BOOKS OF THE YEAR
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
1. Cookbook/Gift/Specialty | 2. Journal/Activity/Coloring Book | 3. Animals/Pets | 4. Green Living | 5. Family/Parenting | 6. Social Activism/Charity | 7. Personal Development/Growth | 8. Motivation/Self-Improvement | 9. Sexuality/Femininity | 9. Relationships/Marriage | 10. Relationships/Marriage | 11. Memoir – Male | 12. Memoir – Female | 13. Enlightenment/Spirituality | 14. Metaphysical | 15. Exercise/Fitness/Yoga | 16. Health/Wellness | 17. Relaxation/Mindfulness | 18. Mature Living/Caregiving | 19. Grieving/Death/Dying | 20. How-To/DIY | 21. General Fiction | 22. Children’s Inspirational Picture Book | 23. Digital Media
EVERGREEN CATEGORIES:
World Peace | Health & Wellness | Personal Growth | Spiritual Leadership
BOOKS OF THE YEAR
MIND
I’m a Mess: A Guide to a Messy Life by Einat Tsarfati (Maverick)
BODY
Bloom How You Must: A Black Woman’s Guide to Self-Care and Generational Healing by Tara Pringle Jefferson (Amistad)
SPIRIT
Where Are the Women? By Janice Hechter (Red Chair Press)
GENERAL CATEGORIES
1. cookbook/gift/specialty
GOLD
The Way of the Heart by Éva Borka (Mary Egan Publishing)
Silver
Senza Glutine: Timeless Italian Dishes for the Gluten Free Palate by Cynthia Delia Coddington & Josephine Provenzano Hoppe (Two Lots Over Publishing)
Bronze
The Quiet Soul by Ann Biese & Laura Stein
2. journal/activity/coloring book
GOLD
Breathe Be Give: Create a Moving Meditation to Light Your Soul on Fire by Traci Brisco & Sheila Cardinal (Meditation Creation)
Silver
The Magical Musical Forest Adventure by Jordan Daniels & Mia Daly (Piano Pal LLC)
Bronze
5 FROGS Transformation Journal by Brenda Kline Reynolds (Station Square Media)
3. animals/pets
GOLD
Romeo the Friendly Wolf by Nick Jans (Self Published)
Silver (tie)
Sidney’s Games by Lolisa Marie Monroe, Illustrated by Patrizia Donaera (Self Published)
Silver (tie)
Safe Travels for Squirrels by Maxime Bonneau with Joanne Mattern (Red Chair Press)
Bronze
Muscle Testing for You, Your Family, and Your Pet by Jill Meryl Levy (Firebelle Productions)
4. Green Living – Alternative Energy, Conservation, Gardening
GOLD
What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist’s Guide to Sustainable Living by Charlie Sellars (Wise Ink)
Silver
Feed Us With Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food by Elspeth Hay (New Society Publishers)
Bronze
Faith, Hope, Action: Ushering in a New Earth Era Together by Diana J. Ensign (SpiritLife Hawk Publications)
5. family/parenting
GOLD (tie)
The Heart of Homestay by Jennifer Robin Wilson (Page Two)
GOLD (tie)
Watching Sarah Rise: A Journey of Thriving with Autism by Jennifer Celeste Briggs (She Writes Press)
Silver
Six Figures in School Hours by Kate Toon (Major Street)
Bronze
The Little Book of Parenting by Chinyelu Kunz (Sheldon Press)
6. social activism/charity
GOLD
Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash by Alexander Clapp (Little, Brown and Company)
Silver
Just One: The Power of Compassion by Liz Cunningham (Pteropod Press)
Bronze
Kindness is the Cure: Motivational Medicine for Your Soul by Melody Crutchfield (Self Published)
7. Personal Development/Growth
GOLD
Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want
Silver
Get Stuff Done Without the Stress: 5 Secrets for Making the Best Use of Your Time and Achieving Your Goals for Greater Happiness by Risa Williams (Books That Save Lives)
Bronze (tie)
Shadow Work: A Spiritual Path to Healing and Integration by Michelle Wadleigh (St. Martin’s Essentials)
8. Motivation/Self-Improvement
