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Nowadays, the word networking just sounds plain spooky! With LinkedIn and the like doing it for us while we sleep, who has the time to RSVP or even go to a speed network event at the town hall? Author Gail Tolstoi-Miller does — that’s for sure. She’s an all-star entrepreneur and CEO with expertise in interpersonal branding. Her theory is to help out, corroborating social scientist Adam Grant’s research on how giving is a key ingredient to personal success.

Networking Karma will explain, in great detail, how to actually cut through the networking nonsense and cultivate a cutting-edge persona that gives instead of takes. By doing things like offering a hand with an office move, advising pro-bono for an hour or so, or making a connection for someone, Tolstoi-Miller argues that this spirit of selflessness will help you relax, boost confidence, and make a difference in the world. Seen through such lenses, networking will no longer teeter on the edge of being too boring (business card swapping) or too extreme (sauna events). This motivational book will help you take control of your career destiny.

28. No One Belongs Here More Than You : Stories by Miranda July

An internationally acclaimed artist and filmmaker’s foray into fiction culminated eleven years ago in this awe-inspiring collection of short stories that’s been translated into multiple languages. Whether it be a tale of two high school graduates trying to “make it” in the world or the legend of a swim coach forced to teach a class on dry land, July’s gems all demonstrate humankind’s desperate yet beautiful attempts to make progress in our lives. Her searching and sarcastic style illuminates the poetry of everyday existence — just like Lorrie Moore’s Self Help . And for the sentimental among us, No One Belongs Here More Than You is a cathartic experience that will stick forever.

29. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Published just one year before his death, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! was one of Dr. Seuss’ last books. It might also be his wisest, packed with all the insight and wit (and he had plenty of both) he had accumulated in his twilight years. With his lively illustrations, inimitable verse, and boundless optimism, Dr. Seuss reassures us that we’re not alone in the maze of life — and that we’ll reach where we need to be eventually! If you need a quick and wonderfully uplifting pick-me-up, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! still can’t be surpassed. 

30. The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton        

Today, The Seven Storey Mountain is considered one of the most influential works of religious literature. But when it was originally slated for a 7,500-copy run in 1948, demand took its publisher by surprise, and the book quickly sold out. This is emblematic of the Seven Storey Mountain itself: a quiet book that snowballs into a transformative story of peace, meditation, and personal enlightenment. When he was 26 years old, Thomas Merton turned his back on a promising literary career and converted to Roman Catholicism. How did he get to that point? This is the profoundly moving account of what motivated him to take his vows with the Trappist monks and enter monastery life at the Abbey of Gethsemani.

In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist , Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known. Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable , about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive. In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius ; Share Something Small Every Day ; and Stick Around , Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

31. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon

Ever get down as a creative because you feel that no-one actually sees or read your work? Austin Kleon, bestselling author of Steal Like An Artist , is back with another series of important life lessons to help you fix that. In Show Your Work! , Kleon runs through ten universal ways to get known as an artist or entrepreneur (the “You Don’t Have To Be a Genius” and “Stick Around” chapters are particularly useful — and good examples of his simple, to-the-point way of distilling advice.) Short and entirely actionable, this inspiring book will inspire you to unblock your life by helping you reach the audience you deserve.

32. Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey between Genders by Joy Ladin

For forty years, people told Joy Ladin she was a man, but deep-down, she identified as a woman. And while she may have made headlines when she transitioned as the first trans professor at the Orthodox Jewish Yeshiva University, there was more to the story: her own internal wrestling with religiosity and an obligation to keep the peace with her family. Inside Through the Door of Life is an intimate portrait of the kinds of philosophical questions that come with growing into a new self. Anyone who’s questioned their own identity or felt called to starting over would benefit from this brave look at uncovering authenticity against all odds.

33. Trove: A Woman's Search for Truth and Buried Treasure by Sandra Miller ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Underneath it all, Sandra Miller’s life makes sense. She has a lot to be grateful for: she writes for big-name publications, has a family of her own, and even managed a night with the stars: notably, Sting himself. But achieving happiness wasn't always easy, especially coming from a sometimes dysfunctional family and a half-on, half-off mother. This is why treasure hunting was always her go-to — and now, the subject of her debut memoir Trove . Yet, with poetic gusto, Miller sees the meaning behind her search: a physical manifestation of longing for spiritual enlightenment. And for armchair yogis or gurus alike, her story is sure to hit a nerve - and lead you to that mindful state you’ve been after all along.

Check out what Reedsy Discovery reviewer Nicole Dieker has to say about Trove: A Woman's Search for Truth and Buried Treasure !

34. Unf*ck Your Brain: Getting Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers with Science by Faith Harper, PhD ⭐ Indie Spotlight

If you’ve ever been at odds with your own mind, this clear, no-nonsense guide to brain chemistry and the basic workings of the brain is here to help you out. Faith Harper's Unf*ck Your Brain navigates this complicated minefield expertly, writing in non-academic prose in order to articulately and effectively explain what happens to our brains whenever anxiety, anger, addiction, or depression take over. Most motivating of all are the actionable techniques, exercises, and tips that she provides, which lay a clear route forward for the reader, particularly those who have — or are — struggling with trauma.

35. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

For anyone who has experienced loss, you’ll know there’s a period of grieving in which we blindly hope our loved one will return, despite recognizing its impossibility. Joan Didion captures this feeling expertly in her memoir on the death of her husband. Through the ruins of grief, though, she manages to find a silver lining and a sense of recovery, even as she memorializes his faults as well as his strengths. At once tremendously calming but chillingly honest, The Year of Magical Thinking will make life manageable in the face of death. A must-read for anyone going through the inevitable.

Looking for some inspirational poetry? We’ve also got you covered with our definitive list of the best poetry books of all time.

