6 Human psychology books that will change your perspective!

Psychology has gained much attention and recognition in the last few years. Thanks to the mental health campaigns worldwide, it has finally gained acceptance. It is recognized as a young discipline. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus calls human psychology a term with a short past but a long history. If you want to dwell more on human psychology, books will open the doors for you. Here in this article, we will see 6 best books on human psychology that can help you understand more about yourself and others.  

6 human psychology books

The word psychology combines two Greek words. Psyche means breath, spirit, or soul, and logia mean studying. A study of human behavior or soul is called psychology. It studies different aspects of our minds. Our behaviors tell everything about us. These human psychology books will tell you how.

Emotional intelligence- Dr. Daniel Goleman

This book was written and published by Dr. Daniel Goleman in 1995. The New York Times ranked it as an international bestseller. It was translated into 40 languages worldwide. It is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. You can get this book on Amazon. 

This book sheds light on the emotional intelligence of a person. It tells us how we can improve our emotional strength with five crucial skills. Dr. Goleman has compiled his human psychology and neuroscience research into this book. It talks about our two minds, rational and emotional, and how to balance them for a better life. 

Surrounded by idiots- Thomas Erikson

This international bestseller was published in July 2014. Its author, Thomas Erikson, is a renowned lecturer in Europe. The book was first published in Sweden in the Swedish language. It is now translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. You can buy this book on Flipkart. 

Thomas Erikson, in his early years, really believed idiots surrounded him. This led him to study more about human psychology. In his book, ‘Surrounded by Idiots,’ he differentiated people into colors. 

• Red- It is the color of dominating and commanding people.
• Yellow- It is the color of optimistic people.
• Green- It is the color of relaxed and friendly people.
• Blue- It is the color for more analytical and precise people. 

Blink- The power of thinking without thinking- Malcolm Gladwell

This book was written and published by Malcolm Gladwell in 2005. It is the author’s second book on human psychology. It is based on the function of our brain that changes our life’s decisions making. Blink has received feedback from the readers, saying it has changed their way of making decisions.

In this book, Malcolm Gladwell offers a counter-intuitive view on decision-making. It discovers the neuroscience of our brain, which takes decisions in split seconds. Such harsh decisions don’t involve much thinking. This book will help you make a well-thought decision in less time. 

Captivate- the science of succeeding with people- Venessa Van Edwards

This book is a life-savor for introverts. Venessa Van Edwards was a shy and introverted person. With her research, she realized it is possible to engage with people without feeling awkward. ‘Captivate- the science of succeeding with people’ is the result of this research.

This book was published in 2017. The readers have called the author ‘the hacker of human behavior.’ Venessa has given a complete guide on how one should interact with people. The book has recommendations like how to work a room, how to read faces, and how to talk. All of these suggestions are science-based.

The confidence game: why we fall for it… every time- Maria Konnikova

The book was published in 2016. It is a bestseller in the New York Times. Maria Konnikova studied the psychology of con artists. The fraud schemes that we are well aware of but still fall for are a result of the confidence game. Maria researched and hacked the psychological trick that these con artists use to fool us.

In this book, she has drawn our attention to the scientific, dramatic, and psychological perspectives of a conman. It shares the facts about the relationship between con artists and their victims. It sheds light on how our senses can be influenced by the people around us. 

Games people play: A psychology of human relationships- Dr. Eric Berne

Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Berne wrote and published this book in 1964. After 40 years, this book is still relevant. It has sold more than five million copies worldwide until now. Its relevance proves the fact that we do play games in all kinds of relationships. This book studies the psychology behind this harsh fact.

The games that we all play in relationships are subconscious behaviors. He explained these behaviors in metaphors. For example, ‘martini’ means, ‘I know better than this.’ The ‘stocking game’ is when we flirt with someone, or ‘the couple combat’ is called, ‘if it weren’t for you,’ etc.

Key takeaways 

• Human psychology deals with our brains and their subconscious behaviors. The more we dive deeper into it, the more we understand the meaning behind our every action.
• These human psychology books are based on thorough research in neuroscience. 
• These are all the best sellers in the stream of psychology. You can pick any one of them and start your journey through your mind. 

Hope you found this article helpful. Write to us if you have any suggestions. Click here to read more such articles. 

Liked the blog? Read next: List of Psychology Subjects, Courses and Career Scope

FAQs

Q1. Who is the father of psychology?

Answer: Wilhelm Wundt is known to be the father of psychology.

Q2. What are the four types of human behavior?

Answer: Optimistic, pessimistic, trusting, and envious are the four main types of human behavior.

Q3. What are the four goals of human psychology?

Answer: Describe, predict, explain, and change behavior are the four goals of human psychology.