The Best Spirituality & Self-Help Books from Our Top 250

ThriftBooks published the list of Our Top 250 Books on June 11, 2026 and we're having a lot of fun exploring it. Curious how we determined the list? Check out the methodology here. Simply curious what’s on it? Read on for every Spirituality & Self Help book on Our Top 250 Books in ranked order. 

#15 Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents 

Originally published: 2015 

This bestselling book from clinical psychologist Lindsay C. Gibson has been praised for its accessible, empathetic writing style, making complex psychological concepts understandable. Readers find the book a helpful resource for understanding family dynamics, creating positive relationships, and fostering emotional healing.  

#17 Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young, and Life's Greatest Lesson 

Originally published: 1997 

Awards: Books for a Better Life Award  

The truth is, Mitch, once you learn now to die, you learn how to live. This beloved book chronicles the author, Mitch Albom's transformative friendship with his college professor Morrie Schwartz as the older man reckoned with his own mortality. The special 25th anniversary edition features a new afterword by Albom. 

#21 The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? 

Originally published: 2002 

Designed to be read over the course of forty-two days, this bestselling book by Pastor Rick Warren has given millions of readers a fresh perspective on the way that the pieces of their life fit together. Every chapter provides a daily meditation and practical steps to help you uncover and live out your purpose. 

#27 Who Moved My Cheese? 

Originally published: 1998 

Most people are fearful of change, both personal and professional, because they don't have any control over how or when it happens to them. This timeless business classic by Dr. Spencer Johnson shows that when it comes to living in a rapidly changing world, what matters most is your attitude. 

#28 Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence 

Originally published: 2003 

Award: ECPA Christian Book Award  

After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior's voice and begin listening for what He was saying. So with pen in hand, she embarked on a journey that forever changed her—and many others around the world. 

#30 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High 

Originally published: 2002 

Written by the four co-founders of VitalSmarts, Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler, this book gives you the tools you need to step up to life's most difficult and important conversations, say what's on your mind, and achieve the positive resolutions you want. 

#31 The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse 

Originally published: 2019 

From British illustrator and author Charlie Mackesy comes a modern fable for all ages that explores life's universal lessons. Find hope and reassurance in uncertain times with this beautifully illustrated tale of four unlikely friends sharing adventures and important conversations. 

#43 Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It 

Originally published: 2016 

Taking the power of tactical empathy, active listening, and intuition to the next level, former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss gives you the tools for effective persuasion in any situation, from negotiating business deals to communicating with your family. 

#46 The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible 

Originally published: 1890 

The first edition of this classic word-and-verse reference for the King James Bible was constructed under the direction of theologian James Strong. This updated iteration offers easy-to-read modern type, plus extra Bible study aids and convenience features for Biblical scholars. 

#50 Battlefield of the Mind 

Originally published: 1995 

Bestselling author and bible teacher Joyce Meyer shares personal stories about the trials from her own life, along with biblical truths and encouragement to help readers defeat negative thoughts, think with purpose, win the battles in their minds, and begin a joy-filled life.  

#54 Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life 

Originally published: 2015 

Awards: Books for a Better Life Award  

For much of the 20th and 21st centuries, women's sexuality was an uncharted territory in science. That is, until sex educator Emily Nagoski published this exploration of why and how women’s sexuality works—based on groundbreaking research and brain science. 

#68 Courage to Change: One Day at a Time in Al-Anon 

Originally published: 1992 

These daily meditations, reminders, and prayers from Al-Anon Family Groups help families encourage their recovering alcoholic loved ones and point to Al-Anon's impact as a vital part of recovery. 

#69 The Prophet 

Originally published: 1923 

A collection of poetic essays that are philosophical, spiritual, and, above all, inspirational, Kahlil Gibran's masterpiece has been translated into more than twenty languages. 

#70 Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life 

Originally published: 2000 

An invitation for every woman who feels she isn't doing enough, Joanna Weaver's popular book includes a twelve-week Bible study and a path for drawing closer to the Lord with less stress and greater joy. 

