Have you ever had an opportunity to do something significant but lost it just because a random thought made you feel like you just aren’t made for it and questioned your abilities? It may be due to your lack of self-esteem and confidence. So, In this article, we will discuss some books that will help you increase your confidence and self-esteem.
In every class or group, there is someone with low confidence which can be cured with time if taken proper steps. I have been suffering from stage fright since childhood and always stutter with my lines even during presentations. This decreased over the years when I started participating more and more in the events that feared me. I started doing it since people with a good attitude and confidence are more likely to succeed.
Self-esteem is a state that evaluates your self-worth and value. A person with low self-esteem even does not value themselves, and such a person can never prove himself/herself in front of the world. Such people face many difficulties being a good leader and are constantly forced to live under others’ shadows. This condition may arise in a person’s mind when they think very little of themselves and can’t cope.
I know many people who might be going through the same and so I did some research about some of the best books to seek help and have listed some of them below:
Harness the Power of Books to Build Self-Esteem and Confidence
1. Awaken The Giant Within
Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Financial Destiny is a psychological book written by Tony Robbins in 1991.
It is a transformative self-help book that empowers readers to take control of their lives and unlock their fullest potential. Through insightful guidance and practical strategies, Robbins teaches individuals how to overcome limitations, set compelling goals, and cultivate a mindset of success. This book serves as a roadmap for personal growth, offering tools to harness one’s inner power and achieve remarkable results in both personal and professional domains.
2. Get Out Of Your Mind And Into Your Life
‘Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy’ is a 2005 published self-help book by Steven C. Hayes.
This book mainly deals with providing solutions to psychological problems like excessive stress, anxiety, and even depression, accompanied by low self-esteem.
3. The Art Of Happiness
Published in 1998, The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living is a philosophical book by the 14th Dalai Lama.
This book is a collection of small stories, incidents, and one-on-one conversations of the author throughout his life and will guide us toward the right path, filling us with self-love and Happiness.
4. Chocolate For A Teen’s Soul
‘Chocolate For A Teens Soul: Life-changing Stories For Young Women About Growing Wise And Growing Strong’ is a 2000-published self-help book by Kay Allenbaugh.
As it is evident that teens face low self-esteem is a common problem, this book focuses on teenage girls meeting the challenges and the emotional ups and downs in this particular phase of their lives through over 50 adolescent stories.
5. The Power Of Positive Thinking
The Power Of Positive Thinking is a self-help book by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale in 1952.
This book focuses mainly on how a person’s positive mindset and positive approach can bring healthy changes in a person and how having personal space and some me-time is necessary to figure out one’s thoughts and feelings.
6. You Can Heal Your Life
Written by Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life is a self-help book published in 1984.
This book tells the readers how a person can change their life by shifting the mindset from negative to positive. The author shares her first-hand experiences and personal stories to support her points.
7. Healing Your Emotional Self
Healing Your Emotional Self: A Powerful Program to Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem, Quiet Your Inner Critic, and Overcome Your Shame is a self-help book by Beverly Engel in 2006.
It is an insightful book for parents, mentors, and teachers to guide the young ones around them toward self-love and self-acceptance. Most self-esteem problems start right from childhood, so dealing with them at a young age is necessary.
8. The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind: Unlock the Secrets Within is a 1963 published self-help book written by Joseph Murphy.
This book focuses on the power of our subconscious mind and how one can change their destiny by bringing positive thoughts to mind. This book also tells us how to blend religion, culture, and science to manifest our Happiness.
9. The Lion Inside
The Lion Inside is a children’s fiction book by Rachel Bright in 2015.
This book is primarily for kids aged between 5-12, and it contains many pictures for young minds to relate to. The book’s main aim is to imbibe speaking and public dealing habits in children so that they become self-confident from the very beginning.
10. What’s Right With Me
Published in 2006, What’s Right with Me: Positive Ways to Celebrate Your Strengths, Build Self-Esteem, and Reach Your Potential is a self-help book written by Carlene DeRoo and Carolyn DeRoo.
