Books are powerful things, aren’t they? Are you looking for books that will change your life? Are you wanting to get leverage on yourself, and make real changes, but you’d love a guide to assist you?
Here are some books that I really think can help improve and change your future. Each one conveys a powerful message in its own way that can touch the reader’s life and make it better.
So whether you’re just looking to change your life or just looking for something to read on your downtime I highly recommend the following books.
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1. Meditations (Penguin Classics)
Translator: Martin Hammond
A leading translation of Stoic philosophy in wise and practical aphorisms that have inspired Bill Clinton, Ryan Holiday, Anna Kendrick and many more.
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad
I never understood how wealth worked. This book completely changed the way I think about money and creating wealth.
3. Down and Out in Paris and London
Orwell is known for his scary dystopian masterpiece, 1984, and his political commentary, Animal Farm, but his nonfiction is where all the life lessons are. Down and Out is a great story about his life in poverty, how he learned to cope with a world crumbling around him, and how he worked to get himself out of it. A powerful and encouraging read.
4. Man’s Search For Meaning
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian Jew, studied neurology and psychiatry with a focus on depression and suicide years before being deported by the Nazis in 1942. He defied odds by lasting three years in concentration camps. He wondered why did some survive and others perish? What gave people the will to live? What gives life meaning?
There are so many little nuggets of gold in this book that just sit with you long after you’ve finished reading. It’s a short read and not as grim as the description would have you believe.
5. Girls to the Front
Whether you’re a punk or not, this is a great book about the origin of a movement called Riot Grrrl and the impact it had on music and feminism. It showcases some of the upsides and downsides to early ’90s feminism, and also illustrates just how influential these female punk bands were for the future of music.
6. Love, Freedom, Aloneness
Osho, one of the greatest spiritual thinkers of the twentieth century, explores the connections between ourselves and others in Love, Freedom, and Aloneness: The Koan of Relationships.
In today’s world, freedom is our basic condition, and until we learn to live with that freedom, and learn to live by ourselves and with ourselves, we are denying ourselves the possibility of finding love and happiness with someone else.
7. The Alchemist
An easy to read, highly descriptive, story that teaches a powerful metaphor – how to pursue your dreams. Learn the obstacles that will arise, and learn how to channel your courage on the path of what you value most.
8. Les Misérables
This story was incredibly powerful when it was first published over a century ago, and it still has that power today. It shows how working with everyone, whether impoverished or not, is the best goal for any life. Hugo also shows the importance of forgiveness and illustrates that humans are just plain complicated.
9. You Are a Badass
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you’ve never made before.
By the end of You Are a Badass, you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.
10. The Lord of the Rings
Some obstacles are easy to overcome, and others require you to push through some of the hardest parts of your life. The Lord of the Rings is a great example of what to do when you’re faced with a seemingly impossible challenge. Sure, it’s fantasy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t gain inspiration and encouragement to make some amazing improvements for your future.
11. Quiet
Being an introvert in an extroverted world can absolutely be difficult. Cain discusses what introversion really is, why people are introverted, and how they survive in an extrovert-dominated world. This is excellent reading for anyone, introvert or extrovert.
12. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
“Every so often a book comes along that not only alters the lives of readers but leaves an imprint on the culture itself. The 7 Habits is one of those books.” —Daniel Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and Drive
One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has captivated readers for 25 years. It has transformed the lives of presidents and CEOs, educators and parents—in short, millions of people of all ages and occupations across the world. This twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Stephen Covey’s cherished classic commemorates his timeless wisdom, and encourages us to live a life of great and enduring purpose.