Stress management books can help you gain focus, reduce anxiety, improve relationships and worry less. According to Gallup polling data, nearly half of Americans report feeling stressed on a daily basis. Stress can manifest physically, such as digestive and cardiovascular problems, as well as mentally, such as irritability, slow decision-making and insomnia.
Finding ways to lower stress can benefit your mind and body, which is where the best books for dealing with stress can help. These books can explain the science behind the stress and offer actionable tips that can lead readers to a more optimistic outlook, a better mood and increased energy.
Must-Read Books For Dealing With Stress
Books on stress management complement healthy coping strategies by helping readers to identify the root causes of their problems and find ways to combat them. The books lay out road maps to success.
I have chosen the following books about stress management based on a combination of book sales, author credentials, critical acclaim and awards. I also drew on my eight years of experience covering the publishing industry as a senior correspondent for Forbes as well as nearly a decade working for The Writer, where I interviewed dozens of authors and wrote about the business of publishing.
1. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn (2013)
Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Using techniques pioneered by his mindfulness-based stress reduction program, Kabat-Zinn shows you how to build a mindfulness and body scan practice that progresses over eight weeks that you can revisit regularly.
This book is best for those looking to slow down in a fast-paced world. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
2. Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fears by Angela Neal-Barnett (2003)
While child psychologist and Kent State Professor Emeritus Angela Neal-Barnett gears the book toward Black women, anyone can learn from her guide to identifying sources of panic and fear. She outlines healing methods she has perfected as the director of the Program for Research on Anxiety Disorders among African Americans at Kent State.
This book is best for Black women or anyone who has ever felt like they’re on their last nerve. It is available from publisher Touchstone, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
3. Perform Under Pressure by Dr. Ceri Evans (2019)
As a former professional soccer player in New Zealand, Dr. Ceri Evans understands the pressure and stress that come with sky-high expectations. His book teaches you to take a new approach to pressure-filled moments, embracing the growth that can arise from discomfort. You will learn ways to clear your mind and practice emotional control.
This book is best for athletes or those with high-intensity jobs. Perform Under Pressure by Dr. Ceri Evans is available from publisher HarperCollins NZ.
4. The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal (2016)
What if you could see stress as a positive instead of a negative? Psychologist and Stanford University Lecturer Kelly McGonigal guides readers through a mindset change focused on resilience. She argues that stressing about stress is actually more harmful than experiencing it, and she shares how it can improve relationships and energy levels.
This book is best for the chronically stressed who want to break a cycle or those interested in relationship books. The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
5. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski (2020)
While not everyone experiencing stress burns out, many do. In the Nagoski twins’ New York Times bestseller, they detail why women suffer a different type of burnout than men. The key to healing, they argue, lies in minimizing stress while harnessing emotions and embracing a more joyful approach to everyday life.
This book is best for women exhibiting signs of burnout, including insomnia, chronic fatigue, irritability and lack of joy. It is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
6. The Stress-Proof Brain by Melanie Greenberg (2017)
It is impossible to avoid stress, notes psychologist Melanie Greenberg. But while you can’t control stressors, you can control your response to them, she argues, and introduces neuroscience-based ways to stop unhealthy responses. The book purchase includes online tools, including a worksheet to implement stress-reduction exercises.
This book is best for people seeking resilience books to strengthen their mindsets. The Stress-Proof Brain by Melanie Greenberg is available from publisher New Harbinger Publications.
7. Stop Overthinking: A Workbook to Calm Your Busy Mind by Molly Burford (2025)
An expert in emotional intelligence, writer Molly Burford is a self-professed overthinker, so she’s experienced much of what she writes about in this guide to overcoming this stress-inducing behavior. She offers ways to refocus your brain and break negative thought cycles through journal prompts and other activities.
This book is best for those who agonize over every decision. Stop Overthinking: A Workbook to Calm Your Busy Mind by Molly Burford is available from publisher Adams Media, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
8. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab (2021)
This New York Times bestseller advocates setting healthy boundaries to lessen stress. Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed counselor, explains ways to share your needs and push back against requests that cause you symptoms of stress—without harming your relationships.
This book is best for those looking for communication books to develop healthier connections. It is available from publisher Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
9. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky (1993)
One of the top-rated stress management self help books on Goodreads, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers has sold more than 225,000 copies and counting. Robert M. Sapolsky explores the difference between human and animal fight-or-flight responses and how we can learn from our wild counterparts to become healthier and happier.
This book is best for those worried about the long-term impact of stress on their bodies. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky is available from publisher Holt Paperbacks, an imprint of Macmillan.
10. The Relaxation Response by Dr. Herbert Benson and Miriam Z. Klipper (1975)
Dr. Herbert Benson, with assistance from Miriam K. Klipper, used research he conducted at Harvard University to tap into a mind-body relaxation technique that could lower blood pressure with a 10-minute practice per day. Readers loved it—the book has sold more than 6 million copies and become a definitive source on stress management.
This book is best for people suffering from stress-induced insomnia, heart conditions, high blood pressure and chronic pain who can benefit from the relaxation exercises. It is available from publisher William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.
