9 Books That Inspire Reflection and Personal Growth
—September 2025 Book Recommendations
“If you want new ideas, read old books.”
— Shane Parrish
Reading is powerful. It can expand our thinking and give us tools for growth to help us better process our lives. The books I read this month (some old, some new) challenged my perspective, gave me practical relationship suggestions, and even reminded me what teenage love feels like.
Here are 8 nonfiction books and 1 novel that made an impact on me this month.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. Biased
Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do *
by Jennifer L. Eberhardt
Even when we don’t intend to discriminate, our ingrained stereotypes influence our perception and behavior. Eberhardt shows how unconscious bias shapes us in ways we don’t always notice, from classrooms to courtrooms. I appreciate how she combines research with real stories and actionable steps, reminding us that while bias in everyday life is real, we can wake up to it and change.
* Asterisked books are ones I’m reading from Daniel Pink’s Favorite Books list; you can find it here.
2. Praying with Jane Eyre
Reflections on Reading as a Sacred Practice
by Vanessa Zoltan
Zoltan points out how books can be more than stories—they can be special companions. Through her love of Jane Eyre (and other books), she shows how treating a text as sacred can help us heal, connect, and find meaning in life. She inspires me to engage my own favorite books with more curiosity and reverence.
3. The Notebook
A History of Thinking on Paper
by Roland Allen
While the first part of this book felt too slow to me (I skimmed a good bit), once I reached the more modern history, I was completely hooked. As a lifelong notebook lover, I enjoyed learning how scientists, artists, historians, and everyday people use notebooks to enhance their lives. If you also treasure a good notebook, you might really enjoy this book. And after you finish, give your own notebooks a lot more respect.
4. Rise Above
Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential
by Scott Barry Kaufman
After watching an interview with Scott Barry Kaufman, I was intrigued enough to find his book and read it cover to cover. I really appreciate how Kaufman distinguishes between being victimized (which can happen to any of us) versus living with a victim mindset (which is also something any of us can do). He offers both compassion and practical tools to help us shift our perspectives and take ownership of our life stories.
5. Original Sin
President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again
by Jake Tapper
If you live in the U.S., you probably have plenty of thoughts and feelings about the 2024 presidential race. This book gives a behind-the-scenes look at Biden’s decision to run then not run for reelection. (After finishing it, I’m now reading 2024, which covers both Biden’s and Trump’s campaigns.) It’s been fascinating to dig deeper into these strange times in American politics and learn lessons that go beyond politics. I look forward to reading Kamala Harris’ book 107 Days when it comes out later this month.
6. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter
A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine—A Personal Story of Spiritual Awakening and Healing
by Sue Monk Kidd
This is a reread for me with my online book club. But it hit even closer to home this second time. Despite being an older book, Kidd’s writings about feminine spirituality are just as relevant now as when she wrote them almost 30 years ago—a reminder that we can take ownership of our spiritual path at any age or time.
7. Forget Them Kids
Challenging the One-Sided Narrative of the Estrangement Epidemic and the Biased Therapy Trends That Fuel It
by Vivian King
Vivian King offers hope and healing to parents navigating the life-altering pain of estrangement from adult children. She shows how online echo chambers and therapy trends can distort family relationships. Then she gives practical ways for parents to reclaim their dignity and move forward in healthy ways (even while continuing to remember their kids, of course).
8. How to Fall in Love with Humanity
16 Life-Changing Practices for Radical Compassion
by James ‘Fish’ Gill
I first discovered Gill on Instagram and was so drawn to his approach for loving people that I bought his book—and I’m glad I did. Gill is both courageous and tender in providing this very practical roadmap for staying open-hearted in relationships, even when they get messy. Totally worth the read (and the money!) to develop stronger connections with people you love.
FICTION
9. Eleanor & Park
by Rainbow Rowell
I like reading books that tell the same story from two perspectives. This novel set in the 1980s reveals a heartbreaking first-love story from the viewpoints of two teenagers, Eleanor and Park. The book club at my independent bookstore will discuss it on Sunday afternoon. I look forward to hearing what everyone else took away from this sweet but also hard story.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- The Art of Gathering *
How We Meet and Why It Matters
by Priya Parker - Joyspan
The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half
by Kerry Burnight - Die with Zero
Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
by Bill Perkins - What Makes Us Human
An Artificial Intelligence Answers Life’s Biggest Questions
by Iain S. Thomas - We Can Do Hard Things
Answers to Life’s 20 Questions
by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle - 2024
How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America
by Josh Dawsey - Take My Hand
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.
You always have the most interesting reads to share, Lisa. Thank you!
You’re welcome. I’m always happy to talk about books, Martha. 🙂
Lisa, I always love your varied reading list. It always intrigues. Books are our friends, right? When Mike laments my book piles, I quote a visiting pastor to our church, something to the effect: “Owning a personal library demonstrates your humility. You admit you don’t know it all.” That’s all I needed to continue my proclivity for acquiring books (even though I know I likely will not read them all–tsundoku disease)! I read many and refer to a lot of them for quotes or dipping in here and there.
Admittedly, I didn’t like Dance of the Dissident daughter. It was too much for me, and I found it sad that Kidd left her Christian faith. That said, I’ve enjoyed her other books immesnsely. She’s an excellent author. The book on notebooks looks fascinating. And we all know about authors and their Moleskines! I do want to read 2024, and recently decided to read Miles Taylor’s books. As you know, he was a big whistleblower in 45’s administration, at first anonymously, and now that he has revealed his identity, he has suffered immeasurable loss and has had life threats for speaking up. And yes to 2024 and 107.
Here’s a book that might interest you in light of your reading about notebooks:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Romantics-Victorians-Organized-Information-ebook/dp/B0B77WBDVX/ref=pd_sim_d_sccl_1_1/139-6979374-0243165?pd_rd_w=w7XWt&content-id=amzn1.sym.fc475966-e837-48fc-9ed0-f4ca6ae9337b&pf_rd_p=fc475966-e837-48fc-9ed0-f4ca6ae9337b&pf_rd_r=FQ13YETTVEK1H8W9Y59S&pd_rd_wg=y9RAE&pd_rd_r=2a11b769-36ca-4bbd-b4c0-782cb2da0530&pd_rd_i=B0B77WBDVX&psc=1
Have a great reading week!
xo
Lynn
PS I LOVE Jane Eyre, and must look into that book. There may be a book on prayers in J. Austen books too.
That book about notebooks does sound interesting, Lynn! Thanks for the recommendation. I just had the Kindle sample sent over. I love the quote from your visiting pastor – it gives me permission too to keep adding to my collection. 🙂 Granted, I get most of my books from the library so I don’t keep them, but I still have a shelf of unread books of my own that I need to get to soon! Even after a week at the beach, I still didn’t have enough time to read. My priority instead of reading was on being happily entertained by my grandson! 🙂
I love how many non-fiction books you read! As much as I love fiction, I always try to read at least one non-fiction book each month. You have a lot of interesting ones here!
We balance each other out, Wendy. You read one non-fiction book per month and I read one fiction book per month. 🙂
You’re so good about reading nonfiction! I don’t as often but I get most of my nonfiction TBR ideas from you. :] Case in point, I’m adding the first three to my list!
I read Take My Hand for my book club earlier this year! Super interested in seeing what you think of it! :]
Okay, so I finished Take My Hand last week and I really liked it! My husband read it first (well, listened to it) and recommended it to me. Since we live in Alabama, it was especially interesting to me–and also especially disturbing as well. Ugh. Even though I’m sad for the real-life events that inspired it, I’m glad the story will live on because it needs to be told and witnessed again and again to prevent things like this from happening. I can see how it would make for an interesting book club discussion.
I did think Eleanor and Park was such a sweet story but sad story. You have read some really amazing sounding non-fiction books once again.
So something interesting happened at my book club discussion about Eleanor and Park: the women of my generation liked it, but the generation below us didn’t. I didn’t see that coming. I think they just couldn’t resonate with the freedom and “irresponsibility” of parents in the 1980s. I was so intrigued by the reactions!
Pinned this post Lisa, because I love reading non-fiction and several of your selections piqued my interest. Saw you at The Crazy Little Lovebirds Party #105. My shares are #11, 12, and 13. Happy Friday and be well.
Thanks, Nancy! Glad to know you’re a non-fiction lover, too. I’m currently reading a book about traffic that is just fascinating to me, but I know it wouldn’t be for everyone. 🙂
I read the Notebook and agree with you about the slow start but fascinating trivia about books and paper. A fun read for readers and journalers. A good book to skim and find fun facts. Great lists as usual. Requested several from my library… thanks
Glad to know we had similar thoughts about The Notebook, and glad neither of us gave up on it. ha. It’s prompted me commit to looking back through my own journals and seeing which ones I want to keep and which ones I need to trash! 🙂 I’ve gathered them all in one location, which is a little daunting when I see the number of them!, but hopefully will make it easier to start going through.
Intriguing assortment of books. Original Sin sounds interesting. I enjoy watching Jake Tapper but have to admit his fiction left me cold. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I’ve never read Jake Tapper’s fiction (admittedly, I wasn’t even aware he was a writer until I saw Original Sin!). 🙂 So thanks for the heads-up. I’ll probably bypass his fiction works.
I have the notebook one on my wishlist, but thank you for reminding me of it!
I’d had The Notebook on my list for awhile too, but oddly enough, what prompted me to finally get it was I read an interview with the singer Tracy Chapman that said she loved it so much, so I pushed it higher up on my list. 🙂 I’m glad I did. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/arts/music/tracy-chapman-interview.html
The notebook sounds interesting. What a variety of reads.
Visiting today from Farrah’s.
Yes, I had a month of eclectic books. It’s my favorite way to read. 🙂 Thanks, Paula.
I hear you Lisa. Happy reading. Best regards, Nan