We’re excited to announce the 2021 Living Now medalists! These outstanding books represent the best in lifestyle publishing, helping readers lead healthier, more fulfilling, and sustainable lives.
From wellness and fitness to cooking and personal growth, this year’s medalists showcase the innovation of creators dedicated to books for better living. Congratulations to all the 2021 medalists for their inspiring work!
BOOKS OF THE YEAR
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
1. Cookbooks – General | 2. Cookbooks – Ethnic, Holiday | 3. Gift/Specialty/Keepsake | 4. Journal/Coloring Book | 5. Animals/Pets | 6. Green Living | 7. Family/Parenting | 8. Social Activism/Charity | 9. Personal Growth – Self-Help | 10. Motivation – Improvement | 11. Sexuality/Femininity | 12. Relationships/Marriage | 13. Memoir – Male | 14. Memoir – Female | 15. Enlightenment/Spirituality | 16. Metaphysical/Exploring Consciousness | 17. Exercise/Fitness/Yoga | 18. Health/Wellness | 19. Relaxation/Mindfulness | 20. Caregiving/Eldercare | 21. Mature Living/Aging | 22. Aging/Death & Dying | 23. General Fiction | 24. Spiritual/Romance Fiction | 25. Children’s Picture Book | 26. Digital Media
EVERGREEN CATEGORIES:
World Peace | Health & Wellness | Personal Growth | Spiritual Leadership | Nature Conservation | Fiction
BOOKS OF THE YEAR
MIND
Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving
by Samuel Sanders
(Heard Publishing)
BODY
Healing Pretty - The Ultimate Guide to Feeling Comfortable, Confident, and In Control Throughout Cancer
by Jacqueline Apostol-Pizzuti
(Friesen Press)
SPIRIT (tie)
Just Words Unless… A Kids' Guide to Creating a Kinder World
by Cheryl Klein-Slebioda
(Warren Publishing)
SPIRIT (tie)
Landscape of Mothers: Nature Archetypes as a Guide to Mothering
by Jill Doneen Clifton
(Landscape of Mothers)
EARTH
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times
by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams
(Celadon Books)
GENERAL CATEGORIES
1. Cookbooks - General
GOLD
The Guide to Zero-Proof Cocktails
by Sharelle Klaus and Kira Bottles
(DRY Soda)
Silver
Vegan for Everyone
by Laura Theodore
(Scribe Publishing Company)
Bronze
One Loaf/One Bowl at a Time: The Recipes that Brought Us Together While We Remained Apart During COVID-19
by CJ Katz
(Savour Life Foods Inc)
2. Cookbooks - Ethnic, Holiday
GOLD
Servin' Up Summer
by Sheree Rose Kelley
(The Nautilus Publishing Co)
Silver
Food Americana: The Remarkable People and Incredible Stories Behind America's Favorite Dishes
by David Page
(Mango Publishing Group)
Bronze
The Ethical Meat Handbook, 2nd edition
by Meredith Leigh
(New Society Publishers)
3. Gift/Specialty/Keepsake
GOLD
Dear Paris
by Janice MacLeod
(New Society Publishers)
Silver
5 Things with Father Bill: Hope, Humor, and Help for the Soul
by William Byrne
(Loyola Press)
Bronze
Cayo Hueso Literary Writings And Artwork From Key West
by Vicki Riley
(Beaver’s Pond Press)
4. Journal/Coloring Book
GOLD
Blissed 2021 : A Soulful Planner and Dream Life Journal
by Marnie McDermott
Silver
Everyday Smiles
by Guy Kopsombut
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Bronze
God’s Wonderful Word: A Transfer Sticker and Coloring Book
by CPH Editorial Staff
(Loyola Press)
5. Animals/Pets
GOLD
Mutts Go Green
by Patrick McDonnell
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Silver
Living with Mochi
by Gené Gemma
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Bronze
Migrating Hoopoe
by Soha Abou Chacra
(HBKU Press)
6. Green Living
GOLD
You Can Change the World
by Lucy Bell
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Silver
Facing the Climate Emergency
by Margaret Klein Salamon
(New Society Publishers)
Bronze
Revery: A Year of Bees
by Jenna Butler
(Wolsak & Wynn)
7. Family/Parenting
GOLD (tie)
Expecting Wonder: The Transformative Experience of Becoming a Mother
by Brittany L. Bergman
(Broadleaf Books)
GOLD (tie)
Love in, Love out: A Compassionate Approach to Parenting Your Anxious Child
by Dr. Malie Coyne
(Thorsons)
Silver
365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories
by Julie Lavender
(Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
Bronze
Capable: A Story of Triumph for Children the World has Judged as “Different”
by Deborah Winking PhD
(High Expectations Press)
8. Social Activism/Charity
GOLD
Our Moment of Choice: Evolutionary Visions and Hope for the Future
edited by Robert Atkinson, Kurt Johnson, and Deborah Moldow
(Beyond Words Publishing/Atria Books)
Silver
The Token
by Crystal Byrd Farmer
(New Society Publishers)
Bronze
The Inclusive Leader: Taking Intentional Action for Justice and Equity
by Artika Tyner
(American Bar Association)
9. Personal Growth - Self-Help
GOLD (tie)
Spiritual Practices for the Brain: Caring for Mind, Body, and Soul
by Anne Kertz Kernion
(Loyola Press)
GOLD (tie)
The Hidden Gifts of Addiction: The Direct Path of Recovery
by Victor Bucklew, PhD.
