Experts Tell Us the Best Books For Perfectionism

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This article showcases our top picks for the Best Books For Perfectionism. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below). We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit by Risa Williams

This product was recommended by Risa Williams from Risa Williams Therapy and Life Coaching

It’s a practical guide full of creative worksheets and fun illustrations to help people navigate anxiety and self-esteem issues. Because a lot of perfectionism stems from anxiety and underlying feelings of low self-esteem, many of the easy-to-use tools in the book will help readers figure out where they’re getting stuck, and small steps they can take to shift their thinking patterns to more positive self soothing ones. Tools like The Level and The Task Extractor help readers figure out how to find balance and move away from feeling like if they’re not doing a perfect job then they are a failure. Instead, the book helps readers find simple ways to pull back and get more perspective in order to feel a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment more often from little wins throughout the day.

Overcoming Perfectionism by Clive Reed

This product was recommended by Harriet Chan from CocoFinder

This is a very good book on why striving to be a perfectionist is nothing to brag about. While many of us have been and are still on that treadmill, it is a burden that is unrealistic and, in many ways, unhealthy. If you are unsure whether you are caught in that perpetual cycle of trying to make everything you attempt to be completed to perfection, the author offers ways to determine whether you are. More importantly, there is good advice on how to put striving for perfection in its proper perspective. A very good read to achieve balance as you continue to do your best and be happier.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

This product was recommended by Ewen Finser from The Digital Merchant

This 32-page children’s book depicts a little girl who has the vision to build a “magnificent” thing. She has everything to kickstart her project, a brilliant idea, time, and unlimited resources. However, in the course of doing her magnificent project, her heart was tested. She kept on failing, and failing, and failing! One day, she gave up and said she was done. Not until her dog assistant insisted that they take a walk and sort things out. Convincing her little hooman to continue the project, the little girl listened to her bestfriend and went through her magnificent project. Then voila! The little girl finally made it! In reality, each of us is a reflection of the “little girl” in the book. We always have a high standard for ourselves. We usually aim for perfection instead of progression. That’s why when life beats us up, we say, That’s it, I’m done. This book teaches us that no matter how we expect things to be perfect, there will always be glitches and hiccups along the way. Failure and frustration are an essential part of the overall creative process in achieving success. Also, Spires effectively touched the hearts and minds of both children and adults by reminding us that trial and error is a prerequisite for success.

CBT Workbook for Perfectionism by Sharon Martin

This product was recommended by Amy Davis from My Cat Needs This

The book will give you hope and inspiration to stop perfectionism and low self-esteem in their tracks, break old patterns, and embrace new ways of living that allow you to experience the happiness and success you deserve fully. It doesn’t take much for a reader with perfectionistic tendencies to put themselves down for not making something right the first time around. But what does it mean for your mind when you beat yourself up constantly? Perfectionists tend to focus on negative things instead of positive ones, so they spend so much mental energy dwelling on their mistakes or shortcomings, often forgetting about their successes. And this is damaging over time – because every mistake is another opportunity missed by someone who’s already lost hope. What would be beneficial is some self-compassion, which this article claim is the antidote to perfectionism.

How to Be an Imperfectionist by Stephen Guise

This product was recommended by Jordan W. Peagler from MKP Law Group, LLP

A great book about perfectionism is How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living and Freedom from Perfectionism by Stephen Guise. Let’s face it — no one is perfect. So the goal should be improving ourselves, not seeking an impossible goal. This book teaches people that being imperfect is okay, and that even when we make mistakes we can learn valuable lessons that will improve our lives. When you let go of the notion of being “perfect,” you can be happier, work on self-improvement, and be more productive.

Perfectionism by Lisa Van Gemert

This product was recommended by Rohan Kadam from BikingKnowHow

This book is so usable – I love it! As a gifted coordinator, I am always looking for books to use as a book study with parents or teachers. This book fits the bill for both. Lisa steers aways from a lot of the technical jargon found in most educational books without dumbing down the content. She presents research to support her thoughts and lots of tips and tricks to help coax our students/children away from perfectionism.

The Pursuit of Perfect by Tal Ben-Shahar

This product was recommended by Katherine Brown from Spyic

Tal has an amazingly attractive writing style. He explains the complexity of the quest for perfection with simple, easy-to-digest methods. This makes it much easier to see and relate to the goals and experiences he writes about. The Pursuit of Perfect will help you learn the deeper things of the mind about how we humans process all the thoughts and feelings that run our lives in a fun, exciting, and easy way to follow them. The author’s anecdotes combined with studies create convincing arguments for leaving perfection, a futile pursuit.

The Perfectionist’s Handbook by Zeff Szymanski

This product was recommended by Christina Wright from The Leaf Nation

Since the Book is written by a clinical psychologist, it helps us to develop a deeper understanding of how our body responds to the quest of perfectionism depending upon our expectations and intentions for the same. The reason I love the book so much is that it helps to clear the cloud of doubts that we often encounter as to if we should pursue perfectionism or not. Towards the end, it also guides it readers towards attaining perfectionism through simple doable steps.

The Perfectionism Workbook by Taylor Newendorp MA LCPC

This product was recommended by Alex Wan from Vinpit

The Perfectionism Workbook authored by Taylor Newendorp is a detailed workbook written with the primary goal of changing how you view yourself in different environments every day. The author of the book is a counselor who specializes in treating psychological disorders such as OCD, anxiety disorders, perfectionism, and more. This makes his book exceptional since it’s based on first-hand experience. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with perfectionism because it’s written based on real-life stories and features practical strategies that have been proven to work. Above all, this book is very affordable.

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

This product was recommended by Alison Townshend from Luella Fashion

This book isn’t too long so you’re able to read it relatively quickly – and in that short time it will make you take a long hard look at your own life. It challenges yourself to ‘DIG’ deeper (Get Determined, Inspired, and Get Going!) and helps you tackle your personal life as well as in business – all with humour, vulnerability and also backed by research.

Overcoming Perfectionism by Roz Shafran

This product was recommended by Angela Welsh from Adore Stories

This is the best book I have ever read about perfectionism because it is rich in practical advice and even has worksheets and exercises to help you with your journey in overcoming perfectionism. The concepts are presented in words that are not difficult to understand, which makes it a great book for just about anyone who needs to read it.

Too Perfect by Allan E. Mallinger

This product was recommended by Jeannie Price from Gift Unicorn

This insightful and enlightening book reveals why perfectionistic, obsessive people live the way they do and offers helpful strategies to overcome perfectionism. The author shows how perfectionism can take the enjoyment out of life and provides some diagnostic tools to help understand whether you’re a perfectionist. The book is easy to read, and I can recommend it for anyone looking for practical steps on how to help yourself or someone dealing with perfectionism.

Present Perfect By Pavel G Somov

This product was recommended by Austin LaRoche from ATAK Interactive

The book helps people overcome perfectionism, according to a study published in the Mindfulness Journal. Perfectionism produces and lessens self-criticism. It claims that it’s easy to be overly hard on yourself when trying to modify your perfectionist tendencies. As a result, you fall into the same traps that make you feel worried and let down. Instead, it employs the Buddhist practice of mindfulness to teach people how to embrace the present moment in all of its flaws. The book will assist you in becoming more accepting of yourself and others.

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