Chances are there is something about yourself that you wish you could improve. Maybe you procrastinate too much, or perhaps you don’t feel like you’re the best friend that you could be. Perhaps you don’t feel like you’re the best student you could be, or maybe it’s something else entirely. If you feel like you could improve in any way, you should be taking a closer look at the best self-improvement books for young adults.
These books are designed to help you better understand yourself and better understand the things you are capable of. Books on self-esteem and confidence, personal growth books, and even plain psychology self-help books can make a big difference in your life. All you need to do is find the best ones for you and start implementing some new things into your life.
If you want to just get back to studying, get our top pick for self-improvement books for young adults here.
Last update: 2024-04-28
Our Favorites for Best Self-Improvement Books for Young Adults
This category is our favorites list of best self-transformation books. With any of these, you’ll be able to make a big difference in your life and your outlook on it. Not only that, but these non-fiction self-help books will help you to achieve the things that you’ve always wanted in your life.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
When it comes to improving your life, one of the best things that you can do is stop caring so much what other people think. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is about helping you to learn how to accept flaws and mistakes in your life and how to work with them. Life isn’t just about learning how to turn bad things into good but learning how to accept the bad and move on from them.
You’ll learn more about Manson’s ideas on the ‘feel-good mindset’ and the general of gold medals just for showing up. You’ll also learn how to determine your own limitations, stop avoiding painful truths, and how to find the courage to do the things that are most important to you. With The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck you’ll change your life in an abrupt way that makes you take a hard look in the mirror.
What Makes it Unique:
- Presents change in a unique and fun way filled with irony and humor
- Learn how to gain control over situations that you previously didn’t have control over
Why Choose this Self-Improvement Book for Young Adults:
- Teaches you to accept the negatives in your life and work with them rather than forcing you to only look at the positive
- Confronts the current ‘feel-good mindset’ to focus on a more realistic view of the world
- Hardcover Book
- Manson, Mark (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-28
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Learning new habits can be difficult, but if you have a foolproof method to help you, then you may be able to do it a little easier. That’s what Atomic Habits is all about. You’ll learn how to make time for new habits, how to develop the willpower and motivation you need, and even how to customize your environment. All of these things make it easier for you to not only choose good habits but implement them and follow through.
Atomic Habits can help you get on track and stay on track with positive habits that will help you achieve your goals. If you’re looking to set personal goals or work-related goals or even those in relationships and more, you can do so with the tips and ideas you learn in Atomic Habits. These tips have been used to start positive habits and even to quit negative ones far faster than you would be able to on your own.
What Makes it Unique:
- Can be used to stop negative habits that are taking control of your life
- Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of building and improving your practices and your life
Why Choose this Self-Improvement Book for Young Adults:
- Focuses on creating the right environment for habits both in mindset and in a physical environment
- Helps you to get back on track with your positive habits if you find yourself struggling
- Hardcover Book
- Clear, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-28
Runner Ups for Best Self-Improvement Books for Young Adults
Our runner up category is still some of the best self-motivation books you’re going to find. These ones may focus a little more on general self-improvement rather than giving you quite the same guidance and support that you’ll get with our favorites, but they’re definitely worth a read.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens is slightly different from Covey’s book on Highly Effective People. You’ll learn the specific skills that can be used to help you develop self-esteem and work toward greater success. Not only that, but these tips are tailored to the issues and situations that you may find yourself in as a teen or young adult.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens looks at issues like cyberbullying and social media and also presents the information in a way that’s more appealing to teenage readers. You’ll also get insight from teens around the world and quotes from people that you love and admire throughout different industries. Covey will help you to reach for your dreams, achieve your goals, and keep pushing yourself.
What Makes it Unique:
- Offers step-by-step guidance to get you to your goals and dreams
- Focuses on issues and problems that are facing young adults today
Why Choose this Self-Improvement Book for Young Adults:
- Written in a way that appeals to teen and young adult readers rather than a textbook format
- Focuses on seven simple habits that can be implemented into anyone’s life quickly
- 6.2" W x 9.2" H x 0.6" D
- Covey, Sean (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-28
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life and Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven
Many of us overlook the little things that we could be doing in our lives to really make a difference. Make Your Bed focuses on those little things and how starting your day with one simple (and easy) task could change your entire outlook. Make Your Bed comes from a graduation speech given by Admiral William H. McRaven, which focuses on how you can actually change the world by starting small.