(Rock Creek Canyon Publishing)
Silver
Unraveled: A Mother and Son Story of Addiction and Redemption
by Laura Cook Boldt and Tom H. Boldt
(Greenleaf Book Group)
Bronze
Joyous Resilience: A Path to Individual Healing and Collective Thriving in an Inequitable World
by Anjuli Sherin, LMFT
(North Atlantic Books)
10. Motivation - Improvement
GOLD
You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters
by Kate Murphy
(Celadon Books)
Silver (tie)
You Are Enough! Reclaiming Your Career and Your Life with Purpose, Passion, and Unapologetic Authenticity
by Charlene Wheeless
(Amplify Publishing)
Silver (tie)
The Loudest Guest: How to Change and Control Your Relationship with Fear
by Dr Amy Silver
(Major Street Publishing)
Bronze
Mission Transition: Navigating the Opportunities and Obstacles to Your Post-Military Career
by Matthew J. Louis
(HarperCollins Leadership)
11. Sexuality/Femininity
GOLD
Women Don't Owe You Pretty
by Florence Given
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Silver
Sex Ed is in Session
by Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski
(One Idea Press)
Bronze
Lilibet and The Creature
by Phaedra Moon, Illustrated by Norville Parchment
(Little Hardcovers)
12. Relationships/Marriage
GOLD
Breaking the Silence: Why Opening Up About Your Sex Life Is the Best Medicine for Your Health, Relationships, and Overall Happiness
by Dr. Moshe Kedan
(Amplify Publishing)
Silver
Learning to Dance in the Rain II: Surviving Grief, Internet Dating and Romance Scams!
by Shelby Wagner
(Xlibris)
Bronze
Overcoming the Narcissist, Sociopath, Psychopath and Other Domestic Abusers: The Comprehensive Handbook to Recognize, Remove and Recover from Abuse
by Charlene D. Quint, J.D.
(Redemption Press)
13. Memoir - Male
GOLD
Why Does Daddy Always Look So Sad?
by Jude Morrow
(Beyond Words Publishing)
Silver
Turning Right – Inspire the Magic
by Kay Bretz
(Major Street Publishing)
Bronze
An Educational Journey to Deanship: A Memoir
by Terence Hicks
(Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.)
14. Memoir - Female
GOLD
Twice A Daughter
by Julie McGue
(She Writes Press)
Silver (tie)
Advancing Reproductive Choice: Leading with Conviction and Compassion
by Elizabeth S. Maguire
(Mont Boron Press)
Silver (tie)
Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor
by Lise Deguire, Psy.D.
Bronze
Boldly into the Darkness: Living with Loss, Growing with Grief & Holding onto Happiness
by Autumn Toelle-Jackson
(Wise Ink Creative Publishing)
15. Enlightenment/Spirituality
GOLD
Major Arcana
by Frances Denny
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
SILVER (tie)
A NEW NOW: Your Guide to Mastering Wisdom Daily, Achieving Equilibrium, and Empowering Your Nobler Self
by Michael Goddart
Silver (tie)
The Inner Chapel: Embracing the Promises of God
by Becky Eldredge
(Loyola Press)
Bronze
Revelations of The Sky: 133 Passages on the Alchemy of Grief
by Dr. BethAnne K.W.
