There are hundreds of self-help books out there that claim to have all the answers to your problems, but only a small fraction deliver on that promise. As a result, it can be difficult to know what to read, but the recommendations below are some of the best and will be a great start to set you on the road to feeling more fulfilled and ultimately leading a better life.
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck – Mark Manson
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck is a surprisingly comprehensive book on taking responsibility and finding things that are worth giving a f*ck about as opposed to sweating the small stuff. Mark Manson has a unique conversational style of writing and his crude, straight to the point language makes the book fun and fresh.
Manson knows what he’s talking about and uses facts and studies to back up his points as well as lots of anecdotes that help make the advice feel more relatable and grounded. While the title may seem juvenile to some, The Subtle Art is an astute exploration of happiness and taking responsibility for one’s life.
Manson’s book will show you why your mindset is holding you back as it unravels the layers of our way of thinking, and discusses how and why we should change it. It will not only help you stop giving a f*ck about unimportant things but also help you find meaning in your life. Manson’s other books deserve an honourable mention too with Models being an excellent guide to dating, but The Subtle Art is his best by far and well worth a read if you haven’t picked it up already.
Happy Sexy Millionaire – Steven Bartlett
Steven Bartlett’s name has been cropping up a lot recently and it’s because he’s taken the self-help world by storm with his book Happy Sexy Millionaire and his podcast, Diary of a CEO, which is well worth checking out. In the book, Bartlett talks about his life’s ambition to be rich and how, after becoming a multi-millionaire, he found that it was underwhelming and made him feel more miserable than fulfilled.
Throughout the book, Bartlett explores happiness in all its facets and discusses the journey he took to discover what makes people feel content with their lives. He draws upon numerous studies to expand upon his points and uses anecdotes to explain why he was led to believe that money and material things would fulfil him and how it’s a false promise that we’ve all fallen for thanks to things like social media.
Bartlett is only 29 and as a result, his writing is very accessible and modern, with him illustrating things clearly and without too much verbosity. Happy Sexy Millionaire is a great exploration of why society places value on material things and how ultimately, these things will never lead to happiness or fulfilment.
12 Rules For Life: An Antidote To Chaos – Jordan B Peterson
12 Rules For Life is written by Dr Jordan Peterson, a Canadian Clinical Psychologist who has been the feature of many headlines over the last few years. Peterson has sold millions of copies of his book and it’s no surprise why because he has possibly one of the most in-depth self-help books on the market. 12 Rules For Life aims to teach the reader rules and values to abide by that will make you a better person and improve your quality of life.
Peterson is a worldly man, and he uses various analogies and studies, in addition to his broad knowledge of religion, Psychology, and Biology to relate to his 12 core principles on how to live better. This helps to ingrain them and reinforce what he’s saying with hard facts and statistics that are hard to argue with.
While his writing is at times tough to read thanks to his extensive vocabulary and exploration of complex concepts, he always manages to explain things in a digestible way and bring all of these seemingly unrelated things together at the end of each chapter. His opinions on being honest and the value of truth are particularly impactful, but all 12 of his rules have a point to them and utilising them all will transform your life for the better.
Awaken The Giant Within – Anthony Robbins
Anthony Robbins, or as he’s more commonly known, Tony Robbins, is a veteran in the self-help world. He’s written a wide selection of books throughout his career and is well-regarded by many thanks to his in-depth explanations and strategies for making lasting change. He also hosts seminars and a podcast, but much of his content is available for free online via interviews and videos in which he explains his Key principles.
Awaken The Giant Within is a great starting point for newcomers as it discusses almost every aspect of life and how to take control of them. Tony has a vast knowledge of how to manage physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as how to thrive financially, making him the ideal starting point for those looking to get into self-improvement. One feature of Awaken the Giant Within that stands out is the interactivity, as Tony encourages the reader to partake in activities and exercises so they can better understand themselves.
Awaken The Giant Within is a lengthy book, and with the exercises thrown in, it can take a while to finish. However, the content is reinforced by empirical evidence and Psychology, so it’s proven to work once applied, making it a worthwhile investment. The main draw of this book and Tony Robbins as an author is his more practical and hands-on approach. Robbins doesn’t offer quick fixes or vague philosophical advice. Instead, he gives readers the explanation for why they are unsatisfied and then follows it up with clear answers and methods for inhabiting a better mindset and seizing a more gratifying lifestyle.
How To Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
How To Win Friends and Influence People is a classic in the self-help genre, and while it was written in 1936, it’s astounding how much of it still applies to our lives today. Throughout the book Carnegie covers everything from first impressions and avoiding conflict to handling negotiations and, as the title suggests, influencing those around you.
The book has sold over 30 million copies and is considered by many as the essential guide for improving your interactions with people in every aspect of life. It’s a must-read, and while some of the principles may seem basic and some of the language a little dated, Carnegie explains clearly and concisely how and why these methods will work.
Whether you need help with the dating scene, the business world, or simply building your confidence, Carnegie’s How To Win Friends and Influence People is sure to offer a new perspective and advice that, when applied, will see an immediate improvement in your social life.
Subscribe to The Renaissaint’s Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1AWq1FOK8cZ9adUfePE3Gw
Check the video out:
More Posts...
Links To Level Up
Reading List
A collection of our favourite reads across categories to get you started.
Supplements & Nutrition
Our friends at YGF Group will be supplying The Renaissaint readers with discounted supplementation and nutrition.
4 Week Crossfit Plan
Forget about sets and splits, this guide will help you work your body as a whole.
Top Remote Work Destinations
A list of the best places across the globe set up well for remote work.