10 Best Self-Awareness Books for Increasing Reflection

How often do you take a moment to reflect on your thoughts and emotions?

Have you ever explored the underlying causes of your behavior?

Self-awareness drives us closer to ourselves. It lets us gain clarity over our emotions, and helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses that lie within us. Self-awareness is the byproduct of perceptual experiences. We cannot be aware of ourselves without focusing on what is happening to us right now and how we are responding to it.

Jung said:

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

Daniel Goleman, one of the pioneers of the Emotional Intelligence Theory, stated that the recent advancements in positive psychology have made self-awareness much more accessible than it ever was. In his book Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Goleman suggested that self-awareness is one of the four main pillars of E.I., and is imperative for succeeding in any field.

Self-awareness alters the way we look at ourselves and others; this phenomenon has been there for ages. The Greek Adage ‘‘know thyself’ is age-old, and cultivating self-awareness has got due attention in all fields of study irrespective of the changing times.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will not only help you increase the compassion and kindness you show yourself but will also give you the tools to help your clients, students, or employees show more compassion to themselves.

6 Best Books On Self-Awareness

There are some great musings on self-awareness by eminent authors and mental health professionals, each presenting a unique approach to the subject matter. This article outlines some of the most useful ones that nurture awareness and guide us to internalize the concept entirely.

1. The Self-Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World – Amit Goswami

The core concept of this enlightening literary work is that self-consciousness is the core of human existence. Renowned physicist Amit Goswami has created a spiritual reality in this book.

He has shown that it is only after knowing our thoughts and emotions that we can truly experience our existence.

His writing combines science and faith in a unique way and provides ample reasons for why our primary focus should be to know ourselves better.

Find the book on Amazon.

2. Alchemy 365: A Self-Awareness Workbook – Brenda Lightfeather Marroy

Using the metaphor of an alchemist that transforms any element into gold, writer Brenda Marroy has shown how being self-aware can transform our entity completely. She refers to this book as a ‘road map’ to reaching a fulfilled life.

Brenda explains the concepts of passion, possibility, self-expression, reflection, and peace, and guides the readers on using these attributes of awareness to understand themselves better.

The book is interestingly divided into 12 months, each month representing a specific aspect of consciousness, and having tips for cultivating the same. Besides being a source of information, Alchemy 365 also works great as a self-help manual for anyone trying to attain ultimate knowledge of the self.

Find the book on Amazon.

3. Self-Awareness: The Hidden Driver of Success and Satisfaction – Travis Bradberry

A large part of who we are depends on what choices we make and what actions we undertake. Dominant personality traits majorly govern our life decisions. This book revolves around the fact that self-awareness is essential for achieving any desirable outcome.

It explains that by evaluating our dispositions, we can step toward meaningful self-understanding at all stages in life.

The author has revealed the findings from a large-scale study of over 50,000 participants and indicated that personality profiling is undoubtedly an exceptional way of being insightful. The book carefully studies the relationship between personality and self-awareness and acknowledges the inherent potentials promoting mental well-being within each personality type.

Find the book on Amazon.

4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change – Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People is an all-time recommended read on positive living. It has helped thousands of readers to realize where they were going wrong in life.

The book lays the groundwork of being in charge of our happiness. It explores the characteristics that define successful and happy people and tries to create an understanding of what happens when we learn to navigate life in the right way.

The book is an all-encompassing resource for building self-acceptance and a positive mindset. The added component of success makes it more attractive and relatable to readers. The book contains life-changing information on knowing ourselves and using the knowledge to transform our lives for good.

Find the book on Amazon.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ – Daniel Goleman

Daniel Goleman’s works have opened a new door to self-awareness. He popularized the importance of emotional intelligence and showed that merely having a high IQ is not enough to succeed in today’s world.

The book contains radical examples backed with cutting-edge findings on self-improvement through emotional self-awareness. It is part theory, part applications, and part a self-help guide for understanding and developing self-awareness at different stages of life.

Find the book on Amazon.

6. Insight: The Power of Self-Awareness in a Self-Deluded World – Tasha Eurich

Tasha Eurich’s works on self-awareness view it as a meta-cognitive skill. Her book uniquely portrays how we live in a world where it is easy to lose focus from ourselves. The author urges readers to ask questions and seek answers within – as there lies the key to pure self-awareness and meaning.

