Christmas is a season of love, reflection, and renewal, a time to reconnect with what matters most. For inmates across New Jersey correctional facilities, however, the holidays can bring feelings of distance and isolation. Families and friends often search for ways to bring comfort and connection to their loved ones behind bars.
At NJ Corrections Bookstore, we’ve helped families across the state send approved books to loved ones in correctional facilities for over 30 years. Our mission is simple: to connect families through the power of reading and to make sending inmate-approved gifts easy, affordable, and compliant.
Below, we share a curated list of the Top Inspirational Christmas Reads for inmates in New Jersey, books that embody the true spirit of the holidays: faith, forgiveness, hope, and renewal.
Why Inspirational Books Are the Perfect Christmas Gift for Inmates
The holidays can be challenging inside correctional facilities, but books bring joy and meaning when words of love can’t be spoken in person.
Here’s why inspirational books are among the best Christmas gifts for inmates in New Jersey:
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They bring emotional comfort. Reading helps inmates escape isolation and focus on personal growth.
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They inspire change. Stories of redemption and faith encourage self-reflection and transformation.
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They offer peace and purpose. Spiritual and motivational titles guide readers toward inner calm and positivity.
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They reconnect loved ones. Sending a book is a tangible reminder of care, hope, and family bonds.
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They’re NJ DOC-approved. When sent through NJ Corrections Bookstore, your books arrive safely and compliantly.
Books are more than gifts, they’re messages of love that last long after the holiday season ends.
Top Inspirational Christmas Reads for New Jersey Inmates
Here are ten of the most inspiring, inmate-approved books you can send this Christmas through NJ Corrections Bookstore. Each one delivers comfort, wisdom, and motivation, perfect for the holiday season.
1. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
A spiritual guide that helps readers understand God’s purpose for their lives, divided into 40 days of reflection and prayer.
Why It Inspires:
This book helps inmates discover meaning and direction in their faith. It’s especially powerful during Christmas, a season of spiritual awakening and renewal.
2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Written by a Holocaust survivor, this life-changing memoir shows how hope and purpose can sustain a person through the darkest times.
Why It Inspires:
For inmates facing personal hardship, Frankl’s message of endurance and meaning offers profound comfort. It reminds readers that faith and resilience can overcome any circumstance.
3. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
A spiritual guide based on ancient Toltec wisdom that reveals four powerful principles for achieving inner peace and freedom.
Why It Inspires:
This short, insightful read teaches inmates how to release negativity and live with honesty, peace, and purpose, perfect for reflection during the holidays.
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A timeless fable about following dreams and trusting the journey, even when the path seems uncertain.
Why It Inspires:
Coelho’s story resonates deeply with inmates. It’s a tale of hope, destiny, and spiritual discovery, reminding readers that everyone’s life has meaning.
5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
A world-renowned personal development guide that teaches responsibility, discipline, and self-leadership.
Why It Inspires:
This book provides inmates with tools to reshape their mindset and rebuild their lives. It’s a perfect New Year’s companion for goal-setting and transformation.
6. The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu
Two spiritual icons share wisdom, humor, and life lessons on how to find joy amid suffering.
Why It Inspires:
Filled with love and compassion, this book brings light into the darkest places. Its messages of forgiveness and gratitude perfectly match the meaning of Christmas.
7. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
A moving memoir from a civil rights attorney who fights for justice and redemption.
Why It Inspires:
Inmates deeply connect to Stevenson’s compassionate perspective on mercy and forgiveness. It’s an empowering story that gives hope for change and second chances.
8. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Brown’s book encourages readers to embrace vulnerability and imperfection as strengths.
Why It Inspires:
This title provides healing during the holidays by teaching inmates to accept themselves and move forward with courage and compassion.
9. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
A timeless classic on how thoughts shape actions and destiny.
Why It Inspires:
It reminds inmates that they have control over their mindset, and that positive thinking can lead to a brighter, more purposeful life.
10. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Mandela’s autobiography recounts his journey from imprisonment to leadership, forgiveness, and peace.
Why It Inspires:
Mandela’s life story mirrors the theme of redemption and perseverance. It’s a powerful example of how adversity can be transformed into purpose, a true Christmas message.
How to Send Inspirational Books to Inmates in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJ DOC) requires that books be:
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New, paperback only
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Sent directly from an approved vendor
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Free from personal notes, stickers, or alterations
Ordering through NJ Corrections Bookstore ensures your gift meets every NJ DOC regulation.
Here’s how to send books easily:
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Visit NJ Corrections Bookstore.
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Browse our selection of inmate-approved inspirational books.
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Add your chosen titles to the cart.
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Enter your loved one’s full name, inmate ID, and facility address.
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Place your order, we’ll handle compliance, packaging, and delivery.
We make it simple and secure to send meaningful Christmas gifts that uplift your loved one.
About NJ Corrections Bookstore: 30 Years of Trusted Service
For over three decades, NJ Corrections Bookstore has been connecting families and friends with their incarcerated loved ones through approved books, magazines, and newspapers.
As a NJ DOC-approved vendor, we ensure that every order is compliant and safely delivered, giving families peace of mind during the holidays and beyond.
Why Families Choose Us:
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30+ years of experience serving New Jersey correctional facilities
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Fully NJ DOC-approved vendor
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We handle everything after you place your order
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A curated catalog of spiritual, educational, and motivational books
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A mission built on literacy, hope, and connection
Serving Correctional Facilities Across New Jersey
We deliver to all New Jersey correctional facilities, including:
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Bayside State Prison
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East Jersey State Prison
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Northern State Prison
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South Woods State Prison
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Garden State Youth Correctional Facility
From Trenton to Newark, Camden to Paterson, we proudly serve every NJ DOC facility, ensuring every inmate can receive approved, meaningful gifts this Christmas.
Contact Us
- Phone: 201.559.0592
- Email: info@njcorrectionsbookstore.com
- Website: https://www.njcorrectionsbookstore.com
We make it easy to send inmate-approved inspirational books across New Jersey, safely, quickly, and compliantly.
Final Thoughts
The holidays are a time to give gifts that truly matter, gifts that heal the soul and inspire the heart. For inmates, a good book can provide comfort during loneliness and encouragement for the journey ahead.
At NJ Corrections Bookstore, we’ve helped families share love and inspiration through reading for over 30 years. Whether it’s a book about faith, redemption, or personal growth, your gift can change someone’s outlook, even behind bars.
This Christmas, send the gift of comfort, courage, and hope. Because even within the walls of a correctional facility, the spirit of Christmas, and the power of words, can still bring light.