We’re excited to announce the 2015 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 2015 medalists for their inspiring work!
BOOKS OF THE YEAR
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
1. Cookbooks/General | 2. Cooking/Natural (Nutrition, Organic, Vegetarian, etc.) | 3. Cooking/Ethnic/Holiday | 4. Crafts/Hobbies/Collecting | 5. Gift/Specialty/Keepsake | 6. Journal/Planner/Calendar | 7. Gardening/Farming/Landscaping | 8. Animals/Pets/Livestock | 9. Green Living (Alternative energy, Conservation, Cleaning, etc.) | 10. Family / Parenting g | 11. Finance /Budgeting/Business | 12. Social Activism/Charity
| 13. Personal Growth/Motivation | 14. Sexuality/Femininity | 15. Relationships/Marriage | 16. Inspirational Memoir – Male | 17. Inspirational Memoir – Female | 18. Enlightenment / Spirituality | 19. Metaphysical (Astrology, Tarot, Psychic Development, etc.) | 20. Exercise/Fitness/Yoga | 21. Health/Wellness | 22. Meditation/Relaxation | 23. Healing Arts/Bodywork/Energy Techniques | 24. Caregiving | 25. Mature Living/Aging | 26. Grieving/Death & Dying | 27. Inspirational Fiction | 28. Adventure Fiction | 29. Children’s Picture Book | 30. Children’s Non-Fiction
EVERGREEN CATEGORIES:
World Peace | Health & Wellness | Personal Growth | Spiritual Leadership | Nature Conservation
BOOKS OF THE YEAR
MIND
The Artisan Soul: Crafting Your Life into a Work of Art, by Erwin Raphael McManus (HarperOne)
BODY
When the Nurse Becomes a Patient: A Story in Words and Images, by Cortney Davis (Kent State University Press)
SPIRIT
The Earthen Vessel: Poems of Yoga and Meditation, by Monty Brower (Urthona Arts)
GENERAL CATEGORIES
1. Cookbooks - General
GOLD: Bowls of Love: Paleo Soups for the Seasons, by Ali Rakowski (Intersection Coaching)
SILVER: Pizza for Good, by Will Pollock (Self-Published)
BRONZE: Sharing Our Life, Love and Food, by Elayne Prechtel (Artistic Side of Me)
2. Cookbooks - Natural, Nutrition, Organic, Vegetarian
GOLD: The Plantpower Way, by Rich Roll & Julie Piatt (Penguin Random House/Avery)
SILVER: Heart of Raw Food: A Conversation of Recipes, by Tone Anthony, Guri Bigham & Marissa Macias (Sovereign Way)
BRONZE: World Class: Cookbook for the Super Fit, by Marx Canoy (Katha Publishing)
3. Cookbooks – Ethnic, Holiday, Specialty
GOLD: Nibbles for Bubbles, by Gillian Flower (Spicedlemon)
SILVER: Pomegranates and Saffron: A Culinary Journey to Azerbaijan, by Feride Buyuran (AZ Cookbook)
BRONZE: The Quickenberry Vegetable Cookbook, by Robert Koller (Quickenberry Guesthouse)
4. Crafts/Hobbies/Collecting
GOLD: Rock That Quilt Block: Weathervane, by Linda J. Hahn (AQS Publishing)
SILVER: Artful Dodgers: Fraud & Foolishness in the Art Market, by Bernard Ewell (Abbott Press)
BRONZE: The Essential Collection Management Kit, by Godfrey Harris (The Americas Group)
5. Gift/Specialty/Keepsake
GOLD: A Year of Miracles: Daily Devotions and Reflections, by Marianne Williamson (HarperOne)
SILVER: Knowing Beautiful: A New Bedtime Story for Women, by Amy Tirion (Delight for the Soul)
BRONZE: I Choose to Remember, by Mary Ann Drummond (Angel Tree Publishing)
6. Journal/Planner/Calendar
GOLD: 52 Ways to Love Your Body More, by Lindsey Smith (Self-Published)
SILVER: Read This...™ When I’m Dead, by Annie Presley & Christy Howard (ACE Publishing)
BRONZE: Seasons of Hope 2016 Calendar, by Kathie Austin, & Matthew S. Field (Matting Leah Publishing Co)
7. Gardening/Farming/Landscaping
Category cancelled
8. Animals/Pets/Livestock
GOLD: Think Like Your Dog and Enjoy the Rewards, by Dianna M. Young (Island Book Publishing)
SILVER: Grow Young with Your Dog, by Mary DeBono (Ruby Red Press)
BRONZE: The Adventures of Kubi, by Erik Speyer (Cuento de Luz SL)
