In celebration of National Wellness Month and the launch of Forbes Vetted’s 50 Most Influential Books, this week’s newsletter is dedicated to the literature that moves and shapes us to prioritize the many forms of self-care.
I asked various experts, from successful CEOs to fitness professionals to my colleagues, one simple question: What book has had a meaningful impact on your well-being—physically, emotionally and/or socially—that you highly recommend to others?
Dozens of answers poured in with passion. My editor asked me to choose three to five, but I narrowed it down to 14 (sorry, Ashley—they were too dang inspiring!). I’ve highlighted recommendations that were frequent, highly rated and diverse, separated by category below.
Emotional Well-Being And Resilience
By Dr. Edith Eva Eger
Recommended by Alex Zatarain, Eight Sleep cofounder
“Eger’s story is a powerful reminder that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond—and that freedom often begins with releasing the beliefs, fears and experiences that keep us trapped. It is a book I return to whenever I need perspective.”
By Michael A. Singer
Recommended by Alex Zatarain, plus several Forbes Vetted staffers
“The Untethered Soul,” By Michael A. Singer.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Bookshop.org
“It helped me understand that well-being does not come from trying to control every thought or circumstance, but from learning to observe them without becoming consumed by them.” —Zatarain
By Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D.
Recommended by Marina Pavlovic, Eli Health cofounder and CEO
“Drawing from fascinating research, McGonigal makes the case that how you relate to stress changes what it does to your body.”
By Paul Kalanithi
Recommended by Alex Zatarain
“Reading Paul Kalanithi’s reflections on mortality, purpose and what makes a life meaningful brought so much perspective…. It reminded me to be more intentional about how I spend my time, the relationships I prioritize and the meaning I find in both work and everyday life.”
By Don Miguel Ruiz
Recommended by Micaela English, Forbes Vetted writer
“Whenever I find myself caught up in who the world thinks I should be—or when I’m overcomplicating my life—this book pulls me back to myself. I always finish it feeling lighter, calmer and more aligned with the person I actually want to be.”
Mindset, Culture And Growth
By James Clear
Recommended by Todd Meleney, cofounder and CEO of While on Earth, and Holly Thaggard, cofounder of WaterOuai! and founder of Supergoop!
“Atomic Habits is the perfect reminder for entrepreneurs and high performers that the reward isn’t the destination. It’s the pursuit. This has helped me better avoid arrival fallacy, the idea that one big moment or achievement will create lasting fulfillment.” —Meleney
By Brendon Burchard
Recommended by Sam Tooley, founder and CEO of Alpha Fit Club
“This is one of the few books I buy for every new hire on our team…. It essentially challenges you to ask how the best version of yourself (as a leader and as a team member) would show up and to live into that version of yourself in the present.”
By Yuval Noah Harari
Recommended by Akin Akman, cofounder and CEO of AARMY
“It challenges you to look at where our patterns, beliefs and thought processes come from and how they’ve shaped the world we live in. The more we understand who we are, where we came from and what drives us, the more we expand our understanding of what’s possible.”
Relational And Interpersonal Growth
By Lindsay C. Gibson
Recommended by several Forbes Vetted staffers
“It really illuminated how much of my parents’ behavior was a reflection of their own emotional well-being rather than, well, me or my siblings. I found that realization incredibly healing… also as I consider the patterns I want to break in my own parenting.” —Amy Moran, Forbes Vetted senior editor
“This book validated all my experiences that I previously thought were just me being ‘broken.’ It gives me advice on how to approach things differently now that I am the adult in my own life.” —Fran Sales, Forbes Vetted writer
By Nedra Glover Tawwab
Recommended by Patty Camerota, Forbes Vetted senior social media manager
“This book is a really helpful guide for chronic people-pleasers learning to set healthy limits. I return to it often.”
By Sahil Bloom
Recommended by Eric Kau, Climatic cofounder and CEO
“His framework, especially the ideas of time wealth and mental wealth, completely changed how I prioritize my time and how I think about growth and development. It’s even reshaped how I show up in the relationships closest to me.”
Movement And Physical Connection
By Bessel van der Kolk
Recommended by several Forbes Vetted staffers
“If you struggle to feel one with your body and find yourself constantly asking ‘why,’ I think this book can help answer some of those questions. The author does a wonderful job at reminding the reader anyone can experience this disconnect… that trauma does not have to be this big scary word that takes over our lives.” —Dawlat Chebly, Forbes Vetted SEO content strategist
By Arianna Huffington
Recommended by Jennifer Ferrise, Forbes Vetted senior editor
“Huffington’s passages on movement were the most game-changing for my routine. She introduced me to the Latin phrase solvitur ambulando, which means ‘it is solved by walking.’ Now, whenever I’m mulling over a work issue, I go for a stroll.”
By Matthew Walker, Ph.D.
Recommended by Katie Simpson, Forbes Vetted senior strategy editor
“It helped me shift my mindset from viewing sleep as a luxury to a biological necessity that directly impacts my mental and physical well-being.”
Source: Forbes
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