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20 Of The Best 2018 Self-Help Books to Kickstart Your 2019 Goals

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Sarah Nicolas

Staff Writer

Sarah Nicolas is a recovering mechanical engineer, library event planner, and author who lives in Orlando with a 60-lb mutt who thinks he’s a chihuahua. Sarah writes YA novels as Sarah Nicolas and romance under the name Aria Kane. When not writing, they can be found playing volleyball or drinking wine. Find them on Twitter @sarah_nicolas.

If you’re looking to re-center or refocus your energies in 2019, the best self-help books of 2018 are here to educate and inspire you. From general motivation to specific advice on topics like finance, leadership, decluttering, and relationships, you should find something to help you cultivate a more fulfilling year.

20 of the best self-help books from 2018 to kickstar your 2019 goals. self help | self help books | personal development | personal development books | great books to help you reach your goals

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

No matter what your goals are, learn how to permanently establish new good habits, banish bad ones, and boost willpower. Useful for both individuals and organizations, and also for either work or personal life.

2. Change Your Schedule, Change Your LifeChange Your Schedule, Change Your Life- How to Harness the Power of Clock Genes to Lose Weight, Optimize Your Workout, and Finally Get a Good Night's Sleep by Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar with Michelle D. Seaton

If your health, sleep, or stress-levels could use some improvement, Dr. Kshirsagar posits you can make great improvements by paying more attention to your body’s natural chronological rhythms.

3. Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Best Advice I Ever Heard by Amy Newmark

There’s a little something for everyone in this collection of 101 people sharing tips and observations on topics like friendship, health, love, fitness, and more.

4. The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

The book that became a phenomenon in Japan was released in the U.S. this year, offering an exploration of self-forgiveness, self-care, and eliminating mental clutter via a conversation between a philosopher and his student.

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown book cover5. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Brown says that daring leadership is the result of four skill sets you can learn and measure. She shares how to learn those skills and how to choose courage over sticking with the status quo.

6. Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

Want to declutter but can’t seem to make any progress? This book explores the barriers to decluttering and provides solutions to break through those barriers to make decluttering a natural part of your day to day life.

7. The Financial Diet by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage

For if you don’t care about personal finance, but think maybe you need to start. Learn how to make a budget, deal with credit, understand investments, and control your spending.

8. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

This was probably the most talked-about book among my coworkers this year. Hollis break down the lies that hold us back and provides strategies for moving past them and becoming who you’re meant to be.

gmorning gnight book cover9. Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Sometimes you just need someone to tell you you’re awesome and everything is going to be alright. Lin-Manuel Miranda is here for you with this illustrated collection of some of his most uplifting tweets.

10. Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Annie Duke

“Make good choices!” Former World Series of Poker champion Annie Duke shares tools and strategies to help you embrace uncertainty and make confident, calm decisions.

11. The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

Trapped in a consumerism cycle, Cait Flanders challenged herself to buy nothing but consumables for an entire year and discovered that she felt more fulfilled as she consumed less.

12. Judgment Detox by Gabrielle Bernstein

If you struggle with resentment and jealousy, Bernstein offers an interactive six-step process designed to help you let go of judgment and open yourself up to love in every interaction.

13. Live Big by Ajit Nawalkha

Entrepreneur and business coach Nawalkha offers 25 emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual shifts that will help bring you closer to your goals and help you back your passion with purpose and practicality.

14. The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker

A practical decluttering tour of your house with methods backed by the philosophy and inspiration that has made Joshua Becker one of the most recognizable names in minimalism.

No More Fighting- The Relationship Book for Couples- 20 Minutes a Week to a Stronger Relationship15. No More Fighting by Alicia Muñoz

A year’s worth of weekly relationship challenges to help couples overcome common relationship problems and build a stronger relationship. Each week has a 20-minute exercise with practical advice, prompts, and more.

16. Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam

If you always answer “so busy” when a friend asks how you’re doing, you may want to check out Vanderkam’s latest book. She introduces seven counterintuitive principles to help you get more done without feeling overwhelmed.

17. T Is for Transformation by Shaun T.

From the creator of Hip Hop Abs and INSANITY, this book focuses on building inner strength and focus to help you overcome mental obstacles blocking your path to success.

18. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink

Timing is everything, right? This book promises to show you how to maximize your timing by weaving research from psychology, biology, and economics into a narrative enhanced by personal stories and practical takeaways.

19. A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel

If you want to start choosing optimism over pessimism, but haven’t yet found a workable guide, this may be your answer. Spiegel provides daily activities that can be started at any time.

20. You Are a Badass Every Day by Jen Sincero

In this companion to her bestselling You Are a Badass, Sincero offers one hundred activities to realign your goals and regain your focus.


Hit the comments to share your favorite self-help books of 2018. Want to listen to your transformation? Check out our recommendations for the best self-help audiobooks.