20 of The Best Books for Overthinkers in 2023

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If you struggle with overthinking, we’ve compiled a list of over 20 of the best books for overthinkers that may help you.

Overthinking is normal, but when it becomes excessive, it can cause stress and anxiety. Sometimes overthinking can arise when you’re passionate about something. If you’re a small business owner and you’re about to open up a shop, you may experience overthinking. Or, maybe you’re a student with midterms around the corner. No matter what you’re doing in life, overthinking can creep in. 

Sometimes it can get in the way and hinder your ability to live life. In this guide, we will provide some of the best books for overthinkers.

But before deep diving into these books, you may want to uncover the source of your anxiety. If you are unable to pinpoint something, that’s absolutely okay. Sometimes we can identify the source of our anxiety and other times we cannot. It’s also important to understand that you may be overthinking for a wide range of reasons.

If you are able to identify your triggers or stress, that’s great! If you cannot, you may be able to find some sources of your stress in the list below.

Common Things That May Cause Overthinking

Some common forms of anxiety include:

• Work Stress/Anxiety from Our Professional Lives
• A Never-ending To-Do List
• Being a parent – while very rewarding, having kids can be stressful
• Financial Stress
• School
• Being afraid of conflict resolution
• Bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses
• Low self-esteem

This list may cover some of the key areas of overthinking but will definitely not cover all of them. If you’re still struggling to identify the source of your anxiety, take time to reflect on your life. When do you feel happy? When do you feel stressed? By tracking your emotions, you may be more in tune with your triggers.

Once you can identify your triggers, you may be able to create a list of books that will work best for you. If you’re open to any books for overthinkers, let’s jump into the list below!

Best Books For Overthinkers

Below you’ll find a list of the best books for overthinkers. You’ll also find practical tips for everyday activities you can incorporate into your daily routine as well.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

This book aims to help readers find inner peace and mindfulness in the present moment. The book emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and letting go of negative thought patterns. According to Tolle, overthinking is often a result of being identified with the ego, or the mind’s sense of self, which can create a cycle of negative thoughts and feelings.

This book teaches readers how to observe their thoughts without becoming attached to them. This practice, known as “thought watching,” involves becoming aware of your thoughts as they arise, without judging or reacting to them.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman is a book that explores the ways in which the human mind processes information and makes decisions. In the book, Kahneman discusses the concept of “System 1” and “System 2” thinking, which refer to two different modes of thinking that the mind uses. System 1 thinking is fast, automatic, and unconscious, while System 2 thinking is slower, more deliberate, and more logical. 

This book was on the New York Times Best Seller list due to its ability to share complex ideas and make them digestible for all.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This is a novel about a shepherd boy named Santiago who embarks on a journey to fulfill his personal legend or life purpose. Along the way, Santiago encounters a variety of people who help him understand the importance of living in the present moment and following his dreams.

One way that The Alchemist can help reduce overthinking is by encouraging readers to let go of their fears and doubts and to follow their hearts. The book suggests that overthinking is often a result of fear and insecurity and that by letting go of these negative emotions and embracing our passions and dreams, we can find greater peace and fulfillment.

While Paulo Coelho’s book has ended up on the list of best books for overthinkers, he also has many inspirational quotes. One of them is – “If you concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man.”

The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

This is a spiritual guidebook that explores the nature of consciousness and the ways in which we can free ourselves from negative thought patterns and find inner peace. In the book, Singer argues that overthinking is often a result of being identified with the ego, or the mind’s sense of self and that by learning to detach from the ego, we can find greater inner peace and freedom.

This book explores spiritual concepts and if you are looking for something more scientific, this book is great but may not be the one for you.

The Art of Living by Epictetus

This is a manual on Stoic philosophy written by the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus. In the book, Epictetus offers practical guidance on how to live a happy, fulfilling life by developing wisdom, self-control, and inner peace.

One way that The Art of Living can help reduce overthinking is by teaching readers how to cultivate a sense of acceptance and detachment.

According to Stoic philosophy, much of our suffering and stress comes from trying to control or change things that are beyond our control, such as the actions of others or the outcome of events. By learning to accept what is beyond our control and to focus on what we can control, we can reduce the tendency to get caught up in overthinking and find greater inner peace and fulfillment.

Can you really master control of your mind? In Epictetus’ teachings, he teaches us that we can. This may be far too generalized for all of us though. While Anxiety books may help, it’s important to also understand that if you have a mental illness, a book may not be a cure-all. Books can definitely help if you need a boost though!

Fun fact: This is the oldest book on the best books for overthinkers list – it was published in c. 125 CE.

The Four Agreements by Don Migues Ruiz

This explores the ways in which our beliefs and agreements with ourselves and others can shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In the book, Ruiz suggests that overthinking is often a result of not being true to ourselves and of breaking these agreements.

This book is based on ancient Toltec wisdom and has had a profound impact on millions of people.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

This is a self-help book that teaches readers how to set and achieve their goals by adopting a positive and optimistic mindset. In the book, Schwartz argues that our thoughts and beliefs have a powerful impact on our actions and outcomes and that by thinking big and believing in ourselves, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.

If you’re looking for a book that’s more focused on goals and how you can change your mindset, this one is for you!

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns

This is another self-help book that provides a cognitive-behavioral approach to overcoming depression and improving emotional well-being. In the book, Burns discusses the role that negative thought patterns, known as cognitive distortions, can play in causing and maintaining negative emotions such as depression.

One way that “Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy” can help reduce overthinking is by teaching readers how to identify and challenge their cognitive distortions.

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head by Dan Harris

This is a memoir and self-help book that discusses the author’s journey to find inner peace and happiness through mindfulness and meditation. In the book, Harris discusses the role that overthinking and negative thought patterns can play in causing stress and suffering, and how mindfulness and meditation can help to reduce these patterns.

If this turns out to be one of your favorites from the list of best books for overthinkers, you can also try the app.

The Little Book of Mindfulness by Dr. Patrizia Collard

This is a guidebook to mindfulness. In the book, Dr. Collard discusses the role that overthinking and negative thought patterns can play in causing stress and suffering. The book also covers how mindfulness can help to reduce these patterns.

There are many different activities in this book and she stresses that even if you only have 10 minutes, you can still practice mindfulness.

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion by Christopher K. Germer

Here is a guidebook to self-compassion. In the book, Germer discusses the role that overthinking and negative thought patterns can play in causing suffering, and how self-compassion can help to change these patterns.

One way that “The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion” can help prevent overthinking is by teaching readers how to cultivate self-compassion and self-kindness. By learning to be kind and understanding towards ourselves, rather than judging or criticizing ourselves, we can reduce the tendency to get caught up in negative thought patterns.

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

This is a spiritual guidebook that explores the concept of radical acceptance, or the practice of fully accepting ourselves and our experiences. When we accept ourselves fully, this carves a path to inner peace and well-being. In the book, Brach discusses the role that overthinking and negative thought patterns can impact your ability to accept yourself.

While this book ended up on our list of best books for overthinkers, this is also a great book for self-love.

The Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

This a spiritual guidebook that explores the nature of happiness and how it can be cultivated through mindfulness and compassion. In the book, Rinpoche discusses the role that overthinking and negative thought patterns can play in causing suffering, and how mindfulness and compassion can help to reduce these patterns.

This book contains modern science, Buddhism, and a bit of humor to relay the message of loving your life.

On the list of best books for overthinkers, this is the happiest author. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche practices contentment in everyday life and claims to be the “happiest man in the world.”

Clear Your Mind: Stop Overthinking, Tune Out Mental Chatter And Worry Less – Balance Your Emotional And Rational Mind by Steven Schuster

This book provides practical strategies and techniques to help readers overcome overthinking. The book aims to help readers find a balance between their emotional and rational minds. By doing so, people can make better decisions and lead a more fulfilling life. Some great things that the book covers are:

• The main causes of mental clutter
• How to reframe thoughts that are negative
• How to let go of the expectations of others

The Worry Trick

This is a self-help book written by David A. Carbonell, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety disorders. The book explains how worrying can be a trick that our brains play on us, making us believe that worrying is a necessary and helpful response to our problems, when in fact, it only makes things worse. This is a healthy dose of brain science that will allow us to understand our thinking and behaviors.

The book offers a step-by-step approach to overcoming the worry trick, including techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy.

The Book of Overthinking

This is a self-help book written by Gwendoline Smith, a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety and depression. The book offers practical advice and strategies to help readers break free from the cycle of overthinking and worry that can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression.

Smith explains how overthinking can become a habit that our brains default to in response to stress and uncertainty. She describes how the constant stream of thoughts and worries can consume our attention, leading to rumination, self-doubt, and negative emotions.

The book provides a step-by-step approach to overcoming overthinking, including mindfulness techniques, cognitive restructuring, and problem-solving skills.

Rewire Your Anxious Brain

Rewire Your Anxious Brain is a self-help book written by Catherine M. Pittman, a clinical psychologist and author, and Elizabeth M. Karle, a clinical neuropsychologist. The book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and overcoming anxiety, panic, and worry by using the latest findings in neuroscience.

The authors explain how anxiety is caused by the brain’s response to perceived threats, and how this response can be rewired through specific techniques and exercises. They describe how anxiety can manifest in different ways, such as panic attacks and phobias. They also provide some helpful strategies to combat this anxiety.

Other Books You May Love

This list above, the best books for overthinkers, is a good place to start but if you find reading a part of your daily life, you may want more suggestions.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

If you’re struggling with procrastination, then you might benefit from reading this book. It explains why we often put off doing what needs to be done and offers practical advice on how to overcome this problem.

UnF*cK Yourself – Gary John Bishop

This book offers a no-nonsense approach to overcoming self-doubt, negative thinking, and self-sabotage. The book encourages readers to take responsibility for their lives and to stop making excuses for their failures and shortcomings. Bishop provides practical strategies for changing one’s mindset and breaking free from negative patterns of thinking and behavior. The book is written in a straightforward and blunt style with a focus on empowering readers.

Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell Smith

This book explores the often-overlooked aspect of anxiety that can accompany grief. Smith is a therapist and author who has experienced significant loss in her own life. She suggests that anxiety is a common response to grief. And that it should be acknowledged as a stage of the grieving process. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Smith offers guidance and support for those experiencing anxiety in the aftermath of loss.

Other Helpful Tips that might help with overthinking

Overthinking can distract you from living the life of your dreams. Therefore, we’d love to provide some other suggestions that may help you while you’re on this journey.

New science shows that CBT therapy can be very beneficial when trying to stop overthinking. This form of therapy, talk therapy or cbt therapy, can help you identify cycles of worry and help you take back control of your life. As always, before going to therapy, be open to a new way of understanding yourself and your habits. You may hear many hard truths but it can help create many constructive and positive habits.

Mindfulness is one of our top suggestions. Practicing mindfulness exercises may encourage you to live in the present moment and remain grounded. Mindfulness may also help to reduce anxious thoughts. When you focus on the present, you are no longer fixated on the past. A few mindfulness exercises are: practicing gratitude, mindfulness journaling, and meditation. Adding mindfulness activities doesn’t take a lot of time either – even 5 minutes of meditation in the morning.

Also, another helpful tip is to watch out for any negative self-talk. Sometimes negativity and overthinking are present in your own head and you are not even aware of this. Try to monitor your thoughts during your daily activities. Where does your mind go? Write down any negative thoughts and try to replace them with more positive ideas.

Additionally, you may want to begin reflecting on all the areas of your life that cause stress. Is there something in your life that stresses you out or a person who causes anxiety? Start to take an inventory of your life and avoid stressful situations when possible. By building constructive habits, you can start to reduce your overthinking.

Final Thoughts

All in all, there are many different ways to try to address overthinking. You are not alone in your journey, many people experience overthinking. While searching for ways to find peace of mind, it’s also important to be open to demonstrating kindness towards yourself. A good way to stop overthinking is to start by loving yourself and accepting yourself. When you are ready, you can then pick up a book from the list of our best books for overthinkers.

That being said, we hope you enjoyed reading through our list of good books to help prevent overthinking. There’s no single book that will clear your mind immediately. Additionally, while we want you to live a worry-free life, it’s also important to remember that it may be a long journey for some.

If you think we should add some more options to this list, let us know below in the comments!

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Sources/Notes

If you have an anxiety disorder, you experience panic attacks or post-traumatic stress disorder, please seek support. We think that this is a great list of books to help add supplemental support to your journey but we always suggest reaching out for support. In order to live your best life, it’s great to be vulnerable and accept help. There are many healthy ways to cope with anxiety and overthinking. Try adding some of these books or ideas to your daily routine.

Note: These are books that we’ve provided as advice from our own personal experience. There are many other books that may be applicable to you. While some of these books provide scientific evidence and scientific research, we want to remind you that we are not doctors or physicians. If you are really struggling, it’s best to seek out professional help.

Sources: How to Stop Overthinking, a step-by-step guide by the Cleveland Clinic