Do you ever wonder why people act the way they do? Or how you can make better choices and handle tough situations easily? Let’s dive into the exciting world of psychology books – it’s all about understanding how humans behave and think.

In this blog, we’ll go on an exciting journey through 16 must-read books about human nature and psychology. These books explore emotions, personality, and the mysteries of the human mind. They’ll help you understand yourself and others better than ever!

Get ready to boost your productivity, mental strength, and happiness. These books will transform you and give you the knowledge to face life’s challenges and reach your full potential.

I have ranked these books based on the following criteria:

• The quality of the research and scholarship. I looked for books that were based on sound research and that provided a comprehensive overview of the topic.
• The clarity and readability of the writing. They are well-written and are easy to understand.
• The relevance of the content to my interests. I chose books that I thought would be most interesting and informative to you.

Best Books on Human Nature & Psychology of All Time

1. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

“Sapiens tells the story of how our species came to be and how

we have affected the world around us. Harari says that we’ve become successful because we can work together in big groups.

This teamwork helped us do incredible things like inventing farming, science, and technology. But sometimes, it also caused big problems like wars and harming the environment.

This Book in One Sentence:

• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a sweeping overview of human history that explores the rise of our species and our impact on the world.

Why should you read it?

• It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the past, present, and future of our species.

Key takeaways from the book:

• Humans are the only species that has been able to shape its own evolution.
• Our ability to cooperate flexibly has been essential to our success.
• We have a deep-seated need to belong to groups.
• Stories are a powerful tool for shaping our beliefs and behavior.
• We are living in a time of great change, and the future of our species is uncertain. So be prepared for change and be open to new ideas.
• We are not as peaceful as we think. We have a natural tendency to violence.

2. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is while you are thinking about it.”

“Thinking, Fast and Slow” will explain you how your mind works with two important systems. System 1 and System 2.

System 1 is like our quick, intuitive, and emotional side. It helps us react fast to everyday things without thinking too much.

For example, when you catch a ball without even planning, that’s System 1 at work.

System 2, on the other hand, is like our slow, careful, and rational side. It comes into play when we have to solve tricky problems or make important decisions. Imagine when you need to figure out a challenging math problem – that’s when System 2 helps you think carefully.

The book suggests that we rely on System 1 most of the time because it’s faster and easier. But System 2 is like a superhero that comes to our rescue when we face complicated situations.

However, System 1 has a little weakness. It can sometimes lead us in the wrong direction. That’s because it can be influenced by our feelings and shortcuts our brain takes, known as biases and heuristics. 

So, it’s essential to be aware of this and sometimes ask System 2 to double-check our decisions.

The Book In One Sentence: 

• Thinking, Fast and Slow book tells us about our two thinking systems – one quick and emotional (System 1) and the other slow and rational (System 2). It reminds us to use both wisely to make better choices in life.
• Why should you read it?
• It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how our brains make decisions, how we form our beliefs, and how we can improve our thinking.

Key Takeaways:

• We have two systems of thinking: System 1 and System 2.
• System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional.
• System 2 is slow, deliberate, and rational.
• We rely on System 1 most of the time, but System 2 is needed for complex decisions.
• System 1 can lead us astray, as it is susceptible to biases and heuristics.
• We can improve our decision-making by understanding how System 1 and System 2 work.

3. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.91/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Humans, by their nature, are curious, self-directed learners. We learn to walk by walking. We learn to talk by talking. And we learn to work by working.”

Book in One Sentence?

This book tells us that what motivates us is different than what we usually think. It says that when we do things because we enjoy them, want to get better at them, or because they have a purpose, we are more motivated.

Why Should You Read It?

• This book will make you think and understand motivation in a new way.

• It’s perfect for anyone who wants to know how to make workplaces more motivating.

• You’ll find lots of practical ideas in the book to help make workplaces more motivating, and it will inspire you to see motivation differently.

Key Takeaways:

• The 3 elements of intrinsic motivation are autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
• Autonomy is the feeling of being in control of one’s own work.
• Mastery is the feeling of getting better at something that matters to you.
• Purpose is the feeling of doing something that is meaningful and makes a difference.
• Extrinsic rewards, such as money and praise, can be effective in the short term, but they are not as effective as intrinsic motivation in the long term.
• To create more motivating workplaces, we need to give people autonomy, opportunities for mastery, and a sense of purpose.

4. The Social Animal by David Brooks

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“The emotional brain responds to an event more quickly than the thinking brain.”

This book talks about how humans behave and why we act the way we do when we’re around others. The author, Brooks, tells that all of us are social creatures, meaning we like being with other people.

Our brains are designed to want friends and connections. In the book, Brooks explains that the way people behave is influenced by the signals we get from others, how well we know ourselves, and the culture we grow up in.”

