20 Best Books For Life (2023 Update)

#1 national bestseller #1 international bestsellerwhat does everyone in the modern world need to know? renowned psychologist jordan b. peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.humorous, surprising and informative, dr. peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.what does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? why did ancient egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? what dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant and vengeful? peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 rules for life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith and human nature, while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its readers.

Based on a navy seal's inspiring graduation speech, this #1 new york times bestseller of powerful life lessons "should be read by every leader in america" (wall street journal). if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.on may 17, 2014, admiral william h. mcraven addressed the graduating class of the university of texas at austin on their commencement day. taking inspiration from the university's slogan, "what starts here changes the world," he shared the ten principles he learned during navy seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.admiral mcraven's original speech went viral with over 10 million views. building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, mcraven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life's darkest moments. "powerful." –usa today"full of captivating personal anecdotes from inside the national security vault." –washington post"superb, smart, and succinct." –forbes

Hardcover: 272 pages publisher: knopf language: english at last, a book that shows you how to build–design–a life you can thrive in, at any age or stage designers create worlds and solve problems using design thinking. look around your office or home–at the tablet or smartphone you may be holding or the chair you are sitting in. everything in our lives was designed by someone. and every design starts with a problem that a designer or team of designers seeks to solve.in this book, bill burnett and dave evans show us how design thinking can help us create a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of who or where we are, what we do or have done for a living, or how young or old we are. the same design thinking responsible for amazing technology, products, and spaces can be used to design and build your career and your life, a life of fulfillment and joy, constantly creative and productive, one that always holds the possibility of surprise.

What would your life be like if anything were possible? born without arms or legs, nick vujicic overcame his disabilities to live an independent, rich, fulfilling, and "ridiculously good" life while serving as a role model for anyone seeking true happiness. now an internationally successful motivational speaker, nick eagerly spreads his message: the most important goal is to find your life's purpose and to never give up, despite whatever difficulties or seemingly impossible odds stand in your way. nick tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured while learning to deal with them as a child, teen, and young adult. "for the longest, loneliest time, i wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation." nick shares how his faith in god has been his major source of strength, and he explains that once he found a sense of purpose–inspiring others to better their lives and the world around them–he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits. let nick inspire you to start living your own life without limits. nick offers practical advice for realizing a life of fulfillment and happiness by building trust in others, developing supportive relationships, and gaining strength for the journey. he encourages the reader by showing how he learned to accept what he could not control and focus instead on what he could. includes a life without limits personal action plan to help anyone determine their unique path to a successful life.

What if you could see around the corners of your life? wouldn't it help to know what the most challenging days of your life would be like before they hit? there are certain days in life that stand out because they are among the toughest that you or someone you love will experience. your quality of life and your experience on the journey through this world are a function of how you handle these days when they arrive. will you be ready? will you be strong? will you survive and be better for it, or will you cave? phil mcgraw is here to help you prepare to confront what he believes are the seven most common critical days that you or a loved one are likely to face. this book helps make it possible for you to be there for yourself or to be the calm in the middle of the storm for someone you love when any of these difficult days arrive. loss — the day that you or someone you love has their heart shattered by death, divorce, or losing something of great value. fear — the day that you realize you have lived your life as a sellout and that every choice you have made up until this point was dictated by other people's expectations, not based on your own goals and desires. adaptability breakdown — the day that the pressures of balancing your responsibilities and needs, along with life's demands, have become way too overwhelming, and you realize that you are in way over your head. physical health — the day that your body or that of someone you love breaks down because of illness, trauma, or disease. mental health — the day that the mind breaks down and betrays you or someone you love. addiction — the day that addiction takes over, and you or your loved one look a powerful destroyer in the face and realize that you are not in control. existential crisis — the day that you or someone you love lose the purpose, compass, and connection to meaning in life and have no answer to the question "why?" encountering these days can feel like hitting a brick wall. but while they will change your life, they do not have to ruin it. phil's step-by-step plan for getting through the worst days is designed to help you feel prepared when it really matters — in the midst of a crisis. phil provides wisdom and resources that will guide you toward a solution that is right for you, showing you how to minimize disruption and maximize the recovery. this book is not just about giving you a crisis-mode plan. it will also show you how to change your life now, before you get into a crisis, so that you are not behind the power curve when any of the seven days hit. you will be able to be a leader to someone you love during their crisis because you will know what to do. phil says there are no exceptions: with the right attitude and the right information, every challenging day can be turned into a valuable life experience.

