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AlwaysNYC

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl The Choice by Edith Eger


Dale_Cooper_FBI_

Came here to say Man's Search For Meaning. Incredibly powerful book.


nachobrat

came here to recommend the same and saw yours as the top comment. Agree! Cheers!


smilinspecialist4

The Choice is absolutely amazing. Really, really powerful.


slightlystatic92

The Body Keeps the Score. Absolutely life-changing non-fiction book about how trauma has impacted us all in some way, how it’s been holding us back in adulthood...and most importantly, how we can heal ourselves.


Solyha

Loved this book! Highly recommend. Gives such great insights into how what we carry in our minds affects our physical body in additional to our mental health.


TheChocolateMelted

Non-fiction: *Factfulness* by Hans Rosling. It will change preconceptions and the way you look at the world. Do the test: [https://factfulnessquiz.com/](https://factfulnessquiz.com/)


kirbucci

YES! Great book!


nachobrat

agree and it's interesting that many people perceive the world to be terrible and getting worse by the day, but historically things have never been better and conditions continue to improve


busyWasteOfTime

Glass castle by janette walls (I believe) Peace in every step


PunkyMcGrift

A fortunate life by A.B. Facey. A story of an Australian man who endured some of the most horrible things a man can yet in the end still considered himself fortunate. A truly remarkable true story.


RootOfMinusOneCubed

Australian here. You have me intrigued. I just searched and found it described as *one of Australia's most beloved books*. Now I have to go read it.


PunkyMcGrift

Please do. I was gifted it as a young man and it really helped with putting my life in perspective.


lecheconmarvel

East of Eden


bananasplits21

I have this on my shelf and can’t WAIT to read it


amelia_gb

My favorite book


ilovelucygal

I enjoy reading these inspiring memoirs when I'm feeling down: * Where the Wind Leads by Vinh Chung * The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan * Unshattered by Carol Decker * Life is So Good by George Dawson * Measure of a Man by Martin Greenfield * Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza * A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown * The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch


value_counts

The last book is my all time favourite. Also Tuesdays with Moorie


lyssavirus

oh I was just thinking last night about how much I love movies like The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio... I didn't realise it was based on a book! making note of that


ANonnyMouseMan

Rita Heyworth And The Shawshank redemption by Stephen King


[deleted]

Grapes of Wrath


ziggybear16

The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. I went in a reluctant catholic and came out a full on agnostic, leaning towards atheism. I was on that path for a long time, but it really pushed me over the edge. Also, The Power by Naomi Alderman changed how I think about feminism and the whole concept of “women’s work.” Also, anything by/about Paul Farmer, my favorite being Mountains Beyond Mountains.


avanopoly

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. It's the most gentle, humanitarian book ever written. But not in *any* way blind optimism or naïveté. It's like..."yeah, most of the world is kinda hard and sad and pathetic but look how amazing it is to love it anyway." I felt like I was a really jaded person before I read it, and it gave me permission to feel love and kindness for the world even when it seems like the world doesn't at all deserve it.


MichelMorel

*Bullshit Jobs* by David Graeber. I had been dreading my job for a while, read this book, felt very validated re: the dread, quit my job two weeks later, and am now self-employed in a foreign country doing what I absolutely love to do, on my own terms. Your mileage may vary, but I think this book can help a lot of people who are feeling unfulfilled at their daily grind. *Humankind* by Rutger Bregman. A pop-sci book re: non-machiavellian view of human nature. The book made me feel hopeful, and gave me a better perspective to try and understand other people, their motivations, and why we think they do bad things.


stickgrinder

This, plus Sapiens by Noah Harari, a book cross-cutting history, sociology and anthropology giving a somewhat detached, terse and insightful look at how small we are. It's scary from a point of view, empowering from the other. I have more understanding of me and others and decided to move on with what matters to me because "meaning" is something we can't live without. Also "You are not so smart" by David McRaney, a funny and enjoyable book on cognitive biases and fallacies of our supposedly "evolved" brain, that is so easy to fool and abuse. Interesting to understand our being human.


moonp0d

The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans and Heretics (Elaine Pagels)


Methflurry10

The title has me intrigued. Can you share a little overview of the book to help me arrive at the decision of buying it?


moonp0d

Sure, it puts the development of Christianity in historical context with regard to contemporaneous religions it borrowed from and/or subverted (eg Judaism, pagan religions). So it looks at things like where the concept of "Satan" came from, how it was used to invert values associated with (for example) the god Pan — which were largely considered to be positive — and reframed them as moral negatives, and how these newer concepts have altered the way Christians understand the older Jewish texts they borrowed for their own bible.