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  • 7 Books You Should Read To Improve Your English

7 books you should read to improve your English | Oxford House Barcelona

  • Posted on 11/03/2020
  • Categories: Blog
  • Tags: Reading , Resources to learn English

Reading is one of the best ways to practice English. It’s fun, relaxing and helps you improve your comprehension skills and vocabulary.

To help you pick out books, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite novels. The stories are full of adventures and exciting characters – and better yet, they are easy to read for language learners.

So here are our top 7 books to help you practise English at home.

1. One Day, by David Nicholls

One Day tells the story of Dexter and Emma who spend a night together after their university graduation. Each chapter revisits the lives of the protagonists on the same date for twenty years. Their relationship evolves over the years: sometimes they’re together, sometimes they’re chasing their individual dreams. It’s a funny, endearing and bittersweet tale of friendship and the unfairness of life.

If you love this easy-to-read novel, watch the 2011 film adaptation that stars Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.

2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

This mystery novel – with a mysterious title – takes the reader on a journey into the mind of Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy who sees the world and the people around him in a different way.

Christopher finds himself in the middle of an adventure after he discovers the dead body of the neighbour’s dog, speared by a garden fork. As the story unfolds, Christopher finds out the truth about his mother. He also travels to London alone and takes an A-level maths exam, all in a frenzy of excitement and fear.

We love this book – and the English level is perfect for intermediate learners .

Bookcase - 7 books you should read to improve your English | Oxford House Barcelona

3. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Northern Lights – known as The Golden Compass in the US – is the first book in Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. It was published in 1995 and has since become a classic in the young-adult fantasy genre .

The novel tells the story of twelve-year-old Lyra Belacqua. She’s a brave and curious girl who lives in a world of mythical creatures and parallel universes. Like all humans in this world, she has a “daemon”, a talking spirit animal that constantly accompanies her. Together, they embark on a journey that is filled with danger and excitement.

If you’re looking for a thrilling but easy book to read in English, Northern Lights is a great place to start. You won’t be able to put it down!

4. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Published in 1961, The Phantom Tollbooth is still one of the best books for young adults and language learners.

The novel follows Milo, a young boy who goes on a fantasy adventure after receiving a mysterious package that contains a miniature tollbooth . He drives through the tollbooth in his toy car and finds himself in magical places where he meets all kinds of strange characters.

The text is littered with puns and wordplay, which make the book even more fun – and a great opportunity for language learners to practise their skills.

5. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Wonder tells the story of August “Auggie” Pullman, a home-schooled fifth-grader living in Manhattan. He has a medical condition that has left his face disfigured . At the start of the novel, his parents decide to enrol him into a private middle school for the first time ever.

Throughout the school year, Auggie faces many challenges because of his appearance. He’s often bullied and beaten by other kids. Against all odds , the kind and courageous little boy manages to make friends.

Wonder made the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a hit movie starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as Auggie’s parents and Jacob Tremblay as Auggie.

Reading - 7 books you should read to improve your English | Oxford House Barcelona

6. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. It uses a combination of drawings and text to tell the story of her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.

The novel begins in 1980 and focuses on the impact of war and extremist religious ideology on Iranian people, especially women. Marji witnesses unspeakable atrocities that change her life forever.

Persepolis was originally published in French and later translated into many languages, reaching worldwide audiences. It’s an easy read in terms of language, but difficult in terms of the subject matter.

The graphic novel was made into a beautiful and critically acclaimed adult animated film in 2007. The good news? You can watch it in Barcelona on the 12th of March in the Palacio Nacional de Montjuïc. Click here for more details!

7. Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

A book that has had an impact on more than one generation of young adults, Roald Dahl’s Danny was first published in 1975. It centres on a young boy living in an old caravan with his father.

When Danny discovers that his father is a skilled poacher , he decides to accompany him on a mission, his most ambitious one yet: capturing 120 pheasants by feeding them sleeping pills. Their mischievous plan leads to all kinds of complications involving a wealthy businessman, Mr Hazell. Will Danny and his father come out triumphant?

Everyone should read this refreshingly sincere and entertaining book once in their lifetime. What better way to practice your English skills?

Can’t get enough of reading books in English? Check out our list of 7 graded readers for all levels .

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Round up (pv): to bring together.

Protagonist (n): the main character in a book or a film.

Endearing (adj): inspiring love or affection.

Spear (v): drive a spear or other pointed object into something.

Frenzy (n): a state of craziness.

Genre (n): a category of literature or music.

Embark on (v): begin.

Tollbooth (n): a kiosk by the side of the road where drivers pay a fee to use the road.

Disfigured (adj): ruined or spoilt, for example by a scar.

Against all odds (exp): despite something that seems unlikely or improbable.

Atrocity (n): an extremely cruel act.

Poacher (n): someone who hunts illegally.

Pheasant (n): a large, long-tailed bird.

Mischievous (adj): naughty.

pv = phrasal verb

adj = adjective

exp = expression

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Your Guide To Moving To The USA

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  • Posted on 04/03/2020

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Help Me Learn

Confessions of a Scholarship Winner Audiobook By Kristina Ellis cover art

Confessions of a Scholarship Winner

  • The Secrets That Helped Me Win $500,000 in Free Money for College - How You Can Too!
  • By: Kristina Ellis
  • Narrated by: Kristina Ellis
  • Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins
  • Overall 4 out of 5 stars 48
  • Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 36
  • Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 36

On the first day of high school, Kristina Ellis' mom - a single, working mother who lost her husband to cancer - informed her that she could not financially support her after graduation. Kristina would need to find her own way to pay for college. As an average student with less-than-impressive test scores, Kristina realized she would have to sell herself to scholarship committees if she wanted to stand out. That's when she devised the plan that led to her receiving over $500,000 in scholarships.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

Best book for scholarship searchers!

