The best 100 Self-Care books

Self-care is crucial for maintaining well-being in our hectic lives. Our handpicked list of self-care books provides practical insights and strategies for nurturing yourself amidst the daily challenges.

Discover ways to prioritize self-care and enhance your mental and emotional health with these empowering reads. Ready to invest in yourself and cultivate a healthier, happier life? Start exploring these titles now!

The best 100 Self-Care books
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1
Self-Care Books: Get Some Headspace by Andy Puddicombe

Get Some Headspace

Andy Puddicombe
10 Minutes Can Make All the Difference
4.4 (85 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Get Some Headspace about?

Get Some Headspace (2011) paves an easy path to understanding meditation and the ways it can benefit us. Drawing on his own experience as a Buddhist monk, Puddicombe offers a strong case that even the busiest people can take ten minutes a day to get some much needed headspace and live better because of it.

Who should read Get Some Headspace?

  • Anyone searching for a beginner’s guide to meditation
  • The stressed and anxious
  • People whose working day is out of control

2
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
3.8 (88 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

3
Self-Care Books: 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson

12 Rules For Life

Jordan B. Peterson
An Antidote to Chaos
4.2 (4,267 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's 12 Rules For Life about?

12 Rules For Life (2018) provides readers with an inventory of life’s most pressing concerns and the issues that have been present in the human psyche since ancient times. Author Jordan B. Peterson has collected some of the most enduring philosophical and religious assertions, as well as the lessons from our most cherished tales, to provide us with 12 guidelines to ensure a life of meaning. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, history and myth, these are clear and consistent principles that everyone can live by.

Who should read 12 Rules For Life?

  • Students of psychology
  • Readers seeking meaning in their lives
  • People interested in the lessons of mythology

4
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 (85 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

5
Self-Care Books: Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Minimalism

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Live a Meaningful Life
4.1 (402 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

6
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 (384 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

7
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 (72 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

8
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
3.9 (114 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

9
Self-Care Books: Together by Vivek H. Murthy

Together

Vivek H. Murthy
The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
4.5 (294 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

10
Self-Care Books: The Simplicity Principle by Julia Hobsbawm

The Simplicity Principle

Julia Hobsbawm
Six Steps Towards Clarity in a Complex World
4.3 (317 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

11
Self-Care Books: When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

When the Body Says No

Gabor Maté
The Cost of Hidden Stress
4.6 (701 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's When the Body Says No about?

When the Body Says No (2003) probes the hidden connections between mental health and physical illness. Modern medical science often tries to reassure us that our minds and bodies are totally separate – when, in reality, they’re deeply interconnected. Mental stresses often play out in the body as physiological diseases, disorders, and chronic conditions that endanger our health and well-being.

Who should read When the Body Says No?

  • People who have chronic health conditions or who know others who have them
  • The eternally stressed
  • Those interested in the connections between mind and body

12
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 (235 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

13
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 (119 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

14
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 (289 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

15
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 (184 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

16
Self-Care Books: Emotional First Aid by Guy Winch

Emotional First Aid

Guy Winch
Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts
4.4 (256 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

17
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 (428 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

18
Self-Care Books: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

You Can Heal Your Life

Louise Hay
4.5 (309 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

19
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
3.5 (236 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

20
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
4.4 (402 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

21
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 (224 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

22
Self-Care Books: Forest Bathing by Qing Li

Forest Bathing

Qing Li
How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness
4.7 (328 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

23
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 (313 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

24
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
4.5 (605 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

25
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 (320 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

26
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
4.7 (443 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

27
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
4.3 (751 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

28
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
4.6 (432 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

29
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 (487 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

30
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
4.4 (218 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

31
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 (658 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

32
Self-Care Books: Everyday Vitality by Samantha Boardman

Everyday Vitality

Samantha Boardman
How to Thrive, Survive, and Feel Alive
4.5 (427 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

33
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 (319 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

34
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 (1,429 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

