*Affiliate links used. See full note below.
Following are some of my favorite and most recommended books by category. (If you're not "a reader," see my post How to Enjoy Reading.)
Dividing books up by category is a little bit challenging, because many of these books fit into more than one category. Most of them could fit into a broader "Personal Growth" (or "self-help") category; these types of books draw my attention because they are largely topic driven and applicable to daily life.
My favorite reads usually show the growth and life lessons in a person's life experiences rather than telling how to do something. I love being invited into someone's story, and many of my favorite books do just that.
Dividing books up by category is a little bit challenging, because many of these books fit into more than one category. Most of them could fit into a broader "Personal Growth" (or "self-help") category; these types of books draw my attention because they are largely topic driven and applicable to daily life.
My favorite reads usually show the growth and life lessons in a person's life experiences rather than telling how to do something. I love being invited into someone's story, and many of my favorite books do just that.
Memoir-ish
Educated by Tara Westover
The Joy of Doing Things Badly by Veronica Chambers
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Carry On, Warrior and Love Warrior and Untamed by Glennon Doyle Melton
Post Traumatic Church Syndrome by Reba Riley
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park
Never Broken by Jewel
There Are No Grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Carry On, Warrior and Love Warrior and Untamed by Glennon Doyle Melton
Post Traumatic Church Syndrome by Reba Riley
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park
Never Broken by Jewel
There Are No Grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker
All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth
God Never Blinks by Regina BrettSafer than a Known Way by Pamela Rosewell Moore
Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lammot
Searching for Sunday and Inspired by Rachel Held Evans
The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg
Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Clairborne
A Beautiful Offering by Angela Thomas
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Spiritual Life
Believing God by Beth MooreHelp, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lammot
Searching for Sunday and Inspired by Rachel Held Evans
The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg
Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Clairborne
A Beautiful Offering by Angela Thomas
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Unity, Justice, Love
Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison
One and Every Little Thing by Deidra Riggs
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele
Falling Free by Shannan Martin
Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski
Love Does and Everybody Always by Bob Goff
Love, Skip, Jump by Shelene Bryan
Falling Free by Shannan Martin
Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski
Love Does and Everybody Always by Bob Goff
Love, Skip, Jump by Shelene Bryan
Enneagram
Personality Types by Hudson and Riso
True You by Michelle DeRusha
Quiet by Susan Cain
Braving the Wilderness and Rising Strong by Brene Brown
Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson
This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick
The Best Yes and Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst
Comfort Detox by Erin M. Straza
What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
Start by Jon Acuff
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
How to Style Your Brand by Fiona Humberstone
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman
Braving the Wilderness and Rising Strong by Brene Brown
Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson
This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick
The Best Yes and Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst
Comfort Detox by Erin M. Straza
What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
Start by Jon Acuff
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Writing/Creative Life
Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertThe War of Art by Steven Pressfield
How to Style Your Brand by Fiona Humberstone
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman
In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney
Apartment Therapy by Maxwell Ryan
Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman
7 by Jen Hatmaker
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Home + Food
The Nesting Place by Myquillyn SmithApartment Therapy by Maxwell Ryan
Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Simplicity
Chasing Slow by Erin LoechnerEssentialism by Greg McKeown
Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman
7 by Jen Hatmaker
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Marriage + Parenting
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie OmartianThe Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Kids These Days by Jodi Carrington
Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sara Mae
Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross
Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman
Small Great Things and A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sara Mae
Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross
Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman
Fiction
The Hate U Give by Angie ThomasSmall Great Things and A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Powersheets by Lara Casey/Cultivate What Matters
Journals/Planners/Interactive
A Book that Takes Its Time by the editors of Flow magazinePowersheets by Lara Casey/Cultivate What Matters
Uncategorized
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
>>>
Also see:
How to Enjoy Reading
*Note: Affiliate links used. Any purchases made through these links could earn me a small commission with no extra cost to you. This is a little known way to support the bloggers, writers, and online creatives that you love. If you choose to do that here, thank you!
>>>
Also see:
How to Enjoy Reading
*Note: Affiliate links used. Any purchases made through these links could earn me a small commission with no extra cost to you. This is a little known way to support the bloggers, writers, and online creatives that you love. If you choose to do that here, thank you!
