10 Best Self-Help Books for Women in 2022 (Licensed Professional Counselor-Reviewed)

Pros:

• Based on 12 years of research
• Offers techniques for overcoming fear
• Also a TED Talk, available online

Cons:

• Research-heavy narration can be dry
• Use of author's own anecdotes can be distracting

In this book, Brown teaches you how to make vulnerability your greatest strength. Based on 12 years of research, she argues that your ability to be vulnerable can lead you on a path to courage, engagement, and connection with others. By learning how to take control of your fears, you can open up to a better, more fulfilling life.

Reviewers who didn't like this book mainly say they found it to be boring or didn't connect with the author. However, the overwhelming majority say this book helped them love and accept themselves, deal with their issues, and feel calmer in general. Many say this is a must-read for everyone!

Pros:

• Memoir style allows for bold storytelling
• Covers universal topics
• Structured as a collection of essays

Cons:

• Lack of techniques and tips
• Some found the author showed an unhealthy example in her reactions
  

Although the focus of Glennon Doyle's third novel is on her own life, Doyle goes through universal topics such as parenting, forgiveness, divorce, and much more. By showing the struggles she has overcome in order to freely live her life, Doyle encourages other women to stop being uncomfortable and to embrace their full selves.

Some felt that, in comparison to her other memoirs, this text was on the shallower side. Others disliked how there were no tips or techniques the reader could walk away with. But many other readers found Doyle's narrative voice to be captivating and inspiring. They recommend this book to those looking for a story, not just a to-do list.

Pros:

• Offers techniques for calming anxiety
• Educational tone is engaging and stimulating
• Focus is on the relationship with the self

Cons:

• Anecdotes of her case studies can be discouraging
• Geared toward those who want a relationship, not so much those who are single by choice
  

Navigating the dating world sometimes feels more like a chore than something to do for fun, but this book is here to help you change that. With roots in behavioral psychology, Taitz teaches you how to not only date better, but how to be happy as you do it. She breaks down popular myths about women and love and shows you the path to self-love.

A few say reading about the author's many clients who ultimately ended up in relationships left them discouraged, but this book has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. It has helped women realize patterns they engaged in that were detrimental to their dating lives. Readers also love the author's way of speaking; she’s relatable, intelligent, and easy to read.

Pros:

• Offers a glimpse into the world of therapy
• Anecdotes of the author and the clients offer an engaging story
• An accompanying workbook is available

Cons:

• The memoir itself doesn't offer techniques or advice
• Some readers found the book dragged on too long
  

Long-time therapist Lori Gottlieb finds that the questions about love, life, and happiness that her clients bring her are the same questions she now has herself. By revealing the universality, and inherent individuality, of each of her client's problems, Gottlieb illustrates how we are never truly alone with our issues as we think.

Some readers couldn't connect with her as an author, and others said the book was slow. However, many reviewers praise Gottlieb's storytelling prowess, enjoying how she weaved her own therapeutic adventures between anecdotes about her clients. Many readers claimed to have fallen in love with the stories of each character and Gottleib herself.

Pros:

• Conversational tone is engaging
• Offers glimpse into the entertainment industry
• Audiobook is narrated by the author herself

Cons:

• Use of dialogue can be distracting
• Lack of techniques and tips

Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton, and more shares how saying yes for an entire year changed her life. Before this decision, Rhimes was an introvert content with sticking to her comfort zone. By challenging herself to say "yes" to every new chance for one year, Rhimes shows how she opened herself up to a whole new world of opportunities.

Some reviewers found the writing style to be off-putting, as Rhimes utilizes dialogue-heavy scenes to convey her story. Others wanted to see more practical advice offered in regard to the power of saying yes. But the fans who loved the book loved how Rhimes was raw, honest, and unflinching in her description of her struggles.

Pros:

• Focus on creativity is universal
• Encouraging tone is easy to read
• Organized into six parts for convenient reading
  

Cons:

• Doesn't offer techniques or practical advice
• Author anecdotes are limited to creative writing

People often underestimate how much creativity can improve their quality of living. By learning to think creatively, you can tackle challenges in unexpected ways, let go of pain, and implement mindfulness in your everyday life. Gilbert is also a spiritual woman who will help you find your inner strength and inspiration to do great things in your life.

Reviewers agree that this book is highly encouraging. At times, some feel it lacks concrete advice or is unoriginal. However, many readers enjoy Gilbert’s conversational tone and appreciate that this is a light read compared to some of the more technical self-help books.

Pros:

• Based on research and interviews
• Focus is on career, but is applicable to hobbies and passion pursuits
• Also a TED Talk, available online

Cons:

• Doesn't offer concrete techniques
• Writing style can be overwhelming

Talent is not the end-all, be-all to accomplishing your dreams and goals in life. Perseverance is a commonly overlooked trait, but in many cases, it’s a lot more valuable than talent. Duckworth takes you through her research and anecdotal observations with a down-to-earth perspective, and ultimately explains how you can become grittier.

Some reviewers say this book contains fairly basic ideas that grew repetitive, or that the writing style felt disorganized. Still, readers who loved the book say it informed them and motivated them to get on the right path. Many say it's a great read for younger people, in particular.

Pros:

• Covers a variety of topics such as wellness, race, and body positivity
• Structured as a collection of essays for quick reading
• Offers techniques for practicing yoga as a lifestyle

Cons:

• Use of profanity may bother some
  
• If you aren't into yoga, parts may be unrelatable
  

As Jessamyn Stanley goes over in her memoir, yoga is much more than a physical sport or an exotic spiritual practice. By discussing her journey as a fat, queer, Black woman in a heavily whitewashed space, Stanley shows how yoga can be a powerful force in one's life if it's treated with the mindfulness it deserves.

Readers mostly liked how the book confronted the cultural appropriation of yoga in the US, but some found the first half of the book more enjoyable than later essays. Others appreciated how honest and authentic she is, both in terms of her yoga philosophy and her own struggles and life experience.

Pros:

• Offers worksheets and techniques to reduce stress
• Delves into societal and scientific reasoning behind stress
• Conversational tone is engaging

Cons:

• May be seen as political by some
  

In this book, the authors explore why women experience burnout differently from men and show you how to handle it effectively. They combine science-based tactics with worksheets to help you learn to reduce stress and manage emotions. Their goal is to teach you how to live joyfully and how to fight for your right to do so in a patriarchal society.

Some reviewers found this book to be too political, while others called it a feminist rant. If you're triggered by the word "patriarchy," you may not enjoy this book. On the other hand, many reviewers said it was validating, eye-opening, and changed the way they see stress. They said the writing feels approachable and current.

Pros:

• Illustrations are engaging
• Worksheets offer concrete tips and tricks
• Conversational tone is easy to read
• A quick read
  

Cons:

• Not enough content for some readers
  
• The eBook format is hard to use, according to reviewers
  

Kate Sturino's book is an illustrated guide and workbook that offers affirmations, exercises, and thought-provoking questions to help you reconsider your relationship with your body. As a body positivity advocate, Sturino doesn't focus on dieting or exercise tips, but on tuning in to your body's needs and wants.

The book is not a novel, but a workbook with illustrations and short passages framed by journal pages, and some readers found it too brief in that sense. But those who embraced the interactivity of this book enjoyed how this book guided them through their body image issues. Many even mentioned how this was a great gift for their friends.