35
Self-Care Books: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

The Comfort Book

Matt Haig
4.7 (728 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

36
Self-Care Books: Meditation by Osho

Meditation

Osho
The First and Last Freedom
4.3 (281 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

37
Self-Care Books: Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman

Toxic Positivity

Whitney Goodman
Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy
4.4 (556 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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”

38
Self-Care Books: Welcome Home by Najwa Zebian

Welcome Home

Najwa Zebian
A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul
4.7 (584 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

39
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 (352 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

40
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 (376 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

41
Self-Care Books: Heal From Within by Katie Beecher

Heal From Within

Katie Beecher
A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness
4.1 (289 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

42
Self-Care Books: Untangling You by Kerry Howells

Untangling You

Kerry Howells
How can I be grateful when I feel so resentful?
4.5 (295 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

43
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 (814 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

44
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 (545 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

45
Self-Care Books: The Shift by Gary Foster

The Shift

Gary Foster
7 Powerful Mindset Changes for Lasting Weight Loss
4.2 (343 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

46
Self-Care Books: Tracking Wonder by Jeffrey Davis

Tracking Wonder

Jeffrey Davis
The Surprising Path to Purpose, Connection, and Fulfillment
4.3 (175 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

47
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
4.2 (81 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

48
Self-Care Books: Abundance by Deepak Chopra

Abundance

Deepak Chopra
The Inner Path to Wealth
4.5 (437 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

49
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 (104 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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 

50
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 (484 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

51
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 (222 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

52
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
4.4 (655 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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.

53
Self-Care Books: Outlive by Peter Attia, with Bill Gifford

Outlive

Peter Attia, with Bill Gifford
The Science and Art of Longevity
4.3 (1,291 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

54
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 (349 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

55
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
4.7 (79 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

56
Self-Care Books: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace

This Naked Mind

Annie Grace
Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life
4.1 (185 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

57
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 (1,569 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

58
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 (476 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

59
Self-Care Books: Drama Free by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Drama Free

Nedra Glover Tawwab
A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships
4.4 (102 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

60
Self-Care Books: Pathways to Peace of Mind by Napoleon Hill

Pathways to Peace of Mind

Napoleon Hill
4.4 (318 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

61
Self-Care Books: Retrain Your Brain by Seth J. Gillihan

Retrain Your Brain

Seth J. Gillihan
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks
4.3 (706 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

62
Self-Care Books: The Source by Dr. Tara Swart

The Source

Dr. Tara Swart
The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain
4.4 (116 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

63
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
4.4 (98 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

64
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 (248 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

65
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 (239 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

66
Self-Care Books: Single On Purpose by John Kim

Single On Purpose

John Kim
Redefine Everything. Find Yourself First
4.3 (95 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

67
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 (176 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

68
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)
4.4 (378 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

69
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 (230 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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

70
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
4.0 (41 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

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  

71
Self-Care Books: Facing Codependence by Pia Mellody with Andrea Wells Miller & J. Keith Miller

Facing Codependence

Pia Mellody with Andrea Wells Miller & J. Keith Miller
What It Is, Where It Comes from, How It Sabotages Our Lives
4.4 (187 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Facing Codependence about?

Facing Codependence (1989) offers insights and guidance for those seeking to navigate and recover from codependent behaviors. It dives into the complex condition of codependence, identifying five main symptoms, their origins, and their corresponding effects on the individual’s life.

Who should read Facing Codependence?

  • Individuals navigating relationship challenges
  • Self-awareness and personal growth seekers
  • Anyone interested in understanding codependency

72
Self-Care Books: The Hormone Shift by Tasneem Bhatia

The Hormone Shift

Tasneem Bhatia
Balance Your Body and Thrive Through Midlife and Menopause
4.3 (52 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Hormone Shift about?

The Hormone Shift (2023) is an empowering roadmap to managing hormone changes through all stages of life – especially menopause. With an East-meets-West perspective, it combines scientific knowledge and compassionate advice to help women understand and navigate the big hormonal transitions in their lives.

