Are self-help books actually helpful? That’s debatable. It depends from person to person and on what someone is looking for at a particular point in their life. I know people who hate self-help. They find it preachy and pretentious. Then there are others who only read self-help, attracted to them as moths are to light. It gives them perspective and helps them make sense of things, they say. I fall somewhere in the middle. I don’t dislike the genre but I also don’t buy every new book that comes out making bold claims to change your life or transform the way you look and feel.

Occasionally I feel like I need a pep talk or some guidance and that’s when I pick up self-help. ‘The Happiness Project’ by Gretchen Rubin is one of my favorite books in the genre and I’m constantly re-reading that. But there are others too that have changed my ways of thinking and helped me bring some discipline into my life. I usually pick up self-help books that don’t have to be read in a single shot or in a linear pattern. I prefer those you can dip in and out of these books but you still find some nugget of wisdom to rewire your brain. Here are three such brilliant books that you can pick up as 2024 comes to an end to ensure you are ready to face 2025 with an open mind.

Living the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

I have heard a lot about ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron. It’s supposed to be a transformative book that teaches you how to, as cliché as it sounds, be the best version of yourself. The book was an instant bestseller when it was published in 1992. It teaches people techniques and exercises to become confident and creative. Cameron also ran The Artist’s Way online course on her website, with 12 weeks of videos to supplement the structure of the book. She is also called the ‘Queen of Change’.  In ‘Living the Artist’s Way’ published earlier this year, Cameron shows you how to seek and accept guidance to become more creative. The book teaches you how to connect with the intuitive power within yourself and trust the answers you receive.

The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest

This is a really easy-to-read book. Though the book is a compilation of 365 daily meditations, you can randomly flip to a page and just read that. If you want to change your life in 2025, then this book can help you do that without overwhelming you. You will gradually learn how to do and see things differently and become a different person. The person you want to be is already within you, says Wiest. You just have to convince your mind to act consistently on what your heart already knows it wants to do. This book is for anyone standing at the crossroads of where you are and where you want to be. There are no studies quoted to back what is said so the book reads like an affirmation of sorts and that helps you simply complex ideas.

You’re a Badass by Jen Sincero

I have to confess that the bright yellow cover made me buy this book. I knew nothing about it. But I’m glad that I picked this one up. It’s basically a pep-talk in 200 something pages that you didn’t know you needed. There is nothing new here but everything Sincero says has been pushed to the back of your mind and you don’t know you need a refresher course until you get one. It’s a simple book that you will be able to breeze through unlike heavier self-help titles like ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear that you need to sit down with a notebook and pen by your side. The theme of the book is basically self-love and each chapter ends with a powerful reminder to be kinder to yourself. If I had to choose one book to help me prepare for 2025, it would definitely be this one.