Best Self Help Books For Students

Important Takeaways: "Seven Habits of High Effective People" is a self improvement books that can inspire generations of readers.

Competence is essential, but it has to be blended with quality to influence, engage and collaborate with people.

It makes your growth sustainable as your capabilities get renewed.

The habits are: 

• Be Proactive,
• Begin with the End in Mind,

Important Takeaways: Some important takeaways from the book Think Like a Monk:

• Should cultivate a monk’s mindset rather than a monkey’s. You have to remain focused on a problem and not get intrigued by its multiplicity.
  
  Never always complain, compare, criticize, overthink and procrastinate. Instead, live intentionally, be caring and compassionate, collaborative, disciplined, analytical and articulate.
  
  
• Set the trend of doing something at a particular time daily and at an appropriate location to be more effective.

Important Takeaways: Atomic Habits is a comprehensive guide to inducing change in habits. The change happens gradually at 1% every day.

The book further deals with the following aspects:

• A chapter on habits
• Three ways to form better habits
• Three ways to change habits

Important Takeaways: The Japanese believe strongly in the concept of Ikigai, which is to jump out of bed each morning with a specific goal for the day.

For the folks at Okinawa, where the longevity of life is the highest world over, finding a goal will enhance the longevity to a greater extent, and you will then fulfill all your desires.

It is a guide to uncovering your personal Ikigai, leaving all urgency behind, building strong bonds with other people and giving vent to your passion.

Important Takeaways: The Alchemist self help books to read  is the story of a shepherd boy Santiago, whose dreams are seemingly prophetic.

He meets an old king who asks him to sell his sheep and proceed to Egypt. He introduces the boy to the idea of a personal legend.

In short, a personal legend is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone is aware of their personal legend, but only a few manage to achieve it.

Paulo feels that when you want something, the universe conspires to help you achieve it.

Important Takeaways: Mark Mansion does not believe in sugarcoating and presenting it.

A let’s-all-feel-good mindset will gradually rob you of your ability to live with your fears, faults and uncertainties.

Unfortunately, today's generation tries to take an escapism route, does not confront painful truths, and hopes to get rewarded with gold medals just for showing up.

The author cares a f**k for positivity and believes more in honesty That's why Its in one of the best self growth books.

Important Takeaways: The author Miguel Ruiz believes that self-limiting beliefs deprive you of joy and happiness in your lives and drag you to sadness and suffering.

The Four Agreements, which is based on ancient Toltec wisdom, is a book that offers you a robust code of conduct that transforms your lives into a new experience of freedom, true happiness and love.

The four agreements are as follows:

• Be impeccable with your word.

Important Takeaways: As the title Declutter Your Mind suggests, it is essential to declutter your mental blockade and create spaces within your mind for greater peace and tranquillity.

When you are in an overwhelmed state of mind, you should realise that your negative thinking is adversely impacting you.

The specific mindfulness technique is specifically designed to create spaces within the mind, prioritise issues that are important to you, avoid things that are no longer serving your interest, and learn to live daily. 

Important Takeaways: Rich Dad and Poor Dad is a tale of growing up with two dads.

One was the author's own, and the other was the father of his close friend. That incidentally was the “RICH” Dad.

It is a myth that earning a good income makes you rich.

The author explains the difference between working for money and having money work for you in a lighter vein.

Important Takeaways: Mike Bayer was a drug addict at one point. He then underwent a transition in life and became a well-known life coach and an anti-addiction specialist.

He is currently featuring in Dr Phil Show, an inspiring programme to help you identify the current stage of your life.

Best Self is his creation and a maiden one too. He is of the opinion that people do change, and the transition can be radical given the grit and determination to herald the change.

Important Takeaways: The Psychology of Money is about maintaining a better relationship with money, and making smarter financial decisions.

Perhaps the psychology of money may not be in sync with your psychology and may or may not work for you well.

Key takeaways are as follows:

• The theory is not reality - The power of fear and uncertainty is constant and steadfast, and no amount of view can change it.

Important Takeaways: In Girl, Wash your Face, each chapter starts with a lie and later the chapter goes on to explain why it is not the truth.

For example, the lies are as follows:

• I’m not enough
• I will never get past this
  
  

A lot could depend on you to relate to them or overcome them. So a lot of anecdotes from the life of Rachel Hollis are included in the narrative to make it more realistic.

