8 Self-Help Books to Kickstart the New Year: Inspiring Titles About Happiness, Positivity and More
From guidebooks and journals to tomes packed with uplifting advice, these books are guaranteed to inspire!
At the start of every year, millions of people around the world turn to self-improvement. And while many are looking to exercise more, lose weight, save money or get healthy, others are looking inward, with goals like finding happiness, overcoming trauma, discovering the best version of themselves, learning to say no and more. And self-help books can be a great starting point to reach these goals. So, we’ve compiled our top self-help nonfiction books to get you on the road to achieving success. From helpful journals to uplifting guides packed with expert advice, these titles are a surefire way to help you turn 2025 into the best year ever! Keep scrolling for all of our motivational recommendations.
‘The Shadow Work Journal: A Guide to Integrate and Transcend Your Shadows’ by Keila Shaheen
The Shadow Work Journal, now viral on TikTok, empowers you to face obstacles head-on and helps you unlock your true potential. Author Keila Shaheen, a certified sound healer and behavioral therapy practitioner, guides you on an interactive exploration of your psyche based on therapeutic practices to help confront your “shadow self,” the part of your personality made up of unconscious emotions, fears or desires that are hidden or repressed. Full of thoughtful prompts, advice and exercises, this book will bring out your most authentic self and curate a greater feeling of self-love.
What readers are saying: “I recently started using The Shadow Work Journal: A Guide to Integrate and Transcend your Shadows, and it has been an incredible journey of self-discovery and personal growth. This journal is a must-have for anyone who is interested in delving deeper into their subconscious and exploring their shadows.”
‘A Year of Self-Care’ by Dr. Zoe Shaw
Improve your confidence and overall outlook on life with A Year of Self-Care. Dr. Zoe, a licensed psychotherapist, simplifies self-care practices with 365 (one for each day) bite-size exercises, tips and quotes designed to help you live a healthier, happier life. Keep it for yourself or share it with a loved one to help them start their self-care journey.
What readers are saying: “The layout of this book is so friendly that I feel taken care of just glancing through the beautiful pages. Then, one page, one tiny thought at a time, Dr. Zoe takes us with her to explore a variety of tinctures to aid our souls. Thank you for this lovely companion.”
‘Better Than Before’ by Gretchen Rubin
Why is it so easy to make some changes but so difficult to make others? That’s the question best-selling author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin sets out to answer in her book, Better Than Before. She extensively studied the science behind personality and change, then used her knowledge to help herself, her friends and her loved ones learn how to work with their personalities to foster positive life changes.
What readers are saying: “If you’re interested in improving any aspect of your life, I highly recommend reading Gretchen Rubin’s book. Gretchen writes as if she’s having a conversation with you but her anecdotes and self-reflections are backed up by well-researched references to scientific data. In other words, her writing is the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down.”
‘A Year of Living Kindfully’ by Anna Black
Mindfulness expert and bestselling author Anna Black believes cultivating daily acts of kindness toward ourselves and others has the power to usher in lasting joy, no matter what challenges we face. In her workbook of weekly activities, Black explains how self-compassion forms a ripple effect of kindness that transforms our relationships and experiences. Each writing prompt and mindful exercise—like an “intention” walk—leads readers to a well of peace and happiness.
What readers are saying: “This was wonderful! This book gives great insight into how we relate to ourselves which then helps us to better relate to others with mindfulness and kindness. Thank you, Ms. Black.”
‘The Happiness Upgrade’ by Gabrielle Lichterman
We all want to feel more joy and peace, but with endless responsibilities and daily stress, it can feel like an uphill battle. To the rescue: Woman’s World’s own health journalist Gabrielle Lichterman introduces science-backed ways to lift your mood in the moment. Using a 365-day journal format, Lichterman offers helpful ways to pause unhealthy habits with 52 practical tips—like smelling fresh flowers or enjoying a comforting drink—that lead to a happier day every day.
What readers are saying: “I’ve read books about happiness before and forgotten the lessons. This book has easy-to-remember advice that’s immediately actionable. No fluff, just great writing and helpful tips. I’ve actually never read another self-help book that was so concise and user-friendly.”
‘What Your Body Knows About Happiness’ by Janice Kaplan
In her new book, Janice Kaplan, the bestselling author of The Gratitude Diaries, delivers science-backed evidence of the miraculous connection between mind and body. With her warm approach to storytelling, Kaplan presents smart insights and groundbreaking research that will change readers’ lives. Packed with tips on how to use thoughts to ease pain and change your environment to improve your mood, this book is a blueprint for finding daily joy through your senses.
What readers are saying: “What Your Body Knows About Happiness is a well-crafted and researched book that provides actionable steps towards happiness. The most interesting part, for me, was the information about how fractals create a sense of peace. This book provides a number of great tools to increase well-being and happiness. I enjoyed this book immensely.”
‘Rising Strong’ by Brené Brown
Drawing on her knowledge as a professor at the University of Houston, Brené Brown, PhD, explains the science of how the skewed stories we tell ourselves amid struggles can trap us in pain, shame, and fear. Sharing her own setbacks and those of other overcomers, she guides readers through the process of “leaning in” to discomfort, embracing vulnerability, and arriving at a place of renewed hope.
What readers are saying: “This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend. Brene, I wanted to thank you for being brave and sharing your work with the world. You’ve created a huge positive ripple around you—and touched so many, including me.”
‘Simply Happy’ by Amy Newmark
With a warm, easy-to-read style, this feel-good guide uses inspirational stories of real people to illustrate tips for cultivating happiness in any situation. Amy Newmark, editor of the incredibly popular Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, also takes advice and wisdom from her life as well as the beloved books she’s edited to give you the tools for a happy life.
What readers are saying: “It’s not often that I can make the claim that a book exceeded my expectations, but this one certainly does. I’m a fan of the Chicken Soup genre, and what I expected was a similar format—lots of anecdotal sharing with a few ‘take-away’ lessons on how to achieve happiness in an often harsh and frenetic world. But this book offers much, much more.”
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