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Stress Articles Stress Therapy for Stress Stress Management Types of Stress

15 Best Stress Management Books

Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD

Author: Melissa Boudin, PsyD

Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD

Melissa Boudin PsyD

Dr. Melissa, clinical psychologist with 15+ years, specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief, focused on improving mental health access and resources.

See My Bio Editorial Policy
Headshot of Trishanna Sookdeo, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Medical Reviewer: Trishanna Sookdeo, MD, MPH, FAAFP Licensed medical reviewer

Published: June 30, 2023

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  • Books 1-5Books 1-5
  • Books 6-10Books 6-10
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  • When to See a TherapistWhen to See a Therapist
  • Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

Stress is a natural part of life, but chronic, constant stress can cause lasting damage and be difficult to resolve. Dealing with stress usually means not only removing the stressors, but addressing the underlying cause. These books on stress management are for anyone who feels like they can’t keep up.

1Stress Proof Brain. The Stress-Proof Brain

It’s not always the stress itself that wreaks havoc on us – it’s how we respond to that stress. Negative thinking, self-criticism, and tunnel vision may seem like natural ways to react to stress, but those reactions won’t get you far if you’re looking to manage stress in healthy ways.

Psychologist Melanie Greenberg combines ancient soothing techniques with systematic, scientific information about the way the brain works. This results in the resilience needed to navigate stressful times.

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before2. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?

Mental health and stress are intertwined; if you understand how to manage one, you’ll likely make strides with the other. Dr. Julie Smith’s book offers compassionate advice and insight into the most common mental health issues, including coping with stress, drawn from her years as a clinical psychologist. It offers coping techniques and resilience-building exercises to help stressed readers navigate life’s ups and downs while still maintaining a level of content and peace.

Mindfulness for Stress Management3. Mindfulness for Stress Management: 50 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Cultivate Calmness

Mindfulness, like any other skill, takes practice and time. This workbook is designed to help you do exactly that. It provides 50 ways to relax and manage your stressful emotions so you can continually find peace, even in difficult times.

It’s even broken up by types of stress, so whether you’re worried about your family, your job, or other issues, you can find what you need.

Burnout4. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

This female-focused book was written to tackle sexist expectations of women in work and life, and why women experience deep levels of burnout. If you constantly struggle with not feeling good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough, you’ll appreciate this witty, informative book.

This book features sections on body image, stress, and stress management tips and techniques to help you move out of the cycle of stress and into a relaxed, confident state.

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess5. Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking

Chronic stress can make your thoughts feel cluttered, chaotic, and out of control. Finding peace is challenging when there’s a lot to clean up, like taking out the trash for the first time in weeks.

Dr. Caroline Leaf offers five proven techniques to help you “declutter” your mind. Her scientifically-proven methods help you dissolve negative thinking, toxic thoughts, and more.

Who Moved My Cheese6. Who Moved My Cheese?

Psychologist Dr. Spencer Johnson uses an interesting, if not confusing at first, metaphor about cheese to illustrate how we react to change getting in the way of things we want. Like mice drawn to cheese, we all have goals we want to accomplish—in work, life, and relationships. That cheese is that goal, but often in life, something keeps moving the cheese, making it harder and harder to find.

How we react to that change, Dr. Johnson argues, determines how we react to stress. His book offers easy ways to anticipate and adapt to that stress in healthy ways. That way, you can finally get your cheese and eat it too.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff7. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It’s All Small Stuff

You’re stressed, strung out, and someone has the audacity to tell you “don’t let the little things get to you.” At the moment, that’s about as helpful as a chocolate teapot. However, in practice, it can actually be a useful piece of advice, provided you go about it the right way.

Richard Carlson outlines exactly what it means to not stress the little things, including letting go of perfection, being in the present moment, and more. The little things often make up the big things, and when that stack gets too high, this book provides tips and tools to get back on track and shift your perspective.

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook8. The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook

If you’re constantly struggling with stress, chances are very high it’s rooted deeper than simply a “stressful day.” Long-term anxiety and phobias can cause constant stress that can only ease once the underlying causes have been addressed.

