Inspirational Books I've Been Reading in 2025

5 Books that Inspired Me, Healed Me, and Helped Me Grow

i'm a HUGE book worm. i've loved reading for as long as i can remember. i read a few books last year, but this year i have a goal of reading 50 books for 2025! so far i've completed 14, started reading (& have yet to finish) 3 others, but currently reading 3 more lol! honestly, since i got my kindle at the beginning of the year, i've read more than i have in my entire life. i rarely leave the house without it and even when i'm home, it's always next to me.

one thing that's allowed me to allocate more time for reading is to eliminate distractions, which for me is mainly my phone (isn't it for us all?! lol). instead of scrolling, i try to remember to grab my kindle and read. that's how i've read nearly 17 books so far this year. i read every night before bed instead of scrolling, and i read upon waking instead of diving head first into my phone. i also read every day on my 5 mile walks. if you don't think you have time to read, you do. you're just not prioritizing it. you prioritize what's most important to you — there's no and's, if's, or but's about it! even if it's an audible book. if there's a will, there's a way! with that being said, i'm going to do a series of blog posts with the books i've read so far this year and a quick review of each of them! lets dive in to my top 5 favorites, which are...

Books That Inspired + Healed Me

1. The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

   
   

   YES. YES. YES! i actually began this book last year but didn't finish it until the beginning of 2025. it's a 12 week course that is specifically designed to help you ignite and thrive in your creativity. it singlehandedly changed my life by shifting my approach to work AND my hobbies. during those 12 weeks, i felt like i was transforming into a new person, and i did. whether you consider yourself an artist or not, i cannot recommend this book enough. i think everyone is born to be creative, it's just all about allowing yourself the permission to be and learning how to harness it! more than that, it taught me the fundamental importance of daily journaling and scheduling time for things that bring me joy. 1000/10 recommend

2. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

   
   

   if there is any book i think every person on the planet should read, it's this one. it has a spiritual approach to how the law of attraction works, but if you're not keen to spiritual perspectives and prefer scientific ones, check out Psycho-Cybernetics. i've heard nothing but good things about it. however, this book gives you the tools you need to reprogram your mind based on the idea that your external environment as well as your emotional, mental, and physical well-being are all manifestations of your subconscious programming. if there is any book to read out of all the ones i talk about going further, it's this one. it WILL change your life. 1000/10 — *adds to cart*

   
   

3. How to Attract Money by Joseph Murphy

   after reading these 2 books, i quickly learned that Joseph Murphy was a genius and way ahead of his time. this book niche's down on the topic of the main book, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind." he discusses how our relationship with money (and how much we do or don't have) has everything to do with our thoughts, beliefs, and internal programming about money and less to do with "achieving" it. after reading this, my relationship with money has grown a lot and has become so much more conscious—which is the first step to making great change! 10/10 recommend.

   
   

4. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

   
   

   when i tell you, i could NOT put this book down. my jaw was on the ground the whole time reading it. Jennette's vulnerability and honesty about her childhood, her mom, her relationship with food, and the impacts it made as an adult brought me into a deep reflection about my own. this book made me cry several times because in some ways, i saw a lot of myself in her pain. while we don't share a similar story, we do share similar feelings. because of that, it was a really healing book for me to read and allowed me to gain perspective in ways i hadn't before. 100/10

3. Wander: A Memoir of Letting Go and Walking 2,000 Miles to a Meaningful Life by Ryan Benz

   
   

   wow, this book was SO INSPIRING! it made me cry a few times just from the ways it moved me, especially at the end. Ryan shares about his life preceding hiking the Appalachian Trail, his journey of understanding his life purpose while on the trail, and his life after. he calls the trail a "bridge" that connects his life prior to the trail (which included a recent divorce and quitting his corporate job in NYC) and the life that came after it. during his 4 month, 2,000 mile long hike along the Appalachian, he takes you along his journey of how deeply grounding himself in nature with no distractions—just him, stillness, and the community he created along the way—helped him find his purpose in life as well as gaining clarity of the life he dreamt of living. it was beautiful book about courage, embracing new beginnings, and giving yourself permission to wander the unknown. 10/10!

4. Finding Me by Viola Davis

   
   

   this book was just as inspiring as it was heart-breaking. it really showed me that we all have trauma, and some is far greater than others. but it's about what you choose to do it—how to turn your pain into purpose. Viola is a Oscar award-winning actress, i'm sure you've seen her on screen before. looking at her and after reading her story, you'd never think they were the same person. she is the perfect example of what it means to have obstacles and adversity thrown your way, and still somehow finding a way to believe in yourself enough to pull you through it to live the life you deserve—one of peace, joy, stability, happiness, and love. 100/10

   
   

5. The Micro-Script Rules: How to tell your story by Bill Schley

   
   

   if you have your own business, i absolutely recommend this book! if you don't, you probably don't really need to read this. it helps you break down your business' mission, values, and purpose by simplifying the message into 6 words or less to explain it to your consumer. especially since nowadays people have extremely short attention spans, we have to find ways to get our message across quickly, efficiently, engagingly, and with a little wit! it made me really pay attention to the message i want my brand to give to my clients and customers for optimal clarity.

a little preview from "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind." BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ!

these are just my top 5 books so far. next i'll share the novels i've read, so stay tuned for that! let me know if there's any other book reviews you'd like from me. i've read more self-development and health related books than i'd like to admit lol. so just lmk! happy reading 🤓

with love + grace,

xx vanessa