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12 books to help with anxiety, burnout and stress

12 books to help with anxiety, burnout and stress

by Katie Russell and Eppie Shepherd

min read

Photography: Stuart Simpson/Penguin

It’s no secret that modern life is overwhelming. Between work, relationships, finances and the constant news cycle, it’s easy to find yourself feeling frazzled, overstimulated or on the brink of burnout.

But that’s where books can help. Books offer comfort, clarity and concrete solutions when you’re looking for ways to handle stress, relieve anxiety or simply slow your racing thoughts. Whether it’s practical advice from a psychologist or gentle encouragement to rethink your pace of life, these titles help you to take a breath and feel more in control again.

Below, we have rounded up the best books for stress and anxiety. Each tome is filled with useful advice from expert authors to help you navigate the pressures of everyday life.

Books to help with anxiety

Addicted to Anxiety by Owen O’Kane (2025)

If your anxious thoughts feel safe, even addictive, then this book is for you. Drawing on his decades of experience as a psychotherapist, Owen O’Kane explores how anxiety can become a learned behaviour we unconsciously cling to, even when it’s holding us back. Addicted to Anxiety offers a mix of neuroscience, case studies and clear exercises to help you rewire your brain’s responses. It’s an empowering read for anyone ready to break the cycle and learn healthier ways of dealing with anxious thoughts.

Open When… by Dr Julie Smith (2025)

If you liked Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, Dr Julie Smith’s new book offers even more support – especially for those navigating emotional overwhelm. Designed as a guide to dip in and out of, Open When… provides tools for specific moments of struggle, from “open when you’re feeling unmotivated” to “open when you need to calm down.” It’s an empathetic, no-nonsense book on stress management that meets you exactly where you are, making it one of the best books to help with anxiety in real time.

Unwinding Anxiety by Dr Judson Brewer (2021)

Anyone who has ever stared at the ceiling at 3 a.m., their mind on a roundabout of increasingly worrying thoughts, will relate to the anxiety “loops” described in this book. In Unwinding Anxiety, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Brewer draws on his 20 years of research to explain what makes worry so addictive, and the techniques that can help us break free of the cycle. While the book is rooted in science, it still manages to be accessible, with practical steps we could all incorporate into our everyday lives.

How to Calm It by Grace Victory (2022)

This is one of six books in Merky’s ‘How To…’ series and it's a great introduction to how to become more relaxed. Grace Victory writes about how to focus on what's in your control, and her self-help book is predominantly about self-love, including: how to create boundaries, make time for what you enjoy, and be more compassionate to yourself when you're struggling. The book’s interactivity is particularly useful, with note sections that allow you to jot down key insights.

The Little Book of Calm by Dr Aaron Balick (2018)

This book might be slim – it’s only 128 pages long – but it still manages to pack a punch. Dr Aaron Balick is an academic and psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in the field. His book, The Little Book of Calm, is full of exercises that can help you reduce your worry and anxiety, including tips on how to stay calm during difficult everyday situations, making it a great tool for putting your worries into perspective.

Best books about stress

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith (2022)

Its title notwithstanding, it’s likely that somebody will have recommended this book to you already. Clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith has racked up a cult following on TikTok, where she gives bite-sized therapy tips on everything from setting boundaries to stepping out of your comfort zone. Her bestselling book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, was a word-of-mouth success when it was published last year. It serves as an easy-to-access guide to managing stress, building self-confidence, battling low mood, and more.

The Stress Solution by Dr Rangan Chatterjee (2018)

In this book, Dr Rangan Chatterjee identifies four key areas that you need to maintain to feel calmer and more in control of your life: purpose, relationships, body and mind. For each area, he recommends several techniques for improving wellness – from how to breathe better to how to find and ignite your passion. The changes that Dr Chatterjee recommends are relatively easy to implement, but will likely have long-lasting results.

The Seven-Day Stress Prescription by Dr Elissa Epel (2022)

As Dr Elissa Epel acknowledges in her book, there is no magic formula that can make our stress disappear. Instead, she argues that we should change our relationship with stress – and this transformation can take place over just seven days. Using simple, science-based techniques, Dr Epel demonstrates how you can become more flexible, distinguish what you can control, and let go of the rest. It’s a great tool for shifting your perspective on stress, and learning how to deal with high-pressure situations.

The Practice of Not Thinking by Ryunosuke Koike (2021)

You’ve probably heard of the term ‘mindfulness’, but if you’ve struggled to get on board with the apps and the YouTube videos, it might be time you heeded the advice of former monk Ryunosuke Koike. In his book, he explains how we can incorporate simple Zen practices into our daily lives, retraining our brains to focus on our senses instead of our noisy thoughts. Koike writes that it is only by “thinking less” in this way that we can find calm.

Best books about burnout

Working Hard, Hardly Working by Grace Beverley (2021)

Grace Beverley is a social media influencer and the founder and CEO of two companies – and she did it all before the age of 30. In Working Hard, Hardly Working, Beverley offers a fresh take on how to balance your work with your interests. The first half of the book helps establish what success means to you and how to optimise your productivity. The second half focuses on self-care and the art of doing nothing. The end result? A helpful guide on how to enjoy what you do for a living, without burning yourself out.

Can’t Even by Anne Helen Petersen (2020)

Is your Instagram feed flooded with photos of people who have taken sabbaticals or quit their jobs to go travelling? You’re not alone. And it’s hardly surprising; in this book, subtitled “How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation”, Petersen analyses the recent phenomenon of millennial burnout, demonstrating not only the symptoms but the causes of the phenomenon, from our work to our family and social lives. If you feel like your life is a never-ending to-do list, this is one for you.

Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski (2019)

This no-nonsense book examines why women experience burnout differently from men, tackling topics such as body acceptance, gender and racial discrimination, and why patriarchy leaves women feeling frazzled. Not only will you learn why women are burning out, but this book also empowers you to do something about it, thanks to the helpful advice and exercises.

If you’re more of a practical learner, you might preferThe Burnout Workbook by the same authors. This collection of questions, exercises and visual guides is designed to help you minimise stress and better manage your emotions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best book for dealing with stress?

For a practical, science-backed approach to stress, The Stress Solution by Dr Rangan Chatterjee is a firm favourite. It breaks down the causes of stress and offers accessible, everyday strategies for managing it. For a more targeted toolkit you can reach for in tough moments, Open When… by Dr. Julie Smith is another top pick.

What is the best book on anxiety?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but Unwinding Anxiety by Dr. Judson Brewer is a standout choice. It combines neuroscience with easy-to-follow methods to help you break free of anxious thinking. Addicted to Anxiety by Owen O’Kane is another brilliant, empowering resource, especially if anxiety has started to feel like your default setting.

Does reading books help with stress?

Yes – research has shown that reading can significantly lower your stress levels. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, the act of reading helps you focus on the present moment, quieten mental chatter, and escape overwhelming thoughts. It’s a form of mindfulness that engages your brain while soothing it, helping you to process emotions and feel more grounded.

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