The 16 Best Life-Changing Books You Need to Read
Are you looking for life-changing books to include in your collection? You’re in the right place!
Reading is an important ingredient in becoming a leader and succeeding in life. Books can capture your heart and mind, open your imagination, make you laugh and cry, inspire you, challenge you to think about the world in a new way, and give you hope in difficult times.
Reading helps you grow both in your professional and personal life. It boosts your creativity and helps you come up with new ideas. But it’s not just about opening a book and reading it. It’s about applying what you’re reading to your life.
The 16 Best Life-Changing Books You Need to Read will completely change the course of your life. They teach you meaningful lessons about life and yourself and have a profound impact on your actions and future. These books have shaped who I am today and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.
Education doesn’t end after graduation. We are either growing or we’re dying, and it’s our choice which one we do. You become more knowledgeable, wiser, focused, and more likely to succeed through reading.
16 Best Life-Changing Books You Need to Read
The saying, “Leaders are readers,” is absolutely true. But I know that you’re thinking, “But I don’t want to read!” We all felt that way after high school or college, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: If you’re not willing to read, you’re not willing to grow.
Even if you’re very busy and don’t have a lot of time to read, remember that a little a day goes a long way.
Through being an avid reader, I have a better understanding of leadership, mindset, success, and myself in the last 19 years after graduating college than I ever did in the classroom. Do you know how? By investing in myself through books! A $15 book was worth so much more than my $60,000 college education.
This list of like-changing books has taught me, entertained me, exposed my weaknesses, and helped me discover and develop my strengths. Let’s dive in!
Failing Forward by leadership coach John Maxwell
This book had a profound impact on me as it taught me that success ONLY comes through failure.
John Maxwell is probably my favorite leadership coach and author. He has been my “mentor” from afar and shares leadership principles in a way that is understandable and attainable.
I used to think that failure was a bad word. Getting a “B” on my report card was not acceptable, and even losing a board game was somewhat defeating to me. What I thought was that losing meant I was a failure.
At our jobs, we are expected to be seemingly perfect. We get strikes on our files if we mess up, and we can’t have too many of those before we’re replaced. It scares us into not trying new things because we don’t want to fail.
Through this book I learned how to turn mistakes into turning points for success, and, more importantly, if I’m not willing to fail, then I also won’t win. You can’t win something you don’t try.
John shares that what matters most is what we do after we fail. Do we stay there and wallow in our failure, or do we get up, brush ourselves off, and take the lessons from failure to use for future success?
“There is no doubt in my mind that there are many ways to be a winner, but there is really only one way to be a loser and that is to fail and not look beyond the failure.”
— Kyle Rote Jr., quote in Failing Forward
That’s a powerful quote! We can’t dwell on our past mistakes. We can’t live life comfortably and void of failure if we want to step up and go after our dreams.
The things that matter will take us falling on our faces, scraping our knees, losing, failing, and making mistakes many times over to come up with the solution to get us to our victory.
Are you willing to fail forward?
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek will encourage us to ask the big question of why before we choose what to pursue.
Ask yourself what your motivation and purpose is. When your actions are aligned with a purpose, you become motivated, effective, and resilient even in the face of setbacks and roadblocks.
The book uses past experiences of great leaders and how they communicated and inspired others. They had the greatest influence in the world because they all think, act, and communicate the same way- a powerful idea the author calls The Golden Circle.
It provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with why.
According to the author, successful companies are those that know their way, communicate it, and ensure that employees are aligned with it. Their employees are the best resource because they’re excited about the company’s mission. In challenging times, they’ll find a way to make it.
Interestingly, this inspirational bestseller started from a TED Talk but has now transformed the world of business. This is one of my favorite books as it empowered me to build a purpose-driven life and business.
“Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress, working hard for something we love is called passion.”
— Simon Sinek
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This is one of those life-changing books that taught me how to take my eyes off myself and focus on others. It’s an oldie but a goodie!
I am always right. Okay, so that’s not true, but I’m darn stubborn to wish I were always right! There’s a problem with that, though. Nobody likes an egotistical know-it-all. Yup, that was me.
Selfish (i.e. full of myself), not willing to admit when I was wrong, always wanting to win the argument. And this book exposed that to me — it wasn’t pleasant!
When we take our eyes off ourselves and what we want, and we put them on others and help them get what they want, we in turn will be blessed.
Leadership isn’t about being lonely at the top. It’s about taking others with you, helping them along, and letting them have the victories.
This book taught me how to be a friend and leader that people want to follow. It begins with the little things of remembering people’s names and becoming genuinely interested in them!
Dale writes about how to deal with others you may not agree with, how to make others like you, and even how to win them over to your way of thinking.
If you’re in a leadership position or you just want to be better with others, this book is for you.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
You sit down to work on a presentation due in a few days. Then your phone rings and it’s a family member checking on you or a notification comes on your phone from a friend who tagged you in a Facebook post.
