11 Motivational Books That Will Help You Achieve Your Dreams

motivational books

Working to achieve your dreams is no easy feat. While you'll definitely have days where things are going perfectly according to plan, you're sure to encounter some tough times as well. Since giving yourself a pep-talk to boost your confidence or watching the most inspiring TED talks of all time doesn't always do the trick, we pulled together a list of some of the most motivational books to help you stay the course. Full of truths, testimony, mantras and stories, they promise to lift you back up and get you where you're going. Bonus: They all make pretty great last-minute grad gifts too.

1. The Quarter-Life Breakthroughby Adam Smiley Poswolsky ($16): You don't have to stay stuck. This book, written for people in their twenties and thirties, promises to help you navigate self-doubt, uncertainty and feeling down in the dumps. Use its inspiring and smart advice to lift yourself up and find work that really matters to you. Break on through, young ones!

2. The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Doby Jeff Goins ($17): We love Jeff Goins' books for their well-explained thoughts, and this read is no exception. By digging into the actual act of working, he'll help you uncover where you can find more inspiration and motivation, as well as how to keep learning, growing and reaching toward your goals and dreams.

3. Born for This by Chris Guillebeau ($26): Though this is one of the more techy-feeling titles on the list (Guillebeau did pen the New York Times Bestseller The $100 Startup, after all), this book is based on principles that apply to pretty much anything you hope to accomplish. We especially adore the included how-to tips, which cover “hacking" your current job, making work work for you, finding joy in the everyday and so much more.

4. The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna ($17): This fantastic, visual and fun read explores the concept of “should verses must" and what both words mean in regard to your personal and professional dreams and goals. A creative, Elle Luna uses her own experiences to illustrate what the crossroads between the two can look and feel like.

5. The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander ($17): Stories and personal notes are the basis of this book, which presents 12 tactics for bringing thought and creativity into everything you do. This is a truly awesome read for recent grads, people thinking about trying something new as a side hustle or even those considering a career change.

6. Leading Women: 20 Influential Women Share Their Secrets to Leadership, Business and Lifeby Nancy D. O'Reilly ($17): You'll be incredibly inspired by the amazing women in this book. O'Reilly does a fabulous job profiling a series of gals who refused to give up, including best-selling authors and Emmy Award winners. Take their advice to exceed expectations with flying colors in your own life.

7. Find Your Happy Daily Mantras: 365 Days of Motivation for a Happy, Peaceful and Fulfilling Lifeby Shannon Kaiser ($18): Who doesn't love a good mantra? This lightweight read features an uplifting message for every day of the year. Use them daily to boost your confidence and discover your potential. This is the companion book to Shannon's bestseller Find Your Happy.

8. Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin ($17): If you're feeling unmotivated or generally down in the dumps, consider your habits. Gretchen Rubin's research can help you get your mojo back by making positive changes that'll give you the energy you need to make your dreams come true.

9. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes ($18): A major success story, Rhimes is the mastermind behind popular shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal — and this book, a memoir, became a bestseller. Be inspired by her abilities to overcome fear and push herself outside of her comfort zone, and then go and do the same.

10. 52 Cups of Coffee by Megan Gebhart ($13): A really cool collection of notes, Megan Gebhart has beautifully documented her thoughts following weekly chats over coffee for an entire year. Her idea to have the caffeinated conversations came after realizing she didn't want to work a nine-to-five job after graduating from college. If you feel similarly, you'll have extra appreciation for her 52-week emotional journey.

11. Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed ($17): If you've read or seen Wild, you're likely already a huge fan of Cheryl Strayed — and are sure to love this book, which is jam-packed with more than 100 of her best quotes. Pull the trigger on a copy for yourself or a friend who needs a pick-me up. We promise this will do the trick.

Which books inspire you? Tag us on Instagram @BritandCo to let us know!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


The sweet season of love just got even sweeterDunkin’s back at it again with some all-new menu offerings, just in time for Valentine’s Day! They just launched some delicious donut flavors in lieu of the holiday, including two of the “most requested” limited-time items.

Scroll on to see what’s on the 2025 Dunkin’ Valentine’s Day menu!

Dunkin’

Dunkin’ fanatics will know (and love) the two famed donuts returning to the V-Day menu: the Cupid’s Choice and Brownie Batter specialty donuts!

The Cupid’s Choice Specialty Donut is filled generously with Bavarian kreme and topped off with strawberry-flavored icing and some festive sprinkles.

The Brownie Batter Specialty Donut is filled with a chocolatey brownie batter-flavored butter creme. Then, it’s finished off with a rich chocolate icing and, of course, Valentine’s Day sprinkles!

Dunkin’

The rest of Dunkin’s donut lineup will be getting a Valentine's Day makeover, too! Through February 18, all of their filled donuts will be handed off to you in a lovely heart-shaped shell. Plus, every regular donut (including Munchkins!) that typically comes with sprinkles will be prepared with pink, white, and red heart sprinkles. I’ll take, like, 30! Thanks!

