Congratulations on taking this step on your self-love journey, namely, seeking out books to help love yourself more deeply and more completely. Below you’ll find THE list of the best of the best books devoted to self-love
Are you ready for a self-love journey that will change your life? It starts with the right book!
You’re about to be introduced to 21 books and workbooks devoted to self-love, self-care, self-appreciation, and self-acceptance. Each selection here takes a somewhat different approach to explaining and teaching essential self-love principles.
What does psychology say about self-love?
Psychologists have a lot to say about the science of self-love. Bottom-line: most professionals see a link between self-love and overall happiness, success, and life fulfillment.
The books below are written by a variety of professionals, including professionals in the field of positive psychology. Others are written by regular folks who have faced the struggle to love themselves and have the wisdom to share from their personal journeys.
Can self-love be learned?
Self-love is not selfish, and self-love can be learned. Be prepared, though, lifelong patterns seldom change overnight. One of the best resolutions you’ll ever make is to love yourself. One of the best decisions you’ll ever make is to follow through on that decision.
Even if you’ve struggled with loving yourself (or even showing yourself self-compassion or self-acceptance) for a while (perhaps even your entire life), take heart: you can change.
I promise there’s a book here that could transform your life in amazing ways!
21 best self-love books and workbooks
Type: journal
Jamila White has created a beautiful 52-week self-love journey and placed it in this interactive journal just for you. Topics include boosting your confidence, letting go of limiting beliefs, and celebrating what makes you uniquely you.
Learn how to get in touch with your emotions, your wants, your needs, and your dreams. Enjoy exercises that will help you put your newfound insights and self-love skills into action.
Type: book/practices
If you’re ready to claim a greater sense of inner peace, joy, ease and purpose, then Good Morning, I Love You is worth a closer look. Author Dr. Shauna Shapira explains the brain science behind our feelings and emotions and reveals that our hard wiring for negativity can be overcome.
Start your “Good Morning, I Love You” practice today – and let this book show you the way to a happier, more fulfilling way to lead your life.
Type: workbook
This is the same book I used back in the 1990s to turn my life around. With more than 50 million copies sold, I know I’m not the only one who adores the power and beauty of this book by the mother of self-love, Louise Hay.
Love Yourself, Heal Your Life walks you through overcoming low self-esteem, stepping into your self-worth, and moving beyond even your deepest fears. Hay teaches you how to be gentle with yourself all throughout your life-long self-love journey.
Type: book
What do you feel you deserve in life? Those of us who grew up in painful family situations— where struggling was far more common than joy—often have trouble believing in our inherent worth. In this book, noted therapist Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse teaches you that you can change those negative self-beliefs and put an end to self-defeating messages and habits that hold you back. She teaches you how to learn to truly love yourself and claim your full sense of self-worth.
Type: book
Yes, setting boundaries is an act of self-love! This practical and inspirational book from Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed counselor and highly sought-after relationship, shows you how to set boundaries to find more peace and joy in your life. Learn how to set healthy boundaries with partners, friends, family, work associates and more.
Type: book
Do you give so much to others that there’s just not enough left at the end of the day for you? It’s time you stop being an “over-giver!”
Your well-being matters, and author Michelle Kulp will show you how to prioritize yourself, purge toxic energy, and reclaim a sense of joy you’ve been missing. Your soul-nurturing journey begins not with just a little self-love but rather with an enormous dose of big self-love!
Type: book
Who doesn’t want to live a good life, right? Well, it’s pretty hard to do if you’re stuck in self-neglect or, worse, self-loathing. Once you start giving attention to your true needs and begin adopting positive lifestyle habits, the whole energy of your life will shift. Author Vex King wants to show you how to use self-love to “unlock your greatness;” let him!
Type: workbook
There is so much to love about yourself and your life, yet many women have trouble seeing the potential of life through the lenses they’re currently wearing. You need to figure out a new way to look at your world so you can release the self-doubt and grow the self-compassion required to live the beautiful life you truly deserve.
In this workbook, Megan Logan—a licensed clinical social worker— walks you through dozens of practice and insightful exercises that deepen your sense of self-love and improve all aspects of your life. This book has more than 17,000 4.5+ reviews on Amazon alone!
Type: Journal
Teen girls have it rough nowadays, and that’s why it’s more important than ever to help them develop a strong sense of self and a loving relationship with themselves. Cindy Whitehead has been a champion of nurturing teen girls’ self-esteem for many decades now.
This journal—which is recommended for 12+ years—is packed with creative activities and self-love lessons every teen girl should hear. Even better, the messages are delivered in a way that the teen in your life will understand and appreciate!