This therapist-recommended workbook is good for those who suspect their stress is actually anxiety. It offers practical advice and exercises to help you navigate your mental health.

The Strengths based workbook for stress relief9. The Strengths-Based Workbook for Stress Relief

This psychologist-written workbook features evidence-based guides for reducing your daily stress response. First, you’ll identify your positive strengths and how to use them effectively when life feels overwhelming. Roosted in positive psychology and filled with helpful tips, techniques, and strategies, this book is a great resource.

Self Care Prescription10. The Self Care Prescription

Stress often grows from a lack of self-care; when we’re giving ourselves enough time to rest, doing things we enjoy, and taking care of our physical health, we’re more likely to be more resilient to life’s stressful situations.

If you struggle with self-care and are looking for more advice beyond bubble baths and cozy blankets (not that they don’t have their place in a self-care regimen), this thorough guide outlines how to incorporate more self-care into every aspect of your life, including work, health, and more.

Stress Management11. Stress Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness

Stress Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness tackles specific areas of stress, including familial, work-related, social, and emotional stress. Authors Edward A. Charlesworth and Ronald G. Nathan offer techniques for both men and women to better respond to many stressors, and reference updated statistics on disorders, drugs, and what it means to live in an age of constant communication. They also include the benefits of spiritual practices, relaxation techniques, exercise, nutrition, and alternative medicine.

The Stress Solution12. The Stress Solution: The 4 Steps to Reset Your Body, Mind, Relationships and Purpose

Bestselling author Dr. Rangan Chateerjee provides immediate, actionable advice throughout the pages of The Stress Solution. As a general practitioner, he has seen first-hand how stress affects his colleagues and patients, and he delivers a series of small changes you can make to improve your quality of life. Reset your attitude and outlook with tips related to body, mind, relationships, and purpose! Packed with personal anecdotes and patient cases, this book is a veritable roadmap to wellness in the modern world.

101 Ways to Be Less Stressed13. 101 Ways to Be Less Stressed: Simple Self-Care Strategies to Boost Your Mind, Mood, and Mental Health

This book focuses on the connection between mind and body when it comes to stress. Although many people prioritize their physical health (like with daily workouts and healthy eating), they tend to forget about mental health and mood. Author of 101 Ways to Be Less Stressed, Dr. Caroline Leaf, says physical and mental stress are uniquely linked. Using simple strategies and the power of our minds, we can actually grow more resilient in response to life’s challenges, regardless of whether they manifest physically or mentally.

Stop Overthinking14. Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present 

Acclaimed author Nick Trenton knows that one of the biggest causes of unhappiness is overthinking. These kinds of never-ending thought loops cause stress and a self-imposed mental prison. He wants to help readers get out of their heads and into their bodies and the present moment, providing scientific approaches to stop ruminating and dwelling on negative thoughts. Stop Overthinking offers methods to declutter your mind, find peace and focus, and unleash your full potential.

The Stress Prescription15. The Stress Prescription: Seven Days to More Joy and Ease

Psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Elissa Epen wants readers to understand how to embrace their stress in a positive way. In The Stress Prescription, Dr. Epel breaks down years and years of research, offering a seven-day plan with science-backed techniques that can help people harness their stress and turn it into strength. “Stress better” by building mental resources and actively filling your days with more joy, delight, connection, and ease.

When to See a Therapist for Stress

There are a number of great mental health apps available that can help you develop and improve coping strategies. But chronic stress can quickly lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, so it’s best not to delay. A therapist can help you evaluate your life and determine what changes you can make. Many popular online therapy providers can connect you with a therapist within a day or two and make starting therapy very easy. You can also find someone in your are by using a local therapist directory.

Additional Resources

To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, ChoosingTherapy.com has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. ChoosingTherapy.com is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.

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For Further Reading

  • Anxiety Books for those looking to learn how to build more resilience
  • Which app is better for stress management: Headspace vs Calm
  • Looking for a little help? Check out the best online therapy options available

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Update History

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

June 30, 2023
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Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources. Added five new titles. New material reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD.
April 14, 2022
Author: Melissa Boudin, PsyD
Reviewer: Trishanna Sookdeo, MD, MPH, FAAFP
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