  • By Sue on 10-12-16
  • Release date: 01-06-15
  • Language: English
  • 4 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
  • How ANY student - including YOU - can win scholarships and earn free money for college....

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Drive with Me To: California DMV Handbook Audiobook By Driversland Driversland cover art

Drive with Me To: California DMV Handbook

  • 350+ Driving Questions to Practice and Help You Pass Your Driving Exam Test
  • By: Driversland Driversland
  • Narrated by: J Copeland
  • Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
  • Overall 5 out of 5 stars 54
  • Performance 5 out of 5 stars 54
  • Story 5 out of 5 stars 54

The driving test is one of the final hurdles you need to overcome before finally getting your driver’s license and heading out on the road. For many first-time takers, it can be a nerve-wracking experience.

  • 4 out of 5 stars

Some errors in answers.

  • By AZ prime on 07-02-23
  • Release date: 02-06-23
  • 5 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

The driving test is one of the final hurdles you need to overcome before finally getting your driver’s license and heading out on the road. For many first-time takers, it can be a nerve-wracking experience....

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Drive with Me to: Florida DMV Handbook Audiobook By Driversland Driversland cover art

Drive with Me to: Florida DMV Handbook

  • Narrated by: Jason Copeland
  • Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
  • Overall 5 out of 5 stars 25
  • Performance 5 out of 5 stars 25
  • Story 5 out of 5 stars 25

Feeling nervous about taking your driving exam? For many first-time takers, it can be a nerve-wracking experience. It feels like a make-or-break moment that will shape your driving future. While you do have three chances to pass the exam, why go through it multiple times when you can do it only once? Knowing what to expect will help calm your nerves and get you in the right headspace to take the test. Plus, it always helps to get a little practice in before you dive into the real thing.

  • 2 out of 5 stars

There are SO MANY ERRORS IN THIS BOOK I CANNOT BELIEVE I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON IT

  • By Carter on 01-20-24
  • Release date: 08-30-23
  • 5 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

Feeling nervous about taking your driving exam? For many first-time takers, it can be a nerve-wracking experience. Knowing what to expect will help calm your nerves and get you in the right headspace to take the test....

What an MBA Taught Me... Audiobook By Bea Wray cover art

What an MBA Taught Me...

  • But My Kids Made Me Learn
  • By: Bea Wray
  • Narrated by: Nan McNamara
  • Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
  • Overall 5 out of 5 stars 4
  • Performance 5 out of 5 stars 4
  • Story 5 out of 5 stars 4

Unleash your hidden leadership skills with this powerful, heartfelt guide. Great business schools know that connection, more than curriculum, shapes great leaders. Every aspect of the experience intentionally maximizes relationship building. What an MBA Taught Me...But My Kids Made Me Learn is a sometimes hilarious, other times harrowing journey through Harvard Business School, 20 years of business experience, and the most important academy of all: parenting.

Outstanding!

  • By Anonymous User on 07-18-23
  • Release date: 02-16-21
  • 5 out of 5 stars 4 ratings

Unleash your hidden leadership skills with this powerful, heartfelt guide....

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Show Me Community Helpers Audiobook By Clint Edwards cover art

Show Me Community Helpers

  • By: Clint Edwards
  • Narrated by: anonymous
  • Length: 21 mins
  • Overall 4 out of 5 stars 1
  • Performance 0 out of 5 stars 0
  • Story 0 out of 5 stars 0

From firefighters to doctors to teachers, there’s so much to learn about community helpers. Show Me Community Helpers has more than 100 facts and definitions about people in our communities who help us every day. 

  • Release date: 03-15-22
  • 4 out of 5 stars 1 rating

From firefighters to doctors to teachers, there’s so much to learn about community helpers. Show Me Community Helpers has more than 100 facts and definitions about people in our communities who help us every day.... 

Regular price: $2.93 or 1 credit

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Normal for Me Audiobook By Tamara K. Anderson cover art

Normal for Me

  • Learning to Love and Accept Life's Detours with God's Help
  • By: Tamara K. Anderson
  • Narrated by: Tamara K. Anderson, Justin Mark Andreson
  • Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
  • Overall 0 out of 5 stars 0

Normal for Me tells the story about the author hitting rock bottom when she received the diagnosis that her second oldest son was on the autism spectrum. One evening she fell to her knees asking God, “Why can’t we be a ‘normal’ family?” God whispered, “This IS normal for you.” This epiphany began her journey from anguish and grief to acceptance, peace, hope, and joy. This audiobook is ideal for not only families struggling with autism but anyone who has had to face a life detour or help someone along the way.

  • Narrated by: Tamara K. Anderson , Justin Mark Andreson
  • Release date: 11-29-19
  • Not rated yet

Normal for Me tells the story about the author hitting rock bottom when she received the diagnosis that her second oldest son was on the autism spectrum. One evening she fell to her knees asking God, “Why can’t we be a ‘normal’ family?” Listen to find out more....

Regular price: $7.61 or 1 credit

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30 Ways to Write a Romantic Story Audiobook By Help Me Write cover art

30 Ways to Write a Romantic Story

  • By: Help Me Write
  • Narrated by: Laurel Schroeder
  • Length: 1 hr and 49 mins

For whom is this book? This book is for anybody feeling the need of some ideas to start him/her writing a story. It can serve both a practicing writers with large experience, needing a quick idea, and somebody who is just starting as a would-be writer. As well as those who want a writing practice - a task, an exercise, which they would try to accomplish as good as possible. This book is a collection of 30 different Heroine Profiles, plus some information about the Hero (the Heroine's partner) and a sketch of the plot.

