40 Most Life-Changing Books Everyone Should Read at Least Once

This novel about two men who have a secretive love affair that ends in tragedy was groundbreaking at the time, and it remains canonical in LGBTQ+ literature today.

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This parable about following your dreams no matter what obstacles get in your way will get your brain churning. Buy a copy so you can reread it whenever you need its message the most.

This memoir by a neurosurgeon grappling with his own terminal cancer diagnosis is both gutting and illuminating. In this day and age, its message of making the most of the time you're given is more impactful than ever.

One of Morrison's most treasured novels, this one follows a formerly enslaved woman who escapes to Ohio. But the traumas she experienced, especially the loss of her baby, follow her in the form of both literal and figurative specters. It's a stunning book that will stay with you forever.

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This searing memoir follows a woman confronting the grief of losing her mother, her marriage and her own sense of self by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on her own. It will remind all of us that we're more resilient than we think.

A friend of mine loves this quirky, honest look at growing up so much, he used to buy a copy before every flight and leave it in the seat back pocket for others to read. It's a gift of a book, no matter where it finds you.

Sometimes, it's not big, sweeping changes that can really make a difference. It's the little things that start from the ground up. The wisdom in this book that started with a viral graduation speech will inspire and energize you.

What would happen if you listened to that little voice inside yourself, instead of trying to live up to everyone else's expectations? This memoir is both an account of what happened when Doyle began following her truth and a rallying cry for people everywhere to do the same.

In our frenetic, productivity-obsessed society, focusing your attention on what really matters feels like a revolutionary act. This book is part self-help, part manifesto and totally perfect for our current moment.

If you've ever wondered what it is that makes humanity tick, Harari turns a wide historical lens on the question. It begins when consciousness does, and works its way toward the modern day on a sweeping journey that will broaden your mind.

So many of us supposed adults spend our days just going through the motions. This inspiring book uses wisdom from kids, the elderly and everyone in between to help inject a little magic back into our lives. You'll find yourself dog-earing every other page.

Once again, the title of this one tells you just about everything you need to know. It's a self-help book for people who hate self-help, and it'll keep you laughing even if you realize you need to make a change.

A riveting account of his time in Auschwitz and what keeps humanity going in spite of everything, this book embodies hope. When you need something to get you through tough times, give it a read.

With elements of meditation woven throughout inspiring essays, this beautiful little book will keep you moving forward, no matter what's holding you back.

A meditative and often funny guide to writing, life and being human, this book will guide you through whatever you're facing the best way the author knows how: one bird at a time.

Anyone who's ever white-knuckled their way through a hard period of time (and that's probably all of us) will find solace in this book about how Didion made it through a truly horrible year.

With elements of memoir, cultural criticism and plenty of wit, this essay collection explores Hong's own reckoning with her identity as the daughter of Korean immigrants, as well as the role race plays in America as a whole.

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Tackle the big questions with a grin on your face as Bryson tries to figure out how everything came to be, well, what it is. Even if you're not a science buff, this book will convert you.

When Albom reconnects with his former college professor, Morrie, in the final months of his life, he's given a rare chance to absorb some of the old man's wisdom before it's too late. With this book, so can we.

Poet Ross Gay challenged himself to notice one thing that delighted him every day for a year and this insightful, uplifting book of essays is the result. Read them in order or pick it up and absorb one at random whenever you need a lift.