#71 How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk 

Originally published: 1980 

This bestselling classic by family communication experts Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish includes fresh insights and suggestions, as well as the authors' time-tested methods to solve problems and build lasting relationships. 

#76 How to Win Friends and Influence People 

Originally published: 1936 

Since its original release, Dale Carnegie's book has remained a timeless bestseller, packed with rock-solid advice that has guided thousands of people to climb the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. 

#77 The Body Keeps the Score 

Originally published: 2014 

Trauma is a fact of life. In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, uses recent scientific advances to explore both the impacts of trauma and innovative treatments for recovery. 

#82 When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times 

Originally published: 1996 

Renowned Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön's book is filled with useful advice about how to cope with the realities of modern life, including fear, despair, rage and the feeling that we are not in control of our lives. 

#83 Devotions: The Select Poems of Mary Oliver 

Originally published: 2017 

Throughout her celebrated career, Mary Oliver touched countless readers with her brilliantly crafted verse. This collection, arranged by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet shortly before her death in 2019, spans her entire career. 

#86 The Four Agreements 

Originally published: 1997 

In this perennial bestseller published in dozens of languages worldwide, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering and offers a guide to true happiness. 

#90 Women Who Run With the Wolves 

Originally published: 1992 

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés unfolds rich intercultural myths, fairy tales, folk tales, and stories, many from her own traditions, in order to help women reconnect with the fierce, healthy, visionary attributes of their powerful inner selves. 

#97 Narcotics Anonymous 

Originally published: 1987 

Written by addicts, for addicts, and about addicts, this is the book that sets forth the spiritual principles of Narcotics Anonymous that have helped hundreds of thousands of addicts move into recovery. 

#102 Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion 

Originally published: 1984 

Dr. Robert Cialdini is the seminal expert in the rapidly expanding field of influence and persuasion. His thirty-five years of rigorous, evidence-based research has resulted in this highly acclaimed book. 

#105 Ina May's Guide to Childbirth 

Originally published: 2003 

The nation's leading midwife Ina May Gaskin gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention. 

#110 Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs 

Originally published: 2004 

Taking God's biblical practice of marriage and applying it with practical techniques, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs shows how mutual Love and Respect can balance a marriage and encourage a successful relationship. 

#119 Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life 

Originally published: 1992 

Awards: ECPA Christian Book Award  

Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend share the lessons they've learned in their years of practicing psychology and studying the patterns and practices that support clear biblical boundaries. 

#122 The Alchemist 

Originally published: 1988 

Awards: Nielsen Booksellers' Golden Book Award; Corine International Book Prize 

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and more satisfying—than he ever imagined. 

#123 The 48 Laws of Power 

Originally published: 1999 

Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies and lives of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl Von Clausewitz, Henry Kissinger, and others. 

#128 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success 

Originally published: 2006 

After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: The power of mindset—how our beliefs impact our ability to learn and succeed. 

#133 The Joy of Cooking 

Originally published: 1931 

Awards: James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame  

It's been nearly a century since Irma S. Rombauer self-published the first three thousand copies of her all-purpose cookbook in 1931. Since then, it has become the kitchen bible, used by generation after generation.  

#134 The Bait Of Satan: Living Free from the Deadly Trap of Offense 

Originally published: 1994 

With declaration-style prayers and testimonials from people whose lives have been changed by his message, Minister John Bevere shows you how to identify the traps ahead of you and escape the victim mentality. 

#138 Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know 

Originally published: 2013 

When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. 

#139 Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean 

Originally published: 2017 

Kim Scott’s book popularized a memorable management framework for feedback, coaching, and team trust, becoming especially influential in tech, startups, and modern people-management training. 

#144 Putting the Power of Your Subconscious Mind to Work 

Originally published: 2009 

Joseph Murphy’s ideas on subconscious belief, affirmation, and mental conditioning have helped millions around the world achieve remarkable goals, simply by changing the way they think.  

