The Best Mental Health Books We're Loving

She’s a child psychologist, but her Instagram account is full of strategies and anecdotes that are helpful, whether you’re a parent or not. 

On a recent podcast episode of hers in which she was discussing parenting during the pandemic, she said these words: “It feels hard because it is hard.” 

It’s arguably a simple idea, but it resonates. And it applies to everything—not just parenting—that is happening in the world at the moment. Sometimes things feel hard...because they are hard.  

All of this to say: if you’re feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re certainly not alone. And if you’re feeling burdened by a job or career circumstance—whether it’s a new work schedule, balancing caretaker responsibilities, or a career transition—you’re not alone in that, either.

It feels hard because it is hard. 

To that end, we’ve rounded up some great mental health books that we’ve leaned on (and lean on!) to help us. While some are career-specific, others offer general tips and strategies backed by scientific studies that can help you feel unstuck or at least a little less stressed. Here are some of our favorites.

Editor's Note: We are not mental health experts at Career Contessa. If you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, we urge you to speak with your healthcare provider or contact the SAMHSA health line at 1-800-662-4357.

The Best Mental Health Books for Managing Stress and Burnout

Stress and burnout are the coworkers we all want to avoid at work. However, sometimes we find ourselves in challenging career situations, with bad bosses, or working in toxic workplaces. 

The following books provide the tools to help you to identify, manage, and navigate stress and burnout in the workplace. 

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Burnout is a real thing, and a lot of us are currently feeling it more than ever. Authors Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski tackle the root causes of burnout—and how to remedy it—in Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.

They argue that our bodies often get into a fight or flight state that causes anxiety and, yes, burnout. The best remedy for this is to allow your body to complete that stress cycle, but through healthy means like exercise, sleep, or other grounding practices. 

They give real-world advice with genuinely helpful tips that can help you feel better.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

We know that boundary-setting can be a little uncomfortable at best and downright tough at worst. We also know that setting them is super, super important.

Whether you’re dealing with some difficult family dynamics or a toxic coworker, Nedra Tawwab provides exercises Set Boundaries, Find Peace that help readers learn to do just that.  

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Anyone remember this article from a few years ago? It got a lot of attention—because it brought to light the intense amount of emotional and invisible labor that women carry, and that felt poignant to so many of us. 

In Fair Play, Eve Rodsky explores the notion of unequal labor, and she provides solutions that help divide up the workload. It’s a new way of thinking about chores and to-dos that will allow you more free time and help clear up resentment you may feel from having too much on your plate. 

Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time by Brigid Schulte 

In this book, journalist Brigid Schulte interviews various experts, from doctors to sociologists, to figure out why women, and working mothers in particular, are feeling so...overwhelmed. This one was released pre-pandemic, but its subject matter is poignant today.

If you’re feeling like you can’t take another moment of the fast-paced grind, this one might help. 

The Best Mental Health Books for Self-Love and Growth

Loving yourself is one of the most direct routes to improving your mental (and, by extension, your physical) health. And yet, it can be very difficult to love ourselves in every moment. 

Here are some of our favorite mental health books to cultivate self-love and growth. 

Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

If your inner critic is speaking a little too loudly these days, Self-Compassion may help. Kristin Neff provides actionable ways to train the voice in your head to shift from judgmental to compassionate. 

If you’re a perfectionist and you feel like you’re dropping the ball at work, read this. 

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

Tiny Beautiful Things is a collection of essays from Cheryl Strayed (you may remember her from Wild). As an advice columnist, Strayed responds to personal reader inquiries about illness, relationships, and more with poignant and thoughtful writing.

This book is just plain comforting. We recommend it with a blanket and a cup of tea.  

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Untamed is less of a self-help book and more a collection of anecdotes and stories that demonstrate the courage it takes to live in your truth. It’s about following your unique path, trusting your intuition, and setting boundaries, even when you’re setting them with people you love.

It’s about self-love and loving others.

It’s about connecting to your inner “cheetah,” no matter the cost. This is one of those stick-with-you-for-months books that can alter your way of thinking—in a powerful way. 

Think Again by Adam Grant

At Career Contessa, we talk a lot about growth and the importance of maintaining a “growth mindset.” If you operate with an ethos that prioritizes growth, you are inherently more open-minded and curious, and you’re likely to be less hard on yourself as well. 

Adam Grant explores this idea in his latest book, Think Again. He argues that being open to changing your mind, and operating from a state of curiosity instead of conviction, is key to communicating with people who disagree with you, growing as a person, and moving through the world with kindness and empathy. 

Emotional Agility by Susan David

Another option that is ideal for that pesky inner critic, Emotional Agility teaches you how to speak to yourself compassionately. Her strategies center on recognizing your patterns, naming your emotions, and then defining your values to lean on in each aspect of your life.

It’s not about letting your emotions rule you; rather, it’s about strengthening a mindfulness-like practice where you acknowledge what you’re feeling without judgment. Here’s her popular Ted Talk on the same principles.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

In this book, Bessel Van Der Kolk explains the way that our bodies physically hold onto emotional trauma and how this can affect our brains—and therefore our relationships, careers, and overall well-being.

He uses case studies as well as personal stories to explore the best ways to handle the trauma of the past, so that you can move forward with a healthier body and mind. 

Atomic Habits by James Clear

If you’ve ever tried to commit to something that felt big, only to have given up within a few days (guilty!), James Clear’s Atomic Habits may change your outlook on creating change. He argues that the little commitments that build on themselves are what really matter. 

Instead of going from no exercise to committing to exercising six times per week, try committing to a five-minute walk each day or three push-ups. If the new habit is manageable, you’re more likely to stick to it.

And if you stick to it, that’s when the real change happens. If you’re looking to start some healthy new habits or rituals, this book will show you how. 

Best Mental Health Books for Work and Career Anxiety

Careers aren't easy. Whether you're starting your first job or you're twenty years into your career and starting to feel a little lost. The following books can help you to navigate issues in and out of the workplace. 

No Hard Feelings by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy

We’ve long subscribed to the notion that your work shouldn’t wholly define you. Even if you love what you do, if you find yourself consumed with work to an unhealthy extent, it can harm your relationships, cause burnout, and simply suck some of the joy out of your life. 

Sometimes it can be hard to not take it so seriously, though, especially if you’re passionate about your job. We get it. 

No Hard Feelings provides hilarious anecdotes that may help you ease up on your grip a bit—so that you can relax more and enjoy more balance in your life. The premise deals primarily with handling emotions.

Authors Liz Fosslein and Mollie West Duffy challenge the antiquated idea that “feelings don’t belong at work” by helping readers determine how to navigate emotions at work in a healthy way. Plus, they offer tangible communication tips alongside funny comics. 

Work Won’t Love You Back by Sarah Jaffe

In Work Won’t Love You Back, Sarah Jaffe explores how the societal outlook on work affects our individual wellbeing.

If you’ve ever heard of or subscribed to the idea that “doing what you love means you won’t work a day in your life,” and yet found yourself feeling less-than-fulfilled by your career, this one’s for you. 

Her argument is adjacent to the idea of toxic positivity. If our expectation is the “perfect” position, are we setting ourselves up to be let down? Probably.

Other Mental Health Books We Love

Not all mental health and wellness books will be found in the wellness section of a bookstore. In fact, some fiction books, memoirs, children's books, or other unexpected writing will help you. Be open to it. Think of these books as a growing list of "others" that we love.