A recent study by Richard Redding and colleagues at Chapman University found that 60% of the 50 best-selling books about how to live a better life with self improvement were well-grounded in up-to-date research backed by solid evidence. Some of the best books, Redding says, include: The OCD Workbook (Bruce M. Hyman), Dying of Embarrassment (Barbara Markway), The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook (Martin M. Antony), Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding (Fugen Neziroglu) and Stop Obsessing (Edna B. Foa). Most of these books will boost self esteem by helping individuals overcome depression, anxiety, compulsions and delusions they may suffer from. In this article, you will learn about more books aimed at confidence building.
Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns M.D. (1999) is one of the most highly acclaimed books on building a better life through self improvement. Dr. Burns has an impressive roster as the Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Medical School and Acting Chief of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. His book about how to feel good about yourself had sold more than 4 million copies and was rated as the “best self-help book for depressed individuals” by 500 mental health professionals’ analysis of over 1,000 books. His follow-up, The Feeling Good Handbook, came in at #2. In the book, Dr. Burns helps individuals recognize the root cause of harmful mood swings, nip negativity in the bud, deal with guilt, handle criticism, overcome addiction to love and build self-esteem. This book can be purchased at www.amazon.com for $8.
Another one of the most respected books about living a better life with self improvement is The Six Pillars of Self Esteem: The Definitive Work on Self-Esteem by the Leading Pioneer in the Field (Nathaniel Branden, 1995). In this book, psychologist and prominent objectivism expert Nathaniel Branden expounds on the six pillars that lead to building self confidence: living consciously, accepting yourself, taking responsibility, asserting who you are, living purposefully and maintaining your integrity. Many readers really enjoy the year’s worth of daily, 15-minute sentence-completion exercises in the book that Branden has used during his decades as a practicing psychologist. This book sells for $12.24 at www.amazon.com and also comes in audiobook or downloadable format.
Some people don’t enjoy reading practical “how to create a better life with self improvement” books from the self-help section. Fiction readers can find more subtle inspiration and life-changing truths in James Redfield’s book, The Celestine Prophecy (1997). The story centers on a man who quits his nondescript job to track down a rare Peruvian manuscript that allegedly contains some of life’s greatest secrets. Readers will revel with the narrator as he finds each and every clue in this adventurous saga. At its core, there are some magnificent discussions about better ways to communicate, how to find joy through hikes in nature, how to avoid power struggles, how to find your soul mate, how to tap into your inner energy and how to raise your children. By the time you reach the last page, you will have some clues as to where you may have gone wrong and you will inevitably feel positive about your life now that you have these new truths to ponder. This book is available at www.amazon.com for $10.
Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed treating panic disorder as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medications available at www.anxietydisordercure.com.
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