Books Recommended by Psychologists
The books most recommended by psychologists, drawn from their real public recommendations.
12 experts · 24 most-recommended books · Updated on June 6, 2026
We may earn commissions for purchases made via this page
Books psychologists recommend most
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised EditionRobert B. CialdiniRecommended by Robert Sutton
Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) WrongEric BarkerRecommended by Robert Sutton
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good LifeMark MansonRecommended by Brittany Wagner
Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's RightsAyaan Hirsi AliRecommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
Rock Me on the Water: 1974--the Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television and PoliticsRonald BrownsteinRecommended by Paul Begala
Fear Is a Choice: Tackling Life's Challenges with Dignity, Faith, and DeterminationJames Conner, Tiffany Yecke BrooksRecommended by Brittany Wagner
The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance PrimerSteven KotlerRecommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us AllMichael ShellenbergerRecommended by Jonathan Haidt
Games: Agency As Art (Thinking Art)C. Thi NguyenRecommended by Paul Bloom
Positive Evolutionary Psychology: Darwin's Guide to Living a Richer LifeGlenn Geher, Nicole WedbergRecommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life (The Dr. Mark Hyman Library, 11)Dr. Mark Hyman MDRecommended by Uma Naidoo
Socratic Questioning for Therapists and Counselors (Modern Integrative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)Scott H. Waltman, R. Trent Codd III, Lynn M. McFarrRecommended by Aaron Beck
If Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate HistoryJeff GreenfieldRecommended by Jeffrey Guterman
A New Earth: Oprah's Book Club: Awakening to Your Life's PurposeEckhart TolleRecommended by Abid Zaidi
The Kindness of Strangers: How a Selfish Ape Invented a New Moral CodeMichael E. McCulloughRecommended by Paul Bloom
Where Have All the Liberals Gone?: Race, Class, and Ideals in AmericaJames R. FlynnRecommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and WinMaria KonnikovaRecommended by Paul Bloom
Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It MattersSteven PinkerRecommended by Jonathan Haidt
How You Say It: Why You Talk the Way You Do―And What It Says About YouKatherine D. KinzlerRecommended by Paul Bloom
Creativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition): Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True InspirationEd Catmull, Amy WallaceRecommended by Robert Sutton
The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic PainAlan Gordon, Alon ZivRecommended by Aaron Beck
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming YourselfNedra Glover TawwabRecommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds--Not Crushes--Your SoulBrad StulbergRecommended by Steven Hayes
First Things FirstStephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. MerrillRecommended by Abid Zaidi
The psychologists
Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist at NYU-Stern. I study moral psych & business ethics. I think social media is damaging democracy so I try to tweet rarely and constructively
9 book recommendations
AB
Aaron Beck
Psychiatrist and Author of Love is Never Enough
6 book recommendations
Brittany Wagner
Counselor on seasons 1 & 2 of Last Chance U on Netflix. Founder of 10 Thousand Pencils, LLC. Host of iTunes podcast Sharpen Up. #doyouhaveapencil
3 book recommendations
Paul Bloom
Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto
13 book recommendations
PB
Paul Begala
CNN contributor and former counselor to President Clinton
2 book recommendations
Scott Barry Kaufman
Humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential, Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, Host @psychpodcast🎙| #neurodiversity
8 book recommendations
SH
Steven Hayes
Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
4 book recommendations
IK
Ian Kerner
Sex therapist and bestselling author of She Comes First
2 book recommendations
RS
Robert Sutton
Organizational Psychologist, Stanford University Professor, and New York Times Bestselling Author of Good Boss, Bad Boss
5 book recommendations
Jeffrey Guterman
CV: https://t.co/vdOh3PDa9L, YouTube: https://t.co/5QgC1IjDcT, Facebook: https://t.co/C93jNC93vM |#FBR #OTD #TeamGuterman #JFKGuterman
3 book recommendations
CM
Craig Malkin
Clinical Psychologist, Lecturer Harvard Medical School
2 book recommendations
Michele Borba
Educ Psychologist; Intl Speaker; TEDx: EmpathyIsAVerb TODAYContr UnSelfie & Mar 2 2021: THRIVERS: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle & Others Shine
5 book recommendations