The passion for life lists has spawned an industry that includes thoughtful experts such as caroline miller, a life coach and motivational book author, and dr. michael frisch, a positive psychology coach and clinical psychologist at baylor university. working together, they have fashioned the most useful, science-based, and up-to-date book on the topic of goal setting and accomplishment. creating your best life supplies dozens of interactive exercises and quizzes readers can use to identify their most cherished needs, ambitions, and wishes. the exercises are fun, making the process of self-discovery enjoyable and productive. the authors’ unique "life list coaching” program organizes life lists into 16 key areas that are universally known to make people happy–to help you actually achieve your aspirations. no other life list book offers research-validated information on why certain steps matter in goal accomplishment, or even how goals are connected with any type of life satisfaction. readers will feel both educated and inspired to start writing goal-setting lists in order to live their lives more consciously, productively, and happily.

Why are you here? what is life for? what are you meant to do? new york times best-selling author robert holden helps you go from looking for your purpose to living it. (hint: it's not just about you.)

Life is long if you know how to use it."" but life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future."" often a very old man has no other proof of his long life than his age." on the shortness of life is seneca's best-known work. it offers piercing and profound insights into human nature, and a vision of the good life, summarised in his aphorism, "life is long, if you know how to use it." at times it will acquire fresh energy from a journey by carriage and a change of scene, or from socializing and drinking freely." lucius annaeus seneca (4 bc – ad 65), also known as seneca the younger, was a roman philosopher, statesman and dramatist. he was the leading intellectual in the mid-first century and was a trusted advisor to the emperor nero. seneca's books are among the most important primary texts of stoic philosophy. his literary style and ideas were renowned and influential in his time, and ever since. the reformer calvin published a commentary on one of seneca's works, while the catholic philosopher, erasmus, edited a volume of seneca. in today's uncertain world, there is a resurgence of interest in stoic philosophy and seneca's body of work.the shortness of life, a brief, accessible and carefully argued guide to a wise and full life is an essential classic.stoic philosophy is, above all, practical. it uses reason and the careful observation of human life to address the problems of daily life. it is also universal-the emperor marcus aurelius and the freed slave epictetus were both prominent stoic philosophers. in recent years, stoic philosophy has provided invaluable life lessons to people in all spheres of life including prisoners of war and holocaust survivors, psychiatrists, and those in the business world. indeed, modern stoic thought "hold[s] fascinating promise for business and government leaders tackling global problems in a turbulent, post-recession slump," (forbes).

Named one of the best books of the year bythe wall street journal – financial timesnew york times bestsellera young woman walks into a laboratory. over the past two years, she has transformed almost every aspect of her life. she has quit smoking, run a marathon, and been promoted at work. the patterns inside her brain, neurologists discover, have fundamentally changed. marketers at procter & gamble study videos of people making their beds. they are desperately trying to figure out how to sell a new product called febreze, on track to be one of the biggest flops in company history. suddenly, one of them detects a nearly imperceptible pattern—and with a slight shift in advertising, febreze goes on to earn a billion dollars a year. an untested ceo takes over one of the largest companies in america. his first order of business is attacking a single pattern among his employees—how they approach worker safety—and soon the firm, alcoa, becomes the top performer in the dow jones. what do all these people have in common? they achieved success by focusing on the patterns that shape every aspect of our lives. they succeeded by transforming habits. in the power of habit, award-winning new york times business reporter charles duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. with penetrating intelligence and an ability to distill vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation. at its core, the power of habit contains an exhilarating argument: the key to exercising regularly, losing weight, raising exceptional children, becoming more productive, building revolutionary companies and social movements, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. habits aren't destiny. the power of habit is an exception. charles duhigg not only explains how habits are formed but how to kick bad ones and hang on to the good.”—financial times “a flat-out great read.”—david allen, bestselling author of getting things done: the art of stress-free productivity “you'll never look at yourself, your organization, or your world quite the same way.”—daniel h. pink, bestselling author of drive and a whole new mind “entertaining . . . enjoyable . . . fascinating . . . a serious look at the science of habit formation and change.”—the new york times book review

