Your essential guide to Psychology: Top 14 books for beginners
“Knowledge is a sword, which has no sharpness and will be of no use in the battlefield, which in the modern generation is your life. The only way you can make your sword battle-ready is by bolstering it with psychology and behavioural science. Now, let me warn you about this field; it may appear from the outside to be very shiny and easy to learn. Still, delving deeper reveals its intricately complex nature, and it may become overwhelming without a structured plan to navigate or sail through.
So, to assist you in this chaos, we have meticulously handpicked 14 Top Psychology books for begineers.
Table of Contents
Understanding mind: The chimp Paradox by Prof Steve Peters
- This book is the perfect choice for my child’s first reading adventure.
- It uses simple characters like Human, Chimp, and Computer to help us understand how our minds work.
- It shows how our emotional side can sometimes overpower rational thinking, operating at five times the speed.
- The emotional brain, often called the “Chimp brain,” tends to act on impulse, following the 3 F strategy: freeze, fight, or flight.
- Consider this top psychology book for beginners as your friendly guidebook to better manage your Chimp mind, either through automation or by tapping into the more rational “Computer” part of your brain.
Focus: Indistractable By Nir Eyal
- Ever heard that goldfish have a 5-second attention span?
- Well, we humans aren’t much better, clocking in at just 2 minutes and 14 seconds, which can be a real challenge when trying to achieve our goals.
- So, the first step is mastering our attention span.
- I’d recommend checking out “Indistractable” for some great tips on dealing with modern distractions from the internet and social media.
- The ultimate aim? Achieving that elusive state of flow, which is essential for mastering your skills.
- And don’t forget to explore “Deep Work” by Cal Newport; it’s a fantastic resource in Top psychology for beginners.
Procrastination: Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy
- Procrastination is the act of delaying tasks, often due to boredom or fear of failure.
- It involves justifying task avoidance with creative excuses.
- Awareness of this syndrome is crucial to avoid dwelling on the past or future, as life unfolds in the present.
- The author provides two analogies: tackle a big task in the morning and start with the ugliest one when you have multiple tasks.
- The book not only raises awareness about procrastination but also provides practical solutions to address it.
Productivity: Feel good productivity by Dr Ali Abdal
- Ali Abdal, a modern productivity expert, emphasizes the core principle that productivity isn’t about discipline; it’s about finding joy in what you do.
- In his book, he outlines three key factors: energizers, blockers, and sustainers for productivity, offering real-life examples for better understanding.
- Studying productivity is essential because our desires often clash with time constraints, and the illusion of having ample time in our youth can hinder us.
- Additionally, productivity knowledge helps prevent falling into the trap of procrastination.
Human Behavior: Laws of Human Nature by Robert Green
- Robert Greene, with six international bestsellers, is a leading authority on human behavior.
- His book “The Laws of Human Nature” reveals the hidden, dark aspects of human nature that many keep concealed.
- It underscores the importance of vigilance in dealing with others, as people often put on a facade during interactions.
- This top psychology book for beginners emphasizes that the world isn’t always as it seems, and understanding human behavior is crucial.
Happiness: Ikigai
- The authors of “Ikigai” interviewed hundreds of Japanese centenarians to uncover their secrets to youth and happiness in old age.
- Most of these centenarians were from Okinawa, where a remarkable 24 out of 100,000 people live past the age of 100, well above the global average.
- Okinawan women, in particular, enjoy longer lives with fewer diseases than anywhere else in the world.
- This top psychology book for beginners imparts lessons on their diet, lifestyle, work, and overall approach to life.
- It explores how the Japanese, known for their hard work and skill, manage to lead purposeful and happy lives.
Finance: Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- Trigonometry might not have practical applications, but financial understanding can greatly improve your life.
- You can gain financial knowledge from various sources, like Zerodha’s free education platform.
- This segment focuses on understanding “animal spirit” or human sentiments, which often drive market behavior.
- This top psychology book for beginners aims to help you grasp the psychology of money, making investing easier with the right attitude.
