Holiday Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again! The gift-giving season is upon us. In my family, we say no to “stuff” and do our best to give gifts that are experience-based or truly needed in one’s life. Non-fiction books are my favorite gifts to give because they have the power to enrich, empower, and transform someone’s life.

So, I’ve compiled my 2016 Holiday Gift Guide: 9 Life-changing Books to help you find that perfect read for your family and friends.

1. For the young adult (or anyone paving their way): Evil Plans: Having Fun on the Road to World Domination by Hugh MacLeod. A humorous, thought-provoking approach to paving a path doing what you love. This book is full of the delightful and insightful illustrations of Hugh MacLeod. I wish I had read this earlier in life and now love to give this book as graduation gifts.

2. For the brave, creative soul: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. The author of Eat, Pray, Love shares a beautiful exploration of creativity and inspiration. She also shares her stories of dealing with fear, and finding courage through curiosity. A perfect gift for the creative spirit looking for inspiration.

3. For the recovering perfectionist: The Imperfect Perfectionist: Seasonal Secrets for a Happy and Balanced Life by Michelle Babb, Wendy Lomee, Karen Pfeiffer Bush and Chieko Watanabe.  Recovering perfectionists Chieko, Michelle, Karen and Wendy share their tips and tricks, and their authentic and sometimes hilarious stories of their own journeys to say goodbye to the insanity of perfectionism and live their authentically happy lives.

4. For the overwhelmed and stressed: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. “Less but better,” is the mantra of this book. McKeown shares strategies in work and life on how to commit less and find and stick to only what is essential for a meaningful, productive life. Must read for anyone overworked and feeling burn-out.

5. For the spiritual seeker: The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer. Rich with practical meditation and mindfulness guidance to attain new levels of inner peace and happiness.

6. For the clutter-bug: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Decluttering can elicit fear or dread for some, but Marie Kondo’s method of tidying using joy as your measuring stick is effective and fun! Her first book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up is also great.

7. For the procrastinator: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield. Staying motivated is tough. If you’ve got procrastinators on your list, this is a great gift. Help them push through the resistance with this no non-sense, motivating, tough-love approach to getting the work done.

8. For the newly wed: 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last by Linda and Charlie Bloom. This book beautifully presents 101 succinct, profound, one-line thoughts on marriage. Each lesson also has stories to further expand on the idea that are completely relatable and inspiring.

9. For everyone: The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks. No matter what stage in life, to be our best, we must first understand our what holds us back. Gay Hendricks shows you how to identify and move past those blocks in this simple, yet life-changing book. A great gift for anyone on your list.

Happy holidays!