2024 is fast approaching, and it’s never too early to start thinking about your reading list for the year. One category of books you should consider adding to that list is books about mental health. Maintaining a healthy mental state can lead to a happier life, and these books can help you reflect on your mental state. The following four books about mental health are great options to read in 2024.
Mastering Anxiety: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Fear by Priest Andrew
Andrew’s book about mastering anxiety is an excellent read for anyone wanting a psychologist’s view of anxiety. Written in 2023, it offers updated research on psychology and personal development. Readers will better understand the differences between fear and anxiety and learn how to effectively conquer both.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
This memoir chronicles Rubin’s year-long mission to achieve happiness. Rubin examined every aspect of her life that contributed to her happiness, including work, family, and hobbies. Her experiential approach and candid voice make this a relatable, inspiring read. You’ll come away with new ideas for cultivating joy in your life and feel encouraged to embark on your own happiness project.
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison
For those interested in the science behind psychiatric disorders, this book is a must read. Jamison is a renowned psychologist with personal experience living with bipolar disorder. Her memoir offers a raw, honest description of her life with the illness and the stigmas surrounding it, helping other people facing mental illness feel less alone. Her experience offers insight into some of the emotional and psychological experiences people with mental disorders may have.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
This book is a comprehensive study of trauma’s psychological and physiological effects on the body and how it can hinder emotional and psychological growth. Combining his decades of experience as a therapist with the latest scientific research, van der Kolk takes a holistic approach to trauma recovery. This approach can help readers understand their trauma-related symptoms and learn how to start healing. Anyone who has experienced trauma can use this book to build a better, healthier life, which is why it was a bestselling book of 2022 and continues to remain popular.
These four books about mental health can significantly affect your self-care and perspectives, which is why you should read them in 2024. These valuable reads offer hope and empower individuals to take control of their well-being.
Dianne Pajo is a Certified Personal Trainer based out of the Chicagoland area with a passion for music, combat sports, and animals. She enjoys competing in amateur boxing and kickboxing, but in her other leisure time, you can find her outdoors and performing music around the city. She is also a dog mom of 2.