The 30 Most Life-Changing Books That Will Shift Your Perspective & Stay With You Forever

The 30 Most Life-Changing Books Cover

Have you ever read a book that changed your entire perspective forever? A book that has stayed with you ever since and that, every time you remember it, makes that powerful feeling come alive again? If so, congratulations! You’ve experienced what might be the biggest benefit of reading: a lasting perspective shift that altered the course of your life forever. That’s why we read, and that’s what life-changing books are for!

If you’re looking for more of these books, the kind that makes you stop and wonder yet feel incredibly inspired at the same time, you’ve come to the right place. At Four Minute Books, we’ve summarized over 1,000 books, and while any book has the potential to change your life, some just hit harder than others. Today, we want to share the ones with you that swept us off our feet and made us think and reflect like few others.

 

To make this list easy to navigate, we’ve sorted it into various categories, starting with the most life-changing books overall, then going into different sections like mindset, relationships, work, money, and even fiction. For each book, we’ve included our favorite quote, a one-sentence-summary of the book, why you might want to read it, and three key takeaways.

To keep things fun, we’ve also dug out some books that are powerful but that you likely won’t have heard of or seen on other, similar lists before! Finally, the clickable table of contents below will make it easy for you to jump to any book or category. Oh, and if you want to watch the video version of this article for our top 7 picks, you can do that right below!

The 7 Most Life-Changing Books (Video)

YouTube video

Alright, let’s not waste any more time, shall we? Let’s jump right into the world’s most life-changing books!

Table of Contents


The Most Life-Changing Books Overall

1. Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse

The Most Life-Changing Books #1: Finite and Infinite Games

Favorite Quote

“Finite players play within boundaries; infinite players play with boundaries.” — James Carse

The Book in One Sentence

Finite and Infinite Games offers the theory that we play many different games in life, showing you that work and relationships are long-term endeavors and how to play them in order to win.

Why should you read it?

This book will forever change your perspective on business, politics, relationships, and pretty much everything else that’s going on in the world, allowing you to see where people play with a short-term view (which is almost everywhere and most of the time), vs. where they take a long-term, generational approach. Plus, you’ll find good reasons and inspirations to think more ahead yourself and understand why, most often, it makes a lasting, positive difference.

Key Takeaways

  1. Finite games are played for the sake of ending them, but infinite games are played simply for the sake of playing.
  2. No one can force you to play a game, and winning isn’t everything.
  3. Everything in life can (and should) be viewed as a game.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Most Life-Changing Books #2: The Alchemist

Favorite Quote

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” — Paulo Coelho

The Book in One Sentence

The Alchemist is a classic novel in which a boy named Santiago embarks on a journey seeking treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream about it and on the way meets mentors, falls in love, and most importantly, learns the true importance of who he is and how to improve himself and focus on what really matters in life.

Why should you read it?

This book speaks to your curiosity on every page, yet somehow never makes you feel overwhelmed. It’s nearly impossible to put down, but thankfully, it’s also short, and you’ll probably read it in just a few sittings. The book’s core theme is big — destiny — but Coelho uses language so simple, anyone can understand it. As a result, you’ll be filled with both a sense of wonder and of deep gratitude, all while itching to start exploring your destiny. A must-read.

Key Takeaways

  1. You have a Personal Legend that you must follow if you want to be happy and fulfilled.
  2. Your fear is holding you back more than anything else.
  3. “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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3. Principles by Ray Dalio

The Most Life-Changing Books #3: Principles

Favorite Quote

“If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.” — Ray Dalio

The Book in One Sentence

Principles holds the set of rules for work and life billionaire investor and CEO of the most successful fund in history, Ray Dalio, has acquired through his 40-year career in finance.

Why should you read it?

A great example of how a book allows you to digest a human lifetime worth of lessons in just a few hours, this book will teach you how one of the world’s kindest, smartest, and most successful people learned how to think the way he thinks. Dalio first tells you about his personal journey, then the life lessons he took away from it thus far, and, finally, reveals everything he knows about doing great work and cooperating with others. If you wish for a personal mentor to inspire and guide you, read this book, and if you want to discover more of his work, check out our full list of Ray Dalio books.