GOLD (tie)
Own Your Power Within: A Sacred Guide to Living a Life That Matters to You by Laura K. Stoia, M.A. (Sacred Insight Media)
GOLD (tie)
Money Mentor by Anna Brading (Green Tree)
Silver
The Burnout Doctor: Your 6-Step Recovery Plan by Dr. Claire Ashley (Green Tree)
Bronze
Be Seen Now!: Inspiring Insights into Being a Fearless Speaker by Lee Glickstein (Precocity Press)
9. Sexuality/Femininity
GOLD
Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women’s Lives by Jessica Zucker, PhD (PESI Publishing)
Silver
You Are Not Broken: Stop “Should-ing” All Over Your Sex Life by Kelly Casperson, MD (Sheldon Press)
Bronze
As We Bloom: Wisdom from Extraordinary Everyday Women & Gender Nonconforming People by Mia Bolton (Indigo River Publishing)
10. relationships/marriage
GOLD
My Marriage Sabbatical: A Memoir of Solo Travel and Lasting Love by Leah Fisher (She Writes Press)
Silver
Why Are We Fighting? Actionable Strategies for Effective Communication by Dr. Patricia Timerman Barbosa Da Silva (Advocate2Create Publishing)
Bronze
The Gravity of Becoming by Kelsey Pilling (Self Published)
11. Inspirational memoir - male
GOLD
Rise. Recover. Thrive. : How I Got Strong, Got Sober, and Built a Movement of Hope Scott Strode (Stand Together Press)
Silver
Unlimited Heart: How to Transform Your Paint into Purpose by Jim Kaveney (IdeaPress)
Bronze
The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self by Peter Kennedy (Self Published)
12. Inspirational memoir - female
GOLD
No Ordinary Love by B.B. Gabriel (Writing Brave Press)
Silver (tie)
Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness by Deb Miller (She Writes Press)
Silver (tie)
Dumb Girl: A Journey From Childhood Abuse to Gun Control Advocacy by Heidi Yewman (She Writes Press)
Bronze
Young Salt at Sixty by Deborah Hammett (Self Published)
13. enlightenment/spirituality
GOLD
Spiritual Intelligence: Activating the 4 Circuits of the Awakened Brain by Dawson Church (Energy Psychology Press)
Silver
Our Conscious Tipping Point by Dr. Lisa Turner (Rethink Press)
Bronze
Guidance from the Universe: Hopeful Messages for Everyday Challenges by Jill Amy Sager (She Writes Press)
14. Metaphysical – Astrology, Tarot, Psychic Development
GOLD
Oracle of the InBetween by Tracee Dunblazier, Illustrated by Yasmeen Westwood (GoTracee Publishing)
Silver
Esoteric Tarot by Imre Vallyon (Sounding Light)
Bronze
Elixir: A Journey into Ancestral Alchemology by Gisella Rose (Sangetta Star Arts & Publishing LLC)
15. Exercise/Fitness/Yoga
GOLD
A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga by Nikita Desai (Green Tree)
Silver
When Cells Rebel: Your Martial Arts and Defeating Cancer by Kris Wilder & Lawrence A. Kane (Stickman Publications)
Bronze
A Pilgrim’s Guide to Walking Wisdom: 11:11 Wisdom by Renee Baribeau (Enlightenment Productions)
16. Health/Wellness
GOLD
Caring for Self & Others: Transforming Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Soul Loss by David Kopacz, MD (Creative Courage Press)
Silver
Veggie Smarts by Michael T. Compton, M.D., M.P.H. (Regalo Press)
Bronze
Find Your Food Voice: Defy diet culture, declare body liberation, and reclaim your peace by Julie Duffy Dillon (Sheldon Press)
17. Relaxation/Mindfulness
GOLD
Your Name is Not Anxious: A Very Personal Guide to Putting Anxiety in its Place by Stephanie Dowrick (St. Martin’s Publishing Group)
Silver
Brain Flowers: Ten Keys to Awakening in the Real World by Johnny Scifo (Saddle River Press)
Bronze
The Mindful Reboot: Revive, Recenter & Restore Your Life by Dr. Rakkim Rogers (Beyond 94 Feet Publishing Co.)