Type: book
Radical love involves learning to accept yourself and others; those are two concepts with which many of us struggle. Radical Love is a memoir from Zachary Levi., a successful actor best known for his roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisal and American Underdog. Before achieving the acclaim he now experiences, Levi went through years of crippling anxiety and depression. In this book, he explains what brought him from rock bottom to a life of joy and purpose (hint, self-love is key to his journey!).
Type: workbook
Mary Jelkovsky, known as @maryscupofteaa on social media, has used her books, podcast and social popularity to inspire millions to love themselves more deeply. This workbook presents a mix of the author’s stories, advice from experts, and thought-provoking exercises to help you build a confident, loving relationship with yourself and your body. Written like a letter to a close friend, Mary’s work is inspirational and life-changing.
Type: book
Instead of loving ourselves, many of us are stuck in self-sabotage. This thought-provoking read by Brianna Wiest helps you identify why you cling to the behaviors that work against you. You then learn how you can develop the knowledge and resilience to change your self-sabotaging ways.
The Mountain Is You is Wiest’s most popular book and has nearly 11,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. Wiest’s books have sold 1M+ copies and have been translated into 20+ languages.
Type: workbook
Want to be more confident? What’s holding you back? If you really want to change, then it’s time you take action. Roberta Sanders’ workbook walks you through dozens of exercises on building self-love, self-esteem and self-acceptance. You learn how to stop feeling overwhelmed, ditch anxiety, overcome body shame, and make better life decisions. And it all starts when you get your copy of the Confidence & Self-Love Workbook for Women!
Type: workbook
Sonya Renee Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, world-renowned activist and thought leader on body liberation and transformational change, and founder of The Body Is Not an Apology (TBNAA). In this book, Tayler offers invaluable tools for living from a place of radical self-love. This book is a life-changer for anyone who’s ever struggled with body shame.
Type: book
About ten years ago I was going through a long stretch of deep depression and suffered a lack of life direction; I was lost, and this book helped bring me back. Kamal Ravikant reminded me that the thing I needed most of all in my life was to love myself more (a LOT more!).
Ravikant taught me how a simple little self-love mantra—repeated over time and with deep intensity— could help me begin a total life transformation. I couldn’t recommend this book more highly.
Type: book
I’ve been a fan of the Tiny Buddha blog and social posts for years, and so I’m delighted that Tiny Buddha’s founder, Lori Deschene, decided to introduce this tiny yet powerful guide on how to love yourself. This book of reflections and epiphanies offers authentic and vulnerable stories of self-love journeys. It’s a terrific book for yourself and also makes a wonderful gift!
Type: book
If you’re surrounded by toxic people in your life, then be sure to grab a copy of this best-seller from author Krystle Laughter (Don’t you love her name? I do!). Now is the time to start “re-teaching” people” about what you will and will not allow in your life.
This book will show you how to set strong boundaries and tap into the power of the “3 A’s of Healing.” Even better, you’ll learn how to start a daily self-love practice that will boost your confidence and the joy you experience every day.
Type: book
If you’re ready to fall deeply in love with yourself—perhaps for the first time—then read this book from author Rebecca Collins.
Discover what’s been holding you back from loving yourself, why you feel the way you do now, and how to overcome insecurities and thoughts of low self-worth. You’ll also learn how to start a positive self-talk practice that will help you develop a deep sense of self-love and appreciation.
Type: book
First of all I’m biased: I adore all the work that the author of this book puts out into the world. Shannon Kaiser is more than a breath of fresh air—she’s a tsunami of pure fun and joy. Her Play with the World website is one of my all-time favorites (and she’s a blast to follow on social media, too!).
So, it may come as no surprise that Kaiser’s The Self-Love Experiment is on my list of the best self-love books ever written.
Kaiser, oh heck, I’m going to call her Shannon (I hope that’s ok!) draws from her personal self-love experiment to provide an invaluable perspective on how you can fall in love with yourself and your life more deeply than you ever dreamed possible.
Shannon shows you how large doses of self-kindness, self-compassion, and self-acceptance are key to raising the vibration of your entire life.
This book isn’t on this list because I like the ever-delightful Kate Hudson; it’s also because I think her mom, Goldie Hawn, is one of the most joyful human beings on the planet. So, Kate obviously learned a thing or two from her mama.
Self-love in everything—including loving your body—is key to a happy life. If you like Hudson and Hawn, I think you’ll enjoy this book.
Type: book
Self-love isn’t just an emotion; it’s a deep sense of recognizing and appreciating your true self-worth. It also requires an unwavering commitment to holding yourself in the highest regard. Who better to inspire you on this self-love journey than the amazing Nobel Prize winner, Toni Morrison
Do you know anyone else who could use a self-love boost? Then please share this post directly with them or share on your favorite social channel.