‘Insight: The Power of Self-Awareness in a Self-Deluded World’ studies the role of interpersonal connections in developing awareness. Eurich says that humans are ‘remarkably poor judges of themselves,’ which is why we need to put in extra effort to know ourselves. The book does justice to its name and lays a firm groundwork for self-examination and insight.

Find the book on Amazon.

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The 4 Best Sellers on Amazon

Amazon provides a great way to see what the public claims to be great self-awareness books, and we list the four top sellers.

1. 7 Mindsets to Master Self-Awareness – Elizabeth Diamond

Creating a positive mindset is the first step to self-awareness. It allows us to widen our outlook and look at things from a more open perspective.

‘The 7 Mindsets to Master Self-Awareness’ talks about seven such mental frameworks that guarantee better understanding and awareness. The author has presented a vivid description of the desirable mindsets and has explained them in association with the energy centers in the body that manage them.

The book takes us to an inspirational journey of self-discovery and guides them to sustain focus on the positive. It is a recommended read for mental health professionals and readers who want to illuminate their mind with self-consciousness.

Find the book on Amazon.

2. Self-Aware: A Guide for Success in Work and Life – Robert Pasick Ph.D. and Dunrie Greiling Ph.D.

Self-awareness is all about understanding that we have a separate identity from our thoughts and feelings. This book on insight and self-reflection is ideal for life coaches and therapists. The author has structured exercises and group activities that we can use for ourselves and others.

Each segment of the book explores critical spheres of life that self-awareness can change for the better – including mind, body, relationships, career, goals, and spiritual entity. The book highlights aspects of knowing others and views empathy as a vital requisite of self-awareness.

It is an excellent read for gaining clarity of our goals, understanding what we truly seek, and determining ways to achieve the right balance in life.

Find the book on Amazon.

3. The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have – Mark Nepo

Mindfulness researchers believe that self-awareness has a secure connection to the present. We can only be fully aware of our inner and outer worlds if we are fully present in the ‘now.’

Mark Nepo, the author of ‘The Book of Awakening‘ was a cancer survivor himself. His journey and battle uncovered to him the philosophy of life, which he says,’ lies in knowing yourself deeply.’

This book has a spiritual dimension to it. It talks about the swinging cycle of happiness and pain and explains how by sailing through these ups and downs, we keep growing aware of ourselves.

Nepo speaks of self-awareness through life experiences, both good and bad. He urges readers to feel the power of emotions and use them for befriending their inner worlds. The book comes with examples, words of wisdom, and simple exercises, all of which aim to awaken one’s mind to the fullest.

Find the book on Amazon.

4. Happy Life Books: Freedom, Abundance and Fulfillment: Taking Charge of Your Life ( Self-Awareness for a Better Life Book 2) – Ayelet Porat

Happy Life Books is an extension of the book ‘The Joy of Being Me’ by Ayelet Porat. The book is an outstanding compilation of the best hacks and strategies for advancing to a life of joy, insight, and self-belief.

The book follows a list of the topics taught in the Department of Practical and Spiritual Sciences and helps readers frame a reality that can help them thrive.

There are exercises to support each explanation in the book. With advanced self-help tools, real-life examples, and scientific evidence, this book is a know-it-all for self-awareness and introspection.

Find the book on Amazon.

17 Exercises To Foster Self-Acceptance and Compassion

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A Take-Home Message

Becoming self-aware is not entirely dependent on what knowledge we can access. It is also the result of how closely we attend to our sensory experiences.

The books mentioned in this article can mark the onset of you knowing yourself better. Self-awareness is not about being an ideal or not making any mistakes in life. It does not guarantee to shield us against sadness and pain. But the process of being aware frees us from the mental obstacles that we may have been unaware of until now.

Once we let the guard down and choose to reflect on ourselves, we automatically sign up for heightened consciousness, more self-confidence, and the zeal to thrive in life. And as the saying goes,

When you know yourself, you are empowered. When you accept yourself, you are invincible.

If you found our summary of best self-awareness books useful but would like to take it further, have a look at our Self-Acceptance Masterclass© which can help you or your clients overcome an unhealthy low self-esteem.

For further reading, you can peruse our post on using self-awareness theory and skills in psychology.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Self Compassion Exercises for free.