The 4 Inspirational Books to Improve Your Life
Inspiration to try something new or change something about your life comes in many forms. Some people become inspired when they see one person help another. For others, reading inspirational books or listening to inspiring songs can be a huge impetus to get up and do something different.
About 73% of Americans have read a book in some format over the last year. Whether you’re looking for a reason to get back into reading or always have your nose in a book, an inspirational book might be just what you need to reinvigorate how you work or live your life.
Perhaps you’re looking for encouragement to go travel to a country where you don’t speak the language or start training for a marathon. There’s no limit to what inspirational books can help you imagine you can do.
Below is a list of inspiring books to read to help you get started.
The Art of Happiness, Dalai Lama
Whether we realize it or not, most of us are out there looking for happiness. We want to feel happy and fulfilled in our careers, our home lives, and our personal pursuits.
But all too often, happiness seems to elude us. If you feel like you should be happy with your life but just aren’t, The Art of Happiness should be next on your to-read list.
In this book, Dr. Howard Cutler sits down with the Dalai Lama to ask key questions about why so many of us are unhappy and what small changes we can make to be happy every day. The book interweaves psychological explanation with the Dalai Lama’s advice to provide you with a cohesive and poignant you won’t be able to put down.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Richard Carlson
Whenever you search for inspirational books suggestions, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff will almost always appear. That’s because the principles in the book are relevant for nearly everyone.
This book discusses how all too often, the small, unimportant things in our lives tend to make us stressed and unhappy. Richard Carlson provides tips for how you can identify what small things are stressing you out and how you can learn to let those things go.
This is a great read for those who feel like they’re always too busy and stressed.
Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance, Angela Duckworth
We all have major goals that we work toward in life. As students, many of us strive to make good grades to go to college or land a good job. As adults, we pursue long-term projects as hobbies or as careers to be the best we can be.
A critical element needed for any pursuit is grit, a characteristic author Angela Duckworth identified early on in her life.
In her book, Grit, Duckworth discusses why grit is so important to achieve long-term goals and how we can all learn to have passion for our projects and goals.
Natural Born Heroes, Christopher McDougall
If you’re looking for some additional inspiration into what the human body can do, turn no further than Natural Born Heroes.
Christopher McDougall tells the story of resistance fighters on the island of Crete during the Second World War. Resistance members would have to run dozens of kilometers each day to deliver messages, all while evading German forces.
This book will inspire you not only if you’re a runner or athlete. It also tells a story of the human spirit and how perseverance can help you achieve your biggest goals.
More Inspirational Books to Read
There are many more inspirational books you can find to read. Some read more like a story while others give you tactical advice on how to be happy and feel renewed in your life. Which you choose is completely up to what you like to read and what resonates with you.
For more articles on self-improvement and inspiration, check out our dedicated blog section on the topic.