We all have those special books that profoundly changed our perspectives on life, relationships, health, or ourselves. Maybe it was a captivating novel, a powerful memoir, or an inspiring non-fiction read―something that just clicked. To pay forward the wisdom (and add to our 2025 reading list!), we asked the women in our Movement Living community, “What is the book that changed everything for you?”
From habit building to a guide to higher creativity, here are 7 life-changing books that help our community live well and age better.
Natasha: Grown Women Talk by Dr. Sharon Malone
Georgia: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Gabriela: The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge
Deborah: The RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants by Christopher Brickell
Kelley: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
Diane: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Johanna: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
NATASHA: Grown Women Talk by Dr. Sharon Malone
From a leading OB/GYN and expert on menopausal and post-reproductive health, Grown Women Talk is a practical guide to aging and health for women who have felt ignored or marginalized by the medical profession.
Natasha Holstine-Rao (@fashionalities), 42, shares: “This book feels like a big sis keeping it real―sharing Life 101 with a fun soundtrack! But the resource section? That’s the part I keep going back to again and again. Reading the book encouraged me to participate in clinical trials so that my health journey can hopefully help other women that go through the same thing. It’s a #gamechanger to get your health right no matter how old you are!”
GEORGIA: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Artist’s Way is a 12-week course that helps people unlock their capacity for creativity―whether in art, at work, or in life. At its core, it is a great practice to access more delight, curiosity, and creative inquiry within your daily life.
Georgia Zaris (@georgia_goes_grey), 55, shares: “This book changed my life by helping me break free from my comfort zone and silence the voices of self-doubt and criticism. This isn’t just a book―it’s a lifelong companion that I return to again and again, each time finding a new inspiration to live my most fulfilled life.”
GABRIELA: The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge
A book about the revolutionary discovery called neuroplasticity that promises to overthrow the centuries-old notion that the brain is fixed and unchanging.
Gabriela Schonbach (@gabrielamoves), 71, shares: “My favorite book ever about the brain―it’s about neuroplasticity and our brain’s ability to change its own structure and function at any age. It changed my view of how much we are capable of changing and learning as we get older.”
DEBORAH: The RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants by Christopher Brickell
Discover more than 15,000 beautiful plants and learn how to successfully grow each one with this definitive planting guide. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for an unusual new flowering plant to grow, want to identify an amazing orchid you’ve seen, or need to find out how to keep alive the cactus you’ve been gifted, the A-Z is bound to have the answer.
Deborah Barnes (@iam_deborahbarnes), 70, shares: “My garden is my solace and happy place. I loved this book so much that about 20 years ago, I became a Master Gardener! SO many hours spent relishing the possibilities on the pages of this book. A true encyclopedic picture book of every kind of plant. Trees, herbs, flowers, shrubs, aquatics, botany, cultivation… a book that has been used and cherished the world over for decades. It’s a massive tome designed to devour your hours and titillate you with possibilities. Even though I only have containers now, I still relish sitting with a cup of tea and some post it notes, pondering what could be! You don’t need to be a crazy gardener to love this book. If you get excited to go looking at plants come springtime, this will be great company!”
KELLEY: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
Die with Zero presents a new and provocative philosophy as well as a practical guide on how to get the most out of your money―and out of your life. It’s intended for those who place lifelong memorable experiences far ahead of simply making and accumulating money for one’s so-called ‘Golden Years’.
Kelley Jones Workman (@kelley_moves), 55, shares: “What resonates with me about Die with Zero is investing in your experiences, and starting early. Everyone’s busy saving for the future and missing opportunities while they’re still able to take these opportunities. Understanding what the value of the experience to your life is in the memories that you’ll have. You can always work and make more money.”
Kelley’s bonus recommendations: Forever Strong and Atomic Habits!
DIANE: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Packed with evidence-based strategies, Atomic Habits will teach you how to make small changes that will transform your habits and deliver amazing results.
Diane Britt-Smith (@dianebrittsmith), 62, shares: “If you want to change your status but haven’t had the tools to do so, I recommend you get James Clear’s Atomic Habits right now!”
JOHANNA: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
A profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir by a young neurosurgeon faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis who attempts to answer the question ‘What makes a life worth living?’
Johanna Richardson, 30, shares: “When Breath Becomes Air changed the way I thought about living well, and dying well. It changed the trajectory of my purpose, work, and relationships, asked wonderfully challenging, blunt, and essential questions, and began a lifelong process of defining what actually matters.”
Live well and age better with your weekly 10-minute wellness habit. Join Movement Living to get your free wellness newsletter, delivered every Monday.
We put our expertise and know-how to work in order to pick products you’ll love. While we independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Movement Living a commission.