9. Green Living (Alternative energy, Conservation, Cleaning, etc.)
GOLD: Clean Design: Wellness for your Lifestyle, by Robin Wilson (Greenleaf Book Group Press)
SILVER: Down To Earth: A Seasonal Tour of Sustainable Winemaking in California, by Janet Fletcher (Wine Institute)
BRONZE: Bringing Conservation to Cities, by John H. Hartig (Ecovision World Monograph Series)
10. Family/Parenting
GOLD (tie): Raising Kids with Love, Honor, and Respect: Recipes for Success, by Edie Jones (Inkwater Press)
Practical Parenting: An Un-Politically Correct Guide from the Trenches, by Kathleen Lovlie (Lulu Publishing Services)
SILVER: ABA/AARP Checklist for My Family: A Guide to my History, Financial Plans, and Final Wishes, by Sally Hurme (AARP and American Bar Association)
BRONZE: Talk to Me: Conversation Strategies for Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum or with Speech and Language Impairments, by Heather Jones (Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
11. Finance/Budgeting/Business
GOLD: The Graduate’s Guide ™ to Money, by Tana Ackerly Gildea CFP, CPA (Graduate's Guide)
SILVER: Confessions of Ethical Inve$ting, by Kassia Klinger (Palmer Higgs)
BRONZE: Health Insurance: Navigating Traps & Gaps, by Maura Loughlin Carley, MPH, CIC (Ampersand, Inc.)
12. Social Activism/Charity
GOLD: The Third Law, by Tamra Ryan (Gilpin House Press)
SILVER: Charity Detox: What Charity Would Look Like if We Cared About Results, by Robert D. Lupton (HarperOne)
BRONZE: Bitter or Better: Crushing Life’s Losses Into Victories, by Tom Sutter (Always Choose Better, Inc)
13. Personal Growth/Motivation
GOLD: High on Low: Harnessing the Power of Unhappiness, by Wilhelm Schmid; translated by Karen Leeder (Upper West Side Philosophers, Inc.)
SILVER (tie): The Comfort of Little Things: An Educator’s Guide to Second Chances, by Holly Elissa Bruno (Redleaf Press)
The End of Self-Help: Discovering Peace and Happiness Right at the Heart of Your Messy, Scary, Brilliant Life, by Dr. Gail Brenner (Ananda Press)
BRONZE: Change Your Story, Change Your Life: Using Shamanic and Jungian Tools to Achieve Personal Transformation, by Carl Greer, PhD, PsyD (Findhorn Press)
14. Sexuality/Femininity
GOLD: You Can Have Great Sex! How the Nine Types of Lovers Find Ecstasy, Fulfillment and Sexual Wellness, by Dr. Dennis Perman (Sexual Wellness Press)
SILVER: Do It Better: Twelve Sexual Routines and Principles You Wish You Knew, by Sarah and Jeff Harris (Centerprize Publishing)
BRONZE: Ecosexuality: When Nature Inspires the Art of Love, by SerenaGaia Anderlini-D’Onofrio and Lindsay Hagamen (3WayKiss)
15. Relationship/Marriage
GOLD: The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Undestanding Marriage, by Rob and Kristen Bell (HarperOne)
SILVER: In the Lotus of the Heart: The Essence of Relationships, by Shubhraji, (Blessingway Author’s Services / Namah)
BRONZE: When Your Heart Breaks, It’s Opening to Love, by Joey Garcia (Bodhisattva Publishers)
16. Inspirational Memoir – Male
GOLD: Your Life Isn’t For You: A Selfish Person’s Guide to Being Selfless, by Seth Adam Smith (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)
SILVER: If, By Miracle, by Michael Kutz (Azrieli Foundation)
BRONZE (tie): The Kindness Diary: One Man’s Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World, by Leon Logothetis (Readers Digest)
Out & About Dad, by Jim Joseph (Mascot Books)
17. Inspirational Memoir - Female
GOLD: Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals that Brought Me Home, by Jessica Fechtor (Penguin Random House-Avery)
SILVER: We Sang in Hushed Voices, by Helena Jockel (Azrieli Foundation)
BRONZE: Born Again in a Biker Bar , by Charisse Tyson (Lifeanew Publishing)
18. Enlightenment/Spirituality
GOLD: Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God, by Lauren F. Winner (HarperOne)
SILVER: Reflections on Silver River, by Ken McLeod (Unfettered Mind Media)
BRONZE (tie): The Golden Link to Oneness, by L.M. Blanchard (Burnstown Publishing House)
Learning to Walk in the Dark, by Barbara Brown Taylor (HarperOne)
19. Metaphysical (Astrology, Tarot, Psychic Development, etc.)
GOLD: Awaken Your Greater Health, by Heidi DuPree (Self-Published)
SILVER: Essence of the Tarot, by Megan Skinner (Green Frog Publishing)
BRONZE: Babel Via Negativa, by Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé (Ethos Books/Squircle Line Press)
20. Exercise/Fitness/Yoga
GOLD: Pilgrim Wheels: Reflections of a Cyclist Crossing America, by Neil Hanson (High Prairie Press)
SILVER: The Ultra Mindset, by Travis Macy with John Hanc (Da Capo Press)
BRONZE: Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond, by Michael Spitzer (HighPoint Products)
21. Health/Wellness
GOLD: Food Guilt No More, by Lindsey Smith (Tell Me Press)
SILVER (tie): Smart Brain, Healthy Brain, by Louise Hallinan (Hallinan Memory Clinic)
Timeless Woman, by Lavinia Borcau (Lavinia Borcau Skin Care)
BRONZE: Fighting Fat, by Steven Lamm, MD (Spry Publishing)
22. Meditation/Relaxation
GOLD: Meditation and Wisdom, by Venerable Hsin Ting (Buddha’s Light Publishing)
SILVER: The Transcendental Meditation Technique and the Journey of Enlightenment, by Ann Purcell (Green Dragon Books)
BRONZE: This. Only This: Mindfulness Strategies for Discovering Peace in Every Moment, by Michael H. Brooks (ZenWhim, Inc.)
23. Healing Arts/Bodywork/Energy Techniques
GOLD: True Healing: Spiritual Medicine for Every Illness, by Alison Anton (Anton Guild of Spiritual Medicine)
SILVER: Health is in Your Hands: Jin Shin Jyutsu- Practicing the Art of Self-Healing, by Waltraud Riegger-Krause (Upper West Side Philosophers, Inc)
BRONZE: Healing the Body & Awakening Consciousness with the Dalian Method: An Advanced Self-Healing System for a New Humanity, by Mada Eliza Dalian (Expanding Universe Publishing)
24. Caregiving
GOLD: Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving, by Amy Goyer (AARP)
SILVER: Meet Me Where I Am: An Alzheimer’s Care Guide, by Mary Ann Drummond (Angel Tree Publishing)
BRONZE: I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease, by Maria V. Ciletti (Dragonfly Publications)
25. Mature Living/Aging
GOLD: Brain Health For Life: Beyond Pills, Politics, and Popular Diets, by Karen V. Unger (Inkwater Press)
SILVER (tie): Better With Age, by Robin Porter (Spry Publishing)
Optimistic Aging: from Midlife to the Good Life, by Margit Cox Henderson, Ph.D. (Resilient Publications)
BRONZE: Voices of Aging, by Missy Buchanan (Upper Room Books)
26. Grieving/Death & Dying
GOLD (tie): The December Project: An Extraordinary Rabbi and a Skeptical Seeker Confront Life’s Greatest Mystery, by Sara Davidson (HarperOne)
In Love with Death, by Satish Modi (Birlinn Limited)
SILVER: Cyparissus, by Marta Sanmamed, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer (Cuento de Luz SL)
BRONZE: Making Peace with Suicide: A Book of Hope, Understanding, and Comfort, by Adele Ryan McDowell, PhD (White Flowers Press)
27. Inspirational Fiction
GOLD: The Poppy Field Diary, by Carey Richard (Bonhoeffer Publishing)
SILVER: Singular Acts of Endearment, by Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé (Squircle Line Press/Grey Sparrow Press)
