BEST books with practical tips on how to change our habits

Finger turning bad and good text on wooden blocks. Good and bad habit concept.

On this page, we list a very short list of what we think are the BEST books with practical tips on how to change our habits to be healthier and happier.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about habits:

About how important habits are

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit” ―Will Durant (describing Aristotle’s ideas on this topic).

About changing habits

“A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time” ―Mark Twain

Below are some books that I can guarantee are full of “simple and practical” strategies for changing our habits.

Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits–to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life

By Gretchen Rubin

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

By James Clear

Disclosure: The links above are Amazon affiliate links. Buying products from Amazon.com using links on this website helps to support this website at no additional cost to the purchaser. But we still want to be fully transparent about this.

For clinicians

BEST books on psychiatric interviewing

BEST books on managing side effects (adverse effects) of psychotropic medications

BEST books on suicide risk assessment and management

BEST books on adult ADHD: For clinicians

BEST books on geriatric psychiatry for clinicians

BEST books on learning psychotherapy

BEST books for clinicians: Learning motivational interviewing

BEST books for clinicians about evaluating and treating personality disorders

Best books on mindfulness and mindfulness meditation

BEST books on Adult Asperger’s Syndrome: For clinicians

BEST books about doing presentations

BEST Books on Statistics: For Clinicians

BEST books on Evidence-Based Medicine

BEST books on inpatient psychiatry

BEST books on body dysmorphic disorder: For clinicians

BEST books about eating disorders: For clinicians

BEST books on time management

BEST books on psychological factors in effectively prescribing medications

For patients and their families

Addictions

How to choose a rehab (recommended book for persons with substance use disorders and their families)

ADHD

BEST books on adult ADHD: For patients and families

Book review: ADHD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life

Book review: Mindfulness prescription for Adult ADHD

Anxiety disorders

BEST books for patients with “anxiety”

BEST books for patients with panic disorder

Bipolar disorder

BEST books on bipolar disorder: For patients and families

Body Dysmorphic disorder

BEST books on body dysmorphic disorder: For patients and families

Dementia

BEST books on dementia

Depressive disorders (“Depression”)

BEST books on depressive disorders: For patients and families

Eating disorders

Best books about eating disorders: For patients and their families

Fear of death

BEST books on overcoming fear of death

Grief

BEST books on dealing with grief: For patients and their families

Meditation

Best Book on Mindfulness Meditation

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Best books on OCD: For patients and families

Schizophrenia

BEST books on schizophrenia: For patients and families

Social skills

BEST books about improving social skills

Substance use — see Addictions

Other

BEST book on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias

BEST books on how to change habits

BEST books about how to get to and maintain a healthy weight

BEST books on time management

BEST books on yoga

Main page

What are the BEST books on each topic related to psychiatry/ mental health?

Quotes

Quotes about habits

Disclaimer: The material on this website is provided as general education for medical professionals. It is not intended or recommended for patients or other laypersons or as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients must always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare professionals should always check this website for the most recently updated information.