Who should read The Hormone Shift?

  • Women approaching or going through menopause who want to understand the changes in their bodies
  • Women of any age seeking natural solutions for hormone-related issues like PMS, irregular periods, and infertility
  • Anyone interested in integrative medicine and combining Eastern and Western medical approaches

73
Self-Care Books: Essential Reiki by Diane Stein

Essential Reiki

Diane Stein
A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art
3.5 (57 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Essential Reiki about?

Essential Reiki (1995) delves into Reiki, an ancient healing technique that involves the transmission of universal life energy through a healer’s hands. It emphasizes physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing, rooted in the intuitive and respectful use of hand placements over various body points or chakras. This practice, based on the innate human and animal instinct to touch areas of pain for comfort, is independent of any religious belief and centers around the ancient life force known as Ki.

Who should read Essential Reiki?

  • Holistic health enthusiasts
  • Spiritual healing practitioners
  • Alternative medicine students

74
Self-Care Books: How Not to Age by Michael Greger

How Not to Age

Michael Greger
The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older
4.1 (439 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's How Not to Age about?

How Not to Age (2021) delves into the scientific understanding of the aging process, exploring biological mechanisms and lifestyle choices that can influence longevity and vitality. It offers a comprehensive look at research-based strategies, from diet and exercise to sleep and stress management, to slow down aging and improve overall health. Get practical advice, debunk the myths, and discover effective, scientifically grounded approaches to aging well.

Who should read How Not to Age?

  • Health enthusiasts 
  • People who plan to live past 100
  • Anyone curious about separating myth from fact in the anti-aging industry

75
Self-Care Books: Sensitive by Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo

Sensitive

Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo
The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World
4.3 (104 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Sensitive about?

Sensitive (2023) explores the meaningful lives and gifts of highly sensitive people, whose emotional depth and perceptual sensitivity shed invaluable light into human consciousness. Interweaving scientific research with compelling personal stories, it guides highly sensitive people toward validation and compassionate self-care. With poetic reflection and empowering advice, it frames high sensitivity as a vital form of beauty both challenging and critical to embrace.

Who should read Sensitive?

  • Highly sensitive people, or those who suspect they might be
  • Parents of sensitive children
  • Anyone curious about psychology and neurodiversity

76
Self-Care Books: I Didn't Know I Needed This by Eli Rallo

I Didn't Know I Needed This

Eli Rallo
The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself
4.1 (188 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's I Didn't Know I Needed This about?

I Didn't Know I Needed This (2023) is the ultimate guide to modern dating’s natural lifecycle, from flirting to first dates to relationships to heartbreak. Drawing on TikTok star Eli Rallo's own hard-won experience, this rulebook combines shallow delights and hard truths into her signature brand of romantic realism. 

Who should read I Didn't Know I Needed This?

  • Young women navigating the modern dating world
  • Fans of Eli Rallo's TikTok and Instagram accounts 
  • Readers seeking wisdom and humor around romance, heartbreak, and self-care

77
Self-Care Books: The Art of Letting Go by Nick Trenton

The Art of Letting Go

Nick Trenton
Stop Overthinking, Stop Negative Spirals, and Find Emotional Freedom
4.3 (184 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Art of Letting Go about?

The Art of Letting Go (2023) invites you on a transformative journey toward emotional freedom. It’s a guide to shedding the burdens of the past, embracing self-compassion, and cultivating a growth mindset for a purposeful and liberated existence. Dive into this exploration and emerge more resilient, insightful, and equipped to navigate life’s challenges with grace.

Who should read The Art of Letting Go?

  • Self-help enthusiasts seeking emotional freedom
  • Individuals interested in personal growth and resilience
  • Readers looking for guidance on self-compassion

78
Self-Care Books: And Then We Rise by Common

And Then We Rise

Common
A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self
3.6 (133 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's And Then We Rise about?

