Books that changed your life?

[Bluebellsinparadise]

Please tell me about the books that changed your life. I am going through a period of change/ growth and would love some inspiration! Name changed as feels very personal, but have been on here years (I’m not trying to push any books!).

These are mine:

The seven habits of highly effective people- Stephen Covey It was a revelation to me as a 20 something learning the habits that many people around me seemed to have learned from their (professional) parents - it positively helped me grow as a person too. Wish I’d have been taught these at school.

You are a Badass by Jen Sincero Wow this book had such a profound effect on me when I read it a few years ago. Lots of reviews seem to say similar. I became happier after struggling with mental health, my career skyrocketed in less than a year, I suddenly got treated with more respect, and I doubled my income. It had an incredibly empowering effect on me and helped me overcome imposter syndrome. I’m re-reading it now as I feel a bit stuck and already I’m having lots of new exciting opportunities present themselves to me. It’s also helping me overcome another period of self doubt.

So I’d love to hear your recommendations! They could be from any genre.... fiction to science or self help.

Glad you’re enjoying it @HereticFanjo

Thanks for sharing thoughts on Matt Haig- it sounds great 👍

I have a new book to add to my list:

How Women Rose- it’s a career advice book written by two leading coaches. I think every woman should read this at the start of their career- it’s truly life changing!!

www.goodreads.com/book/show/36204301-how-women-rise

A Room With A View. It made me realise that I don't have to finish books if I'm not enjoying them; there are so many other books out there that I may enjoy instead. Now I apply a 30% rule. If I'm not enjoying it, off it goes.

Sorry that should say How Women Rise - Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen

@LadyofMisrule is that because you didn’t enjoy the book, or because it’s a theme in the book? I’ve not read it myself

One Hundred Years of Solitude and The Power of Now.

@Bluebellsinparadise because I didn’t enjoy it. I’d always read to the end before this even it was a complete chore.

@LadyofMisrule I think I need to learn this lesson I always struggle on. Brene brown was the worst for me. Perhaps I need to read room with a view and have this revelation!

So many great recommendations!

Book marking and will be back with my contribution when I have had a think...

Agree that How Women Rise - Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen is a great book.

It talks about the main habits that women exercise at work, that hold them back. It focuses on what to stop doing so much of to remove the barriers that are stopping you from moving up. It’s really enlightening to understand why men tend to get promoted faster and earn more than women despite the fact that women do better in education and building personal relationships, and are better managers etc. It’s really fascinating!

I will lower the tone, but Delia Smith How To Cook. My mother cannot boil an egg to save her life, and so someone needed to show me how.

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is an old one but it blew me away when I read it in my 20s. I re-read it recently after watching Miss America and it was still meaningful to me 25 years later.

For parenting, 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child is great. The author is so humane. I really got a lot from it and felt less alone.

Thinking Fast and Slow is a great book too for understanding why humans do the things we do.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon definitely not lowering the tone- learning to cook is life changing. Sadly a lot of people can’t and that’s adding to the obesity crisis.