What is your favorite self-help/ personal development book? Has a book ever had an impact in your life?
Asked by
kellylet (
858
)
September 16th, 2009
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
30 Answers
“The Road Less Traveled” by Peck helped, but so did “Writing Down the Bones” by Goldberg and “Capablanca’s 100 Best Games” by Golombek, which weren’t self-help/personal development books, but books about writing and chess, respectively. Whatever helps you grow as an artist helps you develop as a person.
Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends and Influence People: I didn’t read it because I was interested in business or sales, but I was socially inept and very shy. Long story short: I had the personality of a rock and I needed some help. It helped me express (in a genuine way, as opposed to being fake – just to influence them) to others that I do care about them.
You’re Broke Because You Want To Be by Larry Winget
Leo Babauta’s “The Power of Less”. His website Zen Habits has the contents for free, too, if less organized. It’s really the only self-help book I’ll ever need. (Try the beginner’s guide collection of links for starters.)
Dr. Wayne Dyer’s Pulling Your Own Strings was very helpful to me years ago. It helped me pick myself up and start over after leaving an abusive relationship. it offers excellent advice on how to deal with manipulative people.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior made quite an impact on me when I first read it. Originally published in the early 80’s, the author has gone on to publish many more books but none of them come close to WotPW (in my humble opinion). A movie adaptation was made a few years ago (starring Nick Nolte), but it was pretty much garbage. The book is excellent tho.
Introvert Power! I’ve extolled its virtues in answer to several other fluther questions, so I won’t repeat it all here – suffice it to say, it gave me a much better understanding of why introverts and extroverts interact the way they do, made me feel like there was nothing “wrong” with my dislike of big social situations, and just generally made me more comfortable with myself and the way I deal with the world. I’d recommend it to any introvert (and any extrovert who wants to understand us introverts better!)
I second The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck.
The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm is another classic.
Eckhart Tolle “A New Earth”.
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
“When to say yes, How to say no- to take control of your life”
”...have great insights and practical wisdom into the God-given gift of boundaries. As they discuss how to take responsibility for and ownership of our lives, they give hope that we cannot just survive- but thrive!” -Josh McDowell, Author & Speaker
This book helped me to put my life into focus, leave my abusive drug-addict husband, get published, go back to school, maintain the good relationships that I did have and even start new ones. Learning what healthy boundaries are has definitely had a life-changing effect on me. Whether you believe in God or not it is certainly a must read!
Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover. Not exactly a self help book, but a great non-fiction about a journalist working as a correctional officer.
The Racist Mind by Raphael Ezekiel. The title is a bit daunting, but it’s a Jewish sociologist interviewing and studying neo-nazis. His approach makes you reevaluate any prejudices that you may hold.
You Are Worthless: Depressing Nuggets of Wisdom Sure to Ruin Your Day by Dr. Oswald T. Pratt.
It’s a spoof of a self-help book. I’ve had if for about ten years (given to me by a very dark and sarcastic high school friend) and something in it makes me giggle and appreciate life every time I read it. And being able to laugh makes any situation better, imho.
Let me direct you all to this lady. And her duck. Not exactly a book, but I don’t doubt she’ll have one out someday.
oooo@aprilsimnel i think i’m in love with that website already!
Hope and Help for your Nerves – By: Ruth Claire Weeks. Helped me with Anxiety when nothing else could. Very blunt and in your face. Makes you realize that Anxiety is what you make it. Awesome book and I recommend reading it!
Getting Things Done by David Allen. His system for organizing your life has achieved cult-like status on the net. I don’t consider it my religion, but it has done wonders for me in getting over procrastination, setting goals and actually doing things.
I found Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen, whilst not a proper self-help/personal development book, to be profoundly influential to my being, as was the Dalai Lama’s How to Expand Love.
The Four Hour Work Week – Tim Ferris
I have a friend who has catalogued all phrases of Jesus Christ from the Bible, I can’t argue with any of the incredible advice given by this either fictional or historical character. Truly an aid to becoming the best person you could ever hop to be. In spite of my belief in a non-traditional God, it is so fascinating and somewhat inexplicable. My friend is a priest, we debate constantly with great passion, mostly disagreeing, buy on inspiration, no modern day guru can come close to the purported Jesus, even an avowed atheist must admit this,i am afraid.
The Artist’s Way
Fantastic work-book sort of layout. Although it was published in 1992, it remains so popular that I see copies in every major bookseller I visit.
The course Implements a lot of common-sense techniques, such as daily journaling/brain-dumping, but also has some really valuable insights and addresses individual aspects of one’s self over an appropriate time period.
Although on the surface it seems geared towards unleashing artistic ability, that really expresses itself in everyone, just differently. That doesn’t mean you’ll instantly become a fantastic painter, but that you will be better balanced and approach your area of expertise with renewed creativity and energy.
’‘A Brief History of Time’’ by Stephen Hawking
The Seven Levels of Intimacy by Matthew Kelly. Really helped me to understand what it was like to make things work in a relationship. And it also taught me more about love. Simple, yet to me resonates with a great truth.
7 habits of highly effective teens, Still amazing.
@MrBr00ks “On Writing” is one of my favorites as well: I do have an interest in writing.
The Buffer Zone by Rev. Kirby J. Hensley which I read when I was 18 and it was one of the first books ever to truly wake me up from my previously-limited views on life. This book clearly convinced me to leave mainstream Christianity forever. It said everything I needed to think about at the time. Mr. Hensley is/was a genius on so many levels.
Be Here Now by Ram Dass, which I read during my tripping 20’s, which still helps and became a foundation of living for me.
I also like Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra, who both have similar Hindu-type ways of looking at things the way Ram Dass does.
I randomly came across Ram Dass in the forest, once, too. He was exactly how I knew he was.
There’s a book called “Prescriptive Healing from A-Z” which has a plethora of information on nutrition and vitamins! I can’t possibly recommend it more highly! Just remember. . . .it takes a while for vitamins to work their way into your body’s “system” (1month – 3months), but with patience you WILL see a difference! Have a terrific day today!
Answer this question 
