2024’s Top 10 Self-Help Books for Better Living

• Dec 08, 2023
• 7 min read

• Tags: Book Recommendations, Nonfiction, Self-Help

Do self-help books really work? We tried to find the answer to this question in the process of selecting the 10 best self-help books in 2024. We scanned through the bestselling self-help books and found some hidden gems that have managed to achieve what they set out to do.

Whether it’s through advice, evidence, or good old homework, the best self-help books help people in various ways. For this to happen, of course, the author must be an expert in their field and the writing style should be interesting. Based on these criteria, we’ve selected the top self-help books for readers of all ages and genders. Take a look!

Here are the 10 best self-help books in 2024:

1. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel 

The Psychology of Money features 19 short stories that explore our relationship with money. With crisp and clear language, Housel explains the fundamentals of saving and investing, and how this is affected by factors such as ego, pride, and greed. From the stock market to spending habits, the author has managed to expertly map the relationship between money and our minds. 

In our everyday lives, we don’t make financial decisions with calculations and spreadsheets. So, this book offers valuable lessons on the importance of patience, humility, and long-term thinking in building wealth and achieving financial security. Readers have found their way into financial literacy with the help of this book, so it gets a well-deserved spot in our top self-help books!

Categories: Finance, business, economics, psychology

What’s inside: Short stories, case studies, a brief history of US consumerism

2. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

When Cal Newport wrote Digital Minimalism in 2019, he couldn’t have imagined that the pandemic would digitize our lives to a new extent. Precisely for this reason, his book has become a timely manifesto for reclaiming focus, intention, and connection in the digital age. With great research and useful examples, Newport has drafted a philosophy around our use of tech.

His thirty-day “digital declutter” process might not work for everyone, but it offers a new perspective on tackling the FOMO disease so many of us go through. Readers have found the process useful in prioritizing some digital usages so they can discard the rest. If you’d like to reconnect with the bliss of solitude while not doing a total digital detox, this book is sure to resonate with you.

Categories: Productivity, technology, personal development, psychology

What’s inside: Research, principles of digital minimalism, strategies to reduce digital clutter

3. The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper

Helen Tupper and Sarah Hills team up to create a no-nonsense career guide in The Squiggly Career. This book belongs in the top 10 self-help books because it offers a 5-step plan to professional success in 2023.  Unlike a traditional book, this is a workbook full of thought-provoking exercises that help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Readers have especially loved the chapters on values and future possibilities, having found unique value in them. If you want to ditch the old career ladder and break the monotony, this book is definitely worth a read.

Categories: Business, personal development, psychology, leadership

What’s inside: To-do lists, questionnaires, worksheets

4. Out of Office by Charlie Warzel

If you’re looking for an exploration of the digital landscape we find ourselves in, this is the book for you. Out of Office by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Peterson goes beyond remote work to trace a history of work in the United States. The book will reveal how deeply work is connected with other aspects of life such as urban planning, childcare policies, and even political action.

The book isn’t what you’d expect from a typical self-help book, and it has received some criticism for the same. It contains few practical WFH solutions and more broad recommendations about rethinking work. It does, however, offer a wealth of insightful information to help you find healthier ways to navigate the modern world.

Categories: Business, sociology, productivity, leadership

What’s inside: History of work culture in the US, in-depth information and analysis

5. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

One of the three major Roman Stoics, emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote Meditations as his personal self-help book. He wrote down his reflections on life, virtue, and the human condition so he could put them into practice and lead a virtuous life. Obviously, such a unique book deserves a spot in the top 10 self-help books of all time!

You may wonder what a millennia-old diary could have to offer you, but you’ll be surprised at the profound philosophical teachings you’ll find inside. If nothing else, this book can be an illuminating read, revealing the similarities between our own moral struggles and those of a Roman emperor. This resonance makes Meditations a profound read that is sure to inspire and enlighten you. 

Categories: Philosophy, personal development, stoicism

What’s inside: Reflections, advice, self-examination

6. Radically Happy by Phakchok Rinpoche

In Radically Happy, Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon bring together Eastern and Western approaches to the mind, meditation, and happiness. While most top-rated self-help books struggle to wed modern psychology with ancient philosophy, this book excels at it.

As the subtitle says, this truly is “a user’s guide to the mind”. The authors use personal anecdotes as well as simple meditation exercises to help you uncover true happiness in everyday life. If you’re looking for an introduction to mindfulness, there can be no better book than this one!

Categories: Mindfulness, positive psychology, personal development, philosophy

What’s inside: Anecdotes, analogies, scientific studies, meditation exercises 

7. Self-Love Workbook for Women by Megan Logan

Released during the pandemic, Self-Love Workbook for Women came at a time when women around the world struggled with mental health. A licensed clinical social worker, Logan has compiled self-love exercises based on her 22 years of experience. 

The workbook is masterfully organized, helping women understand the basis of negative self-talk. By explaining the theoretical underpinnings of how our mind works, Logan also provides a way out. Her exercises and tools might be entry-level for some, but for others, have been life-changing.

Categories: Mental health, positive psychology, personal development

What’s inside: Self-love exercises, assessments, mantras

8. Daring to Take Up Space by Daniell Koepke

If you want a book of poems to comfort and uplift you at difficult moments, Daniell Koepke has you covered. Daring to Take Up Space is a compilation of powerful affirmations, written with incredible vulnerability and compassion. The poet wrote this book for her 17-year-old self, “who was convinced she would never survive or amount to anything”.

Through her poetry, Koepke aims to empower you step out of your comfort zone and unapologetically claim their place in the world. Readers worldwide have found resonance and validation in the book’s affirmative messages. If you struggle with self-esteem and need some help with positive self-talk, you will certainly love this book.

Categories: Poetry, mental health, personal development

What’s inside: Poems, affirmations, inspirational quotes

9. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith

Dr. Julie Smith has condensed years of experience as a clinical psychologist in her bestselling self-help book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? She has compiled practical solutions for your everyday struggles with mental health, dividing them into relevant chapters and sections. Having unraveled her “therapist’s toolkit” into bite-sized pieces, Smith uses a compassionate but practical style to address her readers.

This is meant as a toolkit to help you face struggles such as anxiety, depression, or self-deprecation, so you won’t find a lot of theory here. However, Smith does provide some valuable insight into the mind, effectively backing her solutions with solid information. 

Categories: Psychology, mental health, personal development

What’s inside: Coping techniques, advice, activities

10. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Now here’s a self-help book for artists! In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert demystifies creativity and brings it to its more welcoming sibling, curiosity. A master at offering practical advice in a conversational tone, Gilbert reminds you of the sheer joy that is at the center of all creativity. By asking you to shed the lofty goals of “success”, the author inspires you to be creative in the present moment.

The book urges you to pursue your passion fearlessly and not wait for “a permission slip”. Like many bestselling self-help books, this is a polarizing read. Some have unlocked their creativity with its help while others have struggled with finishing the book! Ultimately, this is a creative advising others on their trade. Remember that, and you’re certain to have a great reading experience!

Categories: Art, personal development, inspiration

What’s inside: Anecdotes, reflections, mythbusters

So this was our list of the best self-help books in 2024! From finance to personal development, we found the best of the best in each category. We tried to find a balance between bestselling self-help books and relatively lesser-known works that are worthy of your attention.

If you’d like us to include any other books in our list, feel free to leave a comment! As providers of editing and proofreading services, we realize how only reading self-help books isn’t enough.

Here are some other resources that you might find useful:

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.