8 Best-Selling Books That Can Help You Improve Your Life

Many people feel overwhelmed by the prospect of making major changes in their lives, and don’t know where to turn. If this sounds like you, you’re in luck. There’s a good chance that one of these bestselling books on Amazon is just what you need to jumpstart your health and well-being journey.

1. Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Find the origins of our kind and possible future.

Synopsis:
Professor Yuval Noah Harari covers the entirety of human history in Sapiens, from the very first creatures to walk the planet through the revolutionary—and occasionally catastrophic—advances of the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific Revolutions. He examines how the historical currents have influenced our human societies, the animals and plants around us, and even our personalities. He draws on insights from biology, anthropology, paleontology, and economics. Furthermore, he also uses full-color images throughout the text.

Promising review:

• Genius, pure and simple. Just fantastic—one of the best books I have ever read. I would not have thought it was possible to put the whole history of humankind into one book and write it in such an entertaining way that it reads like a novel! Brilliantly written, unputdownable, and thought-provoking, the evolving worldview of humanity is expressed in such clear and engaging terms that my words cannot do it justice. You must read it for yourself, and then, like me, I’m sure you’ll be telling everyone you know about it! @Amazon Customer

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2. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. Simple rules that can help you get along in this world.

Synopsis:
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Toronto, has compiled what he considers to be the definitive set of guidelines for living a happy and successful life. The 40 rules that Peterson originally intended to include have been reduced to a well-thought-out, manageable list of 12 rules in all, which he offers in this book. It’s also important to note that this is an aggressive, in-your-face kind of self-help book that the author offers as the meeting point of traditional wisdom and modern science.

Promising review:

• Life changing. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Like many others, I first became aware of Jordan Peterson through his online exploits. His willing to stand up to the mob, who think they can mock people into silence when they hear opinions they don’t like. I can honestly say this book has helped me greatly as I suffer from crippling anxiety, and I’m in the process of moving forward with my life.
  This book, while it may not have all the answers, makes you question a lot of your own decisions positively without holding your hand. I’d recommend this book to anyone who needs some guidance but knows the hard work has to come from them. Great read. @Fallout dude

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3. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr. Julie Smith. Simple tips on the importance of metal health.

Synopsis:
The book addresses common problems and provides workable solutions in short, digestible sections that make it simple to locate specific knowledge and advice.

Your mental health is similarly and equally as crucial as your physical health. Dr. Smith’s compassionate guide, which is filled with tried-and-true methods, offers a deeper understanding of how the mind functions and provides you with the knowledge and support required to maintain your mental health on a daily basis. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? is a wise and useful book. It may well alter your course of action.

Promising review:

• There is someone who cares (honestly!). Despite being a frequent Amazon customer over the years, I’m not one to leave reviews (no offense intended). However, I can’t pass up the opportunity to congratulate and thank Dr. Julie for this amazing book.
  I live with chronic mental illness, and discovering Dr. Julie has been a godsend (particularly during the current world climate). Finding a professional who is obviously so passionate and determined to make a difference (without any ulterior motives) is a refreshing change, especially at a time when it’s arguably needed more than ever (unfortunately).
  Thank you, Dr. Julie, for not only taking the time to put together a book that is genuine in its desire, but also for your willingness to share your professional wisdom and knowledge in a unique, easily digestible way.
  I highly recommend this to all those mental health warriors left feeling dejected and cast adrift by the shortfalls in mental health care available on the NHS. There are still professionals who care and want to help, even when it seems you’ve been left to navigate through the darkness alone.
  I believe in you, and so does Dr. Julie.💖 @Katie

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4. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The classic that works perfectly well.

Synopsis:
The self-help classic How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie reads like a life manual. The fundamental tenet is that modifying your own behavior is all it takes to influence others’ actions. It imparts the knowledge necessary to better understand people, make friends more easily, build stronger bonds with coworkers, and persuade others to follow your direction.

Promising review:

• This book changed my life. This is the best book that I have ever bought. The fact that this book is over 90 years old is astounding. And that can “influence” people to avoid reading the book because of its age.
  The book in question, however, is a book that has stood the test of time. The book and the same methods can be applied to an online friendship. The basic thing is that even if you practice the first 3 principles, people will respect you more than before. I absolutely recommend that you buy this book. @Aroona

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5. Atomic Habits by James Clear. Simple tips to improve your life habits.