  • Release date: 12-04-13
  • This book is a collection of 30 different Heroine Profiles, plus some information about the Hero (the Heroine's partner) and a sketch of the plot....

Regular price: $5.99 or 1 credit

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Argot's Decoration Disaster: A Can You Help Me Find and Learn Book Audiobook By B.E. Lance cover art

Argot's Decoration Disaster: A Can You Help Me Find and Learn Book

  • By: B.E. Lance
  • Narrated by: John-Michael Jalonen
  • Length: 12 mins

Argot and his wonderful pets have been asked to decorate the town's tree for the holiday season, but one step may spell disaster for Argot and his task. Can you help Argot find the ornaments to decorate the tree? Join Argot on his journey to decorate the town's tree for the holiday season!

  • Series: Argot's You Can Help Me Find and Learn Books
  • Release date: 01-13-20

Argot and his wonderful pets have been asked to decorate the town's tree for the holiday season, but one step may spell disaster for Argot and his task. Can you help Argot find the ornaments to decorate the tree? Join Argot on his journey to decorate the town's tree for the holiday season....

Regular price: $3.99 or 1 credit

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Argot's Lost Pets Audiobook By B. E. Lance cover art

Argot's Lost Pets

  • A Can You Help Me Find and Learn Book
  • By: B. E. Lance
  • Length: 8 mins

A journey filled with fun and learning! Oh no! Argot forgot to lock the door to the spaceship, and all of his pets have gotten loose into the park. Can you help Argot find all of his colorful and playful pets? This interactive book teaches children the fundamentals of counting to 12, with 12 different types of space animals. Children are also introduced to 12 different colors as they progress through the book.

  • Release date: 11-04-19

A journey filled with fun and learning! Oh no! Argot forgot to lock the door to the spaceship, and all of his pets have gotten loose into the park. Can you help Argot find all of his colorful and playful pets....

Tools That Help Me Audiobook By A. Schaefer cover art

Tools That Help Me

  • By: A. Schaefer
  • Length: 4 mins

Children are often very curious about wheelchairs, hearing aids, and other devices designed to help the disabled. This audiobook Introduces kids to tools that help disabled people who can't see, hear, or walk.

  • Release date: 05-15-09
  • This audiobook Introduces kids to tools that help disabled people who can't see, hear, or walk....

Regular price: $11.99 or 1 credit

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18 Best Self-Love Books to Help You Heal and Feel Confident

Because everyone's self-esteem needs a little tune-up every now and then.

self help books

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Fortunately, if you're getting down on yourself, there are ways you can pump up the self-love . Therapy can help, as can instituting and following a healthy lifestyle like getting regular exercise and eating a balanced and healthful diet. But some of us (especially the bookworms in the crowd) can also benefit from reading books about self-love that reassure you that you're worth it. Below, you'll find some of the best picks on the market to help you heal, find your voice and really learn how to love yourself . These are different from the best self-help books , but you'll see some common themes.

And once you've added these to your TBR pile, there's lots more where that came from. Try one of our favorite relationship books if yours needs a little TLC, books about friendship to remind yourself why we all need BFFs, or our feel-good book club for a warm hug in book form.

The Dial Press Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

No self-love book list would be complete without the powerhouse Glennon Doyle. This is a memoir about how one woman started living unapologetically for herself and in so doing, showed her children and the world around her how to be authentically alive — and it's also a rallying cry to help you do the same.

Keep Moving by Maggie Smith

Keep Moving by Maggie Smith

This guided journal from the poet and memoirist Maggie Smith comes out of her own writing practice that helped remind her to be gentle with herself, especially during hard times. As Smith puts it, “I wasn’t offering wisdom from on high; I was talking to myself at the bottom of a dark well, trying to climb up into the light, little by little, day by day.”

The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor offers ways to understand the origins and liberate yourself from body-shame. Model Tess Holliday said the book, "Is essential reading for those of us who crave understanding and those who are already on the path to learning how beautiful and complex our bodies are."

RELATED: 50 Best Self-Care Ideas for Mental and Physical Wellbeing

Simon & Schuster Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

If the subtitle to this one doesn't make you want to read it, nothing we say is going to either. But if the brain that brought us Grey's Anatomy (among many others) can spend a year saying yes, the rest of us can definitely learn a thing or two from this recounting of what happened when she did.

The Change Guidebook by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

The Change Guidebook by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

This book isn't about quick fixes, empty platitudes or easy solutions. It's about setting yourself on a path toward changing — because if there's one thing that's certain in this world, it's uncertainty. It's for anyone who wants to embrace self-love, in everything that embodies.

Untangle by Angela McKinney

Untangle by Angela McKinney

It's so easy to get stuck in survival mode, just getting through one day, then the next, then the next, on and on until forever. This collection of lessons, reflections and exercises helps you break out of unhelpful patterns and get started on the path toward our best selves.

Chronicle Books Pretty Sure You're Fine by David Veinna

Pretty Sure You're Fine by David Veinna

If you're the kind of person who's convinced you have a brain tumor every time you get a headache (guilty as charged) this book will help you dial that down and remind yourself that you're just fine as you are.

Ulysses Press The Self-Love Workbook by Shainna Ali, PhD

The Self-Love Workbook by Shainna Ali, PhD

Boost your self-esteem, realize (and embrace) your worth and learn how to identify and enact goals that are uniquely yours with this insightful workbook. It's got interactive activities, actionable advice and thoughtful prompts to help lead you down the path toward self-love.

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

World-famous life coach Jen Sincero offers how-to tips on ending self-sabotage and designing a life that you want. If you like Sincero's style of advice, you can move on to You Are A Badass Every Day , or You Are A Badass at Making Money .

