The Best I Read in 2024
Books that Transformed My Creativity, Career, and Mindset in 2024
If you’re reading this on Substack, chances are you read as much or more as I do.
I am ashamed to share how many books I read a year, lest you think I have no life. Suffice it to say it was enough books, so that narrowing this list down wasn’t easy.
Some are new releases, others are timeless favorites, but all of them stood out because they genuinely made an impact. These reads challenged my thinking, sparked creativity, and inspired real growth in my life and work. If you’re looking for personal development books (and some fiction thrown in) that go beyond surface-level advice and offer meaningful insights, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in.
Why These Books Made the Cut
With so many personal development and business books released each year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by endless recommendations. In 2024, I became more intentional with my reading—focusing on books that directly supported my goals in creativity, career growth, and personal well-being. Whether it was navigating professional challenges, deepening my sense of purpose, or simply needing an escape through fiction, these books delivered lasting impact.
Without Further Ado, Here is the Top 14 List
Professional Development & Business
14: 10X is Easier than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy came at the perfect time. Facing a challenging sales outlook for 2024, I was searching for ways to scale aggressively without expanding headcount. The strategies I implemented from this book helped grow our pipeline and guided some crucial personnel changes that have positioned us well for 2025. It even informed our mid-year theme of Right Thing Right Now.
“You don’t need to do more to achieve more. You need to do less, but better.”
“True success comes from narrowing your focus to your unique abilities and eliminating everything else.”
13: Winning on Purpose by Fred Reichheld, Darci Darnell, and Maureen Burns was an airport bookstore find from 2023 that I revisited in January 2024. Coming from the creators of the Net Promoter Score, this book reinforced a simple truth: happy customers create happy employees. I was so impressed that I bought a copy for our customer success manager, and we're actively implementing its principles.
“Loyalty is not a tactic; it’s a principle that guides every decision.”
“Happy customers are not just an end goal—they’re the foundation for happy employees and sustainable growth.”
12: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara proved that exceptional insights can come from unexpected places. Though rooted in the hotel/restaurant industry, its lessons about human interaction are universal and applicable to any business serving people (which is, let's face it, all of us!).
“Hospitality is not a product; it’s a feeling.”
“Greatness is built on a series of small, intentional actions that make people feel seen, valued, and cared for.”
Community & Personal Purpose
11: Purpose by Gina Bianchini, the founder of Mighty Networks, became more than just a read—it became a 30-day commitment. The book's Passion 30 exercise, which I completed faithfully (even while traveling across the international date line in Thailand!), helped crystallize my vision for building a community.
“The clarity you need isn’t found in more planning, but in action rooted in your passions.”
“Community is not built around followers; it’s built around shared purpose and connection.”
10: The Passion Test by Janet and Chris Attwood was a surprising discovery. Despite my self-proclaimed "PhD in personal development reading" 😜 this book had somehow eluded me. It proved instrumental in helping me define my life's meaning and purpose, contributing to my decision to launch this Substack and a YouTube Channel. I’m creating products around this because it WORKS!
“What you love and what you’re passionate about are the GPS coordinates to your true life’s purpose.”
“Clarity leads to focus, and focus leads to a life that truly fulfills you.”
Fiction: Escape and Reflection
9: The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella couldn't have come at a better time. This story about a woman's compulsory leave of absence resonated deeply with my own near-breakdown experience in May. Which I will write about in another post…
“Sometimes the best way to find yourself is to lose the version of you that’s trying too hard.”
“Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for being your best self.”
8: Funny Story by
offered the perfect summer escape, exploring the complexities of relationships and the courage to choose authenticity over others' expectations. It reminded me of when I moved to Chicago away from all of my family and friends after college, following my fiancè to his hometown. It did not turn out the way I thought it would.“Authenticity isn’t about being who others expect you to be; it’s about being brave enough to be who you really are.”
“Life’s greatest plot twists often lead to the most meaningful chapters.”
7&6: I was looking for some Irish-inspired reads to gear up for our family trip to Irealnd in August for the FSU-GT football game. I came upon Evie Woods's works: The Story Collector (which is on Kindle Unlimited at the moment) and The Lost Bookshop. These tales were a great way to immerse in Irish lore before my visit.
