Over the past century, we have been given access to an ever-expanding base of self-help literature that we can use to increase our levels of happiness, success, and fulfillment. Since Dale Carnegie published How to Win Friends and Influence People in 1936 and Napoleon Hill published Think and Grow Rich in 1937, thousands of writers, psychologists, scientists, and other self-help leaders have built a wellspring of personal development books. Recently, the work of Tony Robbins, Steven Covey, Deepak Chopra, and many others has further supplied the self-help industry with new and innovative growth strategies that are built upon both experiential knowledge and scientific research.
In today’s world, anytime you look at the New York Times Best Sellers List or browse the local bookstore, you can find modern-day self-help classics that offer us the most up-to-date approaches and tools for improving our lives. Regardless of if you want to improve your health, finances, relationships, or direction in life, there are new and exciting books that can help induce personal change.
In the year 2016, self-help leaders published an abundance of exceptional books that each of us should prioritize reading. With Christmas and New Year’s fast approaching, now is an ideal time to either give the gift of growth or supplement our own personal development as we set our 2017 goals. If you are interested in helping others or yourself become a better person, it would be worth your while to get your hands on what we believe are the top 10 self-help books of 2016.
The 10 Best Self-Help Books of 2016:
10.) Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days:
9.) Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations:
8.) Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise:
7.) Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living:
6.) Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity:
5.) Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World:
4.) Ego is the Enemy:
3.) The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World:
2.) Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life:
1.) When Breath Becomes Air:
Additional 2016 Titles that Inspire Growth:
- Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers: This is the latest book by highly acclaimed author Timothy Ferriss (The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body) in which he aims to illuminate the strategies and habits used by the world’s most successful people.
- Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success Power: In this instant New York Times Bestseller, celebrated psychologist Angela Duckworth tells us that a special blend of passion and perseverance, or grit, is the most important factor of achievement.
- The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living: This is another 2016 title written by the aforementioned author Ryan Holiday that looks at life-affirming exercises practiced by the great Stoic philosophers.
- Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking: In this mindfulness-centered book, authors S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport outline numerous strategies and solutions that can help us slow down our minds.
- Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives: In this highly acclaimed book, author Tim Harford shows us why messiness isn’t a bad thing and actually lies at the heart of creativity and innovation.
- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World: In Deep Work, author and professor Cal Newport aims to provide us with the tools needed to focus our attention in an increasingly distracting world.
- Ted Talks: The Official Ted Talks Guide to Public Speaking: If you are interested in learning the public speaking skills of the masters, there isn’t a better option available than this guide from Ted Talks owner Chris J. Anderson.
- Pre-Susasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade: In this New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Seller, acclaimed business author Robert Cialdini reveals the secrets of persuasion and making the sale.
With 2017 fast approaching, now is as good of a time as ever to supplement our personal development with new and innovative strategies that can help us get the most out of life. All of the books listed above offer valuable insight and tools for improving one’s life in a seemingly endless amount of ways. If you think that we missed any titles worth reading (we know that we did), please leave a comment below for other readers to explore the wonders found within the self-help literature of 2016.