One of the questions that have daunted the imaginations of mankind since prehistory is “How do I master myself?” People are capable of endless and amazing things once their potential is unlocked, but the very notion that it must be unlocked speaks to the belief that it is locked.

Now, full disclosure, you won’t find the answer to that elusive age-old question in this article. However, here is a list of some of the best self help books. They have provided readers from all walks of life with the answers that they needed. These books are ranked from least to most expensive.

Benefits of Reading Self Help Books

Before we share the best self-help books with you, let’s look at some reasons to pick up this category from your library. 

Increase Positivity

Self-help books are designed to motivate you and make you feel better about life while providing proactive strategies or mindful approaches to your daily life. When you spend time focusing on reading self-help books, you begin to have a raised awareness of your sources and what’s around you.

Over time, you’ll find that your outlook and thinking strategy evolves. Suddenly, you make the connection that how you think and your outlook towards yourself and life has a huge significance on life events. 

Make Better Choices

Many of us can get stuck in a rut where we wake up in the morning, go to work, return home and do the exact same thing the next day. Without even being aware of this predictable structure, we do little to make any positive changes.

Fortunately, self-help books come with an array of exercises and strategies to help you make better choices. First, this involves you taking a look at your life and the elements you’re happy with and sections you’d like to change. Being honest is an important part of this process.

The best self-help books inspire you to be more aware of how you fill your time. Are you truly doing what you love? And if you realize that you’re not, self-help books will provide you with the strength and strategies to make a positive change. 

They Help You Grow

Humans aren’t trees. We’re not put on earth to stand still, and it can be a good thing to move on and grow. However, knowing how to grow and improve can be a difficult task.

The best self-help books are typically written by people with first-hand experience of the topics they discuss or they have knowledge in the field. Their words can provide you with strategies to turn the next page so you receive the motivation and advice for personal growth. 

Ways To Choose The Best Self Help Books For You

There are a plethora of self-help books on the market right now which can make choosing the best one for you a difficult task. However, here’s a guide to overcoming any confusion. 

Research The Author

We believe information from sources and people we trust. Spend some time researching the author. Do they have the education and formal training in the fields they’re discussing? Or do you connect with the author on a personal level? 

Authors that are talking about topics they clearly have no thorough understanding in create a huge disconnection between the text and the reader.

Personal Issues

Relating to a scenario or person within a self-help book makes it easier to interpret their ways and begin unsolving the issues in your life. Does the self-help book touch on real-life experience or personal issues you’re going through?

Although you won’t personally know the author, feeling like you can relate and trust in their story makes it much easier to appreciate their angle. Therefore, you’re more likely to open your mind to new suggestions. 

Realistic Solutions

We agree that how you think impacts your decisions and persona, but ‘thinking positive’ isn’t a solid, researched strategy to impact your life. Look into whether the book offers tips and advice on how to think positive. 

The book should provide realistic solutions such as daily exercises, meditation strategies and more to help keep you on track. Even better, if these solutions are backed up by studies and scientific evidence, you’re more likely to feel a connection and a spark of inspiration. 

Look at Readers’ Reviews

Finally, another great way to find the best self-help books for you is to research what other readers had to say. Did it make a genuine impact on someone’s life? Do people talk about the positive outcomes this book had on their daily life?

It’s a great idea to purchase your first self-help book based off of a recommendation by someone you trust. Although we’re all different and interpret things in personal ways, feedback is important.

The Best Self-Help Books

1: How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is one of the best self help books of all time. To this day, over 30 million copies of this book have been grabbed from bookshelves worldwide. In 2011, it made number 19 on Time’s list of 100 most influential books.

This book takes a simple concept and teaches the reader how to use this concept to gain influence, success, and even friends. This is one of the things that places this book among the best self help books ever.

It stresses that the key to having a highly respected opinion is to assure others of their worth and being a good friend. The end result is that you become a trusted confidant and a voice that people listen to. Surprisingly, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” can be purchased in paperback format Barnes & Noble.

