10 Books That Changed My Life

“How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book!  The book exists for us perchance which will explain our miracles and reveal new ones.”

~Henry David Thoreau

Books can change lives.  When read with an open mind, they often do.  They present new ideas, and offer fresh perspectives on old problems.  They inspire “aha” moments; they make ideas “stick.”  Best of all, books are inspiration.  The right book read earnestly can make an optimist out of even the most hardened pessimist.

I believe reading has an inherent value, regardless if a book is of impeccable quality.  Even bad books- badly organized, badly written, or just plain bad- inspire fresh thinking.

I see a sea of reasons to read deeply, widely, and regularly.  But the number of books out there can be extremely overwhelming.  To guide you on your reading journey, I’ve assembled a list of the ten books that have had the greatest influence on my life.  Out of the many hundreds of books I’ve read in my lifetime, these are the ones that have had the biggest impact, that have truly changed my life.  I can all but guarantee they’ll make a difference in yours, too.

Spirituality

The Way of the Saints, Kirpal Singh

This timeless tome is a compendium of articles by Kirpal Singh (1894-1974), a spiritual master of the Sant Mat tradition with worldwide renown in his time.  Describing Kirpal’s influence on me is an impossible task- I have been moved by his message of love, humility and service since discovering his works when I was 15.  He is the reason I meditate.  Kirpal was a saint of our times, and there is infinite benefit to be had from his writing.  My favorite essays from this collection are “Man! Know Thyself” and “Love, Concentration and Self-Surrender: The Psychology of Mysticism.”

If you are yearning for a spiritual path, there is no other book or author I could recommend more.  It was these essays that put me on the way, and I haven’t looked back since.

Oh, and did I mention that Kirpal’s entire works are completely free and available for PDF download right here (go to “books online”)?

The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle

You’ve probably heard of this one before- not only can this book be found on the bargain table in most Borders Bookstores, the author also created a 10-part mini series with Oprah Winfrey.  Wow!  Pretty intense, right?  I have only this to say: there is a reason that millions of ordinary people the world over have been transformed by this decidedly spiritual book.  Put simply, The Power of Now is the best contemporary introduction to spiritual practice available.   Within minutes, the reader can actually feel what spirituality is all about.  In particular, the first several chapters are utterly priceless.

Want to read a book that will instantly change your perspective on your own mind?  Then read this one.  The audio version is very effective, as well.

Organization and Productivity

Getting Things Done, David Allen

Getting Things Done (GTD) will help you do just that, providing an organizational system to carry you throughout a full, fulfilling life.  Allen’s concepts of “mental RAM,” keeping nothing on your mind, and the weekly review are worth far more than the price of admission.  Not only that, you’ll also get a step-by-step guide to actually implementing this system.  I wholeheartedly believe that this book could be the best professional investment (particularly for the money spent) you ever make, and it’s been life-changing for many people.  For the naturally disorganized (most of us), I cannot recommend this book enough- it will deeply affect the way you live.

Zen to Done, Leo Babauta

This pithy 106-page book is the perfect compromise for those who aren’t ready for all-out GTD.  ZTD covers the fundamentals of GTD and even embellishes to make a more practical and easily maintained system.  If you can read only one, this is the one.  However, I strongly recommend that you read GTD first, then round things out with a little ZTD.

Success and Effectiveness

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey

You’ve heard of this one, right?  That’s because it’s an absolute classic.  Sagely structured, ingeniusly executed, and utterly bursting with paradigm-shifting ideas for handling life, no personal library should be without it.  This book is an excellent introduction to personal growth; Covey really has captured the essence of self-development in his seven principles.  I regularly revisit this book for clarity, guidance and inspiration, and will continue to do so for years to come.  Plus, Randy Pausch of “The Last Lecture” fame recommends it and describes it in some length in his other excellent lecture, “Time Management.”  You must own this book!

Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

What an incredible little book!  Don’t be put off by the title- this book really isn’t about “getting rich” at all.  In reality, it’s an inspirational gem that concludes Napoleon Hill’s 25 years of research into the lives, character traits and habits of the most successful and effective people in human history.  Compelling, bold, and relevant to us all, there’s a reason this book is still on stands despite being published over 80 years ago.  For me, this book hammered home the importance of conditioning the subconscious mind (via affirmations, visualizations, intentions, etc.), while offering a unique perspective on desire and faith. Although a few passages are bound to raise an eyebrow or two- for instance, Hill’s praise of Coca-Cola and his bizarre explanation of balding- the essence is excellent.  I’m especially impressed by Hill’s bold chapter on “the mystery of sexual transmutation”- it’s worth picking up for that alone.

The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

Energy.  It’s all about energy: understanding it, managing it, and using it for personal effectiveness.  Written by a prominent sports psychologist and backed up with tons of great research, this book is a manual for living a fully engaged life, demonstrating how managing energy is even more important than managing time.  Unbelievably easy to read, Full Engagement covers everything: how to find balance in life, how to work, how to change a habit, how to eat, how to sleep, and everything in between.  This book is a bargain for all the wisdom it so thoughtfully conveys- highly recommended.

Creative Expression

Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg

This book single-handedly awakened my passion for writing.  Natalie Goldberg is a genius, and I love every page of this beautifully written book.  Fundamentally, Bones offers a guide to writing inspired by Zen meditation practice, and gets you moving the pen with a passion (or hitting the keys).  If you’re starving for creative expression- or even self-expression—Bones is a mini-enlightenment for your creative self.  Well worth owning and revisiting again and again.

Finances

I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Ramit Sethi

IWTYTBR definitely stands out on a shelf of personal finance books (not that I spend much time there): Besides its neon yellow and orange cover, it’s written by spunky Indian blogger Ramit Sethi, and outlines what you need to know (and nothing more) about managing your finances.  This book is a must for the under-30 crowd, as it’s written specifically for you in a tone and style so funny and informative that you’ll be compelled to read on just for Sethi’s jokes.  I’ve implemented just about every step of the financial infrastructure he recommends (he literally does 99% of the research for you, making it ridiculously easy), and I feel great about my financial future as a result.

Take your financial destiny into your own hands, and buy this book now.  Every day you wait is thousands of dollars wasted by not following Ramit’s advice.  Oh, and if you’re living on the cheap and can’t afford this one, just drop by Ramit’s impeccable blog of the same title.

Memory

Super Memory, Super Student, Harry Lorayne

Getting Things Done started me along the path of personal growth, but it was preceded by another title that absolutely shattered my 17-year-old mind.  That book was Super Memory, Super Student by Harry Lorayne, which contains the most powerful memorization techniques I’ve ever encountered.  Within pages, you’ll learn how to memorize lists of ten, fifteen, or twenty plus items backwards and forwards, and you’ll soon apply incredible techniques to memorize any list by number (a parlor trick I have used to no abandon over the past 5 years).  If you are a student, this book is an absolute godsend, but its value extends to literally every occupation and activity possible.  Most of all, I adore this book for utterly shattering my concept of what our minds are capable of, and I’ve been following that curiosity ever since.

If you aren’t mesmerized by the capabilities of the human mind, read this book.  You are more intelligent than you can possibly imagine.

That’s my list!

I’ve done my part.  Now how about you?  What books have changed the course of your life?  I’d love to hear in the comments.

(props to jackfre2 for the title pic)