Key Takeaways

  1. Principles are powerful weapons in the fight against flawed thinking.
  2. Radical truth and transparency are two of Ray’s most important ideas.
  3. Great businesses use principles to create environments where the best ideas win.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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4. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

The Most Life-Changing Books #4: Sapiens

Favorite Quote

“We study history not to know the future but to widen our horizons, to understand that our present situation is neither natural nor inevitable, and that we consequently have many more possibilities before us than we imagine.” — Yuval Noah Harari

The Book in One Sentence

Sapiens is your guide to becoming an expert on the entire history of the human race as it reviews everything our species has been through from ancient ancestors to our dominating place in the world today.

Why should you read it?

This is probably the best book about human history if you’re trying to get a full overview in just one title. It will tell you everything you need to know from the big bang to now, and you’ll learn how to put the events happening in the world every day into their historical context. This should be required reading in schools!

Key Takeaways

  1. The ability to think gave early humans language, which eventually led to agricultural advances allowing them to grow exponentially. 
  2. Improvements in trade were only possible with the invention of money and writing.
  3. With better economic and communication means, scientific progress gave our race the abilities necessary to get to where we are today.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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5. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

The Most Life-Changing Books #5: The Psychology of Money

Favorite Quote

“Planning is important, but the most important part of every plan is to plan on the plan not going according to plan.” — Morgan Housel

The Book in One Sentence

The Psychology of Money explores how money moves around in an economy and how personal biases and the emotional factor play an important role in our financial decisions, as well as how to think more rationally and make better decisions when it comes to money.

Why should you read it?

This is The Alchemist of finance books, not because of its inspiring stories (which it has) but because of its simple language, employed to help us grasp and master a complex topic. Housel’s examples are interesting, unconventional, and yet full of common sense. You can read this book quickly and easily, and when it comes to money, those are two rare occurrences. You’ll feel a lot more calm about your finances after reading this book, and, chances are, you’ll also make a lot more sound decisions.

Key Takeaways

  1. Being greedy can turn out to be the biggest financial mistake you’ll ever make.
  2. Envy has no place in the money market, as it can blur your thinking. 
  3. Our early experiences with money determine our financial decisions later on.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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6. Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Most Life-Changing Books #6: Atomic Habits

Favorite Quote

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” — James Clear

The Book in One Sentence

Atomic Habits is the definitive guide to breaking bad behaviors and adopting good ones in four steps, showing you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound into massive, positive change over time.

Why should you read it?

This is the only book about habits you’ll ever have to read. Closing in on ten million copies sold in just four years, it is the perfect blueprint for learning how to change any behavior, improve yourself a little every day, and let the positive results compound over time.

Key Takeaways

  1. Every time we perform a habit, we execute a four-step pattern: cue, craving, response, reward.
  2. If we want to form new habits, we should make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.
  3. You can use a habit tracker as a fun way to measure your progress and make sure you don’t fall off the wagon.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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7. Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The Most Life-Changing Books #7: Man's Search for Meaning

Favorite Quote

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” — Viktor Frankl

The Book in One Sentence

Man’s Search For Meaning details holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s horrifying experiences in Nazi concentration camps, along with his psychological approach of logotherapy, which is also what helped him survive and shows you how you can – and must – find meaning in your life.

Why should you read it?

For most of us, the horrors of war, let alone concentration camps, are so far away as to being unimaginable. This book will not only offer a healthy dose of humility by sharing some of those experiences, which Frankl personally went through, but also add real, research-based insight into how they might shape one’s life. If you’re looking for more meaning and optimism in your life, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Sometimes the only way to survive is to surrender to death.
  2. Your life has its own meaning and it’s up to you to find it.
  3. Use paradoxical intention to make your fears go away.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Most Life-Changing Fiction Books

8. Paris in the 20th Century by Jules Verne

The Most Life-Changing Books #8: Paris in the 20th Century

Favorite Quote

“I have a little money, and it I shall spend on books beginning with the great poets and illustrious authors of the last century. Each evening they will console me for the vexations of each day.” — Jules Verne

The Book in One Sentence

Paris in the 20th Century is a novel set 100 years in the future of its author, imagining an advanced, hyper-technological, yet somewhat dystopian society in 1960 France, and how a young artist tries to navigate it.

Why should you read it?

This book is fascinating not only for its story but for its foresight. The accuracy with which Jules Verne predicted some of the technological innovations that indeed became everyday standards by the time 1960 rolled around is mind-boggling. From cars to lanterns to elevators to typewriters to maglev trains, Verne saw it all — and it makes you think about what we — or at least our children and grandchildren — might one day witness, another 100 years from now. If you want to learn how to predict the future, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Predicting the future does not take luck or a crazy mind but a little bit of research and imagination.
  2. A city without art is like a painting without color.
  3. When people stop thinking for themselves, they stop thinking altogether.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

The Most Life-Changing Books #9: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Favorite Quote

“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” — J.K. Rowling

The Book in One Sentence

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire documents Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, in which he stumbles into the Triwizard Tournament and thus a series of challenges he is far from ready for, but by the end of which he must finally take responsibility not just for himself but for the entire wizarding world.

Why should you read it?

The reason I like this book most of all the Harry Potter books is that it’s the one in which Harry grows up — not by choice but by force. It’s a book about taking full responsibility for your life and learning to do what’s right, even if it comes at a price. If you want to be a good person and do your duty as best as you can while still having fun along the way, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. We don’t get to choose when we grow up, but we do get to decide how we’ll handle our responsibilities.
  2. “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”
  3. There are times in our lives when we must decide between what is right and what is easy.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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10. The Why Cafe by John Strelecky

The Most Life-Changing Books #10: The Why Café

Favorite Quote

“Why is it that we spend so much of our time preparing for when we can do what we want, instead of just doing what we want right now?” — John Strelecky

The Book in One Sentence

The Why Cafe is a book about how to find your purpose and live the life you have imagined, based on a fictional encounter in a simple yet magical cafe.

Why should you read it?

This is an easy and fast read, but it might be just the right book at just the right time. Maybe you feel lost, like John, who ends up in a mysterious yet friendly café en route to his much needed vacation. Maybe you too are contemplating what you’re doing with your life — and why. And maybe, you too, like John, can benefit from the questions the friendly café staff dangles in front of him as he munches on a delicious piece of cake… If you want to feel a sense of purpose in your life, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Material things can actually make us more unhappy in the end. 
  2. Find your purpose, and once you do, don’t let anyone stand in your way. 
  3. When you realize what you want out of life and manifest it, you’ll attract more luck.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Most Life-Changing Books for Personal Attitude & Mindset

11. Mindset by Carol Dweck

The Most Life-Changing Books #11: Mindset

Favorite Quote

“Becoming is better than being.” — Carol Dweck

The Book in One Sentence

Mindset explains the difference between having a fixed and a growth mindset, why one trumps the other, and what you can do to adopt the right one.

Why should you read it?

The concept of “fixed mindset” vs. “growth mindset” is an original idea, backed by Dweck’s research, and it’s simply a useful tool to carry in your pocket at all times. Learn to spot the differences between optimism and pessimism and resignation and resolution wherever you go, including in yourself. If you feel like you often give up too easily, this book is for you.

Key Takeaways

  1. The corporate world turns most of us into fixed-mindset drones.
  2. The growth mindset mostly stems from a strong, genuine desire to learn.
  3. We are all born with a growth mindset, and we can relearn it anytime.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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12. The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

The Most Life-Changing Books #12: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Favorite Quote

“The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience.” — Mark Manson

The Book in One Sentence

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck does away with the positive psychology craze to instead give you a Stoic, no bullshit approach to living a life that might not always be happy, but meaningful and centered only around what’s important to you.

Why should you read it?

Sometimes, you need a caring friend telling you some tough truths you need to hear while patting you on the back. That’s what Manson does in this book, and yes, he’s not holding back. If you can get over the fact that he uses swear words (and you should), you’ll find a ton of wisdom in this book, which balances a Stoic attitude with true, reality-based optimism. An absolutely enlightening read!

Key Takeaways

  1. Values you can’t control are bad values to follow.
  2. Don’t believe you know anything with certainty, for it keeps you from improving.
  3. Trying to leave a legacy might ruin your life.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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13. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

The Most Life-Changing Books #13: The 10X Rule

Favorite Quote

“As long as you are alive, you will either live to accomplish your own goals and dreams or be used as a resource to accomplish someone else’s.” — Grant Cardone

The Book in One Sentence

The 10X Rule will show you how to achieve extraordinary success by pointing out what’s wrong with shooting for average, why you should aim ten times higher when tackling your goals, and how to back up your new, bold targets with the right actions.

Why should you read it?

