{"id":83500,"date":"2025-09-24T21:09:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T21:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/83500\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T21:09:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T21:09:13","slug":"read-hoda-kotbs-2025-book-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/83500\/","title":{"rendered":"Read Hoda Kotb\u2019s 2025 Book Recommendations"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated4 min read<\/p>\n

Welcome to Shelf Life, ELLE.com\u2019s books column<\/a>, in which authors share their most memorable reads. Whether you\u2019re on the hunt for a book to console you, move you profoundly, or make you laugh, consider a recommendation from the writers in our series, who, like you (since you\u2019re here), love books. Perhaps one of their favorite titles will become one of yours, too. <\/p>\n

Hoda Kotb\u2019s sixth book for adults, Jump and Find Joy<\/a>, is about change\u2014and leaving The Today Show after 17 years to now lead her wellness company, Joy 101<\/a>, was a seismic one for Kotb. (The co-anchor left the program in January, having been an employee at NBC for 26 years; she started as a Dateline correspondent.) <\/p>\n

Stories she covered over the years include the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; and several Olympic games. She\u2019s interviewed<\/a> Taylor Swift<\/a>, Jennifer Lopez<\/a>, Prince Harry<\/a>, and Simone Biles<\/a>, among many others. When Kotb announced her departure from The Today Show, Jimmy Fallon<\/a> sent her a bottle of wine with a card that read, \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Kotb doesn\u2019t regret her decision\u2014and wants to inspire readers to take similar leaps. Of her new book, she says, \u201cI want readers to have a cozy space where they can feel less scared to make a jump, big or small. I think if you can read about a person who\u2019s done what you\u2019re dreaming about doing, it\u2019s a confidence boost: Oh, that\u2019s what it looks like on the other side.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Oklahoma-born, West Virginia- and Virginia-raised, New York-based bestselling author has a name<\/a> she says is as common as \u201cJane Smith\u201d in Egypt, from which her parents emigrated; was her high school\u2019s Homecoming queen<\/a>; majored in broadcast journalism at Virginia Tech University, where she was a pledge trainer in her sorority, Delta Delta Delta; got her first anchor gig at a CBS affiliate in Greenville, Mississippi, after 27 rejections; is a breast cancer survivor; sang on The Voice<\/a>; has a Barbie doll<\/a> in her likeness; has officiated three weddings; and has also written three children\u2019s books.<\/p>\n

Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life by Hoda Kotb with Jane Lorenzini<\/p>\n

\"<i>Jump<\/a><\/p>\n

Now 30% Off<\/p>\n

Credit: G.P. Putnam’s Sons<\/p>\n

Likes<\/strong>: wine; Blake Shelton; sunrises<\/a>; Oribe<\/a> Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray; Pop-Tarts<\/a>; her mother\u2019s baklava<\/a>; taking walks; using meditation, journaling, and SoulCycle for wellness.<\/p>\n

Dislikes:<\/strong> yoga<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Grow your TBR pile with her recommendations below.<\/p>\n

The book that…:\u2026I recommend over and over again:<\/p>\n

I Am Maria<\/a> by Maria Shriver, because her book makes you think about your approach to life. Maria is so honest about her journey that you want to be honest, too. I see her work as a license to be your most authentic self\u2026and to release your inner poet!<\/p>\n

    …I swear I’ll finish one day:<\/p>\n

    The Seeker\u2019s Guide<\/a> by Elizabeth Lesser. One year later and I still haven\u2019t cracked it. But soon\u2026<\/p>\n

      …currently sits on my nightstand:<\/p>\n

      The Book of Awakening<\/a> by Mark Nepo. I keep it there because you can devour his beautiful messages in bite-sized pieces before nodding off.<\/p>\n

        …I\u2019d pass on to a kid:<\/p>\n

        What Do You Do with a Chance?<\/a> by Kobi Yamada. It\u2019s like a pompom for kids, cheering them on to take a chance on themselves.<\/p>\n

