Best-Selling Self-Help Books: Titles with 1 Million or More Copies Sold
No official ranking of self-help books exists, so this is our own list, built from public sales figures. A book is included when a public source reports at least one million copies sold. Religious texts and fiction are left out.
It is meant for readers who want proven books on habits, money, relationships, focus and mindset. Books are shown by reported copies sold, largest first. Sales figures are reported claims, mostly from publishers or Wikipedia, and are not audited. Each entry has a hook and a plain note on what you get.
Best for: Readers who want practical books on habits, mindset and a better daily life.
- Rule
- At least 1 million copies sold, as reported by a public source.
- Order
- By reported copies sold, largest first. Not a quality ranking.
- Reported figures
- Figures differ in date and wording; each book page names its source.
- Source
- Wikipedia, publisher pages and news reports.
47 books
an estimated 100 million · 1976Your Erroneous ZonesWayne W. Dyer
Self-help · HopefulWayne Dyer's 1976 book on feelings, habits, self-worth, guilt and living in the present moment
What you get: Clear, direct advice that helps you take charge of your own mind.
35 million+ · 1984You Can Heal Your LifeLouise HaySelf-help · WarmLouise Hay proposes that thought patterns affect the body, and offers mirror work and affirmations
What you get: Warm, encouraging ideas to help you think kindly about yourself.
32 million+ · 1997Rich Dad Poor DadRobert T. KiyosakiSelf-help · HopefulRobert Kiyosaki tells financial lessons through parables about his rich dad and his poor dad
What you get: A fresh way to think about money, assets and work, told through two very different father figures. It opens your eyes to new questions about how wealth is built.
30 million+ · 1936How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleDale CarnegieSelf-help · HopefulDale Carnegie turns his business education courses into principles for handling people
What you get: Simple, time-tested ways to make people feel heard and to get along with almost anyone. The advice is easy to try the same day and keeps working long after you close the book.
30 million+ · 1960Psycho-CyberneticsMaxwell MaltzSelf-help · HopefulPlastic surgeon Maxwell Maltz argues that the brain is a machine its owner can control
What you get: Practical exercises that help you shape a more positive view of yourself.
30 million · 1998Who Moved My Cheese?Spencer JohnsonSelf-help · LightAn allegory about two mice and two Littlepeople searching a maze for cheese
What you get: A quick, friendly fable that makes change feel less intimidating. It is easy to share and gives you a handy picture to remember when things shift.
30 million+ · 2006The SecretRhonda ByrneSelf-help · HopefulRhonda Byrne presents the law of attraction as a three-step process: ask, believe and receive
What you get: An upbeat, encouraging read about the power of positive thinking and imagining what you want. It leaves you with a bright outlook and plenty of motivation to start.
25 million+ · 1989The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen R. CoveySelf-help · ThoughtfulStephen Covey presents seven habits that move readers from dependence to independence to interdependence
What you get: A thoughtful way to organize your time around what matters most, with habits that improve how you lead yourself and work with others. You come away with clearer priorities.
20 million+ · 1937Think and Grow RichNapoleon HillSelf-help · HopefulNapoleon Hill condenses his study of wealthy people into thirteen principles he calls a Philosophy of Achievement
What you get: A burst of focus and drive, plus a step-by-step way of thinking about goals, persistence and the people around you. A classic to pick up when you want to aim higher.
20 million+ · 2016The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckMark MansonSelf-help · ThoughtfulMark Manson argues that finding meaning in life's struggles is a better approach than pursuing happiness
What you get: A refreshing, straight-talking guide to choosing your priorities and letting the rest go. It brings relief, a few laughs and a calmer way to look at everyday problems.
nearly 20 million · 2018Atomic HabitsJames ClearSelf-help · HopefulJames Clear explains habits as a cycle of cue, craving, response and reward
What you get: A clear, friendly system for building good habits and dropping unhelpful ones, with small changes you can start today and watch add up. You finish with a plan, not just motivation.
16 million · 1997The Power of NowEckhart TolleSelf-help · WarmEckhart Tolle encourages attention to the present moment over worry about the past or future
What you get: A calm, reassuring guide to living in the present moment. Its ideas for easing worry and enjoying the here and now are easy to try, and many readers return to it again and again.
15 million+ · 1969I'm OK, You're OKThomas A. HarrisSelf-help · ThoughtfulThomas A. Harris presents transactional analysis as a method for addressing personal challenges
What you get: Clear, easy-to-grasp ideas for better communication.
