13-05-2025
Seven Books That Are All About Improving Yourself
There are myriad ways in which we seek to improve ourselves; be it productivity, social interactions, or managing the pressures and responsibilities of life. While self improvement must begin with the desire to achieve it, here are seven books that may help you along the way.
The Quiet Burn: The Ambitious Woman's Guide to Recognizing and Preventing Burnout – Lynn Blades
Having spent decades advising a diverse group of clients, primarily women, who are fatigued from being undervalued, unheard, and burdened with excessive stress – Lynn Blades offers her expertise to help women recognise and prevent burnout, and empower them to reclaim their lives. Including practical tools and insights, the book contains advice on how to live a fulfilling life, practice self-respect, effectively communicate needs, and recognise the peril of ignoring personal well-being. If you strive to employ self-care in a healthy, sustainable, guilt-free way, and silence your self-doubt, this book may be the one you need.
Atomic Habits – James Clear
James Clear outlines how the adoption of 'atomic habits' – small, but consistent changes – can reap large and lasting rewards. The book encourages us to create more identity-focused habits, rather than overemphasising results-based ones. Through Clear's 'Four Laws of Behaviour Change,' he addresses the creation of good habits, and ridding yourself of bad ones.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert
Using her own experience and creative processes, Elizabeth Gilbert explores the nature of inspiration, and how letting go of our fears, and embracing our curiosity can enable us to live our most creative lives. The book combines elements of spirituality, and mindful pragmatism in order to direct the reader towards a more fulfilling creative process in whatever discipline, pastime, or general outlook that we are seeking.
The Gifts of Imperfection – Brené Brown
Brené Brown brings us a guide to embracing our true selves, unencumbered by societal expectations. Using personal insights and research, Brené speaks about "wholehearted living," a way of experiencing and engaging with life from a foundation of self-worth; cultivating courage, compassion, and connection.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma – Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
With reference to years of clinical research, this book discusses the physical and mental impact that trauma can have on us, and how it can reshape our thought processes, and sense of control. The book speaks of the impact of trauma, and how it manifests physically, cognitively, and effects our relationships, then offers various methods of healing, and emphasises that recovery is possible once we can fully process the trauma.
How We Learn: The New Science of Education and the Brain – Stanislas Dehaene
This science-based dive into the process of learning, and how the brain is wired to naturally do so is a fascinating and eye-opening study of how we intake, engage with, and retain new information. Dehaene outlines four key pillars of learning: attention, active engagement, error feedback, and consolidation; and argues that in order to maximise the efficacy of education, it should be designed around how our brains are wired to learn.
The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
Pillared on four agreements with one's self, this book provides a practical guide for personal growth and freedom by identifying the source of the beliefs and practices that limit us. The principles themselves seem somewhat simple: be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, and always do your best. Yet, the application of them in everyday life, as explained by Don Miguel Ruiz, can be more complex, and have real life affirming benefits.
What books for self-improvement would you recommend? Let us know in the comments below!
