Every year I start the year with a must-read book list and this year I thought I would share some of my favorites from last year with you.
I also included a couple of favorites suggested by other mom friends.
Don’t worry, I didn’t include every single book that popped into my mind! Holy moly that would be a ton of books if I did! I just included the first 3-4 books that came to mind in a few various categories.
Prices range from free to about twenty-bucks. You’ll notice a theme in that I tend to read books that are jam-packed with value. If I am reading a book with tips, I want a ton of tips. If I am reading a book with inspiration, I want to be moved to tears. You get the idea. Let’s dig in!
KIDS & PARENTING
Top 10 Powerful Things to Say to Your Kids
This book was given to me by my friend Barb when our first child was born. I admit, the first year of babyhood was a blur so I didn’t read this book until about a year later. Honestly Ten Powerful Things to Say to Your Kids is my favorite parenting book of all time! I re-read this book every year. It has so many good nuggets in it that honestly I don’t think anyone can full absorb and remember them all by going through it just once. It is quite literally a parents guidebook.
7 Principles on Inspiring Kids to Be Leaders
When I was growing up I didn’t know what it felt like to be the leader of anything. I was shy, quiet, and it wasn’t until later into my adult life that I came out of my shell, so to speak. I wouldn’t change my path for anything as it made me into the person I am today. However, I want to give my kids an easier path and get them to feel like a leader earlier in life. The kindle book 7 Principles on Inspiring Kids to Be Leaders has really awesome & super simple ways to get your kids to become a leader. It helped me to look at life a little differently.
How to Really Love Your Child
This book transformed how we interact with our children. It was very eye-opening and I have also read this one a couple of times and taken notes. It’s an interesting look into the mind of a child and how they interpret literally everything around them, and how they feel love or lack of love. I absolutely adore the book How to Really Love Your Child, and am so grateful to have it in our collection. Most children, even in loving households, doubt that they are genuinely and unconditionally loved. This book is an amazing tool.
WELLNESS
Effortless Healing: 9 Simple Ways to Sidestep Illness, Shed Excess Weight, and Help Your Body Fix Itself
Dr. Mercola is one of my absolute favorite experts when it comes to health and wellness. So is it any wonder then that I would put one of his books as my top favorites in the category of wellness? Um…probably not.
The title of this book is Effortless Healing: 9 Simple Ways to Sidestep Illness, Shed Excess Weight, and Help Your Body Fix Itself, but let me tell you there are tons of little nuggets jam-packed into this book.
Beat Sugar Addiction Now!: The Cutting-Edge Program That Cures Your Type of Sugar Addiction and Puts You on the Road to Feeling Great – and Losing Weight!
It seems like everyone knows these days that sugar is really not that great for you, in fact it is super bad for you. The real question remains in how to overcome it. Sugar is no doubt addicting. There is science that backs this up, which is mentioned in this book. Beat Sugar Addiction Now also talks about why we crave sugar and gives some simple easy suggestions on getting over it.
Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to HealthWheat Belly
I became interested in wheat and it’s affects on the body about seven years ago. That is when I first discovered I have Fibromyalgia. You can read more about my Fibromyalgia and journey to natural wellness in my book. Just go to FibromyalgiaFighter.com. When this book came out a few years after my diagnosis it was just what I was looking for to learn more about what wheat was actually doing to my body. I invite anyone to read Wheat Belly who has autoimmune disorder, or just wants to know more about the reality of what is in our food.
SPIRITUAL
Too Blessed to Be Stressed: Inspiration for Climbing Out of Life’s Stress-Pool
This is a book that I originally purchased in 2015. Since then the author has also come out with a book of 3-Minute Devotions, Inspiration for 365 Days, and a 5-year Journal of Inspiration and Devotions. The original book Too Blessed to be Stressed includes devotions, and thought prompts for journaling. I enjoyed the author’s down to Earth and relatable personality.
Daily Wisdom for Women
The version of this book from last year was amazing, so of course I have to include the updated version just released this year for the 2018 list. The Daily Wisdom for Women 2018 Devotional Collection includes a dynamic devotional reading and prayer for every day of 2018. This book comes in imitation leather which for me is a bonus because I am a tactile person.
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
I have to admit this is the only book on my recommendations list that I have not personally read. I am recommending it because it has come so highly recommended to me by so many people. From what I hear, the book Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family really WILL change your family. So it is on my recommended books list for 2018 as I myself dig into it too.
BUSINESS
Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box
This is the book I have recommended the most to people over the past few years, and also the book I have referenced the most in my personal & professional journey. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box can provide a powerful paradigm shift to anyone who is wanting to understand relationships better and their own role in them. After reading this book (a couple of times now), I better understand the ways myself and others sabotage ourselves and our relationships.
Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success
I read this book about three years into my work from home career. Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success changed the way I viewed my work day and habits. The principles in this book were life-changing for me when I was a new work at home mom just a few years ago. I have recommended it countless times to new entrepreneurs so it is making my list for this year.
You’ll See It When You Believe It: The Way to Your Personal Transformation
The universe is perfect. Everything in it is connected, and everything happens for a reason. This is the thought of the former Dr. Wayne Dyer in his book, You’ll See It When You Believe It: The Way to Your Personal Transformation. When you accept this, and learn to flow and forgive, you’ll find harmony with yourself and others. That harmony is part of your higher consciousness – and it will allow you to transform into what you truly want to be. I have read this book and am in the process of reading it again in order to absorb all of it’s goodness.
