![\"Angela](\"https:\/\/www.makingsenseofcents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/10-Life-Changing-Books-Im-Glad-Ive-Read-1-150x150.png\"\/ "\\"Angela")
<\/div>\nAre you looking for books that can change the way you live your life?<\/p>\n
Maybe you\u2019re looking for stories that inspire personal growth or motivate you to try new things. You might even be looking for books that teach you something new about yourself and the world. <\/p>\n
As someone who reads a lot (I have over 800 books cataloged in my Goodreads account as read), I have a fair share of books I can recommend on these topics.<\/p>\n
And these book recommendations are good! I\u2019m not a fan of boring, stuffy books with hard-to-understand jargon and overly complicated ideas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s article, I\u2019m going over:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The top list of books I recommend reading<\/li>\n
- Why I recommend reading these books<\/li>\n
- My go-to personal finance book<\/li>\n
- The book that helped me feel like I wasn\u2019t stuck<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Recommended reading:<\/em> 40 Ideas That Will Help You Learn How To Live Your Best Life<\/a><\/p>\n
10 Life-Changing Books To Read at Least Once<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Below are some of my favorite life-changing books I have read over the years.<\/p>\n
Note: There are many ways to get the books below for free. I recommend reading<\/em> 13 Ways To Get Free Books Online and Sent to You<\/em><\/a> to learn more.<\/em><\/p>\n
1. <\/strong>The Simple Path to Wealth<\/em><\/strong> by JL Collins<\/strong><\/h3>\n
If you feel completely lost when it comes to investing and getting set up for retirement, you need to read The Simple Path to Wealth<\/em> by JL Collins. This is the book I wish I had read when I was in high school, and I often think about how this needs to be required reading before you enter college.<\/p>\n
Investing often feels so hard to understand and complicated when it\u2019s actually quite straightforward once you know the basics. This book is incredibly easy to read, and there\u2019s no stuffy jargon.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019re done reading this book, you\u2019ll feel confident with your finances, and you\u2019ll realize building wealth isn\u2019t at all as complicated as you originally thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy The Simple Path to Wealth<\/em> by JL Collins.<\/a><\/p>\n
2. <\/strong>When Breath Becomes Air<\/em><\/strong> by Paul Kalanithi<\/strong><\/h3>\n
This was one of the very first books I read that talked about death so beautifully and made me less scared to die.<\/p>\n
The author was a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at 36 years old. In the book, he shares his experience of being diagnosed with terminal cancer just as his career and family life were starting.<\/p>\n
This story makes you think about so many important things in life and raises a lot of questions about what is truly meaningful. This book made me sob, but don\u2019t let that stop you from reading it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy When Breath Becomes Air<\/em> by Paul Kalanithi.<\/a><\/p>\n
3. <\/strong>Don\u2019t Believe Everything You Think<\/em><\/strong> by Joseph Nguyen<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Are you looking for a really quick read about changing the way you think? If you\u2019re someone who tends to overthink and obsess over the little things that actually don\u2019t matter, you need to read this book.<\/p>\n
The book is broken down into short chapters with actionable steps to get you on the right path. You\u2019re encouraged to step back from your usual way of thinking and be more intentional about the thoughts you\u2019re thinking and whether or not you want to keep believing them.<\/p>\n
This is a recent read for me, and I love how short and easily digestible the chapters are. I learned how to apply things from the book directly to real life circumstances.<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy Don\u2019t Believe Everything You Think<\/em> by Joseph Nguyen.<\/a><\/p>\n
4. <\/strong>The Courage To Be Disliked<\/em><\/strong> by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re anything like me, you really care about being liked to the point where you might not be genuine with yourself. I believe I\u2019ve lived this way for so long because I feel safe and avoid conflict, but I also know this way of living can be exhausting.<\/p>\n
The Courage To Be Disliked<\/em> showed me that I can live a life true to myself without factoring in other people\u2019s opinions. You save a lot of time and mental effort in life when you start living the way you want to without having to constantly think of other people\u2019s thoughts and opinions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy The Courage To Be Disliked<\/em> by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga.<\/a><\/p>\n
5. <\/strong>The Artist\u2019s Way<\/em><\/strong> by Julia Cameron\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t shy away from this book if you think you aren\u2019t an artist.<\/p>\n
In fact, you should especially read this book if you don\u2019t think you\u2019re an artist or a creative person.<\/p>\n
This book is all about reconnecting you with your creative side and exploring things that can make you happy. If you feel stuck or uninspired in life, this is a great book to read.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest things I took away from this book is that you don\u2019t need to be a productive person or make a lot of money in order to be worthwhile as a human being. You can create and make things just for the enjoyment of it.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve lived a lot of my life thinking I was never a creative person or that I had to be good at art in order to be creative. Neither of those things are true. This book is a must-read to bring that fire of creativity back to your life.<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy The Artist\u2019s Way<\/em> by Julia Cameron.<\/a><\/p>\n
6. <\/strong>Know My Name<\/em><\/strong> by Chanel Miller<\/strong><\/h3>\n
One of the more difficult books on this list is Know My Name<\/em> by Chanel Miller. This is a memoir based on the real-life story of a woman who was sexually assaulted while attending a university.<\/p>\n
This book is about finding your voice and reclaiming your identity after experiencing something so difficult. What I enjoyed most about this book is learning that the worst thing that\u2019s ever happened to you does not need to define the rest of your life.<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy Know My Name<\/em> by Chanel Miller.<\/a><\/p>\n
