The best 73 Self-Care books

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Self-Care Books: The Vitamin Solution by Romy Block and Arielle Levitan

The Vitamin Solution

Romy Block and Arielle Levitan
Two Doctors Clear the Confusion about Vitamins and Your Health
3.9 (56 ratings)

What's The Vitamin Solution about?

The Vitamin Solution (2015) offers a clear picture of the world of vitamins to help you determine whether you need them, why you might need them and what they can do to improve your everyday life. Cut through the clutter and confusion and find out which vitamins are essential for a healthy body and mind and how you can put yourself on the path to better living.

Who should read The Vitamin Solution?

  • Athletes looking to reach their body’s optimal performance
  • People suffering from fatigue, depression or insomnia
  • Medical practitioners interested in the benefits of commonly used vitamins

2
Self-Care Books: Stitches by Anne Lamott

Stitches

Anne Lamott
A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair
3.8 (26 ratings)

What's Stitches about?

Stitches (2014) is about embracing the negative aspects of life that you’re powerless to change, and building a community to help you work through them. These blinks explain why so many people run from suffering and pain, and why acknowledging such difficult experiences is the only way to overcome them.

Who should read Stitches?

  • Anyone who works with or for other people
  • People who feel overwhelmed by suffering
  • Fans of self-help and Lamott’s other books

3
Self-Care Books: The Asshole Survival Guide by Robert I. Sutton

The Asshole Survival Guide

Robert I. Sutton
How to Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt
4.1 (72 ratings)

What's The Asshole Survival Guide about?

The Asshole Survival Guide (2017) is a guide to how you can identify and deal with the assholes of the world. People who treat others badly come in all shapes, sizes and levels of awfulness, and the author provides the tools we need to recognize them, fight back and avoid becoming assholes ourselves.

Who should read The Asshole Survival Guide?

  • Workers with a hostile boss or colleague
  • Readers interested in social or cognitive psychology
  • Managers who want to create a happier work environment

4
Self-Care Books: Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Minimalism

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Live a Meaningful Life
4.1 (357 ratings)

What's Minimalism about?

Minimalism (2011) offers readers an alternative path that avoids nine-to-five drudgery and helps them focus on what’s important in life. Authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus have practical guidance on how anyone can free themselves from the financial and emotional binds of modern life to build a new and simpler lifestyle that is still authentic and rewarding.

Who should read Minimalism?

  • Readers who are ready to live a more peaceful lifestyle
  • Anxious and distracted people eager for a decluttered life
  • Anyone who’s tired of living for a paycheck

5
Self-Care Books: Stop Reading the News by Rolf Dobelli

Stop Reading the News

Rolf Dobelli
How to Cope with the Information Overload and Think More Clearly
4.5 (323 ratings)

What's Stop Reading the News about?

Stop Reading the News (2020) shows us how we can live a calmer, healthier, and more thoughtful life if we simply stop reading the news. By practicing what the author calls radical abstinence from the news media, we can rescue our minds from the overload of information, and focus on what actually matters in life.

Who should read Stop Reading the News?

  • News addicts desperate to break the habit
  • Those looking to leave the news media and become long-form journalists
  • Anyone curious about technology and its impact

6
Self-Care Books: The Vagina Bible by Jennifer Gunter

The Vagina Bible

Jennifer Gunter
The Vulva and the Vagina: Separating the Myth from the Medicine
4.2 (51 ratings)

What's The Vagina Bible about?

The Vagina Bible (2019is your comprehensive guide to everything to do with vaginas, vulvas and women’s health. Navigating the sea of online myths, advertising promises and sexist misinformation, gynecologist Jen Gunter is here to help you separate fact from fiction. From basic anatomy to proper maintenance, pregnancy, menstruation, STIs and more, The Vagina Bible will teach you not only what your vagina can do for you, but also what you can do for your vagina.

Who should read The Vagina Bible?

  • People with a vagina
  • People who spend time with people with vaginas

7
Self-Care Books: Expecting Better by Emily Oster

Expecting Better

Emily Oster
Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know
4.0 (83 ratings)

What's Expecting Better about?

Expecting Better (2013) gives moms-to-be peace of mind by cutting through the haze of pregnancy myths and laying bare the real facts. Author Emily Oster, a leading economist, challenges and reevaluates conventional wisdom so that you can make your own decisions for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Who should read Expecting Better?

  • Expectant mothers or people planning a pregnancy
  • Anyone looking for concrete facts about pregnancy and childbirth
  • People overwhelmed by all the pregnancy decisions they need to make

8
Self-Care Books: Together by Vivek H. Murthy

Together

Vivek H. Murthy
The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
4.6 (269 ratings)

What's Together about?

Together (2020) is a powerful treatise on the impact of loneliness and the benefits of human connection. Drawing on scientific research and personal stories, it explores the high cost of loneliness, and considers how individuals, societies, and governments can tackle the problem by promoting connection.

Who should read Together?

  • Lost souls in search of more human connection
  • Those who feel like modern life makes friendship harder
  • People interested in the psychology of loneliness

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Self-Care Books: In the FLO by Alisa Vitti

In the FLO

Alisa Vitti
Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life
4.4 (59 ratings)

What's In the FLO about?

In the FLO (2020) outlines a way for women to eat, live, and work in sync with their monthly cycles. Author Alisa Vitti demonstrates how taking charge of your hormonal health can help you unleash your creativity, manage stress, and even improve your sex life.

Who should read In the FLO?

  • People with periods seeking to optimize their health
  • Females of all ages who feel drained or overwhelmed
  • Women who want to reclaim sovereignty over their bodies, relationships, and careers

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Self-Care Books: The Simplicity Principle by Julia Hobsbawm

The Simplicity Principle

Julia Hobsbawm
Six Steps Towards Clarity in a Complex World
4.3 (301 ratings)

What's The Simplicity Principle about?

The Simplicity Principle (2020) proposes a simpler way of living in the twenty-first century. Drawing from nature and geometry, Julia Hobsbawm demonstrates how to simplify the complicated and learn to prioritize the things that matter most of all. 

Who should read The Simplicity Principle?

  • Anyone who struggles with a complex workload
  • Stress-heads who need to reset
  • Those looking to kick their addiction to rolling news

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Self-Care Books: Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett

Permission to Feel

Marc Brackett
Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive
4.6 (187 ratings)

What's Permission to Feel about?

Permission to Feel (2019) reveals that our emotions play a vital role in our cognitive processes, physical health, and relationships – but most of us don’t know how to identify exactly what we’re feeling, and why. Luckily, all of us can learn to be more emotionally intelligent by practicing emotion skills. This trains us to identify what we’re feeling, understand where the emotion is coming from, and manage our triggers. By giving ourselves permission to truly experience all of our emotions, we can greatly reduce stress and increase our well-being.

Who should read Permission to Feel?

  • Burned-out teachers who want to reconnect with their students 
  • Parents who want to teach their children how to deal with their emotions
  • Anyone struggling to manage their emotions at home or at work

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Self-Care Books: Didn't See That Coming by Rachel Hollis

Didn't See That Coming

Rachel Hollis
Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart
4.6 (98 ratings)

What's Didn't See That Coming about?

Didn’t See That Coming (2020) is a handbook filled with real-world strategies for coping with pain, tragedy, loss, and betrayal, based on author Rachel Hollis’s own experiences. Without ever sugarcoating the devastating effects of grief and trauma, it offers a blueprint for living with pain without letting it define you, and reaching for your best life even after the worst has happened.

Who should read Didn't See That Coming?

  • Anyone whose life has been shaken by a crisis
  • Friends or family trying to support a loved one through trauma
  • Everyone trying to come to terms with a difficult past

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Self-Care Books: Relentless Solution Focus by Jason Selk and Ellen Reed

Relentless Solution Focus

Jason Selk and Ellen Reed
Train Your Mind to Conquer Stress, Pressure, and Underperformance
4.6 (233 ratings)

What's Relentless Solution Focus about?

Relentless Solution Focus (2021) shows how having a more optimistic mindset can transform our lives. Using a three-step process, the authors share insights, tools, and frameworks for developing the mental toughness needed to strip away our tendencies toward negativity.

Who should read Relentless Solution Focus?

  • Athletes and others with high-performance occupations
  • Individuals struggling to balance the demands of their personal and professional lives
  • Anyone dealing with adversity

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Self-Care Books: Head Strong by Dave Asprey

Head Strong

Dave Asprey
The Bulletproof Plan to Boost Brainpower, Increase Focus, and Maximize Performance – in Just Two Weeks
4.3 (151 ratings)

What's Head Strong about?

What’s it about?

Head Strong (2017) is a cutting-edge guide to strengthening and fine-tuning your cognitive powers. From what toxic foods to avoid to the importance of healthy lighting, it leaves no stone unturned in its advice on reaching optimal mental performance.

Who should read Head Strong?

Who’s it for?

  • High-flying businesspeople looking for an edge in the boardroom
  • Health nuts interested in optimizing their brainpower
  • Anyone who struggles with brain fog, procrastination, and lethargy

15
Self-Care Books: Emotional First Aid by Guy Winch

Emotional First Aid

Guy Winch
Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts
4.4 (233 ratings)

What's Emotional First Aid about?

Emotional First Aid (2012) is an easy-to-follow manual for addressing the everyday emotional hurts we all experience. From rejection to loss to low self-esteem, Emotional First Aid provides effective strategies for ensuring that treatable emotional pains don’t become deep wounds with lasting psychological effects.

Who should read Emotional First Aid?

  • People struggling to let go of past hurts 
  • Psychology enthusiasts
  • Parents wanting to raise resilient kids

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Self-Care Books: Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King

Good Vibes, Good Life

Vex King
How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness
4.3 (337 ratings)

What's Good Vibes, Good Life about?

Good Vibes, Good Life (2020) explores the power of positive thinking. By outlining simple techniques for changing your mindset, it reveals how every one of us can take control of our happiness – and our future.

Who should read Good Vibes, Good Life?

  • Anyone feeling overwhelmed by 2020
  • Wallflowers looking for a confidence boost
  • Budding entrepreneurs searching for inspiration

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Self-Care Books: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

You Can Heal Your Life

Louise Hay
4.5 (235 ratings)

What's You Can Heal Your Life about?

You Can Heal Your Life (1984) is a classic of self-realization and healing. With over 39 million copies in print, this book combines practical and spiritual advice to help you overcome both emotional and physical problems, transforming your life forever.

Who should read You Can Heal Your Life?

  • Self-help fans 
  • Those struggling to process childhood trauma
  • Anyone interested in alternative medicine

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Self-Care Books: Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst

Forgiving What You Can't Forget

Lysa TerKeurst
Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That’s Beautiful Again
3.7 (175 ratings)

What's Forgiving What You Can't Forget about?

Forgiving What You Can’t Forget (2020) is a guide to healing from past hurt. Drawing from her experiences of abuse in her childhood and infidelity in her marriage, author Lysa TerKeurst offers up ways to make peace with painful memories through forgiveness.

