Whether you’re taking this time to focus on personal projects or catching up on the relaxation and self-love you deserve, we all have a little time to squeeze in a few more books. To help you pick your next read, we rounded up some of our favorite self improvement books – take a peek below.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

A long, long time ago, a dear friend of mine lent me this book and said, “this book will change you.” Her copy was filled with sticky tabs and post-it notes and all sorts of annotations. To this day, it was perhaps the most lived-in book I’ve ever seen— and after a few pages I understood why.

Mitch Albom recounts his final conversations with his ailing mentor Morrie Schwartz and the timeless lessons he learned from him nearly 20 years after they had last seen each other. It’s a tear-jerker for sure, but it’s one of the most profound books I’ve ever read, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a bit of purpose in their life. That’s all I’ll say because I definitely don’t want to give much more away.

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

Have big dreams to change the world? Then you have to grab a copy of this book… like right now. Told through countless stories and examples of cross-generational icons, Ego is the Enemy will guide you to the understanding that not everything is about you. In fact! It just might be what’s getting in the way of your success. If you’re trying to make a real difference, then you have to take “your own specialness” out of the equation, because your ego will “blind us to our faults.” Needless to say, it has the potential to be a sobering read, but perhaps a necessary one. 

The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

Okay, so this one isn’t necessarily “self-improvement” as much as it is philosophy— but it happens to be extremely relevant right now. There’s a chance you read this in college (I know I did), so pulling up one of your old texts might be the challenge we need right now if you’re craving something to get your gears turning again. Topics include but are not limited to: fate and free will, good and evil, why do we suffer— you know, light stuff! However, what got me back into this ancient text were the conversations surrounding ego, your subconscious beliefs about yourself, and how they affect your life. Now that’s something that stands the test of time.

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Col. Chris Hadfield

And what a strange time to be on Earth, indeed. Written by esteemed astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield, the book tackles difficult life lessons through absolutely incredible stories from life in space. An example? Being trapped outside a space station… while in space.  This man has had to see it all (literally, remember he was in space when a lot of this happened) and knows a thing or two about determination, perseverance, and perhaps most importantly, what to do when the worst case scenario becomes a reality. Now doesn’t that hit a little close to home right about now? This book will leave you feeling nothing short of inspired. (On a scale of 1-10, how bad would it be to use the phrase “reach for the stars” right now? Okay, I think I answered my own question.)

101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna West

Well, I think the title says it all in this one. If essays are more your pace, here’s the book for you. If “motivation speakers” and “self-improvement” aren’t the keywords that get you bee-lining to the bookstore, then here’s the book for you. A compilation of West’s published work, she talks about everything from daily routines to mental health to general wisdom, and every single thing in between. One of the reviews I read says, “each essay is its own therapy session,” and while I laughed, I loved that description. Well-written and easy to get through– without sacrificing impact. 

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