Best Psychology Books
Enhance your understanding of the human mind with this collection of seminal psychology books, ranked by their prominence in respected articles.

100 books on the list
Sort by
Number of Articles
Layout
Explore the inner workings of the mind in this groundbreaking book that explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, emotional, and intuitive while System 2 is slower, more analytical, and logical. Discover the benefits and drawbacks of both systems and learn how to tap into the benefits of slow thinking. With practical insights into decision-making in both our personal and professional lives, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to guard against mental pitfalls and gain a deeper understanding of the way we think.
Featured in 30 articles
Discover the science of compliance in this captivating book that uncovers the factors that influence people to say "yes" to a request. Scholarly research is combined with real-life techniques and strategies gathered from sales, fundraising, advertising, and other positions that commonly use compliance tactics. The author has organized the tactics into six categories based on psychological principles: reciprocation, consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. Widely used in both classes and the business world, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of persuasion.
Featured in 20 articles
Discover why we make seemingly irrational decisions in our lives, from overspending on a meal to buying a car, in this groundbreaking and expanded edition of a New York Times bestseller. Author Dan Ariely challenges the assumption that we behave in rational ways and reveals the systematic and predictable nature of our misguided behaviors. Explore fascinating insights into the biases and tendencies that make us predictably irrational in this compelling read.
Featured in 16 articles
Discover the fascinating science behind our habits and how they can be changed in this bestselling book. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Charles Duhigg takes us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the civil rights movement, presenting a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit provides an exhilarating argument: understanding how habits work is the key to achieving success in life, business, and beyond. With captivating storytelling and practical advice, this book has been hailed by critics as essential reading.
Featured in 12 articles
Explore the intersection of philosophy and psychology in this thought-provoking book. Award-winning psychologist Jonathan Haidt delves into enduring maxims such as "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" and "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," and shows how they can bring more happiness and fulfillment to our lives. A truly transformative read.
Featured in 12 articles
Explore the mysteries of decision-making and how our brains process information in Blink. Malcolm Gladwell uses cutting-edge science to uncover how seemingly instant choices can have a profound impact on our lives. Discover why some people are natural decision-makers while others struggle, and why some decisions can't be explained to others. From predicting marriages to spotting antiques, Gladwell's insights are both fascinating and captivating. Find out why it's not about the quantity of information, but rather about the quality of our "thin-slicing" skills. Blink will change the way you think about thinking.
Featured in 11 articles
Recommended by
Victor AsemotaDiscover the paradigm-shattering approach to motivation in this persuasive book by Daniel H. Pink. Drawing on four decades of scientific research, Pink asserts that rewards like money are not the best way to motivate. Instead, he explores the deeply human need for autonomy, mastery, and purpose, offering surprising techniques for putting these elements into action. This unique book will transform how you think and live, whether at work, school, or home.
Featured in 11 articles

Mistakes Were Made
Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
Discover the fascinating reasons why people always find ways to avoid taking responsibility for their mistakes in Mistakes Were Made. Esteemed social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson dive into the human brain's penchant for self-justification and how it leads to harmful fictions that absolve us of wrongdoing. Drawing from years of research and using energized prose, the authors explain the dangers of self-deception and how to overcome it.
Featured in 11 articles
Explore the mysteries of the human mind and discover the misguided ways we predict our own happiness in this accessible and witty book. Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert illuminates the illusions of foresight and imagination that skew our perception of the future and lead us to misjudge our satisfactions. Drawing on research from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and economics, Gilbert uncovers the secrets of human imagination and our ability to anticipate happiness. Don't miss out on this fascinating read that sheds light on the inner workings of our minds.
Featured in 11 articles
Explore the extraordinary world of neurological disorders through personal case studies. This book presents patients with bizarre perceptual and intellectual aberrations, vividly conveying their struggles to live with memory loss, loss of recognition, and violent tics. These deeply human tales showcase life's perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity and provide a window into the lives of the neurologically impaired.
Featured in 9 articles
Recommended by
Marina AmaralThe Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
Games People Play by Eric Berne
The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher Chabris
The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
The Social Animal by David Brooks
Quiet by Susan Cain
Brain Rules by John Medina
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Sway by Ori Brafman
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty by Dan Ariely
Switch by Chip Heath
You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney
The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson
Strangers to Ourselves by Timothy D. Wilson
The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Emotions Revealed, Second Edition by Paul Ekman
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
The Dictionary of Body Language by Joe Navarro
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Authentic Happiness by Martin E. P. Seligman
The Upside of Your Dark Side by Todd Kashdan
Redirect by Timothy D. Wilson
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, Robert Petkoff, Donna Dale Carnegie, Simon & Schuster Audio
Nudge by Richard H. Thaler
Grit by Angela Duckworth
The Psychology Book by Nigel C. Benson
Made to Stick by Chip Heath
The Secret Life of Pronouns by James W. Pennebaker
Awe by Dacher Keltner
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
The Good Life by Robert Waldinger
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker
On Becoming a Person by Carl R. Rogers
Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram
The Best Place to Work by Ron Friedman
The Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making by Scott Plous
Willpower by Roy F. Baumeister
Numbers Rule Your World by Kaiser Fung
Evolutionary Psychology by David Buss
The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter
Brainfluence by Roger Dooley
The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud
The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi
Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Peak by Anders Ericsson
Incognito by David Eagleman
The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James
The Evolving Self by Robert Kegan
Memory How to Develop, Train, and Use It by William Walker Atkinson
Psychology of Intelligence Analysis by Richards J. Heuer Jr.
The Drunkard's Walk by Leonard Mlodinow
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray
Originals by Adam Grant
Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud
The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker
The Champion's Mind by Jim Afremow
Phantoms in the Brain by V. S. Ramachandran
Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson
Attached by Amir Levine
Behave by Robert M. Sapolsky
12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by American Psychiatric Association
The Antidote by Oliver Burkeman
How to Think Straight About Psychology by Keith E. Stanovich
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Seeking Wisdom by Peter Bevelin
The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal
Man and His Symbols by Carl G. Jung
The Evolution of Cooperation by Robert Axelrod
Choices, Values, and Frames by Daniel Kahneman
Smart Choices by John S. Hammond
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by American Psychological Association
Abnormal Psychology by Ronald J. Comer
To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink
Yes! by Noah J. Goldstein
The Examined Life by Stephen Grosz
Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson
Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar
A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink








