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The 10 Best Psychology Books of All Time
These psychology and mindset books explain why people think, feel and act the way they do, and how to use that knowledge in your own life. Some are based on research, some on a therapist's experience, and all of them are still widely read today. They are a great way to understand yourself and the people around you.
The 48 Laws of Power#1The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene · first published 1998
Why it is on the list: Spotify's fifth-biggest audiobook in the US in 2024, and still a top-five Apple Books self-help ebook.
Greene distils three thousand years of history into 48 rules about how power is won, kept and lost, each illustrated with stories of rulers, courtiers and con artists. It reads as a study of human behaviour and strategy, and also as a guide to spotting manipulation. Some readers find its advice cold, which is part of its lasting fascination.
Evidence and sources
- Spotify reported it as the 5th top audiobook in the US and 6th globally (Dec 2024) (source)
- Ranked No. 5 on Apple Books' self-help ebook chart (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- No. 28 on BookScouter's 100 best-selling books of 2024 (based on NYT and Amazon best-seller data) (source)
- Included in Fortune's 'The Smartest Books We Know' (2005) (source)
- Paperback ISBN 9780140280197: 'multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller' (source)
The Courage to Be Disliked#2The Courage to Be Disliked
by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga · first published 2018
Why it is on the list: A Japanese phenomenon with ten million copies sold, now among Apple's top self-help audiobooks.
Written as a conversation between a philosopher and a frustrated young man, the book explains the ideas of psychologist Alfred Adler in plain language. It argues that we are not prisoners of our past and that freedom comes from no longer living for other people's approval. The dialogue form makes difficult ideas easy to follow.
Evidence and sources
- No. 2 on iTunes Top Self-Help & Personal Development audiobooks (PopVortex, updated 23 Oct 2026) (source)
- UK publisher, Oct 2025: passed one million copies; reached No. 1 on the Sunday Times paperback nonfiction list in October 2025 (source)
- US hardcover ISBN 9781501197277 (Atria, 8 May 2018): 'more than 10 million copies sold worldwide' (source)
Thinking, Fast and Slow#3Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman · first published 2011
Why it is on the list: A Nobel winner's award-winning classic, still on the NYT paperback nonfiction list with 454 weeks on it.
Nobel laureate Kahneman explains the two systems behind human thinking, fast intuition and slow deliberation, and the predictable biases they create. It suits readers who want to understand and improve their own judgement and decisions.
Evidence and sources
- No. 5 on the NYT Paperback Nonfiction list, week ending 5 May 2024 (source)
- No. 7 on the NYT Paperback Nonfiction list with 454 weeks on the list (library reproduction of current list) (source)
- 2012 National Academies Communication Award; LA Times Book Prize 2011; Economist and WSJ book of the year; over one million copies sold by 2012 (source)
- Paperback ISBN 9780374533557 (source)
Man's Search for Meaning#4Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl · first published 1946
Why it is on the list: Sixteen million copies sold, and still a top-25 Apple Books self-help ebook 80 years on.
Frankl recounts surviving Nazi camps and explains his logotherapy, the idea that finding meaning is the deepest human drive and can sustain people through suffering. It is for anyone seeking purpose or resilience in hard times.
Evidence and sources
- Ranked in the top 25 of Apple Books' self-help ebook chart (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- Sold 16 million copies as of 2022; 1991 Library of Congress/Book of the Month Club survey named it one of 10 most influential books in US; German original 1946 (source)
- Beacon Press paperback ISBN 9780807014271 (source)
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents#5Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
by Lindsay C. Gibson · first published 2015
Why it is on the list: A 1.5-million-copy bestseller that was back on the NYT advice list in 2025 and is a top Apple audiobook.
A clinical psychologist explains how growing up with emotionally distant or self-absorbed parents can shape adult relationships and self-worth. Gibson describes the main types of immature parents and offers practical ways to set boundaries and build a stronger sense of self. It is gentle and reassuring rather than blaming.
Evidence and sources
- No. 10 on the NYT Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous list dated 17 Aug 2025 (library reproduction) (source)
- No. 14 on iTunes Top 100 Nonfiction audiobooks (PopVortex, updated 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- Paperback ISBN 9781626251700 (1 Jun 2015): 'A New York Times bestseller–with 1.5 million copies sold' (source)
Attached#6Attached
by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller · first published 2010
Why it is on the list: Three million copies sold, and a top-10 Apple nonfiction audiobook more than a decade after release.