(Golden Dragonfly Press)
16. Metaphysical/Exploring Consciousness
GOLD
The Way of Miracles: Accessing Your Superconsciousness
by Mark Mincolla PhD
(Beyond Words Publishing)
Silver
The Ultimate Human Secrets: The Hidden Power in Our Mysterious Unconscious Knowledge
by Ramzi Najjar
Bronze
Sacred Life: Healing from the Virus in Consciousness
by Bedri Cag Cetin
17. Exercise/Fitness/Yoga
GOLD
Just Like the Ocean: A Yoga Journey for Parent and Baby
by Emily Foster Williams
(Whisper Sea Company Press)
Silver
Equestrian Yoga: Yoga With, On, and For Your Horse
by Natalie DeFee Mendik and Danny Chapparo
(Mendik Media)
Bronze
Healing Trauma with Yoga: Go from Surviving to Thriving with Mind-Body Techniques
by Beth Shaw
(Blue River Press)
18. Health/Wellness
GOLD
The Book of Knowing
by Gwendoline Smith
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Silver
Terpenes For Well-Being
by Andrew Freedman
(Mango Publishing)
Bronze
The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed
by Jill & Dave Henry
(Skyhorse)
19. Relaxation/Mindfulness
GOLD
Be Mindful & Simplify Your Life
by Kate James
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Silver
Breathe Deep, Little Sheep
by Jessica Lee, illustrated by Lucia Wilkinson
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Bronze
Deeper Into Mindfulness
by Lisa Langer, PhD
(Compass Publications)
20. Caregiving/Eldercare
Category canceled
21. Mature Living/Aging
Category canceled
22. Aging/Death & Dying
GOLD (tie)
Death is but a Dream
by Christopher Kerr, MD, PhD with Carine Mardorossian, PhD (Avery)
GOLD
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Afterlife But Were Afraid to Ask
by Hollister Rand
(Beyond Words/Atria)
Silver (tie)
Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
by Emily Thiroux Threatt
(Mango Publishing)
Silver (tie)
Creatrix Rising
by Stephanie Raffelock
(She Writes Press)
Bronze
The Financial Bridge
by Sue Stevens
(Frog Hollow Press)
23. General Fiction
GOLD
The Call of the Triple Spiral
by Lisa Saffron
Silver
Callisto 2.0 - A Novel of the Future
by Susan English
Bronze (tie)
Home Again 2020
by Roberta M Roy
(Alva Press)
Bronze (tie)
The Pax Principles
by Marilyn Briant
24. Spiritual/Romance Fiction
GOLD
The Best Week That Never Happened
by Dallas Woodburn
(Month9 Books)
Silver
All This Was Mission
by S.J. Cunningham
(Koehler Books)
Bronze (tie)
Buried But Never Forgotten - A Journey Through Earth
by Elisa Chastaine
Bronze (tie)
The Menu
by Steven Manchester
(Luna Bella Press)
25. Children's Picture Book
GOLD
EVIE'S FIELD DAY: More Than One Way to Win
by Claire Annette Noland, illustrated by Alicia Teba
(Cardinal Rule Press)
Silver
LOVE
by Casey Rislov, illustrated by Rachael Balsaitis
(Mountain Stars Press)
Bronze
10 Hidden Heroes
by Mark K. Shriver, illustrated by Laura Watson
(Loyola Press)
26. Digital Media
GOLD
Hope Is a Bright Star: A Mother's Memoir of Love, Loss, and Learning to Live Again
by Faith Fuller Wilcox
(She Writes Press)
Silver
Mindfulness without the Bells and Beads - Unlocking Exceptional Performance, Leadership, and Well-being for Working Professionals
by Clif Smith
(Wiley)
Bronze
Leave Your Light On: The Musical Mantra Left Behind by an Illuminating Spirit
by Shelley Buck
(Eagles Quest Publishing)
EVERGREEN CATEGORIES
To commemorate world-changing books published in this new millennium, we launched the Living Now Evergreen Book Medals. The medals are presented in five categories, recognizing books published since the year 2000 for their contributions to positive global change.
World Peace
GOLD
Random Acts of Kindness
by Brenda Knight
(Mango Media)
Silver
Women Peacemakers: What We Can Learn from Them
by Barbe Chambliss PhD.
(Red Truck Enterprises)
Bronze
Angelina's Opinions
by Angelina Wang
(TYLDOWEB Publishing)
Health & Wellness
GOLD
Anxiety at Work
by Adrian Gostick, Chester Elton, Anthony Gostick
(Harper Business)
Silver
108 Indian Home Remedies
by Binny Sujal Nanavati
(Bharat Graphics)
Bronze (tie)
Eating Secrets
by Karyn De Mol and Megan Harris
(Relationshifters)
Bronze (tie)
Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease
by Sherra Aguirre
(She Writes Press)
Personal Growth
GOLD
A Gay Man's Guide to Life: Get Real, Stand Tall, and Take Your Place
by Britt East
(Houndstooth Press)
Silver
Lifting People Up: The Power of Recognition
by Susan Smith Kuczmarski, Ed.D. and Thomas D. Kuczmarski
(Book Ends Publishing)
Bronze (tie)
You, Recharged: How to Beat Fatigue (Mostly), Amp Up Your Energy (Usually), and Enjoy Life Again (Always)
by Polly Campbell
(Mango Media)
Bronze (tie)
Gift Mindset, Unwrap the 12 Gifts to Lead and Live a Life of Purpose, Connection and Contribution
by Renee Giarrusso
(Major Street)
Spiritual Leadership
GOLD
MED SCHOOL after MENOPAUSE The Journey of my Soul
by Ann Charlotte Valentin N.M.D.
(Divine Spiritual Essence)
Silver
Exit the Maze - One Addiction, One Cause, One Cure
by Dr. Donna Marks
(Westward Publishing)
Bronze
SWAL Leadership: Effective Leadership for a Modern World
by Zach Hoffman
(L.R. Price Publications)
Nature Conservation
Category canceled
Fiction
GOLD
Tutti Yoga Story of Self Acceptance
by Agnieszka Migew illustrations by Jo Parry
Silver
Broccoli Rob and the Garden Singers
by John S. Armstrong
(Heartland Publishing)
Bronze
The Forgotten Garden
by Basma Elkhatib
(HBKU Press)