BRONZE: Living Treasures, by Yang Huang (Harvard Square Editions)
28. Adventure Fiction
GOLD: Red Eye of the Buffalo: The Land of Curiosities, Book 3, by Deanna Neil (The EcoSeekers)
SILVER: The Secret of Mago Castle, by Rebecca Tinkle (Best Life Media)
BRONZE: Shanti and the Magic Mandala, by F.T. Camargo (Lodestone Books)
29. Children’s Picture Book
GOLD: Bye-Bye Butterflies: Seven Ways to Breathe Out Worry, by Lilita Matison; illustrated by Tija Kinens (Cocoon International Publications)
SILVER: Little Hands, Bright Light, by Paul Guillory; illustrated by Ashley Guillory (AuthorHouse)
BRONZE: Today I Am Grateful: Adventures in Gratitude, by Lorraine Miller; illustrated by Claudia Tremblay (Balboa Press/May House)
30. Children’s Non-Fiction
GOLD: If You Love Honey: Nature’s Connections, by Martha Sullivan; illustrated by Cathy Morrison (Dawn Publications)
SILVER: Open the Doors to You (Come In), by Casey Rislov; illustrated by Allie Strom (Casey Rislov Books)
BRONZE: Let’s Make a Difference: Learning About Our Ocean, by Gabriella Francine with Solara Vayanian (Big Blue Marble/ BBM Books)
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
The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World
by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu
(HarperOne)
Silver
The Peace Tree from Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story
by Sandra Moore; illustrated by Kazumi Wilds
(Tuttle Publishing)
Bronze
The Skin I’m In
by Natalie K. Carricarte; illustrated by Neville Hidalgo
(Tickle Me)
Health Wellness
GOLD
The Journey from Heartache to Hope: 40 Devotionals to Help You on Your Way
by Alane Pearce and Laura Savage-Rains
(Three Circle Press)
Silver
A Touching Good-Bye: The Gentle Use of Jin Shin Jyutsu® At Times of Critical Illness
by Judith B. Andry, M.Ed.
(Ampersand Inc.)
Bronze
Meet Me Where I Am Lord - 90 Days to Know Him Deeper
by Cindy K. Sproles
(Iron Stream)
Personal Growth
GOLD
This Life is Joy: Discovering the Spiritual Laws to Live More Powerfully, Lovingly, and Happily
by Roger Teel
(Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin)
SILVER
The Dear One Letters: A Path to Growing as a Human and Evolving as a Soul
by Dr. Connie Numbers
(Two Harbors Press)
BRONZE (tie)
Autism: A Dad’s Journey
by Luis M. Bayardo
(Mercury HeartLink)
BRONZE (tie)
Dadprovement: A Journey from Careerist to Adoptive Father to a Real Husband and Dad
by Patrick R. Riccards
(Turning Stone Press)
Spiritual Leadership
GOLD
Where Is the Way: Humanistic Buddhism for Everyday Life
by Venerable Master Hsing Yun
(Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center)
Silver
The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus
by Dallas Willard
(HarperOne)
Bronze
A Battle Worth Fighting
by Sarah Hanks
(SonFlower Books)
Nature Conservation
GOLD
Singapore’s Splendour: Life on the Edge
by Chua Ee-Kiam
(Simply Green)
Silver
Our God is Bigger Than That!
by Michelle Medlock Adams & Eva Marie Everson
(End Game Press)
Bronze
Oak Street Treehouse: The Day They Had a Party
by Dick Daniels, illustrated by Mollie Bozarth
(LDG.org)