Who should read Forgiving What You Can't Forget?

  • Anyone suffering from a broken heart
  • Christians seeking to feel closer to God
  • Those wanting to reframe their suffering as something positive

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Self-Care Books: All Work No Play by Dale Sidebottom

All Work No Play

Dale Sidebottom
A Surprising Guide to Feeling More Mindful, Grateful and Cheerful
4.5 (335 ratings)

What's All Work No Play about?

All Work No Play (2021) teaches tricks and tips for getting more happiness and joy from everyday life. This fun and practical handbook draws on play-based mindfulness strategies designed to help you improve relationships, boost mental well-being, and reconnect with your inner child. 

Who should read All Work No Play?

  • People who want more joy from daily life
  • Anyone looking for new mindfulness strategies
  • Tired workers striving for balance

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Self-Care Books: The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond

The Art of Rest

Claudia Hammond
How to Find Respite in the Modern Age
4.3 (191 ratings)

What's The Art of Rest about?

The Art of Rest (2019) is a deep dive into the world of rest. It takes the results of the Rest Test, an online survey of over 18,000 people across 135 countries about rest, and uses those results as a starting point to examine which activities people find most restful, and why two-thirds of respondents felt they didn’t get enough rest. Drawing on scientific research, it investigates the ten most popular ways to rest, and the difficulties and proven benefits behind each restful activity.

Who should read The Art of Rest?

  • Anyone interested in wellness
  • Self-care enthusiasts
  • People who enjoy spending time alone

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Self-Care Books: Forest Bathing by Qing Li

Forest Bathing

Qing Li
How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness
4.7 (285 ratings)

What's Forest Bathing about?

Forest Bathing (2018) is a guide to the Japanese practice of forest bathing. It explores the beliefs, culture, and traditions behind forest bathing, as well as various studies on its health benefitsIt also lays out easy-to-follow steps for practicing forest bathing in any environment.

Who should read Forest Bathing?

  • People interested in nature’s effect on human health
  • Nature lovers
  • Japanese culture enthusiasts

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Self-Care Books: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

The Comfort Crisis

Michael Easter
Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self
4.4 (229 ratings)

What's The Comfort Crisis about?

The Comfort Crisis (2021) offers a cure for the physical and mental health problems of modern-day life. It’s all about getting comfortable with discomfort, which can mean anything from roughing it in the wilderness to contemplating death.

Who should read The Comfort Crisis?

  • People feeling disillusioned with modern life
  • Restless spirits craving an Into the Wild experience
  • Anyone interested in improving their physical or mental health

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Self-Care Books: How to Do the Work by Nicole LePera

How to Do the Work

Nicole LePera
Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self
4.6 (547 ratings)

What's How to Do the Work about?

How to Do the Work (2021) is a hands-on guide to healing our bodies and minds. The physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of our health are all interconnected. By changing how we eat and exercise, engaging in mindfulness and tackling past trauma, we can heal ourselves and transform our relationships.

Who should read How to Do the Work?

  • Spiritual seekers looking for new ways to connect with the world
  • Children of emotionally unavailable parents looking to heal past trauma
  • Anyone who’s tired of feeling sluggish and burnt out

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Self-Care Books: Your Brain Is Always Listening by Daniel G. Amen

Your Brain Is Always Listening

Daniel G. Amen
Tame the Hidden Dragons That Control Your Happiness, Habits, and Hang-Ups
4.2 (248 ratings)

What's Your Brain Is Always Listening about?

Your Brain Is Always Listening (2021) is a self-help guide for readers looking to lead happier, healthier lives. Drawing on Dr. Daniel Amen’s extensive experience as a psychiatrist, it shares science-backed tips for slaying the fire-breathing dragons that dwell inside your brain and spark destructive behaviors. 

Who should read Your Brain Is Always Listening?

  • Anyone struggling with mental health – or supporting someone who is 
  • People who want to understand how their brain impacts behavior
  • Those seeking new tools to add to their self-care routine

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Self-Care Books: Sovereign Self by Acharya Shunya

Sovereign Self

Acharya Shunya
Claim Your Inner Joy and Freedom with the Empowering Wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita
4.8 (403 ratings)

What's Sovereign Self about?

Sovereign Self (2020) explores the Vedas. Revealed over 5,000 years ago, these texts are a cornerstone of Hinduism, Buddhism, and countless other religious traditions in the Indian subcontinent. Packed with spiritual insights, the Vedas revolve around a single central question: How to live in accordance with the true nature of reality? As you’ll discover in these blinks, the answer begins by discovering your own, true self. 

Who should read Sovereign Self?

  • Spiritual seekers
  • Open-minded atheists 
  • Self-improvers looking for new ideas

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Self-Care Books: What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

What Happened to You?

Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
4.4 (668 ratings)

What's What Happened to You? about?

What Happened to You? (2021) is an in-depth exploration of trauma and how it affects the brain. Long before we can make rational sense of traumatic experiences, they become etched into our neural circuits. They influence how we respond to stress, form relationships, and make meaning. Unfortunately, trauma is often misunderstood. By understanding trauma as both a brain issue and a societal issue, we can start to support trauma survivors with the tools they need to heal. 

Who should read What Happened to You??

  • Survivors of trauma 
  • Teachers, caregivers, and medical practitioners
  • Psychology buffs interested in trauma’s effects on the brain

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Self-Care Books: Hear Yourself by Prem Rawat

Hear Yourself

Prem Rawat
How to Find Peace in a Noisy World
4.5 (376 ratings)

What's Hear Yourself about?

Hear Yourself (2021) is a guide to cutting out distractions, silencing your mind, and connecting to your inner peace. Packed with ancient wisdom and compelling anecdotes, it’ll teach you to cultivate calm and serenity within yourself to counter the noise and busyness of the world outside.

Who should read Hear Yourself?

  • Goal-setters who want to follow through on their ambitions
  • People feeling distracted and overwhelmed by the demands of life
  • Anyone trying to navigate periods of stress, trauma, or grief

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Self-Care Books: The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching

Thich Nhat Hanh
Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy and Liberation
4.7 (339 ratings)

What's The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching about?

The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching (1998) explains core Buddhist teachings, including the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. It shows how to apply these practices to daily life to transform suffering into joy and heal the pain of others.

Who should read The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching?

  • People who are suffering
  • Those wishing to adopt Buddhist practices
  • Anyone who wishes to lead a more joyful life

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Self-Care Books: Love People, Use Things by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Love People, Use Things

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Because the Opposite Never Works
4.4 (432 ratings)

What's Love People, Use Things about?

Love People, Use Things (2021) is a manifesto extolling the pleasures of minimalism. This primer explains why living with fewer things can lead to less clutter and more fulfilling relationships.

Who should read Love People, Use Things?

  • Budding hoarders looking to cut back
  • Thrifty savers seeking tips on light living
  • Anyone interested in the practice of minimalism

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Self-Care Books: The Pegan Diet by Mark Hyman

The Pegan Diet

Mark Hyman
Combine Paleo and Vegan to Stay Fit, Happy and Healthy for Life
4.5 (202 ratings)

What's The Pegan Diet about?

The Pegan Diet (2021) is a simple, science-driven approach to nutrition that blends the best of two popular diets – veganism and paleo. The result? a way of eating that foregrounds vegetables, avoids refined carbohydrates, and makes judicious use of fats and ethically sourced animal products. The benefits of this diet speak for themselves: lower cholesterol, better gut health, more energy, and greater happiness. 

Who should read The Pegan Diet?

  • Dieters looking for a sustainable approach to weight management
  • Would-be healthy eaters who don’t want to go fully meat-free
  • Fast-food addicts who want a fresher, better diet

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Self-Care Books: The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills

The Mastery of Love

Don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills
A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship
4.4 (609 ratings)

What's The Mastery of Love about?

The Mastery of Love (1999) uses anecdotes and examples to illustrate the erroneous assumptions and lies that characterize most people’s relationships. It is a guide to overcoming emotional wounds and transforming relationships from wars of control into harmonic connections based on love, joy, and freedom.

Who should read The Mastery of Love?

  • Anyone struggling with a relationship
  • Soul-searchers interested in ancient wisdom
  • People seeking advice on how to overcome misery

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Self-Care Books: Everyday Vitality by Samantha Boardman

Everyday Vitality

Samantha Boardman
How to Thrive, Survive, and Feel Alive
4.5 (400 ratings)

What's Everyday Vitality about?

Everyday Vitality (2021) explores how we can cultivate resilience while juggling the small, nonstop stresses of everyday life. Those who thrive do so because they build vitality, a force of power and flexibility that allows them to handle difficulties. The people who cope best are the ones who find ways to turn their stress into strength through intentionality, purpose, and connection.

Who should read Everyday Vitality?

  • Anyone looking to alleviate stress in their daily lives
  • People interested in improving their quality of life
  • Those who are interested in achieving peace amid busyness

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Self-Care Books: Drop Acid by David Perlmutter

Drop Acid

David Perlmutter
The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid--The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health
4.2 (290 ratings)

What's Drop Acid about?

Drop Acid (2022) is an in-depth exploration of uric acid, a substance increasingly linked to many modern health issues, from obesity and diabetes to hypertension and stroke. Uric acid has long been seen as a precursor to gout and kidney stones, but new research suggests that high levels of uric acid can contribute to many other health issues over the long term. With reference to scientific studies and a three-week “LUV” (Lower Uric Values) diet plan complete with recipes, this Blink will prepare you to optimize your health by reducing foods and behaviors that play a part in raising uric-acid levels.

Who should read Drop Acid?

  • People living with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or gout
  • Health enthusiasts looking to optimize their diet
  • Doctors eager to add more nutritional expertise to their repertoire

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Self-Care Books: The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins

The High 5 Habit

Mel Robbins
It's Time to Cheer for Yourself
4.4 (1,233 ratings)

What's The High 5 Habit about?

The High 5 Habit (2021) offers a startling proposition: A single change to your morning routine can help upend your outmoded, self-limiting attitudes and kick your life into top gear. Interwoven with personal anecdotes and scientific research, this blueprint for life transformation makes self-improvement seem easier than ever.

Who should read The High 5 Habit?

  • Self-improvement and personal-development fanatics 
  • Anyone who wants to change but needs a strong dose of pep and energy
  • Armchair psychologists interested in the workings of emotional growth

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Self-Care Books: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

The Comfort Book

Matt Haig
4.7 (657 ratings)

What's The Comfort Book about?

The Comfort Book (2021) is a compendium of practices, philosophies, stories, and encouragements to help you get through tough times. Matt Haig shares the insights he gained while experiencing years of severe anxiety and depression, as well as his own unconventional strategies for developing a sense of self-worth and looking after your mental health. 

Who should read The Comfort Book?

  • Fans of Matt Haig’s honest and unconventional approach to discussing mental health
  • Anyone looking for strategies to build emotional resilience 
  • People grappling with pandemic-related uncertainty

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Self-Care Books: Meditation by Osho

Meditation

Osho
The First and Last Freedom
4.3 (250 ratings)

What's Meditation about?

Meditation (1988) provides a valuable overview of Osho meditations – an approach to meditation that emphasizes awareness and uses movement as a way of preparing the mind and body. It provides the basic principles behind Osho meditation, as well as a few foundational techniques to get you started.

Who should read Meditation?

  • Anyone interested in meditation
  • Fans of the Wild Wild Country Netflix series
  • People looking to become more aware and more relaxed

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Self-Care Books: Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky

Find Your Unicorn Space

Eve Rodsky
Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World
4.1 (255 ratings)

What's Find Your Unicorn Space about?

Find Your Unicorn Space (2021) opens the door to an important conversation about what makes us unique as individuals and offers a guide to discovering, claiming, and growing your creative interests.

Who should read Find Your Unicorn Space?

  • Women who give too much
  • Creatives who don’t have time to create
  • Recovering workaholics, martyrs, people pleasers, and moms

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Self-Care Books: Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman

Toxic Positivity

Whitney Goodman
Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy
4.4 (522 ratings)

What's Toxic Positivity about?

Toxic Positivity (2022) is an eye-opening appraisal of positivity culture in Western society. It outlines the many ways toxic positivity harms individuals and communities, and offers practical suggestions for helping ourselves and others.

Who should read Toxic Positivity?

  • Happiness-seekers
  • People who want to support their loved ones in difficult times
  • Anyone who cringes at expressions like “good vibes” and “just think positive”

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Self-Care Books: Welcome Home by Najwa Zebian

Welcome Home

Najwa Zebian
A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul
4.6 (523 ratings)

What's Welcome Home about?

Welcome Home (2021) uses the metaphor of a house to provide a personalized blueprint for achieving self-worth, belonging, and happiness. Through personal stories, practical advice, and poetry, it lays out tools you can use to build a place where you’re at peace with yourself.

Who should read Welcome Home?

  • Young adults embarking on a journey of self-discovery
  • Lost or directionless individuals who want to take control of their lives
  • Anyone who wants to be stronger, happier, and emotionally healthier

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Self-Care Books: Big Feelings by Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslien

Big Feelings

Mollie West Duffy and Liz Fosslien
How to be Okay When Things Are Not Okay
4.2 (331 ratings)

What's Big Feelings about?

Big Feelings (2022) is a guide to coping with some of the toughest emotions we ever face, from anger to despair. By acknowledging and facing up to these emotions, it’s possible to work through them.

Who should read Big Feelings?

  • People feeling overwhelmed by big emotions
  • Anyone who struggles to open up
  • Self-help enthusiasts after advice

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Self-Care Books: The Book of Boundaries by Melissa Urban

The Book of Boundaries

Melissa Urban
Set the Limits That Will Set You Free
4.2 (345 ratings)

What's The Book of Boundaries about?

The Book of Boundaries (2022) is a pragmatic and empowering guide to setting healthy relationship limits. It provides over 130 scripts to ensure you always have the right words to set boundaries and create healthier, happier relationships.

Who should read The Book of Boundaries?

  • Anxious parents
  • Time, energy, and space-conscious workers
  • Anyone who can’t say no

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Self-Care Books: Heal From Within by Katie Beecher

Heal From Within

Katie Beecher
A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness
4.1 (269 ratings)

What's Heal From Within about?

Heal From Within (2022) is a guidebook to self-healing. While traditional medicine tends to focus on symptoms, Beecher argues that we should be paying attention to the cause of an illness. Her healing strategies are based on personal experience, as well as her professional career as a counselor and medical intuitive.

Who should read Heal From Within?

  • People who want to heal from any kind of health issue
  • Empaths and highly sensitive people
  • Anyone who’s interested in learning more about chakras

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Self-Care Books: Untangling You by Kerry Howells

Untangling You

Kerry Howells
How can I be grateful when I feel so resentful?
4.5 (269 ratings)

What's Untangling You about?

Untangling You (2021) is a guide to attaining gratitude by way of its conceptual opposite, resentment. Drawing on research, anecdotes, and practical insights, it explores how moving from resentment to gratitude will help you mend relationships and lead a happier, healthier life.

Who should read Untangling You?

  • Leaders looking to boost their staff’s morale and well-being
  • Parents and teachers seeking better ways to approach conflicts with children
  • Anyone who’d like to stop harboring grudges and start repairing interpersonal bridges

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Self-Care Books: Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It by Kamal Ravikant

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It

Kamal Ravikant
4.4 (741 ratings)

What's Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It about?

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It (2020) is an uplifting and enlightening account of one man's journey to reclaim his life and destiny. It shares hard-won wisdom and unwavering commitment to self-love through a powerful combination of personal stories, practical advice, and an accessible meditation practice.

Who should read Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It?

  • Negative self-talkers
  • Anxious self-haters
  • Busy self-improvers

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Self-Care Books: Lighter by Yung Pueblo

Lighter

Yung Pueblo
Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future
4.6 (470 ratings)

What's Lighter about?

Lighter (2022) guides anyone seeking self-improvement through the process of releasing the past and taking power over the future. It’s a combination of wisdom and proverbs as well as a practical guide for doing the inner work of self-healing.

Who should read Lighter?

  • Self-improvement seekers
  • Buddhism buffs
  • Anyone who needs to heal from the past

46
Self-Care Books: The Shift by Gary Foster

The Shift

Gary Foster
7 Powerful Mindset Changes for Lasting Weight Loss
4.3 (313 ratings)

What's The Shift about?

