Riot Headline Introducing: Reading and Resistance—And How Literature Has Always Been Tied to American Freedom
Comics Newsletter

3 Handy Self-Improvement Comics for Visual Learners

If you're a visual learner trying to navigate life, adulthood, and finances, these comics are here to help you get things sorted.

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Christine Hoxmeier

Staff Writer

Christine Hoxmeier can usually be found hard at work in her beloved home of Austin with a cup of coffee in one hand and a taco in the other. She spends her free time reading, writing, and dreaming of a teleportation device so she can visit her friends spread across the globe on a daily basis. If it were possible to live inside one Disneyland attraction for the rest of her life, Christine would cheat and choose to split her time between It's A Small World and The Enchanted Tiki Room. She prefers to communicate in CAPSLOCK and with gifs. Twitter: @aramblingfancy

View All posts by Christine Hoxmeier
We are constantly learning and changing as people, but there are definitely times when you take stock of yourself and life and realize there are specific areas that are in need of improvement. While there are plenty of books out there to help you navigate your life, the pickings are slimmer if you’re more of a visual learner. I’m hopeful there will be more self-improvement comics and manga readily available in the future, but for now, here are three you can pick up today!     The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and Yuko Uramoto

That’s right, the book that swept through the world and spurred my friends to go through their possessions is now a manga! The graphic novel follows a fictional character, Chiaki, learning the life-changing magic of tidying up with an illustrated version of Marie Kondo by her side. You learn all of Kondo’s ideas and tips to tidying up, including step-by-step comics of the Kondo method of folding clothes. If you’re someone who, like me, skipped reading the book when it initially came out, this is a great way to learn about a different approach to decluttering your bookshelves and home.

Poorcraft by C. Spike Trotman and Diana Nock Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less by C. Spike Trotman and Diana Nock

Whether you are new to adulthood, a person who needs some tricks on how to save money in certain areas, or wondering how to live a general life of frugality, Poorcraft has helpful information for you. The comic is broken down into different chapters (food, fashion, education, housing, etc), so if you’re just interested on one area, it’s easy to skip to that chapter and just learn what you need to there. Though some panels and pages can feel a little overcrowded with words, I really appreciate the visual aspect of seeing “how to season a cast iron skillet” in a comic. Poorcraft is full of good, practical advice and tips to on how to improve your life AND save money at the same time.

Your Illustrated Guide To Becoming One With the Universe by Yumi Sakugawa Cover Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe by Yumi Sakugawa

Self-improvement isn’t just about the ways you can tangibly change your life, but also about improving your mental health as well. If you’re feeling a little frantic and out of sorts with the universe, this comic is a calming way to slow down your thinking, and process through your thoughts and emotions. With illustrated lessons and assignments from the universe, it’s a read you’ll want take your time with and really allow the meditative nature of the comic to settle in your heart and brain.