These 30 books convey part of the philosophy of how Angel and I live our lives in different ways. I honestly attribute a fraction of who I am today to each title. Therefore, they indirectly influenced a lot of what I am writing about on this site. As a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, these great readings challenged my internal status quo and opened my mind to new ideas and opportunities. Together they gave me a basic framework for successful living, loving, learning and working.
1. If you haven’t read these books yet, I highly recommend it. You will enrich your library and your life.Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert – Gilbert, a Harvard professor of psychology, has spent decades studying happiness and sharing scientific knowledge that could potentially change your view of the world. Its primary goal is to convince you to accept the fact that happiness is not really what or where you imagined it to be. This is by far my favorite book about happiness.
2. The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck – Pretty much the forefather of all self-improvement books, it’s definitely one of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read. By merging love, science and spirituality into a foundation for personal growth, Peck guides the reader through lessons on delaying satisfaction, taking responsibility for decisions, devotion to truth and reality, and creating a balanced lifestyle.
3. Getting Things Done by David Allen – The Ultimate Book for Organizing Your Life. Allen’s ideas and processes are aimed at all those people who are overwhelmed with too many things, too little time and a general feeling of unease that something important is being overlooked. The main goal of this book is to teach you how to effectively empty your “inbox”.
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey – Covey presents a principle-centered approach to solving personal and professional problems by providing step-by-step instructions for living with integrity and honesty, and adapting to the inevitable changes that this will bring us Brings life every day. It is a must.
5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand – This novel is an explanation of what the core of American prosperity was and will always be: freedom and capitalism. Reading should be required for every American. All 1,069 pages are worthwhile. Atlas Shrugged is hands down one of the best and most influential books I’ve ever read.
6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – “The Alchemist” is more a parable than a novel and uses the story of the young shepherd Santiago in search of his personal legend as an allegory for everyone’s struggle to break out of the comfortable limits of conformity and his life dreams to realize. On the way there, our young everyone is naturally affected by numerous setbacks that test their determination and force them to adjust to the soul of the world in order to survive. By paying attention to the details in the world around him that serve as a sign that lead him to his goal, the young Santiago himself becomes an alchemist and transforms unfavorable circumstances into wealth. I have read this story a few times now and it always offers invaluable inspiration.
7. Walden by Henry David Thoreau – Thoreau spent two years, two months, and two days writing this book in a secluded cabin near the banks of the Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. This is a story about being really free from the pressures of society. The book can speak for itself: “I went into the forest because I wanted to live on purpose just to cover the essential facts of life and see if I couldn’t learn what it had to teach and not, when i died. discover that i have not lived “
8. The magic of great thinking by David Schwartz – Schwartz gives the reader useful, proactive steps to success. It presents a clear program that allows you to make the most of your job, your marriage, your family life and other relationships. In this way, he proves that you do not have to be an intellectual or have an innate talent to achieve great success and satisfaction in life.
9. Predictably irrational by Dan Ariely – Looks at the reasons why so many of us make irrational decisions every day. It’s a scientific, but easily readable and undoubtedly revealing look at why we do what we do every day and why we never change our behavior, although we often know better.
10. Tim Ferriss – Ferris’ 4-hour working week challenges us to evaluate our view of the cost and availability of our dreams, and he teaches us that hard work is not very difficult if you love what you do. Although there are certainly a few self-promotional sites, Ferris offers valuable tips to help us stay in tune with our goals, set expectations for our conditions and avoid unnecessary time savings while increasing our overall effectiveness.
11. How to Make Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – Simply one of the best and most popular human skill books ever written. Carnegie uses his skillful storytelling skills to demonstrate how to succeed by making the most of human relationships.
12. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse – A short, powerful novel about the meaning of life experiences in connection with the approach to self-understanding, happiness and the achievement of enlightenment.
13. 1984 by George Orwell – 1984 is still very important almost 60 years after its publication in 1949. It is widely known for its haunted vision of an omniscient government that uses ubiquitous 24/7 surveillance tactics to manipulate all citizens. In today’s world of continuous online connectivity, Orwell’s visions are pretty close to home.
14. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – This book takes place in the jazz era of the 1920s and tells a warning story of the American dream. In particular, the reader learns that a few good friends are far more important than umpteen acquaintances, and the drive that arises from the desire for something is more valuable than it actually is.
15. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – Steinbeck’s deeply moving story about the survival of displaced families desperately looking for work in a depressed nation will never cease to be relevant.
16. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason – The best book on money management ever written. Although this book is only 145 pages long, it is packed to the brim with powerful, life-changing information. I have read it three times and am still pulling out new pearls of wisdom. Babylon should be a mandatory reading, starting in elementary school, then back in college, and should be given as a gift along with a university degree.
