4 Life-Changing Self-Help Books You Need to Read

Before becoming interested in and writing about self-development, I commonly found myself wandering the aisles of Barnes and Noble eventually landing in the self-help books section..probably more than I would like to admit. 

Each of the following books fell into my lap right when I needed them and helped to guide and mold me into the person I am today. 

I still refer back to these books and their ideas and teachings on a consistent basis, as working on yourself is a habit that requires daily effort.

Whether you’re new to self-help or just looking for a good read, I strongly recommend the books below.

Self-Help Books That Will Change Your Life

1. “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay

Recommended to me by a life coach, Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life was the first self-help book that I ever read. 

Louise Hay, being one of the OG’s authors in the self-help realm, shares her inspirational story and teachings in this motivational work.  

The main premise of the book is that because our minds and bodies are connected, illnesses in our bodies are the direct cause of our emotional thought processes and beliefs. 

Hay believes that in order to cure one’s body, you must first identify and work to resolve the mental root cause of the disease.  She believes that the sources of and causes of “dis-ease” are deeply rooted in unhealthy thought patterns and beliefs about oneself. 

Louise herself was diagnosed with cancer and put her philosophies into practice.  Instead of surgery and drugs, Louise developed her own intensive program of affirmations, visualizations and healthy alternatives and healed herself of cancer within six months.  

You Can Heal Your Life introduced me to the mind/body connection and where I first learned about positive affirmations and the power behind them. 

In the back of her book, Louise lists an affirmation and probable cause for every mental and physical ailment and disease, including everything from anxiety to cancer. 

This book is a must-read, and I strongly suggest watching her movie as well.  

In 1987, Louise opened her own publishing company, Hay-House.  The Hay House publishing firm is the primary publisher of over 130 prominent authors, including, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra.

2. “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne

There is a secret to living a happy, stress-free life, and it’s all explained in The Secret.  This book focuses on the Law of Attraction and teaches you how to manifest the life of your dreams.  

The premise of the book is that thoughts can change the world directly and thinking about certain things will make them appear in one’s life. 

In the book, Byrne cites a three-step process to achieve your goals: ask, believe, and receive.

Byrne bases this process on a quote from the Bible, Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”  

The Secret introduced me to the concepts of the Universe, manifestation, and visualization.  Whether you’re aware of it or not, the Universe is responding to your every thought and the vibrations you are giving out. 

Before reading The Secret and watching the movie (which was released in 2006), I was completely unaware of how powerful my thoughts are and how every thought is contributing to creating my reality.  

After reading this book, I learned that you are in control of your own destiny.  Your thoughts can make the difference between success and failure.

3. “Spirit Junkie” by Gabby Bernstein

Gabby Bernstein is a NYC party girl turned “spirit junkie.”  It wasn’t until I began reading Gabby’s books where I realized that being spiritual is pretty darn cool. 

If you struggle with any type addiction, I highly recommend reading Gabby’s books.  Whether you’re addicted to narcotics or love, she explains it all while narrating her journey of self-love and self-discovery. 

As both a student and teacher of A Course in Miracles, Gabby effectively explains how love and the ego (fear) cannot coexist.  She gives you the tools to choose love over fear in every situation and aspect of your life.  

Spirit Junkie fell into my lap first, but you can read any of her books in any order. 

In 2016, I attended her “Breaking Through Blocks” program at Kripalu Yoga Retreat Center in Massachusetts, and it was a truly powerful experience. 

Check out her website if you’re interested in seeing her in person.  It’s no coincidence that I once ran into her once at my local Duane Reade!  Spirit Junkie continues to be one of my all-time favorite books.

4. “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale
 

Warning: Although the principles are applicable to everyone, this book highlights teachings of Christianity and the Bible.  If you are intolerable to the words “God” and “religion,” then this isn’t the book for you, or perhaps this book isn’t for you just yet. 

An international bestseller, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” is about the power of thinking positively and putting your faith in God.

Dr. Peale shows us the power of faith in action, using practical techniques in the book.  Peale teaches you to believe in yourself and everything that you do, and with God’s help all things are possible.  

Although born and raised a Catholic, you would have never run into the old me reading a book like this.  Although this is the first self-help book I ever purchased, it took me 4 tries over the course of 7 years to successfully read this book from start to finish. 

Once I allowed myself to be open to reading a book based on Christianity, The Power of Positive Thinking helped me to strengthen my relationship with God, further develop my personal belief system, and learn how to let go of the outcome and put all trust in a plan greater than my own. 

There is a lesson to be learned from each and every client story Dr. Peale highlights.  He further reveals a formula for solving problems and overcoming difficulties through prayer power. 

The formula is simply (1) Prayerize, (2) Picturize (3) Actualize, and is a great tool to use daily.  

The Power of Positive Thinking was published in 1952, and it is a pioneer in personal development, and in my opinion, paved the way for principles such as the Law of Attraction and concepts of the Universe, visualization, affirmations, etc.

Have you read any of these books before? If so, what have you read?  Comment down below 😊 

This post was updated on March 27, 2023.