Top 15 Books to Inspire Motivation and Growth in the New Year
Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.
-JIM ROHN
In this blog post, we've curated a list of 15 exceptional books that provide inspiration for your self-improvement and leadership development goals. From personal growth strategies to leadership principles, these books are carefully chosen to inspire, challenge, and elevate your mindset. Whether you are on the quest for personal excellence or a leader seeking new tools, these reads are designed to fuel your curiosity and inspire you to pursue positive change in the coming year.
1 - Better than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits--to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin
For the reader who is looking to build lasting habits that will improve their daily life and overall well-being 🏃♀️✨
In Better than Before, Gretchen Rubin explores the science of habit formation, offering practical tools for creating habits that stick and transforming your routine for the better. Rubin dives into the psychology of why we form habits and how we can change them, explaining that the key to a successful habit is not willpower, but strategy.
Whether you want to eat healthier, exercise more, or become more productive, this book helps you understand your unique tendencies and provides tailored advice on how to make the changes that matter most. This is an essential read for anyone who wants to make positive changes that last.
2 - Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert’
For the reader who is ready to embrace their creativity and take bold risks in pursuit of their passions 🎨💫
Big Magic is an inspiring and playful invitation to all of us to live more creatively. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love, emphasizes that creativity is not reserved for a select few—it’s an essential part of every human being. She challenges readers to let go of the fear and self-doubt that holds them back and instead pursue their creative instincts with courage.
Gilbert offers both practical advice and deep wisdom about how to cultivate creativity in everyday life, whether you’re a professional artist, a budding writer, or simply someone looking to inject more creativity into your personal or professional projects.
3 - The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
For the reader who is looking for a simple, effective strategy to achieve long-term success through consistent, incremental actions 📈🔑
In The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy breaks down how small, seemingly insignificant actions, when compounded over time, can lead to extraordinary results. This book teaches you how making consistent, deliberate choices—no matter how small—can gradually add up to big achievements in your health, wealth, and personal growth.
Hardy provides a step-by-step plan for tracking habits, staying disciplined, and ensuring that every action aligns with your long-term goals. This book is ideal for anyone who wants to make positive progress toward their dreams by focusing on the power of consistent effort and incremental improvements.
4 - Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by Tom Kelley & David Kelly
For the reader who is struggling with self-doubt and wants to tap into their inner creativity and innovative potential 💡🚀
Creative Confidence is a roadmap for anyone who wants to unlock their full creative potential. Written by the founders of IDEO, the world-renowned design firm, this book encourages readers to embrace creativity as a skill that can be cultivated, not an innate gift that only some people have.
The Kelley brothers explore how fear of failure and judgment often stifles creativity, and they offer practical strategies to overcome these barriers. Whether you're looking to enhance your problem-solving skills, think more creatively in your work, or unleash your innovation in your personal life, this book is a great guide to help you push past self-limiting beliefs and start embracing the creativity that already exists within you.
5 - Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
For the reader who feels overwhelmed by too many tasks and wants to focus on what truly matters ⚖️🎯
In Essentialism, Greg McKeown offers a guide to doing less but better. If you're juggling too many responsibilities and feeling stretched thin, this book will help you clear the clutter—both mentally and physically—and focus on what truly matters.
Through practical strategies, McKeown teaches how to say "no" more often, reclaim your time, and eliminate distractions. It’s the antidote to burnout, providing clarity and focus so you can invest your energy in what aligns with your highest priorities and hit your personal targets with precision.
6 - Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt
For the reader who feels stuck, unsure of their next steps, and wants to take charge of their future ➡️🚀
Living Forward offers a clear and actionable plan for anyone feeling like they’re drifting through life without purpose or direction. Michael Hyatt's book provides a step-by-step framework for creating a personalized life plan, helping you define your vision, set meaningful goals, and stay on track for long-term success.
Whether you’re looking to redefine your career, health, or relationships, this book empowers you to take control of your life and start living with intention, rather than just reacting to circumstances.
7 - The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
For the reader who is looking to simplify their life without sacrificing what truly matters to them ⚡️🎯
Kendra Adachi's The Lazy Genius Way offers a refreshing approach to productivity and life management. Adachi introduces the concept of being a "Lazy Genius," which means working smarter, not harder. She provides 13 practical principles to help readers create efficient systems that make life simpler, more organized, and less stressful.
Whether it's meal planning, managing your household, or deciding where to invest your time, The Lazy Genius Way is all about making choices that align with your values while cutting out unnecessary complexity. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to live intentionally without falling prey to the “hustle” mentality.
8 - The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (before 8 am) by Hal Elrod
For the reader who is looking to jump-start their day with purpose and energy for a productive, successful mindset ⏰🌞
In The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod outlines a transformative morning routine that can radically change your life. The book introduces the SAVERS method—Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing—intended to optimize your mornings and prepare you for success.
