The 34 best Psychology books that you cannot miss

Psychology is a certainly interesting discipline since it provides information to understand people's behavior.

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

• Recommended article: "21 must-read Social Psychology books"

34 books on psychology you should read

If you are a psychologist or psychology student, 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 why of people's behavior, interpersonal relationships or know more about the brain function, 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 must read. Let us begin!

1. Psychologically Speaking (Adrián Triglia, Bertrand Regader and Jonathan García-Allen)

Psychologically speaking It is a psychology book in whose creation I have participated and that presents three of the characteristics that I value in popularization works: it covers a great variety of topics within the discipline of psychology, uses clear and entertaining language, is structured so that the chapters follow a logical order and, furthermore, it is not excessively long but not too long short.

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

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

2. The surprising truth about what motivates us (Daniel Pink)

This book focuses on what keeps us focused and motivated in the workplace, and examines the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that maintain our productivity. Also, review the methods for both motivations (intrinsic and extrinsic) that work best for workers. A text that has to occupy the shelf of your favorite books.

• You can buy it here.

3. The art of loving (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 just a feeling, there would be no basis for promising eternal love to someone. A feeling comes and goes. How can I decide that I will stay forever, if my actions do not include judgment and decision-making? A text that is sure to make you reflect on love.

• Buy it here.

4. 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, he offers us simple formulas so that sadness and regret do not take over our daily lives.

In "Good morning, joy", edited by Zenith, the Madrid psychologist Jesus Matos It condenses a material of great interest with the aim that each of the readers begin their path to happiness.

• Buy it in this link.

5. What is intelligence? From 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 answers many of the questions that always ask you. did about this construct and explain what are the implications of its existence in the day to day of the people.

6. Obedience to Authority (Stanley Milgram)

One of the best known studies in social psychology is that of Stanley milgram, a Yale University psychologist who, in 1961, carried out a series of experiments with the aim of measuring the disposition of a participant to obey the orders of an authority, even when these orders caused harm to another person and a conflict with their 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"

7. 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 love chemicals (for example, serotonin, the 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”

8. Sports Training Psychology (José Maria Buceta)

If you are interested the sports psychology, this text is sure to like you. The author organizes and analyzes the psychological bases of sports training, and provides the necessary strategies for both coaches and sports psychologists. A very useful theoretical-practical manual.

• Buy it here.

9. Think Fast, Think Slow (Daniel Kahneman)

Daniel kahneman takes readers on an innovative journey and enables them to engage in 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 a practical and enlightening insight into how decisions are made, both in our business and in our personal lives.

• You can buy it here.

10. 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 behavioral sciences, explains the skills necessary to achieve satisfaction in life, understanding that emotional intelligence can determine success in interpersonal relationships and work and can affect well-being in general. Goleman explains how it is possible to improve this type of intelligence.

• You can buy this work here.

11. Descartes's 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 out 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 behavior and even in reasoning.

• Buy it here.

12. The Power of Habits (Charles Duhigg)

This is a text that deals with how to get the emotional balance and mental well-being through the fulfillment of a series of habits that we can carry out our day to day. How we communicate, the lifestyle we lead, how we organize our work, among other daily choices we make, determine our good mental health.

This book shows multiple investigations and interviews carried out both in the academic and business fields, and exposes both psychological and neurological findings, so that the reader can transform their personal, work and life lives. Social.

• Do you want to buy it? Go into this link.

13. What the Brain Tells Us: The Mysteries of the Human Mind Uncovered (V.S. Ramachandran)

Ramachandran, a neurologist and researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) known worldwide for his studies on limb ghost, reviews the latest discoveries about the human brain and answers questions such as: Why are there more creative individuals than others? What is the best treatment for people with autism? A great text that does not disappoint the readers.

• Buy it at this link.
• If you want to know more about the great work of Ramachandran, I invite you to read our article: "The phantom limb and mirror box therapy”

14. How the mind works (Steven Pinker)

An extraordinary book and a "best seller", written by Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading cognitive scientists. In it he explains what the mind is, how it evolved, and the way it allows us to see, think, feel, laugh, interact, enjoy art, and reflect on the mysteries of life.

15. The Lucifer Effect: the reason for evil (Philip Zimbardo)

This book focuses on the research and discoveries of the legendary Stanford Prison Experiment, which he conducted Philip Zimbardo. The text explains in detail everything that happened and provides many details of his great work as a scientist. Review the influence of roles on the behavior of individuals, and how human beings are capable of doing things that we never imagined we could do.

• Buy it here.
• You can read more about this experiment in our post: "Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment”

16. 50 Classics of Psychology (Tom Butler-Bowdon)

An entertaining and instructive book that reviews more than one hundred years of contributions to psychology, exploring the most important ideas and writings of different authors (Sigmund Freud, Maslow, Piaget, Pavlov, Skinner, etc.). An indispensable book for any psychologist or psychology student.

• You can buy it here.

17. Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence (David R. Shaffer)

Learn developmental psychology it becomes easy thanks to this great book. Written in clear and concise language, this text presents the most important theories and research in this branch of psychology, with special attention to the possible application of its content.

• Buy it here.

18. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey)

What habits help people to be more successful? This book reviews the customs that make individuals more efficient in their day-to-day lives. An essential text in the business world.

