Image: instagram.com/kendalljenner  

In terms of book genres, self-help gets a tragically bad rap. Often considered cringe or too earnest, there needs to be a serious intervention done on the reputation of self-help because at the end of the day, it does exactly what it says. Helps you live a better life.  

Some self-help books are better than others. Rather than looking for a text that is overly-preachy or didactic, the best self-help books challenge you, open you up to new connections and leave you thinking differently about yourself and the world you inhabit. While you’re probably already familiar with the most popular names in the industry — Brené Brown, Julia Cameron, James Clear and Eckhart Tolle, for instance — there are some great names you might not know of, or books that you can explore.  

Here, we’ve curated an essential reading list of self-help books that, well, actually help. If you’re looking for some guidance going into the year ahead, these books need to be top of your TBR pile.  

Flamingo Estate: The Guide to Becoming Alive by Richard Christiansen, $102.98 at Books Kinokuniya 

The founder of Flamingo Estate interviews some of his closest friends and influences — Jane Fonda, Jane Goodall and John Legend to name just a few — to explore what it means to live a life that prioritises pleasure amongst all else. A truly revelatory book that will have you — literally — smelling the roses.  

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, $14.73 at Books Kinokuniya 

Suffer from chronic over-thinking? Let Gladwell convince you that you need to start allowing your impulses to guide you through his examination of how success and greatness can come from quick, snap decisions.  

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab, $31.49 at Books Kinokuniya 

If you’re trying to be better at setting boundaries and having healthier relationships in 2025, this is the book you need to be reading. Tawwab provides techniques for stating what you want and need without feeling like you have to apologise. 

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, $35.51 at Books Kinokuniya 

Many of us have felt the effects of burnout acutely and it probably won’t come as much surprise to learn that men and women experience it differently. In one of the most useful books of recent years, the Nagoskis explore what burnout is and what leads to it.  

Anxious Eaters: Why We Fall for Fad Diets by Janet Chrzan and Kima Cargill, $57.67 at Books Kinokuniya 

Being a person in 2024 means you’ve probably considered a fad diet at least once in your life. Even if you never actually followed-through, the power and influence of the diet industry is severe and profound. In this excellent book, Chrzan and Cargill use anthropology, psychology, and nutrition to explore what these programs promise yet always fail to deliver on.