Books Worth Reading: Mindset, Money, and Relationships for Busy Parents

As a homeschooling parent, I know how much your personal growth impacts your family life. When we take the time to develop ourselves—whether it’s improving our mindset, strengthening our relationships, or gaining control over our finances—it ripples into every aspect of how we parent and homeschool.

That’s why I’ve put together this curated list of books worth reading, especially for parents like you. These aren’t just any books; they’re the ones that have the power to transform your life, help you thrive, and support your journey as both a parent and an individual.

In this article, you’ll find books to inspire you, encourage growth, and help you tackle everyday challenges. Whether you’re looking to deepen your relationships, gain financial freedom, get organized, or better understand your own mind, this list has something for you. Let’s dive in and discover the books that can make a difference in your life—and your family’s, too.

Table of Contents: Books Worth Reading

Looking for a specific type of book? Click the links below to jump straight to the category that interests you most:

• Books About Your Brain: Understand how your mind works and how to optimize it.
• Financial Books & Money: Gain insights into managing money and building financial freedom.
• Leadership & Self-Development: Grow as a leader and improve your personal and professional life.
• Relationships: Strengthen connections with your partner, kids, and loved ones.

Bonus Resources

Near the end of this article, you’ll find links to other helpful articles featuring even more book recommendations.

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we know that while homeschooling and parenting resources may be your primary focus, other areas—like leadership, finances, and personal growth—can have a profound impact on your family’s homeschooling journey. That’s why we’ve curated these diverse resources to inspire and support you.

p.s. If you’re specifically looking for books about homeschooling, you can explore our dedicated list here.

Meet Jackie: Your Guide to Personal Growth and Homeschooling Success

Hi, I’m Jackie, the founder of HomeSchool ThinkTank and a life coach dedicated to helping parents thrive in every area of their lives. Over the years, I’ve discovered how important it is for parents to prioritize their personal growth—because when you grow, your family benefits too.

While homeschooling and parenting are at the core of what I do, I also understand how deeply your mindset, relationships, finances, and overall well-being impact your daily life. That’s why I became a certified life coach—to support parents not only in homeschooling but also in achieving their goals across relationships, organization, health, finances, and more.

To learn more about how I can help you, watch the video below and sign up for a free consultation. Let’s work together to create the life you envision for yourself and your family.

Click here to learn more about life coaching for parents.

Books Worth Reading: Personal Growth for Busy Parents

As parents, we often pour so much of ourselves into our kids and their education that it’s easy to forget about our growth. But here’s the truth: your personal development isn’t just about you—it’s about your entire family. When you invest in improving your mindset, building stronger relationships, or managing finances better, you’re setting an example for your children and creating a more stable, loving environment for them to thrive in.

I’ve learned firsthand that the more I grow as an individual, the better I can show up as a parent, a spouse, and a unique individual. That’s why I’ve created this list of books worth reading—because I want you to have the tools, inspiration, and guidance you need to thrive in every area of your life.

Whether you’re looking for practical advice, fresh perspectives, or encouragement during tough times, these books are here to support you. They’ve made a difference in my life, and I believe they can make a difference in yours, too.

Let’s explore the categories together and find the perfect book to meet you where you are today.

How These Books Can Help You Thrive

Here’s how you can use this curated list to make a meaningful difference in your life:

1. Choose a Category That Speaks to You
   Are you looking to deepen your relationships? Improve your finances? Or maybe you’re ready to focus on mindset and personal growth. Each category in this list is designed to address a key area of your life.
2. Start Small, But Stay Consistent
   As a busy parent, you don’t need to read a book cover-to-cover in one sitting. Even 10 minutes daily can create powerful shifts in your mindset and habits.
3. Take Action on What You Learn
   The real transformation happens when you apply the insights and strategies you gain from these books. Whether it’s improving communication, setting financial goals, or adopting a new perspective, small actions lead to big changes.
4. Get Help
   While you’ll gain insights from every book you read, it’s rare to make the progress you want without some form of support. As a certified life coach, I help parents overcome life’s challenges and achieve their goals. Click here to learn more about my life coaching services for parents.

Start Transforming Your Life Today

Are you ready to take the first step toward a better mindset, stronger relationships, and greater financial confidence? Browse the curated list of books in this article and choose the one that resonates most with you.

Click on the links to find these books on Amazon and start your journey today. And if you’re looking for even more guidance, remember that I offer life coaching and homeschool consulting services to support parents like you. Let’s grow together!

Relationship Books: Build Stronger Connections

Strengthening your relationships with your partner, children, and others in your life is one of the most impactful ways to create a loving, supportive home environment. These books offer practical insights and strategies to help you build deeper, more meaningful connections.

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  Discover timeless principles for improving communication, building rapport, and strengthening relationships in every area of your life.
• The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman
  Learn how to understand and express love in ways that truly resonate with your partner, improving your bond and relationship satisfaction.
• The Five Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively by Gary Chapman
  Discover how to identify and speak your child’s love language to foster a stronger parent-child connection.
• The Five Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively by Gary Chapman
  Navigate the challenges of parenting teens with love languages tailored to their developmental needs.
• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide by John Gottman, PhD and Nan Silver
  Backed by decades of research, this guide offers actionable advice to help couples resolve conflicts, improve communication, and build lasting happiness in their marriage.

