Ten Life Changing Books You Need To Read In Your Lifetime

Books can be your best friend, your teacher, and your companion. A good book can give you a life lesson which will stay with you for a lifetime. Books with different genres like romance, mystery, mythology, horror, inspirational, etc. can keep you entertained at the same time expand your horizon and your imagination.

Being an avid reader I bring you ten books, some recommended by me and some suggested by my friends, which have the capacity to change one's life.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

It is a story of an ambitious and adventurous Seagull whose main aim in life is to do something worthwhile and unforgettable. For this reason, he practices flying day and night and soon learns to fly flawlessly to the utmost heights of the blue sky. This book can inspire you spiritually and motivate you for self-help. This 144 pages long novel is divided into four parts, which will make it easy for the beginners to have an easy start. So if you are not an avid reader, but are looking for motivation in your life, this book can be uplifting for you.

It is a story of an ambitious and adventurous Seagull whose main aim in life is to do something worthwhile and unforgettable. For this reason, he practices flying day and night and soon learns to fly flawlessly to the utmost heights of the blue sky.

Wings of Fire by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

“We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire.” That’s the most amazing and inspirational thought in the book. Dr Kalam has written his biography in such a way that it can ignite the fire inside our bellies. So, what can you expect from this book, to  begin with it’ll give you a glimpse of the two sides of Dr Kalam, one as a fine, compassionate, humble, optimistic and a highly respectable human being, the other side, an extraordinarily skilful, imaginative and a 100% dedicated scientist and a leader. Just let the book take you on a journey of dreams, success, and failure and emphatically on a journey of hope. What more could anyone ask for.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

It is a self-help classic storytelling of fictional lawyer Julian Mantle, who sold his mansion and Ferrari to study the seven virtues of the Sages of Sivana in the Himalayas. This book by Robin Sharma will fill you with great optimism and positive energy. Building a strong character, this book will help you to be disciplined and optimistic. Some lessons that you can learn from the monk are — “success on the outside begins within, when you identify the things that are holding you back, you should face them. Face your fears. Do the things you fear, because you’re building the foundation of success and leadership within yourself. Leading yourself first gives others the vote of confidence that you’re capable of leading them too.” So to become more optimistic and positive, this book can be a perfect guide for you.

Alchemists are people who turn any metal into gold, and after reading this book you will surely gain that positive energy and motivation to achieve your dreams.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This book by Paulo Coelho is based on life’s journey and chasing one's dream. The story revolves around a boy who is in search of treasure which appears in his dreams. He sets out on a voyage to discover that gold treasure. This book is a delight for all travel lovers. The minor details of his voyage and what he learned through his journey will keep you engaged throughout the novel. Also, his persistence and will power will win your heart. Alchemists are people who turn any metal into gold, and after reading this book you will surely gain that positive energy and motivation to achieve your dreams.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This adventure fiction by Yann Martel is a fantasy tale of Piscine Molitor ‘Pi’ Patel, an Indian Tamil boy from Pondicherry who explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. This book will teach you that, 'life is a story and you can choose your story.' It will make you experience 'personal growth through adversity'. This book has also inspired Ang Lee's 2012 movie with the same name and it went on to win four Oscars. So, all of you who missed the film should definitely invest your time in this spiritual voyage.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Written by the former first lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama published her autobiography in 2018. Describing her deeply personal experiences in life, she talks about her roots and how she found her voice, as well as her time in the White House, her public health campaign, and her role as a mother. Her journey will make you smile, sob and give you a perspective of life through the eyes of a mother. Being a woman of colour, her journey celebrating womanhood will surely inspire you. Especially, all the ladies out there who'll become a mother soon should definitely read this book, as it will give you an insight into the changes a mother experiences.

Read Also: 15 books to read before you are 15!

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize winner book is a poignant story about the loss of innocence and the far-reaching devastation caused in the aftermath of one tragic event. We get to read about an India that is hanging onto to the traditions of the past with a slight glimpse of her future. All this is portrayed through a family and how they deal with their day to day life. Rahel and Estha, the main characters, are twins who are always getting into some kind of trouble with their mom, Ammu. You will completely love Roy’s way of expressing the sensitive thoughts and dilemmas of the human mind as a child, as an adult, as a mother, as a lover. The story gives me the reassurance that every human is vulnerable and we must embrace it.

I Dare by Dr Kiran Bedi

When you start reading this book to know more about one of the most admired woman of India you are sure to end up loving it for the struggles she has faced at every point of her life. Dr Kiran Bedi gives us a handful of her own experiences that she had had while dealing with administrative and professional challenges throughout her stint as an IPS Officer. The biggest lesson one can get is—who says we cannot change the system? If we try to change even a little bit of the system which lies under our scope of work as per our abilities and if we do our task honestly and most efficiently, then we can definitely bring a noticeable change in the society. For even a little bit of our contribution will count and will matter.

The biggest lesson one can get is—who says we cannot change the system? If we try to change even a little bit of the system which lies under our scope of work as per our abilities and if we do our task honestly and most efficiently, then we can definitely bring a noticeable change in the society.

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

A feminist analogy of gender by the radical feminist Simone de Beauvoir is a masterpiece. Discussing the treatment of women throughout history, she talks about the facts and gender myths surrounding women all over the world, which has made them 'second sex'. This feminist critique of patriarchal structure and gender discriminatory notions is a must-read not just for women but all the people out there who want to understand the basic essence of feminism. “Simon De Beauvoir made me stay up nights during college days,” said Ruby Kapoor from Lady Shree Ram College. “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” this line from the book is enough to motivate you to understand the feminist viewpoint of life through this book.

This fictional take on life and death, one's obsession with the idea of immortality and blind power, etc. will surely give you a new perspective towards life and friendship.

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

It is a fantasy novel written by the much-celebrated author of this generation J.K Rowling. The books in the seven series are young adult fiction based on fantasy, drama, mystery, thrill and bildungsroman. It will make you experience the magical world of Hogwarts with magic, potions, spells and mystical creatures.  This fictional take on life and death, one's obsession with the idea of immortality and blind power, etc. will surely give you a new perspective towards life and friendship. So, if you have missed this amazing franchise of Harry Potter then you should definitely try it once as each book will end with a different message on life friendship, dreams and love in an entertaining way. “Harry Potter, esp. the fifth one. “Don't give them the satisfaction” is my life mantra now, mainly for clients from hell.” said Priyanka Agarwal, a Freelance Copy Editor at Westland Books Pvt. Ltd.

Some other honourable mentions which you should definitely give it a try are —Bhagwat Gita, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Glimpses of a Golden Childhood by Osho, and I am Malala by Malala Yousuf Zai.

Divya Tripathi is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

The views expressed are the writer's own.