And Then We Rise (2024) is part guide, part memoir that explores the intersection of personal well-being and faith. Through illuminating anecdotes and candid conversations with teachers, it reveals how investing in nutrition, exercise, mental care, and spiritual connection has contributed to Common’s growth as a performer and person – and how you might harness these self-care practices, too.

Who should read And Then We Rise?

  • Fans of Common
  • Anyone looking to take their self-care practices to the next level
  • Individuals interested in the intersection of personal well-being, faith, and activism

79
Self-Care Books: Stress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz

Stress Resets

Jennifer L. Taitz
How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes
4.4 (178 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Stress Resets about?

Stress Resets (2024) offers a plethora of quick and scientifically validated methods for managing stress. It introduces you to effective exercises that promise to ease your stress quickly without intensive meditation, medications, or alcohol. Through practical tips and exercises, it teaches you to regulate your emotions and build resilience, fundamentally changing how you perceive and handle stress.

Who should read Stress Resets?

  • Busy professionals looking to enhance their stress management skills
  • Stressed students needing focus and anxiety relief
  • Overwhelmed parents seeking emotional balance

80
Self-Care Books: Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay

Raising Mentally Strong Kids

Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay
How to Combine the Power of Neuroscience with Love and Logic to Grow Confident, Kind, Responsible, and Resilient Children and Young Adults
4.4 (167 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Raising Mentally Strong Kids about?

Raising Mentally Strong Kids (2024) explores the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and parenting, revealing how everyday interactions shape a child's developing brain.

Who should read Raising Mentally Strong Kids?

  • Parents of children of all ages who are looking for evidence-based strategies to help their kids develop
  • Teachers, school counselors, and administrators eager to learn how to support student’s mental health and well-being
  • Anyone interested in the latest research on neuroscience and its applications on child development and parenting

81
Self-Care Books: The CBT Workbook for Mental Health by Simón Rego & Sarah Fader

The CBT Workbook for Mental Health

Simón Rego & Sarah Fader
Evidence-Based Exercises to Transform Negative Thoughts and Manage Your Well-Being
4.3 (292 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The CBT Workbook for Mental Health about?

The CBT Workbook for Mental Health (2022) is a practical guide to using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to improve your emotional well-being. It offers targeted solutions for common issues like anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and relationship issues, providing simple exercises that can be completed in just 10-30 minutes a day.

Who should read The CBT Workbook for Mental Health?

  • People looking to improve their mental and emotional health
  • Those interested in learning practical, easy-to-implement CBT techniques
  • Anyone seeking to build resilience and coping skills for life's challenges

82
Self-Care Books: Liberated Love by Mark Groves & Kylie McBeath

Liberated Love

Mark Groves & Kylie McBeath
Release Codependent Patterns and Create the Love You Desire
4.3 (30 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Liberated Love about?

Liberated Love (2024) is a guide to ending unhealthy relationship dynamics such as codependence. By taking an intentional pause, people can create better romantic relationships and find fulfillment.

Who should read Liberated Love?

  • Codependent couples
  • People who want healthier romantic relationships
  • Anyone who’s interested in self-development

83
Self-Care Books: Sovereign by Emma Seppala

Sovereign

Emma Seppala
Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy, and Power in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty, and Chaos
4.6 (22 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Sovereign about?

Sovereign (2024) explores how people can take back their freedom and learn to truly value themselves. It offers science-backed strategies to break free from self-destructive patterns and beliefs, aiming to help readers live more authentic, fulfilling lives. Using real-life examples of people who hold an inner sovereignty, it addresses how readers, too, can reclaim sovereignty over their work, family, body, and mind.

Who should read Sovereign?

  • Self-improvement aficionados looking for growth strategies
  • Burned-out professionals needing guidance
  • People battling with self-doubt and low self-esteem

84
Self-Care Books: Yoga for Better Sleep by Mark Stephens

Yoga for Better Sleep

Mark Stephens
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
3.5 (6 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Yoga for Better Sleep about?

Yoga for Better Sleep (2019) combines sleep science with age-old yogic wisdom, creating yoga sequences specifically designed to promote healthy, restorative sleep. It shares practical postures, breathing tools, and meditation techniques that can be easily incorporated into a pre-bedtime routine.