15 million+ · 1982The One Minute ManagerKen Blanchard & Spencer JohnsonSelf-help · LightA short story about a young man searching for an effective manager and the three techniques he learns
What you get: A quick, easy story with practical ideas you can use at once.
15 million+ · 1992Men Are from Mars, Women Are from VenusJohn GraySelf-help · LightJohn Gray uses a Mars and Venus metaphor to explain relationship problems between men and women
What you get: Simple, memorable ideas that help you talk and listen with more kindness.
15 million+ · 1997The Four AgreementsDon Miguel RuizSelf-help · WarmDon Miguel Ruiz offers a code of conduct he says is based on Toltec teachings
What you get: Four simple principles that are easy to carry in your head and apply every day. A small book that leaves you feeling lighter and more intentional about how you speak and think.
15 million · 2005A New EarthEckhart TolleSelf-help · WarmEckhart Tolle writes about the ego, the pain-body and living in the present moment
What you get: Gentle, thought-provoking ideas that help you step back from daily stress.
10 million+ · 1946Man's Search for MeaningViktor E. FranklSelf-help · ThoughtfulPsychologist Viktor Frankl describes his experience in Nazi concentration camps and sets out his theory of logotherapy
What you get: A powerful, uplifting account of finding purpose in the most demanding circumstances. It stays with you and offers a steady source of perspective and courage.
10 million+ · 1978The Road Less TraveledM. Scott PeckSelf-help · ThoughtfulM. Scott Peck opens with “Life is difficult” and argues for self-discipline, responsibility and love
What you get: A wise, honest book that helps you face life with more courage.
10 million+ · 1992The 5 Love LanguagesGary ChapmanSelf-help · WarmPastor Gary Chapman describes five ways partners express and experience love
What you get: A simple, memorable way to talk about affection, with practical ideas for showing love in the way your partner values most. It opens warmer, more open conversations.
10 million+ · 201812 Rules for LifeJordan B. PetersonSelf-help · ThoughtfulJordan Peterson's twelve essays, one per rule, draw on psychology, mythology, religion and personal anecdotes
What you get: Thought-provoking essays that give you plenty to discuss and consider, along with clear ideas for taking charge of your own life and setting your house in order.
10 million+ · 2010The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpMarie KondoSelf-help · LightMarie Kondo's KonMari method: tidy once, by category, and keep only what brings joy
What you get: A cheerful, practical method for tidying your home, category by category, and keeping what you love. Expect a fresh, light feeling and the motivation to begin.
10 million+ · 1970What Color Is Your Parachute?Richard Nelson BollesSelf-help · HopefulA guide for job hunters and career changers, revised every year from 1975 until the author's death in 2017
What you get: Clear exercises and ideas that help you find work that fits you.
8 million+ · 2004Your Best Life NowJoel OsteenSelf-help · HopefulPastor Joel Osteen's seven steps to living at your full potential
What you get: Encouraging, optimistic ideas that lift your spirits.
7 million+ · 1986Codependent No MoreMelody BeattieSelf-help · ThoughtfulMelody Beattie describes codependency and urges readers to put themselves first and set boundaries
What you get: Supportive, practical guidance that helps you focus on your own well-being.
6 million+ · 1959The Magic of Thinking BigDavid J. SchwartzSelf-help · HopefulDavid J. Schwartz's 1959 self-help book was among Simon & Schuster's all-time paperback best sellers by 1982
What you get: Direct, motivating ideas that help you raise your goals.
5 million+ · 1952The Power of Positive ThinkingNorman Vincent PealeSelf-help · HopefulMinister Norman Vincent Peale offers case histories, affirmations and visualization for overcoming inadequacy and practicing faith
What you get: Uplifting advice, short exercises and a steady voice that helps you look at your life with more courage and optimism.
5 million+ · 1964Games People PlayEric BerneSelf-help · ThoughtfulPsychiatrist Eric Berne uses transactional analysis to catalog the patterned games people play in social interactions
What you get: An accessible, eye-opening look at how people interact.
5 million+ · 1995Simple AbundanceSarah Ban BreathnachSelf-help · WarmA daybook of comfort and joy that thirty publishers turned down before Warner Books took it
What you get: Warm, daily encouragements that help you notice joy in small things.
5 million+ · 2003The Total Money MakeoverDave RamseySelf-help · HopefulDave Ramsey's seven baby steps for paying off debt, budgeting and building wealth
What you get: Straightforward steps and motivating stories that help you take control of money.
