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Book Recommendations
Books are a great starting point—they offer wisdom when it’s hard to find in our everyday lives, giving you access to insight in any spare moment you manage to grab. Books won’t change your life though; that’s still up to you. They can provide instructions and helpful tips to help you learn a skill better and faster. But, just as the instructions for walking a tightrope may be simple—put one foot in front of the other and don’t fall— it’s still the practice that determines your success.
I highly recommend checking out your local library for these titles. While my own local library is limited in physical books, I’ve found most of these available digitally, including audiobooks. I only buy a book if I know I’ll return to it again and again—to mark it up or loan to a friend. I’m picky about what gets shelf space in my home, and these are books that have earned that spot because I consistently revisit them when I need a dose of wisdom.
I’ll add new books to this list over time. It won’t become a list of every book I’ve ever read—I’m keeping it limited so you can choose anything at random and trust that it will bring value to your life. A quick note: these recommendations include affiliate links—as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, which helps support MomBalm. If you’d like to be notified when new book recommendations are posted, sign up to receive updates.
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Insightful Reads for Personal Growth
A curated collection of nonfiction books that deepen your understanding of the world around you. From mindfulness and personal development to science, psychology, and beyond, these insightful reads provide valuable perspectives and knowledge to help you navigate life’s complexities.
Whether you’re looking to expand your horizons or find practical tools for everyday living, this selection offers something for every curious mind. Dive in and embark on your journey of exploration and growth.
The Untethered Soul
Michael A. Singer
This is my top recommendation, the one I wish I’d found earlier in my mindfulness journey. Michael Singer does a phenomenal job explaining what living mindfully really means and breaks it down in a way that’s both simple and irrefutable. Sometimes, all it takes is hearing the right explanation for things to click. If you only ever read one book on mindfulness, this could be enough.
Living Untethered
Michael A. Singer
I can’t recommend Michael A. Singer’s Living Untethered enough! This gem builds on his mindfulness teachings, delivering simple yet profound insights into why we sabotage our own happiness—and how to stop. It’s a guide to shedding self-imposed limits and embracing every moment with wonder. Eye-opening and life-changing.
Walking Through Anger
Christian Conte
Christian Conte is an expert at helping people get out of their own way. In Walking Through Anger, he introduces “yield theory,” which is about returning to a less reactive state and working through issues with clarity. It’s a tool you can apply to yourself and your relationships. For me, this is the best book on communication.
The Craving Mind
Judson Brewer
This was one of the first books I picked up during my search for ways out of a panicked state. Neuroscientist Judson Brewer explains how our brain’s reward center keeps us stuck in self-sabotaging behaviors, even when we know better. It’s eye-opening, and if you’re someone who loves to get to the root of things, this is a fantastic starting point.
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read
Philippa Perry
This book is a gem, and you don’t have to be a parent to benefit from it. Philippa Perry dives deep into how our childhood experiences shape us and offers practical advice on how to avoid passing those patterns onto our children. She emphasizes that what children—and really, all of us—need most is a sense of safety and validation.
I wish I had found this book at the start of my parenting journey. But Perry reassures us throughout that it’s not about the mistakes we make; it’s about how we handle them. It’s never too late to become the parent your child needs, even if they’re already grown. For me, this book was the missing link between mindfulness and motherhood. While mindfulness often teaches that attachment is the root of suffering, motherhood, for me, was all about attachment. Perry gently shows us how to cultivate a healthy sense of non-attachment with our children, for their benefit and ours.
The Mountain Is You
Brianna Wiest
This book offers a ton of valuable advice on overcoming self-sabotage, especially in the realm of holding yourself back professionally. While I agree therapy can be helpful, I don’t think it’s a necessary step in everyone’s journey. When Wiest talks about inner child work in therapy, I define that in my own way. I take what’s useful to me and leave the rest—no need to agree with everything an author says to find value in their work. Learning what doesn’t resonate can be as valuable as learning what does.
I would recommend reading The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer first, as I have personally found everything I have needed to deal with the past there.
The Tao of Philosophy; The Book; Leave It Be ; Learning the Human Game
Alan Watts
Alan Watts is my favorite philosopher. He doesn’t just share insights; he hands you a fresh perspective on living. His straightforward, unapologetic style is a reminder to ease up on life and embrace the human experience—even the messiness of it. Watts taught me that even mindfulness is best approached with a sense of humor and lightness. For the full experience, I highly recommend finding the audio versions of his lectures; hearing his views expressed in his own voice adds to understanding. I found the lectures through my local library’s streaming audiobook selections.
The Comfort Book
Matt Haig
This book is like a warm hug in written form. You can flip to any page and find a bit of wisdom, like receiving advice from a kind friend. It’s perfect when you’re feeling down and need a little help finding light again.
The Cow in the Parking Lot
Susan Edmiston & Leonard Scheff
While this book is about letting go of anger, I’ve found it applies to releasing a lot of other things, too. It’s a great guide to shedding whatever is weighing you down.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
This is a great book about the power of small changes over time. It’s good if you’re ready to embrace a slow and steady transformation.
Forgive for Good
Frederic Luskin
Luskin’s book is great for identifying what you need to let go of and helping you actually do it. It’s a clear guide to finding peace through forgiveness.
Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood
Lisa Damour
Lisa Damour’s Untangled is a lifeline for anyone navigating the wild ride of teenage girlhood—parents and teens alike. With her down-to-earth wisdom, she maps out the seven transitions into adulthood, from shedding childhood to building healthy relationships, tackling tricky topics like identity and independence with spot-on realism. I wish I’d had her sensible, no-nonsense guidance when I was a teen—it’s like having a wise friend who gets it. This book makes the messy, emotional years feel manageable and even hopeful.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents
Lindsay C. Gibson
I hesitated to include this one at first, but it deserves a mention. It’s a powerful read for those driven to understand why they’ve struggled with certain issues their whole life.
However, let me offer this perspective: It’s not always necessary to dig into the past to move forward mindfully. Many of the patterns that affect us do have roots in childhood, but it’s not a requirement of your journey to spend precious time digging up the past to let go of what no longer serves you. Sometimes, recognizing a pattern of behavior and choosing to release it is enough.
That said, if you’re someone who craves answers, this book can explain a lot. Personally, after reading it, I found myself swinging between compassion and frustration toward just about everyone for a difficult period of time. It helped me see that, at the end of the day, most of us are walking around like suffering children trying to pretend we have it all together. While challenging at times, I’m ultimately glad I read it because it gave me a much clearer understanding of myself and others.
Enriching Stories for Curious Minds
A selection of books that blend entertainment with insight. From fiction rich in life lessons to biographies that capture the depth of human experience, these books offer both enjoyment and lasting takeaways. Whether you’re drawn to compelling stories, remarkable lives, or thought-provoking ideas, these reads will engage and inform while offering something valuable for your journey.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
I recommend all of Matt Haig’s books. He has such a clear grasp of the human condition and reveals so much about us to ourselves through his fiction, often with humor. The Midnight Library is especially meaningful to me because it shows how we can be our own biggest obstacles.
We sometimes believe our problems are due to our circumstances, thinking that if those changed, we would too. This book is a powerful reminder that you carry your challenges with you, wherever you go. If you want a beautiful life, it’s already within you—just being here gives you the chance to create it. The only thing standing in your way is you.
Animal Farm
George Orwell
This is a book everyone should read, especially right now. If you’ve read it before, it’s worth reading again. In a time when propaganda is everywhere, disguised in ads and life improvements that aren’t really in our best interest, it’s a great reminder to stay alert and think for yourself critically.
Wifedom
Anna Funder
Speaking of “never meet your heroes” (mentioned below with This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing), after reading Animal Farm, I got curious about Orwell, which eventually led me to this book. Let me warn you, the emotions this book stirred in me were real. If you need a reminder that if you don’t value yourself, no one else will either, this is the book you need to read.
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
An incredible book, packed with a lifetime’s worth of lessons. It’s a powerful read that will leave you with a lot to reflect on.
Maisie Dobbs Series
Jacqueline Winspear
This is a beautifully written, and even more beautifully narrated, mystery series set in wartime Britain. The main character is a woman who’s a philosopher, psychiatrist, nurse, and detective, spanning both world wars. I deeply admire Winspear’s ability to explain people to us through fiction and to teach lessons in resilience and history. Her works have taught me so much about compassion, understanding, and “carrying on.”