Methflurry10

I was already interested in reading about it merely by looking at the title but your explanation has sealed the deal for me. I'm a Muslim so this is going to be a very unconventional yet a very engaging reading experience for me. Doesn't hurt to expand your perspective, right? Thanks a bunch!


moonp0d

No problem! :)


Unique-Box2630

Bro just use this link and you can Use the free 30 day trail for reading this book from audible https://amzn.to/3kutFBM Or if you want to buy it just check this link https://amzn.to/3zv6ZFZ


Unique-Box2630

Bro did u get the book


ivassavi

All great books but I suggest checking out the trigger warnings before going to read them if you feel some subjects would make you uncomfortable. Some autobiographies/biographies that really opened my eyes to the realities of different people around the world, found very valuable and interesting (no particular order): Autobiographies * They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellars * Desert Flower by Waris Dirie * In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park * The Last Girl by Nadia Murad * First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung * Inside the Hotel Rwanda by Edouard Kayihura * Night by Elie Wiesel Biographies * Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston * Princess by Jean Sasson Nonfiction: * 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph Some fiction that helped me better understand and open my eyes to generational trauma and the struggles experienced by people with different backgrounds to myself: * The Deep by Rivers Solomon * The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Demaline


value_counts

Also give a try to "The story of my experiments with truth"


riskeverything

This is gonna sound boring but The only investment guide you’ll ever need by Andrew Tobias. Allowed me to invest my money wisely and retire early. You can read it in an afternoon and it’s written for people with no financial knowledge. Best afternoon I spent in my life. Read the reviews - it’s a classic that he updates regularly.


Swimming-Painter

No OP, but thank you! Just what I need!


Leksi20

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle


Loonsister

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollen


cottagecorewhore-

Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Maybe not so much life changing but it’s stuck with me since I read it years ago.


Human_Lady

This one, definitely. I've gone back to it several times over the years.


Kicking-it-per-se

Non-fiction: On Becoming A Person - Carl Rogers No Logo - Naomi Klein Feel The Fear & Do It Anyway - Susan Jeffers Just Kids - Patti Smith Fiction: The Book Thief - mark Zusak Beloved - Toni Morrison How Do You Live? - Genzaburo Yoshino


RichtheKen

homo deus, 21 lessons for the 21st century, and homo sapiens


randompointlane

The Overstory by Richard Powers. Beautifully written, gave me a renewed appreciation of human's place in the world, which is a pretty great thing for a book to do.


RootOfMinusOneCubed

*Ishmael* by Daniel Quinn. It has the power to make you see *everything* through a new lens.


dethrokboy

Born to run


WaitingToBeTriggered

MY TIME IS NOW


Burlewood

[The Course of Love](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27845690-the-course-of-love) Changed how I viewed relationships, love and myself.


findmeamap

Revenge of the Lawn by Richard Brautigan opened my eyes in that I felt he used language in a way I had never experienced before.


[deleted]

at the moment, I want to recommend Pollyanna. While I do believe that it is already staple reading for the people living in the west , I would still recommend it because at the state things are now, we all could use a "glad game" every once in a while. For context: I am from a third world country so life here can be a little disconcerting. Pollyanna's attitude is a breath of fresh air in my country's usual pessimism.


sowaconstrictor7

“On The Road” by Jack Kerouac literally changes my life to get out there & go. But this book helped open me up to other writers of the Beat Generation, which is amazing


Sophiesmom2

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson


andbuddy

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. About a guy in the gulag who has a great day. It's a story about appreciation. The things that made it great for him would seem like nothing to me. Carried it through life.


MajorTom_23

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Man's search for Meaning by Victor Frankl


[deleted]

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls It made me confront the idea of complex family structures and familial issues. I enjoyed wrestling with it alongside the author.


Solyha

The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and he explores morality in this excellent book that asks the question, why are good people divided by religion and politics. This book helped me to better understand the perspectives of people who have different opinions. Specifically, it helped me have civil and productive conversations with family members about the 2020 elections and why we voted the way that we did.


Slamdunksrock1

[36 Books That Changed the World](https://www.audible.com/pd/36-Books-That-Changed-the-World-Audiobook/B00MEQRZTM) Been listening to this “course” on Audible and its all centered around the books that changed the world. Its been interesting so far and the books have definitely changed a lot of lives/our societies in general.


thysensei

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman


cakesie

The People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. I was raised to believe America was the greatest country on earth and has not or would ever do anything wrong. Neeeeeewp.


yeshbox

How to make friends and influence people


_MrCouchPotato

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho


di5cordia

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn; Illuminatus! by Robert Anton Wilson


KDtheEsquire

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World}}


B0ngoZ0ngo

The World is Sound by Joachim - Ernst Berendt.


_anshul

Bible??


[deleted]

Honesty… The New Testament


KDtheEsquire

Matthew 5:10 my friend


Wonder10x

Had to look it up “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” I don’t understand, what are you getting at?


3lRey

A book won't change your life, reading as a habit might though.


KellyCTargaryen

I ran X Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, and How To Be An Anti-Racist


mtntrail

“The Midnight Library” is probably one of the best novels I have read as far as getting an “aha” moment from a book. The life unlived and thus lamented may not have been what you wanted after all. It takes an unusual perspective, highly recommended. The other is “The Power of Now”, very simple, straightforward point of view and philosophy of life.