Dunkin’

The Dunkin’ Valentine’s Day menu officially launched on Wednesday, January 29.

Dunkin’

And if the returning donuts aren’t enough to fill your Dunkin' Valentine’s Day menu cravings, the coffee chain is pairing up with New York-based artist and muralist Corey Paige Designs for a super cute merch capsule collection. Launching January 29 at 9am ET, you’ll be able to shop two adorable crewnecks ($45), a hat ($25), socks ($16), and a heart-shaped tote bag ($25)!

Dunkin’

So, this season, make sure to snag a Dunkin’ Valentine’s donut (or a dozen!) and rock your love for the chain with some irresistibly cute merch!

Subscribe to our newsletter for more food news and seasonal menu drops!

This post has been updated.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

When I opened my Instagram feed and saw a picture of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal together again, my first reaction was "AH!" — especially since they're sitting on a couch, just like they do at the end of When Harry Met Sally. Not to mention the fact Billy's wearing a pullover very similar to his iconic cable knit sweater in the rom-com. The duo announced they're reuniting for a special surprise and we finally know what that surprise is: a 2025 Super Bowl commercial.

Here's everything we know about Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal's When Harry Met Sally Super Bowl commercial.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal recreate 'When Harry Met Sally's most iconic scene.

For Hellmann's mayonnaise's 2025, Super Bowl ad Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal headed back to Katz's Deli in New York City, where they filmed When Harry Met Sally's "I'll have what she's having" scene. You know, when Sally pretends to have an orgasm while eating her sandwich, proving to Harry that women really do know how to fake it.

Well, when Meg admits her sandwich "isn't doing it," a squeeze of Hellman's mayo fixes everything — and gets Meg to reenact the iconic movie moment. A surprise appearance from Sydney Sweeney, who tells the waiter she'll have what Meg's having, is the perfect way to end the ad!

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal made a joint Instagram post on January 22 teasing a big surprise. "It’s finally happening, we’re reuniting for something iconic," Meg says in the caption. "Can’t wait to show you all soon 💙."

My favorite thing about the post (aside from the surprise, obviously) is the fact that Meg and Billy are in outfits their When Harry Met Sally characters would totally approve of. Meg's blazer and button down and Billy's white cable knit sweater? Say no more!

"I bet it’s a Super Bowl ad ❤️," one user comments, while another agrees, "I need a sequel (but I’m thinking it’s a Super Bowl commercial?)."

Although a third comment totally summarizes how I'm feeling: "IT’S HAPPENING OH MY GOD EVERYONE REMAIN CALM."

Bleecker Street

The last time we saw Meg Ryan onscreen, it was for her latest rom-com What Happens Later. The movie follows two exes who spend a night of adventure together when they're stranded at an airport.

“It’s a different story than when you’re in your 20s,” Meg told Glamour. “I wanted to make something beautiful and offer a new way of thinking about what love is.”

And this new movie connects to her other films, like When Harry Met Sally, because “whatever was happening, they were destined to find one another," she continues. "There’s a comfort in the kismet and the idea of an inevitable connection. It’s a wonderland idea. It’s an enchanted idea.”

The Super Bowl ad comes a month after Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson's 'Gilmore Girls' reunion.

And old school media lovers are living large because this isn't the only reunion we've gotten lately! At the beginning of December, Gilmore Girls fans were in for a treat when Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson reunited as Luke and Lorelai for a Walmart commercial (alongside Sean Gunn as Kirk, naturally).

The commercial features Luke and Lorelai standing in Luke's diner talking all things "coffee coffee coffee," with Luke in his signature flannel and Lor wearing a sherpa jacket she'd be all over in 2025.

It all started when Lauren Graham teased the collab on Instagram, saying she had "something brewing." And Scott's post that he was "back at #LukesDiner for something really special," fans picked up on it. "KING LUKE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!?!?" one user commented. "I’m ready for whatever this is ☕️ 😍," a second added.

What do you think about Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal's When Harry Met Sally reunion? Check out Where To Stream The Best Meg Ryan Movies to prep for the surprise!

It's no secret that I'm an absolute fiend for a good pair of sneakers. Plus, my shoe collection is constantly growing, thanks to fashion's ever-changing sneaker trends. Last year, the Adidas Sambas ran rampant. Seriously – it seemed like I couldn't go anywhere without seeing someone sporting that classic trio of stripes.

But, it's 2025 – the new year undeniably brings in a whole new set of sneaker trends, and TBH, I'm glad we're collectively moving past the Samba-fication of fashion. This year's most prominent sneaker trends are, of course, still sporty, but a lot of up-and-coming styles are more experimental when it comes to their features.

