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| Psychology books |
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items Are you intrigued by the inner workings of the human mind and the fascinating field of psychology? Here are some great book recommendations to get you started. I've personally read a lot of these and found them immensely insightful, while others come...
Sections
4
General Recommendations
For Beginners
Self help
Classics
General Recommendations
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert Cialdini explores the principles and tactics that drive people to say "yes." Cialdini outlines six key principles of influence: Reciprocity, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Likin...
Influence, New and Expanded
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter is a memoir that chronicles Sue Monk Kidd's spiritual awakening and journey towards embracing the sacred feminine. The book explores her transformation from a traditional Christian woman to someone who questions an...
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman's Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine by Sue Monk-Kidd
Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá challenge the conventional belief that humans are naturally monogamous
Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
As Gottlieb helps her patients navigate their struggles, she herself seeks therapy after a personal crisis. This candid and humorous book explores the complexities of human emotions and the journey to self-discovery.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed|Hardcover
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt explores the roots of human morality and why people with different political and religious beliefs often clash. Haidt argues that our moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason, and he examines how...
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion|Paperback
Berne introduces the concept of "games" that people play unconsciously, affecting their interactions and emotional well-being. This insightful book offers a deeper understanding of social dynamics and personal relationships.
Games People Play : The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne
The Confidence Game delves into the minds, motives, and methods of con artists, exploring why they are so successful and why people repeatedly fall for their schemes. Maria Konnikova, a journalist and psychologist, examines the psychology behind cons...
The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It... Every Time|Paperback
The book explores the intersections of psychoanalysis, feminism, and social theory to provide a nuanced understanding of psychosexuality. Muriel Dimen challenges traditional assumptions about gender, eroticism, and perversion, drawing on contemporary...
Sexuality, Intimacy, Power: Classic Edition|Paperback
The Woman Destroyed is a collection of three novellas that delve into the lives of women facing unexpected crises. Each story explores themes of aging, identity, and the struggles of maintaining relationships. Through the lens of existentialism, de B...
The Woman Destroyed|Paperback
Blink explores the concept of rapid cognition, or "thin-slicing," which is the ability to make quick decisions based on limited information. Gladwell delves into the science behind snap judgments and how they can be both incredibly accurate and dange...
Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking|Paperback
In "The Social Animal," David Brooks uncovers the unseen forces that shape our emotions, behavior, and successes. Delving into the fields of psychology, sociology, and biology, Brooks explores how subconscious influences drive human actions. Through ...
The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement|Paperback
"Yes!" explores the science of persuasion, revealing fifty simple yet effective strategies to influence others. Drawing on over sixty years of research, the authors present surprising discoveries and practical tips that can be applied in various aspe...
Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive|Paperback
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked by Adam Alter explores the compelling and often troubling relationship between humans and modern technology. The book delves into how smartphones, video games, and s...
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked|Paperback
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence – From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror by Judith L. Herman is a seminal work that explores the complex effects of trauma on individuals and society. The book delves into the psychological impact of va...
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror|Paperback
"Brandwashed" by Martin Lindstrom delves into the world of marketing and advertising, exposing the psychological tricks and tactics that companies use to manipulate consumers into buying their products. Lindstrom, a marketing expert with over twenty ...
Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy
For Beginners
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman delves into the two systems of thought that drive human decision-making: System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional, and System 2, which is slower, more deliberative, and logical.
Thinking, Fast and Slow|Paperback
LeDoux delves into how the brain processes emotions, focusing on the amygdala's role in fear and anxiety. The book provides insights into the biological mechanisms that underlie our emotional experiences.
The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life|Paperback
Bloom delves into how the brain gives rise to intelligence and conscious experience, addressing questions about human desires, emotions, and the nature of prejudice. The book combines humor, engaging anecdotes, and practical insights, making it both ...
Psych: The Story of the Human Mind
Nigel C. Benson offers a concise and accessible overview of over 100 key concepts in psychology. Using clear text and engaging visuals, the book covers everything from the philosophical roots of psychology to modern theories and practices, making it ...
