Best self-help books

We’ve put our feet up and had a good read to bring you some of the best self-help books out there.

There is a lot of controversy over self-help books and if they actually work, however top psychological experts do recommend them as the next best thing to seeking therapy when looking for inspiration and support in changing our habits or coping with life’s stresses. In fact, self-help books are among some of the best-selling books out there, maybe because they are not overtly marketed as self-help but as manuals on how to cope with aspects of your life.

So to find out what the fuss was about, I dug into three of some of the most highly rated and here’s what I discovered:

The Secret by Rhonda Bryne
A firm favourite of Oprah, who tirelessly campaigned to put this book on every bookshelf in America, The Secret raked in a reported $300 million within a year of its release. Written by a formally unemployed Australian TV producer, The Secret teaches you how to make all your dreams come true and challenges you into positive thinking and to start creating life-changing results in all aspects of your life such as wealth, health and happiness. Based on the underlying concept of laws of attraction, the book teaches you that when you think a thought, you attract similar thoughts and as a result you create your future life. It is an incredible book if you open up your mind and can be a life changing experience for those who read it.
£10.49, amazon.co.uk

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
A simple but challenging thing, worrying is now a major part of most people’s lives causing misery, fear and depression. Yet this classic novel from Carnegie offers a set of practical formulas that we, as readers can put into action every single day, teaching you lessons that will stay with you for the rest of your life and help you to make it happier. To this day, more than six million people have learnt how to eliminate fear and worry, embracing a full and active lifestyle. A fascinating read and easy to apply, it deals with fundamental emotions and ideas, so embrace the advice and let it change and improve the way you handle life.
£6.29, amazon.co.uk

The Power of Now: A guide of Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
Simple and clear, Tolle’s writing is supportive and allows readers to really understand the concept and power of ‘living in the now’. While not originally fresh, Tolle is able to explain complicated concepts in an accessible way and encourages individuals to be more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness. A challenging journey, The Power of Now can radically change lives for the better as it helps people embrace their true self. A book to be revisited again and again, The Power of Now is an international bestseller, inspiring those that read it today like it did a decade ago.
£6.99, m.waterstones.com