The Shift (2021) breaks down how to achieve weight loss by shifting your mindset. By changing the way you think about yourself and your body, you can set into motion incredible changes that can alter not just your body, but also your sense of self, happiness, and self-worth.

Who should read The Shift?

  • Weight-loss seekers
  • People who want to improve their self-esteem
  • Supporters of a loved one who wants to lose weight

47
Self-Care Books: Tracking Wonder by Jeffrey Davis

Tracking Wonder

Jeffrey Davis
The Surprising Path to Purpose, Connection, and Fulfillment
4.3 (164 ratings)

What's Tracking Wonder about?

Tracking Wonder (2021) is an inspiring and practical exploration of wonder. Through reclaiming that childlike state of amazement with the world, Davis shows how we can become happier, healthier, and more creative.

Who should read Tracking Wonder?

  • Dreamers
  • Those experiencing burnout
  • Anyone fed up with toxic productivity

48
Self-Care Books: Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa TerKeurst

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes

Lysa TerKeurst
Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are
4.0 (56 ratings)

What's Good Boundaries and Goodbyes about?

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes (2022) offers a Christian perspective on setting healthy boundaries and learning when and how to say goodbye.

Who should read Good Boundaries and Goodbyes?

  • Christian women who want to feel healthier in their relationships
  • Christians seeking a way to balance personal health with relationship health
  • Anyone contemplating or going through divorce or separation

49
Self-Care Books: Abundance by Deepak Chopra

Abundance

Deepak Chopra
The Inner Path to Wealth
4.5 (402 ratings)

What's Abundance about?

Abundance (2022) offers a new way of releasing you from a life of lack and scarcity. By using its meditation techniques, you can transform your life from one dogged by limitations into one where you want for nothing.

Who should read Abundance?

  • Seekers of fulfillment wanting to live their best lives
  • Ambitious dreamers wishing to transform goals into reality
  • Yogis looking to take their practice to the next level

50
Self-Care Books: A Year of Self-Care by Dr. Zoe Shaw

A Year of Self-Care

Dr. Zoe Shaw
Daily Practices and Inspiration for Caring for Yourself
4.3 (88 ratings)

What's A Year of Self-Care about?

A Year of Self-Care (2021) encourages you to jumpstart your investment in yourself, and begin integrating daily rituals of self-love and care into your life.

Who should read A Year of Self-Care?

  • Caretakers and parents 
  • Anyone suffering from burnout 
  • People going through challenging life transitions 

51
Self-Care Books: The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron

The Highly Sensitive Person

Elaine N. Aron
How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
4.2 (407 ratings)

What's The Highly Sensitive Person about?

The Highly Sensitive Person (1996) improves our understanding of that one-fifth of the population whose nervous systems pick up signals the average person can’t register. With greater self-awareness and society’s understanding, people with heightened sensitivity can flourish.

Who should read The Highly Sensitive Person?

  • Highly sensitive people
  • Parents of highly sensitive children
  • Friends, colleagues, and anyone trying to understand a highly sensitive person

52
Self-Care Books: Love Yourself Well by Lo Bosworth

Love Yourself Well

Lo Bosworth
An Empowering Wellness Guide to Supporting Your Gut, Brain, and Vagina
3.3 (18 ratings)

What's Love Yourself Well about?

As a guide to optimizing female wellness, Love Yourself Well (2022) empowers women to take their health into their own hands. The book presents honest insights into the connection between the gut, brain, and vagina and promotes natural remedies for intimate problems.

Who should read Love Yourself Well?

  • Female health advocates
  • Women experiencing health problems they find difficult to talk about
  • Anyone curious about the connection between the gut, brain, and vagina

53
Self-Care Books: How to be Love(d) by Humble the Poet

How to be Love(d)

Humble the Poet
Simple Truths for Going Easier on Yourself, Embracing Imperfection & Loving Your Way to a Better Life
4.5 (187 ratings)

What's How to be Love(d) about?

How to be Love(d) (2022) teaches you how to transform your thoughts and actions to give, receive, and experience more love in life. Full of relatable stories and actionable advice, this guide will teach you how to rid yourself of useless programming, embrace imperfection, and honor your progress – so you can better love yourself and others.

Who should read How to be Love(d)?

  • Anyone going through a breakup
  • People looking to improve their romantic, platonic, or family relationships
  • Fans of the author’s art and music

54
Self-Care Books: Do Hard Things by Steve Magness

Do Hard Things

Steve Magness
Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness
4.5 (475 ratings)

What's Do Hard Things about?

Do Hard Things (2022) explodes mythologies around the popular conception of toughness. It shows how traditional markers of toughness, like putting on a brave face and pushing past pain, can actually hinder physical and mental performance outcomes in the long term. Instead, real resilience comes from listening to your body and embracing your emotions.

Who should read Do Hard Things?

  • Employees who need resilience to succeed in challenging, high-stress roles;
  • Athletes and fitness fans wanting to build physical and mental fortitude;
  • Anyone who wants to face challenges with authentic toughness.

55
Self-Care Books: Outlive by Peter Attia, with Bill Gifford

Outlive

Peter Attia, with Bill Gifford
The Science and Art of Longevity
4.3 (706 ratings)

What's Outlive about?

Outlive (2023) is a comprehensive guide to living a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Drawing on cutting-edge science and practical advice, it empowers you to optimize your exercise, nutrition, sleep, and emotional health for maximum longevity.

Who should read Outlive?

  • Individuals seeking a healthier, longer life
  • Fitness enthusiasts wanting well-rounded advice
  • Anyone interested in optimizing mental well-being

56
Self-Care Books: Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin

Real Self-Care

Pooja Lakshmin
A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included)
4.2 (305 ratings)

What's Real Self-Care about?