This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing
Jacqueline Winspear
If you end up loving the Maisie Dobbs series like I do, then Winspear’s biography is a must-read. I learned that the wisdom in these stories didn’t come without a cost. In this memoir, you get a glimpse into her childhood—the good and the ugly—and the compassionate soul she became. Winspear sees people for who they were, accepting their flaws because she understood they were doing the best they could in their time and circumstances. They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, and I have often found the truth of that statement, but the more I learn about Jacqueline Winspear, the more she remains a hero to me.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
Gail Honeyman
This is a hilarious book about a very sad story. You’ll laugh a lot, but it also hits you with real emotions. It’s a great balance of humor and heart.
The Casual Vacancy
JK Rowling
I hesitated to include this because I know J.K. Rowling can be a polarizing figure, and this book got its share of bad reviews, but I’m including it because it really resonated with me as both a parent and a person. Some readers called it something along the lines of “a boring book about nothing.” And yes, if you’re looking for constant action or adventure, this isn’t it. But if you’re after depth, it’s definitely here.
The plot revolves around a small town’s battle over replacing a local council member after his sudden death. The real intrigue comes from the complicated relationships between the adults involved and their teenage kids, or lack thereof, and how those dynamics shape their lives. As a mom of a tween-almost-teen, I found myself paying close attention to these relationships. I respect Rowling’s ability to capture the complexities of real-life connections and the depth of character in her writing.
Books for Young Minds (That Parents Will Love Too!)
These aren’t your typical children’s books. This collection includes stories that nurture resilience, build emotional awareness, and spark curiosity. From real-life tools to philosophical adventures, mythological wonders, and historical journeys, each book offers something special. Perfect for kids eager to learn—and for parents who love a good story with a meaningful twist.
Sophie’s World
Jostein Gaarder
This might be my favorite book of all time. It’s a beautiful blend of fiction and philosophy, making the subject accessible to young people, no matter their background. I read it as a confused young adult, unsure of what I believed but certain of what I was expected to believe. This book opened my mind and encouraged me to explore, learn, and form my own opinions. It’s a brief but comprehensive history of Western philosophy, wrapped in a mystery for young readers. The best part? I recently got to share it with my daughter.
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Okay, so this isn’t a book for kids to read themselves, but it’s definitely for their benefit. You’ll all reap the benefits. It’s an essential read for building strong communication with your kids, no matter their age—but the earlier, the better. A wise woman recommended it to me when my daughter was a toddler, just as we were hitting a defiant phase. It was exactly what I needed at the time, and I still carry its lessons with me today. Though I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, the teachings from this book have always guided me toward making things right.
Emotionally Resilient Tweens and Teens
Kim John Payne and Luis Fernando Llosa
This is the book I wish I had when I was a tween. It’s like a roadmap for navigating those tricky years. The first part is aimed at parents, but most of the book shares stories from teens who were either bullied or bullies themselves, showing how they learned to change their situations. It’s incredibly empowering. My daughter has already used lessons from this book to handle situations at school that she otherwise wouldn’t have felt confident about. Highly recommend!
Growing Feelings
Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Christine McLaughlin
We read this book when my daughter was in 4th grade. It’s a great introduction to understanding the complexities of friendships and emotions that begin to surface around that time. This was the perfect stepping stone before moving on to Emotionally Resilient Tweens and Teens.
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson
This book takes on some of the most fascinating scientific questions—everything from the origins of the universe to the complexities of human evolution—without assuming a deep scientific background from its readers. Bryson distills vast topics into bite-sized chapters, making complex subjects like geology, biology, and physics not only understandable but entertaining. It’s a great read for anyone curious about the world around them and eager to gain a deeper appreciation for the forces that have shaped life on Earth, all without getting bogged down in jargon or heavy science.
If you’re someone who enjoys reflecting on big-picture ideas and learning about the natural world in a way that feels both educational and approachable, A Short History of Nearly Everything is a perfect fit.
The Phantom Tollbooth
Norton Juster
This is a delightful book filled with hidden wisdom. It’s best when read together with younger kids so you can help them understand the deeper lessons. It also works for older kids who can grasp the metaphors on their own.
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series
Michael Scott
This series brilliantly blends fantasy, mythology, and history into an exciting action-adventure. We loved these books! I read them alongside my daughter, and we were both captivated by how real historical and mythological figures were woven into the story. The way it brings history to life is both engaging and educational, sparking curiosity. We found ourselves diving into research to explore more about the fascinating figures and legends featured in the books.
Read, Reflect, Thrive
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