5 million+ · 2013You Are a BadassJen SinceroSelf-help · LightJen Sincero's guide to stopping self-doubt and starting to live an awesome life
What you get: Lively, encouraging advice that makes you want to take action.
5 million+ · 1984Influence: The Psychology of PersuasionRobert B. CialdiniSelf-help · ThoughtfulRobert Cialdini identifies six principles of influence after three years of undercover work in sales and fundraising
What you get: Clear, memorable principles of persuasion with lively examples. You will start spotting them everywhere and make better decisions.
4 million · 1991Awaken the Giant WithinTony RobbinsSelf-help · HopefulTony Robbins sets out strategies for mastering your emotions, body, relationships, finances and life
What you get: Motivating exercises and ideas that help you take action today.
4 million+ · 1980Feeling GoodDavid D. BurnsSelf-help · HopefulDavid Burns popularized cognitive behavioral therapy for general readers, linking negative feelings to thoughts and perceptions
What you get: Clear, step-by-step exercises that help you change negative thinking.
4 million+ · 2013Lean InSheryl SandbergSelf-help · HopefulSheryl Sandberg's Lean In encourages women to assert themselves at work and at home
What you get: Candid stories and ideas that help you speak up and aim higher.
3 million+ · 2012The Power of HabitCharles DuhiggSelf-help · ThoughtfulReporter Charles Duhigg draws on scientific research to explain why habits form and how they can change
What you get: An engaging tour of the science of habits, from kitchens to boardrooms, with practical ideas for changing your own routines. You see everyday behavior in a new light.
3 million+ · 1997The Monk Who Sold His FerrariRobin SharmaSelf-help · WarmA business fable about a lawyer-turned-seeker and the Himalayan journey that follows selling his Ferrari
What you get: A quick, encouraging story with practical ideas for living more fully.
3 million · 2016The Daily StoicRyan Holiday & Stephen HanselmanSelf-help · Thoughtful366 daily meditations on wisdom, perseverance and the art of living, from Stoic philosophy
What you get: A page a day of Stoic wisdom to start the morning with steadiness and perspective. Easy to dip into, it becomes a rewarding daily ritual.
2.1 million · 2007The 4-Hour WorkweekTimothy FerrissSelf-help · LightTim Ferriss argues against working for decades to retire, and calls his alternative lifestyle design
What you get: A lively, energetic blueprint for rethinking work, time and lifestyle. It sparks fresh ideas about what your own life could look like and how to start building it.
2 million · 1992BoundariesHenry Cloud & John TownsendSelf-help · HopefulHenry Cloud and John Townsend on when to say yes and how to say no
What you get: Clear, compassionate guidance for setting healthy limits in relationships, so you feel more at peace and more yourself.
2 million+ · 1926The Richest Man in BabylonGeorge S. ClasonSelf-help · WarmFinancial advice told as parables about Arkad, a poor scribe who became the richest man in ancient Babylon
What you get: Simple money principles delivered as vivid tales from ancient Babylon. They are easy to remember and apply, and they build confidence about saving and growing your money.
2 million+ · 2001Getting Things DoneDavid AllenSelf-help · LightDavid Allen's method for moving tasks out of your head and into a system you can act on
What you get: A practical system for capturing everything on your mind and deciding what to do next, so you feel organized and in control.
2 million+ · 2002Crucial ConversationsKerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al SwitzlerSelf-help · ThoughtfulTools for holding productive conversations when the stakes are high, by the four co-founders of VitalSmarts
What you get: Practical tools that make hard conversations feel manageable.
2 million+ · 2014EssentialismGreg McKeownSelf-help · ThoughtfulGreg McKeown argues for focusing on a few essential priorities and cutting the trivial demands
What you get: A refreshing method for saying no with confidence and choosing the few things worth your time. You finish with more space, more clarity and a calmer schedule.
1.2 million+ · 1998The 48 Laws of PowerRobert GreeneSelf-help · DarkRobert Greene sets out 48 laws of power, each illustrated with historical examples
What you get: A rich collection of stories from emperors, courtiers and strategists, each paired with a lesson on influence. It sharpens how you read people and situations.
1 million+ · 1992Your Money or Your LifeVicki Robin & Joe DominguezSelf-help · HopefulA nine-step program for changing your relationship with money, based on the authors' own simple living
What you get: Practical steps that help you spend with purpose and gain freedom.
1 million+ · 1999Nonviolent CommunicationMarshall B. RosenbergSelf-help · WarmA framework for speaking honestly, listening with empathy and handling conflict
What you get: A clear, calm approach to conversations that helps you connect.
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