Books play an important part in anyone’s life. If you’re not inclined to read then you’re bound to missing on an interesting part of life. Reading is a habit that will provide you with a lot of benefits in the long run. Also, a good book can be a perfect relaxation aid and a great source of inspiration.
Here is a list of 7 must-read inspirational books that you should have in your backpacks, download in your e-readers, or add to your Goodreads or Amazon wish list.
1. Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
In Japan, millions of people use Ikigai (pronounced as ick-ee-guy) to get charge themselves every day. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means a reason for being. The book has done a decent job of relating the concept of Ikigai to modern-day psychology. It talks about how purpose plays a critical role in the life of a human being. This book also discusses certain ways to find your ikigai and ask yourself the following four questions:
- What do I love?
- What am I good at?
- What does the world need?
- What is my reason for being?
Your Ikigai is at the intersection of what you are good at and what you love doing”, says Héctor García, the co-author of the book. In their book Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life, the authors have broken down the ten rules that anyone can use to find their own ikigai.
2. Attitude is Everything: Change Your Attitude … Change Your Life! By Jeff Keller
Change your attitude…change your life!
Yes, this is the tag line of this book by Jeff Keller.
Do you have anxiety going to work?
Do you feel drained, discontented, or weighed down?
Have you given up on fulfilling your dreams?
If you want to be successful in life then all it takes to have ONE thing and that is – YOUR ATTITUDE. It’s your ATTITUDE that defines your altitude and this is the only thing that is within your CONTROL.
The book Attitude is Everything: Change Your Attitude … Change Your Life!, shows how the author has made a transition from a lawyer to a motivational speaker via the principles illustrated in the book and also shows how you can make positive changes in your life.
The book also consists of 12 lessons or chapters where the author has divided each of the lessons into three sections:
- Think
- Speak
- Act
3. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
It is best that you use your time and energy to find something important and meaningful in your life. The key to living a good life is to care about the things that align with your goals and personal values.
The book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson tries to outline the same philosophy and tells you that it is fine if you fail in a certain task. The author of the book also tells us to stop trying so hard when we know things are not in our control. I would definitely recommend this book as it is a simple self-help book filled with entertaining stories and ruthless humor where you’ll know the key to living a happy life is to stop trying to be positive all the time. It is important to understand that if you want to lead a good life then you must care about the things that are immediate and important, and that are meaningful to you.
4. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Often, people think that if you want to change your life then you have to think big but it is not the case every time because the real change happens from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions like working on a fitness regime, waking up five minutes early, or holding a short phone call. James Clear, a renowned habits expert calls all of these atomic habits. In the book Atomic Habits, James Clear explains how you can change your life through these little changes. “James Clear has spent years honing the art and studying the science of habits. This engaging, hands-on book is the guide you need to break the bad routines and make the good ones”, says Adam Grant, author of Originals.
This book provides some inspiring stories of well-known personalities who’ve used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy. Also, this book will tell you how to make time for new habits and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits.
5. Heroes Amongst Us: Inspirational Stories of Ordinary People who Achieved Extraordinary Success! By Dr Amit Nagpal
The book Heroes Amongst Us: Inspirational Stories of Ordinary People who Achieved Extraordinary Success! by Dr Amit Nagpal takes us along the inspirational life stories of 32 ordinary people who achieve extraordinary success.
Dr Amit Nagpal is a storyteller, author, and entrepreneur who have helped a lot of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to share stories that inspire action and help them build their brand. He’s also the co-founder of Bloggers Alliance, which is a place for bloggers, storytellers, and content creators to promote blogging as a profession. In this book, he shares some of the profiles of 32 achievers around the globe who have achieved professional success.
6. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley
If you want to create and publish engaging content that will make your business thrive then this is a must-read book. Also, this book acts as a go-to guide to attracting and retaining customers through stellar content. In this book, top marketing veteran Ann Handley provides her expert advice and insights on the process of content creation, production, and publishing.
This book consists of various chapters that explain how to write better. Also, this book inspires you to become a strong writer. This book also provides a list of tools from research and development to writing and productivity tools for content creators that can help you to stay productive and produce your best work.
7. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
A lot of times, we spend our entire life thinking too much about the past and worrying about the future. This philosophy is the core of the book The Power of Now. In this book, Eckhart Tolle shows us the way how it is important to focus on the present.
To sum up, in just three words, the essence of this book is about “Present Mental Awareness”. As Eckhart Tolle puts it in his own words, “Nothing has ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now. This is a must-read book for all these people who want to believe in the “Power of Now”.
Hey Anuj, really nice collection you have put out there. I’ll check out Ann Handley on your recommendation. Keep reading and keep writing.
Thanks Anuj for this blog. It has inspired me to read these books in the second half of this year.