Real Self-Care (2023) exposes the dark side of the global self-care industry by connecting the systemic inequality faced by marginalized groups like women and people of color, and the stress, burnout and chronic illness faced by so many. It offers a science-based alternative and cognitive strategies for living with ease and purpose. 

Who should read Real Self-Care?

  • Frustrated self-carers who feel they’re somehow doing it wrong
  • Tired life-optimizers who wonder why they still feel behind
  • Those looking for kinder, gentler transformation from the inside-out

57
Self-Care Books: Self-Love Workbook for Women by Megan Logan

Self-Love Workbook for Women

Megan Logan
Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are
4.8 (57 ratings)

What's Self-Love Workbook for Women about?

Self-Love Workbook for Women (2020) maps your journey towards creating a life-altering relationship with yourself. Whether your self-love foundation is shaky or firm, this book will help you develop skills to heal and self-nourish, through using awareness and mindfulness practices.

Who should read Self-Love Workbook for Women?

  • Anyone suffering from depression or low self worth 
  • Cynics and scrooges 
  • Goal-oriented entrepreneurs, young professionals, and caretakers

58
Self-Care Books: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace

This Naked Mind

Annie Grace
Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life
4.2 (158 ratings)

What's This Naked Mind about?

This Naked Mind (2015) challenges our culture's love affair with alcohol. It offers matter-of-fact, actionable insights that help free drinkers from its perceived hold.

Who should read This Naked Mind?

  • Party animals who want a permanent break
  • Mindful drinkers seeking balance
  • Curious cats who question cultural norms

59
Self-Care Books: Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop

Unfu*k Yourself

Gary John Bishop
Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life
4.6 (1,084 ratings)

What's Unfu*k Yourself about?

Unfu*k Yourself (2017) lays out an unpleasant truth: there’s only one thing that’s getting in the way of your best life, and that’s you. It provides a set of no-nonsense strategies designed to help you get out of your head, get out of your way, and begin living life on your own terms.

Who should read Unfu*k Yourself?

  • Self-saboteurs who can’t turn off their persistently negative inner monologue
  • Those trying to get out of their own way and go after their dreams
  • Anyone who’d like their life to be a little less, well, fu*ked

60
Self-Care Books: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Dr. Daniel G. Amen

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life

Dr. Daniel G. Amen
The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness
4.0 (417 ratings)

What's Change Your Brain, Change Your Life about?

Unlock your brain's full potential with cutting-edge techniques and personalized brain health approaches detailed in this revised and updated version of the original Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (1999) by Dr. Daniel G. Amen.

Who should read Change Your Brain, Change Your Life?

  • All brain owners
  • Brainiacs seeking to enhance their mind powers
  • Health-conscious people wanting better knowledge of brain health

61
Self-Care Books: Drama Free by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Drama Free

Nedra Glover Tawwab
A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships
4.4 (68 ratings)

What's Drama Free about?

Drama Free (2023) is a concise and thoughtful guide to navigating the negatives of one of the most fundamental and unavoidable aspects of our lives: family. Covering a wide range of topics including emotionally absent parents, codependent siblings, substance abuse, and many more, it offers advice on recognizing the patterns of a dysfunctional family, healing from the past, and growing into the full human being you deserve to be.

Who should read Drama Free?

  • Adult children or siblings looking to untangle their current family relationships
  • Emotionally troubled individuals who are prepared to analyze their childhood
  • Anyone who tenses up when a family member calls

62
Self-Care Books: Pathways to Peace of Mind by Napoleon Hill

Pathways to Peace of Mind

Napoleon Hill
4.3 (295 ratings)

What's Pathways to Peace of Mind about?

Learn to maintain positivity, shared abundance, good habits, and relationships with uplifting examples and practical strategies from the newly released Pathways to Peace of Mind (2023).

Who should read Pathways to Peace of Mind?

  • General seekers of calm in chaos
  • Group leaders who want more zen
  • Entrepreneurs desiring success without burnout

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Self-Care Books: Retrain Your Brain by Seth J. Gillihan

Retrain Your Brain

Seth J. Gillihan
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks
4.3 (523 ratings)

What's Retrain Your Brain about?

Retrain Your Brain (2016) is all about learning practical strategies to break free from negative thought patterns and cultivate a more positive, fulfilling life. Whether you're struggling with anxiety or depression, or just want to improve your overall mental well-being, this guide is a valuable resource for retraining your brain and becoming your best self.

Who should read Retrain Your Brain?

  • Anyone suffering from depression, anxiety, or low mood
  • Life hackers looking for tools to enhance emotional well-being
  • Curious minds interested in the science behind cognitive behavioral therapy

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Self-Care Books: The Source by Dr. Tara Swart

The Source

Dr. Tara Swart
The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain
4.5 (60 ratings)

What's The Source about?

The Source (2019) reveals the secret to mastering your mind. It draws on cognitive science and the author’s coaching experience to provide a four-step plan to fire up your brain and get what you want from life by becoming a new, confident you.

Who should read The Source?

  • Personal Development seekers
  • Stressed individuals looking to improve their mental health and well-being
  • Entrepreneurs and business leaders

65
Self-Care Books: Gut Feelings by Dr. Will Cole

Gut Feelings

Dr. Will Cole
Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel
4.5 (67 ratings)

What's Gut Feelings about?

Gut Feelings (2023) illuminates the vital connections among emotions, the gut microbiome, and health. Taking a holistic approach to body, mind, and mood, the author offers a three-week plan to address the underlying causes of chronic illness, including stress, shame, suboptimal nutrition, and sleep.

