9 Great Books For Self-Development

This particular book embraces the idea of hygge, the Danish attitude towards life that emphasizes finding comfort and joy in everyday moments. While not as instructional as a typical self-development book, each recipe is meant to bring you closer to finding a bit of joy in the kitchen, with the comfort of food and friends nearby.

Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challah by Beth Ricanati MD

Ok, you caught me, I put two food-related books on the list. While both this and the Scandinavian cookbook focus on the joy found in foods, author Dr. Beth Ricanati focuses on the healing power of baking challah. She believes that the act of mixing and kneading can heal and soothe. This was something she learned when she started baking challah years ago and something that she wants to encourage women to embrace. If you’re looking for some one-on-one guidance, she hosts challah baking events and talks across the country!

Designing Your Life: Build a Life that Works for You by Bill Burnett, Dave Evans, and David John Evans

I have a confession, I’m a bit of a process nerd. Charts and tables and mind maps just get me going. In this NY Times bestseller two Silicon Valley design thinkers use design methodology (like prototyping, mind-mapping, reframing, and other design tools) to help you answer that all-important question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” They believe that you’re never too old to get the life that you want, whether you’re fresh out of school or on your third grandchild.

I Am Here Now by The Mindulness Project

I’m a big fan of journals and guides like this one. Whenever I reach a certain stress level I experience a sort of mental paralysis. It’s like a neverending spin cycle, where thoughts of the past and future tumble all over each other endlessly. The exercises in this journal encourage you to pause, meditate, and to be present – something I think most of us can use more of in our day to day.

 Too Much and Not the Mood by Durga Chew-Bose

Writer Durga Chew-Bose has a unique and engaging writing style, part essay part prose poetry. A quintessential read for the frustrated writer (me!), she examines this inner restlessness and anxiety that she experiences. By reading through her thoughts, letters, and experiences, I found that I didn’t feel so alone in my search for creative expression.

All About Love by bell hooks

bell hooks is a renowned scholar, cultural critic, and writer, and in this book, she strives to explore the question, “What is love?” She looks to throw out the idea of “love” that we’ve been fed by society – challenging the way that we understand what love means and how we process it, in relationship to ourselves and to others around us. A must-read for pretty much everyone who struggles with loving themselves and understanding what it means to love others.

My Little Ikigai Journal: A Journey into the Japanese Secret to Living a Long, Happy, Purpose-Filled Life by Amanda Kudo

Whenever I’m feeling stuck creatively or just overwhelmed, I turn to my little Ikigai journal to help center me. The exercises are meant to help you understand your passions, your gifts, your values and the possibilities that are open to you. Spending just a few minutes a day on one of the many exercises is meant to help center you. “Your Day, Your Way” was a particularly interesting one for me to explore, a day to myself with no obligations – what would you do?

The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor calls for “radical self-love” in her beautiful and moving book. Both a poet and an activist, she encourages celebrating our strengths and our bodies and actively fighting against the oppressive cycle of body shame that has become a societal norm. It’s more than just about body positivity, it’s about breaking the indoctrination process that starts when you’re young that frames your ideas of beauty and love.

Gmorning, Gnight! Little Pep Talks for Me & You, by Lin-Manuel Miranda

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll quickly learn that I’m a huge fan of the talented and inspirational Lin-Manuel Miranda. In fact, I wish I had a little pocket version of him to carry around, offering thoughts and quotes at a moment’s notice. While that sadly isn’t possible, for science reasons, this book is the next best thing. These little pep talks and daily affirmations are just what I need to remind myself that things aren’t so bad after all.