9 Books That Will Help You Not Be a Terrible Person

When life gives you lemons, put your nose in a book. Thankfully, there are some really smart (and funny) authors who have lived through some things so you don't have to. Kick-start your road to self-improvement with this book list, from our friends at Off the Shelf, a daily blog that connects great books with great readers.

Many will thumb their noses at straight-up self-help books — and yet, like us, they still need a lot of guidance on how to not be a total jerk in this world. For our dear, dear friends such as this, we've collected some of my favorite books that may advise in that arena.

01
Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown

Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown

We're frequently in awe of how, after years of schooling, many of us could still be so tremendously unequipped to be an adult. (For real, what is a hedge fund? How do you fix a toilet? Asking for a friend . . .) Luckily, Adulting teaches you how to conquer the "real world" with practical advice that makes the confusing rules and regulations of adulthood more manageable.

02
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

Have you given up on finding love on OKCupid? Welcome to the club — but don't get too comfortable. If you need a kick in the butt to get back in the game, pick up a copy of Modern Romance and prepare yourself for a hilarious and extremely thoughtful exploration of the pleasures and perils of modern romance.

03
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

Swarms of anonymous reputation assassins are ready and waiting to ruin your life — thanks, Twitter! So You've Been Publicly Shamed examines how modern public shaming can be a form of social control, where punishments often outweigh the crimes, and where there are (ironically) no consequences for anonymous commenters.

04
F*ck Feelings by Michael I. Bennett, MD, and Sarah Bennett

F*ck Feelings by Michael I. Bennett, MD, and Sarah Bennett

In a nutshell, F*ck Feelings teaches you that if you can maintain a sense of humor, adjust your expectations, and let go of unproductive feelings, you can get through life all right. Added bonus? The book begins: "Given life's cruelty and unfairness, F*ck Feelings believes profanity is a source of comfort, clarity, and strength." A-f*cking-men.

05
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

I've never been a fan of unsolicited advice about how women should act. Thankfully, the title of this book is tongue-in-cheek — and what Caitlin Moran really does is shatter all of the stereotypes about what being a modern woman means. How to Be a Woman provides one more nail in the coffin of outdated advice on what women should do or say or think.

06
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

We've all done things that we wish never happened. Try as we might to bury the memories, Jenny Lawson sets us straight with her incredibly insightful and hilarious advice in Let's Pretend This Never Happened. However bad those experiences, they are just as much a part of what makes you, you, as the best experiences of your life.

07
Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

From Saturday Night Live to Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler is absolutely hilarious. If we were you, we'd say "Yes, Please" to her smart, pointed, and ultimately inspirational book full of stories, lists, poetry, photos, mantras, and advice.

08
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

In this refreshingly feisty how-to guide, world-traveling success coach Jen Sincero serves up hilarious and bite-sized inspiration and advice on how to kick ass — and how to actually be as confident on the inside as you appear on the outside. If you're looking to be the HBIC (Head B*tch in Charge) of your life, you're going to want to use You Are a Badass as your bible.

09
Nice Is Just a Place in France by The Betches

Nice Is Just a Place in France by The Betches

After having spent an obscene amount of time on The Betches Insta, we had to read their book Nice Is Just a Place in France. We can confidently say that it delivers — it's funny, it's practical, and it's absolutely brutal. This is a take-no-prisoners book of advice for young women on "how to win at basically everything."

Here are more great book recommendations from our friends at Off the Shelf: