Best Transformational Books!
In this post, I will share some of the excellent books I gobbled recently. These books have been transformational to me, the best of my reads for the year, offering an enjoyable past-time. I know that books can be an enjoyable read, or they can be the beginning of something more significant in your life. So as a dedicated bookworm, I am giving you a gift of these remarkable, compelling self-help books that made me a much happier person with a mission!
Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below (I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post), but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.
When I read at home, I rarely read literature related to my profession. I deliberately store teaching-related books and online materials in my classroom and on my school computer. I skim through, refer to, consult those resources whenever the need arises. Reading literature at home is a privilege I have given to myself. After having been starving for some wholesome reading since my arrival to the US, I claimed this selfish and self-indulging activity back. The need to read was the result of the vacuum I have felt for quite some time. The void came from struggles in my becoming an educator in K-12 area, which anyone who teaches in a classroom can relate to. To some degree, it was also brought by my realization that what I am doing now does not necessarily have to be my life-long vacation, at least it feels like that. What I have interest in, what I am truly passionate about, what I get inspired by is not fulfilled by my current profession. I lot of things in my life exist far beyond teaching and revolve around a different star. Sometimes I feel like walking in shallow waters in search of the ocean. I can’t say teaching does not inspire me. Quite the opposite. But it’s not the material I teach, not everyday grind of the classroom activities that elevate me in my profession. It’s the students, of course. Their stories, lives, struggles, secrets that that share, advice they seek – this is what gives me wings. And paradoxically, my students as inspiration make me think that education will probably cease to exist in its current form and will evolve into something more meaningful, more powerful and transformational. Well, at least it has to… Let’s say we were to offer classes on Mars as part of social studies unit on the origins of life. I would volunteer without thinking. That’s different, that’s real, that authentic. But anyway, my post is about reading. I dive into reading with 100% of emotions and attention. If reading existed as a profession, I would probably become a millionaire just because I love the process so much. So what am I reading? They say, tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are. I guess the same stands for reading. Tell me what you read, and I will tell you who you are or what’s on your mind. I think my choices are indeed reflective of what I think about, and what my interests are in. So, let me share with you some excellent transformational books that, in my opinion, can change anyone’s perspective on many things. I also believe that reading books at a different stage in life is a different experience. What might be mind-blowing for some, for others will be a confirmation of what they believed in and what they arrived at by themselves is accurate, relational, universal, and most importantly practical. I love these self-help books for three reasons: they are entirely relatable to anyone’s experience, they are easy reads, they give you insights into things that can change the way you see life. So, let’s get started.
Finish by Jon Acuff is a cold-water bucket on your ego that keeps telling you that you can’t do something because it can’t be perfect or it’s stupid. It’s a hilarious reading packed with remarkable stories, smart ideas, step-by-step explanation of what your next move needs to be. The author becomes your friend that you honestly can trust. You will discover that you are not that loser, not all your ideas are crappy and you can find your genius too. I gobbled this book in about a week. The result – this blog. Yes! Finish by Jon Acuff led me to create the outlet for my imagination. Get this book here!
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is a ticking bomb that explodes at the end and blows your socks off when you realize that every individual is entitled to the expression of his/her creativity no matter the life circumstances you are born with. It gives a sobering explanation of money being irrelevant to a creative path. Most importantly, it strips you off your fear when you stand on that cliff and think about jumping into your creative life by saying, “Go be whomever you want to be, then. Do whatever you want to do. Pursue whatever fascinates you and brings you to life. Create whatever you want to create – and let it be stupendously imperfect because it’s exceedingly likely that nobody will ever notice. And that’s awesome.” Also, if you want to understand the actual difference between curiosity and passion, grab this book! It’s a big deal! Get this book here!
Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins does not need any introduction if you are familiar with who Tony Robbins is. And if you are not, it will be a mind-blowing discovery. It’s a major transformational book about financial freedom. I loved the book because I found a lot of information relatable to my life. I have read about some valuable information I would otherwise feel awkward to ask about because I did feel my knowledge about money and how it functions was too primitive and laughable. I will be honest. The reading was a learning curve. I have a bunch of sticky notes with the information I wanted to research more and read more about all over the book, turning the book into a sandwich. To give you an insight into how realistically this book affected me, I can say I have decided to stop contributions to my 403b (teacher’s retirement savings plan), made my first purchase of stocks, and got obsessed with the idea of financial freedom! Feel interested? Just read the book! No matter how much or how little you know about money, it will give you easy-to-understand information about the world of money and gives you a spark to explore the idea of financial freedom and start your journey toward it! Get it here!
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is a surprising reading about a significant topic of happiness. It’s a DIY approach to figuring out how to find joy in your life. It’s light and profound at the same time. It’s thought-provoking and realistic in its description of life. It’s intriguing and so so so relatable. I found myself in many situations where the author pictured events in her life, her relationship with her husband and kids. I sobbed when I realized that different people of different occupations and social status (I compare here myself and Gretchen) could experience such identical emotions. You know, they say whatever bothers you in love relationship is noticed by you in every single song you hear. As if all those songs are about you, your miserable life and search for love or understanding. I found myself on many pages of this book: precisely the same life situations, same emotions, desperation, anger, love, hope, and much more. Koans from Gretchen’s collection stuck with me: “We set out to be wrecked” by L.M. Barrie, or “The best way out is always through” by Robert Frost. Ideas, revelations, advice, and much more can be found in The Happiness Project. I highly recommend! You won’t regret! Get it here!
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson is oxygen for pissed off souls. When you are sick and tired of the overwhelm, of what you need, have to, ought to do because you were born into this life, read this book and you will discover some face-slapping truth about us, social media poison, how we function, what we long for, and what we truly lack to be human. You will also discover that you are not the only loser out there (I honestly thought I was the only one actually), that being a loser is part of growth and a very helpful realization in itself, that all of us, no matter how different our social, financial, political situations can be, are similar in the way we search for who we are on this planet and why our mission matters. It’s an easy and hilarious read that will bring a huge grin on your face. Grab it! It’s awesome! Get this book!
I sincerely hope and believe these books will satisfy some of the cravings that you are looking for in your life. Or they may be pleasant discoveries of ideas that you never thought of. What I would want to is these books transforming you the way it happened to me. And for that, you need to dive into a fascinating process of reading!
Talk to you later!
