Best Popular Applied Psychology Books of 2025

The Self-Love Workbook for Women is a practical and inspiring guide that helps women of all ages build self-esteem, improve relationships, and embrace who they are. The book offers a variety of exercises rooted in mindfulness and positive psychology that will help readers let go of limiting beliefs and tap into their emotions. The empowering affirmations interspersed throughout the book will boost positivity and nurture self-love. This workbook is an excellent resource for women, counselors, and group facilitators interested in growing self-love. Megan Logan's approach is easy to read, step-by-step, and includes helpful exercises and assessment tools. This book is a timely and essential guide for those struggling with eating and body image disorders.

"12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos" by Jordan B. Peterson is a #1 National and International Bestseller that offers a unique combination of ancient tradition and cutting-edge scientific research. In this book, Peterson provides 12 practical and profound rules for life that cover topics such as discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility. The author also discusses the nervous system of the lowly lobster and the ancient Egyptians' worship of the capacity to pay careful attention. The book shatters modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its readers. Overall, this book is an excellent read for anyone seeking personal transformation and self-help."

Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini is a must-read for those interested in the art of persuasion. The book offers new research, insights, examples, and online applications that explain the psychology behind why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. Using memorable stories and relatable examples, Cialdini makes this crucially important subject surprisingly easy. The book also teaches readers how to defend themselves against unethical influence attempts. Overall, Influence is an engaging, comprehensive guide to using principles of persuasion to move others, and it is backed by 35 years of evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific research.

No More Mr Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover is a book that delves into the "Nice Guy Syndrome" and how it can lead to unhappiness and resentment. Through personal growth, expressing emotions, and embracing masculinity, Dr. Glover offers readers tools to get what they want in life, including a satisfying sex life and meaningful relationships. As a certified marriage and family therapist and a recovering Nice Guy himself, Dr. Glover's expertise is evident throughout the book. This unique guide is a must-read for anyone looking to break free from the cycle of people-pleasing and take control of their own happiness.

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, written by clinical psychologist Elaine Aron, is a groundbreaking book that helps readers understand and embrace their highly sensitive nature. Aron provides self-assessment tests, tips on coping with over-arousal, and techniques to enrich the soul and spirit. With years of research and hundreds of interviews, this book offers a unique perspective on high sensitivity and how it affects both personal and work relationships. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who identifies as an HSP or wants to better understand and support highly sensitive individuals.

The CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents is a comprehensive workbook that offers over 200 worksheets, exercises, and activities to help children cope with and overcome a range of struggles, including trauma, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders. Written by experienced clinicians and teachers, this practical and easy-to-use resource is adapted from cognitive behavioral therapy and includes client activities that children can do themselves, either in-session or as homework. The book is authored by Lisa Weed Phifer, Amanda K Crowder, Tracy Elsenraat, and Robert Hull, and published by PESI Publishing, Inc. It's an excellent resource for parents, therapists, and educators who work with children and adolescents.

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel Amen is a revised and expanded edition that provides readers with effective brain prescriptions to heal the brain and transform their lives. Dr. Amen’s cutting-edge research and scientific evidence from more than 100,000 SPECT brain scans over the last quarter-century will help readers understand how specific structures work in their brains and how they can use simple techniques to quell anxiety, fight depression, curb anger, boost memory, conquer impulsiveness, and stop obsessive worrying. This book is a must-read manual for anyone seeking to take care of their brain and overall emotional wellbeing.

The highly anticipated sequel to 12 Rules for Life, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life, offers critical insight into navigating the complexities of modern life. In this follow-up, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson delivers twelve additional principles to help readers resist the exhausting toll of trying to impose order on the chaos of the world. Peterson offers strategies for finding meaning and purpose in a world that can often feel overwhelming. While the book's harsh approach may not be for everyone, it provides an intensely practical guide to help readers find their path in life.

What Every Body Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro is a must-read book for anyone who wants to improve their nonverbal intelligence. Navarro, a former FBI counterintelligence officer, provides readers with a comprehensive guide on how to decode sentiments and behaviors through nonverbal cues. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the ancient survival instincts that drive body language, and how it can influence what others think of us. Filled with real-life examples, this book offers a powerful new way to navigate the world. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their interpersonal skills.

The Parenting Map by Dr. Shefali is a revolutionary parenting guide that offers practical solutions to create a healthy and nurturing relationship with your child. With over two decades of experience working with parents, Dr. Shefali provides evidence-based practices to help parents break free from toxic inherited patterns and develop authentic connections with their children. The book is filled with illuminating client stories, paradigm-shifting wisdom, and step-by-step practices that empower children while transforming parents. It's a must-read for parents who want to raise independent, authentic, and happy children.