Recommended Books & Podcasts

The Catalyst Library is like a cozy book nook for your brain. Here you’ll find handpicked reads on mindset, business, psychology, and creativity — plus a sprinkle of crochet magic. Every title is chosen to help neurodivergent makers thrive in life, craft, and beyond: from crochet pattern books and self-help gems to podcasts and audiobooks you can listen to while stitching away.

Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click and buy, I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). We only recommend what I genuinely love, use, or wish I’d found sooner.

How to Use This List

Start with your biggest pain point: Struggling with focus? Try "Atomic Habits." Money stress? Start with "The Total Money Makeover." Creative blocks? "Big Magic" is your friend. Click on the title to grab it straight from Amazon or Audible!

Mix education with inspiration: Pair a business book with a personal development title for balanced growth.

Listen while you create: Most of these are available as audiobooks - perfect for long crochet sessions!

Take notes: Keep a small notebook nearby to jot down insights while your hands are busy.

Join the conversation: Share your favorites in your community - what's resonating with your creative journey?

Remember: You don't need to read everything at once. Pick what calls to you right now, and trust that everything is figureoutable - one page (and one stitch) at a time.

📚 Mindset & Personal Development

Essential Foundations

• Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo - The ultimate mindset shift for tackling any challenge (perfect for craft overwhelm!)

• Atomic Habits by James Clear - Small changes that create big results in your creative practice

• Mindset by Carol Dweck - Growth mindset principles that transform how you approach learning new techniques

• The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy - Stop measuring backward and start celebrating progress

• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy - Why thinking bigger actually simplifies your path

For the Overwhelmed Creative

• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - Recovering creativity and overcoming blocks

• Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross – Neuroscience meets art therapy. This book explores how engaging with art can heal trauma, boost focus, and foster emotional resilience.

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - Living creatively beyond fear

• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - Overcoming resistance and procrastination

• The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin – A beautifully non-linear meditation on creativity that honors intuitive, messy minds

For Building Confidence

• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero - Stop doubting and start living

• The Confidence Code by Kay & Shipman - The science and art of self-assurance

• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown - Vulnerability as the path to courage and engagement

• The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins - Simple tool to beat hesitation and self-doubt

Productivity & Focus (Neurodivergent-Friendly)

• Real Self-Care by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin – A powerful reframe of wellness that prioritizes boundaries, agency, and internal calm over bubble baths and checklists

• Deep Work by Cal Newport - Creating focus in a distracted world (hello, social media!)

• How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis – Gentle, judgment-free strategies for getting through daily life with executive dysfunction

• The One Thing by Gary Keller - Focus strategies for overwhelmed makers juggling multiple projects

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown - The disciplined pursuit of less (perfect for WIP management!)

Self-Compassion & Emotional Wellness

• Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff - Essential for perfectionists and people-pleasers

• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown - Embracing vulnerability and creative courage

• Untamed by Glennon Doyle - Breaking free from expectations and living authentically

• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb - Mental health insights from both sides of the therapy couch

💰 Money & Financial Wellness

Personal Finance Foundations

• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey - Debt freedom and financial peace for creative entrepreneurs

• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki - Money mindset shifts for building wealth

• The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach - Simple systems for financial security

• You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero - Mindset blocks around money and worthiness

Investing & Building Wealth

• The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins - Straightforward investing advice

• The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley - Real wealth-building habits

• I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi - Practical money management for young adults

🚀 Business & Entrepreneurship

Online Business Essentials

• Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson - Becoming the go-to authority in your niche

• Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller - Clear messaging that converts browsers into buyers

• Two Weeks Notice by Amy Porterfield - Your step-by-step guide to leaving the 9-to-5

• Predictable Profits by Stu McLaren - Building systems for sustainable business growth

• The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau - Starting a business with minimal investment

Marketing & Content Creation

• Content Inc. by Joe Pulizzi - Building an audience before you build a product

• Platform by Michael Hyatt - Building your tribe and growing your influence

• Launch by Jeff Walker - Product launch strategies that actually work

• The Content Code by Mark Schaefer - Creating content that spreads organically

High Performance & Leadership

• High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard - Six habits of highly successful people

• Secrets of The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker - Thinking patterns of wealthy people

• Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss - Tactics and routines of world-class performers

🧶 Crochet & Craft Business

Pattern & Design Books

• Crochet Stitch Dictionary by Sarah Hazell - Essential reference for any serious crocheter