By starting your day with intention, focus, and energy, Elrod argues that you can elevate every aspect of your life, from personal health to career success. This book is especially powerful for those looking to create a consistent morning ritual that sets a positive tone for the rest of the day, helping you unlock your full potential.
9 - The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily P. Freeman
For the reader who is feeling stuck and overwhelmed by life’s decisions and wants a simple guide for taking the next step forward 🌱👣
The Next Right Thing offers a practical, calming approach to decision-making in a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain. Emily Freeman guides readers through a process of choosing the "next right thing" instead of worrying about the big picture or long-term consequences.
Through thoughtful reflection and mindfulness, Freeman encourages you to listen to your inner wisdom and make decisions that align with your values. This book is ideal for anyone who feels overwhelmed by big decisions or feels stuck in indecision. It offers a gentle way to move forward, one step at a time.
10 - The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs by Ryan Holiday
For the reader who is facing significant challenges and wants to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth 💪🛠️
In The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday uses the principles of Stoic philosophy to teach readers how to turn setbacks into stepping stones for success. Drawing from examples of historical figures who overcame major obstacles, Holiday shows how adversity can be reframed as a tool for growth and transformation.
Holiday encourages readers to build their resilience, persistence, and creative thinking when faced with life’s challenges. If you're currently facing an obstacle or a difficult situation, this book provides the mindset and tools to help you view challenges as opportunities to grow stronger and more capable.
11 - Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence by Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins
For the reader who wants to build their confidence and presence in high-stakes professional or social situations 🗣️💼
In Own the Room, Su and Wilkins offer a comprehensive guide to developing executive presence and mastering communication skills in any situation.
Whether you're a manager, entrepreneur, or someone looking to make a stronger impression in social settings, the authors provide proven principles, practical strategies, and case study examples to demonstrate how to express confidence, speak with clarity, and create a powerful impact. The book offers tips for managing nerves, building trust, and cultivating authenticity so that you can show up as the best version of yourself, no matter the context.
12 - The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias by Dolly Chugh
For the reader who wants to confront and address their own biases while navigating complex cultural dynamics and diversity challenges 🌍🤝
In The Person You Mean to Be, Dolly Chugh offers a candid and approachable guide to recognizing and tackling bias—especially the unconscious biases that influence our actions, decisions, and relationships. Rather than making readers feel guilty or ashamed, Chugh encourages a growth mindset, inviting everyone to engage in the ongoing process of self-reflection and self-improvement.
The book is filled with real-world examples and provides practical tools for how to respond to cultural and diversity challenges—whether in the workplace, in communities, or in everyday interactions. It’s a perfect resource for anyone wanting to create a more inclusive environment or for those looking to deepen their understanding of cultural differences in a thoughtful and actionable way.
13 - Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment without Burnout by Cal Newport
For the reader who feels overwhelmed by constant busyness and wants to reclaim focus and purpose in their work. 🐢⏳
In Slow Productivity, Cal Newport challenges the conventional notion that being busy equates to being productive. Instead, he advocates for a more thoughtful, intentional approach to work that prioritizes deep focus over constant activity.
Newport shows how slowing down and eliminating distractions can actually increase your productivity in the long run, helping you achieve more meaningful results without burning out. This book is a powerful antidote to the frantic pace of modern work life, providing a roadmap for creating more sustainable and fulfilling productivity habits.
14 - Supercommunicator: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Communication by Cal Newport
For the reader who wants to master the art of clear, compelling communication and connect with others more effectively 🗣️💬
In Supercommunicator, Charles Duhigg explores the science of effective communication and how anyone can become a better communicator by mastering a few key principles. Drawing on research from psychology, neuroscience, and communication theory, Duhigg shows how to break down complex ideas into simpler, more digestible information.
Whether you're in a leadership role, working in a team, or simply want to improve your everyday conversations, this book offers valuable insights and techniques for conveying ideas more clearly, making a lasting impression, and engaging others with impact.
15 - Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration by Meera Lee Patel
For the reader who feels lost or uncertain and wants a creative tool to begin their journey of self-discovery and growth 🌱📝
In Start Where You Are, Meera Lee Patel offers a beautifully illustrated journal that invites you to explore your thoughts, dreams, and emotions. Through prompts and reflections, this book encourages you to take a pause, examine where you are in life, and discover your next steps.
Whether you're dealing with a crossroads moment or simply looking for a way to get more in touch with your inner self, this journal provides a gentle space for introspection and personal growth. It’s perfect for those who are ready to take the first step toward understanding themselves more deeply and intentionally.