Yes, Cardone is a loud, salesy, abrasive and over-the-top person. That said, his heart is in the right place in encouraging you to think bigger. What if you asked for ten times the results and put in ten times the effort? The thought experiment alone will reveal: You’d approach your goals in an entirely different way — and that’s what this book is all about. If you want to succeed in anything, this book will hold some interesting ideas for you.

Key Takeaways

  1. The problem with average is that it may not last very long.
  2. The 10X Rule has two parts: outstanding effort and audacious goals.
  3. Most people know only three degrees of taking action, but there is a fourth one and it’s the best.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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14. The Little Book of Ikigai by Ken Mogi

The Most Life-Changing Books #14: The Little Book of Ikigai

Favorite Quote

“If you can make the process of making the effort your primary source of happiness, then you have succeeded in the most important challenge of your life.” — Ken Mogi

The Book in One Sentence

The Little Book of Ikigai will show you how to live a long, healthy, and happy life by revealing the five pillars of ikigai, the Japanese concept already helping millions every day find reasons to get out of bed in the morning.

Why should you read it?

Happiness is not a faraway, elusive state we’ll hopefully find one day and then stay in forever. It’s a daily practice and experience, and yes, it takes effort to achieve it. By giving us lots of simple yet inspiring examples of how we can add more joy to our lives with small, almost insignificant actions, Mogi turns our quest for happiness on its head. A wonderful book for anyone looking for inner peace and outer joy.

Key Takeaways

  1. The concept of ikigai is not any one thing. It comes in a million shapes and sizes.
  2. Ikigai can originate from one of five pillars — or all of them.
  3. Happiness can be found anywhere and everywhere, but almost always in the little things.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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15. The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey

The Most Life-Changing Books #15: The Inner Game of Tennis

Favorite Quote

“The ability to focus the mind is the ability to not let it run away with you. It does not mean not to think — but to be the one who directs your own thinking.” — Tim Gallwey

The Book in One Sentence

The Inner Game of Tennis is about the mental state required to deliver peak performance and how you can cultivate that state in sports, work, and life.

Why should you read it?

Education is riddled with misinformation, outdated teaching models, and false promises. In this illuminating read from the former Harvard tennis team coach, you’ll see that you can learn almost anything without much instruction at all — as long as you user your powers of observation, imagination, and imitation. This book will forever change how you learn. It’s also one of Bill Gates’ all-time favorites.

Key Takeaways

  1. How our two inner selves interact decides how skilled we are on the outside.
  2. In order for our performance to flow effortlessly, we must calm Self 1 and have faith in Self 2.
  3. The inner game applies in all walks of life, not just tennis or even sports in general.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Most Life-Changing Productivity Books

16. Deep Work by Cal Newport

The Most Life-Changing Books #16: Deep Work

Favorite Quote

“Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love — is the sum of what you focus on.” — Cal Newport

The Book in One Sentence

Deep Work proposes that we have lost our ability to focus deeply and immerse ourselves in a complex task, showing you how to cultivate this skill again and focus more than ever before with four simple rules.

Why should you read it?

In an age of constant distraction and instant gratification, we need to rethink how we work and try to get things done. Newport’s Deep Work model combines the ideas and tips that most of us know into a framework that makes them easy to remember and apply on an everyday basis. The different work modes he suggests will allow you to stay flexible and adjust based on the demands of the day without losing the most important thing: focus on the task that’s right in front of you. A seminal read on productivity.

Key Takeaways

  1. There are four strategies for deep work, all of which require intention.
  2. Productive meditation can help you work deeper, even while you’re taking a break.
  3. Stop working at the same time each day.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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17. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

The Most Life-Changing Books #17: Essentialism

Favorite Quote

“Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” — Greg McKeown

The Book in One Sentence

Essentialism shows you a new approach to productivity and life by allowing you to be extremely selective about the essential things in your life and then ruthlessly cutting out everything else.

Why should you read it?

Where Deep Work is concerned with how you operate at work on a daily basis, Essentialism leans a little more towards the big picture. While it’s important to get things done, it is even more important to work on the right things in the first place. This book will help you do just that while remembering its set of rules and principles as a holistic, encompassing philosophy. Worth a read for its few perspective-shifting graphics alone, reading both this and Deep Work will most likely cover all the productivity advice you’ll ever need.

