50 Must Read Books for Self Improvement, Healing + Growth

mama jenny
Nov 9, 2021
5 min read

Updated: Dec 13, 2021

I know what you're thinking..."I'm hungry and I need a snack?" No? Well, I must be off my game today. Oh, you were thinking..."50 BOOKS - who the heck is gonna read 50 books and who's the crazy lady that made such a list?" More on point right?

Well, first I'd like to say - I haven't read all 50 books. I love books, but I'm the worlds slowest reader and I also tend to start reading something and put it down only to pick it up weeks, months or even years later. I also have multiple books going on at one time - the right book for the right mood ya know! I have, however, read many of these books in part or in their entirety and many have really changed my life. Some offer bits and pieces that I keep adding to my collection of of jewels of 'things that make an amazing life'. And as for the rest...they are on my MUST READ LIST.

And don't be afraid to jot down some of the important things you read. I often find myself in conversation trying to recall some of the amazing wisdom that I've read, only to end up saying, "Yeah, oh my god, I totally read this thing, one time, by this author, that was called... ugh... anyways, it talked about this thing you can do when you're something...oh f*ck it, I forget". So, the lesson of the day is: be a great student of life. When something feels important or note-worthy in life, write that shit down! Make a list on you phone or in a book - just don't let those valuable words get lost in your busy brain, floating around somewhere with your mental grocery list.

In fact, most these books you will often find an 'accompanying workbook' by the Author as well. So if you find a book that's really impactful, get the workbook too. 'Cause it works if you work it! And these people are wise people, so I think the extra few dollar investment is worth a lifetime of valuable wisdom.

To learn or grow in anything in life we should always adopt a role model. Someone who has already achieved the the things that you desire to achieve. Someone who has already travelled that journey, faced the challenges, made wisdom-worthy mistakes and who has lived their version of “success”. We can learn from their mistakes, we can treasure what they have learned and apply it to our own lives, and we can be inspired to achieve the things that we truly, deeply want in our own life. And these authors can be your role models. They have all lived it and talked about it in these 50 Amazing Books for Healing + Growth.

So dive into some of these books. They are in no particular order - but it's a good list to close your eyes, stick out your finger and 'eeny meeny miney moe' it. You wont be disappointed, I promise.

1. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life - Jen Sincero

2. The Gifts of Imperfection - Brene Brown

3. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life … And 4. Maybe the World - Admiral William H. McRaven

5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey

6. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo

7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life - Mark Manson

8. Year of Yes - Shonda Rimes

9. Atomic Habits - James Clear

10. The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

11. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works - Dan Harris

12. The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun - Gretchen Rubin

13. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom - Don Miguel Ruiz