#159 The 5 Love Languages 

Originally published: 1992 

Pastor Gary Chapman outlines five preferred ways people give and receive love. This became a popular framework for couples, families, churches, and counselors as a simple shared vocabulary for emotional needs. 

#170 The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence 

Originally published: 1997 

Security expert Gavin de Becker argues that intuition can help people recognize warning signs of violence. His book reshaped conversations about personal safety, especially for women navigating stalking, abuse, or coercive behavior. 

#171 Knowing God 

Originally published: 1973 

Awards: ECPA Platinum; Christianity Today Top 50 evangelical books 

For over 40 years, J. I. Packer's classic has been a cornerstone of evangelical spirituality, combining doctrine and devotion in a way that made serious theology accessible to lay Christian readers.  

#173 Breath 

Originally published: 2020 

Awards: ASJA Best General Nonfiction; Royal Society Science Book Prize finalist 

James Nestor explores the science, history, and health effects of breathing. Drawing on thousands of years of medical texts and recent cutting-edge studies, this book helped bring breathwork into mainstream wellness.  

#179 Holy Bible: New Living Translation 

Originally published: 1996 

This contemporary English Bible translation, balancing evangelical scholarship with plain-language readability, has become an important tool for personal study, churches, youth ministries, and devotional use.  

#180 Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon 

Originally published: 2017 

Joe Dispenza’s book marries scientific information with ancient spiritual wisdom to help readers use meditation to experience transcendence and achieve a more mystical and creative life.  

#187 A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 

Originally published: 1970 

Phillip Kellerinterprets Psalm 23 through his experience as a shepherd. Using concrete pastoral imagery, this book has helped generations of Christian readers visualize care, trust, dependence, and spiritual guidance. 

#195 The Great Divorce 

Originally published: 1946 

S. Lewis’s imaginative theological fictionremainssignificant for its vivid treatment of moral choice, pride, repentance, and grace, making abstract Christian doctrines emotionally and narratively memorable.  

#196 The Book of Virtues 

Originally published: 1993 

William J. Bennett's anthology of stories, poems, and essays teaches moral character through classic literature and historical examples. This anthology helped revive interest in character education during the 1990s.   

#197 Wherever You Go, There You Are 

Originally published: 1994 

Find quiet reflective moments in your life—and reduce your stress levels drastically—with this classic bestselling guide. Jon Kabat-Zinn's accessible guide helped make meditation more approachable.  

#199 Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A to Z Guide to Supplements 

Originally published: 1990 

Since its initial publication more than twenty years ago, millions of people have turned to Phyllis A. Balch's comprehensive guide to vitamins, supplements, herbs, nutrition, and natural approaches to health and wellness. 

#201 Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving 

Originally published: 2006 

Awards: James Beard Foundation Award nominee  

An authoritative guide to canning, preserving, freezing, drying, and pickling with hundreds of tested recipes. This cookbook helped revive interest in canning by emphasizing scientifically tested methods, food safety, and seasonal preservation.  

#202 Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverence 

Originally published: 2016 

Angela Duckworth's research transformed conversations about achievement by emphasizing resilience, deliberate practice, and long-term commitment, influencing education, business, athletics, and leadership development.  

#203 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World 

Originally published: 2019 

John Mark Comer explores slowing down spiritually by countering the pressures of modern life. The book connects ancient spiritual disciplines with contemporary concerns about burnout, distraction, technology, and emotional health.  

#204 The Magic of Thinking Big 

Originally published: 1959 

Millions of readers have discovered the secrets of success in this classic business guide. David J. Schwartz encourages readers to overcome self-limiting beliefs through confidence, optimism, and ambitious thinking.  

#205 The Creative Act 

Originally published: 2023 

Music producer Rick Rubin reframes creativity as a universal human capacity, inspiring readers across disciplines to cultivate curiosity, observation, openness, and consistent creative practice.  

#206 Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain 

Originally published: 1979 

Betty Edwards teaches drawing through exercises designed to strengthen observational skills and visual perception. This landmark art instruction book transformed drawing education.  