- Financial independence is the goal, aligning with PM Modi’s mission to develop India by 2047.
Motivation: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
- This is the story of a retired US Navy SEAL officer.
- Despite facing numerous challenges—poverty, domestic violence, school issues, learning disabilities, and childhood trauma—he overcame all odds.
- He became the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training, Army Ranger School, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training.
- He’s completed over seventy ultra-distance races, often ranking in the top five.
- He was a former Guinness World Record holder, achieving 4,030 pull-ups in seventeen hours.
- His story exemplifies how passion, obsession, and talent are only valuable tools when coupled with a strong work ethic.
Verbal Communication: How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie
- The best skill for personal and professional enhancement is Communication and Interpersonal Relationship.
- Communication has been recognized as essential since 1300 BC in Egyptian literature and in China through Confucius’s parables.
- To master this age-old skill, Dale Carnegie’s book, published in 1936, is highly recommended.
- It’s an all-time international bestseller in the self-help genre, offering practical tactics to master communication and build healthy relationships.
Non Verbal Communication: What Every Body is saying by Joe Navarro.
- Ever faked a smile around someone you don’t like? We’ve all done it.
- Since childhood, we’ve been taught to control facial expressions, but our body can still reveal our true intentions.
- In interviews, body language matters, and interviewers watch closely for cues about your personality.
- “What Every BODY Is Saying” by Ex-FBI Officer Joe Navarro is a beginner-friendly book based on years of experience in observing and understanding both criminals and humans.
- This top psychology book for beginners will aware on body language and how to use it to your advantage.
Storytelling: Storyworthy by Mathew Dicks
- Every day, we’re sharing stories with friends, colleagues, and loved ones.
- These stories are like an art form, offering unique perspectives on life.
- We treasure our grandparents’ stories because they were rich in feelings, emotions, tones, and expressions.
- ‘Storyworthy’ by Matthew Dicks is a book that teaches this art.
- It helps us discover that even everyday life holds stories we often overlook.
- Mastering this skill enhances our ability to communicate and be better listeners.
- Ultimately, it deepens our connections with others.
Life and Business: The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
- Business is inherently consumer-centric, making it crucial to comprehend consumer behavior or behavioral economics.
- This subject may appear rudimentary, but it can be navigated effectively by referring to your graduation course books.
- Steven Bartlett’s book presents 33 universal laws backed by scientific principles and human behavior, offering timeless insights.
- This top psychology book for beginners not only provides valuable business insights but also aids in personal mental development.
- Gain insights into both business and personal growth through this comprehensive book by Steven Bartlett.
Trauma: The body keeps the score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
- Trauma is an inevitable aspect of life that everyone is likely to encounter at some point.
- Trauma doesn’t solely stem from negative experiences, self-abuse, or violence; it can also arise in loving or tranquil environments where emotional needs remain unmet.
- Understanding and addressing trauma is essential for fostering empathy, both for oneself and for others.
- Bessel van der Kolk’s book, “The Body Keeps the Score,” stands out as a highly recommended resource.
- In this book, van der Kolk draws upon years of psychiatric research and professional expertise to provide profound insights into trauma and its effects in an intuitive manner.
Self healing and Therapy: 101 essays that will change the way you think by Brianna Wiest
- Begin your self-love and healing journey with this book as your trusty companion.
- No need to wait for depression to start or end; start exploring its wisdom today.
- This book keeps things simple yet profound, with bite-sized chapters for easy reading.
- It’s not just about reading; it invites you to reflect on and assess your entire life.
- Thought-provoking questions encourage deep introspection, making it a truly interactive experience.
- Regardless of the life challenges you’re facing, this book serves as your friendly and comprehensive guide.
- I personally love to share it as a gift, and you might just fall in love with it too!
Conclusion
“These top psychology books for beginners are the reference materials that will help you time and time again. Disclaimer: These books will have no value if you read them once and let them gather dust in your library. This wisdom will only come to you if you reread them and implement the values and tactics in your real life. So, apart from prospering in your work or niche, I hope these books make your life more purposeful and contented.”