Today’s blog is all about our favourite books for personal growth, the best self help books we’ve read over the years. And maybe you like to read for pleasure or for learning, or both! We hope these books can provide a sense knowledge and enjoyment. If you’re not a big reader, perhaps even look into our list as audio books, it’ll make them feel more like a podcast. Either way, they are all worth checking out.
From building habits, to giving yourself the permission to rage as a woman, to building wealth and understanding love, all of these books have something incredible to offer. A chance for us to grow and learn as individuals. That’s the beauty of reading, it’s a wonderful past time that we all should make time to do.
“I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.” – Emma Thompson
Keep reading to find out our favourites, links are provided for reach book if you’d like to pick one up for yourself!
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
By: James Clear
“No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear is one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation. He reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviours that led to remarkable results.“
We believe that Atomic Habits is the type of book that is worth reading once a year. It provides a clear, concise path of habit change. James Clear breaks down damaging patterns and helps you establish new, nourishing ones. It is a book for anyone, as we can all benefit from changing at least one habit!
The Four Agreements
By: Miguel Ruiz
“In The Four Agreements, Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offers a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.“
I have read this book a few times, and each time I absorb it more in-depth. I love that it’s a such quick read. It sounds simple to believe we can live our lives based on four main agreements to overcome things like frustration, anger, sadness, envy, or any other difficult emotion. That assumption would be correct in the sense that it isn’t just about implementing the four agreements broken down within the book. It’s also about breaking the agreements we’ve accepted from an early age, which takes years of repeated trial and error and overriding the impulse to please others. Taking action on the four agreements within the book is a lifelong process. This one will always be a favourite I’ll come back to time and time again.
What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
By: Bruce D. Perry, Oprah Winfrey
“Our earliest experiences shape our lives far down the road, and What Happened to You? provides powerful scientific and emotional insights into the behavioural patterns so many of us struggle to understand.“
But what if we asked “what happened to you?” Instead of “what’s wrong with you?”
On one hand, what if we decide to heal the generational trauma instead of passing it on to the next generation? This was a very meaningful and thought-provoking book. The discussions of the brain were well-done and made it easier for a layperson like me to understand. It was an incredibly fascinating tour through the way the mind processes trauma. Bruce D. Perry points out that in trauma, we are not “resilient”. We don’t bounce back unchanged. We are forever changed. Therefore we have to work hard to readjust and change the lens which has been altered during the traumatic event. We’re malleable. Not resilient.
Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger
By: Soraya Chemaly
“Contrary to the rhetoric of popular “self-help” and an entire lifetime of being told otherwise, our rage is one of the most important resources we have. Our sharpest tool against both personal and political oppression. We’ve been told for so long to bottle up our anger. Letting it corrode our bodies and minds in ways we don’t even realize. Yet our anger is a vital instrument, our radar for injustice and a catalyst for change.
Rage Becomes Her is an eye-opening book for the twenty-first century woman. An engaging, accessible credo offering us the tools to re-understand our anger and harness its power to create lasting positive change.“
Are you a woman? Read this book. Firstly, there is so much I want to say about this book, but my best advice is simply: read it. This exploration on women’s anger, specifically where it comes from, why we swallow it and how the language surrounding it is gendered and racialized. Was not only infuriating but incredibly insightful. From mundane adjectives we use to communicate with small children, to the #MeToo movement, to inceIs, to wage gaps to the healthcare industry. This was eye-opening to say the least. (Please check for Trigger Warnings)
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
By: T. Harv Eker
“Have you ever wondered why some people seem to get rich easily, while others are destined for a life of financial struggle? Is the difference found in their education, intelligence, skills, timing, work habits, contacts, luck, or their choice of jobs, businesses, or investments? The shocking answer is: None of the above! “
T. Harv Eker states: “Give me five minutes, and I can predict your financial future for the rest of your life!” Eker does this by identifying your “money and success blueprint.” We all have a personal money blueprint ingrained in our subconscious minds, and it is this blueprint that will determine our financial lives.
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love
By: Amir Levine, Rachel Heller
In Attached, Levine and Heller reveal how an understanding of adult attachment-the most advanced relationship science in existence today-can help us find and sustain love. Pioneered by psychologist John Bowlby in the 1950s, the field of attachment posits that each of us behaves in relationships in one of three distinct ways:
*ANXIOUS people are often preoccupied with their relationships and tend to worry about their partner’s ability to love them back.
*AVOIDANT people equate intimacy with a loss of independence and constantly try to minimize closeness.
*SECURE people feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving.”
Levine and Heller guide readers in determining what attachment style they and their mate follow. In turn, offering a road map for building stronger, more fulfilling connections with the people they love.
And there we have it, our recommended must-reads for personal growth: the best self help books we’ve read and enjoyed over the years. Have you read any of these?
And if you enjoy learning, you may want to check out some podcasts we recommend. Check out our post about our favourite podcasts, 10 Podcasts That Will Change Your Life. The great thing about podcasts is you can take them on the go. Try one out for your next walk or long car drive! Above all, whether you are looking to dive into a good book or a podcast, it doesn’t matter. Learning is learning and we hope you enjoy some of these recommendations we’ve shared. Finally, please do let us know if you’ve read any of these books, also feel free to share some of your favourites as well.
XOXO
Meg & Cornelia
