Books You Need to Read to Change Your Life

My life is a testament to the fact that reading can change a life. Reading has been one of the biggest influences on me in the last few years. That is why I feel it's important for me to share some of the books that have changed my life. Most of these are classics, so I am not alone in my admiration. Some of them are dark, other have a definite existential feel, while others are uplifting. While many of these books are dark, I feel that they offer a unique perspective into human nature, one that need not depress us. Have fun and ask some hard questions about yourself and society. These books will change you. This is just a start, but these will get you well on your way.

One the Road: A book about traveling and vagabonding during the beat movement. The book follows a young man trying to find his place in the world, or out of the main-stream world. This journey entails drugs, sex, friendship, betrayal, confusion, isolation, and self-exploration. This is a great book, especially for someone with a heart for adventure. Jack Kerouac uses idiosyncratic language that really captures the heart of the beat movement. You will feel yourself getting into Kerouac's skin, so that you flinch when he fails and rejoice when he overcomes hardships.

The Denial of Death: This is Ernest Becker's illuminating existential, philosophical, and psychological exploration of death. Becker believes that our understanding of our mortality does much to shape our personality and mental health. Becker basically believes that people deny their own mortality. It will probably take you some time to get used to Becker's unique language and writing style, but it is time well spent. This book also won the Pulitzer Prize.

Tender is the Night: This classic by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows a group of American expatriates as they travel across Europe, and confront their inner demons. This is a great glimpse into love, betrayal, friendship and society. The narrative follows Dick Diver as he negotiates the twists and tangles of life and love. Fitzgerald captures the reality of life, and presents it in an individualized and enthralling narrative.

The Road: The Road is Cormack McCarthy's post-apocalyptic thriller, set in a post-nuclear war United States. His writing transports you into a grey, desolate reality, so that you never quite see your actual surroundings the same way ever again. This book will make you question what it is that makes us human, and will make you wonder what humans are capable of. Delving into McCarthy's dim reality is a great way of motivating yourself to improve the world. The book follows a father and son traveling south along an old highway.

Walden: This classic by Henry David Thoreau is a necessary read for everyone. This book contains the writing of Thoreau that he did while isolated in a cabin on Walden Pond. His lyrical poetry speaks to your heart and our soul, and his descriptions of nature make you want to lean over a trickling stream for hours, just to catch a glimpse of what might have motivated him. This book touches on human nature, society, nature, friendship and the meaning of life. It will leave you asking, "What is the good life? How could I see the world how he sees it?" Take your time, and absorb this utter classic.

1984: This book almost speaks for itself, for it is quite popular. However, I find that many people haven't read it. Personally, I've read it at least 5 times. I never quite get enough of George Orwell's exploration into the seductive influence of power, control and coercion. 1984 follows a self-aware worker in an age of thought police, conformity, and mental reductionism. The government is seeking to limit and control human thought through torture and the minimizing of the English language. Their motivation is to control the human mind. It is a sick look into the perversion of human nature, and a parallel look into the power of the human will. This book will keep you guessing and excited until the last, breathtaking page.

Letters to a Young Poet: This is a short series of letters between Rainer Maria Rilke and a young man. The man is seeking primarily writing advice, but he receives much more, in the form of valuable life lessons. These pages were a fresh breeze to my soul. Even if you aren't a writer, these pages will speak to you profoundly. Illuminating, motivating and uplifting, this book is a must for any and all. The profundity of this book is best summarized in Rilke's following quote: "I know of no other advice than this: Go within and scale the depths of your being from which your very life springs forth."