3 Books That Will Change Your Life This Year
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Even if you already have read one or all of them.
Everyone knows that books are fantastic; they teach us new things and bring us feelings and stories through words that wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have the ability to write and express ourselves with a simple pen and a paper.
One out of the many things I love about books is that they bring a peaceful moment, which is when my attention is locked within words that I myself read and preserve in the way I want to. No voiceovers, sound effects, animations, or anything else. Just myself and the ideas that I can observe.
Great books should be reread because if you read a book and it inspires you in one way or another, you will most likely forget the majority of it after 1–2 years, so I strongly believe in rereading a book later on in life if the book was of great benefit.
So, let’s get to what you are here for, the 3 books that I believe are life-changing, these books gave me many aha moments when I read them, and I hope they will inspire you too.
1. The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
This is my personal favorite. I learned about this book during my time in upper secondary school, a few students were selected to participate in a program where they had a chance to do an internship in Malta, and I was lucky to be one of them.
On the airplane, a guy sat with what seemed to be his girlfriend and their child. He looked at me during the flight and gave me a handshake, and we started having a conversation I never forget about to this day.
I asked the guy about his trip and how long he is staying in Malta, and his reply was: I will stay in Malta, I will live in Malta from now on.
I got inquisitive and asked him if he has seen Malta before, and his unexpected answer was: We have never been to Malta, but it looks beautiful in pictures.
He then told me his story, that he was a guy with a dream that he will one day be a manager and manage 50 employees or more, that for him was a success.
The dream finally came true, and he sat one day at his desk managing more than 50 employees, and it was at that moment he encountered the worst feeling of his life, that it’s not what he was actually looking for. It was not the answer for him. I then asked him about his decision to live in Malta, and he said, read The Alchemist, and you will understand why I made that decision.
I will leave it to you as well to understand what drove his decision. So, If you want a dose of inspiration, self-discovery, this book is your number one go-to.
2. Ego Is the Enemy
The book title says it all — ego is the enemy. Ryan Holiday describes Ego as an unhealthy belief in your own importance.
Ego Is the Enemy draws from several stories and examples taken from history. It spotlights incredible individuals who fought their egos and put their goals above their desires.
“MY OPPONENT IS MY TEACHER. MY EGO IS MY ENEMY.”
— RENZO GRACIE
2. How to Win Friends & Influence People
How to Win Friends & Influence People is one of the most influential self-help books; it is also one of the most sold books worldwide.
This book gave me valuable thoughts and insights, from learning to make friends to increasing my own way of influencing others. And one of the lessons I loved from this book is — to become genuinely interested in other people, put on a smile, and be a good listener.
Think of this book as a reference that should be placed at your desk, read it and look at the lessons mentions in the book now and then. This book is the missing manual from school — that you have been searching for.
Bottom line
Choosing 3 books out of the many great and life-changing books out in the world were challenging. But I had to dig deep and look for the books that most influenced me in one way or another. Even if you are not a book reader and want to get into reading books, these will inspire you to read even more.
