Self-help books include psychology reads, inspiring memoirs, and step-by-step guides.
These picks are all the bestselling audiobooks on Libro.fm, an audiobook seller.
They range from new releases to all-time favorites like Brené Brown’s “Dare to Lead.”
At the beginning of every new year, we make resolutions to get in better shape, get organized, try a new hobby, or simply become better versions of ourselves. But we don’t have to wait until 2022 ends to make promises and improve — every day is a new opportunity to start a new habit or change one’s mindset.
From self-help classics to thought-provoking new releases, here are 19 bestselling self-help audiobooks to help you get organized, achieve your goals, and practice mindfulness.
“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle
Amazon
In “Untamed,” Glennon Doyle encourages readers to break out of the “cages” the world has placed us in, in order to unlock the happiest versions of themselves. She offers advice through four keys — Feel It All, Be Still And Know, Dare to Imagine, and Build and Burn — and uses personal anecdotes to explain how these manifested in her own life. You can check out our full review of “Untamed” here.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
Amazon
This self-help book can help readers build good habits and break bad ones, no matter your goal. It breaks down complex theories of psychology into easy-to-understand behaviors with plenty of examples so you can apply them to your own life to master your habits and overcome your personal hurdles.
“Me and White Supremacy” by Layla F. Saad
Libro.fm
“Me and White Supremacy” includes historical examples, shared anecdotes, and other resources to teach readers how to identify and dismantle racist behaviors within themselves and help others be better antiracists as well.
“Atlas of the Heart” by Brené Brown
Amazon
Brené Brown is known for her self-help books about leadership, courage, and vulnerability. In “Atlas of the Heart,” she helps readers dive deeper into the 87 emotions and experiences that make us human as well as how to understand them to better connect to ourselves and others. We love this book for the tools it offers to help us strengthen personal relationships; you can check out our full review here.
“Burnout” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Libro.fm
Burnout has become a huge topic of conversation as society reimagines work-life balance and job satisfaction. In this book, the authors explain why burnout is experienced differently by women than by men and how we can end the “stress cycle” to find relaxation, regulate frustration, and prevent burnout in the future.
“Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times” by Katherine May
Libro.fm
When author Katherine May faced a hugely difficult and trying time in her life, she found she was able to endure by embracing rest and retreat. Through personal anecdotes and lessons from nature, literature, and mythology, May invites readers to find healing in the times we fall, especially if it means not getting back up right away.
“Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman
Libro.fm
In this self-help productivity read, the author asserts that our world is dictated by time and filled with “life hacks” that aim to optimize our time management but, in reality, create more stress and anxiety. Instead of focusing on the “now,” this book encourages readers to aim for a meaningful life by embracing that we only have 4,000 weeks (assuming we live to be 80) and accepting that there is a finite amount of things we can accomplish in this time.
“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown
Libro.fm
“The Gifts of Imperfection” is a quick self-help listen with 10 principles to help readers embrace “wholehearted living.” It reframes how we think about ourselves and our place in the world so readers can let go of who they think they’re supposed to be and live with the understanding that we are enough, no matter what.
“What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
Libro.fm
Written by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry, a psychiatrist, this deep and emotional self-help read helps readers shift their mindset from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” with personal stories and examples from Winfrey’s own life. This book focuses on understanding our pasts to better understand our behaviors and ourselves in order to find healing in the present and resilience in the future.
“Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown
Libro.fm
This self-help book is a great read for leaders and aspiring leaders to “choose courage over comfort” by being bravely vulnerable and leading through connection and empathy. It uses real-world examples and strategies to help readers grow through insecurities, tough conversations, and doubt to become the best leaders we can be for our organizations.
“Think Again” by Adam Grant
Libro.fm
“Think Again” is a unique self-help book that helps readers reframe doubt and being wrong as a positive thing. It uses evidence of great leaders and creative geniuses to show how being willing to rethink our ideas can lead to greater productivity, especially in a rapidly changing world.
“How to Keep House While Drowning” by KC Davis
Libro.fm
Whether you’re overwhelmed with a too-full personal schedule or struggling to overcome depression and anxiety, this self-help book offers 31 daily thoughts that can help readers overcome the mental and physical hurdles of home care. Readers love this book because it’s compassionate, gentle, and offers realistic ways to care for your space (and yourself) without the guilt or shame of imperfection.
“Set Boundaries, Find Peace” by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Libro.fm
This mental health self-help read is a guide to setting healthy boundaries that encourage positive relationships, work/life balance, and meeting our needs. Written by a licensed counselor, “Set Boundaries, Find Peace” offers techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help readers find and express their needs and boundaries clearly to reclaim themselves, without offending others.
“Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown
Libro.fm
In this 2012 read, Brené Brown encourages readers to embrace vulnerability and imperfection to live a life where we dare to live greatly, whether that be in our relationships, careers, or creative processes. She frames vulnerability not as a weakness but as the key to a life of courage and connection.
“This Is Your Mind on Plants” by Michael Pollan
Libro.fm
This self-help book focuses on opium, caffeine, and mescaline — three plant drugs that shift our realities in different ways. Shifting between science, history, and psychology, “This Is Your Mind on Plants” explores why we seek out these plants and how our cultural ideas about each one affect our behaviors.
“Attached” by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller
Libro.fm
“Attached” is a relationship self-help book that deep dives into attachment theory, the idea that our need to be involved in close relationships is embedded in our genes and our relationships with our caregivers early in life affects our relationships as adults. This book analyzes the three attachment styles — anxious, avoidant, and secure — to help readers identify the attachment style they and their partner(s) follow and how to navigate each one.
“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson
Libro.fm
This New York Times bestseller is a counterintuitive self-help read, encouraging readers to not try and be positive all the time but instead learn to face the negative and accept it in our lives. Loved for its bluntness, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” aims to help readers find what really deserves our care and attention so we can live grounded lives with courage, perseverance, and honesty.
“The Body Is Not an Apology” by Sonya Renee Taylor
Libro.fm
“The Body Is Not an Apology” is a book about radical self-love and the power of mending the relationship we — especially women — have with our bodies. This self-help read is both an invitation and a call to “interrupt” the shame we have been taught to feel in order to break free from oppression, celebrate ourselves, and lift up others.
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert
Amazon
Written by the same author who brought us “Eat, Pray, Love,” “Big Magic” is a self-help read that can help unlock creativity with new attitudes and habits. It’s a must-read for any creative person, especially if you’re dealing with writer’s block. Check out our full review of “Big Magic” here.