This Book in One Sentence:

• The Social Animal is a book that explores the science of human nature and how our social interactions shape our lives.

Why should you read it?

• The Social Animal is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that will challenge your assumptions about human nature. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand themselves and the world around them better.

Key Takeaways:

• We are all social animals, and our relationships with others have a profound impact on our lives.
• Our brains are wired to seek out social connections, and we need to feel like we belong in order to thrive.
• Our social interactions shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• We can learn to be more effective in our social interactions by understanding the science of human nature.

5. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Self-awareness is the ability to monitor our inner world—our thoughts and feelings—and be mindful of our moods and emotions as they arise.” – Daniel Goleman

Emotional Intelligence says that understanding and handling feelings, both our own and other people’s, is crucial for success in life.

It’s just as important as IQ, which measures how smart we are. According to Goleman, emotional intelligence means being able to recognize our emotions and the emotions of others

It also means knowing how to motivate ourselves and control our emotions in ourselves and in our interactions with others. So, emotional intelligence helps us do well in our relationships and in managing our own feelings.

This Book in One Sentence:

• Emotional Intelligence is a book that argues that emotional intelligence is just as important as IQ for success in life.

Why should you read it?

• This book will challenge your assumptions about what it means to be intelligent. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand themselves and the world around them better.

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and the emotions of others.
• Emotional intelligence is just as important as IQ for success in life.
• There are five key components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
• We can all learn to improve our emotional intelligence.

6. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.6/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things, but they do them without thinking, too fast for the other team to react. They follow the habits they’ve learned.”

“The Power of Habit is a book that explains why we do things the way we do and how we can change them. Duhigg says that habits are like routines our brain follows, but they’re not impossible to change.

He explains the three steps of a habit:

• Cue: This is like a signal that tells our brain to do something automatically.
• Routine: It’s the actual thing we do when our brain follows the cue.
• Reward: After we do the routine, we get something that makes us feel good, and that’s why we’re more likely to do it again.

To show how powerful habits can be, Duhigg shares some interesting stories.

For example, he talks about how a famous swimmer named Michael Phelps used habits to become really successful.

He also explains how Starbucks, a big coffee company, changed its way of doing things by rewarding its employees differently.

This Book in One Sentence:

• The Power of Habit explains the science behind habit formation and how to change them, so you can improve your life and achieve your goals.

Why should you read it?

• The Power of Habit is a fascinating and informative book that will help you understand how your habits work and how you can change them.
• The book is full of real-world examples and stories that make it easy to understand and apply the concepts.
• The Power of Habit can help you improve your health, your productivity, and your relationships.
• If you want to understand how habits work and how to change them for the better, this is a book you should read.

Key Takeaways:

• Habits are formed by a three-step loop: cue, routine, and reward.
• By understanding the habit loop, you can change your habits by changing the cue, the routine, or the reward.
• There are two types of habits: keystone habits and enabling habits. Keystone habits are powerful habits that can have a ripple effect on other areas of your life. E enabling habits makes it easier to form other habits.
• The key to changing a habit is to make it less attractive and more difficult to do, and to make the new habit more attractive and easier to do.

7. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.56/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“The human being is the only animal that thinks about the future.”

This is a cool book that explores how we feel happy. Gilbert says that we’re not good at knowing what will make us happy in the future, so sometimes we make choices that we think will make us happy, but they don’t really. To explain this, he tells us about lots of studies and stories.

For example, he talks about people who win the lottery. We might think they become super happy, but actually, they don’t stay happy for long. He also says that getting married doesn’t always make people as happy as they thought it would.

Gilbert also explains that our brains like to focus on bad things more than good things. This can make us pick things that aren’t really good for us in the long run.

“Stumbling on Happiness” is a super interesting book that makes you think about happiness in a new way. If you read it, you’ll understand why we might not feel as happy as we want to be, and what we can do to feel happier.

It’s a book you should read if you want to know more about being happy.

This Book in One Sentence:

• Stumbling on Happiness is a book about why we’re so bad at predicting what will make us happy, and what we can do to improve our forecasting skills.

Why should you read it?

• Stumbling on Happiness will help you understand how your brain works and why you make the choices you do.
• The book is full of interesting stories and research findings that will make you think about happiness in a new way.
• It can help you make better decisions about your life and increase your overall happiness.

Key Takeaways:

• We’re all bad at predicting what will make us happy.
• Our brains are wired to focus on the negative and to imagine the future as being more similar to the present than it actually will be.
• We can improve our forecasting skills by paying attention to our emotions, being mindful of our biases, and focusing on the positive.
• There are things we can do to increase our happiness, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing our passions, and helping others.

8. Behave: The Biology of Humans at Their Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.53/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Our biology is always there, always affecting us, and there’s no way of getting away from it.”