For more parenting resources and book recommendations, click here.

Leadership & Self-Development Books: Unlock Your Potential

Whether you’re leading your family, a homeschooling group, or a team at work, personal leadership and self-development are essential to success. These books offer transformative insights to help you grow, inspire others, and achieve your goals.

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
  A timeless classic that teaches you how to prioritize, communicate effectively, and create habits that lead to lasting success in all areas of life.
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John Maxwell
  Explore the principles that make great leaders and learn how to apply them to inspire and empower those around you.
• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
  Discover how to focus on what truly matters by eliminating distractions and aligning your efforts with your highest priorities.
• Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
  Learn powerful lessons in accountability and leadership from two Navy SEALs, with practical applications for personal and professional life.
• Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership by John Maxwell
  Understand the art of asking the right questions to build stronger connections, solve problems, and lead more effectively.
• Row the Boat: A Never-Give-Up Approach to Lead with Enthusiasm and Optimism and Improve Your Team and Culture by Jon Gordon and P.J. Fleck
  A motivational guide to fostering a culture of resilience, optimism, and teamwork in any environment.
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
  Uncover the secret behind successful leadership by discovering your “why” and inspiring others to follow your vision.

For even more self-development inspiration, click here.

Listen Now: Why We Share These Types of Books…

Financial Books & Money: Build Wealth and Financial Freedom

Managing your finances wisely is a cornerstone of personal and family stability. These books provide valuable insights, practical strategies, and inspiration to help you achieve financial success and independence.

• The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Rich by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D., and William D. Danko, Ph.D.
  Discover the habits and lifestyles of America’s wealthiest people and learn how living simply can lead to financial success.
• Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki
  This groundbreaking book challenges conventional beliefs about money and teaches you how to make your money work for you.
• The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
  Packed with timeless financial wisdom, this book uses engaging parables to teach essential principles of saving, investing, and building wealth.
• Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker
  Learn how your mindset influences your financial success and discover actionable strategies to cultivate a wealthy mindset.
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
  A classic guide to achieving success, this book reveals 13 principles to build wealth and realize your goals through focus and determination.
• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
  Take control of your finances with Ramsey’s step-by-step guide to getting out of debt, budgeting effectively, and achieving financial freedom.
• Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
  Transform how you think about money and create a path to financial independence through mindful spending and saving.

Books About Your Brain: Unlock the Power of Understanding

These books go beyond general mindset advice and dive deeper into how your brain works. By understanding the science behind your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, you can make more informed decisions, improve learning, and foster personal growth.

• Brain-Based Learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn by Eric P. Jensen and Liesl McConchie
  A must-read for parents and educators, this book explores how the brain learns best and provides practical strategies to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman
  Discover how understanding and managing emotions can lead to greater success in relationships, work, and life.
• How the Brain Learns by David A. Sousa
  Gain insight into the latest neuroscience research and how it can be applied to improve teaching and learning outcomes for children and adults alike.
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
  This groundbreaking book explores how trauma affects the brain and body and provides actionable steps for healing and recovery.
• The Brain: The Story of You by David Eagleman
  A fascinating exploration of the human brain and how it shapes our identity, decisions, and connections with the world.
• Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life by Jill Bolte Taylor
  Learn how different parts of your brain influence your thoughts and actions and how to harness this knowledge to live a more balanced, fulfilling life.

For even more inspiration, click here to explore additional books on mindset and self-development.

A Thriving Family and a Thriving You

Imagine feeling confident, focused, and capable as both a parent and an individual. Picture yourself managing your finances with ease, connecting more deeply with your family, and approaching life’s challenges with a positive, resilient mindset.

When you take the time to invest in your personal growth, these results aren’t just possible—they’re inevitable. By reading the right books and applying what you learn, you’re setting an example for your children, creating a more stable family environment, and rediscovering your own sense of purpose.

Your growth impacts everything: your homeschooling, your relationships, and your day-to-day happiness. It’s a win for you and your entire family.

More Books & Articles for You: Explore, Learn, and Grow

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we’ve curated book recommendations across a variety of topics to support your journey as a parent and homeschooler. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practical advice, or strategies to simplify your life, you’ll find helpful suggestions throughout our website. Many articles include tailored book lists near the bottom, offering resources directly related to the topic at hand.

Here’s a quick guide to some of our top book lists to get you started:

• Minimalism: Simplify your life and create space for what truly matters.
• The Great Books: Explore the classics that form the foundation of Western culture.
• Best Books About Homeschooling: Gain insights and inspiration to guide your homeschooling journey.
• Unschooling: Dive into resources that support a child-led approach to education.
• Parenting: Strengthen your relationships and improve communication with your children.

Wherever you are on your journey, there’s a book waiting to inspire and guide you. Start exploring today!