The Self-Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser

The Self-Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser

If you're new to the idea of self-love and need a road map to follow, Shannon Kaiser's 15 principles of self-love will get you started down the right path. Kaiser is an international life coach and speaker who was named one of the "top 100 women to watch in wellness" by Mind Body Green .

Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel

Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel

This interactive journal offers exercises that'll help you determine where you are in your self-love journey and guide you along the way. Find uplifting prompts like, "List five things that always, and immediately, bring a smile to your face." Go ahead, treat yourself to a fancy new pen for writing in it.

How to Love Yourself (and Sometimes Other People) by Lodro Rinzler & Meggan Watterson

How to Love Yourself (and Sometimes Other People) by Lodro Rinzler & Meggan Watterson

So often our self-worth gets wrapped up in our romantic relationships. The writers of this book, who studied Christian mysticism and Buddhism respectively, offer a spiritually-focused way to untangle the two.

I Heart Me by David R. Hamilton, PhD

I Heart Me by David R. Hamilton, PhD

If you're more of a facts-and-figures person, check out this book by David R. Hamilton, a scientist who worked in the pharmaceutical industry for four years before becoming interested in the biology of self-love. He delved into biochemistry and neuroscience research and developed 27 exercises meant to reprogram the brain.

Radical Self-Love by Gala Darling

Radical Self-Love by Gala Darling

Gala Darling has been teaching self-love for more than a decade, and she's put her findings into a book that comes with homework assignments to keep you accountable for your own self-love goals. Before the book, she was one of the co-founders of The Blogcademy , so she also offers insights into her path to success.

Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop

Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop

If you need your advice in more of the hard-talk, straight-truth mode, author Gary John Bishop pulls no punches when telling you how to get out of your own way. Bishop, who grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, describes his brand of self-help as more of an "urban philosophy" approach.

Beautiful You by Rosie Molinary

Beautiful You by Rosie Molinary

This book gives you one small thing to do each day — Keep a master list of joys! Stop comparing yourself to others! — that, taken together, make up a 365-day plan for self-love. Each task is quick, so you have no excuse not to work on yourself.

Becoming Whole by Bruce Alan Kehr, MD

Becoming Whole by Bruce Alan Kehr, MD

Bruce Alan Kehr, M.D., an award-winning psychiatrist who's been in practice for 40 years, has seen it all throughout his career. His book focuses more on overcoming past pain as a way to build up your self-esteem.

Mastering Your Mean Girl by Melissa Ambrosini

Mastering Your Mean Girl by Melissa Ambrosini

That voice in your head, giving you all of your self-doubts? That's your inner mean girl, and author/speaker Melissa Ambrosini tells you how to get her to quiet down. And if Amrbosini's advice resonates with you, you can also check out her podcast , which covers topics like "Be Thankful for the Small Stuff" and "Choose Love and Joy."

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Novels to Increase Your English Vocabulary

25 Best Novels to Increase Your English Vocabulary: Master the Foreign Language

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Do you want to grow your vocabulary and English proficiency? Do you have a dream to read, write, listening, and speak English fluently ? If yes, you should go ahead with the blog. A rich vocabulary gives you the courage to use the words correctly. It lets you talk eloquently and be precisely more expressive.

Reading is widely suggested and the most effective vocabulary-building method. It expands your exposure to different styles and sentence structures while you get indulged in a science fiction story or a romantic piece of creation.

The narrative conversation between characters, expressive description of places and situations mentioned in the books indirectly improve English vocabulary words. Here we will discuss some of the 25 best novels to increase English vocabulary. So, check out the best 25 for you and begin your English learning soon.

Also Read: Connectors in English Grammar: Simple Guide to Learn the Use of Linkers

Novels to Read to Improve English Vocabulary

The novels given below are highly suggested to the people who want to grow their knowledge of English. These are recommended by the experts and these novels contain the best information to guide you. You can start the learning by scrolling your device a bit down. Check out the most popular and effective novels for your English learning .

#1. Ulysses by James Joyce

Elaborately thick and thrilling, it is generally viewed as a perfect work of art and has been the subject of various volumes of discourse and examination.

This book is considered to be a difficult one by many readers but experts mark it as one of the best novels to read to improve English. This one of those top 100 ranking novels is enriched with 30,030 unique words like omphalos (meaning – a hub of something), ineluctable (unavoidable), and bedraggle (wet). To make the best use of the novel for vocabulary building, it is advisable to keep a dictionary and a notebook handy.

#2. Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

It is another English vocabulary word enriched novel consisting of more than 17,000 unique words used densely. Herman Melville has used unique words almost in each line of the novel.

Many such words are there which are unfamiliar with our daily vocabulary and have to be understood in context. Just like Ulysses, it is also considered one of the most difficult novels of all time but suggested by many experts as a vocabulary-building book.

#3. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

This one of the best novels to increase English vocabulary annals a fisherman’s excursion to land his big catch and the battles and difficulties he suffers along the way.

The novel is written in a straightforward style consisting of short sentences that is indeed great for vocabulary building. Some of the unique vocabulary words used in this novel are phosphorescent, benevolent, gaff, fathom, etc.

Also Read: 1000 Vocabulary Words with Meaning and Sentences: Tips to Improve Your Spoken English

#4. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Good language, a captivating plot makes this one of the best novels to read to improve English.

#5. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

This is an adventure novel by the French author that traverses the work of art, ageless subjects of betrayal, expectation, and retribution, and the outcomes of those activities.

Enriched with words like prodigious, cosmopolite, ardent, this ranks as one of the best novels to read to improve English.

#6. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A highly recommended novel for strong vocabulary building. This great novel has left an impact on many of its readers. This classic is enriched with words that help in understanding the language more densely.

