Self-help books are often looked down on, and it’s a blanket term that definitely includes some more questionable reads. But there are plenty of books you can pick up that will really help you get into a growth mindset, allowing you to achieve your goals – both academic and otherwise. Let’s take a look…
Self-help books related to academics
There are a few good ones in this category! Deep Work by Cal Newport is all about mastering the art of focused work in a world that is so distracted and distracting. The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey is another that will help you discover practical strategies that boost your efficiency, while Learn Better by Ulrich Boser will allow you to understand how to learn effectively by applying the science of learning.
Some other recommendations include:
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Smart Thinking by Matthew Allen
The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need by Jade Bowler
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker
How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia
Self-help books for mindfulness
Mindfulness is a huge part of the self-help book world; it’s all about reprogramming your brain to be, surprise surprise, more mindful. This means being more aware of the present moment, being fully present, and being intentional with what you’re doing. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor talks about how positivity fuels success and achievement, while Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers teaches you how to overcome fear and self-doubt.
Some other recommendations include:
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Lost Connections by Johann Hari
The Self-Care Solution by Jennifer Ashton
You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Self-help books for personal growth
Changing your habits is a fantastic way to help you grow as a person, and this will also have a (positive!) knock-on effect on your studies. But creating a new habit isn’t always easy! There are plenty of self-help books that can teach you about this, though, such as Atomic Habits by James Clear, which talks about how small habits can lead to significant life changes. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck helps you to understand how a growth mindset can transform your life, while Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven talks about discipline and resilience, and how these can help you achieve greatness.
Some other recommendations include:
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Habit Stacking by S.J. Scott
There’s a lot of recommendations in this blog post, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Decide whether you want to focus on academic success, mindfulness or personal growth and building habits, then pick one book off the list. You don’t need to read it all in one go, but try to really ingest the information and consider how you can apply it to your life. You’ve got this!