• The Fleisher's Knitting & Crochet Manual - Vintage techniques and timeless patterns

• Granny Square Crochet by Catherine Hirst - Modern takes on classic squares

• Tunisian Crochet by Kim Guzman - Master this unique technique

• 1000 Japanese Knitting & Crochet Stitches: The Ultimate Bible for Needlecraft Enthusiasts by Nihon Vogue - Intricate patterns with clear diagrams

Craft Business & Marketing

• Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis - Perfect for creative entrepreneurs who want to stay small and sustainable

• The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin - Selling your crafts successfully

• Craft the Rainbow by Brittany Watson Jepsen - Photography and styling for makers

• Made to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath - Why some ideas survive and others die

🎧 Podcasts for Stitching Sessions

Business & Entrepreneurship

• The Amy Porterfield Show by Amy Porterfield - Online marketing strategies and course creation

• The Marie Forleo Podcast by Marie Forleo - Business advice with heart and humor

• Online Marketing Made Easy - by Amy Porterfield Simple strategies for growing your business

• Goal Digger by Jenna Kutcher - Authentic business building for women

• The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss - Tactics and tools of world-class performers

Personal Development

• The Brendon Show by Brendon Burchard - High performance and personal development

• The Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo - Thought work and mindset coaching

• Unlocking Us by Brené Brown - Conversations about courage, vulnerability, and shame

• The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial - Daily motivation and mindset shifts

Creative & Maker-Focused

• Being Boss by Emily Thompson - Creative entrepreneurship and business building

• Creative Makers Podcast - A collaboration among makers from all over the United States and England, interviewing guests from all over the world furthering the diversity of the maker community

• Daily Creative by Todd Henry - Thriving in creative work

• Creative Pep Talk by Andy J. Pizza - Inspiration for creative professionals

Neurodivergent & Mental Health

• ADHD Experts Podcast - Strategies and insights for ADHD minds

• The Neurodivergent Woman - Supporting women with ADHD and autism

• Therapy for Black Girls by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford - Mental health conversations and resources

• Mental Illness Happy Hour - Interviews comedians, artists, friends, and the occasional doctor. Explores mental illness, trauma, addiction and negative thinking

• Ask Kati Anything by Kati Morton - Licensed therapist answers real questions about mental health, anxiety, and emotional wellness

🧠 Neurodivergent & ADHD-Specific Resources

Understanding Your Brain

• ADHD 2.0 by Edward Hallowell & John Ratey - A modern follow-up to Driven to Distraction, this guide blends the latest neuroscience with accessible strategies for thriving with ADHD.

• A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers by Sari Solden, MS and Michelle Frank, PsyD - How to cultivate individual strengths, honor neurodiversity, and learn to communicate with confidence and clarity

• The ADHD Advantage by Dale Archer - Leveraging ADHD traits for success

• Your Brain's Not Broken by Tamara Rosier - Self-compassion for ADHD minds

• How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It) by Jessica McCabe – From the creator of the wildly popular YouTube channel, this book promises real-talk strategies, self-compassion, and ADHD-friendly life tools. If the channel helped you feel seen, this book will help you thrive.

Productivity & Organization

• Order from Chaos by Jaclyn Paul - Cleaning and organizing with ADHD

• The Queen of Distraction by Terry Matlen - Strategies for women with ADHD

• More Attention, Less Deficit by Ari Tuckman - Practical ADHD management

• Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Russell Barkley - Evidence-based strategies for overcoming challenges in specific areas

📖 Audiobooks for Long Projects

Perfect for Mindless Stitching

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - Eye-opening investigation into how smartphones and social media are affecting mental health and wellbeing

• Are You Okay? by Kati Morton - Practical, compassionate guide to understanding mental health with actionable strategies

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - Understanding trauma and healing

• Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari - Fascinating look at human history

Business Deep Dives

• Good to Great by Jim Collins - What makes companies (and people) excel

• Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup – A grounded, motivating approach to entrepreneurship for people who are held back by fear or perfectionism

• The Lean Startup by Eric Ries - Building businesses that last

• Purple Cow by Seth Godin - Standing out in a crowded marketplace

• Start Finishing by Charlie Gilkey – A book for idea-rich, follow-through-challenged folks (hi, us). Learn to choose, prioritize, and finish the right creative projects without burnout.

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