Important Takeaways: Big Magic is another one of Elizabeth Gilbert’s books that inspires us a great deal.

She wants us to hold on to our curiosity while shedding off needless suffering. She takes us through the mysterious nature of inspiration.

• She guides us through things that are dear to us and handles situations that we dread.
  
  
• She outlines our attitudes, habits and the manner of our approach to pave the way for creative living.

Important Takeaways: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind has been a best seller since its first publication in 1963.

The book was probably published in a completely different era. The motive was the same: to provide spiritually self-help to shed one’s fear, enjoy sound sleep, bond better, and feel happy.

Happiness is the primary emotion through which you could improve relationships, your finance and your physical well being.

The author was convinced that some power lies within all spiritual beings, which will yield unbelievable outcomes when channelled in the right direction and deliver fantastic results!! 

Important Takeaways: “A cheerful manifesto on removing obstacles between yourself and the income of your dreams” - New York magazine.

You are a Badaas at Making Money will help you overcome the roadblocks and deterrents that will mar you from reaching your financial goals.

Drawing parallels on her transformation from rags to riches, Jen Sincero has now used her inherent skill in penning out a book that has inspired millions of readers worldwide.

According to the author, financial abundance is an inside job, it all begins with your mindset. 

Important Takeaways: Daring Greatly defines vulnerability as most straightforward path to courage, engagement and meaningful communication.

Each day we are confronted with uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure, whether in a new relationship, an important meeting, our creative process or a simple family conflict.

In all these cases we have to learn to find courage to walk into these vulnerable situations and engage with all humility.

The book will do our society a world of good. It will bring about a degree of trust in our organisations, families, schools and communities. 

Important Takeaways: Death an Inside Story, Sadhguru Vasudev speaks of death in his book.

He feels that death is an essential aspect of human life and not the catastrophe that it seems to be.

Death is associated with spiritual possibilities of transcendence, which any writer has not said in the past.

He details the more profound aspects of death that are never spoken about and elaborates on the preparations the person who will die has to make before the event occurs.

Important Takeaways: Jen Sincero is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and a world-travelling success coach.

She has made 27 chapters of hilariously inspiring stories with easy exercises and occasional swear words. You are a Badaas is authored by Jen Sincero.

If you are seeking to make some changes in the way you deal with people, identify and change some undesirable

And self-destructive beliefs that stop you from attaining your goals in life, learn to get past your fears, take exciting risks, figure out ways and means to gain some wealth, 

Important Takeaways: Daniel Kahnemann in his book, Thinking Fast and Slow, takes us on a mental tour to explain the two concepts upon which our thinking is based.

System 1 - Intuitive, emotional and fast.

System 2 - More deliberate, logical and slow.

The two system acts in tandem to shape our decisions on all aspects of life whether it is corporate strategies or domestic issues like planning a vacation.

Kahneman gives us deep insights into the thought process. 

Important Takeaways: Cheryl Strayed an anonymous columnist at the Rumpus known as Sugar and an author of the best selling memoir Wild is a person a lot of people turn for advice.

Tiny beautiful things, inclusive of some never-before-published columns and an introduction by Steve Al,mared is loaded with humour, compassion, hon,esty and insight into various aspects of living that life throws in our direction.

Important Takeaways: The 5 AM Club, as per the author comprises of genius folks, business honchos and the world’s most wisest people.

They start their morning at this time. Waking up at this hour keeps you focussed, inspired and motivated to make the most of the day.

The quietest hour of the day cannot be better utilised without physical exercise, self renewal that could lead to personal growth.

A practise that is backed by neuroscience makes it easy for you to rise, when most of the folks are sleeping gives you your moments of solitude that provokes your thought process, invokes your creativity and you begin the day afresh instead of being rushed. 

Important Takeaways: The Leader Who Had no Title will teach you the following:

• How to work with and influence people from all walks of life
• The method to identify and encash at the opportune time
• The secret of intense innovation.
• The strategy to form a team and get applause from customers
• The die hard methods to derive enough strength both mentally and physically to lead.

Important Takeaways: The book Know your Rreal Self will be of aid to you in your spiritual pursuits Like:

• To attain inner peace and inner freedom
• Positive strength, happiness and higher states of consciousness
• It will reveal the ultimate spiritual truth and the mysteries of enlightenment
• It will help people to see gtheir journey in a different light
• The book also has two powerful meditations that will be of greatest help. 

