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15 Books that Will Actually Change Your Future

Updated on October 19, 2020Lifestyle
Books Change Lives

Guest Post By Julia McCoy

Books are powerful things, aren’t they? They’re like the TARDIS—they look small(ish) on the outside yet when you open them up you are immediately transported to a large interior with rooms filled with adventure. You can’t step two sentences into a book without beginning some new moment in your life. Let’s take a look at some excellent books that hold the power to actually change your future.

You know those authors you haven’t forgotten about, ever since you read their books for the first time (maybe even as a kid)? Mine are Victor Hugo, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis. What I read from their pens has inspired me to keep following my dreams. And I went quite the distance, quitting medical school to create my copywriting company, Express Writers.

Here are some of the books I truly think can help improve and change your future. Each in their own way brings across a powerful message that has the ability to touch a reader’s life and change it for the better.

1 Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

Orwell is known for his scary dystopian masterpiece, 1984, and his political commentary, Animal Farm, but his nonfiction is where all the life lessons are. Down and Out is a great story about his life in poverty, how he learned to cope with a world crumbling around him, and how he worked to get himself out of it. A powerful and encouraging read.

2 Girls to the Front by Sara Marcus

Whether you’re a punk or not, this is a great book about the origin of a movement called Riot Grrrl and the impact it had on music and feminism. It showcases some of the upsides and downsides to early ’90s feminism, and also illustrates just how influential these female punk bands were for the future of music.

3 The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer

Is it okay to ask for help as an artist? Or should you sit back and meekly let things go by? Palmer answers these questions by sharing great stories from her career to show that it is, in fact, just fine to ask.

4 The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

This is an incredible story that helps reconnect adulthood with childhood and all that was once important to us as children. It is catalyst for self-discovery and can get you thinking about and remembering some of your most treasured memories.

5 Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith

Selling the Invisible is a great look at modern marketing and how building relationships with clients is vital in today’s market. It explores how businesses and business owners can build excellent relationships with employees or clients.

6 The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

Bradbury is an incredible author when it comes to writing about basic human struggles and experiences. His short story collection The Illustrated Man taps into humanity’s need to survive as well as the way we reflect on our lives when it looks like all is lost. Reading the story “Kaleidoscope” sure can make you reflect on different aspects of your life.

7 Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

This story was incredibly powerful when it was first published over a century ago, and it still has that power today. It shows how working with everyone, whether impoverished or not, is the best goal for any life. Hugo also shows the importance of forgiveness and illustrates that humans are just plain complicated.

8 Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Card does a great job showing that we don’t always need to have conflict to win a war. At the conclusion of Ender’s Game, we learn that speaking to our enemies, instead of acting against them, is often the best way to solve a conflict.

9 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

There are many life lessons to learn in Frankenstein, ranging from how we should treat others who don’t look like us to the importance of not cutting ourselves off from friends and family. Shelley created a masterpiece that raises many questions we are still addressing today.

10 The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Some obstacles are easy to overcome, and others require you to push through some of the hardest parts of your life. The Lord of the Rings is a great example of what to do when you’re faced with a seemingly impossible challenge. Sure, it’s fantasy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t gain inspiration and encouragement to make some amazing improvements for your future.

11 Buyology by Martin Lindstrom

Why do people buy things and how can you sell to them? This book is great for business owners because it reveals the truths, as well as the lies, about why people buy.

12 Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar

Ziglar is a powerhouse in the marketing world, and his secrets are sure to help you run a successful business. Pick this book up if you want to not only bring people to your business but also to close the sale.

13 A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis

After the death of his wife, Lewis wrote a collection of reflections about his experience with grief. This excellent book is a powerful tool that can help you with any aspect of your life affected by grieving or loss.

14 Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation by Judith Mackrell

The 1920s are quite far behind us, but that doesn’t mean people from that era can’t inspire us today. Mackrell looks at six women from the flapper generation, showing how they rose to fame and worked hard throughout their careers to remain on top.

15 Quiet by Susan Cain

Being an introvert in an extroverted world can absolutely be difficult. Cain discusses what introversion really is, why people are introverted, and how they survive in an extrovert-dominated world. This is excellent reading for anyone, introvert or extrovert.

These books are all incredible reads and are perfect for your summer reading list. Check a few of them out to help improve your future and make your life and business successful! Which of these books do you plan on reading? Are any of these already on your list of favorites? Let me know in the comments!

 


Julia McCoy Bio PicJulia McCoy is a self-taught copywriter and Internet marketer who runs a full-size copywriting team providing agencies and businesses of all sizes with high quality content. Subscribe to her blog to learn blogging and content marketing insider tips and news.

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