Synopsis:
James Clear’s book Atomic Habits is a detailed, hands-on manual for changing your habits and improving yourself 1% per day. Atomic Habits gives readers a simple set of suggestions for building good habits and breaking harmful ones, using a framework known as the Four Laws of Behavior Change. Discover 3 important takeaways from Atomic Habits, discover how to create a habit in 4 easy steps, and get a convenient reference guide for the techniques suggested throughout the book by reading the entire summary.

Promising review:

• An easy read. I have just finished reading this book. I found it a very easy read: short chapters, large typeface, 250 pages. Every chapter was nicely reviewed, so I could go back and re-read what I had read in previous chapters.
  This is the first self-help book I have read, so I am not familiar with this genre.
  It is well-structured, with his main point being that if you structure your habits to be learned and absorbed with your reward-pleasure in small incremental steps that are “obvious,” “attractive,” “easy,” and “satisfying,” you will establish a new identity. I guess it is pride in your new identity that makes it possible to stop slipping back into your bad old ways. He also has suggestions for breaking bad habits and identifying areas where you need to put in the extra effort.
  I have always been a scatterbrain and have begun applying some of his ideas. I think they are good ideas. @Julian Williams

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6. The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté. A new perspective on mental health issues.

Synopsis:
After 4 decades of therapeutic practice, Maté recognized that the popular notion of “normal” is misleading and ignores the negative effects that stress, trauma, and the demands of contemporary living have on our bodies and minds and the need for maintaining good health. Now that prevalent assumptions about what causes illness have been debunked, Maté presents a compassionate road map for health and recovery by drawing connections between personal illnesses and societal decline. The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent work to date, co-written with his son Daniel.

Promising review:

• An exceptional gift to mankind. Gabor Maté’s book is an exceptional tour de force in understanding trauma. In defining trauma and offering both lived experience and professional examples, he provides a compelling response to the commonly understood viewpoint. In acknowledging that we all suffer trauma at some level, he removes it from the “not me” label so that we can approach it with greater compassion and understanding.
  It is such a subtle condition that we may not want to acknowledge its presence in our lives, but when we can, we can begin to heal. This should be essential reading for anyone in a position of authority or involved in mental health services. I can recommend it to everyone if they seek to live a full and joyful life. @Rex

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7. A Better Day: Your Positive Mental Health Handbook by Dr. Alex George. An enjoyable book for finding strength for tomorrow.

Synopsis:
We should discuss our thoughts and care for our mental health just as we do our physical well-being. Dr. Alex George, Youth Mental Health Ambassador, is here to teach us how in this enlightening and upbeat handbook. A Better Day is a reassuring, approachable, and helpful toolkit that teaches young readers how to confidently take care of their mental health.

Promising review:

• Excellent book. I ordered this book for my daughter because, last year, she was a victim at her school because she has dyslexia, and she did not attend school for a month because she was afraid that they would continue attacking her. Thanks to the book “A Better Day,” my daughter regained confidence in herself and continues to attend her school. Thank you, Dr. Alex George, this book has helped my daughter a lot because it has motivated her to continue attending school. @Leydi Garcia

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8. Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. A guide on time management that outlines beneficial ways to spend each minute.

Synopsis:
Instead of promoting the modern notion of high-level productivity and ongoing self-optimization, Four Thousand Weeks examines the widespread idea of time management from a different angle by drawing on the ancient wisdom of illustrious philosophers, researchers, and spiritual luminaries.

Promising review:

• Wonderfully revealing book. It may be too late, but I’d recommend anyone thinking about new year’s resolutions to read this book first. Although I didn’t feel it offered me a huge amount of actionable advice (although there is a section toward the end dedicated to just this), I found the book wonderfully revealing. The more I read, the more I recognized myself and my almost obsessive need to keep busy, to feel like I was wasting time when I wasn’t doing “something.”
  There were more “aha” moments in this book than in many others I’ve read. The most valuable benefit this book has provided me is that it reveals the folly of trying to do too much, and now that I understand a little more about what might be driving this, I have more tools to try to combat it because I know I have to. A thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning, and highly recommended read. @kiwanja

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Do you prefer reading hardcover books, listening to books, or reading books on a Kindle? What is the most life-changing book you’ve ever read?

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