6 Self-Help Books That Don’t Suck

Self-help books unfortunately have the reputation of being a sucky genre that lacks any real originality. If you’ve read one, you’ve basically read them all. However, there are a few real gems in the self-help world. If you’re looking for a book to help you figure things out in your life, make some big decisions, or create a life you’re excited to live, check out these six books.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic is Elizabeth Gilbert’s semi-personal book of advice for pursuing the craft or hobby that brings meaning to your life. Since she’s an author, a great deal of it is centered around writing, but the advice she provides can be applied to any project, hobby, or idea that you want to make a focal point of your life. If you’re looking for something to motivate and inspire you, then this book is a must read.

The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna

This is one of those books that serves as an inspirational story and is also a piece of art. Literally. Elle Luna uses her personal experience in becoming a full-time artist to show that you simply have to listen to the signs and have a little faith to make the leap into the unknown. Then she fills the book with her own original art to entertain you and add an extra punch to the motivational words and sentences. If you’re artistically appreciative and want a book that will sing to your inner independent soul then read The Crossroads of Should and Must. You’ll be able to finish it within two days tops and will walk away with the motivation to start down whatever life path you’ve been dreaming of.

The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul by Danielle LaPorte

If you’re feeling a little lost in life, unsure of what direction to take, or overwhelmed with all of the goals you’ve got swimming around on a daily basis, then The Desire Map needs to be at the top of your reading list. Danielle LaPorte uses this book as a way to show you the things that you truly want from your life based off of the feelings you truly want to feel on a daily basis. All of this is done through a series of worksheets that require your full, soulful attention. This helps you prioritize the goals you have based off of which ones are most likely going to result in those feelings you’re searching for. This book is not a quick read, and it’s not for the faint of heart, but it is worth every single painful breakthrough.

Editor’s note: If you enjoy this book, you may also enjoy its companion, The Desire Map Planner. Read our review here.

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

Hygge is a trendy concept right now, and for good reason. They say Denmark is the happiest country in the world thanks to this simple concept of creating a cozy space you can relax and connect in. But how exactly do you do that? The Little Book of Hygge will walk you through the idea and show you how to create hygge in your own space. This leads to lower stress levels and generally increases your personal happiness. Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, and therefore the best person to explain how you can reach hygge in all areas of your life.

Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal by Oren Klaff

Let’s face it: there’s not a profession in the world that won’t require you to make a pitch of some kind at some point. The thing is, pitches aren’t something you really learn how to do in most college majors — which means most of the time you’re just winging it. Pitch Anything is a great book for guiding you through that learning process so you can develop solid skills for every pitch you ever make. You’ll learn useful information on how to present your pitch in the best way for your audience and use your powers of persuasion to get a green light.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

On the surface, it might seem like this book is just about how to organize your home. While it is largely written to give you the tools you need to stay on top of your household chores and keep things organized, it also gives you by-proxy tools for managing your life. If you learn how to take off your clothes and keep your closet organized, then you have a smoother morning which leads to a less hectic day. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For a truly useful book on organization and finding real joy in life, read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

Editor’s note: Read our review of trying the KonMari method of organization here.