# Your favorite "self development" book **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-self-development-book/562965 "2010-12-04T21:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-self-development-book/562965/1 "2010-12-04T21:50:17Z")
Lately I’ve been fascinated with reading and listening to some self development/self improvement type books. I think so far my favorite one has been The Now Habit, which focuses on reducing procrastination and perfectionism. None of them have radically changed my life or anything, but I do like how they make you think from different perspectives and sometimes reading them puts me in a good frame of mind. What books have you read that have positively impacted you most? ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-self-development-book/562965/2 "2010-12-04T23:34:53Z")
_How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World: A Handbook for Personal Liberty_ Harry Browne > **[How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World: Harry Browne: 9780380004232: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/How-Found-Freedom-Unfree-World/dp/0380004232)** > > How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World \[Harry Browne\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-self-development-book/562965/3 "2010-12-05T00:36:34Z")
The only “self help” sort of book I have ever thought was worth the paper it’s printed on is _How to Win Friends and Influence People_, which is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-self-development-book/562965/4 "2010-12-05T17:16:37Z")
I haven’t read many, but some stand-outs: [Writing With Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing](http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Style-Conversations-Art-2nd/dp/0130257133), by John Trimble [Seven Choices: Finding Daylight After Loss Shatters Your World](http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Choices-Finding-Daylight-Shatters/dp/0446690503/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291569260&sr=1-1), by Elizabeth Harper Neeld [How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk](http://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Falling-Love-Jerk/dp/0071548424/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291569334&sr=1-1), by John Van Epp