A psychiatrist and a psychologist explain adult attachment theory: why some people crave closeness, some keep their distance and others feel secure. The book helps readers work out their own style and their partner's, and offers practical advice for dating and long-term relationships. It is clear, practical and backed by research.
Evidence and sources
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy#7Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
by David D. Burns · first published 1980
Why it is on the list: Long recommended by therapists for depression, and still in Apple's top 20 self-help ebooks today.
Burns presents cognitive behavioural techniques for spotting distorted thinking and replacing it with balanced thoughts to lift mood. It suits anyone dealing with low mood, anxiety or harsh self-criticism.
Evidence and sources
- Ranked No. 19 on Apple Books' self-help ebook chart (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- Sold over four million copies in the US; first published 1980; named a top ten behavioral science book of 1980; most frequently recommended book for depressed patients (1994 guide) (source)
- Paperback ISBN 9780380810338 (source)
Daring Greatly#8Daring Greatly
by Brené Brown · first published 2012
Why it is on the list: A No. 1 New York Times bestseller with over two million copies sold, still on Apple's self-help chart.
Research professor Brené Brown draws on years of interviews to argue that vulnerability is a source of courage and connection, not weakness. She looks at how shame and fear of failure hold people back at home, at school and at work, and how to respond differently. It is warm, personal and practical.
Evidence and sources
Outliers#9Outliers
by Malcolm Gladwell · first published 2008
Why it is on the list: Gladwell's study of success spent 11 weeks at No. 1 and still charts on Apple's business lists today.
Gladwell asks why some people achieve extraordinary success and finds the answer lies less in raw talent than in timing, culture, opportunity and practice. Through stories of athletes, programmers and musicians, he popularised the idea of 10,000 hours of practice. It is lively and full of surprising examples.
Evidence and sources
- No. 19 in Apple Books' Top Business & Finance ebooks and No. 49 in iTunes business audiobooks (PopVortex, viewed 24 Oct 2026) (source)
- Debuted at No. 1 on the NYT hardcover nonfiction list for 11 weeks; on the NYT paperback list 232 times from 2011 to 2017 (source)
- Paperback ISBN 9780316017930 (Little, Brown, 7 Jun 2011) (source)
Psycho-Cybernetics#10Psycho-Cybernetics
by Maxwell Maltz · first published 1960
Why it is on the list: A 1960 mindset classic that has reached 30 million readers and still charts on Apple's self-help audiobooks.
A plastic surgeon noticed that changing patients' faces did not always change how they saw themselves, and he built a method around that discovery. The book shows how self-image shapes behaviour and offers visualisation and goal-setting exercises to change it. It influenced many later coaches and motivational writers.
Evidence and sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best psychology book of all time?
On our list it is The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. Spotify's fifth-biggest audiobook in the US in 2024, and still a top-five Apple Books self-help ebook.
Which psychology book should I read first?
Start with the top three: The 48 Laws of Power, The Courage to Be Disliked and Thinking, Fast and Slow. They are the most popular books in this genre right now, and each one is a good way into the rest of the list.
Are these books still popular today?
Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under “Evidence and sources” on each book. That is the main difference between this list and lists that only look back at history.
How often is this list updated?
We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Apart from this list, see the books we love most, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.
How we chose these books
1. Still selling and read today
Every book shows current demand from roughly the last three years: Audible best-seller charts (Audible is owned by Amazon), US independent bookstore bestseller lists from the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly and Circana BookScan sales figures, and similar charts. Old books that nobody buys any more do not make the cut.
2. A proven track record
Every book has a strong record behind it: very large sales, a major award (such as the Pulitzer, Booker, Newbery or Hugo), a place on a respected list (such as the Modern Library 100, TIME 100 or the BBC Big Read), or a big recent hit with a film or TV version. A book does not have to be old: new bestsellers can join as soon as the evidence is there.
3. Written for adult readers
This is a list for grown-up readers, so some books include mature or steamy scenes, and some deal with hard themes such as war, crime, abuse or loss. For younger readers, see the Children's and Young Adult pages.
Within each genre, books are ranked with current popularity weighted most, then lasting reputation. We review the list about once a month and swap a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Book covers: Open Library. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.
More of the best books of all time
See the full 200 best books of all time list, or explore more nonfiction genres: Self-Help Books, Productivity Books, Communication and Relationship Books, Leadership Books, Business Books, Personal Finance Books, Investing Books, Biographies and Memoirs, History and Big Ideas Books.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.