Key Takeaways

  1. Doing nothing and doing everything are both signs of learned helplessness.
  2. Become the editor of your own life with the 90% rule.
  3. Always give yourself a buffer of 50%.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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The Most Life-Changing Books About Work

18. Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker

The Most Life-Changing Books #18: Managing Oneself

Favorite Quote

“Like so many brilliant people, he believes that ideas move mountains. But bulldozers move mountains; ideas show where the bulldozers should go to work.” — Peter Drucker

The Book in One Sentence

Managing Oneself is a guide to learning more about your strengths, weaknesses, inclinations, and how you collaborate with others, all while making yourself more knowledgeable about how to thrive in your career.

Why should you read it?

When I listened to this short book in audio-form on a long drive, it blew me away. Drucker’s ideas are so obvious yet so absent in most companies. He’ll show you that, more so than any particular set of skills, to succeed in your career, you’ll need self-awareness — and he’ll also deliver the exact questions you need to start unlocking it. An absolute gem for anyone who wants to accomplish big things in the workplace.

Key Takeaways

  1. Know your strengths and weaknesses by conducting a feedback analysis. 
  2. Understand your communication style and how you work with others.
  3. Work on your second career to keep yourself engaged and challenged in your working life.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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19. The Dip by Seth Godin

The Most Life-Changing Books #19: The Dip

Favorite Quote

“A woodpecker can tap twenty times on a thousand trees and get nowhere, but stay busy. Or he can tap twenty-thousand times on one tree and get dinner.” — Seth Godin

The Book in One Sentence

The Dip teaches us that, between starting and succeeding, there’s a time of struggle when we should either pursue excellence or quit strategically while helping us choose between the two.

Why should you read it?

This book will help you answer an important question you’ll face many times throughout your life: Should I quit, or should I keep going? Using data, anecdotes, and examples, Seth makes the point that few things are worth sticking with — but the things you do commit to, you should stick with all the way. After this short read, you’ll likely make a big change at work or in your personal life, and you’ll see “the dip” everywhere, which is what makes this such a useful little book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Whatever your goal, you’ll need to confront a dip to succeed. 
  2. The rewards for being first are huge and even unexpected, aim for them!
  3. If you want to be a winner in the long run, you’ll have to master the art of smart quitting.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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20. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

The Most Life-Changing Books #20: The War of Art

Favorite Quote

“Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.” — Steven Pressfield

The Book in One Sentence

The War Of Art brings some much needed tough love to all artists, business people, and creatives who spend more time battling the resistance against work than actually working, primarily by identifying the hidden forces behind procrastination and pulling out the rug from under their feet.

Why should you read it?

In order to overcome our challenges, we need to be able to talk about them, and that starts with naming them. By introducing his most important concept, Resistance, Steven Pressfield gives us a language to address procrastination, fear, and creative blockers with, and that makes all the difference. Plus, it’s a nice kick in the butt to get going and start making your art, whatever it may look like.

Key Takeaways

  1. You’re not alone, everyone struggles with Resistance.
  2. You have to treat your dream like a full-time job.
  3. Commit to a territory and you might change the world.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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21. Start With Why by Simon Sinek

The Most Life-Changing Books #21: Start With Why

Favorite Quote

“Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress, working hard for something we love is called passion.” — Simon Sinek

The Book in One Sentence

Start With Why is Simon Sinek’s mission to help others do work which inspires them, using real-world examples of great leaders to show you how they communicate and how you too can adapt their mindset to inspire others.

Why should you read it?

This book will help you discover your life purpose, but more so, it will show you how to communicate that purpose once you have it. Sinek’s book started from a TED talk and has since transformed the world of business, showing us that we need to talk less about what we do and more about why we do it. You’ll forever try to convince others differently after reading this. For more of his work, check out our full list of Simon Sinek books.

Key Takeaways

  1. If you want to inspire others, always communicate your why first.
  2. Excited employees are the best resource for any business.
  3. You don’t need sleazy sales tactics when you start with why.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Most Life-Changing Books About Relationships

22. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

The Most Life-Changing Books #22: The 5 Love Languages

Favorite Quote

“I am amazed by how many individuals mess up every new day with yesterday.” — Gary Chapman

The Book in One Sentence

The 5 Love Languages shows couples how to make their love last by learning to recognize the unique way their partner feels love.

Why should you read it?