“Stories are bridges to understanding—both others and ourselves.”
“Books have the power to transport us, not just to other worlds, but to the depths of our own souls.”
Personal Growth and Creative Inspiration
5: The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton
“Writing is not about perfect words; it’s about courageously sharing your truth.”
“Your voice is your gift to the world—use it boldly and fearlessly.”
I mean. How can one help but love her? If you’ve never heard of her until now, you’re welcome.
4: How to Build a World Class Substack by
andClaire and Russell’s kindness and generosity shine through every page of this book. Their insights on storytelling and building authentic connections on Substack were, and are, a revelation. Their words and very actionable, practical advice and how-to’s gave me the confidence to find my voice and refine my messaging, making my platform stronger and more meaningful. They’re not just great writers—they’re incredible human beings. They just want to create, and spread and support creativity.
“Authenticity is the currency of connection.”
“Your audience doesn’t just want information; they want to feel seen, heard, and understood.”
This is my #1 goal; that you, dear reader, feel seen, heard and understood.
3: A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
This classic stoked my frustrations over not having a dedicated writing space in my house in California. As we were planning our move to Florida in the early fall I was seeking inspiration for my would-be office in my new home. Virginia Woolf, as she does, also fueled my determination to prioritize my creative dreams. Her timeless call for women to carve out space—both literal and metaphorical—is everything.
"So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters."
“The act of creating is a defiance of limitations imposed by society or circumstance.” AMEN
2: You Don’t Look Fat, You Look Crazy by Ashley Longshore
Ashley’s hilarious and empowering perspective was the perfect counter early in 2024 to the new year’s body-image pressures. Her bold humor and unapologetic authenticity reminded me to stop taking myself so seriously and embrace my perimenopausal journey with grace—and a lot of laughter.
“The only thing crazier than chasing perfection is believing it exists.”
“Embrace the mess—it’s what makes life and art interesting.”
Drum roll…as we arrive at my favorite book of 2024
1: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This one caught me off guard in the best possible way.
One of my favorite things to do in life is to either go to a bookstore, or a library and let the universe surprise me. I usually just go and peruse the end caps and just walk to whatever aisle and then pick up random books (usually the cover calls me first), read the description and intuitively I’ll know if I want to buy the book (or check it out of the library). This activity is my go-to Artist’s Date.
In the early summer of 2024, I went to Vroman’s in Pasadena looking for Irish travel books and picked up this beautiful short book. It is about a charming and heartfelt collection of letters exchanged between Helene (the author), a witty and book-loving writer in post-WWII Manhattan, and Frank Doel, a reserved bookseller in London. Their correspondence begins with Helene’s request for rare and out-of-print books and evolves into a warm and humorous transatlantic friendship. Their letters show a glimpse of the contrasting worlds of 1950s America and war-recovering England, as well as the deep human connections forged through a shared love of literature. The book celebrates kindness, cultural exchange, and the enduring power of written words.
Their exchange also inspired me to be more giving. I realized I have all but stopped buying gifts for people who are not my kids or my husband or my immediate family. And with them it’s either for Christmas or a birthday. I enjoyed picking out a birthday gift for a co-worker, after reading this book and even hand-wrote a letter to another friend.
There were lots of other books that didn’t make this list. One that stands out is The Book of Pluto by astrologer Steven Forrest. And Jenna Zoe’s Human Design book was a quick listen on Libby during a Saturday hike. My astrological and magical studies deepened significantly in 2024, not something I’m quite yet ready to come out with, but if this sounds intriguing, leave me a comment or send me a message!
I also re-read a few other books, like The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, and I even got to meet him virtually at an intimate setting during his launch of the Your Big Leap Year, in February thanks to East-West Bookstore (they have great events, check them out if you’re into this stuff).
What I have on the shelf now is so exciting and potentially controversial and I cannot wait to weave these learnings together. I’ve got work by Gregg Braden, W.B. Yeats, Alice Bailey, and Carl Jung among others. Stay tuned!
Have you read any of these books? Which book made the biggest impact on you this year? Drop your must-reads in the comments—I’m always looking to add to my list!