I truly want to wear all of these sneaker trends in 2025 in one way or another. Shoes will always make (or break) an outfit, so hopping on the trend bandwagon will instantly make your looks that much more iconic.

Scroll on to discover the biggest sneaker trends of 2025!

1. Old School Track-Inspired Sneakers

Puma

Puma Speedcat OG Sneakers

In 2025, we're reimagining the ever-popular three-striped sneaker, especially with designs like this that recall popular retro track and field sneakers.

The single-stripe Puma Speedcats have been spotted on numerous celebs already, so they're bound to explode into the fashion canon quite soon. Snag your suede- and leather-covered pair in this simple black + white combo for endless outfit possibilities!

SeaVees

SeaVees Acorn Trainers

If you prefer your sneaks to provide a nice pop of color, opt for these trainers from SeaVees. This bright yellow colorway is truly living in my mind rent-free, but they also come in many more playful hues like red, green, and blue. Oh, they're also extremely comfy on the feet – they'll be perfect for you if you're on your feet frequently.

Onitsuka Tiger

Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Sneakers

The Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66's hit the scene hard around the same time as the Adidas Sambas did, growing popular for their sporty, streamlined silhouette. You can snag 'em in plenty of different colors – I personally love this yellow + green + red combo since it sets you up nicely for pairing with pants, skirts, sweaters, and the like.

2. Velcro Sneakers

Steve Madden

Steve Madden Momentum Sneakers

I'm fully on-board with this next 2025 sneaker trend – AKA ditching pesky laces for some simpler velcro bands. Not only do these velcro-ed sneaks expedite the getting-ready process, they also add some cool visual intrigue to the bottom half of your 'fits.

Veja

Veja Recife Sneakers

These black Vejas boast a contrasting gum sole that really channels skater style – and I love it.

Charlotte Stone

Charlotte Stone Conway Sneakers

Take the colorful route with this insanely cute mismatched pair. The plethora of colors and easy velcro bands on 'em are making my inner child sohappy.

3. Stark White Sneakers

Nordstrom

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Low Top Sneakers

Now onto the very opposite of the fun color spectrum. Stark white sneakers will be huge in 2025, especially cult-classic styles like these Converse kicks. They're easy to wear and pair, but the tricky part is just keeping them clean.

Nordstrom

Madewell Sidewalk Low Top Sneakers

When it comes to this sneaker trend, low-profile sneaks are the way to go. I think they'd be even more fun to wear with some colorful socks!

Nordstrom

Sam Edelman Pippy Platform Sneakers

For a lil' boost in height, opt for some punchy platforms. When it comes to low-top sneakers like this, cropped pants or jeans work wonderfully.

4. Technical Sneakers

Salomon

Salomon XT-6 Sneakers

This sneaker trend is by far my favorite for 2025 – likely because it speaks to the hiker in me – but technical sneakers aren't necessarily limited to outdoor adventure wear anymore! Technical sneakers still offer you all the benefits meant for athletic use, but people are wearing them way more casually these days.

Sneaks like the Salomon XT-6's (deemed 'sportstyle' shoes) have definitely earned their streetwear title, even though they were originally developed for long-distance runs in harsh conditions.

Sandy Liang's (now sold-out, but so cute) collaborative designs with Salomon showcase that these sneakers tap more into 'style' rather than 'sport', boasting ribbon laces and pristine baby pink colorways.

Keen

Keen Jasper Zionic Sneakers

Keen is another big brand when it comes to stylish technical sneaks. Their Jasper sneaker design is clearly climbing-inspired, functioning as an approach shoe if you were to hit the crag.

Though they speak strongly to my love for climbing, I'd also say that they're just as cool when worn on the streets. They've jazzed up the classic Jasper in this Jasper Zionic silhouette with more traction on the soles and 3 equally iconic colorways.

Merrell

Merrell Moab 3 Camo Waterproof Sneakers

Finally, these hiking sneakers are an undeniable fit for everyday fashion – the more-femme color palette is too cute. You could easily style them with the right skirt or mini dress. Plus, when it comes to trending colors, this brown + pink (I call it Neapolitan, like the ice cream flavor) pairing will be everywhere in 2025.

5. Ballet Sneakers

Nordstrom

Jeffrey Campbell Athletic Sneakers

Ballet sneakers are slowly becoming more and more popular. I love that they offer the cuteness of a ballet flat, but the comfort of a well-constructed sneaker. The best of both worlds awaits you with these adorable Jeffrey Campbell shoes!

Free People

Ash Rolls Sneakers

These sneaks from Ash Rolls boast a very New Balance-esuqe colorway with a combo of metallic silver and white. The key to ballet sneakers is the classic top strap!

Anthropologie

Jeffrey Campbell Regimen Ballet Sneakers

But you can also find fun lace-up styles like this, which also get right to the heart of ballet style. I'm obsessed with how far up the ankle these laces reach.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover + shop the hottest trends for 2025!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.