The 13 Best Self-Improvement Books to Read Right Now

By Alexis Bennett and Caroline Shannon-Karasik
Updated Apr 30, 2020 @ 12:45 pm
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For those lucky enough to be quarantined at home right now, there's a seemingly endless number of productive activities to fill the time. But after you've given yourself a gel mani, made your own fabric face mask, and taken up an at-home yoga practice, chances are you may be ready to plop on the couch for some mindless distraction. Rather than turning to Netflix or Instagram, we suggest giving yourself a break with one of these inspirational, 'self-improvement books'.  

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Some of these self-help books have been around for years, while others are brand new to the scene, like Ruthie Lindsey’s There I Am or Tara Schuster’s Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies. But no matter the title you choose, each one is thought-provoking and will shed light on new ways to transform your body, mind, spirit, and overall way of life — coronavirus or not. 

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Untamed

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$17
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Ranked #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list since its much-anticipated release, Untamed comes with the message Glennon Doyle has been spreading to her loyal fanbase for years: “The braver we are, the luckier we get.”

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Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

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Chances are, you've heard of lecturer, author, and social scientist, Brené Brown for her famous TED Talks. In this 2017 #1 New York Times bestseller (which also made Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine book club), Brown encourages us to discover the true meaning of belonging by reconnecting with the essence of who we really are.

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Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, from Someone Who's Been There

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Tara Schuster, a playwright and vice president at Comedy Central, shares her path to becoming a self-proclaimed “ninja of self-love,” as well how to identify self-limiting beliefs and kick ‘em to the curb in this hilarious, honest read.

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The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith

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Best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein has been declared "a new thought leader" by Oprah Winfrey for a reason. In The Universe Has Your Back, she shares how to use difficult situations as a chance to heal and grow — and have trust despite uncertainty. It's a message as applicable now as when it was first written.

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Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor 

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Based on author Layla F. Saad’s viral Instagram challenge by the same name, Me and White Supremacy challenges readers to a 28-day journey of learning “how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too."

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Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

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Renowned surgeon Atul Gawande unpacks the truth about aging and preserving life in this powerful 2014 book.

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You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

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Dubbed “the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don’t want to get busted doing it,” You Are a Badass is filled with inspiring stories and, yes, swear words for the occasional touch of badassery.

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Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done

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In this best-seller, author Jon Acuff shares how to step up your productivity by finding ways to overcome fear and perfectionism.

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Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self

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Podcast host Manoush Zomorodi uses cutting-edge research as well as humorous real-life examples to show how your boredom can actually be used as a tool to make your life more productive, happier, and creative. Consider it the perfect quarantine read.

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Claim Your Power: A 40-Day Journey to Dissolve the Hidden Blocks That Keep You Stuck and Finally Thrive in Your Life’s Unique Purpose

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If you're all about goal-setting and vision-boarding but have trouble actually getting started, this is the book for you. In this 40-day course, you'll learn how to identify and dissolve whatever’s holding you back so you can finally follow through on your life goals.

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There I Am: The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing

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At 17, Ruthie Lindsey was hit by an ambulance and given a five percent chance of survival — and just a one percent chance of ever walking again. One month later, she left the hospital on her own two feet. This event gives way to Lindsey’s larger journey with chronic pain, dependency on prescription painkillers, and the eventual discovery that she could uncover who she truly was in the midst of it all.

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Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within

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In this inspirational read, celebrity wellness and lifestyle guru, Latham Thomas, shares rituals, meditations, and tips to appreciate your uniqueness to live a more fabulous life.

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By Alexis Bennett and Caroline Shannon-Karasik