You become distracted and start checking the comments. Before you know it, an hour has passed and you haven’t started the presentation yet. Sound familiar.
The modern society we live in is very connected and very distracting. It can feel like everything and everyone needs our attention. This is why this is one of the best life-changing books you’ll find.
If you want to become more productive and do great work each day both in your personal and professional life then you have a good reason to buy this book.
The author gives us four clear and simple rules to follow to help us concentrate for a long time and ultimately change our lives for the better. This is a valuable resource that will help you transform your mind and thrive as you cultivate the skills the author shares.
You’ll get practical tips on how to be aware of the effects of a simple distraction on your productivity and a commitment to choosing deep focus instead. It’s a fun must-read book, which is extremely insightful and hard to put down.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Are you looking for real change in your daily routines and habits? Then this is the perfect read for you. It’s the most practical book on how to break bad behaviors and adopt good ones.
It shows you that when you take small actions consistently every day, you’ll experience huge, positive changes over time.
This Amazon best-seller shows that even highly successful people don’t perform one action but dozens of small daily habits and actions.
An important aspect of change from this book is to create an environment where change is inevitable by having the right systems. Habits stick when we change ourselves, our identities, and how we relate to others.
A key lesson l learned is that to be a completely different person, you want to be 1% better 100 days in a row. To form new habits make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
The book also talks about the importance of a habit tracker to measure your progress and stay consistent in your habits. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to grow, change, and become a better person.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
— James Clear
What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmsetter, PhD
This book literally changed everything for me. It taught me how to speak positively to myself and that I’m able to train my brain and spoken words to change how I think about myself.
When I was in college, I experienced a very deep depression, and it was a dark, overwhelming time in my life. Interestingly, my friends and family wouldn’t have been able to guess it because, on the outside, I looked like a successful college student with tons of friends, involved in everything, and ready to take on the world.
I hid these emotions away for the longest time. No one was aware, but I was struggling internally, feeling alone and lost without hope for the future — I was scared, and that fear trapped me.
Soon after graduation, I linked up with a leadership team that taught success principles that I had never heard before. This book was one of the first from the recommended book list I picked up and read.
It appealed to me because I was still trying to climb my way out of the dark hole I was in. I was newly married, newly graduated, trying to figure out what to do with my life and still wrestling with who I was and who I wanted to become.
It’s crazy to say that, but it’s true! It helped me see the bad habits I had created in my self-talk that had catered to my depression. Shortly after reading the book and applying the principles within, I was able to wean off my medication and have never looked back.
Now when I feel myself slipping back to return to that place because it happens now and again, I have the tools to pull myself out. I know the power of words and I have re-trained my brain to be kind in my own thoughts and words.
We talk to ourselves more than we do anyone else, so it’s vital to understand that negative, counterproductive, and self-defeating talk is damaging to our self-worth. I’m telling you, this is a must-read!!
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman is a classic book and New York Times international bestseller and there’s a reason why. It delves deep into how to stay in love and keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands, conflicts, and just plain boredom of everyday life.
It shows the need for using the correct expressions of love and how using the wrong love language can damage an otherwise good relationship. This is an eye-opening book which is super helpful as it’s filled with practical advice and wisdom.
All human beings love stories. The writer uses stories from his practice as a licensed Marriage and Family Counselor about other couples which brings a message of hope, encouragement, and inspiration. The self-assessment tools and additional information online make this a rich resource.
This book is easy to read and understand and worth reading as it will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner and other people in your life such as your children, parents, siblings, and friends. It shows the power of communication to deepen bonds, build trust, strengthen connections, and develop healthy relationships.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
This is one of the Best Life-Changing Books You Need to Read. It’s been named The #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century because of the impact and positive change it brings to one’s life and business.
It’s a step-by-step practical guide to how core habits can improve your everyday life and lead to success.
The book focuses on developing honesty, integrity, and interpersonal relationships. You’ll gain timeless wisdom, become proactive, and navigate through life and its challenges with boldness as you apply the principles in this book.
The seven habits laid out by the author that can be used to improve your everyday life include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand, then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw.
This timeless classic is a must-have for personal growth and transformation leading to success in all areas of your life.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Rich Dad, Poor Dad What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money–That The Poor & The Middle Class Do Not! is a book with great lessons about creating, and managing wealth and building a life of freedom.
The writer contrasts the philosophies of his two father figures: his biological father (poor dad) and his best friend’s father (rich dad).
The author does a good job of providing financial literacy in subjects such as smart investing, entrepreneurship, and acquiring assets that generate income.
It shows the difference in mindset between those who stay poor by seeing money as something to spend while those who stay rich see money as something to invest for a good return.
This small book is a valuable resource that will change your relationship with money. Ultimately you’ll understand how money works rather than just working for money.
“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.”