“The Biology of Humans at Their Best and Worst” by Robert Sapolsky is a book that talks about why people act the way they do.

Sapolsky is a smart professor who studies how our bodies and brains work together to shape our behavior.

In this book he tells about a lot of things that affects how we act, like our bodies, our environment, and even the world around us.

This book  will make you think a lot about why we do the things we do. If you’re curious about why we think, feel, and act the way we do, this book is a must-read!

This Book in One Sentence:

• Behave is a comprehensive and engrossing exploration of the biology of human behavior, from the most basic neural processes to the complex social dynamics of our species.

Why should you read it?

• Behave is a fascinating and informative book that will help you understand the biological basis of your own behavior, as well as the behavior of others.
• The book is full of interesting stories and research findings that will make you think about human behavior in a new way.
• Behave can help you become a more compassionate and understanding person.

Key Takeaways:

• Our behavior is influenced by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Our brains are wired for both cooperation and competition.
• The environment we grow up in can have a profound impact on our behavior.
• We have the capacity for great good and great evil.

9. The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.52/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“The only way to gain power in a world that is moving too fast is to learn to slow down.”

The Laws of Human Nature” by Robert Greene is an interesting book that talks about the rules that guide how people behave. Greene, who is a famous writer, explains that there are 18 important laws that control how we act.

If we know and understand these laws, we can be better at dealing with others. The laws are divided into three parts: Power, Strategy, and Self-Mastery.

This Book in One Sentence:

• The Laws of Human Nature is a comprehensive guide to understanding the hidden forces that drive human behaviour, both good and evil.

Why should you read it?

• The Laws of Human Nature is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that will challenge your assumptions about human nature.
• The book is full of insights that will help you understand yourself and others better.
• The Laws of Human Nature can help you make better decisions in your personal and professional life.

Key Takeaways:

• Human nature is complex and contradictory.
• We are all driven by a combination of selfish and altruistic motives.
• We are all capable of great good and great evil.
• We can learn to control our impulses and make better choices.

10. What Every Body Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.51/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Movements are powerful communicators and are often the first to be noticed and the last to be controlled.”

“What Every Body is Saying” by Joe Navarro, teaches you how to understand what people are thinking and feeling just by looking at their body movements.

Joe Navarro used to be a special agent who worked for the FBI and he was really good at understanding how people communicate without using words.

The book is divided into three parts:

• The Basics: This part talks about the simple things you can notice in how people move their bodies, like when they look at you, the expressions on their faces, and the gestures they make.
• The Details: Here, you’ll learn more specific things about body language. For example, you’ll find out how to tell if someone is not telling the truth or how to understand what emotions they might be feeling.
• The Applications: This part shows you how to use what you’ve learned about body language in different situations, like when you’re trying to get a job, negotiating to buy something, or going on a first date.

If you want to understand how body language works and how to use it to your advantage, you should definitely read this book!

This Book in One Sentence:

• Behave is a comprehensive guide to understanding nonverbal communication, written by a former FBI agent with over 20 years of experience.

Why should you read it?

• Behave is a fascinating and informative book that will help you understand the hidden messages that people are sending with their body language.
• The book is full of practical tips that you can use to improve your communication skills and read people more effectively.
• Behave can help you in your personal and professional life, from building stronger relationships to negotiating better deals.

Key Takeaways:

• Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication, and it can often tell us more about what someone is thinking or feeling.
• There are many different nonverbal cues that we can use to read people, such as their facial expressions, eye contact, body posture, and gestures.
• We can learn to interpret these nonverbal cues by understanding the underlying emotions and motivations that drive them.
• By understanding nonverbal communication, we can improve our communication skills, build stronger relationships, and make better decisions.

11. Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.5/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Everyone is born as a potential genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.”

The book “Games People Play” by Eric Berne talks about how people behave in their relationships. Eric Berne was a psychiatrist who said that everyone plays games in their relationships without even realizing it. These games can be sneaky and controlling.

He found 36 different games that people play, and he divided them into 3groups: Passive-Aggressive, Competitive, and Collaborative.

• Passive-Aggressive games: These are games where people don’t want to take responsibility for their actions. One example is the Why Don’t You–Yes But game. In this game, one person asks for something, and the other person agrees to do it but then secretly messes it up.
• Competitive games: These games are about winning, even if it means hurting others. An example is the Uproar game. In this game, someone starts an argument just to get attention.
• Collaborative games: These games involve working together to achieve a common goal. For instance, the Let’s You and Him Fight game is when two people team up against a third person.

The book “Games People Play” is really interesting and helps you understand how relationships work. It’s essential to read if you want to know about these games and how to avoid getting caught up in them.

This Book in One Sentence:

• Games People Play is a classic book on transactional analysis that explores the hidden games we play in our relationships.