18. Mature Living/Caregiving
GOLD (tie)
Good to Go: Five Understandings to Navigate a Peaceful and Elegant Last Chapter of Life by John Horton, MD., & Sushila Wood (New Insights Press)
GOLD (tie)
The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond by Debra Whitman, PhD (W.W. Norton & Company)
Silver
The Inspired Retirement: Purpose and Passion in Your Next Adventure by Nathalie Martin (Beaver’s Pond Press)
Bronze
Sixty is a Good Start by Allison McCune Davis (Niche Pressworks)
19. Grieving/Death/Dying
GOLD
Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up? Living Your Best Life After Losing Your Greatest Love by Loren Ridinger (Post Hill Press)
Silver
The Art of Grieving by Sheila K. Collins, PhD (Earth Springs Press)
Bronze
Rosemary, Now and Then by Christina Larson (Indigo River Publishing)
20. How-To/DIY
GOLD
Build a Beautiful Business con Confianza by Rosalie Ennes (Self Published)
Silver
The Non-Obvious Guide to Drawing Your Future: Solve Problems, Explain Ideas, Sell Anything by Patti Dubrowolski (IdeaPress)
Bronze
Prompting Originality: The A.I. Handbook for Humans by Norty Cohen with Delaney Ehrhardt (IdeaPress)
21. General Fiction
GOLD
SHOT: A Dictionary of the Lost by Jude Berman (She Writes Press)
Silver
The Death of Us All: Inspired by the extraordinary life of Sister Dorothy Stang by Gregg Brandalise (Blindfold Publishing)
Bronze
Mutiny Aboard the Starship Ichthus by Brent Winzek with C.J. Barrett (Space Cadet Studios)
22. Children’s Inspirational Picture Book
GOLD
Cora’s Garden Rescue by Sally Kashner, Illustrated by Remesh Ram (Scout)
Silver
Paper Airplanes by Jennifer Li (Self Published)
Bronze
Are You Bored? by Monika Marzec (Self Published)
23. Digital Media (eBook, Audiobooks)
GOLD
Song of the Cardinal by Cynthia Waine Brandt (Starfish Publishing)
Silver
Your B.R.A.N.D Unleashed: 9 Proven Strategies That Build Trust and Maintain Lasting Client Loyalty by Lisa A. Shorr (Pisa Publishing)
Bronze
Heart Fiat: Poems by Desmond Francis Xavier Kon Zhicheng-Mingde (Resource Publications)
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
No Woman Left Behind: A Journey of Hope to Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth by Kate Grant (She Writes Press)
Silver
The Authenticity Compass: Essential Guidance for Sustainable Success by Pamela Bond (Balboa Press)
Bronze
One Lawn at a Time: The Chronicles of Rodney’s Mission to Spread Kindness by Rodney A. Smith Jr., Illustrated by Valeria Kornus (Self Published)
Health & Wellness
GOLD
Kintsugi Almanac 2025: The Wellness Way to Shine. Abu Dhabi Edition by Patrizia Bortolin and Kintsugi Team (Kintsugi Abu Dhabi)
Silver
Diagnosed: The Essential Guide to Navigating the Patient’s Journey by Brenda Snow (Amplify)
Bronze
9 Wonder Words: A Language for Living Well–Even When All Hell Breaks Loose by Lucy Turner (WOR(L)D)
Personal Growth
GOLD
The Half Book: He’s Taking His Ball and Going Home by Dan Duffy (Lucky Bat Books)
Silver
The Cost of Staying by Kristen Chimack (As You Wish Publishing)
Bronze (tie)
Go Within to Change Your Life: A Hidden Wisdom Workbook for Personal Transformation by Carl Greer, PhD, PsyD (Chiron Publications)
Bronze (tie)
Restored in Tuscany: A True Story of Facing Loss, Finding Beauty, and Living Forward in Hope by Angela Correll (Harvest House Publishers)
Leadership
GOLD
Seeds of Leadership: Nurturing the Leader Within by Will Lukang (Emerald Lake Books)
Silver (tie)
Dare to be Naive: How to Find Your True Self in a Noisy World by Joshua Berry (IdeaPress)
Silver (tie)
Non Obvious Thinking: How to See What Others Miss by Rohit Bhargava and Ben duPont (IdeaPress)
Bronze
Soul Venture: A True Life and Death Journey into the Startup Culture by Ashwin Gulati (Match Point Press)
Fiction
GOLD
The Talking Drum by Lisa Braxton (Inanna Publications)
Silver
When Women Were Warriors: The Warrior’s Path by Catherine M. Wilson (Shield Maiden Press)
Bronze
Beyond Aquarius by Jennifer Freed and Melissa Lowenstein (Mermaids Press)