Important Takeaways: Swami Mukundananda in his book The Science of Mind Management explore the seemingly four different parts of the human mind and creates a road map to control it.

He uses real life stories, anecdotal instances and tales from the Vedas too.

The intellect (Buddhi) here takes the decisions while the mind engages in longing (sankalp) and aversion (vikalp).

The intellect needs to be filled with divine knowledge to control the unruly mind. 

Important Takeaways: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Let us study the following cases:

1. A woman who smoked heavily quit smoking, ran a marathon later, and was promoted at work.
   
   
2. With a minor shift in their ad campaign, a Proctor & Gamble product, Febreze began earning a billion dollars a year.

Important Takeaways: Psychiatrist and Author Viktor Frankl of Man’s Search for Meaning has written his memoirs in the Nazi death camps.

Based on some of his experiences and that of his fellow patients, Frankl opines that while suffering cannot be avoided, it is up to us to cope with it and move ahead with renewed purpose.

His theory, known as Logotherapy, is a conviction that primary human drive does not derive only pleasure but a pursuit of what we find meaningful.

His book Man’s Search for Meaning” is very inspirational and significant.

Important Takeaways: 12 Rules of Life by Dr Jordan Peterson shatters modern theories of science, faith and human nature while exalting the mind of its listeners.

Dr Peterson tells us to leave skateboarding boys and girls alone, not to criticise too quickly, pet a cat you meet on the street, the nervous system of the lowly lobsters, about the dreadful path people tread when they become resentful, arrogant and vengeful.

Important Takeaways: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene was described by the People’s magazine as a beguiling and fascinating book.

Robert Greene and Joost Eiffers have filtered three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws tracing upon the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and from Henry Kissinger's lives to PT Barnum.

Some laws teach the need for prudence; the other, the value of confidence, self-preservation, and total domination. 

Important Takeaways: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga is a call to liberate ourselves from the shackles of external opinion and find lasting happiness.

Using the theories of Alfred Adler, Freud, and Jung, the authors explain to the readers to break free from the doubts and expectations of others, profoundly liberating oneself to change and ignore the limitations that we and those around us impose on us.

Millions have read and intensely benefitted from its wisdom. You can too after the same is made available in English. 

Important Takeaways: How to Stop Worrying & Start Living by Dale Carnegie is a book to analyse various ways to conquer worry due to the following reasons:

• Worry can make even a strong person very ill
• Worry can cause nervous breakdowns
• Worry can cause high BP
• Worry affects your nerves

The exciting feature of the book is eliminating business-related worries.

Important Takeaways: Quiet is a book by Susan Cain that has started a quiet revolution.

Introverts generally do the listening, generally innovate and create but never self- promotes, they favour working in solitude than in teams.

Susan’s contention is that we undervalue introverts and tends to lose a lot in doing so.

She feels that the rise of extroverts came about in the twentieth century and has since then permeated into our cultural fabric a lot.

Important Takeaways: The Magic of Thinking is about giving shape to an attempt to make the most of your job, your marriage, family life, and your community.

Dr Schwartz has devised a robust plan for the readers to get you through safely.

As per him you do not need any intellectual ability or latent talent to attain satisfaction and happiness.

All you need is to cultivate your habit of thinking to get you there. 

Important Takeaways: Deep Work by Cal Newport, is about focussing hard for a long time without getting distracted, particularly when on a demanding task.

It requires great skill and craftsmanship to be able to work in less time and give you the satisfaction of fullfilment.

Deep work is certainly a super power in our type of environment where people tend to avoid going deeper and instead find other ways to avoid complications.

The author Cal Newport opines that deep work ethic in all profession will have a beneficial outcome.

Important Takeaways: As the world evolves, methods change and thought process evolves.

David Allen in Getting Things Done believes that productivity is directly proportional to the ability to relax.

We can work effectivcely only when the mind is clear because you have had ample relaxation hours.

Important Takeaways: Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson, is the story of four characters who live in a maze and looks for cheese to feed themselves.

Cheese is a metaphor for a good life, good job, a loving relationship, money, health, and spirtual peace of mind.

The maze is where you get all these from, your work place and your home or the community where you live.

Ironically the cheese is not stationary and keeps moving and the characters of the tale are in the quest of the cheese constantly.