2: The Alchemist, Paulo Coehlo

Paulo Coehlo’s cult classic, “The Alchemist,” isn’t a self help book in and of itself. In all actuality, it’s a novel. Still, the influence that it has had on readers worldwide is sufficient to land it on the list of best self help books. Paulo wrote “The Alchemist” in only two weeks; when asked how he was able to accomplish such a feat, he responded, saying that “it was already written in my soul.”

Paulo’s reason for how he was able to complete the book so fast falls right in line with the heart of this story. It is about a young Andalusian shepherd boy who leaves home and heads for Egypt. He is in search of a treasure that he saw in a dream.

The true premise of this tale is revealed when Melchizedek, an old king, instructs Santiago, to sell his sheep to travel to Egypt. What the old king says to Santiago has transformed the minds and lives of people globally, “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Along the way, Santiago meets an Alchemist. The Alchemist teaches the young shepherd how to realize his truest self. So,  he has to prove his oneness with the universe as he continues his journey for the treasure.

This book will inspire and entertain you at the same time. “The Alchemist” is among the best self help books available.

3: Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” has been one of the best selling self help books since it was published. It was first marketed in 1997. In this book, Kiyosaki proposes that wealth and poverty mindsets exist separately from the actual states wealth and poverty.

He breaks down the poverty mentality that the poor dad is likely to pass on to his son. Also, he compares it to the wealthy mindset and sound financial advice that a rich dad teaches his son. While this book offers the reader a wealth of advice about how to attain wealth, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” will not break your bank.

4: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo

This personal development book is not only one of the best self help books in recent memory, but it is also probably on every mother’s list of best self help books for college students. Kondo focuses on clutter and the effects that it has on thinking.

In the book, the author and organizing consultant teaches her KonMari method for organizing. This method is all about gathering all of one’s belongings. The next step is keeping only those things that “spark joy,” and putting them in proper places.

So, moms should slide two of these into their kids’ luggage as they send them off to college. One should be for their child and the other for their child’s roommate. They will agree with you that it is one of the best self help books when they see the effects that having a clean room has on their mind and their grades.

5: The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Anxious and What You Can Do to Change It, Margaret Wehrenberg

This personal development book written by Margaret Wehrenber is one of the best self help books for anxiety. This book combats the prescription driven culture of modern mental health with ten science-backed methods for beating anxiety.

6: Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl

Somewhere, it is written in stone that “Man’s Search for Meaning” is one of the best self help books for men. Psychiatrist Victor Frankl uses his experiences in Nazi concentration camps to teach men how to get over themselves and weather life’s harshest storms. 

7: The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith, Gabrielle Bernstein

Gabrielle Bernstein’s capacity for faith is one of her abilities. Therefore, it is likely that she knew this book was going to be a #1 bestseller. It is one of the best self help books for women ever. This book can help women from any or no religious background. It teaches them to realize their full self with its multitude of spiritual insights. 

Bottom Line

Now, you know all these best self help books. Still, none of them will do you good if you don’t get a copy and crack it open. As you can see, help is around the corner, at your local bookstore.

Image source: 1

Today, many people aspire to go to a university to pursue the career of their dreams, and they believe that “one of a kind” university will increase the chances of them landing that dream job one day. A major failure of achieving that big break is choosing the wrong university to study at in the first place.

When selecting which university to apply to, many people make the mistake of thinking all universities are equal, but the truth is they are not. Universities in the UK vary tremendously, from the quality of the teaching to ultimately the employee rate of each, which is perhaps the most important consideration for most people. If you are looking to study abroad in the UK or are just surfing for some ideas, below are our top ten universities in the UK.

11. Loughborough University

This university boasts of a massive 440-acre campus right int he middle of the UK and is ranked quite favorably on the UK University League’s list of top colleges (consistently within the top 10). This is for very good reason; the overall studying experience at this college is world-renowned and geared towards fully facilitating students’ shifts into the workforce.

