158. Applied psychology books

Applied psychology books are those that deal with exactly what you would think–applying findings from psychology research to specific situations. Many of the books in this section, but not all, fall into the self-help genre.

Further reading

James Baraz Awakening Joy: 10 Steps that Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness, 2009.

After successfully teaching a popular course on happiness, James Baraz shares his program to teach you to change your mental habits. The result is less dissatisfaction and more joy. Because no matter what situation you find yourself in, what matters most is how you train yourself to perceive it.

Brene Brown The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, 2010.

If you’ve convinced yourself that you don’t measure up to others, you need help. Brene Brown shows you how your imperfections actually give you value that no one else has. Through ten lessons she has learned from her research and personal experiences, she will convince you that you are always worthy of love.

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”  –Brene Brown The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. 

Marsha Lucas Rewire Your Brain for Love: Creating Vibrant Relationships Using the Science of Mindfulness, 2013.

Simple mental practices which take no more than a few minutes a day can rewire your brain and over time change the way you behave. The changes don’t require heroic efforts. Just a few mental tweaks can improve your relationships with others and yourself.

Suresh Ramaswamy Just Be: Transform Your Life and Live as Infinity, 2018.

Relax and accept yourself, because you already are what you are meant to be. Suresh Ramaswamy will lead you to discover your authentic self. Then you will naturally understand how to live gracefully while developing peace, love, and joy.

“To Just Be, you have to change from looking outward to looking inward.”
― Suresh Ramaswamy, Just Be: Transform Your Life and Live as Infinity.

For more information about the recommended books in my Further Reading series, see Further Reading: Start Here.

Have a self-help book that changed your life? Share it in the comments!