Psychology is a very interesting discipline since it provides information to understand people’s behaviour.

Over the years, many books have been published on this subject. Psychology books that, due to their enriching content, provide knowledge that can be applied to different areas of our lives.

36 books on Psychology that you should read

If you are a psychologist or a student of psychology, a good book is one of the best ways to learn and acquire new knowledge that will allow you to develop a better professional work. On the other hand, if you simply want to know the reason behind people’s behaviour, interpersonal relationships or to know more about the functioning of the brain, personal development or psychological well-being, a good psychology book can help you understand things you didn’t understand .

In today’s article, and so that you can use your free time to learn more about this beautiful discipline, we have prepared a list of 36 great books on psychology that you should read. Let’s get started!

1. Psychologically Speaking (Adrian Triglia, Bertrand Regader, and Jonathan Garcia-Allen)

Psychologically Speaking is a book on psychology in whose creation I have participated and which presents three of the characteristics that I value in works of popularization: it covers a great variety of topics within the discipline of psychology, it uses clear and pleasant language, it is structured in such a way that the chapters follow a logical order and, in addition, it is not excessively long but not too short either.

This is a good bet for all those curious people who are looking for books on psychology to get started in this fascinating field of knowledge.

  • Are you interested? Then you can get it or read more about it by clicking on this link.

2. The Amazing Truth About What Motivates Us (Daniel Pink)

This book focuses on what keeps us alert and motivated in the workplace, and examines the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that maintain our productivity. In addition, it reviews methods for both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that work best for workers. A text that should be on your favorite book shelf.

  • You can get it here.

3. A tortoise, a hare and a mosquito. Psychology to go on (Nacho Coller)

Based on the latest scientific studies, Nacho Coller brings us closer to the world of resilience, empathy, motivation, happiness and suffering, the importance of sleep, love, partnership and flirtation, the world of work and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It does so by providing us with simple and effective tools with which to learn to deal more confidently with the ups and downs that the mind and life present us with every second, every minute and every day. Throughout the work we will find short stories, science, humor, psychology of daily life and some autobiographical notes in which the author explains anxiety and its big sister depression from his personal and professional experience.

A book that, as its title indicates, does not intend to formulate any “theory of everything” regarding happiness, but rather brings us closer to themes and reflections that we often overlook and that, in their simplicity, can help us to better understand why what happens to us happens and why we stumble so many times over the same stone.

  • To read more about this work, you can click here.

4. Guide for Parents in Distress (Miguel Ángel Rizaldos)

In comparison to the rest of the psychology books in this selection, this is perhaps the title that is most oriented towards the practical, the day-to-day. It is a compilation of articles by psychologist Miguel Ángel Rizaldos, which offers a series of explanations and recommendations from his combined experience as a therapist and a parent.

An essential title for parents who want to improve the care and education of the youngest in the house .

  • You will find more information about this book by clicking here.

5. The Art of Love (Erich Fromm)

An authentic work of art written by the sociologist, psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm. The author states: “Love is a decision, a judgment, a promise.

If love were only a feeling, there would be no basis for promising someone eternal love. A feeling comes and goes. How can I decide that I will stay forever, if my actions do not include judgments and decision making? A text that will surely make you think about love .

  • Buy it here.

6. Good morning, joy (Jesús Matos)

A more than interesting editorial proposal that tells us about depression and its psychological and neurochemical mechanisms… But, above all, it offers us simple formulas so that sadness and grief do not take over our daily lives.

In “Buenos días, alegría”, edited by Zenith, the Madrid psychologist Jesús Matos condenses some very interesting material with the aim that each of the readers starts his way to happiness.

  • Buy it at this link.

7. What is intelligence? From the IQ to multiple intelligences (Adrián Triglia, Bertrand Regader and Jonathan García-Allen)

This is an essential volume to know the history of the concept of intelligence. How have philosophers and psychologists studied it? What is the IQ? What new currents do the authors Howard Gardner or Daniel Goleman propose?

From the hand of the creators of Psychology and Mind, this book gives answers to many of the questions you have always asked about this construct.