7. <\/strong>Grit<\/em><\/strong> by Angela Duckworth<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Grit is the book to read if you\u2019re struggling with success.<\/p>\n
This book teaches you how to think about success and talent differently. You learn that the things that actually matter are persistence, patience, and continuing to work on something even if progress feels slow.<\/p>\n
This is the book to read if you need a gentle reminder that you don\u2019t need talent or to be naturally good at something to get better at it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy Grit<\/em> by Angela Duckworth.<\/a><\/p>\n
8. <\/strong>Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself<\/em><\/strong> by Dr. Joe Dispenza\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
This is a great book everyone should read to take a closer look at their thoughts.<\/p>\n
Many of us mindlessly accept all of our thoughts as facts, and this book helps break those habits. You\u2019re even encouraged to take a closer look at the behaviors and habits you don\u2019t like and how to break patterns you don\u2019t want to keep.<\/p>\n
This book is definitely more unconventional than the rest of the books on this list, but it\u2019s still worth mentioning here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself<\/em> by Dr. Joe Dispenza.<\/a><\/p>\n
9. <\/strong>You Are a Badass<\/em><\/strong> by Jen Sincero<\/strong><\/h3>\n
One of the very first self-help books I ever picked up is You Are a Badass<\/em>.<\/p>\n
I was at the airport on my way to Las Vegas and wanted something to read on the plane. Little did I know I\u2019d become obsessed and end up reading all of Jen Sincero\u2019s books.<\/p>\n
This is the perfect book to read if you need a simple, easy-to-read book on how to believe in yourself. You learn to get out of your comfort zone and actually go for the things you want.<\/p>\n
I thought this book was really relatable and even funny at times.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy You Are a Badass<\/em> by Jen Sincero.<\/a><\/p>\n
10. <\/strong>Four Thousand Weeks<\/em><\/strong> by Oliver Burkeman<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Did you know the average person (if they\u2019re lucky) gets about four thousand weeks to live?<\/p>\n
When it\u2019s broken down like that, you really start to care about how you\u2019re spending your time. This is one of the newest nonfiction books I\u2019ve read, and I wish I\u2019d read it sooner.<\/p>\n
If you feel like you\u2019re constantly behind and not doing enough, you need to read this. This book encourages you that you can\u2019t do everything and that you don\u2019t even really want to anyway.<\/p>\n
This is actually really freeing and helps you become more intentional with your time and where you spend it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please click here to buy Four Thousand Weeks<\/em> by Oliver Burkeman.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.makingsenseofcents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Styled-Stock-Society-Slow-Summer-10-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Below are answers to questions you may have about books that can change your life.<\/p>\n
Which is the best book to change your life?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The best book that can change your life depends on what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n
For example, if you want to:<\/p>\n
All the books on this list can do something different for you. They can all change the way you see things and how you move about in the world.<\/p>\n
What are the best personal finance books to read?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
My all-time favorite personal finance book to read and recommend is The Simple Path to Wealth<\/em><\/a>. This book is all about investing in a way that isn\u2019t stuffy and hard to understand, which is how most investing books are written. If you\u2019re new to investing, this book can teach you:<\/p>\n
- \n
- How the stock market works<\/li>\n
- Why low-cost index funds are so powerful<\/li>\n
- Why investing simply is a good strategy<\/li>\n
- Why market downturns are normal<\/li>\n
- Why you don\u2019t need to be an investing expert<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Not understanding something as important as investing can be so incredibly anxiety-inducing, and this is why I recommend reading this book. You get so much power and control back, and it feels so freeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are some good books about feeling stuck in life?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re looking for good books about feeling stuck in life, I recommend:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The Artist\u2019s Way<\/em><\/a> by Julia Cameron if you\u2019re feeling stuck creatively. We are all creative beings; many of us have just lost touch with how to be creative.<\/li>\n
- Four Thousand Weeks<\/em><\/a> by Oliver Burkeman is especially important for people who are trying to get everything done and, at the same time, feel like they are not getting enough done.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- The Courage to Be Disliked<\/em><\/a> by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga is the book to read for people who want to let go of others\u2019 expectations and instead make choices based on what YOU want.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Best Life-Changing Books To Read \u2013 Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n
I hope you enjoyed my post on life-changing books to read.<\/p>\n
Here is the full list of books:<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been reading almost daily for as long as I can remember.<\/p>\n
Reading gives me peace, calm, and consistency when everything around me is moving so quickly, which is why I always come back to reading.<\/p>\n
I love that books can meet you where you\u2019re at in life and always teach you something new. Sometimes you need a book that inspires your next life change, and sometimes you need a book just to take you out of real life for a while.\u00a0<\/p>\n
- Four Thousand Weeks<\/em><\/a> by Oliver Burkeman is especially important for people who are trying to get everything done and, at the same time, feel like they are not getting enough done.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- The Artist\u2019s Way<\/em><\/a> by Julia Cameron if you\u2019re feeling stuck creatively. We are all creative beings; many of us have just lost touch with how to be creative.<\/li>\n