Who should read Yoga for Better Sleep?

  • Insomniacs who want to tap into natural, holistic remedies for wakefulness
  • Yoga-lovers who want to direct their practice specifically towards promoting rest
  • Anyone who’s sick of lying awake and counting sheep…

85
Self-Care Books: Healthy Kids, Happy Kids by Elisa Song

Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

Elisa Song
An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience
3.7 (68 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Healthy Kids, Happy Kids about?

Healthy Kids, Happy Kids (2024) provides a proven, holistic plan focused on optimizing the gut microbiome to build resilience and heal the root causes of these issues, empowering parents with natural therapies, recipes, and an integrated approach to raising truly healthy, happy kids. 

Who should read Healthy Kids, Happy Kids?

  • Parents despairing at their children’s persistent health issues
  • Carers who want to promote children’s health and holistic wellbeing
  • Anyone interested in boosting their microbiome’s health

86
Self-Care Books: The Secret Language of the Body by Jennifer Mann & Karden Rabin

The Secret Language of the Body

Jennifer Mann & Karden Rabin
Regulate Your Nervous System, Heal Your Body, Free Your Mind
3.6 (68 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Secret Language of the Body about?

The Secret Language of the Body (2024) explores the nuanced ways our bodies communicate internal imbalances, linking physical symptoms to emotional and psychological stresses. Through actionable strategies and insights, it empowers you to interpret and address your body’s signals to regulate your nervous system and improve your overall health.

Who should read The Secret Language of the Body?

  • Individuals struggling with chronic stress, pain, or illness 
  • Health professionals interested in holistic healing approaches 
  • Students studying alternative medicine or psychotherapy

87
Self-Care Books: I Shouldn't Feel This Way by Alison Cook

I Shouldn't Feel This Way

Alison Cook
Tame Guilt, Name the Hard, Transform Self-Sabotage Into Action
4.3 (103 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's I Shouldn't Feel This Way about?

I Shouldn’t Feel This Way (2024) is for anyone struggling with overwhelming emotions like fear, shame, and anger. It offers practical tools for managing and transforming these feelings to build healthier relationships, set firm boundaries, and foster a deeper sense of self-compassion and spiritual growth.

Who should read I Shouldn't Feel This Way?

  • Anyone in need of some good self-help tools
  • People struggling with regret and low self-esteem
  • Those who’d like to quiet their harshly critical inner voice

88
Self-Care Books: How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart by Meggan Roxanne

How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart

Meggan Roxanne
Stop People-Pleasing, Set Boundaries, and Heal from Self-Sabotage
4.3 (138 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart about?

How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart (2024) guides you to rediscover yourself and grow. You'll learn how childhood shapes adult relationships, face fears holding you back, and set healthy limits. By trusting your gut and living purposefully, you'll create real connections and align your life with what matters most to you.

Who should read How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart?

  • Self-improvement seekers
  • Anyone struggling with boundaries
  • Personal growth enthusiasts

89
Self-Care Books: Burned Out to Lit Up by Cara E. Houser

Burned Out to Lit Up

Cara E. Houser
Ditch the Grind and Reclaim Your Life
4.1 (82 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Burned Out to Lit Up about?

Burned Out to Lit Up (2023) is a practical guide to recovering from burnout. It shows that by prioritizing our own needs, setting boundaries, and adopting positive habits, we can live happier, healthier lives.

Who should read Burned Out to Lit Up?

  • People who feel burned out
  • Parents struggling to juggle work and family commitments
  • Anyone who wants to live a more balanced life

90
Self-Care Books: The Narcissist's Playbook by Dana Morningstar

The Narcissist's Playbook

Dana Morningstar
How to Identify, Disarm, and Protect Yourself from Narcissists, Sociopaths, Psychopaths, and Other Types of Manipulative and Abusive People
4.3 (23 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Narcissist's Playbook about?

