9/24/2017 20 Life-Changing Books!

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THE BLOG 10/27/2014 04:46 pm ET | Updated Dec 27, 2014

20 Life-Changing Books!
By Seth Adam Smith

If you want to change your body, change what you eat and how you exercise. If you want to change your
outlook on life, change what you read and put it into practice.

Listed below are twenty life-changing books. Unless you are determined to be miserable (which, strangely
enough, some people are), these books will change your life for the better. Click on the titles to order a
copy for yourself, then mark them up and put them into practice.

1. Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl - In this book, the author details his experiences in an
Auschwitz concentration camp, while simultaneously sharing his perspective on living a meaningful life.
The book has sold well over 10 million copies and has been consistently listed as one of the most
influential books ever written. From the book: When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are
challenged to change ourselves.

2. As A Man Thinketh by James Allen - Although you could probably finish this little booklet in less than
an hour or two, its words are powerful and profound. Words like these: A mans mind may be likened to
a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or
neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless
weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.

3. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown - In this book, the author addresses how to find deep
personal worth while living in a world that is constantly bombarded by messages of who, what, and how
we should be. From the book: Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our
lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on
love and belonging and joythe experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave
enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.

4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - This is a fantastic, beautiful narrative about finding out who we are
and fearlessly chasing our own personal legend. In this book, Coelho says: There is only one thing that

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makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.

5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - Does this book really need any explaining? It follows the life of
reformed convict, Jean Valjean, and illustrates the power and beauty of redemption. From the book: To
love another person is to see the face of God.

6. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch - Diagnosed with terminal, pancreatic cancer, professor Randy
Pausch delivered his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September of 2007. His lecture was structured
around the hypothetical question: What wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was
your last chance? The book fleshes out the ideas presented in the last lecture and was co-authored and
approved by Pausch before he died. From the book: The key question to keep asking is, Are you
spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird - To put it simply, Atticus Finch is one of the best, noblest characters ever written
into existence. From the book: I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that
courage is a man with a gun in his hand. Its when you know youre licked before you begin, but you
begin anyway and see it through no matter what.

8. The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck - Where do I start? This book is honestly one of my absolute
favorite books of all time. It is packed with incredible insight and solutions for confronting and solving
some of lifes greatest problems. For example, consider this: Problems call forth our courage and our
wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and wisdom.

9. Dont Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson - This book helps you overcome the small stuff
that can drive you crazy. It is filled with supportive and thoughtful suggestions on how to live a more
peaceful life. From the book: ...when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, youre
free.To hold on is to be serious and uptight. To let go is to lighten up.

10. The Seven Paths by the Anasazi Foundation - This poetic, evocative story presents the meditations of
an ancient Anasazi tribesman who learns that the point of lifes walk is how one is moved in the heart. He
walks seven paths, each teaching a lesson symbolized by an element of the natural world: light, wind,
water, stone, plants, animals, and, finally, the unity of all beings with the Creator.

11. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne - In this bestselling book, various individuals share their insight
and experience with The Secret (the law of attraction). While this book can get a little mystical, it does a
really good job at explaining how our mental outlook can affect all areas of our lives (for you business
types, I would also recommend Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill).

12. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey - This book is consistently listed as one of the
most inspiring books ever written and has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. From the
book: But until a person can say deeply and honestly, I am what I am today because of the choices I
made yesterday, that person cannot say, I choose otherwise.

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13. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis - If youd like to read some more inspirational fiction, check
out these classics by C. S. Lewis. Not only are they entertaining, but theyre also filled with timeless
wisdom about addiction, sin, guilt, and the nature of man. Plus, the seventh book is quite possibly one of
the most beautiful fiction books Ive ever read. From the book: Now at last they were beginning Chapter
One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is
better than the one before.

14. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - Im a fairly introverted person, so Im not
exactly going out of my way to meet new people. But this book provides some great, practical advice on
working with and helping people. Im a big believer in finding happiness. From the book: 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.

15. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino - This book probably isnt what you think it is,
but I wont spoil the surprise. From the book: Wealth, my son, should never be your goal in life. Your
words are eloquent but they are mere words. True wealth is of the heart, not of the purse.

16. The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis - In this allegorical story, a busload of sinners leave the depths of
hell to see what heaven might be like. When they get there, they are told that they can stay in heaven if
they can give up the sins that are holding them back. Through an array of characters struggling with
different vices, C. S. Lewis masterfully illustrates that, more often than not, we are the very things that are
holding ourselves back.

17. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I dont even know how to describe this book. Its beautiful, heart-
breaking, yet very comfortingall at the same time. It tells the story of a little girl growing up in Germany
during World War II. There is one scene in the book (which was left out of the movie) that is absolutely
astoundingreading that one scene is worth every minute spent reading the whole book.

18. The Shack by William P. Young - After his youngest daughter is murdered by a serial killer, Mackenzie
Allen Phillips receives a mysterious noteapparently from Godtelling him to return to the shack, the
scene of the crime. What happens next is a spiritual journey of love and forgiveness that forever changes
his life. From the book: [...] love is much stronger than your fault could ever be.

19. The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett - This book is a massive collection of some of the greatest
stories ever told. I actually have a copy of it on the corner of my desk right nowone of the stories in that
book changed my life.

20. Sacred Writings - I dont know if youre a religious person or not, so this one is entirely up to you. But I
believe that many religions contain incredible, invaluable, time-tested truthsand we would be foolish to
simply ignore them. At the very least, theres something to be said of getting in touch with your
religious/cultural roots.

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If you like any of these books, please be sure to check out my own book Your Life Isnt For You. In it, I
draw upon inspirational stories from history and literature to illustrate my deep conviction that the only
way you can truly find and live your life is to give it away to others.

Follow Seth Adam Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SethAdamSmith

Seth Adam Smith

Author and Blogger at SethAdamSmith.com

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