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PREMIUM
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life
Schwarzenegger provides a useful, logical, and sometimes humorous blueprint for general readers to achieve a successful and satisfying life, although he chooses to avoid talking about his own misconduct.
This book is highly recommended for those interested in self-help, inspirational stories, memoirs, and advice for living a good life.
An easy recommendation for those who struggle with their own anxiety and may not know where to start in overcoming it. An absolutely worthwhile addition to any library collection as well.
A great acquisition for libraries looking to expand mental health literacy in their patrons. This is an ideal book for people who read The Stress-Proof Brain: Master Your Emotional Response to Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroplasticity by Melanie Greenberg.
Great for public libraries and not limited to a particular age group. People of almost any generation can benefit from reading this guide to embracing life.
A supportive volume for someone at any stage of experience in meditation. Beginners may be the prime beneficiaries, but those with additional practice may appreciate the author’s approach as well. Sakugawa’s artistry and gentle humor aids greatly in making this an approachable volume.
Opportunities for ritual are plentiful. Arai’s encouragement to make these rituals a part of everyday life opens the way for mindfulness and true healing.
PREMIUM
The Choice Point: The Scientifically Proven Method To Push Past Mental Walls and Achieve Your Goals
An easily digestible guide to abolishing negative thoughts and self-defeating behaviors.
While this would be an excellent addition to any self-help section, patrons may need a longer loan period if they choose to follow the entire 90 days.
This is an excellent companion for those who may need to express themselves and heal but aren’t sure where to start. Worthwhile to have in any library, especially for readers who may be hesitant to reach out.
Perfectionists might shudder at the book’s lack of instructions or the absence of a list of supplies, techniques, or other requirements, but that’s (part of) the point. Even the bravest recovering perfectionists can benefit from this.
While Gjata says the book is, “at its core, for my younger self,” and as such can read a bit slangy, it’s appropriate for older audiences too (millennials up to boomer and beyond). Engaging and chock-full of facts, this non-diet diet book is an updated, encouraging healthy-eating and healthy-eating-mindset how-to.
The promise of a calmer, more connected world, free of stress and exhaustion, will likely encourage readers to select this book and give it a chance to work its mindful magic. Ideal for both beginners and more advanced practitioners.
With teaching points scattered throughout, the book provides a curriculum for self-development, albeit one that may feel inaccessible to readers who lack some of Morrissey’s privilege. Overall, a useful tool for individuals looking for prompts and suggestions about how to live more aligned with their bigger-picture aspirations.
Readers of Toni Warner’s The Reset will enjoy this enlightening and refreshing book. Libraries looking to expand their self-help section will want to add this to their current nonfiction collection.
PREMIUM
The Well-Lived Life: A 102-Year-Old Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age
A helpful guide to embracing the joys and confronting the sorrows of life. Recommended for readers of all ages seeking motivation or inspiration as they continue their living journey.
While the reflection prompts in this title may not be a substitute for therapy, they are thoughtfully rendered so as to encourage readers to move forward out of anxiety.
PREMIUM
Reverse Meditation: How To Use Your Pain and Most Difficult Emotions as the Doorway to Inner Freedom
This book teaches how to use painful or difficult emotions as a doorway to inner freedom. Recommended for readers seeking to add to their mindfulness practices.
As the owner of a private practice focusing on sex and gender therapy, McDaniel brings qualification to the writing of this book. Transgender and nonbinary readers may find the content helpful and affirming.
A useful book for aspiring and seasoned influencers and those looking to better navigate the intricacies of social media. Recommended for general collections.
An essential and helpful guide. Ideal for readers just getting started with meditation and for anyone wanting to bring more mindfulness and peace into their life.
As evinced by the title and the attendant activities, this is not the typical bromide-laden self-help book advising readers to turn their frowns upside down. The listicle-advice and activities can be a bit unorthodox and some just downright weird; some readers might even wonder if this is satire (it’s not). To every book its reader, which is exactly why this book deserves space on the shelf.
PREMIUM
Activate Your Greatness
Weaving between providing inspiration and telling his life’s story, Toussaint describes his mental and physical methods for tapping into one’s inner greatness and achieving one’s dreams. This is a straightforward account guiding readers to embrace his motto: “Feel good, look good, do better.”
Perfect for readers more interested in evidence-based research than vision boards, this is a recommended addition to any self-help shelf.
This inspiring book is recommended for anyone interested in social justice and enacting positive change.
A thoughtful resource to help readers slow down and recognize the connective power of breath. A recommended purchase for libraries where interest in short informative titles, mindfulness, and yoga is high.
This title is ideal for those looking to flex their empathy muscles and people who are on a journey of healing trauma or want to create better connections with others. Readers of This Book Will Make You Kinder by Henry James Garret will enjoy the way Tennant explores how to grow empathy and how it can change the world. Libraries looking to expand their self-help section will benefit from adding this book to their shelves.
