The best psychology books combine scientific rigour with accessible writing. We turned to some of the most eminent psychologists working today for their book recommendations. Psychology may not have all the answers, but it can help you have a better understanding of yourself and others; what motivates thoughts, feelings, and actions. Using the distilled knowledge of psychology presented in these books can empower you to make better decisions, control habits, be more motivated and productive, maybe even be a little happier.
Our experts include Daniel Goleman, author of the ultra-bestselling book Emotional Intelligence; Professor Carol Dweck, whose book Mindset, on motivation, success and forming a 'growth mindset,' has sold more than a million copies; Dr Andrew Lees, one of the most cited neurologists in the world; and Harvard professor, linguist and cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker (author of hit popular psychology books including The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate). In total more than 80 experts have helped make these lists. Our most recommended psychology book is Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert.
We already have reading lists outlining the best books on mindfulness, consciousness, depression, teenage mental health, child psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
To keep up to date, check out our list of new psychology books.
The best books on Hallucination, recommended by Ben Alderson-Day
Hallucinations can be strange, alarming, even sometimes exciting. They affect the mentally ill and the chemically altered, but also those suffering from migraine, Parkinson’s, and even grief. Researcher Ben Alderson-Day talks us through this odd phenomenon as he selects five of the best book on hallucination.
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1
Psych: The Story of the Human Mind
by Paul Bloom -
2
The Success Myth: Letting Go of Having It All
by Emma Gannon -
3
Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships
by Nedra Glover Tawwab -
4
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
by Dacher Keltner -
5
Data Baby: My Life in a Psychological Experiment
by Susannah Breslin
Notable Psychology and Self-Help Books of 2023, recommended by Cal Flyn
Notable Psychology and Self-Help Books of 2023, recommended by Cal Flyn
It’s that time of year again: January is the month to batten down the hatches, work off all those rich festive meals, and get to work on your new year’s resolutions. Understanding the workings of your own brain—theoretically or even in purely practical terms—can be an important tool for achieving your goals. Here our deputy editor spotlights some of the most notable psychology and self-help books published in 2023 to help you on your way.
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The Marshmallow Test: Why Self-Control Is the Engine of Success
by Walter Mischel -
2
A Curious Mind: The Secret To a Bigger Life
by Brian Grazer -
3
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol Dweck -
4
Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World
by Mitch Prinstein -
5
Path to Purpose
by William Damon
The best books on Character Development, recommended by Angela Duckworth
The best books on Character Development, recommended by Angela Duckworth
Can we cultivate qualities like grit, tenacity and kindness? How about habits of the successful—hard work, perseverance and productivity? Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit and founder of the Character Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, recommends five books, including a title that graces every CEO’s shelf.
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Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
by Susan Jeffers -
2
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
by Dale Carnegie -
3
Helping Your Child with Fears and Worries
by Cathy Creswell & Lucy Willetts -
4
Mindfulness For Health: A Practical Guide To Relieving Pain, Reducing Stress And Restoring Wellbeing
by Danny Penman & Vidyamala Burch -
5
Jog On: How Running Saved My Life
by Bella Mackie
The best books on Anxiety, recommended by Lucy Foulkes
The best books on Anxiety, recommended by Lucy Foulkes
Feeling anxiety is a natural part of being a human being, but for some people it can cause terrible mental and physical anguish and prevents them from leading happy and fulfilling lives. Lucy Foulkes, a psychologist at University College London, talks us through books that can help with anxiety.
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The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education
by Daniel Goleman and Peter Senge -
2
Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning: Research and Practice
by ed. Durlak et al -
3
The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science
by ed. Seppälä et al -
4
Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart
by Tara Bennett-Goleman -
5
Marrow: Love, Loss, and What Matters Most
by Elizabeth Lesser
The best books on Emotional Intelligence, recommended by Daniel Goleman
The best books on Emotional Intelligence, recommended by Daniel Goleman
We are taught to value intelligence and academic ability, but raw mental firepower does not always translate into success at work or a life of contentment. Just as important are the skills that make up ’emotional intelligence,’ says Daniel Goleman, whose bestselling book popularised the concept. Here he chooses five emotional intelligence books that explore its practical applications.
The best books on Mindset and Success, recommended by Carol Dweck
If you’ve stepped inside a school recently, you’ve probably heard teachers talking about the importance of a ‘growth mindset.’ Here psychologist Carol Dweck, who pioneered research into this key concept, explains what it’s all about and recommends books—other than her own—that shed light on it.
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Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want
by Ruha Benjamin -
2
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
by Susan Cain -
3
The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness
by Meghan O'Rourke -
4
Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else)
by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò -
5
Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living
by Dimitris Xygalatas
Five of the Best Self-Help Books of 2022, recommended by Avram Alpert
Five of the Best Self-Help Books of 2022, recommended by Avram Alpert
At the turn of the year, many of us take the opportunity to think about our lives—how they are going, and how we hope to live them in future. We asked Avram Alpert, author of The Good-Enough Life, to recommend five of the best self-help books of 2022 that might help our bids for self-improvement; his choices remind us that self-help is not only about life-hacks and diets, but about bringing the world more in line with our ideals.
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1
The Book of Human Emotions: An Encyclopedia of Feeling from Anger to Wanderlust
by Tiffany Watt Smith -
2
Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides -
3
Principles of Psychology
by William James -
4
Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion and Pride
by David DeSteno -
5
Stumbling on Happiness
by Daniel Gilbert
The Best Books on Emotions, recommended by Lisa Feldman Barrett
The Best Books on Emotions, recommended by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Not every culture has a word for ‘fear.’ Smiling was an invention of the Middle Ages. There’s a lot that will surprise you about the way we process emotions, says the neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett. Here she picks five books that illustrate our understanding of how emotions work.
The best books on Happiness, recommended by Jonathan Haidt
Most of us want to be happy, and yet it’s hard to achieve. Jonathan Haidt, psychologist and author of the classic The Happiness Hypothesis, talks us through five books, old and new, to better understand happiness.
The best books on Depression, recommended by Bryony Gordon
Writing about her life in memoirs and a newspaper column allowed the author Bryony Gordon to “join the dots” to see the true face of her own mental illness. Here, she chooses five books to help with depression, books in which she has found solace and a sense of community among those who suffer from depression.