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Self help books abound these days but not all of them pack as much bang for their buck. I’ve read oodles of non-fiction books that promised to change my life, but in reality only a small handful actually made a lasting impact. Read on for the list of my top 5 best self help books!

I’ve always loved to read and, while I still enjoy it immensely, my time for reading is definitely shorter now that I have a business and a billion children.

Because if my limited time, I’ve found that I have to be a lot pickier about the books I dedicate myself to these days, and have begun listening to audio books a lot more as well. In fact there’s nothing that makes housework fly by quite like listening to a great book while you’re working. It makes mopping ACTUALLY bearable.

In the spirit of making the best use of our limited reading time as busy moms, today I’m sharing my top 5 books (plus a bonus book) that changed my life.

Now, if you’re looking for your next can’t-put-it-down thriller, this list might not be for you. I am a HUGE fan of fiction (check out my faves on Goodreads!) but today I’m sharing the books in the self-help/non-fiction genre that moved me enough to go out and make serious life changes.

These are the books that made me stop, think and pivot in a way that few other books have. They’ve stirred something deep inside me that helped me realize my potential, embrace new life-changing habits and release myself from some really harmful thought patterns.

Every one of these has seriously changed my life and I hope they change yours too!

Best Self Help Books

1. 1. Confronting the Myth of Self-Esteem: This book came to me in a time of life when I thought I was serving myself best by tearing myself down. I was constantly critical of who I was and what I was doing, because I thought that by beating myself up, I would be more motivated to improve.
      Sounds kind of silly, doesn’t it? But I think this is an extremely popular mindset, especially among women and even more especially among the religious.
      This book aims to convince those of us who feel like we are constantly chasing “self-esteem” that we should instead be chasing God’s esteem. The author claims that attempting to feel like we are “enough” is pointless. We can only ever feel satisfied and happy if we aim to please God instead of ourselves and/or other people. (*This book is obviously written from a Christian mindset but it’s helpful for anyone who struggles with self-doubt and believes in a higher Being!)
   2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: There’s a reason this book has been considered a self-help classic for decades. While it’s not a light read, nor one that is particularly entertaining, it contains deep and abiding principles for how to live your best life and become more productive in all areas.
      In fact, to best learn the principles in this book, I highly recommend studying it with someone! It would be especially interesting to discuss with friends or a spouse, even if you did just one chapter each week or month. By taking notes and trying to identify these principles in action all around you, this book can be seriously revolutionary.

3. You are a Bad*ss: I only first read this book earlier this year but it did something to me that I’m not sure how to explain. Part of the magic of this book for me was most certainly in the timing; I read it right as I was contemplating a new business venture (I hope to share more about it soon!) and it just rocked me. The author wrote it for those of us who maybe occasionally feel stuck or unworthy of success or unhappy where we are. In truth, I didn’t really feel any of these things when I started it, but it did make me realize that I’d been putting off a BIG business dream for over a decade and that it was time to stop telling myself I couldn’t do it.
Fair warning, there’s a decent amount of mild swearing in this book, but it’s otherwise entertaining and really inspiring.
Along these same lines is the bonus book Big Magic. It’s a fascinating look into creativity (specifically creative businesses) and how to best accept the universe’s invite to make something amazing.

4. As a Man Thinketh: This is actually more of an essay than a full length book and one that’s been around for over a century! It’s written in some strange-ish, old-fashioned language but it’s really short and pretty dang awesome. The title comes from the scripture in Proverbs that says “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” and this book further explains how our thoughts are the basis of pretty much everything we want to become. Our words, actions and intentions all begin with a single thought and by learning to control our thoughts we can in turn change who we are. Sit down with this quick read on a Sunday afternoon and watch it revolutionize the way you think!

5. The Book of Mormon: If you’re not a member of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you may or may not have heard of this book. But I had to include it because I’ve read it more times than any other book, ever! It’s a book of scripture, similar to the Bible, but it chronicles stories of people living on the American continent centuries ago and follows the lives and teachings of ancient prophets as they teach of Jesus Christ. Mormon was one of these ancient prophets who compiled the book from a collection of smaller books of scripture (also like the Bible). There are stories of obedience and betrayal, of wars and peace, kingdoms and families but most of all there are stories and prophecies of Jesus Christ and what we need to do to follow Him. It brings me more peace and comfort than any other book I’ve ever read, and it inspires me to be a better person every day!

You can click the link above to have missionaries deliver a copy to you but I’m also always happy to send a free copy to anyone who wants one (no strings attached). Just shoot me an email with your address at hello@bonnieandblithe.com.There you have it!

I hope you pick up one (or 5) of my favorite books and that they help and inspire you like they have me!

And I’d love to know your list of the best self help books. Is there one out there that’s changed your life? Share it in the comments!

And if you want to instill your own love for reading in your kids, be sure to check out my tips for raising kids who love to read.