5 Self-Improvement Books Every Teen Should Read
Grow as you read: five books that help students build better habits, find direction and chase their dreams.
August 4, 2023 · By Arushi Dubey
Self-improvement does not have to come from lectures or lists of rules. Some of the most powerful lessons for teenagers, in Dubai and everywhere else, sit inside a handful of remarkable books. Whether you want to build better habits, figure out what to do after school, or simply feel happier, these five reads will help you grow with every chapter.
What Color Is Your Parachute? for Teens by Carol Christen
This is a self-help book written specifically for teenagers, and it shows. It is written in a way that makes it easy to understand, so its guidance actually lands with younger readers. It teaches high school students how to consider their strengths when choosing a university major or a future career, and it is immensely thought provoking. If you are unsure what comes after school, or how your A Level or IB subject choices fit into the bigger picture, start here.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits shows you how to build the right system for change and break your bad habits. Its central message is that a little work can go a long way and produce incredible results, as long as you are consistent with what you do and fully dedicated to improving. By slowly improving yourself, day after day, you will grow as a person, whether that growth is mental or physical.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture is based on Pausch's famous talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", which encouraged his audience to ponder the goals and desires they had when they were younger: their childhood dreams. Throughout the book, he pushes the idea that you should do what you truly desire and put in real effort to go after your dreams, irrespective of what those around you say. Woven through it all are Pausch's own warm, funny anecdotes from his childhood.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Project is filled with profound truths, as Rubin dedicates an entire year to her own "happiness project". She highlights numerous strategies you can use to elevate your happiness, built around one main idea: being able to do what you want, while making those around you happy, is guaranteed to bring you joy. It is a practical, honest look at what actually makes life feel better.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist conveys the significance of willpower in life by telling the tale of a young shepherd boy from Spain. Its aim is to give readers a sense of clarity about the importance of living in the moment and pursuing their desires. Short, beautiful and endlessly quotable, it is the kind of book you will come back to at every stage of life.
The Bottom Line
You do not need to read all five at once. Pick the one that speaks to where you are right now: Atomic Habits if your routines need work, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Teens if you are thinking about the future, or The Alchemist if you need a spark of inspiration. A chapter a night is enough. And if you want help turning these ideas into real study habits, our tutors in Dubai do exactly that alongside their subjects; you can request a tutor whenever you are ready. Grow as you read!
Arushi Dubey
Contributing writer at Unitors, sharing study inspiration and wellbeing tips for students in Dubai & Abu Dhabi.
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