Self-Improvement Book Review

No matter how good the previous year was, I love that on New Years Eve I can put a whole year behind me and begin a new one.

Today people everywhere are most likely writing out their expectations for 2016, how to achieve them, and how to make it their best year yet. I know I am! Cue the New Year's resolutions list... I had quite a few resolutions last year but I have to say one of my best ones, and the one I enjoyed the most, was my resolution to 'Read two books a week', one fiction and one non-fiction. Granted, I didn't always make my target two books, but I made a good stab at it and in the process learnt so much.

I read some brilliant fiction books in 2015, Unravelling Oliver by Irish author Liz Nugent being my absolute favourite. If you haven't read it yet you should definitely pick up a copy or download it to your kindle, it's fantastic.

But because it's New Years Eve and most of us are in a 'Self Improvement' frame of mind I thought I'd list my favourite books in this category from last year and a few of my all time favourites too.

1 | Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston

This is top of the list as it was my first ever self-improvement book. I picked it up when I was a teenager, and it's still the book that's had the most profound effect on my life. I have a huge interest in Feng Shui and apply many of the principles to my home, but this book isn't just about Feng Shui; it's about creating sacred space in your home to radically transform your life for the better.

2 | It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh

Another clutter clearing book! I read this one soon after we had our first baby at a time when we had lots of new stuff to find a place for. It's not my usual type of holiday book but I decided to read it while on a family holiday and when I returned home I had the entire house, including all of the baby stuff, put away or organised within a couple of days. A great motivating book to give order and organisation to your life.

3 | Flip it: How to get the best out of everything by Michael Heppell

A positive thinking book giving brilliant advice and practical tips on how to rethink different situations and flip bad ones into good. Get the best out of everything life sends your way.

5 | The Little Book of Mindfulness by Tiddy Rowan

A brilliant little book with helpful reminders and tips on how to live mindfully everyday!

6 | Getting Things Done by David Allen

This book changed me from a procrastinator into a doer! It's one of the best books I've ever read, and so motivating and well written that I began implementing his technique into my daily routine while still reading, and have stuck to his system ever since. I highly recommend this book.

7 | The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

If you want to change anything in your life that's become habitual then read this book and you can. A book about why habits exist and how they can be changed. Excellent reading.

8 | Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy

The main message in this book is that you should get your most important (and often most difficult) task done first and as a result the rest will seem easy. This book will help you to get the right things done everyday.

9 | Talking Money by Jill Kirby & Karl Deeter

This is more of a guide than a book and it can easily be read in one sitting. Although, technically it should be in a finance/budgeting category I'm including it here as it was a self-improvement book for me - someone who has little or no interest in money talk! A very easy to understand, helpful guide giving excellent tips on the more mundane - yet important! - side to money like insurances, pensions and savings plans.

10 | Golden Apples by Bill Cullen

If 'Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui' was my first book to read in this category then, thinking back, this must have been my second.. I read this one just after we got married and found it really inspirational. I do think I read it a little earlier than I should have though. I'll have to give it another read and will probably get a whole different perspective on how to transform my life into a career I love!

11 | The joy of less, A minimalist living guide: How to declutter, organise and simplify your life by Francine Jay

I have a good feeling that I was born a minimalist but then bustle and stuff got in the way! This is another decluttering book... save the planet, pare down your possessions and simplify your life.

12 | One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robery Maurer

I worked in a Japanese restaurant for years and 'Kaizen' was one of its philosophies, it was so important it was even written on the menu! I found it fascinating - a Japanese term meaning continuous improvement. This book is an essential guide to making lasting change through small, steady steps.


So, there's my list, my favourite books of 2015 - and some from the last two decades!

Wishing you a wonderful 2016.

Jen x

* Single book images courtesy of amazon.co.uk