#208 How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease 

Originally published: 2015 

Dr. Michael Greger examines scientific evidence linking nutrition with the prevention of leading causes of death. Among the most influential nutrition books of the past decade, it popularized evidence-based plant-forward eating.  

#209 NIV Study Bible 

Originally published: 1985 

Awards: ECPA Christian Book Award  

Often considered one of the most influential evangelical study Bibles, it has helped millions better understand Scripture by combining accessible translation with comprehensive scholarly notes and historical context.  

#215 Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ 

Originally published: 1995 

Daniel Goleman argues that emotional awareness, empathy, and self-regulation are as important as IQ in determining success. This book fundamentally changed discussions of intelligence by elevating emotional competencies.  

#216 Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You 

Originally published: 2015 

Awards: ECPA Christian Book Award finalist  

John Burke compares hundreds of near-death experiences with biblical teachings about heaven and eternity. The book became popular among Christian readers to encourage hope, faith, and discussion about the afterlife.  

#218 Experiencing God: How to Live the Full Adventure of Knowing and Doing the Will of God 

Originally published: 1990 

Awards: ECPA Christian Book of the Year  

Henry Blackaby and Claude King teach that believers can recognize and join God's work through obedience and relationship. This volume reshaped small-group ministry by emphasizing personal relationship with God.  

#222 Holy Bible: New International Version 

Originally published: 1978 

A balanced English Bible translation designed for readability while remaining faithful to the original biblical languages. The NIV has become the dominant English Bible translation for millions of readers around the world.  

#223 Hinds' Feet on High Places 

Originally published: 1955 

Hannah Hurnard's allegorical novel follows Much-Afraid on a spiritual journey toward deeper faith and trust in God. This beloved devotional allegory has inspired generations of Christians.  

#226 The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You 

Originally published: 1996 

Dr. Elaine Aron's work legitimized high sensitivity as a personality trait rather than a weakness, influencing psychology, counseling, education, and public understanding of temperament and emotional processing.  

#228 The Power of a Praying Wife 

Originally published: 1996 

Stormie Omartian encourages wives to pray intentionally for their husbands, marriages, and families The book became one of the bestselling Christian marriage resources by emphasizing prayer as a practical tool.  

#229 Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself 

Originally published: 2012 

Joe Dispenza combines neuroscience, meditation, and personal development to encourage readers to reshape habitual thinking and behavior. This book popularized meditation and mindset practices aimed at personal transformation.  

#230 The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Business and Life 

Originally published: 2012 

Charles Duhigg introduces millions of readers to the habit loop framework, making behavioral science accessible and influencing productivity, health, business leadership, and personal development conversations.  

#233 Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health 

Originally published: 2024 

This book from Dr. Casey Means helped bring metabolic health into mainstream wellness discussions, encouraging readers to focus on nutrition, movement, sleep, and lifestyle as foundational drivers of long-term health.  

#236 Betty Crocker's Cookbook 

Originally published: 1950 

Often called a staple of American kitchens, this cookbook has taught generations of home cooks essential techniques while adapting its recipes and guidance to changing tastes and culinary trends.  

#239 Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right 

Originally published: 2015 

Jamie Glowacki's practical, step-by-step approach to potty training toddlers has become a widely adopted resource for helping families navigate one of early childhood's most challenging developmental milestones.  

#241 The Let Them Theory 

Originally published: 2024 

Mel Robbins encourages readers to stop trying to control others and instead focus on their own choices, boundaries, and emotional well-being. The book offers practical strategies for reducing stress and strengthening relationships.  

#242 Communion: The Female Search for Love 

Originally published: 2002 

bell hooks examines love through the experiences of women, exploring self-worth, relationships, family, and cultural expectations. The book remains an influential contribution to feminist thought and conversations.  

#245 The New Oxford Annotated Bible 

Originally published: 1920 

First published as a scholarly annotated study Bible, this edition combines a respected biblical translation with extensive historical, literary, and archaeological commentary.  

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon