5 Books to Read in 2025

a short list of nonfiction books i love

today i decided to share a few of my favorite books with all of you! personal development has become a huge focus of mine over the past 3 years—and while it’s been a long road that isn’t ending anytime soon, these books have been pivotal in my life approach.

this short list contains a little bit of everything. how to communicate effectively, practicing the art of being present, soaking in the beauty all around you while you slow your life down and walk with Jesus. i really hope you find some value here and decide to pick up one of these books yourself.

Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge

this book thoroughly helped me understand the beauty of simplicity. we really tend to overcomplicate this life when in reality it doesn’t have to be that way. notice the way the leaves rustle when the wind picks up, watch the sand creep up between your toes as you’re walking on the beach. this really helps you get past the icky feeling that we need to be chronically online sharing every little detail. it was a gentle reminder that we just… don’t. we don’t need to be available to everyone all the time. just be where you are and let that be enough.

if you really want to do the work of God, pay attention to people. notice them. especially the one’s nobody notices.

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

i’ve already written a few entries based on this one, so i naturally felt the need to add it here. if you’re someone who struggles with prioritizing the right things, chronically stuck in people pleasing mode even though you know deep down it isn’t serving you or anybody in your life, you would thoroughly benefit from reading this book. he realistically breaks down how to reevaluate your life and what your true desires are, then follows that up by giving practical steps on how to make those things happen. it teaches you how to “realistically cultivate your dream life”. at least that’s how i like to explain it to people.

if you don’t start prioritizing your own life, someone else will.

Nonviolent Communication by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg

phew. this is one of the most eye opening books, but also one of the most difficult ones to implement in your day to day. the reason for that is because it challenges you to address and essentially reprogram the way we communicate. understanding the difference between thoughts and feelings, navigating challenging conversations in a way that’s encouraging curiosity rather than immediately resorting to the defensive. it’s a very thought provoking read and although this is something i will always be needing to improve on and practice, it has really helped me see the deeper layers in a person and truly empathize in a way i wasn’t able to before.

use anger as a wake-up call to unmet needs.

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

if you struggle with technological boundaries, which i’m sure we all do to some extent, this book will help you get a grasp on what you can realistically do about it. the author outlines 3 steps that include a 30 day digital detox so you can reevaluate how you’re spending your free time. when the 30 days are up, he gives you guidance on how to sustainably add it back in rather than immediately immersing yourself and allowing it to become a problem all over again.

simply put, humans are not wired to be constantly wired.

Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

i saved the very best for last. back in 2022, i found myself in this chronic state of burnout. it was a vicious cycle in that i would feel amazing for a month, work on my businesses like crazy and overbook myself, but by the next month i ended up being emotionally drained and needing the entire 3-4 weeks to recover. i realized i was not living a sustainable life but i didn’t know what to really do about that.

i ended up stumbling on a youtube account that i now love, Madisun Gray, and there she mentioned this book. i decided it was worth a shot and got it ordered on my kindle. i can’t really explain the impact to it’s fullest extent—but i can say so confidently that it completely changed my life in every sense.

it basically highlights the idea that living slowly and walking with Jesus go hand in hand. it simplified my relationship with Jesus so beautifully and helped me understand how i am truly called to live as a follower of Christ. i can’t recommend it enough if you find yourself stuck and unable to slow down or even if you’re simply feeling as though God is far away and you’re lacking a real relationship with Him.

hurry and love are incompatible.

and that about wraps up my list! eventually i’ll do a part 2 of this, but for now i’d love to hear if you’ve read any of these books already and what you thought of them!

xx, mir