As 2016 drew to a close, I published a list of nonfiction books I'd read that year. At that point, I thought I knew everything about how to be happier, how to achieve my goals, and how to become an expert at anything.
In 2017, I learned — surprise! — I was wrong. This past year, I read another boatload of books on human behavior (you can consider many of them self help books) and gained brand-new insights into the worlds of relationships, emotions, and money management.
Below, I've highlighted the best of those insights and the terrific books they came from.
SEE ALSO: The 19 best business books of 2017
Even the smartest people can fall into common mental traps when it comes to saving money
Behavioral economist Dan Ariely is by now well-known for introducing readers to all the ways in which they can, unwittingly, sabotage their own success.
In his latest book, "Dollars and Sense," Ariely teams up with lawyer-turned-comedian Jeff Kreisler to explore all the traps we fall into when it comes to spending and saving — and how to outsmart them.
For example, we think of money as relative, not absolute. If you've just bought a $100 shirt, you might easily throw in a $10 pair of socks; but if you've just bought a $5 shirt, you'd be hard pressed to tack on an additional $10 purchase.
If you're aware of this tendency, and if you can stop to think about the fact that it's the same $10 in both scenarios, you'll be able to make wiser financial decisions.
Cheating doesn't have to destroy a relationship
If you ask Esther Perel whether she's "for" or "against" cheating, she'll simply answer, "Yes."
That's because Perel — a renowned couples therapist and bestselling author — has seen firsthand how infidelity can damage trust in a relationship, sometimes irreparably. But in her new book, "The State of Affairs," Perel argues that she's also seen a couple rediscover honesty, intimacy, and even passion in the wake of an affair.
While Perel would never recommend that someone deliberately cheat on their partner, she explains that on some level, infidelity can revitalize an otherwise deadened relationship, bringing both partners back to reality — and to each other.
You're more likely to thrive in a work environment that suits your personality
Everyone loves a good personality test — and Gretchen Rubin's "four tendencies" quiz is one of the most revelatory.
Rubin, a bestselling author and one of the biggest names in the self-improvement space, says everyone forms habits and approaches expectations differently: Either you're an Upholder, a Questioner, an Obliger, or a Rebel.
In her latest book, "The Four Tendencies," Rubin says that knowing your tendency can help you figure out what kind of workplace you'd thrive in. For example, maybe you need a boss who checks in all the time, or maybe you'd be a rockstar entrepreneur. Keep this in mind when you're job-searching.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider