A new year, a new effort at participating in the book chat as often as I can. Thursdays, as always, are book chat days over at Sweet Green Tangerine- link up if you like!
Today’s question: What are your favorite self-help/inspirational books?
I’ve read a LOT of inspirational books (well, inspirational to ME) that I don’t think I could ever narrow it down to a list small enough to share here. I think inspiration comes in every great book I’ve read- whether it be because I relate to a character, because the writing is wonderful & I hope to learn from it, or simply because the story itself is inspirational.
But let’s be honest, this wouldn’t be a book chat if I didn’t at least mention a few right? So with not a whole lot of context at all, here are some novels that greatly inspired me in one way or another in recent years: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, WILD by Cheryl Strayed, Night by Elie Wiesel, I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, OPEN by Andre Agassi, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares, Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, Eat/Pray/Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and Looking for Alaska by John Green.
Seriously, I could keep going. It’s crazy how many fantastically inspirational books are out there!
I’ve read far few self-help books, and the ones that inspire me in those are fewer still. As a general rule, I have a really wide variety of books that I thoroughly enjoy, and I have to say that self-help has recently become, when properly chosen, a new favorite of mine. Here are a few that I would recommend to almost anyone.
#3 Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
I had a love/hate relationship with this book because of all the controversy that surrounded it’s publication… And the fact that I had to read it for school. But I devoured it in just days, wrote a kick-ass book report on it and got an A+ (the best grade I have yet to receive in University). I think that says something for its impact on my life. Although I didn’t agree with EVERYTHING Schlosser had to say about fast food (or the way he chose to illustrate his points) I still think this was an extremely insightful book and I’ve never been able to look at fast food the same again.
#2 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
I wish I remembered the details of this book better, but having read it on my Kindle, I don’t have a copy to look back on. I read it on a beach in Greece, and was COMPLETELY taken by Gladwell’s research, his findings, and his writing. I have a couple of his other works on my to-read shelf and I hope to get to them in 2012. I briefly shared my thoughts about Blink on this post.
#1 The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
This still remains my favorite self-help book, and almost two years after reading it, I still constantly find myself picking it up from my bookshelf for a little inspiration. I wrote a whole post about this book, and everything I said back then is still completely true. If you’re optimistic, constantly searching how to improve your day-to-day life & an ambitious goal setter (cough cough) I can’t recommend Gretchen Rubin’s work enough!
I want to know- what books inspire YOU? What are your favorite well being books, any recommendations?
I still need to read The Happiness Project. Blast. It’s definitely one of my MUST READS this year. I feel like it’s a book that is right up my alley!
Recently, two books that have really inspired me are Wild by Cheryl Strayed and MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche. Two completely different topics, but both were just great, great books.
You read Wild by Cheryl Strayed and I didn’t know?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
But seriously I freaking love that book.
As a side note on that, I have NO idea why my name got spelled all weird in that comment… Weird.
I’m calling you Melissasa now.
Of course it’s the first book chat after I made my New Year’s Resolution, and I didn’t participate today. Bah. But I’m looking forward to next week!
I didn’t write a post today because I don’t really read self-help books, but I didn’t even think about picking fiction that had inspired me. You picked some really excellent books, especially Night (and Harry Potter, of course, haha).
The Happiness Project is one of my next reads. It sounds like a fun read with a great premise. Totally sounds like something I would do.
Also, I love that you picked fiction/memoirs that inspired you. That was GREAT idea. I could think of a huge list now.
The first self help book that kind of changed my life at the time is Road less Traveled by Scott Peck. That was back of summer in 2005.
I really enjoyed Gladwell’s books and Happiness Project! The one thing I took away from Blink was that you can change your subconscious personal bias by increasing your exposure.
I have Daring Greatly on hold at the library and cannot wait to dig in!
Every time I see you mention The Happiness Project i remind myself that i need to pick up a copy at the library but it just hasn’t happened yet! Sounds like I could do with a few of her little tips to stop me putting off those niggly little tasks in my life though!
One book that really inspired me, but isn’t technically a self help book, is Tuesdays with Morrie. I am due to read this one again as it really gives me the best perspective. I also really loved the travel memoir, Without Reservations. It’s about this woman who realizes she has lost touch with who she is and is defining herself in terms of how others view her, so she takes a sabbatical from work and travels through Europe. LOVED that book. So much.