Holiday Book Gift Guide: 7 Short, Powerful Reads for the Personal Development Lover

Holiday book gift guides are helpful because finding the perfect gift for a personal development book lover can be tricky with so many great options to choose from! Several years ago I wrote this blog to help you pick a low cost, high impact gift for a busy Mom who loves personal development. Since then I’ve read many more books and my awareness and thoughts have evolved, so I decided to revisit this list.

What I like about all my original recommendations is that they’re all short, easy reads with a powerful impact that you’ll come back to again and again. They’re also all less than $20 each.

I still align with the reason I selected each one, so there are only two changes I have made to the list. First, I added another book – Rest is Resistance. Second, I’ve updated the links since I no longer refer anyone to Amazon for books, if I can help it. I much prefer to encourage you to buy from your local booksellers or, link you to the more ethical store that also supports local shops: Bookshop.org

Note: All Bookshop.org links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase a book using my link.

I hope you enjoy this list and would love to know if you gift any of these whether to others or to yourself.

Here are 7 books as a holiday book gift guide to help you shop for the personal development book lover in your life.

Rest is Resistance – A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey

I have advocated for ages the importance of pausing and resting but this book unlocked a whole new layer of understanding. It is not easy for a mom in this society, or anyone really, to make space for rest. Even self-care has become one more thing to do. This book brings a clarity in both why we are like this and a necessary way of thinking about taking the space we need – the space we deserve. Rest is a radical act of resistance to the societal norms that are eroding our humanity. If you want to invite in true acts of  self-care rooted in self-awareness and self-love, this is the book.

The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The teachings in this book are simple but POWERFUL. I wouldn’t say I carry out the agreements perfectly (actually that’s part of what’s in the book) but keeping in mind the concepts have been SO helpful. The book says it’s A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom and I absolutely agree – just remember that personal freedom is a journey and it’s about progress, not perfection. This is a short book that you’ll come back to frequently for reminders. You’ll want to dog-ear, highlight, and write in it. (Note: The story the book is grounded in may seem a little woo, but go with it. It creates a helpful way to conceptualize the teachings.)

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

This book helped my marriage tremendously! My husband and I were doing well overall but reading this book took it to the next level. I read it out loud to him (mostly while he was in the shower and was a captive audience LOL). Each chapter goes over a love language and then has some questions to explore. Reading about each language and our conversations around the questions brought us each insight into ourselves as well as our dynamics as a couple. We now are much more aware of ourselves and better able to support each other thanks to this book. (And, yes, I did ask my husband for his thoughts about the book before writing this, so I knew I could speak for him too.)

Note: While I found this book very helpful, I do have lots of thoughts about the benefits and drawbacks to this framework. To hear them, check out my podcast episode: Understanding the 5 Love Languages

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

As Austin Kleon says in the beginning of this book, “These ideas apply to anyone who’s trying to inject some sort of creativity into their life and their work. (That should describe all of us.)”
When I started reading this book I didn’t realize how many creativity tools I’d unconsciously labeled as taboo. It really helped to see each idea and then all the quotes (many which I’m totally gonna re-use) to realize that I’d been avoiding them as well as feel like I had permission to start using them.
Overall, this book is wonderfully insightful, small of size, and totally readable bits at a time. Basically, it’s the perfect for a Mom on the go who wants to inspire her creative self for business, parenting, and beyond.

Affirmations Coloring Book: Relieve Stress & Relax with this Affirmation & Mandala Patterns Coloring Book for Adults by Mia Blackwood

I have to tell you, I’ve been a huge fan of coloring since before it was cool to do it as an adult but love that it’s caught on! What’s so awesome about coloring? Most people have heard that it’s important to allow time for meditation and to just be but our society doesn’t really place value on that. Especially Moms find it hard to have “non-productive” time for ourselves, let alone the space to actually quiet the mind. (Heck, our lists make lists in our head.) Coloring is a wonderful way to get into an almost meditative zone while DOING something. AND, it’s also something with that quality that you can do with your kids. I have to admit that I haven’t done this particular coloring book, however, I love the meditative process of coloring both mandalas and affirmations.

Parentally Incorrect by Shayna Ferm and Tracey Tee

We all need a good laugh and a reminder that we’re not alone in the messy business of parenting. The ladies of The Pump and Dump Show are all about creating a band of mothers where we connect beyond the details of what kind of parenting works for us. Their funny songs and stories help their audience tap into the joy in both the pain and pleasure of Motherhood. (Check out You’re An Awesome Mom on YouTube) During their shows they ask Moms to share on a note card the wildest, most exasperating, and unforgettably f**ked-up things their kids have done and this book is a combination of those submissions.

They say laughter is the best medicine and I’m as big a fan of that as I am of a good cry. This book might give you both as you laugh so hard you cry, hence it’s inclusion in this list.

Note: Unfortunately, Parentally Incorrect isn’t available on Bookshop.org, so I do still have an Amazon link for this one.

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth

I love this children’s book! (Interestingly, it’s also the only one that’s just over $15 – cause we buy more expensive for our kids?)

This book is a fun tale of a Zen panda bear who makes friends with 4 children. Each child spends time with the bear and each receives a powerful story about mindfully engaging life. From the monk who carries a grudge toward an unappreciative lady longer than his fellow monk carries the lady herself to the farmer who makes the best of his fortunes regardless of whether others judge them as “good” or “bad,” I never get tired of reading it with my kids and deeply appreciate the reminders for myself and for them.

I actually recommend checking out the audiobook. That’s how I read this one and in many ways it felt like listening to a prayer.

Love this holiday book gift guide? Let me know in the comments!

In the interest of keeping this list simple, I’m refraining from adding more (for now, at least). However, if you want more ideas for awesome books and aren’t attached to their being short and under $20…

CLICK HERE to see the entire list of recommended books from my podcast as well as recommended children’s books the whole family will enjoy.

Love podcasts and want to know why each book is on the list? Check out the Unlimited Podcast HERE