          \u2026I\u2019d give to a new graduate:<\/p>\n

          The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse<\/a> by Charlie Mackesy. The only thing I love more than this book is its author. Charlie is darling and loving and insightful, just like his writing. Graduates\u2014and everyone else\u2014will adore the universal life lessons shared in this beautifully illustrated and precious book.<\/p>\n

            \u2026I\u2019ve re-read the most:<\/p>\n

            The Pivot Year<\/a> by Brianna Wiest. We change throughout life, so Brianna\u2019s 365-day approach reveals how her messages hit you differently year after year. What speaks to you on the first read changes as you grow. Every time I read it, I find what I need at that moment.<\/p>\n

              …I consider literary comfort food:<\/p>\n

              The Growing Season<\/a> by Jane Lorenzini. My dear friend was born to write novels\u2026and anything else. Plus, who knew girls\u2019 tomato clubs were a thing back in the day?<\/p>\n

                …sealed a friendship:<\/p>\n

                The Next Day<\/a> by Melinda French Gates. I so enjoyed my time with Melinda hosting her Chicago book event! I now consider her a friend.<\/p>\n

                  \u2026everyone should read:<\/p>\n

                  Living, Loving & Learning<\/a> by Leo F. Buscaglia. I give this to everyone because all of us face change throughout life. I like Leo\u2019s positive approach to it: Change is one of the joys of living! He\u2019s also a big proponent of hugs, just like me.<\/p>\n

                    \u2026.fills me with hope:<\/p>\n

                    A Different Kind of Power<\/a> by Jacinda Ardern<\/a>. This memoir offers such a refreshing take on leadership. The former prime minister of New Zealand writes about leading with both kindness and action. Her journey from small-town girl to world leader is inspiring and beautiful.<\/p>\n

                    …I\u2019d want signed by the author:<\/p>\n

                    We all know him as co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul<\/a> series, but author and motivational speaker Jack Canfield is so much more. He\u2019s a lifelong seeker, and I\u2019m into his vibrant energy. I hope I\u2019m as curious in my 80s! He can sign anything I own.<\/p>\n

                    Bonus question: If I could live in any library or bookstore in the world, it would be:<\/strong> <\/p>\n

                    The Library of Congress<\/a>, because my mom worked there for more than 30 years!<\/p>\n

                    Read Hoda Kotb\u2019s Book Recommendations\"<i>I<\/a>I Am Maria by Maria Shriver<\/p>\n

                    Now 22% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: The Open Field\"<i>The<\/a>The Seeker\u2019s Guide by Elizabeth Lesser<\/p>\n

                    Now 40% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Random House Publishing Group\"<i>The<\/a>The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo<\/p>\n

                    Now 21% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Red Wheel\"<i>What<\/a>What Do You Do With a Chance? by Kobi Yamada<\/p>\n

                    Now 60% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Compendium\"<i>The<\/a>The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy<\/p>\n

                    Now 68% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: HarperOne\"<i>The<\/a>The Pivot Year by Brianna WiestCredit: Thought Catalog Books\"<i>The<\/a>The Growing Season by Jane Lorenzini<\/p>\n

                    Now 85% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Nest Press\"<i>The<\/a>The Next Day by Melinda French Gates<\/p>\n

                    Now 59% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Flatiron Books\"<i>Living,<\/a>Living, Loving & Learning by Leo F. Buscaglia <\/p>\n

                    Now 34% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Ballantine Books\"<i>A<\/a>A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern<\/p>\n

                    Now 41% Off<\/p>\n

                    Credit: Crown <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"4 min read Welcome to Shelf Life, ELLE.com\u2019s books column, in which authors share their most memorable reads.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":83501,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[265],"tags":[1196,55532,13195,18,117,346,19,17,590,55531,128],"class_list":{"0":"post-83500","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-content-type-round-up-products","9":"tag-contentid-0365eadf-4e87-42ea-a7ca-86e37e5ee673","10":"tag-displaytype-long-form-article","11":"tag-eire","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-hasproduct-true","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-locale-us","17":"tag-shorttitle-shelf-life-hoda-kotb","18":"tag-tv"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83500\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}