Best Self-Help Books to Read in 2023

Hello friends, I hope the first week of the new year has been bringing you joy!

My partner and I have been going through huge life changes recently — we are currently moving to a new state as I type this. And I’ll begrudgingly admit that it is about time we leave Ithaca, NY. I have been here for 7 years, and I think it is time for a change. (But don't get me wrong, living in a place that has 150 waterfalls has been INCREDIBLE).

Our next destination is New Haven, CT, which I have heard very mixed reviews about— mostly negative. But everyone has a reason to hate cities, so I haven't been giving the negative opinions too much attention. I need to live the experience for myself.

We are moving tomorrow, which means that the last week has been a flurry of packing, organizing, cleaning, and occasionally burning out. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write about this week and I kept having great ideas, but not ample time to write them out the way I would like to.

Thankfully I was struck with an idea as I was returning the last of my library books on Monday. This last return was bittersweet for me because I absolutely adore the Tompkins County Public Library, and I am going to miss it very much. They always have new and interesting books in stock, they have a piano you can practice on anytime, an art space where you can use a laser cutter and 3D printer, and you can even rent out things like wifi hot-spots and umbrellas. Because I live right down the road from the library, I spend a lot of time there! I mostly check out self-help books, because I love finding new ways to improve my life. So I thought that I would provide you with the best ones I have read. So without further ado, check out the top 3 self-help books that have completely changed my life!

1. Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke — 4/5 stars

Wow. I couldn’t put this book down. If you read this, you will never think about your habits the same way again, and that’s a good thing. This book helped push me into sobriety and has changed how I interact with social media. It will help you understand addictive behaviors and how we all have them (that’s right, even you). In a digital age where we are so accustomed to immediate gratification, I think we owe it to ourselves to understand the toll it is taking on our psyche. If I could make this book a mandatory read, I would. Lembke takes qualitative and quantitative science and mixes it with years of her own experience. Her writing is not only extremely engaging but also very accessible. Please consider putting this on your list of books to read in 2023!

2. Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty — 5/5 stars

The first time I heard Jay Shetty talk, I was blown away. I heard him on a podcast called “The School of Greatness” and everything that came out of his mouth blew my mind. It was as if someone was reading my inner thoughts and giving me advice on how to navigate my world. When I saw that his book had finally come out, I immediately bought it. And I suppose I have become a super-fan because I got a copy that he signed, LOL. Truth be told, I have never completely finished this book, because I always start over. It is filled to the BRIM with amazing advice, and I cannot stress this enough — your life will COMPLETLY CHANGE if you are willing to listen to what Shetty has to say. I could not praise this work enough, please run to the store or your local library and get this book!

3. My Money, My Way by Kumiko Love — 5/5 stars

Once I got sober, I finally decided to get my hands wet and start addressing the things that felt out of control in my life. The biggest and most frightening aspect of my life (that I had been avoiding for decades) was my finances. I would never look at my bank account and even the mention of my student loans would send me to tears. This book changed all of that. I followed Kumiko’s advice like it was the words of God himself, and it completely turned my relationship with money around. Now I have $5k saved when I used to barely be able to afford rent, and that happened in only 4 months. Her advice, while laborious at times, will put you on a path to success with your finances and make the whole concept of money much more approachable. I could not recommend this book enough for people trying to improve their finances.

If you decide to check these books out, let me know what you think. And if you have any book recommendations yourself, drop them in the comments! Currently, I am reading Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller. So far, so good, but I’ll let you know what I think once I’m finished.

Take it easy my loves, and Happy Friday!

Xx,

Renee