15 self-knowledge books that will help you to know yourself better

Self-knowledge books bring reflections that can and should be taken into everyday life. With that in mind, check out a selection of 15 works that are perfect for those times when you need some guidance. Learn how to get to know yourself and become your best version!

1. Essentialism

In Essentialism, Greg McKeown teaches that being busy is not synonymous with being productive. The objective of the work is to bring a method that teaches to identify, prioritize and eliminate what is not essential.

It shows you ways to make adjustments to your routine, making it clear the importance of knowing how to say no and prioritizing what is important to you. The author also gives examples of better ways to find out where and how to focus your time and dedication.

2. The courage to be imperfect

Brené Brown, a researcher and writer, brings a book with several reflections and highlights the importance of knowing one’s vulnerability and understanding that the act of living involves taking risks and uncertainties. In addition, the work also demonstrates how vulnerability is not synonymous with weakness, but with courage.

Telling stories she heard in research, she went deep to understand the feelings people experience when they feel vulnerable, what are the possible strategies for opening up to new things and how to deal with it.

3. Mindset

Carol S. Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford, offers several insights that are the result of decades of research. In the book, she emphasizes how one’s way of thinking can influence various aspects, such as success.

The plot brings accounts of what she observed in her research and shows that people willing to make mistakes and learn from mistakes are more likely to achieve success than those who believe they always need to be perfect in everything.

4. Love for imperfect things

In this book, the Zen Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim wisely brings up themes such as acceptance, healing, courage, failures and many others. Seeking to analyze the way of seeing the world and oneself.

A true exercise in self-knowledge, with reflections on accepting one’s faults, always with a lot of self-compassion, to have wiser and calmer relationships.

5. The power of now

Eckhart Tolle explains that living in the now is the way to find happiness and enlightenment. In the book, he explains how to leave behind the moments that have passed, avoiding thinking about the past or worrying excessively about the future.

With a question and answer format, the author simplifies the complex and brings, in an accessible language, the combined concepts of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and other spiritual traditions, teaching how to become aware of thoughts and emotions.

6. Emotional intelligence

Bringing together psychology and neuroscience, Daniel Goleman brought the concept of rational and emotional minds, exploring how they can shape a person’s destiny.

Through everyday cases, the author describes the five key skills of emotional intelligence and teaches how it is necessary to know how to deal with emotions so that they do not negatively influence people’s lives.

7. The courage to not please

Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga are the authors of this book, which is based on the debate between a young man and a philosopher. Inspired by aspects of psychology, the work brings themes such as self-esteem, anger and acceptance of oneself.

The book talks about how it is necessary to move away from the expectations that other people place on you, to be able to reinvent yourself and truly know yourself.

8. Purpose: the courage to be who we are

Sri Prem Baba addresses themes that invite the reader to take a transformative journey within herself, with a focus on finding the purpose of her own existence.

Divided into seven parts, the first six teach you how to make this journey towards the interior of yourself. In the last one, the author teaches powerful practices for discoveries, teachings and love.

9. Why do we do what we do?

Focused on career and for those who are feeling unmotivated or having doubts about this area of ​​life, writer Mario Sergio Cortella exposes important issues related to work, such as life purpose, motivation and values.

The book proposes to be a manual with several essential teachings for those who want to have professional fulfillment, without giving up free time and quality of personal life.

10. Courageous yes, perfect no

Reshma Saujani, author of this book, is the founder of the NGO Girls Who Code and works to bring girls into the world of technology. That’s why she wrote the book to share with other women how the pursuit of perfection can limit them professionally.

During the plot, she comments on how the fear of failure, the desire to please and the quest to always be perfect makes women not stimulate the muscle of courage over the years. During the narrative, she invites everyone to be, day after day, more courageous.

11. Maybe you should talk to someone

The author and therapist Lori Gottlieb exposes the need to know how to listen in order to be heard, being an invitation to a journey of self-knowledge.

The book brings together stories from Lori’s professional trajectory as a therapist, in addition to her experience as a patient, that is, showing both sides of the coin. The language is affectionate and welcoming, and various yearnings of human nature are addressed.

12. In search of ourselves

You know those questions that, at least once in your life, you’ve asked yourself? “Who am I?”, “where did I come from?”, “where am I going?”. In Search of Ourselves is a narrative about the history of evolution and human knowledge.

Clóvis de Barros Filho and Pedro Calabrez approach these subjects with informal dialogues, bringing concepts of philosophy and science of mind in an accessible language, making the discovery of these issues lighter.

13. The Five Love Languages

Self-knowledge is usually related to getting to know yourself, but it can also involve getting to know people close to you better.

In this book, Gary Chapman addresses the differences between men and women, as well as making the point that there are different ways to show love. Each of them is presented in the work, in addition to a question and answer section on the topic.

14. I thought this only happened to me

For those who are struggling with themselves to be accepted by others, Brené Brown has a special message, based on many years of research.

The book shows how vulnerability can bring people together, as well as the importance of not forgetting your true self just to be accepted by others. This is because the work brings the following reflection: it is the imperfections that bring people together and connect them.

15. The things you only see when you slow down

Written by South Korean Zen Buddhist master Haemin Sunim, the book provides necessary reminders to slow down, calm the mind, and practice self-compassion.

The work addresses deep themes, but in a delicate and friendly language, helping to better understand personal relationships and spirituality. In addition, it brings the importance of mindfulness to transforming the way of seeing life.

After so many nominations, it’s time to choose which ones will be on your reading list, isn’t it? Enjoy and check out this selection of books that every woman should read!