12 Books That Changed People’s Lives

There are some books that we read that change who we are as a person. These books give us insight to ourselves or provide life-changing advice. And today, we will be looking at 12 books that changed people’s lives!

Books are powerful and can overwhelm you emotionally when written by a talented author. Some people read to escape reality while others just love reading and coming across amazingly well-written books. And there are tons of incredible books that changed people’s lives throughout history. You can see some of those books below!

Books That Changed People’s Lives

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Alchemist

The first book that made this list by Upworthy is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. And this is a novel that I turn to often. No matter how many times I read this book, I always find new meaning and thus hold this novel in high regard.

“Such greatness. Coelho tells the story with simplicity and elegance, and it is beautiful. The Alchemist is rhetorical kind of book that stays with you, and demands some time to unfold in your mind. Loved it!” – J. Green

The Four Agreements

Another book that many readers read often that has changed their lives is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book was first published in 1997 and has gone on to sell millions of copies since then. Even former football player Tom Brady lived by the advice in this book.

“This book literally changed my outlook on so many things. I’ve read it at least three times completely through. It helps deal with anxiety and helps you reframe and analyze your thoughts which may be troubling you. The writing style is great and I’ve already read other books by the same author. Would highly recommend purchasing this if you want to rethink your assumptions about yourself or other people.” – Freddy

To Kill a Mockingbird

The third book to make this list isn’t like most of the books on this list and wasn’t written with the goal to change people’s lives. Yet that is exactly what To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ending up doing in its own way. This novel is a big reason why I fell in love with reading and made me a lifelong book lover.

“I remember reading the book many years ago and being moved by it especially being from the North and not as familiar with racism. I wondered why some schools were banning it so decided to revisit. I had forgotten the details but it is still an important book and reminds us that the fight against all prejudice is never finished and its current resurgence is cause for concern. This book should be required reading at a pretty young age. We can’t change what we don’t understand. If you have children read it with them and teach them well.” – Maria

The Midnight Library

A novel that everyone should read at least once is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It is easy to get lost in life and have many regrets as the years fly by. But Haig reminds readers that that with every choice we make, there are endless possibilities and unexpected consequences that we may not even be aware of.

“‘The Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that effortlessly weaves together the threads of life, regret, and the boundless possibilities that lie in our choices. This No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and worldwide phenomenon is a soul-stirring exploration of the human experience that lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page.” – George L.

The Giver

Few novels ever change the landscape of a genre but Lois Lowry’s The Giver did just that by changing what people thought of dystopian novels. Without this novel, there is no The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner to name a few. And the novel also tackles heavy subjects such as love and sacrifice, making it a great read for young adults as well as older readers.

“Brought this book since my daughter had to read it for school and I always like to know what are they are teaching her. I am going to be honest very surprise that they are giving this kind of story to an 8th grader since the story is very intense, surprising, sad but at the same time beautiful and teach the real meaning of love and sacrifice. That live in an idealistic world does not work and it’s never better than having love in your live.” – Marla

Conclusion

These are the 12 books that changed people’s lives and what a great list it is. While many of them are self-help books, there are also novels that have powerful messages that help readers look inside and change how they see the world. How many of these books have you read? What other books that changed people’s lives should have made this list? Let us know in the comments below!

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