#7. Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm is an allegory, a type of narrating that utilizes fictional characters to allude to real-life events. This tale utilizes the story of Napoleon and Snowball’s takeover of the farm to tell the tale of the ascent of Stalin and Lenin in Russia.

The author uses short and clear sentences that make it appealing to the readers and eventually help in enhancing daily vocabulary.

#8. To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee

The 1960 published book was a critically applauded instant bestseller throughout the world. This piece of art is intensified with some English vocabulary words that are beneficial for any learner. Some of the most interesting words used in this novel are Malevolent, Antagonize, Chiffarobe, Assuaged, etc.

#9. Shogun by James Clavell

This 1200 page book is also considered a good vocabulary-building novel. It is written in really good English that surely enhances the reader’s knowledge about the language.

#10. The Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian

This can be considered as one of the best novels to read to improve English as it is full of wonderfully obscure English vocabulary words. This novel is a good example of learning while getting indulged in a thrilling story.

#11. The Giver by Lois Lowry

A novel composed of short sentences using simple grammar. A must-read for English learners.

Also Read: Best App to Practice English Speaking: Go Digital at the Comfort of Your Home for Fun Learning

#12. Books by William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare invented many of the daily vocabulary words. Any book by this great author can be considered as a vocabulary book.

#13. The Pot of Gold by Plautus

This romantic Roman comedy is another of the best vocabulary-building novels.

#14. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame

This English countryside novel talks about the adventures of the animals living on the riverside. The author uses simple language that makes it interesting as well as beneficial to the readers for expanding their collection of English vocabulary words.

#15. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

This novel is filled with fun dialogues that will help the reader in vocabulary building while they enjoy a good read.

#16. Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling

The author has introduced many new words that can be absorbed and used in daily vocabulary. This is the most entertaining yet one of the best novels to increase your English vocabulary.

#17. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

This 1,000 pages long novel reflects the talent of the author with the English vocabulary words. The author has described many words using the proper adjectives and adverbs that will be beneficial for any learner.

#18. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

It is one of those books that is poetic, artistic, and has a great engaging story too. The great command of the English language and the style make it a must-read for enhancing your vocabulary.

#19. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

A novel rich with cultural values and is a must-read for enhancing your daily vocabulary.

#20. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

This is a clear and easy-to-understand novel that is considered one of the best novels to read to improve English.

#21. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

A novel that is written in a casual language helps the readers in enhancing their daily vocabulary.

#22. Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom

A novel that is full of a tale that is loaded with clever and wise knowledge. An extraordinary novel to give a read for a conversational style of reading and composing. A perfect piece to be read aloud.

#23. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A modern classic novel that helps the readers to enrich their English vocabulary words. This piece reflects an emotional and descriptive writing style.

#24. Love in the Time of Cholera

A romantic Novel enriched with admirable words that can be absorbed by the readers for a better hold on the English language.

Also Read: Types of Figure of Speech in English: Examples of Figurative Language to Ace English

#25. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Read this novel to witness how stunningly beautiful a language can be and get plenty of words for adding to your daily vocabulary.

How to Increase Your Vocabulary?

Increasing your vocabulary is the most significant part of everyone’s life because if you are perfect at vocabulary, you can be great at English and if you have the command over language, you can go flawless and effective with conversation and speaking or writing.

Reading is the ultimate method for improving your vocabulary but for making it more effective, make a habit of making notes and using the words that you learn in a novel. Try to read something every day and always keep a dictionary handy.

You can enrich your vocabulary library with every book you read so start today and pick the one from the list mentioned above. You should learn about different words and use them in your regular sentences.

Also Read: How to Boost Your Vocabulary? Learn Some Ways to Boost and Enhance Your English

We hope that this article has been helpful to you to speak fluent English. The novels given in this article are immensely great for English learners. Also, you can visit the Fluent Life website where all the articles are related to English proficiency building and enhancement. The experts also help you with every query and confusion. You can comment below in the section given after the article to share your feedback and ask anything.

The Fluent Life application can help you greatly in the improvement of English with the best quality videos and customized lectures. You can get the learning and information according to your pace, information, and level of learning.

Therefore, don’t move here and there in search of English learning platforms, rather visit the best one for you and start recognizing everything to get proficient in English soon. All the best!

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ABC for Me: ABC Helpful Me: Learn all the ways you can be a helper--from A to Z! (Volume 13) (ABC for Me, 13)

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ABC for Me: ABC Helpful Me: Learn all the ways you can be a helper--from A to Z! (Volume 13) (ABC for Me, 13) Board book – October 4, 2022

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ABC for Me: ABC Helpful Me features colorful illustrations and encouraging text to get kids excited about helping out at home, at school, and everywhere else!

A fun read for both caregiver and child, ABC for Me: ABC Helpful Me is not only perfect for teaching toddlers their ABCs , but also for encouraging them to A sk how to help out, to  B e themselves,  C lean up toys, and do many more simple helpful things. These tasks aren’t presented as chores to slog through, but as ways to feel proud of doing something good and to put a smile on someone’s face. Some of these include learning to be helpful at home by picking up toys or helping another finish a household task; inviting another child to join a play group or letting someone else use the swings; staying close to mom or dad while crossing the street; and using an indoor voice in the car or library.

The colorful illustrations and engaging text are sure to please young children, and caregivers will benefit from young ones learning the foundations of cooperation , household chores , kindness , and more. The ABC for Me series presents a world of possibilities from A to Z and everything in between! For all little kids with big dreams, the endearing illustrations and mindful concepts in this series pair each letter of the alphabet with words that promote big dreams, inclusion, acceptance, healthy living, and other key concepts important to emotional well-being. Other books in this series include:

  • ABC What Can She Be?  (2018)
  • ABC Mindful Me (2018)
  • ABC Earth-Friendly Me (2020)
  • ABC Bedtime (2022)

About the Author

Erica Harrison is a children’s book designer and illustrator. She has worked on over 70 titles ranging from activity and coloring books to picture books, puzzles, and games. Her work is instantly recognizable for its bold shapes and colors, and her quirky illustrations make kids smile. Erica loves to travel and has lived and worked in various places around the globe, which helps to inspire her work. She currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and young daughter.

