Where to Read Self-Help Books for Free: Legit Sites and Apps in 2025

Want to improve your mindset, build better habits, or get out of a rut-but don’t want to spend money on books? You’re not alone. Thousands of people search for free self-help books every day, and for good reason. Great advice doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The truth is, there are plenty of legal, high-quality places to read self-help books for free right now, even in 2025.

Public Library Apps Are Your Best Friend

Most people don’t realize their local library gives you access to digital books-no late fees, no shipping, no credit card needed. All you need is a library card. In Australia, libraries like State Library of NSW, City of Sydney Library, and thousands of regional branches offer Libby and OverDrive. These apps let you borrow ebooks and audiobooks just like you would a physical book.

Search for titles like Atomic Habits by James Clear, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, or How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. These books often have long waitlists because so many people use them. But if you’re patient, you’ll get access. Some libraries even let you place holds on multiple copies at once.

Pro tip: If your library doesn’t have what you want, ask them to buy it. Many libraries will purchase a copy if enough patrons request it. It’s free to you, and it helps expand their collection.

Project Gutenberg: The Original Free Book Hub

Project Gutenberg has been around since 1971. It’s the oldest digital library in the world, and it’s still going strong. The site offers over 70,000 free ebooks, mostly because they’re out of copyright. That means you won’t find the latest bestsellers-but you’ll get the classics that shaped modern self-help.

Books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937), Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1841), and The Art of War by Sun Tzu are all available in clean, readable formats. You can download them as EPUB, Kindle, or plain text. No sign-up required. No ads. Just pure, distraction-free reading.

These books might feel old-fashioned, but their principles haven’t aged. Many modern self-help authors cite these as foundational. Reading them gives you context for why today’s advice works the way it does.

Open Library: Borrow Like a Library, But Online

Open Library, run by the Internet Archive, is like a global digital library. It lets you borrow up to 10 ebooks at a time, with a 14-day loan period. You don’t need a library card-just create a free account. The collection includes both public domain titles and modern books that publishers have agreed to lend.

You’ll find titles like The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and Atomic Habits (if they’re available for borrowing). The interface is simple: search, click ‘Borrow’, and read in your browser or download the app.

One advantage over Libby? Open Library often has newer titles because they partner directly with publishers. It’s not as polished as Libby, but it’s more flexible. If you’re stuck waiting for a book on Libby, check Open Library. You might get instant access.

ManyBooks: Clean Design, Wide Selection

ManyBooks is a lesser-known gem. It has over 50,000 free ebooks, including a solid selection of self-help titles. The site is ad-free, easy to navigate, and lets you filter by genre, popularity, or date added.

Look for titles like Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson (available in public domain editions), and Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins. You can download in EPUB, PDF, MOBI, or even read online.

What makes ManyBooks stand out? It lets you sort books by ‘Readers’ Choice’-so you see what real people are reading. It’s a great way to find hidden gems that aren’t on Amazon’s bestseller lists.

YouTube and Podcasts: Free Audio Self-Help

Not a big reader? That’s fine. You can still get the same value from audio. YouTube is packed with free self-help content. Channels like The School of Life, Jay Shetty, and Thomas Frank break down book ideas into short, digestible videos.

Many authors also post free audiobook readings on YouTube. Search for ‘Atomic Habits audiobook full’-you’ll find someone has uploaded the entire book. Some are official, some are fan-made. The official ones usually have the author’s name in the title or description.

Podcasts like The Tim Ferriss Show, The Mindset Mentor, and Optimal Living Daily summarize self-help books in 10-20 minute episodes. You can listen while commuting, cooking, or walking. It’s passive learning that actually sticks.

Reddit and Book Communities: Crowdsourced Free Reads

Reddit’s r/FreeEbooks and r/selfhelp are goldmines. People regularly share links to free versions of books, especially when they’re on sale or temporarily free on Amazon. You’ll find direct links to PDFs, EPUBs, and even Kindle files.

Just be careful. Not everything shared here is legal. Stick to books that are clearly public domain or confirmed free by the publisher. If someone says ‘Here’s the full PDF of Atomic Habits’, that’s likely a copyright violation. Avoid it. Stick to sources that say ‘legally free’ or ‘public domain’.

Join r/BookExchange too. People trade ebooks here. You can ask for a self-help book you want, and someone might send you a copy. It’s community-driven, no money exchanged.

Amazon’s Free Kindle Books Section

Amazon doesn’t always get credit for this, but they have a whole section of free Kindle books. Go to Amazon.com, click on ‘Kindle Store’, then ‘Free Kindle Books’. Filter by ‘Self-Help’.

You’ll find classics like How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie and Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. Some are free for a limited time, so check back often. You can read them on any device with the free Kindle app-even your phone or tablet.

Important: You don’t need a Kindle device. The app works on iOS, Android, and computers. Just sign in with a free Amazon account.

Library Genesis and Sci-Hub: Use With Caution

Some people turn to Library Genesis (LibGen) or Sci-Hub to get paid books for free. These sites host millions of copyrighted books, including modern self-help titles. But here’s the reality: downloading from them is illegal in most countries, including Australia.

Even if you think ‘no one will get caught’, you’re risking malware, phishing, or legal action. Plus, you’re cutting off the authors who spend years writing these books. If you want to support the people who help you grow, stick to legal options.

If you can’t find a book legally, try asking your library to buy it. Or wait a few months-it’ll likely become available on Libby or Open Library soon.

How to Pick the Right Book for You

With so many free options, how do you choose? Start with your biggest pain point. Are you struggling with procrastination? Go for Atomic Habits. Feeling overwhelmed? Try The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Want to build confidence? Look up Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.

Don’t read five books at once. Pick one. Read it slowly. Highlight one idea. Try it for a week. That’s how real change happens-not by collecting books, but by applying them.

Final Tip: Set a Reading Habit

Free books won’t help if you never open them. Make it easy. Put the Libby app on your home screen. Set a daily reminder: ‘Read 10 minutes before bed.’ Or listen to a 15-minute podcast during your coffee break.

Progress doesn’t need grand gestures. Five minutes a day, every day, adds up faster than you think. In a month, you’ll have absorbed more wisdom than most people get from a whole year of scrolling.