17. Quitter by Jon Acuff – If you’re looking for an honest report of what it’s like to make the transition from your day job to your dream job, this book is for you. The author does not gloss over the trip and does not convince you that it is worth making stupid decisions if you pay for it later. It remains rooted in reality and inspires you to really connect with the things you are passionate about, and it gives you hope and a plan on how to get there.
18. Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer’s Principles of Success – The creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series reveals the secrets to success with sixty-four timeless principles contained in this one book. Sixty-four principles may seem like a lot, but each one has a short, easily digestible chapter that challenges readers to take the risk of making their lives the way they want them to be. This is certainly one of the most practical books I’ve ever read to help you make your dreams come true.
19. The paradox of choice: why is less less by Barry Schwartz – given too many options or choices in your life? We feel worse when we have too many options. In this book you will feel better and change your perspective. Schwartz talks about people who make difficult decisions about professions, families, places of residence, children, leisure time, selection of universities, etc. He talks about why it is much more difficult to make these decisions today than thirty years ago. He offers many practical suggestions on how to make decisions so that less stress and more happiness arise.
20. Josh Kaufman’s Personal MBA – Unfortunately, the title can limit the market to business people, but the truth is that we are all in the business of managing and selling ourselves, regardless of our profession. What makes this book such a strong statement is the fact that it is a comprehensive synthesis of all the concepts that you need to know to understand the business inside and out. There are no complex models to learn or memorize outdated theories just to get grades or pass exams. What you get is a clear, comprehensive set of “rules of thumb” for every possible scenario that you might come across in running a business (or just for your life in general).
21. The Art of War by Sun Tzu – One of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. It is certainly the most successful written work on the mechanics of general strategy and business tactics.
22. The Wisdom of the Masses by James Surowieckiv – Great examples of how groups of different people who act independently are smarter than every single person in the group. This is one of the most entertaining and intellectually engaging books I’ve come across in a long time. The author has the gift of making complex ideas accessible and has a wonderful eye for the narrative anecdote. The material it contains has a huge impact on management, markets, decision making, and more.
23. The Power of Full Commitment from Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz – The authors worked with the best athletes and executives for years and found that the best knew how to push yourself, then recover, push, recover, and so on. Do the same with your emotional, mental, physical and even spiritual life and it is a powerful metaphor. Think of sprints, not marathons. Be full of what you are doing and then give yourself time to relax. But keep pushing past your comfort zone every time, just like with a good training plan.
24. Switch: How to Change Things When Changes Are Difficult by Chip and Dan Heath – An easy-to-read psychology book about real ways to make changes lastingly – both personally and organizationally. So many powerful insights based on facts, not theory. Inspirational counter-intuitive stories about major organizational changes despite all adversity. Highly recommended for people in all areas of life.
25. Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements – I’ve read so many books that promise joy in my life, but I haven’t read any that is as simple and practical as the four agreements. This book is a nice guide to achieve a life of freedom and happiness. The author teaches four lifestyle commitments that can transform life into the fulfillment of your personal dream. Simply put, this little book has made profound positive changes in my life.
26. Economy in a Lesson by Henry Hazlitt – The chapters are short, prose is easy to follow, and logic is compelling. I have never really studied economics in my life, but I had no problems following the considerations in this book. This is a must for anyone who wants to understand the basic economy and the keys to widespread prosperity in the long run.
27. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki – It is unfortunate that in America, arguably the largest nation in the free world, few people, including those with high incomes, understand the value of investments and the correct use of monetary strategies. You can live on your income, but you cannot get rich on your income. True wealth is the result of using the principles described in this book. This is a classic, must be read by everyone.
28. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – This novel is hilarious and shows some pretty insightful observations about life, people, and the world in general. Among all of this, it’s an entertaining read that leaves you yearning for more. If you don’t like science fiction, it doesn’t matter. Read this book just for a laugh. The most amazing thing about Adams’ humor is that everyone seems to understand it.
29. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – The topics included mainly concern racial injustice and the destruction of human innocence. The author also addresses questions of class, courage, compassion, and gender roles in the American deep south. It is simply a classic piece of our American history that portrays racism and prejudice, childhood innocence and the persistence of a man who risked everything to stand up for what he believed in.
30. One Flew Over Ken Kesey’s Cuckoo’s Nest – The plot follows a sensible man who, because of a law violation, chooses to be held in an asylum instead of being detained with hard work. Upon entering the secluded world of asylum, he removes all the barriers that have formed and begins to set his own rules in his own way. This leads to problems with Honcho’s head of the place. The roller coaster through which the protagonist guides the occupants ultimately leads them to reach the ultimate goal. No matter what the situation, this man can always hold his fate in his hands.
What are your favorite books? How did they change your life? Leave us a comment and let us know.