  • Reading age 3 - 6 years
  • Print length 32 pages
  • Language English
  • Grade level Preschool - 1
  • Lexile measure AD780L
  • Dimensions 9.3 x 0.7 x 9.3 inches
  • Publisher Walter Foster Jr.
  • Publication date October 4, 2022
  • ISBN-10 0760376107
  • ISBN-13 978-0760376102
  • See all details

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Get excited about helping out at home, at school, and everywhere else.

ABC for Me: ABC Helpful Me

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walter Foster Jr. (October 4, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Board book ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0760376107
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0760376102
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 6 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD780L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 1
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.3 x 0.7 x 9.3 inches
  • #771 in Children's Alphabet Books
  • #1,887 in Children's Values Books
  • #3,365 in Children's Self-Esteem Books

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About the author

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Erica Harrison

Erica Harrison is a children's book designer and illustrator. She has worked on over 70 titles ranging from activity and colouring books to picture books, puzzles and games. Her work is recognisable for its bold shapes and colours and her quirky illustrations are bound to make you smile. Erica loves to travel and has lived and worked in various places around the globe which helps to inspire her work. She currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

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5 leadership books to learn skills to manage change in 2024.

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Effective change management skills are a vital part of improving your organization's culture and ... [+] ensuring it is prepared for external and internal challenges

Change management is one of the most essential skills leaders need to adopt in 2024. Organizations are facing numerous challenges spurred on by post-pandemic adaptations and inflation. These include workplace communication rifts, navigating the implementation of the hybrid work model, finding innovative approaches to strengthening employee engagement, and adjusting to the new norm of AI (artificial intelligence).

With all these concurrent changes, how can you adapt as a leader and confidently lead your organization through these challenges, to face and overcome them?

Below are five leadership books you might want to consider adding to your professional development library this year, which provide guidance and practical advice on change management and leading through disruption.

1. Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change

Penned by William and Susan Bridges, this book teaches you that the best way to prepare for organizational change is when you involve your employees in the process. Give them a purpose, a well-defined vision takes place when employees have a clear purpose, a plan for, and a part to play in their changing surroundings. Managing Transitions is effective for you whether you're a first time manager or supervisor, or you work at the highest levels in the corporate hierarchy.

2. Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace

Leadershift teaches that leadership is about embracing a shift in one's own mindset and attitudes. The author, John Maxwell, shares from his own experience the 11 essential shifts leaders need to make in their own lives so they can be ready for, and be nimble to, change. This book is a useful read, not only for professional growth to learn how to lead change in your organization, but for your personal growth as well.

3. Coaching People through Organizational Change: Practical Tools to Support Employees through Business Transformation

This rather recent 2022 release, written by Sue Noble and Amy Tarrant, helps you support your employees through a coaching and transformational style of leadership, during organizational change. It teaches 20 coaching tools, frameworks, and techniques that you can apply to your role as a manager or even as an organizational performance coach. When these practices are implemented, your employees' wellbeing and resilience through times of change will improve.

4. Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos

Authored by Bain & Company's partners and senior leaders Sarah Elk, Darrell Rigby, and Steve Berez, Doing Agile Right is a book that teaches you how to catapult your organization from sluggishness, stagnated growth, and silos, to boosted productivity using the agile methodology. But most importantly, it teaches you how to apply agile in the right settings and for the right teams, ensuring it's not a one-size-fits-all approach.

5. The Effective Change Manager's Handbook: Essential Guidance to the Change Management Body of Knowledge

This handbook, which is part of CMI's (Change Management Institute) Body of Knowledge, is an ultimate one-stop shop for understanding the fundamentals of change management. It covers the entire process from planning to implementation, including stakeholder strategy and project management, and shares practical change management models and tools so you can roll out change initiatives within your organization.

It's essential to put your people first and include them throughout the change process

These books are certainly worth the perusal, because without being adaptable and understanding how to lead through and manage change, your organization is more at risk and you will fail to innovate, be relevant, or retain employees. Your career, and the success of your business, depends on it.

Rachel Wells

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From the Smithsonian Museums

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How Black Women Have Changed the Face of Spaceflight

From Uhura to Katherine Johnson, learn about Black women’s impact on space travel in this excerpt from “Afrofuturism.”

Matthew Shindell

Nichelle Nichols - Courtesy of NASA.jpeg

On September 15, 2021, at age fifty-one, Sian Proctor became the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft, taking the controls of a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on its three-day orbital flight. She did so not as a NASA astronaut, but as a member of the four-person crew of the privately funded Inspiration4 mission. Flying in space was a lifelong dream for Proctor, but for much of her life, there were no astronaut role models who looked like her. Indeed, Proctor was already twenty-two years old when Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to fly in space in 1992.

None

Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures

Now in paperback! This timely and gorgeously illustrated companion book to an exciting Smithsonian exhibition explores the power of Afrofuturism to reclaim the past and reimagine Black futures

None

During the early years of NASA’s human spaceflight program, equality was decidedly not on display. But recently recovered history has revealed that though women and minorities were not the public face of NASA, employees such as mathematician Katherine Johnson, a Black woman, were critical to the successes of the human spaceflight program, including the Apollo lunar landings. Johnson’s successes, and those of her colleagues, were told in the book (and successful movie of the same name)  Hidden Figures . A groundbreaking NASA mathematician, Johnson spent her thirty-three-year career working at Langley Laboratory in Hampton. When the agency hired her as a “computer” in 1953, it had just opened some departments to Black women. Despite working in a segregated environment, Johnson rose through the ranks and performed calculations for some of NASA’s most significant space missions between 1953 and 1986. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 for her contributions to space travel.

