I am a teenager, who is new to the self help genre. I am about to go on a book shopping spree with the little money I have to my name. What’s like the most influential books that everyone knows about that is known to really help you with ur life ?
by InevitableMonth5468
23 Comments
Flow
Thinking Fast and Slow
Get yourself a library card/app, and then you won’t be limited by the little money you have to your name.
My suggestions aren’t self-help books, but they are helpful. “Python in a Day,” “The Status Game,” and “Economics in One Lesson.”
It’s been a while since I read it, but I remember finding [So Good They Can’t Ignore You](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4070b398-b1ba-44c1-8b4f-9571dfec1b88?redirect=true) by Cal Newport pretty motivating
Atomic Habits
“How to win friends and influence people”… I know, I know, the title is terrible – it’s an old book. But the information is so valuable (wish I had read it at your age).
The gift of fear by Gavin de Becker
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
It helped me validate my own experiences and choose paths forward. I’m forever grateful for that book.
But be ready: it’s heavy and took me about a year to get through.
The Four Agreements is a real gem!
The 4-Hour Workweek, a life changer really
*How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie.
*Getting Things Done (for teens)* by David Allen
*Peace is Every Step* by Thich Nhat Hanh
*The Five Second Rule* by Mel Robbin’s. ( spoiler: the rule is count down from five and the physically start moving to do the next action of the thing you need to do. The book goes into more detail and gives case studies and why it works but that is the gist of it.)
*Awareness* by Anthony de Mello.
It’s not exactly self help – more a way of thinking about ourselves and how others are towards us / vice versa – but there’s a thing called Transactional Analysis and a classic book called “I’m OK, You’re OK” which is great and very accessible.
It’s not an approach that’s very fashionable (and some people will say it’s not very scientific, but that’s not the point – it’s a systematic way of thinking about ourselves and doesn’t need to be literally true to be helpful) but for those to whom it appeals it can be kind of a basis for how to see yourself and others.
Its not really billed as self help but I always tell people to read Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Feeling Good (or its successor, Feeling Great) by David Burns.
For dismantling any negative self-talk in a scientifically-backed manner.
I’m not really into self help books but I think every young person should read I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. Getting your financial health in order and understanding certain money-related pitfalls will do wonders for your mental health. Your future self will thank you.
1. grit
2. ultralearning
3. I will teach you to be rich
4. the pig that wants to be eaten: 100 experiments for the armchair philosopher
5. can’t hurt me: master your mind and defy the odds
these are all in various genres, but they are what I would recommend to someone who was trying to develop themselves generally.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Gottleib
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Don’t read self-help books.
* Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
* Atomic Habits by James Clear
* The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck By Mark Manson
* [You Can Heal Your Life](https://english.shabd.in/you-can-heal-your-life-louise-hay/book/10277253) by Louise Hay
The Wisdom of Insecurity by Watts
Be Here Now by Dass
Tao Te Ching the Mitchell translation
These aren’t really self-help, more like philosophy. Most self-help books only help the author.
Outlive by Peter Attia. I wish I had the information he provides at that age
The Little Prince.
I know it’s often considered a children’s book and technically a story but it really changes your perspective on how we view life and adulthood.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman is also great.
Save your money and hit the library!