Ten Books That Will Make You Smarter and More Confident

Clear up your affairs, introduce useful habits, cope with stress, pump up your willpower, find your business, become happy, find the meaning of life. The books from the selection will help with these and other tasks TimesNownews.

How emotions are made, Lisa Feldman Barrett

Barrett challenges traditional neuroscience and reveals how our brains create emotions.

BOOK deepens emotional awareness and sharpens critical thinking reasoning - ideal for those who want to better understand their inner world and the science behind emotional regulation.

The Art of Noticing, Rob Walker

This book teaches you to notice what you have missed. With the help of creative exercises and thoughtful prompts, it develops sharper focus and emotional curiosity. Ideal for increasing awareness, creativity, and cognitive flexibility in a fast-paced, distraction-filled world.

Dopamine Nation, Anna Lembke

An insightful look at how pleasure, pain and addiction are connected to our brains.

Lembke combines neuroscience with human stories to help readers develop emotional resilience and mental clarity in an age of overstimulation and compulsive habits. Read the book here here.

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Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer

Combining brain science and mindfulness, this book demystifies anxiety and its patterns.

It increases emotional intelligence while giving the brain the tools to break negative cycles, making it an inspiring guide to calm, clarity, and confidence.

Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker

Sleep is the brain's superpower, and this book proves why. It highlights how rest impacts cognition, memory, and emotional health. A must-read for boosting mental performance and emotional regulation through one of the most underrated habits: quality sleep.

The War for Kindness, Jamil Zaki

In this a book Empathy is not fixed, it is argued, but can be trained. Zaki’s stories and research show how strengthening empathy sharpens not only emotional depth but also interpersonal intelligence, making kindness a vital cognitive and emotional skill in today’s polarized world.

Deep Work, Cal Newport

Learn to focus in a distracting world. Newport's philosophy trains your brain for productivity and deep concentration while developing patience, self-discipline, and emotional satisfaction in tackling complex tasks rather than superficial multitasking. Read the book here here.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Emily & Amelia Nagoski

Written by sisters, a scientist and a conductor, this book explains how stress affects the brain and body. She offers practical ideas for ending the “stress cycle” by increasing both emotional resilience and cognitive well-being.

The Extended Mind, Annie Murphy Paul

This book redefines intelligence by showing how thinking happens not just in the brain, but through bodies, environments, and relationships. A brilliant reimagining that heightens self-awareness and expands your emotional and intellectual toolbox.

The Myth of Normal, Gabor Mate

Dr. Mate redefines mental health by connecting emotional pain to social dysfunction. Using empathy and intelligence, he explores trauma, resilience, and healing, deepening your understanding of both the mind and the heart. Read this book here.