The Narcissist's Playbook (2019) is a guide to recognizing, understanding, and breaking free from the manipulation and abuse of narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. It offers practical tools for identifying manipulative behaviors, understanding why they occur, and empowering their targets to protect themselves and reclaim control of their lives.

Who should read The Narcissist's Playbook?

  • Partners who suspect they’re in an emotionally abusive relationship
  • People who want to set boundaries with manipulative family members
  • Anyone with a narcissist in their lives

91
Self-Care Books: Party of One by Meghan Keane

Party of One

Meghan Keane
Be Your Own Best Life Partner
4.2 (23 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Party of One about?

Party of One (2024) is a warm and affirming guide to embracing singlehood and cultivating self-love. Through practical wisdom and heartfelt strategies, you’ll discover how to create a rich, meaningful life centered on your relationship with yourself – regardless of your romantic status. With humor and empathy, it empowers you to find joy and independence in your own company. 

Who should read Party of One?

  • Singles questioning societal expectations about relationships
  • Romantics rethinking traditional ideas of love and marriage
  • Friends seeking deeper, meaningful connections

92
Self-Care Books: Sleep Drink Breathe by Michael Breus

Sleep Drink Breathe

Michael Breus
Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health
4.2 (198 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Sleep Drink Breathe about?

Sleep Drink Breathe (2024) presents a straightforward approach to transforming health and wellness through three fundamental biological behaviors. It explains how making simple adjustments to sleeping, hydrating, and breathing can dramatically improve energy, stress levels, and cognitive function in a matter of weeks.

Who should read Sleep Drink Breathe?

  • Health-conscious people seeking science-backed fundamentals
  • Consumers seeking effective alternatives to expensive health products
  • Anyone dealing with sleep issues, fatigue, or stress

93
Self-Care Books: Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, Connie Burk

Trauma Stewardship

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, Connie Burk
An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others
3.5 (2 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Trauma Stewardship about?

Trauma Stewardship (2009) explores how witnessing trauma affects caregivers, and offers a framework for maintaining well-being while doing challenging work. It provides practical ways to process trauma exposure at personal, organizational, and societal levels while remaining present to the suffering of others. 

Who should read Trauma Stewardship?

  • Mental health professionals and social workers wanting to stay engaged
  • Nonprofit organizers and community leaders on the front lines of trauma
  • Anyone looking for ways to engage with trauma without feeling overwhelmed

94
Self-Care Books: Good Morning, I Love You by Shauna Shapiro

Good Morning, I Love You

Shauna Shapiro
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain
4.6 (19 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Good Morning, I Love You about?

Good Morning, I Love You (2020) shows how mindfulness and self-compassion can transform our lives. Through simple practices such as meditation, we can rewire our brains to experience more peace and joy.

Who should read Good Morning, I Love You?

  • People struggling with negative thoughts and difficult feelings
  • Those who are going through a tough time
  • Anyone curious about how to practice mindfulness

95
Self-Care Books: The Baby Book by William Sears

The Baby Book

William Sears
Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two
4.0 (2 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Baby Book about?

The Baby Book (1993) is a comprehensive guide to infant and toddler care, emphasizing a nurturing, responsive approach known as attachment parenting. It covers topics like breastfeeding, co-sleeping, babywearing, and understanding a child’s cues to foster a strong parent-child bond. With practical advice and medical insights, it encourages parents to trust their instincts and create a loving, supportive environment for their baby’s development.

Who should read The Baby Book?

  • New parents seeking guidance on infant care
  • Breastfeeding mothers looking for expert advice and support
  • Anyone wanting a broader perspective on caring for babies and young children

96
Self-Care Books: Gentle by Courtney Carver

Gentle

Courtney Carver
Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want
4.7 (3 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Gentle about?

Gentle (2025) offers a counterintuitive solution to the contemporary culture of exhaustion by reclaiming rest as essential, rather than a reward for productivity. It provides practical, actionable strategies for breaking the cycle of busyness, and challenging the glorification of hustle, while enhancing well-being and effectiveness. 