The biggest issue in relationships is communication. When we can’t align our communication, we can’t agree or disagree, and that’s how resentment and other connection-destroying emotions begin to fester in our hearts. This book gives you not just one but five ways of distinctly showing love and affection to your partner and loved ones and, more importantly, reminds you that not everyone values them equally. If you’re looking for better ways to adjust to your and your partner’s differences, this is the book for you.

Key Takeaways

  1. As your relationship matures, communication is key.
  2. There are 5 different ways people give and show love.
  3. Identify your and your partner’s love language to deepen intimacy.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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23. Attached by Rachel Heller and Amir Levine

The Most Life-Changing Books #23: Attached

Favorite Quote

“Most people are only as needy as their unmet needs.” — Rachel Heller & Amir Levine

The Book in One Sentence

Attached delivers a scientific explanation why some relationships thrive and steer a clear path over a lifetime, while others crash and burn, based on the human need for attachment and the three different styles of it.

Why should you read it?

This is another book that adds language where there used to be none. Describing the three attachment styles of anxious, avoidant, and secure, it allows us to see how we (and others) try to secure our needs in human but specifically romantic relationships. If you’ve ever dated someone who behaved in an oddly distant way or was way too clingy, this book is a must read.

Key Takeaways

  1. Everyone needs attachment, it’s a prerequisite for a happy and healthy life.
  2. There are 3 different attachment styles, which one are you?
  3. Effective communication is the best way to guarantee your happiness in any relationship.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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24. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The Most Life-Changing Books #24: How to Win Friends and Influence People

Favorite Quote

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” — Dale Carnegie

The Book in One Sentence

How To Win Friends And Influence People teaches you countless principles to become a likable person, handle your relationships well, win others over, and help them change their behavior without being intrusive.

Why should you read it?

Life is easier when people like you. A friendly tone, good manners, and light compliments are the oil in the social machine, making our interactions with others smooth and efficient — especially the ones we don’t know that well or even at all. Full of practical tips and small habits you can practice daily, this book will help you get more done while having more fun, all by smiling, shaking hands, and saying a few simple words at the right time.

Key Takeaways

  1. You can make a great first impression just by smiling.
  2. To be interesting to others, talk about their favorite topic: themselves.
  3. If you want to convince people, get them to say yes a lot.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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The Most Life-Changing Books About Money

25. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Most Life-Changing Books #25: Rich Dad Poor Dad

Favorite Quote

“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 Book in One Sentence

Rich Dad Poor Dad tells the story of a boy with two fathers, one rich, one poor, to help you develop the mindset and financial knowledge you need to build a life of wealth and freedom.

Why should you read it?

Humans learn through stories more so than instructions. This book has both. The story in the first half of the book really drives home everything you need to know about managing your finances well. The advice that follows is a nice add-on. It’s an absolute classic, and even though it keeps falling in and out of favor with the public, I think it’s a book worth reading for anyone who’s financially curious.

Key Takeaways

  1. Use your money to acquire assets, not liabilities.
  2. Manage risks instead of avoiding them.
  3. Work to learn, not to earn.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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26. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson

The Most Life-Changing Books #26: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Favorite Quote

“Earn with your mind, not your time.” — Naval Ravikant

The Book in One Sentence

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant compiles the valuable lessons of Naval Ravikant, who teaches people how to build wealth and achieve long-term happiness by working on a few essential skills, all while discovering the secrets of living a good life.

Why should you read it?

Starting from the bottom of the social hierarchy in India, Naval Ravikant has made it quite far. After moving to the US, getting a degree, and starting, growing, and selling an internet startup, he began investing in other companies. Uber, Twitter, I think you’ve heard of some of them. Nowadays, Naval spends most of his time thinking, and it shows: His takes on philosophy, wealth, life, and happiness are eloquent, elegant, and crystal clear. One of the great minds of our time worth learning from. The book is a compilation of Naval’s podcasts, interviews, and tweets, edited by Eric Jorgenson. You can download it for free on his website, but if you want a print copy, you’ll have to go through Amazon.

Key Takeaways

  1. Use the compounding rule to build the life you want.
  2. A good financial status can help you unlock new levels of freedom.
  3. Reacting with neutrality to certain events and staying quiet can enhance our happiness.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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Most Life-Changing Books About Health, Mindfulness, and Wellbeing

27. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Most Life-Changing Books #27: The Power of Now

Favorite Quote

“If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place. Primary reality is within; secondary reality without.” — Eckhart Tolle

The Book in One Sentence

The Power of Now shows you that every minute you spend worrying about the future or regretting the past is a minute lost, because really all you have is the present, the now, and gives you actionable strategies to start living every minute as it occurs.

Why should you read it?

This is one of those books that’ll either click with you or it won’t, but if it doesn’t, it’s probably just a matter of bad timing. Once you “get” that the only moment we really have is “right now,” everything in this book will make sense. It’s a huge perspective shift and, therefore, a book worth trying to read repeatedly until you find it flows and can digest it in just a few sittings.

Key Takeaways

  1. Life is just a series of present moments.
  2. All pain is a result of resistance to the things you cannot change.
  3. You can free yourself from pain by constantly observing your mind and not judging your thoughts.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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28. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

The Most Life-Changing Books #28: The Miracle Morning

Favorite Quote

“Where you are is a result of who you were, but where you go depends entirely on who you choose to be, from this moment on.” — Hal Elrod

The Book in One Sentence

The Miracle Morning makes it clear that in order to become successful, you have to dedicate time to personal development each day, and then gives you a 6-step morning routine to create and shape that time.

Why should you read it?

The only way to have a good day is to have a good morning. This book will help you accomplish that. It’s the best book on morning routines out there, if you ask me. The six steps are completely customizable and cover everything you’d want to take care of to set yourself up for a great day, every day.

Key Takeaways

  1. Don’t isolate incidences in your life.
  2. You can get a good night’s sleep, even if it’s just 4 hours.
  3. Have a pre-morning routine to get out of bed faster.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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29. The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner

The Most Life-Changing Books #29: The Blue Zones Solution

Favorite Quote

“Knowing why we get up in the morning is one of the greatest antidotes to the downs in life.” — Dan Buettner

The Book in One Sentence

The Blue Zones Solution shows you how to adopt the lifestyle and mindset of the healthiest, longest-living people on the planet , based on research conducted in the five locations with the highest populations of people aged 100 and older.

Why should you read it?

Rather than doing everything from a ground-up, isolated, “this is what logic suggests” approach, this book simply looks at the oldest people in the world and asks them how they got there — literally. Buettner conducted many interviews and did on-site research, uncovering many findings about what it takes to live long and happily that no scientist in a lab in a highly developed yet unhealthy country could ever have found. This is the follow on to The Blue Zones, but it’s more practical, showing you how to emulate the world’s centenarians rather than just explaining why they lived for so long.

Key Takeaways

  1. A 2,500-year-old mantra from Okinawa reminds people to stop eating when they’re 80% full – and it’s a healthy idea.
  2. Beans, including fava, black, soy and lentil are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets.
  3. The world’s longest-lived communities live in environments that continuously nudge them into moving naturally.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

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30. Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant

The Most Life-Changing Books #30: Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It

Favorite Quote

“If I loved myself truly and deeply, would I let myself experience this?” — Kamal Ravikant

The Book in One Sentence

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It is Kamal Ravikant’s story of overcoming professional and personal failure thanks to a vow he made to love himself, and how you too can use this simple technique of deep compassion and self-care to overcome adversity and find happiness.

Why should you read it?

It’s sad to say that loving yourself radically, consistently, and unapologetically is a rebellious, almost revolutionary idea, but it is. What should be obvious and taught to us in childhood is actually something we must completely, painstakingly learn from scratch as adults, and Kamal is the man to teach us. If you’re feeling down or out of luck, this book will change your life.

Key Takeaways

  1. Telling yourself you love yourself will work, even if, at first, you don’t believe it.
  2. Once your daily self-love practice kicks in, your life will seem to magically get better.
  3. Even after you’re happy and fulfilled, never stop loving yourself — it’s easy to lose the habit and slip back into negativity.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

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Conclusion

That concludes our list of the best life-changing books. We hope at least one of our picks speaks to you, exerting that mysterious, magnetic pull that, somehow, this is the right book at the right time. Whichever one does, either get started by reading our summary of it or ordering a copy for yourself!

Life is better when we read. It makes us think, learn, and consider other people’s perspective. Most of all, a good book can help us when we’re at a crossroads, unsure which path will be the best way forward. If you find yourself at such a crossroads right now, what are you waiting for? Grab a life-changing book and see where its insights will lead!


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Last Updated on January 31, 2024