Whether you are currently traveling, staying at home, or engaged in some combination of the two, the summer months are a great time to invest in yourself and work on some self-development. While there are a plethora of activities and pursuits that can help you on this quest, reading is one of the simplest and most accessible ones. Here’s a section of six books that will not only enrich your perspective of life but also serve as enjoyable reading material in these hot and languid summer months. Even reading just one of them is sure to help you return to school or college as a slightly better version of yourself, all set to shine in the forthcoming academic year.

Chocolate for a Teen’s Soul   by Kay Allenbaugh 

You’ve probably heard of the Chicken soup series but surely, chocolate is better! Particularly helpful for young women chartering the turbulent turf of teenage, this book is a powerful collection of stories about growing up, being strong, and finding one’s place in the world. Girls will be able to relate to each of the real-life stories and find both comfort and inspiration within the pages of this book. It would make a perfect gift for young women who enjoy reading. 

Quiet Power by Susan Cain

School can be tough at times but it’s especially challenging if you’re ‘the quiet kind’ and don’t enjoy socialising or standing out in a crowd. In an increasingly loud and show-off-y world, this book provides some much needed respite for introverted individuals. With intriguing research and everyday examples, Quiet Power offers invaluable advice that will help young people recognise their own strengths and unlock their hidden superpower to make a mark in their  own quiet ways.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

Your problems are important and need to be addressed but they are not worth stressing over. Bestselling author Richard Carlson sensitively examines the contradictions and challenges unique to teenage life and offers young adults (and their parents) practical tools to effectively handle everything from peer pressure and homework to bad hair days and heartbreak. A must-read for the especially angsty teenage soul. 

The Six Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make by Sean Covey

If you’re at all familiar with the self-help genre, chances are you’ve heard the name Covey. Son of renowned author Stephen Covey, Sean Covey brings his father’s principles and guidelines to his bestselling books for teens.  ‘The Six Most Important Decisions…’, is essential reading that addresses the six major challenges faced by young people universally: gaining self-esteem, dealing with their parents, making friends, being wise about sex, coping with substances, and succeeding at school and planning a career. Covey equips readers to cope with, manage, and ultimately conquer each challenge, while becoming happier and more productive individuals.

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Fans of iconic cartoon character Winnie the Pooh will love this sweet but meaningful book.Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, this bestseller explains how the eastern belief system of Taoism can in fact be practically applied for better living overall. The delightful characters from Winnie the Pooh will make you see how happiness and contentment are not really as complicated as we often make them out to be. On the whole, a great introduction to Taoism for anybody who is interested in philosophy and looking for simplistic ways to apply it in day-to-day life. 

Life Strategies for Teens by Jay McGraw

The title may remind you of a textbook but this insightful guide is more practical than preachy. It won’t tell you what to do, or who to be, but rather how to live life better. Whether dealing with the issues of popularity, peer pressure, ambition, or ambivalence, Life Strategies for Teens is an enlightening guide that will help you not only survive, but to thrive during these precious years of your life. It delves into the Ten Laws of Life, which make the journey to adulthood an easier and more fulfilling trip.

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” 

-Dr. Seuss