[ Book collection · 13 books ]
Mind, Emotions & Self-Worth
Who it's for
Anyone who knows what to do but keeps getting in their own way.
Why these books
Most of these I marked life changing. They're about the inner side of the work: emotions, self-worth, old patterns, and how to stop fighting yourself.
★ Life changing
Feeling Good
by David D. Burns
The classic guide to overcoming depression and improving your mood using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
“You feel the way you think.”
“Every bad feeling you have is the result of your distorted negative thinking.”
“You can learn to change the way you think and feel.”
★ Life changing
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
by Lindsay C. Gibson
A compassionate guide to understanding and healing from the lasting effects of being raised by emotionally immature or unavailable parents. Dr. Lindsay Gibson provides insight into how these dynamics shape adult relationships and offers practical strategies to foster emotional independence and healthier connections.
“When you stop reacting to your parents, you reclaim your own emotional world.”
“Emotionally immature parents can’t give what they never received.”
“Awareness is the first step toward breaking old patterns and building your own identity.”
★ Life changing
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
by Gabor Maté
Gabor Maté examines how modern society breeds illness and trauma, and how true healing comes from understanding and accepting our experiences. A call to question what we accept as 'normal' in a world that can be deeply unhealthy.
“Illness is not a cruel twist of fate, but a manifestation of an unhealed life.”
“In our culture, abnormality has become the norm.”
“Healing begins with acceptance, not avoidance.”
★ Life changing
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
by Nathaniel Branden
Nathaniel Branden lays out the fundamental practices that create genuine self-esteem. Insightful and practical, these six pillars are essential for anyone seeking emotional strength and personal confidence.
“Self-esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.”
“The practice of living consciously is the first pillar of self-esteem.”
“No one is coming to save you–you’re responsible for your life.”
★ Life changing
Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life
by Jamie Kern Lima
Jamie Kern Lima on the difference between confidence and worth. A guide to dropping self-doubt and building the belief that you are enough, so the rest of life can rise with it.
“Self-confidence is the belief in your abilities as a person. Self-worth is the belief in your value as a person.”
“In life, you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams, you stay stuck at the level of your self-worth.”
“Our setbacks are almost always setups for what we're called to do next in our lives.”
★ Life changing
Let Them Theory
by Mel Robbins
A powerful mindset shift for letting go of what you can't control and focusing on your own path.
“Let them think what they want. You focus on what you can control.”
“When you stop trying to control others, you free yourself.”
“Let them judge, let them doubt, let them walk away. You keep going.”
★ Life changing
Behave
by Robert Sapolsky
The biology of humans at our best and worst.
“Biology is not destiny, but it's not irrelevant either.”
“We are biological creatures responding to biological phenomena.”
“Understanding behavior requires understanding the biology behind it.”
★★★★★
Authentic
by Stephen Joseph
How to be yourself and why it matters.
“Authenticity is not about being perfect, it's about being real.”
“The most authentic version of yourself is the one that's most alive.”
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be.”
★★★★★
Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition)
by Joseph Nguyen
Joseph Nguyen challenges common beliefs about happiness and suffering, emphasizing the power of thought and perception. This expanded edition adds new insights and techniques for overcoming negative thinking and living more freely.
“The root of suffering is believing the stories your mind tells you.”
“Freedom comes from questioning your thoughts, not believing them.”
“You are not your thoughts.”
★★★★★
The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery
by Brianna Wiest
A guide to uncovering the roots of self-sabotage and overcoming them. Brianna Wiest shows how your greatest obstacle is often yourself – and how to turn that mountain into a path for growth.
“The mountain you are facing is you.”
“Growth is often a process of unbecoming.”
“Your new life will cost you your old one.”
★★★★★
Ego is the Enemy
by Ryan Holiday
The fight to master our greatest opponent.
“Ego is the enemy of what you want and of what you have.”
“The ability to evaluate one's own ability is the most important skill of all.”
“Talk depletes us. Talking and doing fight for the same resources.”
★ Life changing
Useful Not True
by Derek Sivers
A collection of thought-provoking ideas that challenge you to focus on what is useful, not just what is true. Sivers encourages readers to adopt beliefs and perspectives that serve them, even if they're not universally 'true.'
“If it’s useful, keep it. If not, let it go.”
“Beliefs are tools, not truths.”
“You don’t need to be right, you need to be effective.”
★★★★★
What's Your Dream?
by Simon Squibb
Simon Squibb inspires readers to dream big and remove the barriers standing between them and their true desires. Filled with motivational stories, practical exercises, and tools to help you define and pursue your life's biggest ambitions.
“The first step to achieving your dream is believing it's possible.”
“Ask yourself: What would you do if you couldn't fail?”
“Your dream matters, no matter how big or small.”