7 Life-Changing Books That Everyone Should Read
The Secret Garden was the first book I read that struck a chord with me. I was ten years old and found the book on my sister’s bookshelf, caked with dust. On a whim, and because the cover had a whimsical-looking girl around my age, I started reading.
I was instantly hooked.
In my life, I had only ever felt connected through movies and shows: Teen Titans, Lord of the Rings, Static Shock, and so on. To read a book and feel these same emotions from words written on a page was magical. And so I kept reading and reading.
Now, as an adult, that feeling is still there. I’ve read countless books over the years, and while most of them have made me feel something, only a special few have stuck with me in important ways — ways that help me grow and evolve.
🤔 Why These Books?
The books I’ve listed for you are the ones that resonated with me the most. While most of these I read within the past few years, the oldest I finished nearly ten years ago. Consider this a list that is largely personal opinion and preference. Even still, anyone can take something meaningful away from them.
1. Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Have you ever taken someone’s words to heart and — in a moment of irrational and emotional thinking — started spewing hateful words? Did you start acting defensively because it was easier than feeling hurt or embarrassed?
Nonviolent Communication is a book about reading between the lines in an argument. It’s about hearing the root of what is being said rather than reacting emotionally. Not only that, but it teaches you how to express yourself in a way that is less defensive and more empathetic.
This book was eye-opening. As someone who avoids confrontation, I realized that keeping disagreements to myself until they boiled over was unhealthy. It taught me so much about communicating in a way that was, well, nonviolent and expressing myself when it mattered most.
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Speaking of self-expression, Sylvia Plath is an author who wove herself into her works through themes of death, violence, and depression. The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel about a character named Esther Greenwood who struggles with mental illness and identity. Similar to her fictional character, Plath spent time in a psychiatric ward. Unfortunately, due to her struggles with mental illness and the financial pressure from the ward, Slyvia Plath took her life a month after The Bell Jar was released.
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.” ― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
When I first read this book, it was during the summer of my first year at college. On one hand, I was still getting used to my newfound freedom and responsibilities; on the other, the fear of growing older had started to set in.
Pictures of Dorian Gray is a story about beauty and obsession. It’s a philosophical novel that explores the dangers of vanity in a horrifying and timeless way. While Dorian enjoys his eternal youth, the “picture” of him continues to age and highlight a lifetime of transgressions.
4. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
In 2009, Allie Brosh started a blog called Hyperbole and a Half, where she depicted her struggles with mental health through Microsoft Paint drawings. She shares the humor in her struggles while still portraying them in a very real way.
I’ve cried and laughed when reading her work. Sometimes, both at once. Her stories, especially Adventures in Depression shared her experience with debilitating apathy and the freedom she found in it. This is the only book I can read over and over and never grow tired of it.
5. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanithi was no stranger to the line between life and death. As a neurosurgeon, it was a fact of life that he saw daily. It wasn’t until Kalanithi himself was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer that the weight of his mortality became real. Unfortunately, he passed away ten months after the book was published, but he left behind a heart-wrenching memoir on life, death, and the reality of terminal illness.
After reading the final page and closing this book, I had to sit quietly with my thoughts for a while. It’s a novel that will never truly leave you, and in that way, Kalanithi has left an everlasting impact.
6. Atomic Habits by James Clear
I’m a bit of a sucker for popular self-help books. Unfortunately, most of them contain vague lessons that rely on fleeting motivation that quickly fizzles out. Atomic Habits is not one of those books; instead, it’s more of a guide to forming new habits and breaking bad ones.
A few of James Clears’ methods include:
- Starting Small
- Making It Obvious
- Making It Attractive
One method I still use is “Make It Obvious”. For example, if you need to go to the gym after work, have your gym bag ready beforehand. It’s a simple system, but that’s what makes it great for encouraging new habits.
7. Improvise: Scene From The Inside Out by Mick Napier
I took an improv class a few years ago. Growing up, I watched Whose Line is it Anyway? and dreamed of being as quick-witted and funny as Ryan Stiles or Colin Mochrie. Even though I didn’t know it then, improv would shape me in ways I never thought possible.
Improvise is a guide to accepting uncertainty and embracing the unknown. It’ll help you think on your feet, think creatively, and communicate in new ways — on stage and off.
“What I learned was not that you won’t have any doubts, not that you will never be nervous, but that you have to acknowledge that fear and proceed with courage.”― Mick Napier, Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out
Conclusion
Books affect us in different ways. Some stick with us for a short time, but a few, the really special ones, can last forever. I hope that one of these can stick with you, too.
Thanks for reading!
P.S. This is my first article on X, and I really enjoyed writing it. I look forward to more in the future! Also, check out God of Embers on Royal Road to read my ongoing serial novel.
Note: I originally published this article on X as a little peek into their new Articles category. You can see the original post here.
