12 Best Life-Changing Books Everyone Must Read For Inspiration

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Life is full of surprises and gifts. Sometimes they are big and sometimes small. However, some positive changes in our lives come from the reading of a single book. This article will discuss some of the best life-changing books I’ve come across.

Some of these books inspire us, teach us, make us think outside the box and give us a completely new outlook on life. The main idea behind this list of the best life-changing books is to bring more happiness and joy into your life.

The following are some books that have impacted my life, and I believe many other people. These best life-changing books have impacted the way I think about things and taught me valuable lessons. While some of these books helped shape who I am today, each book also played a role in shaping who I want to become. 

Whether you’re currently going through a difficult time in your life or just want to learn from the experiences of others, these 12 best life-changing books will help shape who you become. Pick up any one of these books to start your journey towards personal growth and success.

1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl

Life took on another meaning for me when I picked up Man’s Search for Meaning, the remarkable story of an Auschwitz survivor, Victor.

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”

It has been my goal to find the meaning of life. The question of why we are here, what does space mean, why do we live on, and why do we do the same thing every day?

After reading this book, I was convinced that humans don’t have a grand reason to live or continue despite suffering and adversity. His experience in the Auschwitz concentration camp offered him a unique insight into agony.

The women’s camp is where his wife died. The four other family members of Victor were also captured and killed. Everything he owned was lost. Despite this, he remained hopeful.

We should honor and cherish his philosophy and perspective on life. The book is worth reading.

You will find it to be one of those mind-opening novels that will make you appreciate how amazing it is that we are alive, breathing, and thriving at the same time.

2. The Buddha Said — Meeting the Challenges of Life’s Difficulties by Osho

The book has twenty-two chapters and is filled with humorous anecdotes that show why humans have trouble connecting with themselves, with others, and with nature. 

The book also discusses how to be happy, control our thoughts, the meaning of mindfulness and meditation, what to pursue, what to ignore, and how to go about it.

“The basic thing has to be understood: man wants happiness, that’s why he is miserable. The more you want to be happy the more miserable you will be.”

Whenever I’m having a hard time, I read one chapter of this book to calm myself down.

See also: 13 Best Inspirational Books for Men

3. Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Are you aware of what your strengths are? Reading this book will help you understand your basic strengths. You can use Strengthsfinder to find out what your strengths are and what to do with them.

With this book, you will learn how to use these strengths and work with others who have them.

According to the book, there are 34 strengths, and each individual has 5 key strengths that are best suited to them. This has been one of the best life-changing books for me as a team leader. Over the years I’ve used this book to learn how to leverage the strengths of my team members to achieve a common goal.

4. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Using a powerful metaphor, this story teaches readers how to pursue their dreams. It is easy to read with excellent descriptive language. Understand what challenges will arise, and learn how to channel your courage towards doing what you love.

5. 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

Featuring easy-to-follow directions and guides, this book is a practical masterpiece.  Business and individual users will find this useful.  Get in the habit of “putting first things first” and “beginning with the end in mind”. 

This book is a classic in management and leadership literature and should be mandatory reading for anyone who is in a position of influence.

See also: How to Make Money With Web Design:

6. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

It’s impossible to describe how much A Little Life broke me. You should know that it is not suitable for those with a weak heart, and comes with trigger warnings for sexual assault. It has immersive writing; unique literary devices, friendships, and unspeakable trauma.

Because of its challenging subject matter, it is not suitable for everyone, but the fact that it dives deeply into suffering, trauma, and empathy makes it a life-changing experience. Your memories of it will last a lifetime.

7. The Outsider by Albert Camus

Camus wrote The Stranger, one of the most famous works of the French philosopher. Despite their similarities, The Outsider has a very different translation and subtle dream-like aspects. 

Meursault, the protagonist of this classic existentialist story, has never shown remorse or adjusted according to social norms. There was more to him than just making others like him or accept him. 

As much as possible, he ignored society’s reaction, and sometimes even inadvertently put himself in danger. 

Camus teaches us to be okay about who we are through Meursault, and that we are all the more alike in the true essence of The Outsider.

See also: How To Make Money Blogging: 8 Ways To Monetize Your Blog

8. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Are you aware of what type of intelligence you have? Not only does emotional intelligence facilitate successful relationships, but it can also help you control your actions.

I learned everything about managing emotions from this book. The good news is that these skills can be developed.

Successful people and people who are less stressed often possess high emotional intelligence.

9. The Power Of Habit by Charles Duhigg

“Habits are powerful but delicate. They can emerge outside our consciousness or can be deliberately designed. They often occur without our permission but can be reshaped by fiddling with their parts. Habits shape our lives far more than we realize — they are so strong that they cause our brains to cling to them at the exclusion of all else, including common sense.”

The ability to form new habits has an immediate impact on your quality of life. Interested in losing weight? Become more productive? Regularly exercise? Creating successful businesses? It is certain that if you don’t develop habits, you will have a difficult time doing those things.

You will be overwhelmed by the power of habits once you read this book.

See also: How to Start a Small Business From Scratch in 9 Steps [With No Experience]

10. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Do you ever wonder what it took humans to get where we are now? This book provides History 101 in just 443 pages.

The author summarizes with great skill the most important theory, technologies, and advances from decades before we were even able to think, then the book ends with predictions for the future.

11. Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

The hype surrounding this book is well-deserved. If you read Kahneman’s book, your way of thinking will change.

Essentially, it summarizes his most important contributions since he first began as a cognitive psychologist in 1961. In my opinion, it’s one of the most influential books published in recent years.

12. Bird by Bird: Some Instruction on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

When I was just starting as a writer, I came across Bird by Bird. The author offers instructions to writers on life, writing, and patience.

Despite being a book for writers, it can inform you of ways to take life day by day, work hard, believe in yourself, and live life with no worries.

“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”

You’ll gain a better understanding of humanity by reading this book, if not a better writer.

FAQs

Can a book be life-changing?

Life-changing books are rare, but they are capable of altering the way you live and think. Fiction and nonfiction are both powerful means of shaping and changing our lives.

How many books do notable people read in a day?

Bill Gates reads about 50 books every year. A typical day for Mark Cuban involves more than three hours of reading.

How can I completely change my life?

  • Listen to audiobooks as often as possible
  • Do a clean out of all your friends
  • Start a LinkedIn page
  • Walk away from conversations that involve negative people
  • Remove negative media from your life
  • Start going on adventurous trips
  • Have faith in yourself.
  • Don’t worry about the outcome of everything

Read also: 101+ inspirational quotes.

Conclusion

It was a long ride but we’ve finally reached the end of this article about the best life-changing books.

There are so many life-changing books to read. What’s stopping you from reading a book for a week or two? And then return to the real world a changed person.

It’s true, you could always try different methods to read more, like audiobooks, e-books, or audiobooks. But sometimes it’s not about how fast you read a book, it’s about what you get out of the book.

I encourage you to get one of these books and change your life for the better. See you at the top.

Tosinajy teaches you how to make money online, the tools you need, and solutions to common issues you may encounter.

Thanks for reading.