McRaven points out how his life is an example of little things adding up to big things. Not only that, but Make Your Bed provides additional wisdom and practical words of advice. Young adults who are facing difficult times or even just the ordinary rigors of life can learn from Make Your Bed and start looking at life in an entirely different way. McRaven knows what he’s talking about, having served as a Navy SEAL, and he teaches you how to apply what he knows in the life of an average person.
What Makes it Unique:
- Lays out ideas and thoughts in a personal story that makes it more relatable and easier to implement in your own life
- Presented in a straightforward manner rather than filled with fluffy self-help concepts or quotes
Why Choose this Self-Improvement Book for Young Adults:
- Discusses ways to make small decisions and habits that will have a significant impact
- Provides lessons on life that can change your future and your path a little at a time
- "Should be read by every leader in America...a book to inspire your children and grandchildren to become everything that they can." --Wall Street Journal
- "Powerful." --USA Today "Full of captivating personal anecdotes from inside the national security vault." --Washington Post
- "Superb, smart, and succinct." --Forbes BASED ON THE INCREDIBLE GRADUATION SPEECH WITH OVER 10 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE
Last update: 2024-04-28
Value Pick for Best Self-Improvement Books for Young Adults
Finally, we have our value section. These inspirational books for teens are designed to help you focus on specific areas of self-improvement and give you a little more general advice. You’ll be able to pick up some tips, tricks, and ideas that will help you gradually move forward in your life.
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness by Jen Sincero
This is only the first of a series of books that are designed to help you start making the right decisions and become the person you want to be. With You Are a Badass, you’ll get a great deal of advice, exercises, and stories that can help you look at yourself in an entirely different way. Even better, everything is presented in short bursts, so you can check it out as you have the time.
You Are a Badass helps you create the life that you want and makes sure that you have everything you’re looking for. You’ll learn how to love yourself for who you are and also how to make changes to the things that you want to change in your life. Not only that, but you’ll have fun doing it because You Are a Badass is full of humor and some swearing to get the point across.
What Makes it Unique:
- Presents the truth in a bold, upfront and funny way that really gets you thinking about your life
- Shows you how to change your thought process to get to the life you’re looking for
Why Choose this Self-Improvement Book for Young Adults:
- Presents information in bite-sized chunks to make it easier to read in short sessions
- Stories, advice and more are presented in a fun way rather than in a formal style
- Orders are despatched from our UK warehouse next working day.
- Sincero, Jen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-28
How to Choose the Best Self-Improvement Books for Young Adults
If you’re still looking for even more self-improvement books, then you’ll want to know what to look for. These are some questions that you should be asking yourself when it comes to what you actually want to read and how to find that next self-improvement book.
What Specific Topic in Self Improvement are You Looking to Read?Â
Which specific topics are you looking to learn? There are different aspects of self-improvement, such as self-esteem, motivation, confidence, and a great deal more. Are you looking to develop in one of these areas precisely? If so, you’ll want a book that’s focused on that area rather than a general guide for self-improvement.
Is the Self Help Book Clearly Focused on the Issue You are Addressing?Â
Look for a book that is focused on what you actually want to learn. You may be able to pick up some tips for self-esteem in a book on motivation, but that’s not really what it’s meant for. Instead, look for a book that really relates to what you want to learn, even if it’s not the book everyone else is recommending to you.
Has it Worked for Other People?Â
If the book has worked for others, then there’s a better chance it’s going to work for you. But that’s not a guarantee. These might be books you want to take a look at, but don’t feel discouraged if everyone else raves about the book, and you just don’t get it. Not every self-improvement book is going to be made for you.
Wrapping Things Up: The Best Self-Improvement Books for Young Adults
To sum up, here are the best self-improvement books for young adults we looked at today:
Last update: 2024-04-28
If you’re looking for the best book on self-improvement, you’ll want to pick up The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. You’ll learn how to approach the life that you’re currently living and the life you want to live in an entirely different way, without getting dragged into the negatives that will no doubt come up over time.
In our runner up section is Make Your Bed, which will help you start with small tasks every day that make a huge difference in your life as you move forward. You’ve likely never tried making your bed as a way to change your life, but it absolutely can if you start out right.
Finally, You Are a Badass will help you look at your own life and situation in an entirely different way. If you’re willing to look at your situation and laugh or even change your perspective, you’re going to enjoy reading You Are a Badass. You’ll get a whole new outlook on everything around you and a new appreciation for humor.
Did you find this interesting? Check out our other reading lists here!
