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10 Inspirational Books You MUST Read

by Yee Shun-Jian on March 29th, 2011


Photo by Brenda Starr

Whether you are beginning a career in your chosen field, building a network of friends and trusted colleagues, or attempting to your improve your social, spiritual or physical well-being, these are the 10 inspirational books you must read:

1. The Power of Positive Thinking, by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: A classic of the genre that has sold more than 7 million copies and been translated into 15 languages, this book inspires readers to eliminate doubt and negative energy as they pursue happiness and success in all aspects of their life. Peale famously stated: “Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.”

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie: Originally released in 1937, this book contains timeless lessons about the dynamics of human relationships and leadership skills that remain relevant today and will continue to remain relevant in the future.

3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey: A perennial on the bestseller lists since it was originally released in 1990, this book offers concise advice that is easy to understand, easy to implement and focuses on finding success in the competitive world of business.

4. The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck: Taking its title from a famous poem by Robert Frost, the author makes a compelling case that truly examining yourself and your life can be a difficult task, but perhaps the most rewarding task you ever undertake.

5. The Art of War, by Sun Tzu: Although the concepts in this book can be traced back to the strategies used in ancient warfare, they have been embraced as containing great value by many contemporary business leaders.

6. How Proust Can Change Your Life, by Alain de Botton: Published in 1997, in this book the author examines the life of the great French writer Marcel Proust and makes a convincing argument that we all can be inspired by the life and works and Proust.

7. The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein: It is most widely known as a classic children's story, but the lessons about selflessness and the rewards of sharing with others can be taken to heart by readers of any age.

8. Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse: A novel that gained immense popularity during the 1960s, “Siddhartha” on the journey of a young boy who leaves his home and sets out on an epic quest for spiritual enlightenment. Set in ancient India, the insights of the novel can be applied to any place during any age. It contains elements of adventure, introspection, understanding and even humor.

9. Never Give Up, by Richard Simmons: Although Simmons has become well-known for his comical appearances on television and radio talk shows, his book contains valuable lessons about motivation, setting and achieving goals and living up to your potential.

10. What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles: A modern-day classic in its field, this book is a mandatory read for people who are hunting for a job or launching a new career.

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This article was contributed by J. Salvage, a reader, writer, and blogger whose day job has something to do with patent infringement litigation. Hey, legal rights are important. And it’s good to be employed.

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Tyler says:
July 30, 2011 at 12:15 am

Thanks for a great list, Yee Shun-Jian!
I absolutely love the book “Siddhartha.” That and “Earth’s Pivotal Years” by Selacia kind of changed the way that I think about enlightenment as a whole. Both fabulous books!

Justin says:
July 15, 2011 at 1:07 am

Oops, yep- I meant Beyond the Myth! It’s chock full of positive affirmations.

Another good one is “Midlife Crash Course” by Gail Feldman. It’s obviously written for people in the midst of a midlife crisis, and it blends the Law of Attraction with psychology and self-transformation. It’s one of my mom’s favorites!

Yee Shun-Jian says:
July 17, 2011 at 2:51 pm

Interesting… I’ll go check that out when I’m facing a midlife crisis! (LOL… just kidding… Cheers!)

Emily says:
May 12, 2011 at 7:55 am

My mom bought me 7 Habits of Highly Effective People when I graduated from college, and it was a great read. I still have the same copy, marked up and everything. It’s almost a reference book rather than purely inspirational.
One of my favorite inspirational books is Bright Light by Dee Wallace, an actress who was in ET, The Frighteners, The Hills Have Eyes, and a bunch of other movies. Bright Light is about lessons she’s learned in spirituality from a life in acting, which I loved. I’d recommend it for sure.

Yee Shun-Jian says:
June 2, 2011 at 3:07 pm

Wow that’s interesting Emily… I’ll be sure to check out Bright Light!

Justin, you meant Beyond the Myth right? Well if it’s about law of attraction and positive affirmations, it’s well worth the time to check it out

Justin says:
April 1, 2011 at 2:38 am

Wonderful list – I absolutely love “How Proust Can Change Your Life” and re-read it at least once a year. Another book I would add is Beyond Myth By Maria Holmes. It is a great intro into the Law of Attraction and is filled with positive affirmations.

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