The 50 best psychology books
The best psychology books ranked: behaviour, habits, trauma, relationships and the mind. A top 50 with short reviews and where to read each one.
Psychology books help you understand why people, including you, behave the way they do. This list mixes research-based books on decision-making and habits with books on trauma, relationships, emotions and therapy.
These are editorial picks, ranked for readability and lasting appeal, and nobody pays to be on the list. Not sure where to start? Try the book finder and get three picks for your mood.
Top 50 psychology books, ranked
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Thinking, Fast and Slow
How two systems drive the way we think.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Body Keeps the Score
Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma.
- Thoughtful
- Moving
Where to read
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Man's Search for Meaning
A psychiatrist's account of surviving the camps and finding purpose.
- Inspiring
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Quiet
The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Emotional Intelligence
Why it can matter more than IQ.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Predictably Irrational
The hidden forces that shape our decisions.
- Funny
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Flow
The psychology of optimal experience.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Influence
The psychology of persuasion.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Nudge
Improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Happiness Hypothesis
Finding modern truth in ancient wisdom.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Righteous Mind
Why good people are divided by politics and religion.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Blink
The power of thinking without thinking.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
And other clinical tales.
- Thoughtful
- Moving
Where to read
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Awakenings
The story of patients revived from a sleeping sickness.
- Moving
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Mindset
How a growth mindset changes how we learn.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Grit
The power of passion and perseverance.
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Attached
The new science of adult attachment.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Gifts of Imperfection
A guide to letting go of who we think we should be.
- Inspiring
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
A therapist becomes a patient.
- Funny
- Moving
Where to read
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The Anatomy of Anxiety
Understand and treat the root cause of your anxiety.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Dopamine Nation
Finding balance in the age of indulgence.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Stumbling on Happiness
Why we get the future wrong.
- Funny
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Drive
The surprising truth about what motivates us.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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The Lucifer Effect
How good people turn evil.
- Thoughtful
- Gripping
Where to read
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Obedience to Authority
An experimental view.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Games People Play
The psychology of human relationships.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Interpretation of Dreams
The foundation of psychoanalysis.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Memories, Dreams, Reflections
Jung's autobiography.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Man's Search for Himself
A study of identity.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Gift of Therapy
An open letter to a new generation of therapists.
- Thoughtful
- Moving
Where to read
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Love's Executioner
And other tales of psychotherapy.
- Moving
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Staring at the Sun
Overcoming the terror of death.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Emotional Agility
Get unstuck, embrace change and thrive.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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The Highly Sensitive Person
How to thrive when the world overwhelms you.
- Thoughtful
- Moving
Where to read
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Hold Me Tight
Seven conversations for a lifetime of love.
- Moving
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
A practical guide from the country's foremost relationship expert.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Daring Greatly
How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live.
- Inspiring
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Atlas of the Heart
Mapping meaningful connection.
- Thoughtful
- Moving
Where to read
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Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
The acclaimed guide to stress.
- Funny
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Behave
The biology of humans at our best and worst.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Power of Habit
Why habits exist and how to change them.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Think Again
The power of knowing what you don't know.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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Originals
How non-conformists move the world.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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The Social Animal
The hidden sources of love, character and achievement.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Sway
The irresistible pull of irrational behavior.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Mindwise
How we understand what others think, believe, feel and want.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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Peak
Secrets from the new science of expertise.
- Thoughtful
- Inspiring
Where to read
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How Emotions Are Made
The secret life of the brain.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
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The Psychology of Self-Esteem
A revolutionary approach to self-understanding.
- Thoughtful
Where to read
Each link opens that store’s search for the book. Availability and prices vary by store and country. We may earn a commission from some stores, which never changes the ranking.
Types of psychology books
Looking for something more specific? These are the main kinds of psychology, with the sort of story or subject each one covers.
Behavioural psychology
Biases and decision-making.
Clinical and therapy
What happens in the therapy room.
Trauma and healing
The body and the mind after hard events.
Relationships and attachment
How we love and connect.
Social psychology
Why groups and situations change us.
Positive psychology
Happiness and flow.
Want to write and publish your own psychology book?
Many readers of this page are also writers. The stores in the lists above are where readers find books, while Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, Lulu and Draft2Digital are the tools authors use to publish and distribute a book to those stores. You can also publish to Barnes & Noble Press and Google Play Books directly.
Our free KDP calculators help with print cost, royalties and cover size, and our publishing services can take care of setup for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best psychology book for beginners?
Thinking, Fast and Slow is the classic, though dense. For an easier first read try Predictably Irrational or Quiet.
Which psychology books are based on research?
Most of the books here cite studies. Check each author's sources and look for newer editions on older research.
Where can I read or buy the best psychology books?
Each of the 50 books has links to Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and Google Play Books. Authors who want to publish their own psychology book can start with our free guides to Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu and Draft2Digital.
Not sure what to read next?
Pick a genre and a mood and the book finder will suggest three books to try.