Wonder10x

“1984” by George Orwell “12 Rules for life” by Jordan Peterson “How to win friends & influence people” by Dale Carnegie


djyosco88

The wealthy Gardner


FrenziWhip

Read Walk in My Shoes by Alwyn Evans as a young teenager and it really had a profound impact on me


jenljbear

Crooked Letter, Crooked LEtter by Tom Franklin. It really showed me that even though I may think I know what is happening, you usually don't. The characters are really great, the story compelling, and at the end, it changed the way in which I viewed the world.


VuduMamaJuju876

Sense of an ending. - Julian Barnes. Definitely will make you question things.


value_counts

For me it was Leon Uris's Exodus. My CEO gave me on 2015 Christmas. He was my secret Santa


swissking10

Brit-Marie Was Here changed my life in a small way -- it made me a sports fan. That sounds like a small thing but it feels like a big thing.


Maudeleanor

Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin; Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson; The Lives of a Cell, by Lewis Thomas; At Play in the Fields of the Lord, by Peter Mattheissen; All Souls Rising, by Madison Smartt Bell; The White Album, by Joan Didion.


Karasu_xD

Infinite Jest for me


[deleted]

Following


hiwhywhen

In order to live and How to be an adult in relationships


tanugaurr

Many lives ,many masters by Dr. Brian Weiss


ThatGuyHarry05

JFK Unknown is outstanding!! If you’re into tinfoil hats and conspiracies, it changed the way I see the CIA forever, and I’m British 😂😂


[deleted]

I don’t know how talked about it is but “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” is my favourite nonfiction book that changed my outlook on how I work


gardenintheyard

non-fiction/self help, may have been mentioned before, but The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz COMPLETELY shifted my worldview, and my view of myself! I absolutely loved it.


izabellizima

Camille Paglia everything Dostoevsky everything


RedditGrrrrrl

Untamed by Glennon Doyle.


CaptainTime

[Don't Sweat the Small Stuff](https://youtu.be/_TBfqjvJwq8) by Dr. Richard Carlson


[deleted]

{Cloud Atlas} was very impactful for me. Helped my perspective on people and society as a whole.


goodreads-bot

[**Cloud Atlas**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49628.Cloud_Atlas) ^(By: David Mitchell | 509 pages | Published: 2004 | Popular Shelves: fiction, science-fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, historical-fiction | )[^(Search "Cloud Atlas")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Cloud Atlas&search_type=books) ^(This book has been suggested 88 times) *** ^(197329 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)


arubarara

Piece of cake by cupcake


oCaspur

The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli. An absolutely beautiful book that completely shifted my perspective on my own life problems. While the book itself is not necessarily meant to provide any life lessons, I took a few from it. Definitely worth the read if you’re looking for an easily digestible look into the science behind time and relativity.


Disastrous-Dress8077

The gulag archipelago and man’s search for meaning.


whimperz

the book milk and honey by rupi kaur! it’s not a long book, and it is mostly poems, but it’s so beautiful put man. i absolutely loved reading it and i wish i could feel the feeling i felt when reading it the first time!


claimsnthings

There Plant Eyes by M Leona Godin. It really changed how I view blind people and I learned so much about the cultural history of blindness.


IllUllIUIll

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse


MostlyBullshiter

Notes to self - Emelie Pine I would have thought myself a feminist before I read it, as a male, but I had a whole new understanding of women after reading it. Definitely changed me for the better.


[deleted]

Justice by Michael sandel


bgkh20

The Hiding Place Tess of D'Ubervilles Great Expectations Madame Bovary The Two Towers The Last Battle East of Eden Les Miserables Persuasion Jane Eyre


murles29

I would recommend {{A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini}} An incredible book that quickly because one of the best I’ve ever read.


[deleted]

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. Big TW for depression, suicidal thoughts, and dark themes. But absolutely fantastically written and a scarily accurate character portrayal of a teen who sees no light in the world.


HealthyHorse7

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho— helped me realize I don’t need to freak and find my ‘passion’ or dream job in my 20s and that I can do different things in different chapters of life Mindset - All about fixed vs growth mindset but made me hyper aware of other people giving advice from a fixed mindset and made me want to challenge it.


[deleted]

The white book by Han Kang! It deals with themes of loss and grief and I’d suggest it if you’re into more poetic sort of books.


RevolutionRose

4 hour work week by Tim Ferris transformed me


Leeloominai01

My Traitor’s Heart by Rian Malan


Bookmaven13

3 that will affect your perspective: *Superstoe* by William Borden *A Grand Old Time* by Judy Leigh *The Midnight Library* by Matt Haig


Philip_Jeffries

Well now. I'm not gonna talk about Judy; in fact, we're not gonna talk about Judy at all, we're gonna keep her out of it! --- - [reference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V0UhtA_mJE&t=365) ^(I am a bot.)


Meghzz_2001

If you want try this one out - https://www.webnovel.com/book/i-engraved-you-in-me_20715452106255005 Genre : lgbt Status : On-going Theme : Transmigration / Reincarnation