Who should read Gentle?

  • Busy professionals experiencing – or on the verge of – burnout
  • Caregivers who regularly prioritize the needs of others
  • Anyone who has normalized chronic fatigue as “just how life is”

97
Self-Care Books: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Why We Sleep

Matthew Walker
The New Science of Sleep and Dreams
4.4 (40 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Why We Sleep about?

Why We Sleep (2017) examines the essential role sleep plays in nearly every facet of our physical and mental well-being. Drawing on decades of scientific research, it reveals how sleep strengthens memory, supports learning, bolsters the immune system, and regulates emotions. Building on these insights, it offers thoughtful solutions that challenge modern attitudes toward rest, paving the way for a healthier and more productive future.

Who should read Why We Sleep?

  • Anyone skeptical about the importance of sleep
  • People with insomnia
  • Dreamers curious about what happens in slumberland

98
Self-Care Books: The Ageless Brain by Dale E. Bredesen

The Ageless Brain

Dale E. Bredesen
How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime
4.4 (53 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's The Ageless Brain about?

The Ageless Brain (2025) presents a comprehensive approach to preventing and reversing cognitive decline. Through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes, it integrates cutting-edge neuroscience with practical strategies aimed at maintaining and enhancing brain health throughout one's life. 

Who should read The Ageless Brain?

  • People of any age who want to prevent cognitive decline
  • Caregivers of those with memory loss or Alzheimer’s
  • Anyone who wants to improve their overall brain health and longevity

99
Self-Care Books: Love for Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim

Love for Imperfect Things

Haemin Sunim
How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
3.8 (11 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Love for Imperfect Things about?

Love for Imperfect Things (2018) explores the transformative power of self-acceptance as the foundation for happiness and great relationships. It advocates embracing personal flaws as essential to finding inner peace and developing genuine compassion for others, offering an approach to well-being that starts with being kind to oneself first.

Who should read Love for Imperfect Things?

  • People who feel disconnected from their authentic selves 
  • Those experiencing disappointment or suffering in life or relationships 
  • Anyone interested in Buddhism applied to daily life

100
Self-Care Books: Light on Yoga by B. K. S. Iyengar, Daphne Razazan

Light on Yoga

B. K. S. Iyengar, Daphne Razazan
The Path to Holistic Health
4.4 (15 ratings)
Listen to the Intro
00:00

What's Light on Yoga about?

Light on Yoga (1966) is a comprehensive guide to the ancient practice of yoga that systematically presents over 200 postures alongside detailed instructions and philosophical teachings. This influential work thoroughly explains the eight-limbed path of yoga, balancing practical techniques with spiritual wisdom to offer practitioners a complete framework for physical, mental, and spiritual transformation. 

Who should read Light on Yoga?

  • Individuals interested in mind-body connections and integrative approaches to health
  • Yoga practitioners who want to deepen their understanding beyond physical postures
  • Anyone stressed out and looking for holistic approaches to well-being

Related Topics

Self-Care Books
 FAQs 

What's the best Self-Care book to read?

While choosing just one book about a topic is always tough, many people regard Get Some Headspace as the ultimate read on Self-Care.

What are the Top 10 Self-Care books?

Blinkist curators have picked the following:
  • Get Some Headspace by Andy Puddicombe
  • The Vitamin Solution by Romy Block and Arielle Levitan
  • 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson
  • The Asshole Survival Guide by Robert I. Sutton
  • Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
  • Stop Reading the News by Rolf Dobelli
  • The Vagina Bible by Jennifer Gunter
  • Expecting Better by Emily Oster
  • Together by Vivek H. Murthy
  • The Simplicity Principle by Julia Hobsbawm

Who are the top Self-Care book authors?

When it comes to Self-Care, these are the authors who stand out as some of the most influential:
  • Andy Puddicombe
  • Romy Block and Arielle Levitan
  • Jordan B. Peterson
  • Robert I. Sutton
  • Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus