Books Recommended by Psychologists

The books most recommended by psychologists, drawn from their real public recommendations.

Jonathan HaidtBrittany WagnerPaul BloomScott Barry KaufmanJeffrey GutermanMichele Borba
12 experts · 24 most-recommended books · Updated on June 6, 2026
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Books psychologists recommend most

  1. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition
    Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition
    Robert B. Cialdini
    Recommended by Robert Sutton
  2. Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong
    Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong
    Eric Barker
    Recommended by Robert Sutton
  3. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
    The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
    Mark Manson
    Recommended by Brittany Wagner
  4. Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights
    Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights
    Ayaan Hirsi Ali
    Recommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
  5. Rock Me on the Water: 1974--the Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television and Politics
    Rock Me on the Water: 1974--the Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television and Politics
    Ronald Brownstein
    Recommended by Paul Begala
  6. Fear Is a Choice: Tackling Life's Challenges with Dignity, Faith, and Determination
    Fear Is a Choice: Tackling Life's Challenges with Dignity, Faith, and Determination
    James Conner, Tiffany Yecke Brooks
    Recommended by Brittany Wagner
  7. The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer
    The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer
    Steven Kotler
    Recommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
  8. Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All
    Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All
    Michael Shellenberger
    Recommended by Jonathan Haidt
  9. Games: Agency As Art (Thinking Art)
    Games: Agency As Art (Thinking Art)
    C. Thi Nguyen
    Recommended by Paul Bloom
  10. Positive Evolutionary Psychology: Darwin's Guide to Living a Richer Life
    Positive Evolutionary Psychology: Darwin's Guide to Living a Richer Life
    Glenn Geher, Nicole Wedberg
    Recommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
  11. Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life (The Dr. Mark Hyman Library, 11)
    Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life (The Dr. Mark Hyman Library, 11)
    Dr. Mark Hyman MD
    Recommended by Uma Naidoo
  12. Socratic Questioning for Therapists and Counselors (Modern Integrative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
    Socratic Questioning for Therapists and Counselors (Modern Integrative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
    Scott H. Waltman, R. Trent Codd III, Lynn M. McFarr
    Recommended by Aaron Beck
  13. If Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History
    If Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History
    Jeff Greenfield
    Recommended by Jeffrey Guterman
  14. A New Earth: Oprah's Book Club: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
    A New Earth: Oprah's Book Club: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
    Eckhart Tolle
    Recommended by Abid Zaidi
  15. The Kindness of Strangers: How a Selfish Ape Invented a New Moral Code
    The Kindness of Strangers: How a Selfish Ape Invented a New Moral Code
    Michael E. McCullough
    Recommended by Paul Bloom
  16. Where Have All the Liberals Gone?: Race, Class, and Ideals in America
    Where Have All the Liberals Gone?: Race, Class, and Ideals in America
    James R. Flynn
    Recommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
  17. The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win
    The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win
    Maria Konnikova
    Recommended by Paul Bloom
  18. Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
    Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
    Steven Pinker
    Recommended by Jonathan Haidt
  19. How You Say It: Why You Talk the Way You Do―And What It Says About You
    How You Say It: Why You Talk the Way You Do―And What It Says About You
    Katherine D. Kinzler
    Recommended by Paul Bloom
  20. Creativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition): Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
    Creativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition): Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
    Ed Catmull, Amy Wallace
    Recommended by Robert Sutton
  21. The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain
    The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain
    Alan Gordon, Alon Ziv
    Recommended by Aaron Beck
  22. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
    Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
    Nedra Glover Tawwab
    Recommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
  23. The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds--Not Crushes--Your Soul
    The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds--Not Crushes--Your Soul
    Brad Stulberg
    Recommended by Steven Hayes
  24. First Things First
    First Things First
    Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill
    Recommended by Abid Zaidi

The psychologists

Jonathan Haidt
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
The Decline and Rise of Democracy: A Global History from Antiquity to Today (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World)Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better WorldThe Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us and How We Can Rule It
AB
Aaron Beck
Psychiatrist and Author of Love is Never Enough
6 book recommendations
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You ThinkThe Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven, Step-by-Step Techniques for Overcoming Your Fear (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain
Brittany Wagner
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
Fear Is a Choice: Tackling Life's Challenges with Dignity, Faith, and DeterminationSummary: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a [Damn] by Mark Manson: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life  | Key Ideas in 1 Hour or LessThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Paul Bloom
Paul Bloom
Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto
13 book recommendations
Freud: The Making of an IllusionGames: Agency As Art (Thinking Art)The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't
PB
Paul Begala
CNN contributor and former counselor to President Clinton
2 book recommendations
Rock Me on the Water: 1974--the Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television and PoliticsFrankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost
Scott Barry Kaufman
Scott Barry Kaufman
Humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential, Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, Host @psychpodcast🎙| #neurodiversity
8 book recommendations
Your Turn: How to Be an AdultPrey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's RightsThe Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer
SH
Steven Hayes
Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
4 book recommendations
Superhero Therapy: Mindfulness Skills to Help Teens and Young Adults Deal with Anxiety, Depression, and TraumaThe Happiness Trap (Second Edition): How to Stop Struggling and Start LivingRadical Relief: A Guide to Overcome Chronic Pain | Return to a Full, Active Life Using Pain Science, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
IK
Ian Kerner
Sex therapist and bestselling author of She Comes First
2 book recommendations
Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex LifeBetter Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire
RS
Robert Sutton
Organizational Psychologist, Stanford University Professor, and New York Times Bestselling Author of Good Boss, Bad Boss
5 book recommendations
What a Unicorn Knows: How Leading Entrepreneurs Use Lean Principles to Drive Sustainable GrowthBarking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) WrongEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Jeffrey Guterman
Jeffrey Guterman
CV: https://t.co/vdOh3PDa9L, YouTube: https://t.co/5QgC1IjDcT, Facebook: https://t.co/C93jNC93vM |#FBR #OTD #TeamGuterman #JFKGuterman
3 book recommendations
Mastering the Art of Solution-Focused CounselingIf Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate HistoryTough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For
CM
Craig Malkin
Clinical Psychologist, Lecturer Harvard Medical School
2 book recommendations
Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-AbsorbedMama, You Are Enough: How to Create Calm, Joy, and Confidence Within the Chaos of Motherhood
Michele Borba
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
You and Your Adult Child: How to Grow Together in Challenging TimesCloud Cuckoo Land: A NovelWhat Do You Say?: How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home

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