• You can buy it here.
• In one of our articles we summarize the different points of this book: " The 7 Habits of Really Effective People”

19. The delusions of the mind (S. L. Macknik, S. Martínez-Conde and S. Blakeslee)

The authors of this text have convinced some of the best magicians in the world to allow scientists to study their techniques for tricking the brain, which is known as neuromagic. This book is the result of a year of exploring the world of magic and how its principles apply to our behavior.. A different and really interesting book.

• You can get it here.

20. The Traps of Desire (Dan Ariely)

Dan Ariely is one of the leaders in the study and dissemination of the irrational aspect of the human being. In this book we are presented with a way of looking at unconscious impulses and tendencies from the point of view of cognitive sciences, leaving behind the theories of psychoanalysis.

• If you are interested, you can purchase the book by clicking here.

21. The man who mistook his wife for a hat (Oliver Sacks)

Oliver sacks he was one of the neurologists and science popularizers, and this work is an excellent way to delve into his writing, as fascinating as it is accessible to all types of readers. The book is about stories of people with neurological failures, the way they lived their lives and the lessons that can be learned from their life stories.

• If you are interested, you can click here.

22. The clean sweep (Steven Pinker)

Another work by Steven Pinker, and also one of the references of current psychology.

In its pages, Pinker examines what he considers to be myths about the way we learn about our environment and the way in which society changes us. Specifically, he defends the position that there are innate propensities in us that significantly affect the way we act and perceive things. It is one of the most relevant psychology books because it addresses deeply philosophical issues.

• You can buy this psychology book here.

23. Instinctive Choices: The Science of the Unconscious (Gerd Gigerenzer)

The German psychologist Gigerenzer is an expert in the study of human irrationality and the use of heuristics, and in this book he offers us a panoramic vision about what is known about the mental shortcuts that we frequently take, without realizing it, when making decisions.

• If you are interested, you can buy this book here.

24. Why do we lie... especially ourselves (Dan Ariely)

Another of Dan Ariely's best-known psychology books. In this case, Ariely explores our tendencies when it comes to living and living with lies in tow. Many of the conclusions reached in the studies discussed in this book are surprising.

• You can buy this book here.

25. Social Animal (Elliot Aronson)

One of the great books on Social psychology and one of the best sellers. The author, with a simple, systematic and entertaining prose, makes a journey through the science of social psychology through several chapters illustrated with examples and social experiments. This book becomes a recommended reading for any psychologist or psychology student.

• You can buy it here.

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

Mindfulness or Mindfulness is a widely used practice in Psychology, because 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, rather it is 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 to manage emotions, reactions and thoughts and to get to control them from the ability to be aware, freedom and compassion.

This work is a great option to get in touch with Mindfulness and its relationship with eating, which is known as mindful eating. Conscious eating is the way to a healthy life, towards our inner knowledge and the encounter with our own body and what we eat, which benefits our weight, provides greater enjoyment of food and improves our Health.

"Mindful Eating: The Taste of Attention" presents a program that takes into account Mindfulness more traditional, Compassion therapies and the main mindful eating programs developed up to the moment. It is a practical book, which invites the reader to reflect and enter weekly workspaces with the aim of promote a healthier and more satisfying lifestyle in relation to food and the perception that one has of their image physical.

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

27. Psychology: a concise introduction (Richard A. Griggs)

May this title does not have the privilege of having been edited in Spanish, but it is no less interesting for that. It is an introductory book to psychology in which several of the most relevant topics in this field are excellently summarized. In fact, it can be used as a textbook.

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

28. Introduction to psychology (George A. Miller)

One of the best-known psychology books for students, and no wonder. Its author is none other than one of the fathers of the Cognitive Revolution together with other researchers such as Jerome bruner. Although it has been somewhat out of date, it is a good start to learn to understand what this science consists of.

• If you are interested, you can read more about it here.

29. The Secret Life of the Mind (Mario Sigman)

Technically it is not so much a book on psychology as one on neurosciences, but after all are a field of study closely related to the first and, in fact, both domains overlap on many occasions. Understanding how the brain and nervous system (what we call "mind") work is essential for psychologists.

• Find out more about this title in this page.

30. 50 great myths of popular psychology (S. OR. Lilienfeld, S. J. Lynn, J. Ruscio and B. Beyerstein)

To understand what psychology is, a good start is understand what it is not. This book does a fantastic job showing several of the most common myths attributed to psychology and the research that has been done (or has not been done) within it.

• To learn more about this title, access this page.

31. Influence (Robert Cialdini)

A true classic of the psychology of persuasion. Robert Cialdini's work deserves all the recognition that he has had with this text, because his work is not only easy to follow thanks to his excellent examples, but Cialdini has taken the time to make it easy for the reader to understand even the most basic concepts. complex. A totally practical book.

• You can acquire it by entering this link.

32. This is how a consumer is manipulated (Martin Lindstrom)

One of the best psychology books dedicated to the phenomenon of using advertising and marketing to manipulate people's behavior. At the end of the day, much of today's consumer behavior is the way it is because Big brands are committed to influencing their way of thinking and their daily habits based on initiatives.

It is a work that leaves no one indifferent, since it mixes explanations with explicit accusations.

• If you are interested, you can read more about it by clicking here.

33. The magic elixirs: How to stay healthy and fit, without making your life bitter (Michael Handel)

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

• You can buy it in this link.

34. The Book of Psychology

A very graphic and entertaining work where we will review the main currents of the psychology, its object of study, how psychotherapy works and a hundred curiosities about the human mind. Highly recommended for neophytes.

• You can buy it here.

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