This book helps us understand the importance of celebrating even the little successes that we achieve to improve one’s self-esteem and how important it is to maintain a positive mindset throughout.
11. The Gifts Of Imperfections
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are is another self-help book on the list written by Brené Brown in 2010.
This book assures the readers that they feel daily sadness, sorrow, and despair, considered ‘imperfect,’ which is entirely normal as human beings. It is good to overcome it quickly, but if you cannot, nothing is abnormal.
12. Matrix Energetics
Written by Richard Barlett, Matrix Energetics: The Science and Art of Transformation is a self-help book published in 2009.
This book follows a different approach to dealing with self-esteem issues. The author talks about scientific research and facts that can help a person overcome the insecurities and self-doubt that one might be having.
13. Body Confidence
Body Confidence: The Scientific Approach on Shine from Within is a 2019 published self-help book by Dr. Katherine E. Iscoe.
Physical appearance is one of the main reasons for self-doubt and underconfidence, and that’s the aspect this book focuses on. Especially in the younger generations, it is seen that they strictly mold themselves to fit societal beauty standards. When they fail to do so, they get depressed and start questioning themselves. This book addresses body-image issues and gives reasonable solutions for them.
14. The Power of Self-Confidence
The Power of Self-Confidence: Become Unstoppable, Irresistible, and Unafraid in Every Area of Your Life is a book published in 2012 written by Brian Tracy.
This book teaches its readers how to live according to their principles, establish concrete goals, commit to self-improvement, rewire their brains to be more optimistic, and grow in courage and confidence. According to the author, your confidence level affects the objectives you set and the effort you put into accomplishing them.
This helpful book has assisted ambitious people all around the world in finding their voice, including managers, business owners, and salespeople.
15. Ultimate Confidence
Ultimate Confidence: The Secret to Feeling Great About Yourself Every Day is a book published in 2009 and written by Marisa Peer.
This book addresses a widespread misperception that assertiveness and confidence are somehow related. It’s much more complicated than that in reality. In this book, the author outlines her plan for reviving confidence. Her work is praised by readers and critics who describe it as “hypnotic” and “highly engaging,” praising its emphasis on assisting individuals in learning to love and appreciate themselves just as they are and, in doing so, to benefit from the numerous advantages of confidence.
16. The Self-Love Workbook
The Self-Love Workbook: A Life-Changing Guide to Boost Self-Esteem, Recognize Your Worth, and Find Genuine Happiness is a book published in 2018 written by Shainna Ali.
Anyone struggling with low self-esteem or self-hatred would benefit from this book. It all comes down to changing your mindset and perspective so that you may become more conscious of your particular demands. Dr Shainna Ali, the workbook’s creator, and a mental health clinician, offers suggestions, reflection questions, and interactive exercises. It’s been praised for being “challenging,” “fun,” and “effective.”
17. Find Your Pleasure
Find Your Pleasure: The Art of Living a More Joyful Life is a book published in 2020 and written by Cynthia Loyst.
This is a revolution in pleasure: instead of telling women they should feel guilty or ashamed for enjoying themselves, Cynthia Loyst demonstrates how to identify your true needs and desires in every area of your life. Through her enlightening anecdotes, Cynthia encourages women to embrace life’s delights, including the messy ones. Brimming with gorgeous color images, this book is a soul-satisfying delicacy you can consume in one sitting or in small doses.
18. Untamed
Untamed is a book published in 2020 written by Glennon Doyle.
This personal narrative is about letting go of expectations and choosing your special life route. In her memoir, Doyle shares her experience navigating divorce, creating a blended family, and realizing that not all families are equal. This book teaches you how to set boundaries, be at peace with your body, recover from heartbreak, and much more.
19. The Pretty One
The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me is a book published in 2019 written by Keah Brown.
