Most Self-Love Books Are Full Of Cringeworthy, Kumbaya B.S.—These Are Not (2024)

Standing up for yourself can often beeasier said than done—that is, until you check out this read.Written by a therapist (who, btw, pulls from interactions with anonymous clients to provide tangible examples and evidence),this book will help you understand your attachment style.

Plus, itexplainshow that attachment style can play a role in your ability to communicate and assert yourself in everyday life, says Liz Morrison,LCSW, psychotherapist and group practice owner in New York City.

Added bonus? Hanks' guide comes with a workbook so you can do "some tangible self-assessment," Morrison says. Self-love, self-improvement...it's all one big circle.

If you couldn't get enough ofEat,Pray,Love, then you're going to absolutely devour this bestselleralso by author Elizabeth Gilbert.While these pages aren't packed with the same continental conquests,they offer just as much, if not more, inspiration, asGilbert talks abouther own processes for igniting her creativity and eliminating unnecessary pain and stress from her life.

The result?"A helpful book for people who are looking to utilize creative coping strategies to help them feel better when they are feeling down," Morrison says. So...recent breakup? **Adds to basket.**

One of the many lessons in GaryChapman's #iconic book is that, before you can have a positive relationship, you must understand and love yourself first.

But how? Quite simply by pulling from the concepts of the five love languages, which help you identify how you give and receive love to others. Let's say your love language is Words of Affirmation—it's time to start engaging in positive self-talkand practicing daily mantras.

By doing these two things, you begin to work on being kinder to yourself, which isn't always the easiest task, Morrison explains.

Ah, the C word.Courage, of course! (Girl, get your mind out of that gutter.) And there's no one who knows it better than Brené Brown, PhD,LMSW.In this book in particular (she's published quite a few), Browncovers a rangeof topics from shame to empathy and compassion. All of which start from yourself.

But hermain focus is on that scary thing called vulnerability. Namely, how—despite being so frightening—it's actually the wayto get tonew experiences and other positives like love, joy, and happiness. This empowering book will help you see how taking chances can truly be life-changing, Morrison says.

Society is quite the bossy pants, telling us what to do, how to act, and how to be happy. But hold up—what actually is happiness? Hint: It's up to you.

By challenging society's definition of happiness, this book encourages youto seethat you do not have to live a certain way, work a certain way, or act a certain way just because that’s what seems like the norm, Morrison says.

Ready to become more of an independent thinker and love who you are for who you are (not who you think you're supposed to be)? Crack open this read, stat.

You know all the ridic cultural expectations put on you to look a certain way. Well, you can say eff that with this guide—a year-long plandesigned to improve self-confidence and ditch self-criticism.

The daily nuggets of truth make this book easily digestible, though you'll probably come across a few that really resonate and hit your heart hard. That's why people buy books, right...to fold the corners of important pages?

As much as you love Instagram, it doesn't always love you back."Social media can lead to people feeling insecure and competitive with one another," Morrison says, and you probably (definitely) know.

Enter Jessica Abo's debut book.This read will teach you howto avoid the "compare and despair" trap, IDwhat may really be making you unhappy, ditch toxic connections that chip away at your self-esteem, and build a more positive life. Sound good? Thought so.

The premise of this book by a registered dietitian: Your body isn’t a number on the scale or a certain size—it’s the vehicle that allows you to spend time with loved ones, take adventures, and go after your goals.

Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN,sets out to teach readers how to use food and movement to care for themselves—instead of turning to fad ordeprivation diets.

It's hard to love yourself if you're not connected with who you are and what you really want.In addition to its mood-boosting colors and calligraphy,Start Where You Are includes hands-on prompts and exercises that use concrete skills and thinking strategies to help you make progress on your personal goals, Morrison explains."Plus, a book that has a component for a person to actually engage in a hands-on way can provide a greater sense of support."

This interactive journal will help you take adeep dive into yourself to helppinpoint exactly what’s important to you. (If nothing else, it looks pretty on your nightstand.)

Before Lizzo gave you the "that b*tch" anthem you never knew you needed, Alexis Jones was encouraging readers to be that girl.

For all those times you second-guess yourself, this self-love book is here for you.The goal: to trust yourself more, let go of the banal rules of perfection, and be the best version of yourself. Yes, please!

You may know Gary John Bishop for his first bestseller, Unf*ck Yourself, which helps you silence the a-hole (sorry, clearly on a cursing spell now)critic in your head who's stopping you from achieving great things.

His latest book—Stop Doing That $#!% (another clutch name, no?)—goes one step further, by helping you spot the damaging habits that are keeping you stuck in a rut. Thisbook teaches you to build self-trust, which comes from self-love, and vice versa.

And if the title didn't make this clear: Bishop's words are as relatable as you could possibly get for a self-love/self-help book. This one's a home bookshelf must-have for 2019, hands down.