Books Like...
'The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT' by Russ Harris and Steven C. Hayes is a practical guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that helps readers navigate life's challenges by reframing the way they think. emphasizes the importance of not expecting immediate change and encourages readers to let the ideas marinate for a while. It provides helpful tips and tools for practicing ACT, with exercises that are practical and easy to understand, ultimately aiming to help individuals achieve personal growth and mental health.
The writing style of the book is described as chatty by some readers, with occasional reminders not to rush through the content. The author uses anecdotes and examples to explain the concepts of ACT, urging readers to apply the teachings in their daily lives. is praised for being a practical and life-changing read, offering a methodical approach to understanding and applying mindfulness techniques to achieve a more enlightened and fulfilling life.
If you liked The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT, here are the top 100 books to read next:
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Readers find 'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy' by David D. Burns to be a helpful guide in dealing with depression and anxiety. The book delves into cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to combat negative thinking patterns and provides exercises to increase self-awareness. Despite some criticism towards the writing style, readers appreciate the practical advice and steps offered to control one's own thoughts and emotions.
Depression has been called the world’s number one public health problem. In fact, depression is so widespread it is considered the common cold of psychiatric disturbances. But there is a grim differen... 'The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself' by Michael A. Singer is a spiritual self-help book that delves into the concept of separating oneself from the chaos of the mind and connecting with the higher self. Singer's writing style is described as informative, offering tips on training one's spiritual self, and providing a pre-meditation primer in easily readable language. emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's inner dialogue, learning to keep an open heart, and practicing mindfulness to rise above fears and walls.
In case you haven’t noticed, you have a mental dialogue going on inside your head that never stops. It just keeps going and going. Have you ever wondered why it talks in there? How does it decide what...- #3
'The Confidence Gap' by Russ Harris is a guide that helps readers overcome fear, self-doubt, and negative thought patterns. The book provides practical exercises and techniques to help readers defuse from their thoughts, focus on the present moment, and take action despite feelings of anxiety or lack of confidence. Through relatable examples and easy-to-follow language, Harris empowers readers to challenge their limiting beliefs and develop a new perspective on confidence and self-improvement.
Harris delves into the evolutionary aspect of negative thinking and fear, highlighting how these tendencies are ingrained in us and offering strategies to navigate through them. The book emphasizes the importance of taking action first, rather than waiting for feelings of confidence to emerge, and provides readers with tools to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve their overall mindset towards personal growth and development.
Values are ‘desired qualities of ongoing action’. In other words, your values describe how you want to behave as a human being: how you want to act on an ongoing basis; what you want to stand for in l... - #4
'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' by Mark Manson is a motivational self-help book that encourages readers to prioritize what truly matters in life. The author presents a counterintuitive approach to living a good life by advocating for carefully choosing what to care about and focusing on important values and goals. With a potty-mouthed writing style, the book challenges readers to reevaluate their perspectives on self-worth, relationships, and life priorities. Through practical advice and personal anecdotes, the book aims to guide readers towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Charles Bukowski was an alcoholic, a womanizer, a chronic gambler, a lout, a cheapskate, a deadbeat, and on his worst days, a poet. He’s probably the last person on earth you would ever look to for li... - #5
'The Gifts of Imperfection' by Dr. Brené Brown explores the concept of wholehearted living, authenticity, self-compassion, resilience, and gratitude. Through personal anecdotes and research, Brown delves into topics such as shame, vulnerability, and courage, providing readers with 10 guideposts to assist them on the path to living a more fulfilled and authentic life. is described as a conversation on overcoming barriers like shame, anxiety, and perfectionism to embrace vulnerability and compassion, offering readers insights on what it means to live a wholehearted life.
The writing style of the book is noted as straightforward, chatty, and entertaining, using relatable personal stories and practical suggestions to engage readers in reflecting on their own behaviors and beliefs. Brown's message of embracing imperfections, practicing self-compassion, and cultivating authenticity resonates with readers seeking empowerment, self-discovery, and personal growth.
Once you see a pattern, you can’t un-see it. Trust me, I’ve tried. But when the same truth keeps repeating itself, it’s hard to pretend that it’s just a coincidence. For example, no matter how hard I ... The Antidote by Oliver Burkeman is a thought-provoking exploration of happiness through the lens of negative thinking, challenging the conventional wisdom of positive thinking. Burkeman delves into various philosophies such as Stoicism and Buddhism, offering a different approach to achieving contentment. The book combines personal anecdotes, journalistic style, and insights from historical figures and modern thinkers to present a compelling argument for embracing uncertainty and reality in order to find true happiness.
THE MAN WHO CLAIMS that he is about to tell me the secret of human happiness is eighty-three years old, with an alarming orange tan that does nothing to enhance his credibility. It is just after eight...- #7
'Lost Connections' by Johann Hari delves into the real causes of depression and offers unexpected solutions. Hari combines research findings with his own personal battle with depression to provide a unique perspective on the topic. The writing style is described as engaging and insightful, exploring factors that lead to depression and anxiety beyond medication and therapy. focuses on understanding the social causes of mental health disorders, empowering readers to take control of their well-being by making lifestyle changes and seeking meaning in daily life.
Dr. John Haygarth was puzzled. All across the English city of Bath—and in several scattered pockets around the Western world—something extraordinary was happening. People who had been paralyzed with p... '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' by Jordan B. Peterson is a self-help book that delves into existential issues and offers advice on how to live a more meaningful and responsible life. Peterson combines his background in psychology, philosophy, and religion to provide a framework for personal betterment, drawing on a mix of personal experiences, research, and ancient wisdom. The book is structured around 12 rules that are meant to guide individuals towards a more disciplined and purposeful existence, drawing on themes from various philosophical and religious traditions.
Despite the valuable insights and advice offered in the book, some readers find Peterson's writing style to be verbose and at times meandering. While acknowledging the depth of Peterson's knowledge and the importance of his message, some readers feel that the book could have been more concise and focused. The use of biblical references and philosophical discussions sometimes detracts from the core message, leading to a mixed reception among readers who appreciate the book's wisdom but struggle with its presentation.
In 2012, I started contributing to a website called Quora. On Quora, anyone can ask a question, of any sort—and anyone can answer. Readers upvote those answers they like, and downvote those they don’t...- #9
'Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' by Steven C. Hayes and Spencer Smith introduces readers to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) through a combination of theoretical concepts and practical exercises. focuses on the idea that acceptance of the present moment, along with reducing attachment to past experiences, can lead to a greater sense of control and clarity in one's life. It challenges traditional cognitive behavioral therapy approaches by emphasizing acceptance, mindfulness, and living in accordance with one's values rather than trying to control or change one's thoughts.
The writing style of the book is described as accessible, straightforward, and engaging. Readers appreciate the workbook format, which includes activities and exercises that build on each other to help readers develop a strong foundation in ACT. encourages readers to shift from reactive living to proactive decision-making based on their values and principles, offering a new perspective on managing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
You’ve probably opened this book for this reason: You are hurting and you’re not sure what to do about it. Perhaps you’ve been suffering from a chronic depression or an anxiety disorder. Perhaps a str... 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear is a practical guide on how to build good habits and break bad ones. The author provides tangible takeaways such as habit stacking, environmental cues, and temptation bundling to help readers understand the power of their daily actions in shaping their identity and desired outcomes. Clear offers a blueprint for setting up one's environment and time to establish positive habits and eliminate negative ones, emphasizing the importance of making small, incremental changes over time for significant results.
Imagine two people resisting a cigarette. When offered a smoke, the first person says, “No thanks. I’m trying to quit.” It sounds like a reasonable response, but this person still believes they are a ...