Beyond excellent professors and quality curriculum options, Loughborough is also well-regarded world-wide for its high quality student-led research. Loughborough extends this proclivity for top tier research to the realm of sports as well, promoting a science-backed approach to sports like archery and football which are prominent at the institution.

10. Lancaster University

For 2019, Lancaster University was ranked ninth in the Guardian League Table, scoring highest in the “Satisfied with Teaching” category at a high-ranking 90.2%. Lancaster University is situated in the beautiful country town of Lancaster, and is situated near the river Lune. Its small population of just 45,952 adds to its homey and tight-knit feel.

9. Warwick University

Warwick University is a 90, hectare campus on the outskirts of Coventry, and features lush spacious green views. In terms of academics, Warwick has a solid reputation, earning its ninth place in the Guardian League Table. Perhaps most noted for their immediate entry into the career world after graduated, they have a fantastic “Career after 6 months” score of 79.1%. This statistic is incredibly high, beating both the London School of Economics and Surrey University.

8. Durham University

Durham University is the third oldest university in England, and as a result has over 60 grade listed buildings. If you are a fan of history and architecture, you are sure to enjoy what Durham has to offer you. Most importantly, they too have a great “Career after 6 months” score of 83.2%, rivaling both the London School of Economics and the legendary Oxford University. Overall Durham was ranked in the eight position on the Guardian League Table.

7. London School of Economics and Social Sciences (LSE)

The London School of Economics is located in central London and specializes in social sciences. It is one of the most highly regarded universities in the world and continues to rank high year after year. In 2019, LSE ranked 38th in the QS World University Rankings.

Founded by the Fabian society in 1895, famous graduates have included President John F. Kennedy, as well as controversial rocker Mick Jagger. In 2018, LSE was ranked at number 7 on the Guardian League Table, achieving an employee rate of 76.3%.

6. Surrey University

Surrey University ranked 21st on the 2019 Guardian University League Table. Surrey University is located in the country town of Guildford. Surrey specializes in science, engineering, medicine, and business. The University is a major contributor to satellite and mobile communications research.

5. Imperial College London

The Imperial College London was officially opened by Queen Victoria and founded by her husband Prince Albert. The Imperial College is separated into four main areas of science, engineering, medicine, and business. The University is a major center for Bio-medical Research in the UK, so if you have a passion for biology and medicine, this university may be a good option for you.

Imperial College London was ranked number 7th in the 2019 Guardian University League Table, making it a very sought- after university to attend. This is linked to the high demand for medical graduates.

4. The University of Bath

The University of Bath is located in Claverton Down, which is close to the city of Bath. The University has won many impressive awards throughout the years, including being ranked 1st for student satisfaction out of more than 150 UK Universities (in 2014). In 2019, the University of Bath was ranked sixth in the Guardians University League Table.

3. The University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews, often referred to as simply St Andrews, is located in Scotland and it is their oldest university. It is located in a small town to the north east of Scotland. In the Guardian University League Table, St Andrews was positioned at number 3, making it one of the most desirable universities to attend in the world.

2. The University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is known for its history and old architecture, being 900 years old. The exact date it was founded remains unknown, but it is the world’s second-oldest surviving university. It consists of a total thirty eight colleges and so is referred to as a collegiate research university. Instead of having a single campus, like many other universities, its buildings are scattered throughout the city of Oxford.

In 2019 the University of Oxford was ranked number 2 in the Guardian University League Table, making it a very desirable university to attend.

1. The University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in Britain and legendary throughout the world. It is also the highest ranking educational institution in the UK In 2019. It has the highest “Career after 6 months” score, so there’s certainly no need to worry about securing employment after graduation.

The history of Cambridge University is particularly interesting. They were formed as a result of a dispute from local townspeople, resulting in scholars from Oxford University establishing the University of Cambridge in 1209. To this day, the two universities are often referred to as Oxbridge, it also being one of the oldest universities in the world. At over 800 years old this University is certainly the dream of any academic student pursuing their career.