The 10 Life Changing Books That will change your life

 

"I do believe something very magical can happen once you read an honest book." Those wise words come from J.K. Rowling, but I could not agree more. Books are a secure haven that help us escape the tough edges of our lives—but, every once during a while, you encounter a book that follows you into the important world. A book that hurdles you into a state of self-reflection and completely revamps your personal perspective. They’re hard to seek out, but completely impossible to forget once you do. Below, we rounded up some all-time literary bestsellers that have already left their mark on millions.

1‘The Catcher within the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger
Get ready for the fantastic glut of teenage angst that's Holden Caulfield. You were probably assigned this book in high school and were surprised it passed the curriculum, because of its overwhelming amount of slang and blasphemy. But Holden’s unfiltered first-person prose is why this book stays with you—he comes across as an authentic and hilarious voice (or arrogant and selfish, counting on your perspective) as he endures the mountains of adolescence.

2‘Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel
Technically, this book is a few young men who gets into a boating disaster and tries to survive during a boat with a bunch of animals. But inside these pages, you’ll find an excellent and deep-rooted idea about religion which will cause you to fundamentally question and rethink your personal beliefs.

3'Crime and Punishment’ by Dostoyevsky
Have you ever tried to justify something you probably did that you simply know was wrong? Well, in Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov does it for an entire novel. This book follows the trials and tribulations of an ex-student in Saint Petersburg who decides to kill a pawnbroker for her money. Although the scholar tries to defend himself by saying the planet is best off without a selfish and evil woman, which he can do better deeds thereupon fortune (this is where utilitarianism was born, BTW), he forgets to account for the facility of human conscience that plagues him after what he’s done.

4‘The Long Walk’ by Stephen King
of Stephen King’s most underrated books, The Long Walk is existential fiction at its finest. This novel takes place during a future dystopia where contestants compete during a walking competition. Doesn’t sound so hard, right? Well, if you stop walking, or hamper an excessive amount of, you get shot. The last person standing wins. Ultimately, the race is often perceived as a metaphor of life itself, and because the boys begin to interrupt down physically and mentally, King questions the worth of life within the midst of suffering, and the way we push beyond sanity to sustain it.

5‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho
If you are trying to spotlight all the phrases within the Alchemist that are quotes to measure by (like I did), you’ll leave half the book lit up in color. The story follows a search of an Andalusian shepherd boy as he chases a prophecy that states he will find treasure and fortune at the Egyptian Pyramids. But it is the lessons that Santiago learns on the journey which will stick with you long after you finish the book. As he realizes his “destiny” and troops on despite the fear and uncertainty, you’ll be inspired, too.
6‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi
This gut-wrenching memoir follows neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi as he deals with a cancer diagnosis, recording his musings on life, death, illness, and humanity. a couple of months after finishing the autobiographical book, he gave up the ghost from stage IV metastatic carcinoma. But this book is more about living than dying, and the way one can transcend tragedy and make life meaningful within the time you’re given.

7‘Trick Mirror’ by Jia Tolentino
A fresh and timely book, Trick Mirror illuminates the cultural incentives that drive and shape millennials, urging us to question our modern-day mold of a society that considerably revolves around us. It touches on everything from the way that we construct ourselves on the web to issues like pervasive rape culture and therefore the constant pressure we feel to optimize every aspect of our lives.

8‘Educated’ by Tara Westover
Tara Westover’s memoir is an exposé of her former Mormon life. Her traumatic experiences morph into self-revelation and rude awakenings, fueled by her drive for a Western education. The universal coming-of-age story emphasizes the importance of being education, and is an inspirational ode to anyone who comes from a dysfunctional family—you don’t need to remain trapped in your circumstances.
9‘Quiet’ by Susan Cain

If you’re a fellow introvert, you’ll feel understood reading this. Cain delves deep into how American society encourages extrovert behavior to the purpose where many introverts desire there's something wrong with them. However, she believes the difference between introverts and extroverts is said to brain physiology, and hence beyond the individual's control. More importantly, she argues that there's nothing wrong with being introverted, which power can happen quietly without sacrificing effectiveness.

10‘Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini
This novel will cause you to feel on a deep and visceral level. It’s about two boys—Amir, a boy from a wealthy family, and Hassan, his ally and also a servant who works in their house. Hosseini beautifully captures the sacred bond of friendship, and the way it can persevere even when ripped apart by society’s discrimination.