10 Best Self-Care Books in 2022 (Licensed Professional Counselor-Reviewed)

This book covers many different areas of life and shares fifty rules to help you get ahead in life. It states that there are no easy answers or shortcuts to success, but that it takes hard work and determination. It has many anecdotes from the author's own path to success.

Lilly Singh is a popular YouTube star who has over a billion views on the platform. She is also an entrepreneur and has worked with many successful companies. She was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Some reviewers didn't like the writing style and said this book is difficult to relate to if you're not a young woman. However, others liked Singh's anecdotes as they give examples of how the advice can be applied to real life. They found the book to be easy to read and relatable. Many said it had more depth than they expected. 

In this book, Mark Manson injects scientific research with his own brand of humor. His core message is to stop trying to be positive about everything. He attempts to deconstruct the common self-help belief that positive thinking results in a positive life, and instead teaches the reader to accept limitations and flaws. 

Some reviewers were not as enamored with the style of writing and thought the book lacked substance. The provocative title is a good representation of how the book is written, and they say that it is better for a younger audience.

For many reviewers, however, this combination of philosophy and humor was exactly what they needed. They say that the book has helped them prioritize what to care about and has improved their outlook on life. They also say that although the book is written in an informal manner, it is surprisingly deep and has well-supported concepts.

This book concentrates on how to focus on tasks without being distracted. It's a skill that allows you to work more effectively by producing better results in a shorter period of time. The first half of the book focuses on how a deep work ethic will produce great benefits and the second half shows how this can be achieved.

Some reviewers comment that the book has a lot of words for a relatively simple concept. They also didn't like the first half of the book and felt it read more like a university thesis than a self-care book due to all of the references to other people and studies.

Other readers liked that the book has a well-structured action plan that is easy to follow and that its teachings have the science to back it up. They also praise Newport's style of writing and say that the book is clear with well-defined concepts.

Written by a mental health counselor, this book focuses on self-love and self-esteem. It takes the form of a workbook, so it has prompts and interactive activities scattered throughout. You can write your answers directly in the workbook, keeping it as a record of your progress.

For some reviewers, the prompts were not helpful or structured clearly enough for them. If you want a book to read instead of work through, then this would not be the book for you.

Many reviewers, however, liked the format of the book. They enjoyed the prompts and activities and how it forces the reader to confront themselves. They also loved the layout of the book, from the way the subjects are broken down into sections to the design of it.

This book is a compilation of the motivational tweets posted by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and star of the musical Hamilton. As they're tweets, they are concise and to-the-point sayings and poetry that are meant to inspire. The book is also fully illustrated. It's a book of short pep talks, meant to help you when you need a lift.

Some reviewers didn't like the format of the book, found the sayings to be superficial, or were unhappy that the book contains some expletives. This isn't the book for anyone looking for deep and meaningful passages or actionable goals.

Other reviewers praise the positivity of the words in this book and its ability to lift them up when it is needed. They say that the sayings made them laugh, cry, and smile. Reviewers also liked the illustrations and return to the book whenever they need a quick boost.

The core message in this book is that by changing your way of thinking, you can change your world. It concentrates on helping with self-esteem and how to prioritize your well-being. There are tools and exercises throughout the book to help readers apply the information they're reading to their own lives.

Vex King is a social media influencer who has taken his own personal troubles and turned them into self-care advice for others. He owns an empowering lifestyle brand that aims to promote good vibes and positivity.

Some readers felt that the book doesn't dig deep enough into the issues and wished King shared more of his personal story. They also say the book is best for younger readers. However, others liked King's fresh approach to the genre. They consider his approach to be relatable and uplifting and praise how easy to read this book is.

The focus of this book is on how to identify and break bad habits while forming new habits in their place. It states that to break bad habits a reliable system needs to be used, and it teaches you the author's system. The book draws on biology, psychology, and neuroscience to help you improve your motivation and change your life.

Reviewers who have read similar self-help books about habit-forming think that this book is both too wordy and simple. Some also found it difficult to relate to the anecdotes in the book.

Many other reviewers praise the structure of the book and how it takes the reader through the process of breaking bad habits in a step-by-step manner. They say that the material is presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way. Many reviewers say that they have found it easy to apply the teachings to their everyday life.

This book has 365 short but powerful readings that are meant to be read daily. It encourages readers to take one day at a time and discover something new. Each entry has a related exercise for reflection. The author, Mark Nepo, has been named one of the most spiritually influential living people.

Several readers comment that the entries for some days hit harder than others and that the amount of meaning you can take from each one is very individual. Other readers were disappointed that although not explicitly religious, religious themes are present throughout. 

Other readers like the daily structure of the readings and that the book can be easily consumed in daily, 10-minute sessions. Readers praise how straightforward and accessible it is, while also having something meaningful to say.

This book is based on the 10 principles the author learned during his Navy SEAL training. It has many anecdotes from his time in the service but frames them in a manner that everyone can relate to. It is a short and easy read that inspires the reader to meet challenges with discipline and a positive attitude.

The author, William H. McRaven, is a former Admiral who also served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas. Before writing this book, he gave a commencement speech on the same principles that accrued over 10 million views.

Several reviewers didn't like the military perspective of the book and found it hard to relate to. Other reviewers praise how easy the book was to read. They say that although adults can learn from it, the book is also suitable for children. And they liked that it provides a different perspective from other self-care books. 

This book aims to help readers break out of their own heads and defeat the negative, controlling thoughts that hold us back. The author's goal is to first help readers identify the reasons behind their negativity, and then work on eliminating those thoughts. 

Jennie Allen is the founder of IF:Gathering, which is an organization that is targeted toward women. It aims to empower women through the Christian faith and scriptures. The book follows this perspective.

As reviewers state, this book has a very definitive target audience: women and Christians. Reviewers that are in that target audience compliment how well-written and easy to read the book is. They praise the way it brings together philosophy and religion. Reviewers also commend Allen for not sugar-coating the struggles she has faced.