— Robert Kiyosaki
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness is an important book about how money moves around in an economy and how to think more rationally and make better money decisions. The book explores emotional factors that influence our relationship with money.
This author uses simple language and interesting examples to help you understand complex finance topics. It shows how our early experiences with money determine our financial decisions later in life.
This is not a traditional finance book but it will change your perception of money and financial behaviors for the best. A must-read for anyone who wants to get rich and or die trying.
“Planning is important, but the most important part of every plan is to plan on the plan not going according to plan.”
— Morgan Housel
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
This is a great book that tells you that you can follow and achieve your goals and dreams and gain emotional and physical strength even in hard times.
It tells the engaging story of Cherly who lost her mother, family, and marriage and decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State alone.
You’ll be inspired by this young woman’s courage to forge ahead on a path that ultimately healed her. As an avid reader and marathon runner, l connected with this book. Even if you don’t love the outdoors and adventure this is still a page-turner.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
This is one of those self-help books that will change your perspective. In a world with so many distractions from checking emails, keeping up with social media, or chilling on Netflix, we have lost the ability to appreciate our lives and those around us.
It explores the fact that we suffer and worry because we dwell too much on the past and the regrets it can bring or an imaginary future in which we don’t know what to expect. Instead, when we become present we’re able to overcome our fears and anxieties.
The author is a firm believer that every minute you spend worrying about the future or regretting the past is a minute lost. Through actionable strategies, meditation, and relaxation, this perfect read will help you live in the moment and be intentional about connecting with those around you.
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”
Eckhart Tolle
The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho
This bestseller is a classic book with deeper meanings. It tells the story of Santiago, a young shepherd from Andalusia who lives a humble life. He then has a vision of a greater life and embarks on a journey to the Egyptian pyramids to find hidden treasure.
On the long journey, he befriends a mysterious alchemist who becomes a guide and mentor, finds love, discovers his identity, and focuses on what matters in life.
This page-turner is a short book that makes the reader ask themselves important questions about their beliefs and choices. It reminds us to follow our dreams and stay on the path that we are intended to be on.
You’ll get good life lessons about developing a sense of wonder, become empowered to overcome the fear holding you back in life, and be encouraged to explore your big dreams that lead to your true destiny.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
— Paulo Coelho
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This is one of those children’s books that became an influential book on life. It’s full of magic and wonder so it can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
It’s about the author’s own experience in the Sahara desert where he crashed with a faulty plane. In the desert, he meets a Little Prince who visits different planets.
The Little Prince engages him in fundamental human emotions such as loneliness, love, loss, and freedom. It shows how adults are always working, never having fun or living simply and always chasing an irrational goal hoping that one day they’ll have a happy life.
The author uses simple metaphors to deliver a deep and meaningful message. This must-read is riveting and hard to put down.
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
This is a classic novel and one of the most moving World War II books. The world’s most famous diary was written by a Jewish little girl Anne, who received a diary for her thirteenth birthday. A few weeks later she was forced to go into hiding for two years with her family in an attic in occupied Holland.
She expressed her frustration, innermost thoughts, and feelings through this vivid and unforgettable account of her life as she grew up, stuck in confined quarters. She hoped her diary would be read by people after the war and it sure has. This book will educate you about the horrors of the Holocaust and the Nazi concentration camps.
Sadly, Anne’s family was discovered by the occupying forces, and she ended up going to a concentration camp where her family was killed. Her own life came to a tragic end when she died shortly afterward from typhus.
This is a story of triumph and having hope even during traumatic events. It’s a heartwrenching story of one of the most life-changing books ever written.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
This thought-provoking book tells the true story of the author and the suffering, brutality, and inhumanity he went through during the Holocaust in a Nazi concentration camp. You get a historical account of the horrors of war and the writer’s reflections as a prisoner.
This is the perfect book to get you through hard times. As you see the author deal with past traumas you develop hope that your own experience can bring you purpose and strength.
The author who faced the unimaginable educates us on his psychological approach to logotherapy which helped him survive. His theory is that human behavior is driven by the discovery of meaningful things in life.
This autobiographical book is one of the best life-challenging as it offers real insights into what Frankl went through and how they can shape one’s life.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
— Viktor Frank
Reading changes you, makes you wiser, enhances your creativity, makes you a better leader, and brings success. Books will cut you open and expose yourself to you. That’s when the results and change happen, and it’s a beautiful thing.
The 16 Best Life-Changing Books You Need to Read have resonated with me and completely changed my mindset and the course of my life. There are so many important life lessons you can take away from them to improve your habits and lead you to success and victory.
May your life become richer and better as you order a copy from this list and over time become an avid reader.
*Note: I have added links to each of these books within the post. I encourage you to check them out. If you decide to purchase one or all, they are affiliate links, and I may receive a small compensation. I do appreciate the support, as it helps me to be able to continue to create content for you!