  • You can buy it here.

8. Mindful Eating: The Taste of Attention (J. García Campayo, Héctor Morillo, Álba López and Marcelo Demarzo)

Mindfulness is a widely used practice in Psychology , since scientific studies have shown that it is an excellent tool to improve the quality of life and well-being of people. But Mindfulness is not a technique, but rather an attitude towards life, a philosophy that allows one to be in the present moment and connect with oneself and the environment in a non-judgmental way. Adopting this mentality is key to learning how to manage emotions, reactions and thoughts and to come to control them from the ability to be aware, freedom and compassion.

This work is a magnificent option to get in touch with the Full Attention and its relation with the feeding, what is known as conscious feeding. Conscious eating is the path to a healthy life, to our inner knowledge and the encounter with our own body and what we ingest, which benefits our weight, provides a greater enjoyment of food and improves our health.

“Mindful Eating: A Taste of Care” presents a program that takes into account the most traditional Mindfulness, Compassion therapies and the main mindful eating programs developed so far. It is a practical book, which invites the reader to reflect and go into weekly work spaces with the aim of promoting a healthier and more satisfactory lifestyle in relation to food and one’s perception of one’s physical image.

  • To read more about the author, click on this link.

9. The Magic Elixirs: How to Stay Healthy and Fit, Without Making Life Bitter (Michael Handel)

A book that talks about happiness in its different facets: from psychology to health , from nutrition to life habits. Dr Michael Handel brings us this novelty in the middle of 2017, in an exquisite proposal of Ediciones Urano.

  • You can buy it at this link.

10. Obedience to Authority (Stanley Milgram)

One of the best known studies of social psychology is that of Stanley Milgram , a psychologist from Yale University who, in 1961, carried out a series of experiments with the aim of measuring the willingness of a participant to obey the orders of an authority, even when these orders caused harm to another person and a conflict with his own system of values.

  • Buy it here.
  • If you want to know more about this study, you can read our article: “The Milgram Experiment: The Danger of Obedience to Authority”

11. Anatomy of Love (Helen Fisher)

Helen Fisher , an expert in the biology of love and attraction, reviews in her book “Anatomy of Love” the latest research from the point of view of neuroscience. Why do we like some people and not others? What is the function of the chemicals of love (for example, serotonin, dopamine, phenylethylamine or oxytocin)? You can find these answers and much more in this great book.

  • We invite you to acquire it by entering this link.
  • If you find this topic interesting, you may want to read our article: “The chemistry of love: a very powerful drug”

12. Psychology of Sports Training (José Maria Buceta)

If you are interested in sports psychology, you will surely like this text. The author organizes and analyzes the psychological basis of sport training, and provides the necessary strategies for both coaches and sport psychologists. A very useful theoretical-practical manual.

  • Buy it here.

13. Think Fast, Think Slow (Daniel Kahneman)

Daniel Kahneman takes readers on an innovative journey and allows them to participate in a lively reflection on how we think. Kahneman explains when we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can reap the benefits of reflective thinking. The text offers practical and enlightening insight into how decisions are made, both in our business and personal lives.

  • You can buy it here.

14. Emotional Intelligence (Daniel Goleman)

What are the benefits of emotional intelligence for people? From the point of view of psychology and neuroscience, Dr. Daniel Goleman , an expert in brain and behavioural sciences, explains the skills needed to achieve satisfaction in life, understanding that emotional intelligence can determine success in interpersonal relationships and work and can affect general well-being. Goleman explains how this type of intelligence can be improved.

  • You can buy this play, here.

15. Descartes’ mistake (Antonio Damasio)

Since Descartes proclaimed the famous phrase, “I think, therefore I am”, science has overlooked the influence of emotions on decision making . Even modern neuroscience has focused on the cognitive aspects of the brain, leaving aside emotions.

This began to change with the publication of this book by Antonio Damasio , in which the author takes the reader on a journey in which he discovers, thanks to different cases, the importance of emotions in social behaviour and even in reasoning.