25+ Best Nonfiction Books for a Cozy, Intentional Life

Updated: April 2026

It has been the year of SLOW for me. I’ve been working towards a slow way of living ever since becoming a mother but I will be honest. It has been very hard to break certain habits because I have always been a “get it done yesterday” kind of person. I still am and always will be, to some degree, I think. But I have been making more conscious choices and have worked hard to remind myself to slow down.

In the same breath, our family has also been in the middle of decluttering and owning less. We do not want our stuff to own us. We have made some big strides here and our home finally feels like it can BREATHE.

But of course, this is an ongoing process, so I am always reading reading reading to inspire myself and stay on this path. I wanted to share a number of resources with you if you are also wanting to slow down or live a more intentional life. I am including a wide variety of books, from minimalism to getting outside more often. All of them have had a hand in shaping our family culture.

If you’re drawn to slow living, minimalism, and creating a cozy, intentional life, these nonfiction books will inspire a simpler, more meaningful way of living.

“We were never meant to live life accumulating stuff. We were meant to live simply enjoying the experiences of life, the people of life, and the journey of life – not the things of life.” -Joshua Becker

📖If you love getting lost in fiction, don’t miss: The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Cozy Girls in 2026

Cozy, Slow & Intentional Living

Cosy by Laura Weir: This little book brought such a great reminder to just how cozy your life can and should be. It was uplifting and made me appreciate the slower, mundane days.

Seeking Slow by Melanie Barnes: One of my favorites on this whole list, covering a span of topics such as managing your time, making a slow home, and gentle daily rituals. It serves as great inspiration and nice reminders.

Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature by Rachel Williams: This is arguably a children’s book but I read it with my daughters and it was so beautiful and profound and a lovely reminder to slow down and appreciate nature and the world around us. It now sits on our coffee table.

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking: This book helped me to overcome seasonal depression in the past. It made me appreciate the small and simple things that the dark and cold months bring. I am very much in my hygge era and glad for it. I loved it so much, I bought it for my coffee table.

An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler: Wow, this one not only made my mouth water, but was full of wisdom and insight to bring into my own kitchen and cooking habits. The writing was very warm and because of that, it has stuck with me for years.

Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World by Brooke McAlary: This is one of the first slow and intentional living books I’ve ever read because I was drawn to the cover. It is pretty light but a nice gateway into the subject.

How to Be a Wildflower by Kate Daisy: This is a coffee table book filled with gorgeous artwork by Katie Daisy, quotes, recipes, and earthy reminders. I have had it as a coffee table book for years because it is so very thoughtful. I will flip to a random page and be inspired.

Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle: This is a short and quick read but will really challenge the way you think. A spiritual book about living in the now. Fascinating.

Simple Matters by Erin Boyle: This was a light and simple read about simplicity and I appreciated the little nuggets of wisdom I took from it.

How to Break Up with Your Cell Phone by Catherine Price: This is an amazing read to remind you to put your phone down and live in the moment and live the life in front of your own eyes, not on a screen! Highly recommend to everyone.

A Simpler Motherhood by Emily Eusanio: This books covered everything from tips on decluttering to how your home can function best. This was a refreshing read when I was in the trenches of the early toddler years.

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: Oh, I loved this book so much. I think everyone should read it in this digital world we live in. Phones and information is at our fingertips and it can be hard to look up for some. This was an eye-opening read with practical ways to be on your phone less.

Living with Less

The More of Less by Joshua Becker: He is one of the best authors on minimalism out there. He makes it easy to go through your home, no matter how much you have. I also loved his book Clutterfree with Kids

Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki: This book can seem a little extreme (it’s a single man writing about his relationship to minimalism) but I appreciated the perspective.

The Joy of Less by Francine Jay: There’s nothing new in here that is in any other of the minimalism books but this was a light and refreshing way to look at this topic. If you want something simple, maybe start here.

Messy Minimalism by Rachelle Crawford: I appreciated this minimalism book for its realness. Life is messy and it will never be “perfect” when it comes to minimalism for some of us. We can define our own minimalism… it’s not the same for everyone! This book just a great job in not making you feel bad if your home isn’t the typical style of minimalistic we see constantly.

Minimalist Moms by Diane Boden: I always tend to appreciate and gravitate towards books catering to mothers (naturally), and this one was really insightful.

How I Raise My Family

Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt: Lots of fun ideas to reference for your own family traditions.

How to Raise a Reader by Maria Russo: Because I truly believe the love of reading is one of the greatest gifts that you can give your children. This book is 5-stars all day.

The Creative Family Manifesto by Amanda Blake Soule: This book encourages you to use what you have around you and harness the power of your imagination to relax and play together as a family. And who doesn’t want to raise creative children?

How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King: This is one of the only parenting books that I really really loved and swear by. Great tips on how to communicate with your children in a gentle way that will work. I am NOT perfect but I do my very best to reference this book and re-read to try and make some of these “talk tracks” a habit.

The Rhythm of Family by Amanda Blake Soule: My gosh, I just really really enjoyed this book. A husband and wife go through each month of the year and share stories, traditions, and the things that they celebrate during seasonal shifts. It was very comforting to read and has inspired a number of ideas for our own family moving forward.

Simplicity Parenting: by Kim John (M.Ed) Payne and Lisa M Ross I loved this book because it encourages you to slow down, have less, do less, and to be gentle with your family. Very inspiring.

The Book of New Family Traditions by Meg Cox: Another book with tons of suggestions for family traditions. You don’t have to go crazy and do every single thing under the sun but this is a great book to inspire. We’ve been trying a few new traditions out in our family. Not all of them will stick, but it is fun to find what will!

Getting Outside More

Forest Therapy by Sarah Ivens: I love love loved this book because it was an easy and fast read and shared light-hearted tips on how to really bathe in nature.

The Enchanted Life by Sharon Blackie: What a gorgeously written book that really gets at the heart of what it means to be enchanted and how we have allowed the man-made world to disenchant us. This was a slower read for me and a little tedious at times but it is great food for thought that you can really chew on. I read a chapter every few days.

There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Åkeson McGurk: As a mom, this book really did it for me. It goes into the importance of getting outdoors (with kids especially) and truly did shift my mindset on the weather.

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