NASA’s culture began to change, thanks in part to Black women working behind the scenes. In 1973, NASA fired and then was forced to rehire Ruth Bates Harris, the first Black woman to hold a senior position at the agency. NASA administrators labeled Harris a “disruptive force” after she authored an internal report decrying the “near total failure” of the agency’s equal opportunity programs. Despite being an early adopter of antidiscrimination policies, the agency’s staff was only 5.6 percent minority and 18 percent women (well below the government averages of 20 and 34 percent, respectively), and little diversity could be found in high civil service positions. As for the astronauts, the report pointed out, “During an entire generation—from 1958 until the end of this decade—NASA will not have had a woman or a minority astronaut in training.” Firing Harris only brought NASA congressional hearings and bad press, and made the agency look out of touch with a changing nation. Congress ordered NASA to double its equalemployment budget and threatened to closely monitor its equal opportunity hiring and promotion programs. In 1974, Harriett Jenkins took over as NASA’s assistant administrator for equal opportunity programs.

Nichols’s portrayal of a future space explorer brought her into contact with real spaceflight, and she found that many NASA employees were dedicated fans of Star Trek. After hearing NASA scientists speak at Star Trek conventions and touring several NASA facilities as a VIP guest, the actor developed a passion for the agency. Her interest in space and her participation in NASA events earned her a seat on the board of the National Space Institute.

When NASA began recruiting astronauts for its new Space Shuttle program in 1977, the agency was dismayed to see that few women or minorities applied. Jenkins, still leading the equal employment opportunity efforts, and Administrator James Fletcher invited Nichols to meet with them to discuss their recruitment problems. Nichols explained that NASA had a long way to go to convince women and minorities that they were serious about diversifying the astronaut corps. But Nichols was impressed by Jenkins, the first Black administrator she had met, and was convinced the agency was sincere. Nichols proposed that NASA contract her company, Women in Motion, to help with a new publicity campaign aimed at women and people of color. NASA accepted.

None

NASA gave Women in Motion six months to find “the astronauts of tomorrow.” Nichols threw herself into the task: in addition to a media blitz, she traveled the country, spoke at colleges and organizations in every major city, and delivered the message that is was time to change the face of spaceflight. Her work paid dividends. Harris's 1973 plea that the agency "must convince young minorities and women that is not NASA's intention to colonize the universe but that they too will have heroes and heroines in space," was answered in NASA's 1978 astronaut class. Notable astronauts added that year included the first woman to travel to space, Sally Ride; Guion "Guy" Bluford, Jr., the first Black American man to travel to space; and Frederick Gregory, NASA's first Black deputy administrator. Future astronauts Judith Resnik and Mae Jemison credited their careers to Nichols' campaign.

After the 1983 and 1992 flights of Bluford and Jemison, Black American boys and girls—and the country at-large—had new real-life space heroes and heroines. Since then, NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, and Jessica Watkins, along with Sian Proctor, have joined the ranks of spacefaring Black women—a remarkable, if still short list that offers hope for the future, yet also suggests the need for continued diligence. As Proctor’s example demonstrates, the rise of commercial spaceflight may create even more opportunities for astronauts of all backgrounds.

Afrofuturism  is available from Smithsonian Books. Visit  Smithsonian Books’ website  to learn more about its publications and a full list of titles. 

"Black Women Change the Face of Spaceflight" by Matthew Shindell excerpted from  Afrofuturism  © 2023 by Smithsonian Institution

Own Life is Strange: True Colors, Scorn & Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed with February’s Humble Choice!

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News Release

LC State biology professor to hold book talk and reception

February 14, 2024

LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College biology professor Alex Bezzerides will hold a book talk and reception for his recently published book “Evolution Gone Wrong” on March 14 on campus.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Sacajawea Hall, Room 115, and feature a talk by Bezzerides, hors d'oeuvres, and a reception afterward giving attendees a chance to visit with the author.

The event is free and open to the public and attendees are asked to RSVP online . Those who RSVP by March 1 will be entered to win a copy of “Evolution Gone Wrong.”

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Alex Bezzerides with book

The book, which has a subtitle of “The curious reasons why our bodies work (or don’t),” looks at the aches and pains of the body and why they happen. Bezzerides, who holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in neurobiology and behavior, has taught at LC State since 2009. This is his first book.

The event is sponsored by Idaho-INBRE and LC State’s Physical, Life, Movement & Sport Sciences Division.

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    Cryptography Algorithms explores the cutting edge of modern cryptography, from classical techniques to quantum cryptography and blockchain innovations. Pay what you want for all these and more—over 20 books in total—and help support Special Effect with your purchase. Pay $1 Or More. 5,172 Sold.

  27. Help Me Learn Addition by Jean Marzollo

    Jean Marzollo was the award-winning author of over 100 books for kids, including the I SPY series, Pierre the Penguin, Help Me Learn Numbers 0-20, Soccer Sam, Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Close Your Eyes, Mama Mama/Papa Papa, the Shanna Show books, and In 1776, as well as books for parents and teachers.

  28. LC State biology professor to hold book talk and reception

    February 14, 2024. LEWISTON, Idaho - Lewis-Clark State College biology professor Alex Bezzerides will hold a book talk and reception for his recently published book "Evolution Gone Wrong" on March 14 on campus. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Sacajawea Hall, Room 115, and feature a talk by Bezzerides, hors d'oeuvres, and a reception ...