This book, written by disability rights activist Keah Brown, is a collection of writings that examines disability and self-love in able-bodied culture. The topics covered in Brown’s articles range from her connection with her identical twin, who is physically fit, to how she came up with the trending hashtag #DisabledAndCute. It’s the best book to read to boost your self-esteem, end stigmas, and appreciate who you are.
20. You Are a Badass
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life is a book published in 2013 written by Jen Sincero.
Jen Sincero, best-selling author and internationally renowned success coach, offers readers 27 brief chapters in this hilarious and painfully real book divided into five parts. These chapters include exercises to help you identify self-defeating beliefs and behaviors preventing you from living your best life. It’s the ideal pocket manual for personal development.
21. Girl, Stop Apologizing
Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals is a book published in 2019 written by Rachel Hollis.
After reading this book, you won’t ever pass up a chance again because you’re afraid of looking foolish, being imperfect, or falling short of others’ expectations. To accomplish their objectives, readers are advised by author Rachel Hollis to quit defining themselves in terms of what others think of them and instead discover who they are on their own.
22. Confidence Hacks
Confidence Hacks: 99 Small Actions to Massively Boost Your Confidence is a book published in 2014 written by Barrie Davenport.
Readers will find 99 ideas from author Barrie Davenport in the following 10 categories: love, friendship, work, communication, appearance, self-improvement, body language, thinking, fun and adventure, and finances. If you follow these simple guidelines, you can gradually regain your confidence, ask for a raise, advocate for yourself, and express your opinions and ideas.
23. Wire Your Brain for Confidence
Wire Your Brain for Confidence: The Science of Conquering Self-Doubt is a book published in 2017 written by Louisa Jewell.
A highly beneficial quality in the workplace is courage. Louisa Jewell, a positive psychology specialist, offers anecdotes, exercises, questions for reflection, and tactics in this confidence-boosting manual to help you develop more bravery and self-assurance.
24. Over The Top
Over The Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love is a book published in 2019 written by Jonathan Van Ness.
Jonathan’s journey to becoming the modern-day role model of self-love and acceptance is revealed in this book. Jonathan discloses never-before-told secrets and shows parts of himself that the public has never seen in this startling, visceral, and raucous book. Fans of JVN may believe they understand the man hiding behind the stiletto heels, crop tops, and catchphrases, but there is much more to him than what the Queer Eye can see.
25. Year of Yes
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Person is a book published in 2015 written by Shonda Rhimes.
Click Here To BuyShonda Rhimes is a powerful producer of popular television programs, but because she is an introvert, she realizes that she nearly always chooses to turn down opportunities out of fear. Her sister then challenged Rhimes and she had to say “yes” to every chance she came across and watch what transpired for a year. This book details how accepting all speaking engagements and media requests transformed every element of the author’s life, particularly her self-confidence.
26. What I Know For Sure
What I Know For Sure is a book published in 2014 written by Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey is undeniably a self-assured woman, as seen by her enormous wealth and influence. Winfrey offers tips on improving yourself and lessons she’s learned through her life and profession in articles arranged by topics like joy, resilience, gratitude, opportunity, and power.
27. The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women
The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive In Spite of It. This book was published in 2011 and written by Valerie Young.
According to research, women are more likely to encounter impostor syndrome at some point in their lifetime. Author and public speaker Valerie Young has devoted her career to determining why women experience these concerns more frequently and how they may recognize how they affect their success and quality of life. Through years of research, Young reveals in the book the covert causes of this self-doubt among women.
28. How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t
How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t: 14 Habits that are holding you back from Happiness is a book published in 2018 written by Andrea Owen.
In this self-improvement manual, life coach Andrea Owen does not sugarcoat the reality of problematic behavior. In brief chapters, Owen covers people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, negative self-talk, and other actions that women frequently take—sometimes without even realizing it. After finishing this book, you’ll be able to identify the reasons behind your urges and feel confident enough to break any bad behaviors.
Final Words
These were some of the many books I’d suggest you read even if you think you have healthy self-esteem. They might help you in a way you had never expected and recommend it to your loved ones as well.
If you like this book list, do check out other recommendations below too.