“[oprah] winfrey calls the book ‘a wake-up call for the entire planet, one reader at a time.’”—usa today with his bestselling spiritual guide the power of now, eckhart tolle inspired millions of readers to discover the freedom and joy of a life lived “in the now.” in a new earth, tolle expands on these powerful ideas to show how transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world. tolle describes how our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness, and shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence. illuminating, enlightening, and uplifting, a new earth is a profoundly spiritual manifesto for a better way of life—and for building a better world.

A pioneer in the field of behavioral science delivers a groundbreaking work that shows how finding your purpose in life leads to better health and overall happiness. – your life is a boat. you need a rudder. but it doesn’t matter how much wind is in your sails if you’re not steering toward a harbor—an ultimate purpose in your life. – while the greatest philosophers have pondered purpose for centuries, today it has been shown to have a concrete impact on our health. recent studies into alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, depression, functional brain imaging, and measurement of dna repair are shedding new light on how and why purpose benefits our lives. – going beyond the fads, opinions, and false hopes of “expert” self-help books, life on purpose explores the incredible connection between purposeful living and the latest scientific evidence on quality of life and longevity. drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and neuroscience, as well as his experience in public health research, dr. vic strecher reveals the elements necessary for a purposeful life and how to acquire them, and outlines an elegant strategy for improving energy, willpower, and long-term happiness, and well-being. he integrates these core themes into his own personal story—a tragedy that led him to reconsider his own life—and how a deeper understanding of purposeful living helped him not only survive, but thrive. – illuminating, accessible, and authentically grounded in real people’s experiences, life on purpose is essential reading for everyone seeking lasting improvement in their lives.

The world is full of chaos. frustration. fear. do you want your life to be different? through the practical wisdom of god's word, you can gain a fresh focus and purpose, become a person of character, and shine a light into the darkness. in a life beyond amazing, bestselling author and gifted bible teacher dr. david jeremiah uncovers god's strategy for change and challenges you to make nine important decisions that will transform your heart, your life, and your world.this life-changing book explores the nine qualities of character that carry us forward. with dr. jeremiah's sound biblical teaching, inspiring stories, and practical suggestions, you'll discover how you can live a life beyond amazing. don't miss out on the life that the lord has for you–a life of peace, joy, and victory. you don't have to wait for heaven to impact your world.

'simply wonderful.' – ben fogle 'kate's book has the warmth and calming effect of a log fire and a glass of wine. unknit your brow and let go. it's a treat.' – gareth malone 'kate humble pours her enviable knowledge into attainable goals. it's a winning combination and the prize – a life in balance with nature – is definitely worth claiming.' – lucy siegle 'as ever, where kate leads, i follow. kate wrote it before any of us were aware of the upcoming crisis, but it captures the current moment perfectly… it's not necessarily a "how to" book, more of a "why not try?" approach.' – francesca babb, mail on sunday you 'what i particularly love is her philosophy for happiness, which is the subject of her new book, a year of living simply. the clue is in the title. remember the basics. instead of barging through the day on autopilot, really stop to think about the tiniest little things that added a moment of joy. no, of course stopping and smelling the flowers won't cure all our ills and woes. but taking the time to savour the things that bring pleasure, really being in that moment and appreciating it, can remind you that most days have moments that buoy your mood.' – jo elvin, mail on sunday you if there is one thing that most of us aspire to, it is, simply, to be happy. and yet attaining happiness has become, it appears, anything but simple. having stuff – the latest, the newest, the best yet – is all too often peddled as the sure fire route to happiness. so why then, in our consumer-driven society, is depression, stress and anxiety ever more common, affecting every strata of society and every age, even, worryingly, the very young? so what is the route to real, deep, long lasting happiness?

