Must Read Books For Personal Growth
When was the last time you said to yourself I really could use a good book recommendation?
A book that boosted your spirits and made you want to keep thinking in your head just one more chapter. A self-care book that teaches you how to unlearn old habits and anxious tendencies.
As an avid book lover myself with a history of flying through long chapter books, it has been fulfilling to enter a new domain of genres.
I now head to the self-help book section and look for bright colors and books with catchy titles. But I also enjoy picking up book covers I normally wouldn't so that I can say I’m not judging a book by its cover.
Surfing through a good book recommendation list and seeing what other personal finance and self care lovers are saying has been crucial to finding new reads.
Below you will find a growing list of book recommendations
Some books on this list I have already read two to three times and continue to glance through every now and then. The money tips and self love advice is just too comforting and encouraging to read once.
If you have any book recommendations you’d like to see added to this list feel free to comment below! Everyone can use a book suggestion no matter where they are on their personal finance journey or path to self-care.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission, if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Below you can see the titles currently on my (growing) list of good book recommendations.
CLICK the title below to skip to my summary and comments for that specific book.
Without further adieu lets dive right into my growing list of…
Amazing book suggestions
The Gift of Imperfection - Brene Brown
This is a great book for personal development, personal growth, and finding a path to living a wholehearted life.
Being independent is great but learning ways to cultivate a sense of belonging with the people around you and sit content with yourself, is where the magic is.
This reading list suggestion, is not just a self-care book with tips and advice, it’s an actual guidepost for getting your life together.
Whether you read The Gift of Imperfection chapters in order, skip around, or refer back to different areas of the book, you are digging deep and connecting with yourself.
Click to check out The Gift of Imperfection
Unf*** Your Brain - Faith G. Harper
This is a great book for mental health. Faith G. Harper manages to bring humor to serious topics such as the anatomy of the brain, dealing with anxiety, defining depression, and seeing how PTSD can be triggered by unprocessed events.
This book helps you to understand that all of your feelings (even the ones that feel icky like jealousy and anger) are valid.
UnF*ck Your Brain is equipped with ways to unlearn old habits, deal with freak-outs, avoid avoidance, and take back control of your life because you deserve it.
You’ll learn how to take care of yourself and prioritize your own healing. No matter how uncomfortable it may make others.
Click to check out Unf*** your brain
What you should consider when buying
As the title of this mental health book suggest… there is a lot of strong language inside of this book. The author has a way of using the language in an effective way but only if you are okay with cursing, will you like the book.
If you are comfortable with reading book suggestions with strong language, then I 100% recommend it to you. Who doesn’t love a good humor filled self-care book?
Don’t Feed The Money Mind - Jennifer Shannon
Don’t Feed The Monkey Mind is one of the best book recommendations for breaking the cycle of anxiety.
With Don’t Feed The Monkey Mind, you will learn that anxiety can be broken down into 3 root causes; perfectionism, fear of uncertainty, and over-responsibility.
She shows how you can stop feeding the monkey brain (the anxiety filled area) by becoming more aware of triggers.
With proven-effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindful techniques, and an acceptance tactic she helps you to start managing your anxiety starting today.
You also get access to a free set of printable worksheets. You won’t reget adding this book to your reading list.
Click to check out Don’t Feed The Monkey Mind
Maybe you should talk to someone - Lori Gottlieb
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone allows you to join the author on a path of fiction and truth as we watch not only Lori Gottlieb navigate life but her unique patients as well.
Fall in love with the self absorbed characters as you see glimpses of humanity, cry when other patients are hit with misfortune, and feel a sense of relief when everything seems like it’s working out.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, is worthy of being on your list of good book recommendations because you dive into a world of “love and desire, meaning and mortality, guilt and redemption, terror and courage, hope and change.”
If you ever wondered what your therapist was thinking this was a sure way to get into their head.
Click to check out Maybe You Should Talk To Someone.
The Difficult Thing Of Being Human - Bodhipaksa
The Difficult Thing Of Being Human is one of the few self care books that I've read that provides an amazing argument for self-compassion.
Bodhipaksa manages to join together ancient and modern psychology to promote being nice to yourself. While it may sound simple to think of yourself as a friend, it’s much easier to fall victim to self doubt and name calling.
When was the last time you called yourself a loser, or said you weren’t working hard enough?
With the help of this reading list suggestion, you will start to change your mindset and focus more on self-compassion as a form of self-care.
Seeing potential where there once was darkness is a powerful tool that can weave its way into your finances, sense of worth, and how you live your life.
Click to check out The Difficult Thing Of Being Human.
What you should consider when buying
While this is a really good book recommendation, the author is a Buddhist teacher and briefly mentions different teachings.
The opening lines of the book inform the reader that while he may mention different ideologies (for example; The Buddha says the world is already cruel so why be cruel to ourselves) this should in no way distract from the main topic at hand, self compassion.
Click to check out The Difficult Thing Of Being Human.
If you’re looking for a book suggestion that includes advice, funny stories, and encouraging tales to help you become your best self, then this is your go to book recommendation.
“By the end of You Are a Badass, you'll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can't change, how to change what you don't love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.”
It's a casual fast read for feeling better about yourself and creating lasting change (day by day).
Click to check out You Are a Badass
This book is for those who want to find new habits and break old cycles of feeling unmotivated, lacking willpower, and not being able to achieve their goals.
James Clear makes being successful not something you accidentally encounter but instead a set of strategic decisions.
It’s a guide for implementing new behaviors that will actually improve your health ( like quitting smoking), reduce your stress levels, and help you start living your best life.
Atomic Habits has a way of telling you things you may have subconsciously known in a way that makes you want to make a change.
Click to check out Atomic Habits
This is a great book for cleansing your energy, letting go of old hurt, and resetting your week/day. By the end you will have been through a 7 step detox that should leave you feeling ready to live your best life.
The author connects with readers by sharing details of her own life and how she was able to use these same steps to reclaim control of her circumstances.
If you are looking for a book to sit, digest, and place into action, this is the book recommendation for you.
Click to check out Emotional Detox
Conclusion
Everyone needs a good book recommendation in their life. Reading to educate yourself or reading for fun will be the best habit you can bring into your daily routine.
The mind loves to learn new things and finding lines in a book that resonate with you might be the motivation you need to keep going.