Who should read Gut Feelings?

  • Self-help fans looking for mind-body approaches
  • Those looking for more clarity on their relationship with food
  • Wellness gurus looking for the latest on reducing inflammation and enjoying better health

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Self-Care Books: How to Be Your Own Therapist by Owen O'Kane

How to Be Your Own Therapist

Owen O'Kane
Boost Your Mood and Reduce Your Anxiety in 10 Minutes a Day
4.4 (195 ratings)

What's How to Be Your Own Therapist about?

How to Be Your Own Therapist presents highly-effective techniques from evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. Funny and humane, it outlines a simple self-therapy program to free you from unhelpful habits and tendencies, as well as daily check-in sessions that can be completed in as little as ten minutes.  

Who should read How to Be Your Own Therapist?

  • People wishing to learn essential therapeutic techniques to improve their lives
  • Anyone curious about initiating a daily self-therapy practice
  • Those eager to overcome negative thought patterns and adopt healthier perspectives

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Self-Care Books: Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore

Care of the Soul

Thomas Moore
A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life
4.2 (210 ratings)

What's Care of the Soul about?

Care of the Soul (2016) offers a Jungian approach to everyday life. It’s a guide for codifying our experiences into story and myth, recognizing and accepting the soulfulness and messiness of our experiences, and seeing the sacred in the ordinariness of life.

Who should read Care of the Soul?

  • Spiritual people
  • Those struggling with their mental health
  • Fans of Jung and Campbell

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Self-Care Books: Your Future Self by Hal Hershfield

Your Future Self

Hal Hershfield
How to Make Tomorrow Better Today
4.3 (480 ratings)

What's Your Future Self about?

Your Future Self (2023) is an illuminating journey through the complex world of decision-making, blending the powerful elements of psychology and economics. Offering a unique lens with which to view our long-term choices, it uncovers how the decisions we make today directly shape our future selves.

Who should read Your Future Self?

  • Self-improvement enthusiasts seeking ways to better themselves 
  • Armchair psychologists intrigued by the process of long-term decision-making
  • Philosophers interested in the nature of self, personal identity, and consciousness

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Self-Care Books: Single On Purpose by John Kim

Single On Purpose

John Kim
Redefine Everything. Find Yourself First
4.2 (49 ratings)

What's Single On Purpose about?

Single on Purpose (2020) is a candid exploration of love, closure, and the human quest for genuine happiness. Get ready to renew your relationship with yourself, redefine your perspectives on love, and ignite the engines of self-confidence and joy within you.

Who should read Single On Purpose?

  • Anyone going through a breakup
  • Personal growth explorers 
  • Life coaches or self-coaches seeking a better way to frame relationships

70
Self-Care Books: The Joy of Saying No by Natalie Lue

The Joy of Saying No

Natalie Lue
A Simple Plan to Stop People-Pleasing, Reclaim Your Boundaries, and Say Yes to the Life You Want
4.1 (124 ratings)

What's The Joy of Saying No about?

The Joy of Saying No (2022) is a practical guide for people pleasers. It explains what people pleasing is, why it impacts well-being, the different ways it manifests in behaviors, and how it can be overcome, so that people can live more authentically.

Who should read The Joy of Saying No?

  • Life-long people pleasers 
  • Individuals who struggle to say no or set healthy boundaries
  • People aged 20 to 80, who were raised in the Age of Obedience

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Self-Care Books: Emotional Habits by Akash Karia

Emotional Habits

Akash Karia
The 7 Things Resilient People Do Differently (And How They Can Help You Succeed in Business and Life)
4.5 (323 ratings)

What's Emotional Habits about?

Emotional Habits (2016) offers seven practical steps that anyone can implement to take control of their emotional lives and live with more resilience when overcoming life’s personal and professional challenges.

Who should read Emotional Habits?

  • Life optimizers looking for practical advice 
  • Anyone looking to improve their personal or professional resilience 
  • Those looking for better ways to manage their emotional responses

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Self-Care Books: Stop Walking on Eggshells by Paul T. Mason & Randi Kreger

Stop Walking on Eggshells

Paul T. Mason & Randi Kreger
Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder
4.5 (200 ratings)

What's Stop Walking on Eggshells about?

Stop Walking on Eggshells (1998) offers a lifeline to the beleaguered loved ones of those suffering from borderline personality disorder. It provides techniques grounded in empathy and understanding to establish healthy boundaries without abandoning those in need.

Who should read Stop Walking on Eggshells?

  • Partners or family members of someone with borderline personality disorder
  • Individuals seeking to understand personality disorders and emotional dysregulation
  • Anyone searching for compassionate approaches to complex psychological issues

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Self-Care Books: Yoga Nidra Made Easy by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli & Nirlipta Tuli

Yoga Nidra Made Easy

Uma Dinsmore-Tuli & Nirlipta Tuli
Deep Relaxation Practices to Improve Sleep, Relieve Stress and Boost Energy and Creativity
4.3 (12 ratings)

What's Yoga Nidra Made Easy about?

Yoga Nidra Made Easy (2022) explores the roots and techniques of the practice of Yoga Nidra, or yogic sleep. This practice of meditation exploring the hypnagogic state between wakefulness and sleep boasts an impressive list of verified benefits, from stress relief and better sleep to boosting critical thinking, self-reflection, and creativity.

Who should read Yoga Nidra Made Easy?

  • Anyone who is looking for an easy meditation practice – no guru required
  • Those looking for better sleep, stress relief, or personal insight
  • Yoga or fitness fans looking for more mind-body connection  

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