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The 25 Best Self-Love Books You’ll Want to Read More Than Once

Right this way for a pep talk.

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Okay, hear me out: Some of the best company you can keep is yourself. That's right, you've gotta learn to be your own best friend and show yourself the love you would shower your bestie with, because as the great RuPaul says, "If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love somebody else?" Self-love (or lack thereof) can have a big impact, making navigating your day-to-day sufficiently better than if you didn’t have true self-acceptance. I know, I know, it sounds corny, but it's true!

Now I also know that in a world of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and having to navigate difficult situations that can leave us feeling, well, a little critical of ourselves, it's usually easier said than done to show ourselves a lil' self-love. But just like any skill, learning to love yourself and understanding where negative self-talk is coming from (and how to talk back to it!) is something you need to actively work on. If you need a hand in that area or just appreciate a good reminder, these self-love books are so inspiring that you’ll actually want to reread them (or lend them to your friends, because they could probably use a reminder, too).

1

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It, by Kamal Ravikant

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<i>Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It</i>, by Kamal Ravikant
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When CEO Kamal Ravikant completely fell apart after his company tanked, he went on a mission to start loving himself and it ended up saving him. Now he's written a book about it that will not only make you want to love yourself too, but will show you exactly how to do it.

2

The Art of Letting Go, by Damon Zahariades

<i>The Art of Letting Go</i>, by Damon Zahariades

It can be almost second-nature for a lot of us to hold onto anger, resentment, and regret, but really all that ends up doing is exhausting us emotionally. So, this book maps out ways to overcome that emotional turmoil by changing negative thought patterns so that you can start enjoying your life more.

3

Self-Compassion, by Kristin Neff

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<i>Self-Compassion</i>, by Kristin Neff
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Whether you're trying to stick to your New Year's resolution of reading more or just get through your endless daily to-do lists, a lot of us have a tendency to beat ourselves up when we start struggling to do what we wanted to do. This book encourages you to move towards self-compassion, and provides exercises and action plans that can be put into place when those struggles come up.

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4

Think Like A Monk, by Jay Shetty

<i>Think Like A Monk</i>, by Jay Shetty

Instead of going to college, Jay Shetty went to India to live as a monk for three years. In this book he shares many of the lessons he learned there, like how to stop overthinking, why you are not your thoughts, how to access your inner calm, and how to find purpose. All of these put together are a recipe for self-love success.

5

The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown

<i>The Gifts of Imperfection</i>, by Brené Brown

Brené Brown is basically the reigning queen of self-help/self-love books, and this one in particular is all about learning to accept imperfections, especially during the times when we don't live up to the unattainable (and sometimes self-sabotaging) expectations we set for ourselves.

6

The Self-Love Experiment, by Shannon Kaiser

<i>The Self-Love Experiment</i>, by Shannon Kaiser
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Author Shannon Kaiser draws from her personal experience of learning to love herself and finding purpose after recovering from eating disorders, drug addictions, corporate burnout, and depression. It’s basically about learning how to put yourself first, which, FYI, isn’t selfish!

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7

Daring Greatly, by Brené Brown

<i>Daring Greatly</i>, by Brené Brown

Learning to embrace vulnerability can be hard, especially when we've been taught, directly or indirectly, that being vulnerable is weak. In this book, the iconic Brené Brown dispels that myth and shows you how it's actually a strength and opens us up to so many other amazing life experiences.

8

Dare to Let Go, by Alexandra Vasiliu

<i>Dare to Let Go</i>, by Alexandra Vasiliu

If you find poetry speaks to your soul more than anything else, then this book of poems needs to get added to your to-read list. It touches on everything from letting go of bad relationships to healing, growth, self-esteem, and living a life full of love.

9

The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

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<i>The Four Agreements</i>, by Don Miguel Ruiz

This is a classic in the world of self-love books, having come out more than 25 years ago and still being popular today. It focuses on getting rid of self-limiting beliefs that hold us back and provides a guide to transform your life so you can experience freedom, joy, and love.

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10

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself, by Nedra Glover Tawwab

<i>Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself</i>, by Nedra Glover Tawwab

It's so easy to get caught up in the grind culture, putting in an exhausting amount of hours with work or school or parenting or whatever endeavor's in front of you. And then there's family obligations and friends, and suddenly you have no time for yourself. Well one of the best ways you can show yourself some love is by setting boundaries, giving you time to focus on you! Leaning to say "no" is hard, but this book can help you get there.

11

Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women, by Becca Anderson

<i>Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women</i>, by Becca Anderson
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Sometimes we don't need to read multiple chapters of a book to change our perspective on ourselves. Sometimes an empowering affirmation that we repeat throughout the day will do the trick.

12

Be That Unicorn, by Jenny Block

<i>Be That Unicorn</i>, by Jenny Block
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What little kid didn't want to be a unicorn at some point? I mean, they're beautiful and magical and downright cool. Well, this book is all about letting your inner magic shine so you can be a unicorn. If you could do with some encouragement to just be yourself and, most importantly, believe in yourself, then you'll want to grab a copy.

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13

Don't Overthink It, by Anne Bogel

<i>Don't Overthink It</i>, by Anne Bogel

Overthinking seems uncontrollable, but author Anne Bogel is here to tell you that it's an act you can actually stop doing. In Don't Overthink It, she offers strategies to help you deal with indecisions and what-ifs both big and small.

14

Unf*ck Yourself, by Gary John Bishop

<i>Unf*ck Yourself</i>, by Gary John Bishop
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''Here's what you've forgotten: You're a fu*king miracle of being,'' Gary John Bishop writes in this straightforward handbook that centers on moving past self-imposed limits. You’re the only one standing in the way of getting or doing what you want.

15

How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t, by Andrea Owen

<i>How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t</i>, by Andrea Owen
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It's time to destroy your self-destructive behaviors. That means ditching people-pleasing, tuning out your inner critic, and holding back from catastrophizing. Through digestible chapters on bad habit awareness, you'll learn how to stop getting in your own way of happiness.

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16

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

<i>Year of Yes</i> by Shonda Rhimes

The great Shonda Rhimes, who brought us Grey's Anatomy and many other incredible TV shows. spent a year saying yes to everything that scared her. In this memoir, she shares her experiences in that year that helped her love her truest self.

17

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies, by Tara Schuster

<i>Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies</i>, by Tara Schuster
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TV exec Tara Schuster gets brutally honest in this witty book about growing up–whether you’re in your 20s or 50s–and “learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it’s-so-cheesy way.” She shares the daily rituals that helped her re-parent herself and become a self-love expert.

18

What a Time to Be Alone, by Chidera Eggerue

<i>What a Time to Be Alone</i>, by Chidera Eggerue
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This book is all about how being alone is literally the best thing that can ever happen to you. It centers on how you decide your own self-worth and how to avoid toxic relationships. Plus, it features author Chidera Eggerue's original artwork. Who doesn’t love a well-designed, helpful book?

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19

Untamed, by Glennon Doyle

<i>Untamed</i>, by Glennon Doyle

Jam-packed with life lessons, Glennon Doyle’s memoir boils down to abandoning the world’s expectations of you. It’s about fully embracing every aspect of your life to live totally free as a woman in the modern world.

20

You Were Born for This, by Chani Nicholas

<i>You Were Born for This</i>, by Chani Nicholas
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Astrologer Chani Nicholas takes you through three foundational parts of your birth chart in this page turner that essentially tells you to stop looking outside of yourself for validation, and embrace self-acceptance. To achieve that, it features journal prompts, reflection questions, and affirmations tailored to your astrological makeup.

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