Many of Sternberg’s examples and anecdotes focus on buildings in Arizona and around Washington, DC, so this title could be particularly interesting for libraries located in these areas.
A reassuring book that normalizes life’s struggles. Recommended for persons seeking encouragement in the face of sadness or despair.
While the 90-day time frame may leave some readers wanting more, this title is recommended for libraries where Amerine’s previous works are popular.
Lyons covers causes and solutions for everyday interactions and provides a persuasive argument for silence. Recommended for all audio collections.
Most relevant for readers in recovery or who are interested in sobriety, but also a revealing read for daters and nondrinkers in general.
Readers and writers comfortable with the style and tone of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way will be drawn to this book.
A comprehensive and mindful discussion of decision making that’s designed to benefit readers’ current and future selves. Recommended for libraries where there is interest in psychology or self-help.
Magnusson’s wisdom combined with McElhone’s narration is an unbeatable combination. Recommend widely to listeners looking to embrace the aging process while enjoying every bit of goodness along the way.
The revised edition is the result of the author conducting 10 additional years of research. The updated version is a valuable resource for all libraries.
An insightful book that could serve as part of a meditative routine or whenever someone requires some self-reflection to face life’s challenges. Some text originally appeared in articles on the School of Life website.
Best for physicians to introduce their patients to mindfulness meditation or patients who are looking to try guided meditation for pain relief.
Containing both insight and practical practices, this is a wonderful resource for anyone seeking help on how to cope with life’s challenges. Recommended for fans of Rick Hanson’s Resilient: How To Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness.
A versatile title that is relevant for many individual life situations. Excellent for libraries from big cities to rural towns.
Although much of Bay’s guidance is directed at women, anyone with an interest in speaking, whether for a small group or an audience of thousands, can find practical techniques in this guide. This accessible blend of research and practical advice is recommended for public library collections.
PREMIUM
Your Body Is a Revolution: Healing Our Relationships with Our Bodies, Each Other, and the Earth
Readers searching for a community-minded self-help title will enjoy this book, a refreshing, compassionate addition to the health and wellness space.
Unlike Rubin’s more recent books, this is more a sensory travelogue than a guide to how readers can engage their own senses more effectively. While Rubin’s many fans will be engrossed, readers new to her world of self-examination may find the sensory navel-gazing off-putting.
PREMIUM
In Each Other’s Care: A Guide to the Most Common Relationship Conflicts and How To Work Through Them
This is a well-organized and comprehensive guide for improving relationships that leans heavily on science and is best suited for practitioners. Recommended for academic libraries with family counseling programs and for large public libraries where self-help relationship books are popular.
Fans of “Dear Prudence” (or advice columns in general) will appreciate this well-curated retrospective, which is elevated by Lavery’s thoughtful annotations, reminiscences, and insights.
Spiegel’s relatable approach, free of toxic positivity, will resonate with readers looking for a thoughtful way to reflect on the joys of everyday life, even when times are difficult.
Readers interested in self-help or philosophy books and those who enjoyed Words of Wisdom by Raymond Russ will enjoy the witty assertiveness of Kelly’s life lessons. This book is also a great choice for enticing reluctant readers and those learning how to read English based on the colloquial language used throughout the book and the briefness of the passages. Everyone will find themselves wanting to share the advice with those younger than they are, just as Kelly encourages them to do.
A fascinating approach to tap into one’s energies to become better aligned, this is best for those who want an alternative approach to self-help.
Readers looking for how-to practical advice should look elsewhere. However, if read as autobiography or possibly even humorous essays, Gachman’s book delivers an offbeat offering of comfort, laughter, and peace by sharing how she is living with grief. Includes notes and suggested resources.
For readers unfamiliar with Moore’s writing or comedy, this encouraging book dispenses practical and quirky advice packaged in quickly read chapters. For both fans and critics of Moore’s previous book, this is straightforward advice on how not to be alone by making friends.
PREMIUM
Goodbye, Perfect: How To Stop Pleasing, Proving, and Pushing for Others…and Live for Yourself
This book is aimed at women, particularly women of color, but anyone who feels sidelined in the workplace may benefit. Kabir offers specific strategies for achieving optimal confidence, purpose, and success.
While not a replacement for a therapist, the book asks good questions to help readers open up and dig deeper, and gives stepping stones to better self-love.
An accessible introduction to public relations and personal branding that can be applied to the professional realm and side hustles alike.
This book offers methods to address conflicts in all life’s areas (work, family, friendships). Recommended for anyone seeking to achieve accord or successful resolutions in the face of opposition.
A must-read for anyone interested in wellness trends, trauma and embodiment, and gender theory. It’s as suitable for academic libraries as it is for everyday readers tired of fighting against their desire to be or seem a specific way.
This deconstruction of what it means to be smart will appeal to readers who enjoy popular nonfiction in the vein of Daniel Pink’s When or The Power of Regret.
May’s observant, moving essays are a balm for souls wearied by the nonstop pulse of contemporary life, and an invitation to reconnect with the outside world. A masterpiece of mindfulness in action; recommended for all libraries.
Dunbar writes in an informal, nonjudgmental style that many readers will appreciate. A useful book that could serve as a guide for individuals trying to address their self-doubt or mollify negative thoughts or emotions.
PREMIUM
Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women
A wonderfully affirming volume that makes a compelling case for women to embrace the physical and mental changes happening in their lives and thrive. Best for those interested in gender studies, social history, and women’s health topics.
With a diverse slate of contributors and Elise’s strong, guiding voice, this book provides the tools and the ingredients that everyone can use to live a richer, truer, and more abundant life.
Full of encouraging words and examples to help readers feel that their goals can be reached, this is a recommended book for all collections.
The focus is on caring for older individuals and does not include medical guidance or advice for working with any disabilities. Kanter’s emphasis on creating a positive lens for this special relationship is refreshing.
PREMIUM
Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women: Real Stories from Inspirational, Artistic, and Empowered Women
LoMenzo’s book is not a step-by-step self-help manual but rather a soothing inspirational guide that readers can binge-read in one or two sittings or savor slowly.
Highly recommended. Best for anyone interested in personal growth, self-help, and relationship issues.
This guide to an aesthetic popular among millennials, zillennials, and Gen Z is perfect for the community. Readers will come away with many new home environment ideas and a better understanding of how they feel about themselves.
A deeply felt, beautifully written account of intersectionality, personal responsibility, and growth.
PREMIUM
Quitting: A Life Strategy
Helpful for those who grapple with the idea that they must finish what they start, Keller’s book will resonate with anyone who has questioned their path or their commitment.
The principles are not new, but collectively present thoughtful perspective for achieving inner peace and an increased level of personal freedom. For most public libraries.
Stafford provides reassuring and inspiring words coaxing readers through each practice. Recommended for anyone needing to reconnect with their true inner selves and reclaim joy in today’s stressful world.
This readable, uplifting, research-backed guide will benefit the many highly sensitive people who are looking for ways to harness their sensitivity for the greater good, or simply for their own well-being. Highly recommended for all public library collections.
A helpful book that will assist individuals who struggle with drama addiction and/or are affected by drama addicts.
This book stands out next to traditionally male-dominated leadership self-help book titles, comparable to how Clever Girl Finance by Bola Sokunbi and Her First $100K by Tori Dunlap stand out in the finance book field. DeMase is the career mentor that many corporate women have needed but never had. Most public library collections and academic libraries with a career section will find this an indispensable resource.
The layout and photos in the print version are truly fabulous, but the audiobook is still a key purchase. This charismatic duo slays both on the page and in the recording booth.
PREMIUM
Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto
Hersey’s thoughtful championing of rest and resistance makes an impact. Pair with Shanita Hubbard’s Ride or Die and Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism.
Well-paired with other contemplative titles such as Katherine May’s Wintering and Casper ter Kuile’s The Power of Ritual, and an intriguing counterpoint to popular productivity-focused self-help titles such as James Clear’s Atomic Habits and Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism. An excellent, thoughtful, non-prescriptive treatise on a complicated idea.
A timely read and a great handbook for a growing societal group seeking to delay their physical decline.
This title demonstrates that the wellness industry differs from true well-being as much as spa treatments differ from Audre Lorde’s original idea of self-care for activists. A valuable addition to conversations about race, class, ableism, and diet culture.
PREMIUM
Glow in the F*cking Dark: Simple Practices To Heal Your Soul, from Someone Who Learned the Hard Way
Readers will easily connect with Schuster’s humor and vulnerability and cheer for her and for themselves in this lovely, introspective memoir and guide.
This book will appeal to fans of Pharaon’s Instagram page and those seeking a self-help guide to help them navigate family patterns and take control of their love lives.
Shetty’s many Instagram fans will be eager to get their hands on this book. Readers who aren’t familiar with the author will be drawn in by his experiences and wisdom and his easygoing, relatable approach to love in all of its forms.
By turns intimate and inspiring, this title will empower any woman who has ever doubted her worth or her words, giving her new ways to think about why and how she can put herself more boldly in the world.
PREMIUM
Will the Drama Ever End? Untangling and Healing from the Harmful Effects of Parental Narcissism
This book’s incisive look into family dynamics may interest those with and without narcissistic parents. Recommended for collections with a strong focus on family studies or self-help.
Though aimed at Black readers, other people of color (or those looking to better understand the Black experience in the U.S.) will benefit greatly from Clarke’s book. This is an essential and timely addition to a library’s self-help section.
Written in a highly engaging style, Walden’s book makes a good case that finding the lessons in even tragic events can lead to a happier and more fulfilled life. Best for general readership.
This should be on the nightstand of anyone who is interested in adding self-awareness rituals to their routine.
Readers will appreciate this pairing of the Dalai Lama’s wisdom with the talent of cartoonist McDonnell in their plea for peace for humans and our planet.
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