Welcome back to Subject spotlight, the blog series where we give you quarterly data-driven insights into a specific corner of the Canadian book market. In our previous post, we shared sales and library circulation data for the Fiction / LGBTQ+ BISAC subject. This time, we’re diving into the world of Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit titles. How did these titles perform during the first quarter of 2025? We find out with the help of our SalesData and LibraryData services!
Buying Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit
As shown in the graph below, year-over-year sales of Body, Mind & Spirit titles were up by 17% in January. However, sales decreased by 35% in February and 15% in March.
In 2024, sales increased by 12% from January to February, but then saw a decrease of 29% in March. Overall, the sales of Body, Mind & Spirit titles decreased by 20% during the first quarter of 2024
In 2025, sales dropped by 38% from January to February and continued to decrease by 7% in March. Overall, sales decreased by 42% during the first quarter of 2025.
These are the BISAC subcategories with the highest year-over-year increase in sales:
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Ayurveda — up 254%;
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Feng Shui — up 51%; and
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Angels & Spirit Guides — up 50%.
From January to March, the most purchased Body, Mind & Spirit subcategories were:
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Divination — 22% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit sales;
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Inspiration & Personal Growth — 18% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit sales; and
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / New Thought — 9% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit sales.
Borrowing Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit
Year-over-year, Body, Mind & Spirit loans increased by 81% in January. In February and March, loans decreased by 5% and 2%, respectively. Overall loans increased by 37% in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased by 25% in the first quarter of 2025.
Year-over-year renewals increased by 96% in January, 3% in February, and 14% in March. Overall, renewals increased by 38% in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased by 20% in the first quarter of 2025.
Which Body, Mind & Spirit subcategories were the most popular in Canadian libraries? From January to March 2025, these subcategories saw the greatest increases in library circulation compared to 2024:
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Hermetism & Rosicrucianism — loans up 125% and renewals up 300%;
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Occultism — loans up 114% and renewals up 198%; and
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Alchemy — loans up 100% and renewals up 167%.
During the first quarter of 2025, the most circulated Body, Mind & Spirit subcategories were:
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Inspiration & Personal Growth — 18% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit loans and renewals;
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Mindfulness & Meditation — 13% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit loans and 15% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit renewals; and
Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit / Healing — 10% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit loans and 11% of all Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit renewals.
Reading Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit
Here are the top selling and top borrowed Non-Fiction / Body, Mind & Spirit titles from the first quarter of 2025.
Top borrowed
Wintering by Katherine May
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 🍁
Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
Top selling
Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 🍁
Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
Embers by Richard Wagamese 🍁
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Phd
Stay tuned for future instalments of this series or sign up to our eNews for more digestible data on the Canadian book market.
Until next time!
Sales and library circulation data of Body, Mind & Spirit titles during the the first quarter of 2025.