Why should you read it?

• It will help you understand the dynamics of your relationships.
• This book is full of examples and exercises that you can use to identify the games you play and how to change them.
• Games People Play can help you improve your relationships and become a more effective communicator.

Key Takeaways:

• Games are repetitive patterns of behaviour that we use to get what we want from others.
• Games are often unconscious, and we may not be aware that we are playing them.
• Games can be harmful to our relationships, and they can prevent us from getting our needs met.
• We can learn to identify and change the games we play by becoming more aware of our own motivations and the motivations of others.

12. The Daily Laws by Robert Greene

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.46/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“Never underestimate the power of your own mind. You are capable of great things, if you only believe in yourself.”

“Robert Greene in this book, he writes about how to be really good at things and how to make good decisions. He believes that the rules for being powerful and skilled apply to everyone and can help us do better in everything we do.

The book has 365 chapters, one for each day of the year. Each chapter is a short lesson about a different rule for power or mastery. These rules come from what Greene wrote in his other books, and also from what he learned in his own life.

‘The Daily Laws’ is a really interesting and makes you think. It will change how you see power, strategy, and mastery. If you want to be better at what you do, you should definitely read this book!”

This Book in One Sentence:

• The Daily Laws is a collection of 366 meditations on power, seduction, mastery, strategy, and human nature, distilled from Robert Greene’s previous books.

Why should you read it?

• The Daily Laws is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that will challenge your assumptions about power, success, and human nature.
• The book is full of insights that can help you improve your life in all areas, from your personal relationships to your professional career.
• The Daily Laws can help you become a more powerful, successful, and fulfilled person.

Key Takeaways:

• Mastery is a lifelong journey, not a destination we arrive at.
• The game of power is always on, and there are only 3 ways to react to it.
• Avoid tactical hell by zooming out regularly in all kinds of life scenarios.
• Always stick to what makes you weird, odd, strange, different. That’s your source of power.
• The key to success is to be able to adapt to change.
• Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, and use them to your advantage.
• Be patient and persistent, and never give up on your goals.

13. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.43/5)

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“We can use the same principles that can be so destructive to become constructive.” – Robert Cialdini

Influence is a book that explains  how to convince people to do things. It explains six important ways to persuade others:

• Reciprocity: If someone does something nice for you, you’re more likely to do something nice for them in return.
• Commitment and consistency: When you promise to do something, even if you change your mind later, you tend to stick to your promise.
• Social proof: If you see other people doing something, you might want to do it too, thinking it must be good.
• Liking: You’re more likely to listen to and believe someone you like and feel friendly towards.
• Authority: People tend to trust and follow someone they see as a knowledgeable and respected figure.
• Scarcity: If something seems rare or hard to get, you might want it more.

The book gives many examples to show how these principles work. It talks about salespeople using them to sell things, politicians using them to win votes, and charities using them to raise money.

This Book in One Sentence:

• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion is a classic book that explains the six principles of persuasion and how to use them to influence others.

Why should you read it?

• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion is a fascinating and informative book that will help you understand how people are persuaded.
• The book is full of practical tips that you can use to influence others in your personal and professional life.
• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion can help you get what you want, whether it’s a sale, a donation, or a date.

Key Takeaways:

The 6 principles of persuasion are:

• Reciprocity: People are more likely to say yes to a request if they feel they have already done something for you.

• Commitment and consistency: People are more likely to stick to a decision once they have made it.

• Social proof: People are more likely to do something if they see that other people are doing it.

• Liking: People are more likely to be persuaded by people they like.

• Authority: People are more likely to be persuaded by people they perceive as being in authority.

• Scarcity: People are more likely to want something if they think it is scarce.

Conclusion:

We really like psychology because it’s one of the most useful things you can learn about. Psychology is all about understanding how humans think and feel, and that helps us in our relationships with others and ourselves. We read these books and our lives got better, and we believe the same can happen for you.

Understanding your thoughts and feelings is not always easy. But when you do, it opens up new possibilities for living a better life, way better than you ever thought possible. The more you learn about psychology, the better you become at recognizing negative thoughts and feelings, so you can beat them and be happier and healthier.

Now, we want to know, what do you think is the most important thing to know about psychology and how do you think it can help you and others? Let us hear your thoughts!

How to Get More From Any Book

• To get more out of every book you read, You start by reading books that you enjoy the most, such as fiction, non-fiction, romance, or horror. Keep reading those books until you develop a habit of reading any kind of book (“Read What You Love Until You Love To Read”).
• If you read with a Kindle (highly recommended), check out Readwise, a tool that allows you to access and learn from all of the highlights and notes you make while you read.
• If you struggle to read, try listening to audiobooks with Amazon Audible.

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