Five must-read short self-help books you can finish reading in one day!
The Japanese word ‘Tsundoku’ refers to the phenomenon of acquiring books but letting them pile up without reading them. We’ve all been there, staring achingly at a stack of books especially when we’re feeling the need for some inspiration.
Self-help short books that you can finish in one sitting are just the perfect dose of motivation and enrichment. Your weekend (or weekday) book binge would be filled with wisdom from bite-sized personal development books that you can consume with a freshly brewed pot of coffee.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best short self-help books on Bookscape that can be devoured in one brief sitting. We’ve capped our picks at the 200-250 page count, but many titles fall well under 200 pages so you’ll always get the feeling of accomplishment from finishing a good book.
Author: Spencer Johnson
A quick read that is aimed at helping people cope with a fast-changing world. The author Spencer Johnson uses a parable of two mice and two sprite-like people who live in a maze, and how they adjust to the cheese being moved every day. Through this story, the personal transformation book discusses the attitudes we have towards change. It also provides easy-to-implement techniques to overcome fear and anxiety about the future and keep your eyes on the prize (or should we say cheese?).
Author: Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles
The most wonderful refuge when everything seems to be running in the fast lane is a self-help book that can light a spark for a life-changing shift. This book is one such. The word ‘Ikigai’ is Japanese for ‘a reason for living’. It’s the sweet spot where your needs, desires, goals and satisfaction meet. No wonder then why finding your ikigai is directly linked to a longer life. This book is a roadmap to finding your ikigai, and a way to lead you into finding meaning and fulfilment.
Author: Zig Ziglar
Zig Ziglar’s magnum opus, this practical self-help book is ideal for those who want to be successful at business or just at life. His refreshing quick wit, easy-going charm and winner’s attitude makes it easy to access his wisdom to build stronger personal and professional relationships. Zig also encourages leveraging your unique behavioural style to communicate effectively and become a better leader, employee, or parent.
Author: Og Mandino
The book traces the trajectory of a man named Hafid — his life from a small village in Turkey to becoming a door-to-door salesman in the U.S. Hafid’s prospecting experiences are his crucible of change as he perseveres to become the greatest salesman in the world. The wisdom and teachings in this self-help sales book are encoded into 10 ancient scrolls that document the keys to happiness and success through positive thinking and daily personal growth.
Author: Delia Steinberg Guzman
The book defines heroism as the act of treating every day and every act as a test of all our strengths – sheer physical prowess to intellectual and soul wisdom – coming into play. The book is composed of a selection of essays on existential questions that crosses our minds: What is love? Can pain and suffering be overcome? What is freedom and how can we find the courage to live it? To put it simply, taking challenges as a source of inspiration, to wade through troubled waters, and emerge victorious like heroes should be our life’s mantra.
