Great Books for Your New Year's Resolutions!

It's easy to make New Year's resolutions but often hard to stick to them once January rolls past. Popular resolutions include to exercise more (or start exercising), lose weight, budget, quit smoking, quit drinking, become more organized, read more, improve spirituality and travel. This guide offers 10 books to help those common New Year's resolutions become a reality.

Exercising

Recommended title: "The Core Program: 15 Minutes a Day That Can Change Your Life"

Authors: Peggy Brill and Gerald Secor Couzens.

List price: $16. ISBN-10: 0553801392. ISBN-13: 978-0553801392

Paperback: 256 pages

Far from just another list of hard, time-consuming exercises, "The Core Program: 15 Minutes a Day That Can Change Your Life" outlines in words and pictures exercises even the most time-pressed or mobility-limited person can do. Inspired by yoga and Pilates, personal trainer Peggy Brill's writing and exercise styles are refreshing and sure to keep you inspired yearlong.

Weight Loss

Recommended title: "Stephanie Oakes' Burn Off 10 Pounds a Month: The Ultimate Exercise Program for Quick (and Lasting) Weight Loss"

Author: Stephanie Oakes.

List price: $14.95. ISBN-10: 1592331602. ISBN-13: 978-1592331604

Paperback: 192 pages

A Nike spokesperson, author Stephanie Oakes offers 10 simple workouts and dietary tips that will enable people to lose 10 pounds a month while strengthening their body and improving overall health. The tips are not complicated, and the fitness regimen incorporates interval walking. Oakes combats the "I don't have time" with anecdotes from readers and herself, a busy mother of two.

Quitting Smoking

Recommended title: "How To Quit Smoking Even If You Don't Want To"

Author: Barbara Miller.

List price: $17.35. ISBN-10: 1552123448. ISBN-13: 978-1552123447

Paperback: 110 pages

Many smokers know they should quit, but deep down they don't want to. Barbara Miller snuffs out the problem of unwillingness in "How To Quit Smoking Even If You Don't Want To." She offers plans and exercises for smokers to not only quit but find the willingness to quit if that is the true problem. The book offers a no-nonsense tone without becoming yet another sermon on the "evils of smoking."

Quitting Drinking

Recommended title: "How to Quit Drinking without AA: A Complete Self-Help Guide"

Author: Jerry Dorsman.

List price: $15.95. ISBN-10: 076151290X. ISBN-13: 978-0761512905

Paperback: 322 pages

Alcoholics Anonymous is perhaps the best known method of getting people to quit drinking, but what about those who are not true alcoholics or are not interested in turning their lives over to spiritual principles? "How to Quit Drinking without AA: A Complete Self-Help Guide" offers an array of tips, reminding the reader that no matter how much they've drank, there is always a non-alcoholic part of each person. Suggestions include better diet, exercise, acupuncture, tai chi and worksheets to address the issues behind the reader's drinking.

Reading

Recommended title: "A Passion for Books: A Book Lover's Treasury of Stories, Essays, Humor, Lore, and Lists on Collecting, Reading, Borrowing, Lending, Caring for, and Appreciating Books"

Edited by Rob Kaplan and Harold Rabinowitz; forward by Ray Bradbury.

List price: $16.95. ISBN: 978-0-307-41966-8 (0-307-41966-5)

Paperback: 384 pages

Even the most hardcore bibliophile goes through reading dry spells. Whether books are your first love or not, the pages within "A Passion for Books" can help you meet your New Year's Resolution of reading and appreciating books of all kinds a lot more.

Writing

Recommended title: "One Year to a Writing Life: Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer's Art and Craft"

Author: Susan M. Tiberghien.

List price: $15.95. ISBN-10: 1600940587. ISBN-13: 978-1600940583

Paperback: 288 pages.

Many people dream of writing, but only some of them actually take pen to paper. "One Year to a Writing Life: Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer's Art and Craft" is designed for freelance writers of every experience level. Time constraints are no longer a valid excuse thanks to the author; many of the prompts can be done in as little as 10 minutes.

Budgeting

Recommended title: "The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich"

Author: David Bach.

List price: $12.95. ISBN-10: 0767923820. ISBN-13: 978-0767923828

Paperback: 272 pages.

Tired of not having enough money for the present, let alone the future? Author David Bach has helped millions with his seminars and "Finish Rich" series of books. Bach powerfully points out the "Latte Factor" in each book, explaining that it is the seemingly small purchases like daily coffee and candy bars that ruin people's chances of lasting wealth and budgetary peace of mind. "The Automatic Millionaire" is no exception. It also explains how to set up an emergency fund, maximize your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and spend smarter.

Organizing

Recommended title: "One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good"

Author: Regina Leeds.

List price: $16.95. ISBN-10: 1600940560. ISBN-13: 978-1600940569

Paperback: 320 pages.

With a fitting title for a New Year's Resolution, "One Year to an Organized Life" gives step-by-step tips on straightening out your emotional, financial and physical clutter. For those who are trying to declutter before moving, there is also a variety of applicable steps for even the most harried adult to take.

Spirituality

Recommended title: "Spirituality for Dummies"

Author: Sharon Janis.

List price: $24.99. ISBN-10: 0470191422. ISBN-13: 978-0470191422

Paperback: 366 pages

Unlike many spirituality books on the market, "Spirituality for Dummies" offers information from a variety of religious and philosophical traditions. Not only does it come with a CD of uplifting music that people of all religions - or no religion at all - can enjoy, it has an abundance of ways you can fulfill your life purpose and find your own spirituality.

Traveling

Recommended title: "1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List"

Author: Patricia Schultz.

List price: $19.95. ISBN-10: 0761104844. ISBN-13: 978-0761104841

Paperback: 972 pages

Want to travel but struggle to find the time or money? "1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List" is just a start on the many traveling opportunities that await people of all budgets and time constraints. The text inspires you to not only dream of travel but actually do it. From the Great Wall of China to Montana, this almost-encyclopedic resource is one of Amazon's top sellers and will speed reluctant but wistful travelers into action.