The Psychology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by Nigel Benson|Joannah Ginsb
In this groundbreaking book, Daniel Goleman explores the concept of emotional intelligence and its impact on various aspects of life. Goleman argues that emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and...
Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ|Paperback
In this influential work, Bessel van der Kolk, an esteemed trauma expert, examines the deep and lasting effects of trauma on the human psyche and body. Through decades of research and clinical experience, van der Kolk reveals how traumatic experience...
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma|Paperback
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explores the concept of "flow," a state of complete immersion and engagement in an activity. Csikszentmihalyi, a pioneer in positive psychology, describes how achieving flow can le...
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience|Paperback
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a timeless self-help classic that offers practical advice on improving interpersonal skills and building positive relationships. Carnegie's book is divided into four parts, each focusing on ...
How to Win Friends and Influence People|Paperback
On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers is a seminal work in the field of psychology, particularly known for its exploration of humanistic psychology and client-centered therapy. The book is a collection of essays and lectures by Rogers, where he shares ...
On Becoming A Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy|Paperback
The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons explores the surprising ways in which our minds can deceive us. The book is based on the famous "invisible gorilla" experiment, where participants focused o...
The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us|Paperback
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound book that recounts the author's experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Frankl, a psychiatrist, explores how he and other inmates found meaning and purpose despite the ho...
Man's Search for Meaning (B&N Exclusive Edition)|BN Exclusive
Self help
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson offers a no-nonsense approach to living a fulfilling life by focusing on what truly matters. Manson encourages readers to embrace life's challenges and prioritize their values with humor and honesty.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Eric Thomas encourages readers to take responsibility for their own success and well-being. Thomas emphasizes the importance of self-belief, hard work, and perseverance in achieving one’s goals and overcoming obstacles.
You Owe You by Eric Thomas
This book dives into the fascinating science behind habit formation and how understanding our habits can lead to positive changes in our lives. Duhigg uses engaging stories and real-life examples to explain how habits work on an individual, organizat...
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Steven Pressfield tackles the internal struggle artists face when creating. Pressfield introduces the concept of "Resistance" as the force that prevents us from doing our work and offers practical advice on how to overcome it and achieve our creative...
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
"Switch" explores the challenges of enacting lasting change in our personal lives, workplaces, and communities. The authors reveal that our minds are governed by two systems: the rational mind and the emotional mind, which often conflict with each ot...
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard|Hardcover
The Anxiety and Worry Workbook is a comprehensive guide grounded in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), designed to help individuals manage and overcome anxiety. The workbook offers practical strategies, exercises, and worksheets to identify anxiety tr...
The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution|Paperback
Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday is a self-help book that explores how the ego can hinder personal and professional growth. Holiday divides the book into three sections—Aspire, Success, and Failure—highlighting how the ego can create obstacles at dif...
Ego Is the Enemy|Hardcover
Atomic Habits is an excellent book if you're looking to make positive changes in your life. It provides actionable strategies for building good habits, breaking bad ones, and creating sustainable growth through small, consistent improvements. The con...
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones|Hardcover
Classics
Styron vividly describes the depths of his mental illness, the impact on his life, and his journey towards recovery. The memoir offers profound insights into the experience of living with severe depression.
Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness|Paperback
The Brothers Karamazov is a sweeping philosophical novel that examines profound themes of faith, doubt, and free will. The narrative follows the tumultuous lives of three brothers, each embodying different aspects of human nature, amidst a backdrop o...
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
East of Eden is a masterful epic that intertwines the destinies of the Trask and Hamilton families in California's Salinas Valley. The novel explores the complexities of human nature, good versus evil, and the power of choice.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
"Eugene Onegin" is a classic novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin. The story follows the life of Eugene Onegin, a disillusioned aristocrat who inherits a substantial fortune and a country estate. Bored with his life of balls, concerts, and par...
Eugene Onegin: A Novel in Verse|Paperback