Fresh Fall Reads—Self Help Edition

17 New and Upcoming Books to Help You Live Your Best Life

The stresses and worries of everyday life are overwhelming. Preserving emotional and mental health takes ongoing work. As we head into fall, it's a good time to check in with ourselves and address any issues that may be looming. Here are 17 new and upcoming books that may help you find balance, growth, and connection.

Improving Your Life

From managing time to overcoming obstacles to achieving financial freedom, these books are designed to help readers optimize their day-to-day lives.

Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most
Based on her wildly popular UCLA class, Professor Cassie Holmes argues that the amount of time we have isn't actually the problem but rather, how we choose to spend our time. Here she lays out the solution—providing accessible, easy-to-implement tools for making better use of the time we have.

You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, And Your Why
As a teen, Eric Thomas was lost—homeless, failing in school, and grappling with the challenges of being a young Black man in America. Once he was able to break free from thinking of himself as a victim and understand his strengths, he switched the script. In this book, he shares his blueprint for success.

A Hard Kick in the Nuts: What I’ve Learned from a Lifetime of Terrible Decisions
Stephen "Steve-O" Glover—social media icon, comedy-touring stalwart, and star of Jackass—is best known for his wildly dangerous, foolish, painful, embarrassing, and sometimes death-defying stunts. His book offers a captivating exploration of his path to find balance, sobriety, health, and happiness.

Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto
Our worth does not reside in how much we produce, especially for systems that exploit and dehumanize us. Tricia Hersey, aka the Nap Bishop, casts an illuminating light on our troubled relationship with rest. She argues that taking time to rest is an act of reclaiming power. The systems cannot have us. (Oct. 11)

Establishing Home: Creating Space for a Beautiful Life with Family, Faith, and Friends
When Jean Stoffer's husband announced he was quitting his extremely stressful job to look for another line of work, she suddenly needed to bring in a lot more of the family income. Here, she chronicles her journey to building her dream career as an award-winning designer and star of her own television show. (Nov. 1)

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times
There may be no tidy solutions or pithy answers to life’s big challenges, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all locate and lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. In this book, she reflects on the habits and principles that have helped her overcome obstacles. (Nov. 15)

Overcoming Debt, Achieving Financial Freedom: 8 Pillars to Build Wealth
Lawyer, business owner, and first-generation professional Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez shares the strategies and resources that she used to go from having six-figures of debt to a multiple six-figure net worth. Full of easy-to-apply advice for young adults, students, and early-career professionals. (Nov. 15)

Communicating and Connecting

Intimacy doesn't come easy. Finding and maintaining close relationships requires practice, work, and a willingness for discomfort. These books offer strategies to strengthen the ties that bind.

Marriage Be Hard: 12 Conversations to Keep You Laughing, Loving, and Learning with Your Partner
Growing up, The Love Hour podcasters Kevin and Melissa Fredericks were taught rules and expectations around dating, sex, and marriage, but not what makes a relationship work. This hilarious and honest book—written for those tired of unrealistic relationship books—lays out what they've learned.

The Love Prescription: Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy
What makes love last? Why does one couple stay together forever, while another falls apart? Is there a scientific formula for love? Relationship scientists John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman say yes. Here is their simple yet powerful plan to transform your relationship in seven days.

You Are Home
New York Times bestselling author and artist Catana Chetwynd imparts her relationship wisdom once again with her latest collection of comics. This time, she explores the momentous steps of an intimate relationship and shines a light on the joy those moments can offer. (Oct. 4)

The Book of Boundaries
Do your relationships often feel one-sided or unbalanced? Are you always giving in just so things will go smoothly? Do you wish you could learn to say no—but, like, nicely? Whole30 cofounder Melissa Urban lays out the tools you need to improve your relationships for a life that feels bigger, healthier, and freer. (Oct. 11)

Recovering From Pain and Trauma

Getting beyond grief and fear takes time and self-care. These books lay out a framework for healing and moving forward from dark places.

Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future
Yung Pueblo's path to deep healing began after years of drug abuse had taken a toll on his mind and body. Searching for a way forward, he dedicated himself to meditation and trusting his intuition. In this book, he shares his path to learning self-compassion, letting go, and finding harmony within. (Oct. 4)

How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free
Wellness author and teacher Alexandra Elle presents her four-part framework for self-discovery and healing. Readers will learn powerful techniques, including journaling practices to cultivate strength, tools for processing difficult emotions, and restorative meditations to ease the mind. (Nov. 8)

A Heart That Works
In this intimate, unflinching, and fiercely funny memoir, Catastrophe star and creator Rob Delaney shares the heartbreaking story of losing his young son. His bracingly honest account offers solace to those who have faced devastation and shows how grace may appear even in the darkest times. (Nov. 29)

Finding Your Religion

Maintaining spiritual health is a discipline that, like any other, requires daily practice and renewal. These books offer guides for strengthening your spirit and connecting with the divine.

How We Live Is How We Die
Beloved Buddhist nun and bestselling author Pema Chödrön shares her wisdom for learning to live with ease, joy, and compassion through uncertainty, embracing new beginnings, and ultimately preparing for death with curiosity and openness rather than fear. (Oct. 4)

Confessions of a Crappy Christian
If you're struggling to keep the faith, this might be the book for you. Blake Guichet builds on her popular podcast, embracing the truth that we can't do it all perfectly. She provides down-to-earth guidance and scriptural support on topics like forgiveness, mental health, broken friendships, sex, and more. (Oct. 11)

Faith Still Moves Mountains: Miraculous Stories of the Healing Power of Prayer
In her third book, Emmy Award-winning newscaster Harris Faulkner is a discourse on the practice of prayer. We often think about prayer as a wish list, with God as Santa Claus. She offers a different lens: "The power of prayer reminds us not only how small we are, but also how big God is." (Nov. 15)

As always, we love to hear from readers about the books that are speaking to them. Let us know if you have any self-help new releases to recommend.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon