We all know those little moments (or big screw-ups), both professionally and personally, that can cause self-doubt. Getting back on track and rebuilding confidence can be difficult, but it’s important that we find it to set ourselves back up for success.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of books that teach you how to build confidence and keep going through any struggles or dilemmas you might find yourself in as you move forward. These are some of the best books on confidence that can help you build strategies to break free from negative thoughts and develop habits to put you on the path to success.
1. It Will All Work Out: The Freedom Of Letting Go by Kevin Hart
By Kevin Hart
This short but sweet 44-page memoir by award-winning comedian Kevin Hart will inspire you by learning how control issues can wreak havoc on your life.
Hart coins the name “Control Monster” for this obstacle to happiness and fulfillment and looks at the ways it controls parts of life and how to overpower that micromanaging monster to find confidence and success again.
Buy this book on Amazon.
2. The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery
By Brianna Wiest
As we progress through life, many of us experience imposter syndrome and thoughts that we aren’t good enough and that our accomplishments are based on sheer luck. International bestselling author Brianna Wiest addresses these tendencies toward self-sabotage, explaining why we do it, when we do it and what we can do to stop it.
Her fresh and thought-provoking way of stepping out of our own way and fulfilling our highest potential helps us better understand our brains and bodies before facing life’s external hardships.
Buy this book on Amazon.
3. Maybe You Should Give Up: 7 Ways To Get Out Of Your Own Way And Take Control Of Your Life
By Byron Morrison
Sometimes, it really feels like we are our own worst enemies. Byron Morrison, bestselling author and mindset performance coach, combed through extensive research to discover seven mental barriers we all can struggle with.
Maybe You Should Give Up will help you identify and break through these barriers in easy-to-follow steps as you reflect on your life experiences and tendencies.
Buy this book on Amazon.
4. Unstuck: Break Free From Self-Doubt And Stop Overthinking Using The Spiral Stopper Method To Take Control Of Your Emotions, Build Confidence & Self Love
By Christy Holt
If you’re struggling with overthinking or negative thought patterns, personal development expert Christy Holt provides a practical yet fun guide toward happiness and empowerment for successful women.
Holt takes a personalized approach to helping women develop a toolbox of strategies to break free from living their day-to-day lives in survival mode. She helps readers implement her Spiral Stopper Method to overcome negative self-talk and build self-confidence.
Buy this book on Amazon.
5. The Neutral Advantage: How To Stop Being Negative, Stop Overthinking, Break The Habits Of Negative Self-Talk, And Win Control Of Your Life
By Mark W. Mayhew
In this unique and transformative self-help book, Mark W. Mayhew compiles extensive research, historical anecdotes and practical exercises to help guide you toward a more balanced mindset.
Mayhew includes eye-opening stories on the origins of negative thought patterns and shares inspiring anecdotes from individuals who achieved long-lasting changes in their lives while building confidence.
Buy this book on Amazon.
6. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert is the bestselling author of novels Eat Pray Love and City Girls, but this nonfiction book tackles the real-life issues surrounding how to build and sustain confidence in your work.
Big Magic helps readers uncover the hidden talents within them, whether they’re for a creative pursuit like writing and art or reaching professional goals by addressing the challenges that hold us back at work.
Buy this book on Amazon.
7. How To Win Friends And Influence People
By Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People is a classic book on confidence that remains relevant in modern times to help you gain confidence and pursue your professional and personal goals.
The updated edition of this book helps readers learn how to communicate effectively, navigate social situations and become better leaders with advice that resonates today as much as it did when Carnegie first published this book.
Buy this book on Amazon.
8. The Six Pillars Of Self-Esteem
By Nathaniel Branden
An important component of confidence is having good self-esteem and believing in yourself, as outlined in The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem.
Nathaniel Branden explores the different pillars of self-esteem to give readers a better idea of how to find their confidence, from internal sources to build self-acceptance and assertiveness to external sources such as work and culture.
Buy this book on Amazon.
9. You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life
By Jen Sincero
Author Jen Sincero takes a more lighthearted and humorous approach to building confidence with her bestselling book on confidence.
You Are a Badass includes inspiring stories to motivate you and ideas that you can incorporate into your own life to stop you from falling into self-sabotaging behavior and stand up for yourself by shifting your energy to more productive motivations.
Buy this book on Amazon.
10. The Gifts Of Imperfection
By Brené Brown
In The Gifts of Imperfection, author and personal growth leader Brené Brown tackles the imposter syndrome that may engulf your perception of yourself and strategies to help address it.
The book lays out guideposts to give readers a roadmap for confronting their imperfections and finding ways to overcome them. Brown explores issues related to authenticity, gratitude, intuition and self-compassion for building a more resilient and confident spirit.
Buy this book on Amazon.
Become More Confident And Believe In Yourself
Learning how to build confidence in yourself in both your personal and professional life can be challenging, but books on confidence are a good place to find ideas and start your journey to doing just that.
One way to start is to look for books that take different approaches that appeal to you, such as books with humor, books based on a particular philosophy or books that focus on a specific aspect of your life where you need to feel more confident. With these confidence books on your reading list, you’ll begin believing in yourself in no time.
This article was updated October 2024. Photo courtesy of rudi_suardi/iStock.
