10 Inspiring Self-Improvement Books to Read This Year

---

There’s no better time than the present to start working toward a better life for yourself. These books from world-famous authors, speakers, clinical psychologists, and female powerhouses will help you tap into your inner badass, make new habits, eat better and live a life you love. Grab a copy of your favorite and get to work. 

1. “Atomic Habits”

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear is the perfect book to kick off the list. You’ll gain foundational knowledge and practical skills to transfer to other self-improvement books. Clear teaches you to adopt new habits and ditch bad ones by getting just 1% better daily. 

You’ll find real-world examples from successful people like Olympic gold medalists and CEOs. The “Atomic Habits” system is simple enough for anyone to understand and use immediately. This book can transform any area of your life, one small step at a time.   

2. “The Miracle Morning”

What if you could improve your life with only six minutes a day? Author Hal Elrod claims you can do just that. His miracle morning routine can help even the most resistant start the day early — here’s looking at you, chronic snoozers. 

In these carefully crafted pages, you’ll find the Life S.A.V.E.R.S method for beginning every morning. It will take you from the moment you leave your bed until you’re refreshed and ready to start your day with intention. The acronym stands for silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing. You can spend as much time as you want on each step. If you’re crunched for time in the morning, you can use Elrod’s tips for reducing each part into a one-minute practice, transforming your day in only six minutes. 

3. “Your Fully Charged Life”

Do you often fall prey to overwhelmingly negative thoughts? Do you slog through your day feeling like there has to be more to life? Meaghan B. Murphy provides an answer in her book, “Your Fully Charged Life.” She has actionable tips and advice to help you turn your life around and start feeling more joy, positivity, and energy. 

Murphy’s writing is helpful but approachable. Every word on the page feels like it’s from a friend — you’ll get plenty of laughs while learning. Her solutions for drastic life change boil down to being kind and seeking connectedness. You’ll know when to say no to some opportunities so you can give an emphatic yes to those that will change your life and others for the better.  

4. “The Five Love Languages”

Gary Chapman’s international best seller, “The Five Love Languages,” teaches you how to love and be loved. Everyone has at least one way they prefer to receive love and how they like to show it to others. Relationships may flounder when each person values their love language over the others. 

Chapman’s expert advice will help you discover your primary and secondary love language and learn how your partner, family, and friends prefer to be loved. You’ll build closer ties with the people in your life when you speak their love language. While he wrote this book for married couples, its principles apply to any relationship, though you can also find specific guides for children, teens, singles, and more.   

5. “Gentle Nutrition: A Non-Diet Approach to Healthy Eating”

Dieting often creates a yo-yo relationship with your weight, negatively affecting your self-esteem and self-worth. Author Rachael Hartley explains why diets don’t work and presents an alternative solution for people to become healthier and make peace with their bodies. 

Gentle nutrition is a lifestyle change, not something fleeting like a diet. It balances the need for food as a pleasurable experience while teaching you how to make choices that will nourish your body. Ditch your fight with the scale and learn how weight isn’t always a determinant of health. Along with her sage advice, Hartley also offers 50 delicious recipes.  

6. “Unapologetically Ambitious”

“Unapologetically Ambitious” gives you permission to fight for your big dreams. Shellye Archambeau, one of Silicon Valley’s first female Black CEOs, shares her secrets for reaching the top. She uses her own life to demonstrate the possibility of balancing personal and professional goals and succeeding at both. 

Archambeau’s book is part memoir, part guide, helping underrepresented people in the business world break through barriers. She provides you with steps to take at each phase of your career to propel you ever onward. You’ll work through setting clear goals, finding your tribe of supportive people and so much more.  

7. “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?”

This book by clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Smith offers research-backed advice for improving mental health. It’s perfect as a standalone for people who aren’t ready to commit to therapy or as a companion to professional treatment.

You don’t need to have your pieces together to get something from this book. Smith meets you where you are. She’ll walk you through grief, stress, low moods, and other mental health issues. Here, you’ll find the baby steps and advice you need to start the healing process. 

8. “The Little Book of Hygge”

What makes Denmark the happiest country on Earth? In short, it’s the practice of hygge. This small word has a world of meaning. It’s snuggling up with a soft blanket during a rainstorm or chatting with friends around a campfire. It’s about embracing life’s little pleasures and seemingly insignificant moments. 

Meik Wiking walks you through what it means to adopt this lifestyle and adapt it to your needs. You’ll learn ways to change parts of your life, like your decor, routine, values, and clothing, to more closely align with this tradition of comfort and connectedness. 

9. “You Are a Badass”

Everyone has moments when they need a reminder of their own badassery. If you want to laugh as much as you learn, Jen Sincero’s “You Are a Badass” is for you. She distills many lessons into 27 jam-packed but easily digestible chapters. It reads like advice from a best friend who’s not afraid to give you a swift kick in the pants. 

Sincero helps you target and destroy your limiting beliefs so you can start living the life of your dreams. You’ll learn to stop worrying about what others think of you and focus on loving yourself the way you are.  

10. “How to Get Sh*t Done”

Author Erin Falconer found productivity books written by men to miss the mark on the female perspective. Ladies have more to juggle in a single day and have increased societal pressures to keep all their balls in the air.

Falconer’s no-nonsense approach teaches you to say no like a boss so you can prioritize the three areas of your life that matter most to you. 

It’s Never Too Late

You don’t have to wait until the new year to improve your life. These 10 self-improvement books can help you get started anytime. Whether you need a reminder of how awesome you are, you need to find a bit more cozy in your life or you want better habits, this list has something for you.