Ask yourself, 'when do i feel most real?' what comes up on the screen? such moments are transitory, alas, and cannot be summoned up by will or mind or right conduct, just as the person who seeks humility finds more and more that pride and one-sidedness push the goal further and further away. – excerpt from creating a life

The most inspiring of welcome books' little big book series, the little big book of life is bursting with wisdom, humor, advice, poetry, fictional excerpts, songs, essays, commencement speeches, letters, and thoughts on how to value yourself and the things that matter to you most. included in this uplifting anthology are: – 16 short stories and fictional excerpts from authors including j.m. barrie, ernest hemingway, kurt vonnegut, joseph heller, and william shakespeare. – 30 poems from such poets as william blake, rudyard kipling, robert frost, langston hughes, and e.e. cummings. – 20 essays and graduation speeches, including everyone from toni morrison and ken burns to jodie foster and russell baker. – 15 letters full of wisdom and advice, including those from anne frank, john steinbeck, anne morrow lindbergh, and f. scott fitzgerald. 12 songs, including james taylor's "the secret of life," and louis armstrong's "what a wonderful world." – 10 comedy excerpts from such comedians as woddy allen, george carlin, bill cosby, whoopi goldberg, and jerry seinfeld. – over 30 quotes & platitudes offering insight and advice on how to live your life. the perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, or any life-changing event, life will provide inspiration and guidance to anyone pondering their present or future.

The ultimate challenge: to be better than good he has spent his life helping other people to realize their dreams and experience maximum success. now comes zig ziglar's high-impact work that calls you to the passion, purpose, and practical tools that can ignite the peak performance you long for. in the real-life stories zig shares, drawn from nearly fifty years as a world-class motivatinal author, speaker, and businessman, you'll discover how others have risen above fear and failure to embrace the quality of life they were meant to have. their experiences will teach you how to accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible, even as you learn: the three pillars ofthe better than good life new discoveries that will motivate you for life how to develop a strategic plan that accomplishes your goals what often keeps good people from reaching the ultimate level of productivity and happiness ways to form better-than-good habits that can take you to new horizons of success . . . and much, much more! let the master of motivatin help you clear your mind of failure-prone thinking, as together with zig ziglar, you redefine success and take hold of your dreams. let him inspire you to be better than good!

The ultimate challenge: to be better than good he has spent his life helping other people to realize their dreams and experience maximum success. now comes zig ziglar's high-impact work that calls you to the passion, purpose, and practical tools that can ignite the peak performance you long for. in the real-life stories zig shares, drawn from nearly fifty years as a world-class motivatinal author, speaker, and businessman, you'll discover how others have risen above fear and failure to embrace the quality of life they were meant to have. their experiences will teach you how to accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible, even as you learn: the three pillars ofthe better than good life new discoveries that will motivate you for life how to develop a strategic plan that accomplishes your goals what often keeps good people from reaching the ultimate level of productivity and happiness ways to form better-than-good habits that can take you to new horizons of success . . . and much, much more! let the master of motivatin help you clear your mind of failure-prone thinking, as together with zig ziglar, you redefine success and take hold of your dreams. let him inspire you to be better than good!

This inspiring book of wisdom, life lessons, and self-help from national geographic celebrates the power of optimism: the driving force behind the authors' beloved, socially conscious clothing and lifestyle brand, now worth more than $100 million. following the chronology of their personal and professional journeys, bert and john share their unique ride–from their scrappy upbringing outside boston to the unlikely runaway success of their business. the brothers illuminate ten key "superpowers" accessible to us all: openness, courage, simplicity, humor, gratitude, fun, compassion, creativity, authenticity, and love. their story, illustrated with the company's iconic artwork, shows how to overcome obstacles and embrace opportunities–whether it's growing stronger from rejection, letting your imagination loose, or simplifying your life to focus on what matters most. in these colorful pages, bert and john's plainspoken insights are paired with inspiring quotations, playful top-ten lists, deeply moving letter from the life is good community, and valuable takeaways from tapping the power of optimism to live your best life. both entertaining and profound, life is good: the book is the ultimate guide to embracing and growing the good in your life.

Discover the life you were born to live bestselling author dan millman's life-purpose system, a modern method of insight based on ancient wisdom, has helped hundreds of thousands of people find new meaning, purpose, and direction in their lives.

In the four agreements, bestselling author don miguel ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering.