Pull up a chair, friend. Let’s talk about books
Not just as stories or ideas, but as companions that shape who we become.
Reading, to me, is a value. A love of learning that runs deep, something I believe every family should nurture.
Books remind us that curiosity is a kind of courage. That imagination is a quiet rebellion. That growth is a lifelong conversation.
Every title here holds a whisper of wisdom, a spark of joy, or a quiet reminder to live fully, love deeply, and choose happiness again and again.
Some I’ve finished. Others, I’ve let go. And that’s okay, not every story is meant to be ours forever.
Explore, discover, and, most importantly, keep reading.
There are affiliate links below. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend books I genuinely believe in. Full disclosure
Mindset & Growth
Mindset: Updated Edition — Changing The Way You Think To Fulfill Your Potential
Carol S. Dweck
The seminal work on fixed vs. growth mindset. Shows how beliefs about our abilities shape success — and how to shift them.
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
A timeless fable about following your Personal Legend. One of the most-loved books in the world — and rightly so.
Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change
Stacey Abrams
An empowering guide to overcoming barriers, embracing leadership, and creating meaningful change from any position.
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person
Shonda Rhimes
An inspiring memoir about saying yes to life, stepping beyond fear, and unlocking personal and professional growth.
Year of Yes (10th Anniversary Edition): Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun, Be Your Own Person
Shonda Rhimes
The celebrated memoir, updated with fresh reflections on courage, embracing opportunity, and living a fuller, more authentic life.
The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
John C. Maxwell
Practical principles governing personal development, grounded in decades of leadership experience
Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work
John C. Maxwell
11 ways highly successful people think differently. The quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life.
Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness
Vex King
A guide to self-love as a foundation for transformation: healing, mindset and manifesting with warmth and accessibility.
Whatever Happened to Friendship?: Reflections on a Lost Adventure
Henry Hardinge Menzies
A thought-provoking reflection on the decline of genuine friendship and why meaningful human connection is more important than ever.
Money & Wealth
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
Eric Jorgenson
A distillation of Naval Ravikant’s wisdom on building wealth and living a meaningful life. Dense with insight.
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
Morgan Housel
Financial success is more about behaviour than knowledge.
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill
One of the best-selling books of all time. 13 principles for success drawn from 500+ of history’s most successful people.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Robert T. Kiyosaki
What the rich teach their children about assets, liabilities and financial education that the poor and middle class do not.
Unshakeable: Your Guide to Financial Freedom
Tony Robbins
A practical playbook for financial freedom: complex investment strategies made clear, for everyone.
Real Money Answers for Every Woman
Patrice C. Washington
How to win the money game with or without a man. Financial literacy that meets women where they are.
Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence
Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
A life-changing guide to aligning your finances with your values and achieving lasting financial independence.
Gold Diggers and Deadbeat Dads: True Stories of Friends, Family and Financial Ruin
Valerie Rind
A compelling guide to recognising, preventing, and recovering from financial betrayal by the people you trust most.
Quit Like a Millionaire: No Gimmicks, Luck, or Trust Fund Required
Kristy Shen, Bryce Leung, et al.
A powerful roadmap proving that financial freedom isn’t reserved for the lucky or wealthy; it’s built through smart choices, intentional living, and investing wisely.
The Richest Man in Babylon
George S. Clason
Ancient Babylonian parables containing the most enduring financial wisdom ever written. Pay yourself first.
The Simple Path to Wealth
JL Collins
Your road map to financial independence. Collins makes the case for simplicity: the most powerful strategy available.
Money Talks: The Ultimate Couple’s Guide to Communicating about Money
Talaat and Tai McNeely
A practical guide helping couples break the silence around money, build trust, and create a shared financial future together.
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store
Cait Flanders
A powerful journey of letting go of excess, breaking free from consumerism, and discovering that true fulfilment comes from experiences, relationships, and self-growth; not possessions.
Resilience & Wellbeing
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth
The science of why passion and perseverance matter more than talent; the single quality that predicts success.
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
Chip Heath & Dan Heath
An insightful exploration of how creating memorable moments can transform experiences, relationships, and lives.
Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain
Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Why teenagers think, feel and behave the way they do. Essential for anyone who loves or works with young people.
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read
Philippa Perry
A compassionate guide to raising emotionally healthy children; and healing patterns from our own childhoods.
Speed-Date with Adukthood: 10 Essential Life Skills for Beginners
Elisabeth Brock
A practical handbook that equips young adults with the essential life skills needed to thrive independently.
Coaching & Leadership
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
The original handbook of human relations — still unmatched after 85 years. The foundation of any coaching practice.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey
A framework for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and dignity. Lead from principle, not from pressure.
The Growth Mindset Playbook: A Teacher’s Guide to Promoting Student Success
Annie Brock & Heather Hundley
Invaluable for any coach or mentor. Practical strategies for fostering a growth mindset in individuals and teams.
Parenting & Family
How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk
Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
The practical guide every parent of a teenager needs. Exact phrases and approaches that keep communication open.
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read
Philippa Perry
A must for every parent who wants to raise emotionally healthy children while healing their own patterns.
Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes
John O’Sullivan
A growth mindset framework for youth athletics — and the principles apply far beyond sport.
Reading with Children
From Nneka’s article: Secret and Effective Strategies for Getting My Children to Read (+
28 Exciting Book Recommendations)
FAMILY FAVOURITES
Wonder
Wonder
Out of My Mind
Out of My Heart
BOOK SERIES AND COLLECTIONS
The Land of Stories
The Land of Stories
Anne of Green Gables
Young Samurai
The Charles Dickens Collection
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
To Kill a Mockingbird
Bodyguard Series
Biff, Chip and Kipper
The Berenstain Bears
AUDIOBOOK COLLECTIONS
Julia Donaldson Collection Audio CD
The Roald Dahl Audio Collection
Michael Morpurgo Audio Collection
The Dr. Seuss Collection Audio CD
Green Eggs and Ham and Other Servings of Dr. Seuss
The Two Towers
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Hobbit
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
THEATRE AND MOVIE-LINKED BOOKS
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Matilda
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
To Kill a Mockingbird
The School for Good and Evil
Teen & Young Adult Recommendations
The Alchemist
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Lord of the Flies
Sense and Sensibility
Letter to My Daughter
Pride and Prejudice
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
A Growth Mindset For Teens: Practical Lessons & Activities to Build Confidence in 31 Days
For Children (Ages 3–12)
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It (Ages 5–10)
Explains neuroplasticity so children understand the brain can grow and change with effort.
The Power of Yet (Ages 3-7)
Happy Confident Me Daily Journal (Ages 6-12)
Giraffes Can’t Dance (Ages 3-6)
The Most Magnificent Thing (Ages 4-8)
Beautiful Oops! (Ages 3-7)
The Dot (Ages 4-8)
I Can’t Do That, YET: Growth Mindset (Ages 3-8)
I Little Bears Can Do Big Things: Growth Mindset (Ages 3-7)
I Choose To Try Again (Ages 4-8)
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