A.N. Archer’s Psychology for Life series is twenty standalone books, each taking one area of everyday life and explaining what psychology and behavioural science say about it, in plain language. Because every book stands on its own, there is no “right” order. The best place to start is the question you most want answered right now.
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This guide groups the twenty titles by the goal that usually brings a reader to them. Pick the group that fits you, read the short notes, and choose one book to begin with. Every title is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardcover editions.
If you want stronger relationships
How to Build Better Relationships: The Psychology of Human Connection. Connection shapes every part of life: the relationships you already have, the ones you hope to build, and the way you move through the world with other people. This is the natural first book if your question is about the people around you. See How to Build Better Relationships on Amazon.
The Courage To Be Human: The Psychology of Vulnerability and Strength. A look at vulnerability and why it sits so close to strength. A good companion to the relationships book for readers who find it hard to let others in. See The Courage To Be Human on Amazon.
If you want better habits and everyday wellbeing
Live Well Every Day: The Science of Attention, Habits and Wellbeing. Its starting point: you don’t need more discipline, you need to understand how wellbeing actually works. Attention and habits are at the centre of it. See Live Well Every Day on Amazon.
Change Your Behaviour: The Science of Habits in the Modern World. Built on a simple idea: you don’t have a discipline problem, you have a design problem. Practical for anyone who keeps restarting the same habit. See Change Your Behaviour on Amazon.
Built To Last: The Science of Sustainable Behaviour Change. Focused on making change stick over the long term rather than for a fortnight. See Built To Last on Amazon.
Small Changes, Big Lives: The Behavioural Science of Compounding Progress. About how small, repeated improvements add up over time. See Small Changes, Big Lives on Amazon.
The Healing Mind: The Science of Mind-Body Wellbeing. Explores what science says about the links between mind and body in everyday wellbeing. It is an educational read, not medical advice; talk to a qualified health professional about any health concern. See The Healing Mind on Amazon.
If you want more confidence and a kinder inner voice
Quiet Confidence: The Psychology of Authentic Self-Belief. About self-belief that does not depend on being loud or certain. See Quiet Confidence on Amazon.
Rewrite Your Inner Voice: The Psychology of Self-Talk and Resilience. Looks at self-talk, the running commentary in your head, and how it connects to resilience. See Rewrite Your Inner Voice on Amazon.
How To Think More Positively: The Science of Optimism and Resilience. Optimism, as this book frames it, is not the belief that everything will be fine. It is something more useful, and more learnable. See How To Think More Positively on Amazon.
Understanding Emotion: The Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence. Makes the case that your emotions are not the enemy of good thinking, and explains emotional intelligence through the lens of neuroscience. See Understanding Emotion on Amazon.
If you are rethinking what matters
What Truly Matters: The Psychology of Values and Priorities. Values and priorities: working out what you actually care about and arranging life around it. See What Truly Matters on Amazon.
A Life Worth Living: The Psychology of Meaning and Purpose. Meaning and purpose, and what psychology has learned about both. See A Life Worth Living on Amazon.
The Art of Enough: The Psychology of Simplicity and Sufficiency. Simplicity and sufficiency, for readers tired of always chasing more. See The Art of Enough on Amazon.
Becoming Yourself: The Psychology of Authentic Living. Living authentically: closing the gap between who you are and how you live. See Becoming Yourself on Amazon.
How to Become Your Best Self: The Psychology of Personal Transformation. Personal transformation without the pressure of perfection. Its premise: becoming your best self isn’t about achieving perfection. See How to Become Your Best Self on Amazon.
If you are focused on goals, growth and money
Achieve What Matters: The Science of Motivation and Success. Meaningful achievement begins with understanding how goals, motivation, focus and recovery actually work. See Achieve What Matters on Amazon.
Unlock Your Potential: The Science of Performance and Growth. Argues that talent is real, but explains far less about success than you have been told. See Unlock Your Potential on Amazon.
How the Adaptive Mind Works: The Psychology of Learning and Adaptation. About learning and adaptation, which the book calls the most valuable skill of the century: the ability to keep learning. See How the Adaptive Mind Works on Amazon.
Build Lasting Wealth: Behavioural Finance for Real Life. Behavioural finance for real life. Its opening idea: the hardest part of building wealth is not the maths, it is the mind doing the sums. Educational only, not financial advice. See Build Lasting Wealth on Amazon.
Still not sure where to start?
If you want one recommendation: start with How to Build Better Relationships if your question is about other people, Change Your Behaviour if it is about habits, or Quiet Confidence if it is about how you see yourself. You can browse all twenty books, with covers and descriptions, on our A.N. Archer Books page.
Note: the books in this series are educational and are not a substitute for professional medical, psychological or financial advice.