42 Books to Help You Thrive
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If you want to thrive, reading is essential. It is one of the best habits that you can have, but the quality of the books that you read is just as important as sitting down to read. Reading Harlequin romances won’t have the same value as reading Jane Austen’s books. You have to read books that challenge you and make you think whether they are fiction or non-fiction. Not that reading books that simply allow you to escape is always a bad thing, but the best books are the ones that do both.
The books on this list are all non-fiction books. I could add some fiction books, but that would be an even longer list. If you want to read fiction books that challenge you, I suggest starting with the classics like Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, etc. There is a reason they are classics.
This list is by no means exhaustive. I’m sure that you know many books that I could add. I know that there are more that I could add from my own library, but I don’t want to overwhelm. I also don’t want you to think that you should read every single book on this list. Pick the ones that interest you and motivate you.
Life in General
Own Your Life (Sally Clarkson)
Make It Happen (Lara Casey)
Becoming Myself (Stacey Eldridge)
Love Does (Bob Goff)
Making Good Habits (Joyce Meyer)
The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin)
Spiritual Growth
A Thousand Gifts (Ann Voskamp)
Choose Gratitude (Nancy Leigh DeMoss)
Choose Joy (Kay Warren)
A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year (Diane Stortz)
Writing in the Margins (Lisa Nichols Hickman)
Crazy Love (Francis Chan)
Forgotten God (Francis Chan)
Relationships
Relationships (Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott)
Winning with People (John C. Maxwell)
Lean on Me (Anne Marie Miller)
A Life that Says Welcome (Karen Ehmen)
The Friendships of Women (Dee Bristin)
Dare to Discipline (Dr. James Dobson)
The Strong Willed Child (Dr. James Dobson)
Career
31 Days to Start an Online Business (Sunu Phillip)
Start (Jon Acuff)
The Art of Work (Jeff Goins)
The Winning Attitude (John C. Maxwell)
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (John C. Maxwell)
Developing the Leader Within You (John C. Maxwell)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey)
Health/Wellness
40 Days to Fit & Fabulous with Praise Moves (Laurette Willis)
The Whole 30 (Melissa & Dallas Hartwig)
It Starts with Food (Dallas Hartwig)
Walk Strong, Look Up (Chantel Hobbs)
Change Your Words, Change Your Life (Joyce Meyer)
Changes that Heal (Henry Cloud)
Creativity/Hobbies
The Fringe Hours (Jessica Turner)
A Million Little Ways (Emily P. Freeman)
Making Manifest (Dave Harrity)
You Can Do It! (Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas)
One Zentangle a Day: A 6-week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun (Beckah Krahula)
Zenspirations: Letters & Patterning (Joanne Fink)
The Art of Whimsical Lettering (Joanne Sharpe)
Zenspirations Coloring Books (Joanne Fink)
The A to Z of Crochet (Martingale)
Financial
The Total Money Makeover (Dave Ramsey)
Singleness
Fine China is for Single Women Too
Table for One (Cameron Courtney)
Lady in Waiting (Jackie Kendall & Debby Jones)
The Single Woman (Mandy Hale)
Single Servings (Lee Warren)
When God Writes Your Love Story (Eric & Leslie Ludy)
What book have helped you to thrive in life?
