“A crowded mind leaves no space for a peaceful heart.”
Are you someone who replays conversations in your head, second guesses every decision, or finds themselves stuck in a loop of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’? Overthinking can be exhausting and overwhelming. And whilst it can be easy to find yourself feeling trapped in your own mind, the right book can be the perfect guide for providing some fresh perspectives and managing those spiralling thoughts. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would compile a list of the best books that are perfect for overthinkers. Whether you’re looking for strategies to quiet your mind, tales to remind you you’re not alone or deep dives into the psychology behind overthinking, these titles all offer something valuable. From inspiring real-life stories to practical self-help guides, these books for overthinkers are sure to resonate with any reader’s restless mind!
Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques To Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind And Focus On The Present – Nick Trenton
First up on our list of books for overthinkers is Nick Trenton’s Stop Overthinking. In it, Trenton walks readers through how they lose their minds to the traps of anxiety and stress and maps detailed and proven techniques designed to help readers rewire their brains, control their thoughts and change their mental habits.
What’s more, Stop Overthinking is one of the best resources for readers looking to completely flip the ways in which they think and feel about themselves by ending vicious thought patterns. From identifying and recognising inner anxieties, overcoming stress attacks, and finding focus to eliminating self-deprecating talk, Trenton’s work is one of the most effective overthinking books available.
The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You Into Expecting The Worst And What You Can Do About It – David A. Carbonell
In The Worry Trick, psychologist and anxiety expert David Carbonell demonstrates how anxiety hijacks the brain and offers effective techniques designed to help readers break the cycle of worry, once and for all.
Anxiety causes us all to question ourselves and our choices, filling our days with endless dread and turbulence. Grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), The Worry Trick encourages readers to see the trick that underpins anxious thoughts rather than try to avoid them completely, which can make anxiety worse. If you’re an overthinker who sees worry and danger even when there isn’t any, The Worry Trick is the book you need to start observing with distance and clarity.
Get Out Of My Head: Inspiration For Overthinkers In An Anxious World – Meredith Arthur
In a world full of deadlines and technology, stress, anxiety and worries can often feel like an inevitability. However, in Get Out of My Head, Meredith Arthur provides guidance and inspiration on how to ride the wave of anxiety and overcome overthinking. Compact and complete with handy illustrations, this book for overthinking is a collection of soothing techniques, easy exercises, bite-sized takeaways and calming visuals.
One of the best alternatives to some of the more technical mental health guides, readers are guided through the process of building awareness around anxiety, identifying triggers, building healthy boundaries and armed with an arsenal of tools to help them thrive.
Women Who Think Too Much: How To Break Free Of Overthinking And Reclaim Your Life – Susan Nolen-Hoeksema
Another one of the best books for overthinkers that tackles our instantaneous, fast-paced and overly self-analytical culture comes from psychologist Susan Nolen-Hoeksema in Women Who Think Too Much. Through her groundbreaking research, Nolen-Hoeksema shows that an increasing number of women – over half those featured in her study – are doing too much too often, leading to sadness, anxiety and depression.
Women Who Think Too Much shows us what causes so many women to become overthinkers, and provides concrete strategies that can be implemented to escape these negative thoughts, move to a higher ground and live a more fulfilling life. Relevant for men and women alike, Nolen-Hoeksema’s work is made up of case studies and real-life scenarios, making it accessible and relevant.
Don’t Believe Everything You Think – Joseph Nguyen
In Joseph Nguyen’s Don’t Believe Everything You Think, readers discover the root cause of all psychological and emotional suffering, and how they can achieve the freedom of mind they’ve always wanted. Offering a fresh and new perspective on where our human experience comes from, Nguyen explains how pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Through his self-help book, readers learn how to end their own suffering and create how they want to feel at any moment.
Don’t Believe Everything You Think isn’t a book for overthinkers that teaches them how to rewire their brain, rewrite their past or permanently think positive thoughts. Instead, it is a guidebook on how to go beyond thinking and unleash our mind’s infinite potential to create any experience of life, no matter the circumstances.
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A Good Life – Mark Manson
An international bestseller and one of the most groundbreaking self-help books, Mark Manson delivers a dose of raw, refreshing and honest truth that any overthinker can get value from in The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck. Backed by both academic research and the occasionally well-timed poop joke, the key message Manson provides in his book is that, rather than making lemonade from lemons, we need to learn to stomach the lemons better.
Manson advises readers to become acquainted with their limitations and accept them for what they are. Once we embrace our fears, faults and uncertainties, we can begin to find the courage, honesty, responsibility and forgiveness we’re all looking for. Filled with entertaining stories and ruthless humour, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck is a book for overthinkers looking for a call to action on how to lead a contented, grounded life.
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Clear Your Mind: Stop Overthinking, Tune Out Mental Chatter And Worry Less – Balance Your Emotional And Rational Mind – Steven Schuster
Whether it’s becoming richer, losing more weight, thinking more positively or being a better person, all of us deal with a neverending amount of expectation. We have so many expectations, obligations and duties, but never nearly enough to keep up with them. But, do we really? In his self-help book for overthinkers, Clear Your Mind, Steven Schuster argues that the greatest barrier to a better life is your own mind.
Clear Your Mind is designed to help readers understand their own thoughts, organise them and attach the appropriate action in response. As Schuster explains, clarity equals peace of mind. Through his actionable strategies and smart insights, readers are taught how to stop overthinking, let go of expectations, rephrase negative thoughts, understand how the brain works and release mental energy by minimising social media involvement.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
